AustinTalks (http://austintalks.org/author/shelby-hawkins/)
A virtual briefing on public safety and policing was held this week that covered the city’s newly passed civilian oversight ordinance and also touched on the alternate response model that calls for more involvement by mental health professionals.
Nearly 45,000 Americans died by suicide last year – far more than were killed in car crashes or murdered. Mental health advocates urge everyone to pay attention to how their friends and loved ones are doing. Help is available from a variety of groups and by calling (800) 273-8255.
Over $22,000 was raised for Austin eateries and the nonprofit New Moms at last month’s event. More than 200 tickets were sold for the event that was organized by The Takeout 25 initiative, which was started during the pandemic to help local restaurants in Oak Park and has spread to Chicago’s West Side.
Volunteer Saturdays last two hours and are held most weekends throughout Austin. Find a gardem near you where you can weed, plant and harvest produce with a local gardener.
No Austin schools will see a drop in their budgets in 2021-2022, according to preliminary numbers released by Chicago Public Schools earlier this spring.
Next month’s institute will be held virtually and be available to students in 5th through 12th grade. Chicago Debates hopes to add at least 1,000 students in the next five years, with many of them coming from the West and South sides.
A high school junior is creating more space in the chess community for young girls with her nonprofit, The Chess Queens. Girls from kindergarten through 8th grade are invited to participate in free virtual classes.
Austin is the latest neighborhood to be included in Taste the Town, an Oak Park initiative designed to support restaurants struggling during the pandemic. This week’s event will be partnering with New Moms, an Austin organization that offers services to young mothers and their children.
The West Side will be celebrating Juneteenth throughout this week. Activities, events and panel discussions will honor the history and culture of Black Americans.
West Side United awarded 39 businesses $10,000 grants in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic to help keep them afloat. Another round of funding will open in September.