Chris Taliferro
Westside Black elected officials show support for Loretto Hospital
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Several lawmakers held a press conference Saturday to voice support for the beleaguered hospital for the way it has distributed some of its COVID-19 vaccine supply.
credit union
Faith leaders working to open credit union on West Side
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The Leaders Network hopes to raise $300,000 to open a credit union on the West Side, with the goal of giving residents more economic stability and opportunity.
Auburn-Gresham
UpTogether Equity Fund invests in Chicago’s Black leaders
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The Oakland, California-based Family Independence Initiative awarded 400 Black leaders across the country direct investments of $3,500. While none of the Chicago recipients are Austin residents, some do work on the West Side.
art center
Austin is home to one of the few creative communities in Chicago
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The building at 5339 W. Lake, which welcomed its first occupants nearly five years ago, is one of the few, affordable artist spaces in the city, according to studio manager Noah Singer.
coronavirus
West Side officials encourage residents to get COVID-19 vaccine
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A virtual town hall held last weekend addressed the reservations some people have about getting the vaccine. Officials said it’s especially important that African Americans get vaccinated, since Black Chicagoans are dying at a higher rate than other groups.
Austin
More local residents can dine in at MacArthur’s, other West Side restaurants
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Indoor dining capacity increased this month, which helps MacArthurs, the popular soul food restaurant on West Madison Street. But the increased capacity is far more helpful to other parts of Chicago that have more restaurants. “One of the things we’re fighting right now is the lack of opportunities to sit down in a restaurant” in Austin, said Malcolm Crawford, executive director of the Austin African American Business Networking Association.
News
Rethinking hospice care
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JourneyCare, the city and state’s largest nonprofit offering palliative, supportive and hospice care, wants to empower West Side residents to be proactive in making end-of-life decisions. “Talking about death is difficult,” Deborah McDonald said. “Nobody wants to think about that impending moment. Being well-informed is what it’s all about.”
Chicago Public Schools
West Side LSCs still seek members after low turnout
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There are nearly 700 open seats on 267 local school councils across the city; five schools in Austin are still looking for members to serve. See the list AustinTalks has compiled of members currently serving on LSCs in Austin.
black history month
Local group wants your help in preserving Chicago’s Black history
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The Black Metropolis Research Consortium is conducting a survey to understand what Black Chicagoans are interested in archiving from their history. “Generations from now our great, great, great grandchildren will be able to tell our stories accurately because we did the work of preserving them right now,” said community engagement archivist Tanya Calvin.
Austin
Austin travel agency featured in university competition
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Graduate students at the University of Illinois at Chicago came up with a road map for Austin-based Gone Again Travel to survive the pandemic. Founder and CEO Crystal Dyer is hopeful about the future of her 22-year-old business.