AustinTalks (http://austintalks.org/tag/community/page/12/)
The virtual session will be held from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Sept. 16 and hosted by Darlene Hightower. The event is sponsored by Rush’s office of community health equity and engagement. Email ahead of time to get participant password.
A group of about a dozen youth created their own quality-of-life plan for Austin this summer, modeled after a similar plan being implemented by Austin Coming Together. The youth’s plan focuses on public safety, mental health and youth empowerment, and will be unveiled later this fall by the group Territory.
The first showing will be from 3 to 5 p.m. Aug. 19, while the second showing will be from 6 to 8 p.m. There is a 30-vehicle capacity for both shows, which is sponsored by BUILD Chicago and Michele Clark Magnet High School. Enter on Leamington. Food will be available for purchase; you’re welcome to bring your own snacks and beverages. No smoking or alcohol is allowed. Restrooms will be available.
The Austin Adams Block Club hosted the event last weekend. They planted rose bushes along Adams Street, ate barbecue from Smoky Zo’s and were visited by the mayor. Another community event is planned for this Saturday.
West Side organizations hosted events in celebration of Juneteenth on Friday. Commemorating Juneteenth this year was seen as especially important in the wake of the national movements sparked by the police killing of George Floyd.
During Thursday’s event, organized by Action Now, leaders from community groups spoke about the need to empower black neighborhoods, heal divisions and affect lasting change. Deborah Harris, executive director of Action Now, said while they needed to “serve people right then and there,” the bigger mission is to start “rebuilding unity in the black community, rebuilding power in the black community, rebuilding resources of the black community.”
All are invited to gather at 1 p.m. June 4 at the former Emmet School, at the corner of Madison and Central, to pray and organize. Each of us is needed to restore justice and peace; rebuild West Side businesses; reduce violence and COVID-19; and strengthen relationships. Thursday’s event is sponsored by the Westside Health Authority, state Rep. La Shawn Ford, Alds. Chris Taliaferro and Emma Mitts, and faith-based leaders.
Raheem Cooper-Thomas, Cortez Watson Jr., Chukwuka John Okafo and Herb Howard have these questions on their minds: When do we fight back? How and when do we seek justice for all the lives lost? And when will we have any opportunity in this country?
Twenty-nine Austin community groups will receive more than $100,000 in grants from the Chicago Fund for Safe and Peaceful Communities program. The Austin organizations are among 164 grops throughout the West and South sides selected to receive a total of $1 million in grants.
The Chicago Police Department’s 15th District is encouraging residents and businesses to turn on their porch lights from 7 to 10 p.m. through Memorial Day in support of “heathy awareness and social distancing.”