AustinTalks (http://austintalks.org/author/kendall-polidori/)
In all, 35 young people from across Chicago were honored this month by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, which each year adds names to the city’s Rising Star Honor Roll. The teens – two from Austin – were recognized for their creativity and work either in music, theatre, dance, visual arts, media arts or literary arts.
De’Andre Wilborn, Austin resident and George Westinghouse College Prep senior, was one of eight Chicago high school students to receive the $20,000 scholarship award as part of the Cubs Charities Cubs Scholars Program. He was honored at a Cubs home game last month.
The City Bureau’s Public Newsroom hosted a workshop last week at Austin Community Academy High School to educate and empower West Side residents to engage with their alderman and hold them accountable. The Austin Weekly News and Austin Coming Together also sponsored the workshop.
Amara Enyia, former executive director of the Austin Chamber of Commerce, and four of her senior mayoral campaign staffers face a class-action wage and overtime theft grievance. More than 20 staffers say they’re owed money from the February 2019 race.
West Side residents now can apply to take a 32-week college-credit program at Austin Town Hall starting this fall. Students in the Odyssey Project study with professors from local universities and can earn up to six transferable college credits from Bard College. The application deadline to apply for the free program is Aug. 15.
Six panelists –– state Rep. La Shawn K. Ford, Dr. Elena Quintana, Flint Taylor, Amy Campanelli, Yohance Lacour and Darrell Cannon –– spoke last week about trauma, injustice and institutionalized racism. The July 25th panel discussion was inspired by the recent Netflix miniseries “When They See Us,” which tells the true story of the “Central Park Five,” five young black men wrongfully charged for the assault of a woman in New York City’s Central Park in 1989.
Nearly 20 teens from the South and West sides of Chicago came together to work on a professional TV set as part of a Fresh Films program, where they worked alongside professionals including American actor Tim Kazurinsky.
Fifteen Austin businesses have been awarded grant money by the Neighborhood Opportunity Fund since 2017.
Marchanelle Flowers, who teaches at Spencer Elementary Technology Academy, and Samiena Singleton, who teaches at Howe Elementary School, were honored earlier this year during CPS’ teacher appreciation week.
Longtime West Sider Dwayne Truss joined six other new board members at their first meeting, held June 26th. Mayor Lori Lightfoot appointed all seven earlier this month.