AustinTalks - News and information covering Chicago's Austin neighborhood on the West Side

AustinTalks (http://austintalks.org/)

  • Home
  • About
  • Community
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Events
  • Donate
  • Global Navigation

Teens, young adults encouraged to apply for summer jobs

By AustinTalks | April 15, 2021

The city’s One Summer Chicago program is accepting applications from teens and young adults ages 14 to 24. Government institutions, community groups and local companies will be offering more than 20,000 employment and internship opportunities.

Join Thursday’s anti-gun prayer vigil

Fresh Start Fathers, the Greer Family and Austin residents will hold the 13th annual anti-gun violence prayer vigil from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the corner of Lotus Avenue and Congress Parkway. Since 17-year-old Marcus Greer was killed in 2008, an annual prayer vigil has been held in his memory to speak out against gun violence.

City grants available for first-time home buyers

Apply now for up to $15,000 from the city of Chicago’s Micro Market Recovery Program (MMRP). For more information, contact the MMRP coordinator at Austin Coming Together at austinmmrp@austincomingtogether.org or call (872) 205-6615.

Austin Walmart unveils mural

The community-focused mural by local artist Tia Etu was unveiled last week at the store, 4650 W. North Ave. Etu said she featured the things she thought were wonderful about the community in the mural, which is right inside the store’s entrance.

More Headlines

Get the COVID-19 shot Saturday on the West Side
Austin residents come out to clean up community
Bethel New Life designing urban farm, wellness hub in memory of Mildred Wiley

News

  • Police reform town hall discusses need for civilian oversight

    A virtual town hall held last weekend put the spotlight once again on police reform, with advocates continuing the push for more civilian oversight of the Chicago Police Department. A proposed ordinance before the Chicago City Council would take power from the mayor's office and give it to a civilian-led commission.

  • Embattled Loretto exec apologizes for COVID-19 controversy

    Loretto's embattled CEO and president took full responsibility for the COVID-19 controversy that has engulfed the hospital at a meeting of West Side Men's Network this week. “First, I take 100% responsibility for all the decisions that were made around where and who we distributed vaccinations to,” George Miller said Tuesday.

  • Community fair Thursday at La Follette Park

  • Chicago Run hosts first in-person race in a year

    About a dozen Chicago Public Schools students from around the city lined up at Columbus Park last weekend for Chicago Run’s first in-person race since the pandemic started. Crystal Lein, Chicago Run program director, said the timing lined up perfectly with the end of their winter season.

  • Westside Black elected officials show support for Loretto Hospital

    Westside Black elected officials held a press conference Saturday to voice their support for Loretto Hospital in the wake of controversy over how it has distributed some of its COVID-19 vaccine. Following last week's resignation of Dr. Anosh Ahmed, Loretto's chief operating officer and chief financial officer, city health officials announced they will be withholding first dose vaccines from the hospital while it’s under investigation.

  • Faith leaders working to open credit union on West Side

    A group of faith leaders have started a campaign to raise $300,000 by the end of the year in hopes of opening a credit union on the West Side. Spearheaded by The Leaders Network, the effort is focused on providing West Side residents more economic opportunities.

  • 29th Ward welcomes residents back to monthly community meetings

    Ald. Taliaferro hosted a 29th Ward community meeting last week on Zoom.

  • UpTogether Equity Fund invests in Chicago’s Black leaders

    Paris Jackson, 28, is one of the 81 Chicago leaders recently recognized by the UpTogether Equity Fund. The Big Brother Big Sisters program coordinator is using his $3,500 "family independence initiative" investment to uplift his Auburn Gresham community.

  • Healthcare law signed at Loretto Hospital

    Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed the Healthcare and Hospital Transformation bill Friday at The Loretto Hospital. The law, which passed the Illinois General Assembly in January, authorizes $150 million for safety net hospitals, specialty care access efforts, cross-provider initiatives and workforce development, with a specific eye on underserved communities, Gov. Pritzker said.

  • Fighting the stigma of self-care

    Seattle. Mostly cloudy, a cool 50 degrees and the snow-coated Olympic Mountains off in the distance of Pier 62.

Recent Updates

  • Austin travel agency featured in university competition

    Naazneen Vhora and Sakshi Sharma have won first place in the University of Illinois at Chicago's Earth’s Remedies’ Community Consulting Competition. The pitch competition, organized by Earth's Remedies and sponsored by Net Impact, gave graduate students real-world experience by connecting them to Crystal Dyer, founder and CEO of the Austin-based travel agency Gone Again Travel.

  • Divvy adding locations to Austin

    Chicago's bike-sharing program wants input from West Side residents about where to locate new docking stations. Austin residents are being asked to participate in an interactive survey to choose the next location for the Divvy station.

  • Easter egg hunt, food giveaway Saturday

  • Help clean up Austin on Saturday

  • Roller skate this weekend at Garfield Park

  • Get your COVID shot Sunday

  • Support an Austin business this weekend

    Show your support by stopping by Schweets Cheesecake, 5248 W. Chicago Ave., from 12 to 2 p.m. March 27 or join virtually. There will be live art and testimonials from those attending in person.  Here's the Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81795416486?pwd=UWtMUUEyVkJVZ29kdnNQTDBtRkNCQT09

  • Free COVID-19 testing, shots in Austin this week

    Austin residents - 18 and older - also can get vaccinated for COVID-19 at two sites: Amundsen Park, 6200 W. Bloomingdale Ave., on Fridays and Saturdays from through April 17 and Catalyst Circle Rock Charter School, 116 N. Central Ave., on Sundays from through April 18. The vaccine is free.

  • Loretto Hospital offering free pap smears

    Endometriosis is a painful condition found in the uterus and one of the leading causes of infertility that affects about 10% of women. In commemoration of endometriosis month, The Loretto Hospital is offering free pap smears for uninsured or underinsured residents of Austin and surrounding communities through the end of March.

  • Improving education in Illinois

    I would like to thank Gov. Pritzker for signing House Bill 2170 into law last week that will improve education in Illinois. Illinois Public Act 101-0654, which takes effective immediately, is a key part of the Illinois Black Caucus' legislative agenda.

  • Austin residents over 18 eligible for COVID vaccines at two new sites

    All Austin residents over the age of 18 are eligible for COVID vaccines under the city’s Protect Chicago Plus plan and being urged to get the shots as soon as possible at one of two new sites. At a town hall held over Zoom last weekend, Ald.

  • Austin residents can get vaccinated

    The Chicago Department of Public Health has partnered with Austin Coming Together (ACT) and other community-based organizations to make two vaccination sites available to Austin residents age 18 and older (appointments ONLY, no walk-in's):Amundsen Park, 6200 W. Bloomingdale Ave.Fridays and Saturdays from March 12 - April 17Administered by Loretto HospitalCatalyst Circle Rock Charter School, 116 N. Central Ave.Sundays from March 14 – April 18Administered by Rush HospitalAnyone 18 and over who lives in Austin is eligible for a vaccine. The vaccine is offered at no cost, and you don't need to provide an ID at the vaccine appointment.

  • City selects developer for Laramie State Bank building

    City officials announced Monday that Austin United Alliance, led by Heartland Alliance and Oak Park Regional Housing Center, has been selected to develop the Laramie State Bank building. The proposal - one of seven the city considered - involves opening a new bank branch in the building at the corner of Laramie and Chicago, as well as a café and a interactive blues history museum, “that celebrates Chicago's seminal contributions to blues music,” said Department of Planning and Development Commissioner Maurice Cox.

  • City to soon pick developer for Laramie State Bank building

    Two of the seven groups vying for the right to develop the former Laramie State Bank building received the highest score in a community survey as city officials move closer to choosing a winner. 548 Development’s ”Soul City Steam Center” and Brinshore and Westside Health Authority’s “Soul City Center” each earned a 3.6 score.

  • Austin is home to one of the few creative communities in Chicago

    In the 5300 block of West Lake, there is a community of artists. They come from all over the city to Austin to work in their affordable, creative refuge.

  • Loretto Hospital offering free colon cancer screenings this month

    Colorectal cancer is the second-leading cancer killer in the United States. But regular colorectal cancer screenings can save lives.

AustinTalks on Twitter

  • .@ChrisT29thWard says shooting of 13-year-old is "tragic and horrific," but the former @Chicago_Police officer who… https://t.co/GFSlMLlXhn11 hours ago
  • .@RepFord8 wants to rework foot-chase policy, end a legal defense police use: “... when police look at me, or someo… https://t.co/4U5D8CcilI11 hours ago
  • Two men who were convicted in the killing of @RepDannyDavis' grandson have been sentenced to 30 years in prison. https://t.co/rUDKNMAZf7yesterday
  • We wish @LLCoolK_4 well in recovering from COVID. https://t.co/s2nsvuv5oryesterday
  • April is child abuse awareness month. What are you doing to keep children safe? https://t.co/wuG0Xnyuv92 days ago
  • As of Monday, nearly 250 people had signed a petition calling for the firing of @LorettoHospital President and CEO… https://t.co/tY3O3723yr3 days ago
  • .@RepFord8 has proposed legislation would legalize supervised injection facilities to combat drug overdoses. https://t.co/B1qrNNZEtS4 days ago
  • Artist Tia Etu wanted to paint something that would show Austin in a positive light and encourage residents to be s… https://t.co/hdE35C3U1K5 days ago
  • A group of female Austin community leaders are urging @LorettoHospital's board of directors to fire embattled CEO G… https://t.co/7dKNY9P9Ie7 days ago
  • Austin native Victor Delaney's Civ's Corner Cafe coming to 5751 W. Chicago Ave. is latest sign of Chicago Avenue's… https://t.co/7goLX5H7jt7 days ago
Like Us on FacebookFollow Us on TwitterSubscribe via RSS

About AustinTalks

The Austin community, home to nearly 100,000 people, is rich in diversity, culture and life. AustinTalks seeks to reflect this richness and provide residents of Chicago's most-populated neighborhood with news and information not available anywhere. Help us make this a meeting place that showcases all Austin has to offer. Share your tips and questions; we'll share your stories.

Recent Comments

  • “State Rep. La Shawn K. Ford (D-Chicago) issued this statement after Gov.-elect Rauner announced additional members of his transition team:…”

    — AustinTalks on New governor off to wrong start

  • “Great piece!”

    — Valerie Leonard on What’s the real deal?

  • “The real sellouts and Uncle Tom's in the black community are those who work to make sure the "white" Democrats…”

    — jkptak on Austin activist questions ministers’ support of GOP candidates

  • “These are the kind of LIES that keep the black communities in Chicago enslaved by incompetent and corrupt Democrats...by blacks…”

    — jkptak on Austin activist questions ministers’ support of GOP candidates

  • “Great piece Malcolm. The problem, as you have always noted, is the fact that as a community we do not…”

    — Dwayne Truss on What’s in a name?

Search This Site

Browse Archives

© Copyright 2021, AustinTalks

Built with the Largo WordPress Theme from the Institute for Nonprofit News.

Back to top ↑