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Residents can donate homemade cloth masks at 29th Ward Ald. Chris Taliaferro’s office and several West Side churches on Tuesdays and Saturdays between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. from April 25 through May 16.
Austin is the only West Side neighborhood city officials are targeting in the campaign, which aims to address the disproportionate impact the global pandemic has had on African American communities. The city will host a tele-town hall for Austin residents this Saturday, April 25 from 12:30 to 2 p.m. Austin Coming Together (@act.chicago) will live stream the town hall through its social media platforms.
The coronavirus has hit Austin businesses hard. Many are having trouble paying their bills and wonder if they’ll be able to reopen once the state’s stay-at-home order is lifted.
Attorneys will be taking calls from the public and offering legal advice from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, April 18. Calls will be accepted through the Chicago Bar Association’s “call a lawyer” program at (312) 554-2001.
The aim of the “Mask up and Live Campaign” is to educate African Americans on the deadly impact of the coronavirus, which has killed more than 1,000 people in Illinois, and supply residents with masks.
There are programs available in Austin for people who want to continue treatment or seek help for the first time. Austin native Jerome McNutt, who’s been sober for 19 months, says he’s taking things one day at a time and encourages others to do the same. “This is a good time to get your life right.”
A Safe Haven, state Rep. La Shawn Ford and Veteran One Stop Shop is holding a Facebook and Instagram live fundraiser April 15 from 7 to 10 p.m.
Four Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) in Chicago – including PCC Community Wellness Center, which operates two sites in Austin, and the Lawndale Christian Health Center – will expand testing on the West and South sides over the next several days to an additional 400 tests per day.
Longtime Austin resident, lover of barbecue and community leader Adrew Betts has died from complications of the coronavirus. The longtime member of Greater St. John Bible Church leaves behind three children, six grandchildren and many friends.
While fewer people are illegally gathering than before, 15th District Commander Yolanda Talley says residents must stop congregating outside. “People in our community need to take this a lot more seriously,” Talley said of the state’s nearly 3-week-old, stay-at-home order.