AustinTalks (http://austintalks.org/author/zach-cunning/)
Austin native Marseil Jackson plans to open an art gallery, wellness lounge and recording studio along a stretch of Chicago Avenue being developed as the Soul City Corridor. He’s purchased a vacant building in the 5800 block of Chicago Avenue to house Soul City Studios, which after renovations he aims to open early next year.
Akua Njeri and Fred Hampton Jr., the fiance and son of Black Panther Party leader Fred Hampton Sr., attended a pre-release screening of “Judas and the Black Messiah” last week held at Kehrein Center for the Arts.
Sixty percent of the $1 million will go to street repairs and resurfacing in the ward. The rest of the projects to be funded – and listed here in order of popularity – are: street safety upgrades, community gardens, a fitness course at the Austin Town Hall, bike lanes, a mural in Columbus Park and public art at Sayre Language Academy. Nearly 400 residents voted this time around.
The Walmart Supercenter in Austin is offering COVID-19 vaccines, but some are concerned the mostly African American community isn’t taking advantage. City data shows 2,742 people in the 60639 ZIP code, where the Walmart is located, have received their first dose. At 3.1% of the ZIP code’s population, it’s among the lowest vaccination rates in the city.
Chicago has moved to phase 1B of vaccine distribution, which includes people 65 and over and many essential workers. While some people are jumping at the chance to get the two shots, concern remains over misinformation about the COVID-19 vaccine, especially among African Americans. The Westside Health Authority’s Good Neighbor Campaign held a meeting last week aimed at debunking misinformation and encouraging Austin residents to get vaccinated as soon as they can.
The Chicago Department of Planning and Development hosted two community roundtables last week to get West Side residents’ input on proposals for developing the Laramie State Bank and surrounding land. Attendees expressed concern over how the projects would grow wealth, benefit the Black community and ensure community engagement.
Residents of the 29th Ward have until Jan. 29th to vote on how $1 million in menu money will be spent. In addition to street repairs and surfacing, the money will be allocated for community projects. Residents will be able to choose up to five of seven projects, which include public art, community gardens, speed bumps and a fitness course at Austin Town Hall.
Residents of the 29th Ward will soon have the opportunity to vote on how to spend about $1 million in their community. The goal is for residents to be able to vote on several possible projects before the end of January.
Four years after her son’s murder, Sharita Galloway is still fighting for Chicago Police to solve his case. She said the person CPD identified as her son’s killer didn’t commit the crime, but detectives won’t listen to her. Victim advocates say it’s a problem for more than just Elijah Sims’ mother that police don’t communicate with family members, and that gives the impression they aren’t interested in solving cases.
The first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to be administered in Chicago were given at The Loretto Hospital Tuesday morning. Mayor Lightfoot hailed it as a milestone, but officials caution Chicago isn’t out of the woods yet. Also this week, Loretto announced it will be launching a coronavirus vaccine trial with a focus on minority populations. To learn more, tune in early next month to a virtual town hall the hospital will be holding.