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Mateusz Janik

college

Austin students chosen for college scholars program

By Mateusz Janik | August 6, 2020

Eleven Austin high school students out of nearly 600 citywide have been accepted into the Chicago Scholars program. Since 1996, about 900 students have completed the program, which provides support throughout college and once the participants have graduated.

hunger

Church launches community pop-up pantry Saturday

By Mateusz Janik | July 10, 2020

Third Unitarian Church, 301 N. Mayfield Ave., is launching an outdoor pop-up pantry on Saturdays from 10 a.m. till noon, starting this Saturday, July 11. The pantry will distribute non-perishables, such as canned goods and possibly fresh produce. There will also be household items available, including cleaning supplies, toilet paper, diapers, hand sanitizer and face masks.

education

Austin teen and future mathematician graduates top of his class

By Mateusz Janik | July 2, 2020

James Nnabuihe graduated as valedictorian last month from Austin College & Career Academy. He will be the third sibling to attend the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he plans to study math.

gardening

Austin Garden Collective holding volunteer days – with some changes

By Mateusz Janik | June 19, 2020

The Austin Garden Collective will be hosting community volunteer days at various gardens throughout Austin this summer. There will be some changes – like social distancing and mask wearing – due to the coronavirus.

Austin

Most Austin schools expect increase in 20-21 budget

By Mateusz Janik | May 26, 2020

All but four Chicago Public Schools in Austin could see an increase in their budgets for the 20-21 school year. The Chicago Board of Education still needs to approved the school district’s $2.8 billion budget; that’s expected to happen sometime this summer.

education

Austin teacher chosen for national teaching fellowship

By Mateusz Janik | May 6, 2020

Catalyst Circle Rock School teacher Nicholas Tomasso is one of 26 middle school teachers to be selected to participate in a national science teaching fellowship.

Business

Austin businesses struggle to stay afloat

By Mateusz Janik | April 19, 2020

The coronavirus has hit Austin businesses hard. Many are having trouble paying their bills and wonder if they’ll be able to reopen once the state’s stay-at-home order is lifted.

death

Coronavirus victim Adrew Betts remembered

By Mateusz Janik | April 10, 2020

Longtime Austin resident, lover of barbecue and community leader Adrew Betts has died from complications of the coronavirus. The longtime member of Greater St. John Bible Church leaves behind three children, six grandchildren and many friends.

hunger

Austin food banks see big demand

By Mateusz Janik | April 1, 2020

West Side residents needing help feeding their families can visit weekly food banks operated by St. Martin de Porres Church, Hope Community Church and Fraternite Notre Dame. The Police Department’s 15th District has also been distributing food.

coronavirus

Austin groups, businesses still providing services

By Mateusz Janik | March 21, 2020

Amid a statewide stay-at-home order issued by the governor and multiple shutdowns, the West Side is adapting to a new normal as the coronavirus pandemic spreads.

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News

  • Expungement, record sealing event helps West Siders get jobs after leaving prison

    Austin resident Anthony Jefferson has been working over the past six years to expunge his criminal record. With help from the Monroe Foundation, he's moving toward the clean slate he wants to achieve to secure employment.

  • Get free groceries, other help from these Austin groups

    On a recent Thursday, volunteers from What About Us Charitable Enterprises spent the morning filling dozens of grocery bags with fresh food and staples that soon filled the arms of West Side residents in need. Dorin “Pastor Mac” McIntyre, executive director and co-founder of What About Us Charitable Enterprises and pastor of Mount Olivet Missionary Baptist Church, is one of many helping Austin residents struggling with food insecurity.

  • 29th Ward residents invited to holiday events on Tuesday

  • 29th Ward residents invited to propose how to spend $450,000

    Austin residents are invited to participate in this year's participatory budgeting cycle. The annual process lets ward residents ages 14 and up decide how to spend a portion of the aldermanic menu money.

  • Forty Acres Fresh Market marks important moment this week in bringing store to Austin

    Austin moves one step closer this week to getting a new grocery store with the groundbreaking of Forty Acres Fresh Market in the heart of the Soul City Corridor. Another effort to expand food offerings on the West Side continues with the Austin Community Food Co-op, which held a virtual info session last week on its efforts to bring a grocery store to the area.

  • Healing in nature workshop set for Saturday

    The Westside Cultural Alliance continues its "See, Feel and Heal" nature series Saturday at Garfield Park Nature Area, 100 N. Central Park with a workshop on making memory boxes. The workshop sessions focus on art and nature as vehicles of healing through art therapy, which provides wholistic healing for the body, mind and spirit.

  • Illinois residents can apply for help with paying gas, electric bills

    Applications are now open for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) for qualified residential customers who are over the age of 60, have a disability or have children under the age of 6 to receive financial assistance to pay their energy bills. LIHEAP is a federally funded bill payment assistance program that helps low- and fixed-income families pay their utility during the winter heating season.

  • West Siders turn out for chili cook off in Austin’s Soul City

    Over a dozen local chefs competed in the second annual "It’s Getting Chili in Soul City" event on Saturday. A team of five who make up the Austin African American Business Networking Association board – Malcolm Crawford, Shirley Fields, Sharmine Rickett, Ronald Smith and Marshawn Felton – created the chili contest last year.

  • Chicago Marathon runner raises money for West Side girls

    Over the last 20 years, Ashley Graham has run 56 marathons - including the Chicago Marathon five times. Several of those marathons she raised money for charity - and this year was no different.

  • Stop by Austin farmers market this week

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