AustinTalks (http://austintalks.org/author/mateusz-janik/)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.