AustinTalks (http://austintalks.org/category/news/)
Saturday’s virtual workforce readiness festival is being held in collaboration with Mi Casa Holiday, Your Passion 1st and BUILD. The goal is to get young creatives – ages 15 to 24 – in touch with industry professionals and cultivating their passions. There will be limited seating at the event, which will also be streamed on the app MeetAppGo.
Reesheda Graham Washington, the keynote speaker at this year’s multi-faith Thanksgiving service organized by the Community of Congregations and held Sunday night on Facebook Live, urged nearly 100 attendees to pattern their lives after Jesus. “How might we get curious about living a more abundant life?” asked the serial entrepreneur who operates Live Café in Oak Park.
An empty and under-utilized lot is being transformed into a vibrant space for residents and businesses to set up shop and relax. Once finished, the lot will have a basketball court, a plaza for pop-up markets, a lawn for seating, a spot for food trucks and a mural painted by local artists.
A “no shave” in November event will bring men together to talk about their health while raising awareness about cancer. Stop by AJ Styles Beauty & Barber Salon, 6624 W. North Ave., from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 22. Also this month, uninsured and underinsured Austin residents can get a free prostate screening at Loretto Hospital.
Last week’s meeting, held via Zoom was the second of two “community conversations” the Chicago Police Department is holding as it crafts a strategic plan for 2021. Each district is coming up with a plan as part of the consent decree the department signed in March 2019 with the U.S. Department of Justice.
Antonia “Toni” Ruppert, an Austin native, has been selected as the neighborhood’s artist in residence. The new city program, under INVEST South/West, will place artists in four communities throughout the city.
The event, held virtually and at the Kehrein Center for the Arts and presented by the Austin Renaissance Council, highlighted the importance of storytelling with panel discussions, poetry and musical guests. It prompted uncomfortable conversations, emphasizing the importance of Austin residents taking control of their narratives.
Gov J.B. Pritzker visited L. May Creations, an event space on Chicago Avenue, last week to announce the release of millions of dollars in emergency relief funding. L. May Creations is one of 4,000 businesses across the state that has received a grant. There is about $175 million left to distribute, state officials say.
A new 62-by-16-foot mural in Austin reminds the community of its roots, said David Rodriguez, program manager at Youth Outreach Services. The mural can be seen on the outside of YOS’ building at 5910 W. Division St. Stop by and check it out.
The Kehrein Center for the Arts will be hosting the event on Thursday, Nov. 5 to discuss systemic racism and the history of disinvestment in Austin. The symmposium will be held virtually from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Register now.
More than 100 students from civics classes on Chicago’s West and Northwest sides are mobilizing people to vote in the Nov. 3rd election. They’ve been calling potential voters and handing out campaign literature even though many of them aren’t old enough to vote themselves.
