AustinTalks (http://austintalks.org/tag/chicago/page/8/)
West Side community leaders, elected officials and relatives who’ve lost loved ones rallied at the Green Line Central station Saturday before marching to Laramie and Jackson, where two men were killed earlier this month on the steps of Friendship Baptist Church.
West Siders are invited to a birthday celebration and tribute 10:30 a.m. July 18 to the South African leader. The event, which will be held at 4800 W. Chicago Ave., is sponsored by state Rep. La Shawn Ford, Westside Health Authority, CBC, West Side Historic Preservation Society, Institute for Nonvioence Chicago, New Jerusalem Lodge of M.W.P.H.G.L. of Illinois, Ceasefire, SSF AVE 72, Tia L. Ford, West Side Democracy for America, Saint Martin De Porres and Fathers Who Care.
The seven – all located along Chicago Avenue, the “Soul City Corridor” – are receiving more than $558,000 out of $5 million being distributed citywide under the new Retail Thrive Zone program.
Ben’s Bar-Be-Cue, located at 5931 W. North Ave., may be the first Austin restaurant to be part of the annual food festival, which runs from July 5-9.
The public is invited to the see the documentary “Heading West: A History of African Americans on Chicago’s West Side” and participate in a post-screening discussion at Garfield Park Conservatory.
Eighty-eight people were slain in Chicago’s most-populated neighborhood.
The Chicago Department of Planning and Development is accepting applications through Jan. 31st from 33 neighborhoods in all.
About 155,000 households are eligible for a rebate of up to $200 and can apply through Friday, Dec. 30th.
Call now to reserve tickets for the Dec. 2nd event, which will include time for attendees to share their own family stories.
A coalition of West Side groups, elected officials, clergy members and others urge the West Side to unite in fighting violence and helping young people.