AustinTalks (http://austintalks.org/category/news/page/28/)
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.
The facility at 5610 W. Lake St. will be getting up to $1.5 million in TIF money. That funding will partially cover costs associated with upgrading the building’s electrical service, improving ADA access, and remodeling and restoring parts of the interior including the auditorium.
Austin native John Fountain III shares his struggles with depression and urges African Americans to not be afraid to get help. “I’m never alone in the struggle. And neither are you.”
Five hundred doses will be available from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Feb. 27 at By The Hand Club For Kids, 415 N. Laramie Ave. Register ahead of time online or by calling.
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.
Learn more about the importance of getting vaccinated at a virtual town hall sponsored by The Loretto Hospital. Speaking at Wednesday night’s event will be the hospital’s president and CEO, George Miller Jr., and its chief clinical officer, Dr. Nikhila Juvvadi. Tune in at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 24.
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.
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.”
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.
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.