Austin Weekly News

11/23/2024

Anyone who could use a hot meal in the spirit of Thanksgiving can show up at the Firehouse Grill parking lot.

With 200 or more people expected to show up for her Second Annual Thanksgiving Feed the Community event Saturday, Glam Chicago Executive Director LaTasha Henry and her team of volunteers and donors said they are ready to serve. “I expect a large turnout,” Henry told the Austin Weekly News. “We...

11/22/2024

For women like Catelyn, Deborah’s Place represents a fresh start. Having fled domestic violence on the East Coast, she was the victim of a violent crime here in Chicago and suffered an episode of psychosis because of these traumatic experiences. After all this, she found refuge and support in a 120-day transitional program at Deborah’s Place.

Click below for more on Deborah's Place and more Season of Giving!

For women like Catelyn, Deborah’s Place represents a fresh start. Having fled domestic violence on the East Coast, she was the victim of a violent crime here in Chicago and suffered an episode of psychosis because of these traumatic experiences. After all this, she found refuge and support in a 12...

11/21/2024

In the past six years the Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation has been inspired by the generosity of our residents and neighbors. We see how collectively we can transform and modernize philanthropy. And with courage, the Foundation is pursuing new avenues to do just that — to uphold our promise to be of better service to our partners, and to the greater west side. We’re all in this together.

Click below for more on the Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation and more Season of Giving!

In the past six years the Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation has been inspired by the generosity of our residents and neighbors. We see how collectively we can transform and modernize philanthropy. And with courage, the Foundation is pursuing new avenues to do just that — to uphold our pro...

11/21/2024

Here are the giveaways around town before the holiday

Several spots around the West Side of Chicago and western suburbs are giving away turkeys and other items ahead of Thanksgiving.

11/21/2024

Close to buying your first house? Growing Community Media is hosting a free event to help you learn about inspections, appraisals, title searches and other important tasks to make your purchase go smoothly.

Our panel features a real estate agent who has coached many clients, a social justice nonprofit focused on housing and a local person who checked every box on the list.

For more information visit: https://www.austinweeklynews.com/2024/10/30/at-home-events/

And check out some pictures from our last event by Buzz McBride.

11/20/2024

"We were persistent and consistent, and we started to see the change. Now, he now has a stipend job at BUILD, he has a community of support here. His mom says his behavior has improved. He comes to work every day like he’s supposed to. He’s not disruptive at home. He’s not disruptive at school. So, it takes time but BUILD works."

Click below for more on BUILD Chicago and more Season of Giving!

D is 16, and had been struggling with low self-esteem and trust, hanging around the wrong group of guys. So early on in our relationship, the four of us took him and his mother grocery shopping: they were so amazed. ‘Nobody ever did this for us,’ D said, looking up with tears in his eyes. ‘Man...

11/20/2024

The Steans Family Foundation is expanding support for entrepreneurs and opening public spaces

The Steans Family Foundation is expanding support for entrepreneurs and opening public spaces in North Lawndale.

11/20/2024

Looking to make a meaningful impact in your community? Discover how volunteering or supporting local nonprofits can bring positive change.

Explore our Joyful Giving Catalog with everything you need to know to create a better world!

Browse, read, and learn more at austinweeklynews.com/2024/11/04/joyful-giving-catalog-2024

Everything you need to know for a better world. Browse, read, and learn more about our local nonprofit organizations. Animal Care League Animal Care League offers a safe haven for pets in need.  Rooted in the community since 1973, Animal Care League takes a proactive approach to animal care and ado...

11/19/2024

West Suburban Medical Center officials say they’ll replace the fence in spring, but locals are skeptical

West Suburban Medical Center officials say they’ll replace the fence in spring, but locals are skeptical about it

11/19/2024

Austin Coming Together (ACT)’s Austin Community Hub connects Austin residents to resources. At the 5th annual graduation party they hosted alongside the 600 N. Lorel Block Club, local youth were celebrating when Marshall Douthard Jr. shared his passion for architecture and construction.

“[At the graduation,] I thought we were just going to get a round of applause for graduating high school – Mr. Shields did more than that. He recognized us and gifted us with tokens of appreciation for our accomplishments. This motivated me to keep going. I really did not expect it,” Marshall said.

Click below for more on Austin Coming Together and more Season of Giving!

Austin Coming Together (ACT)’s Austin Community Hub connects Austin residents to resources. At the 5th annual graduation party they hosted alongside the 600 N. Lorel Block Club, local youth were celebrating when Marshall Douthard Jr. shared his passion for architecture and construction.

11/18/2024

Tony and Taneka Anderson want to bring more businesses to Austin after a year with their restaurant, event space and boutique

Tony and Taneka Anderson want to bring more businesses to Austin after a year with TNT Rooftop Restaurant, an event space and boutique.

11/18/2024

CAYR (pronounced “care”) stands for “Come As You Are.” CAYR Connections’ goal is to promote neurodiversity, the natural variation in human brains, and educate our community about ways to be more inclusive, accepting, and affirming of neurodivergent people (e.g., Autistic, ADHD, Dyslexic, etc.) Many late-diagnosed folks like Megan have found that as they accept and embrace their neurodivergence, they feel positive impacts on their mental health and well-being.

Click below for more on CAYR Connections and more Season of Giving!

“I discovered that I was Autistic only after my daughter’s diagnosis. I always knew that I was different, but I didn’t know why. I struggled to fit into a world that didn’t make sense and learned to ‘mask’ or ‘camouflage’ my neurodivergent traits, which impacted my mental health. Lea...

11/15/2024

Here’s what we learned

Last November, Austin Weekly News launched a new project called “At Home on the Greater West Side.” Our goal was to demystify the homebuying process, specifically for residents of Austin, West Garfield Park and North Lawndale and the surrounding suburbs.

11/15/2024

There are countless programs on the neighborhood, city, county, state and national level that can help you buy a house and invest in your community.

Homeownership offers many benefits to individuals, families and the wider community. Owning a home is one way to create generational wealth and invest in your neighborhood. It can create housing stability in a tumultuous rental market and stave off the displacement effects of gentrification.

11/14/2024

These programs are helping homeowners restore them

In the first third of the 20th century, Chicago’s population more than doubled—and with it, the city’s architecture and housing stock transformed. Developers erected high-rise luxury apartment buildings for the city’s wealthier residents while immigrants and poorer Chicagoans were crowded in...

11/14/2024

Tenants of a South Austin rental building say their new landlord has raised rents by hundreds of dollars but is not addressing hazardous conditions.

Last Thursday, renters rallied outside the three-story, block-long apartment complex at 5334-5362 W. Madison St., calling on manager WPD Management to halt rent increases and eviction filings and to make necessary repairs to their apartments.

The company has notified tenants or rent increases between $300 and $800 for some apartments, tenants said. The company has also filed a dozen eviction cases against renters, according to the Metropolitan Tenants Organization.

Full story: https://www.austinweeklynews.com/2024/11/11/south-austin-tenants-demand-repairs-as-new-owners-spike-rent/

✏: Emeline Posner
📸: Yesenia Esteban/Metropolitan Tenants Organization

11/13/2024

While Strides for Peace’s annual Race Against Gun Violence is a way for grassroots gun violence prevention organizations to raise money, its second annual gun violence prevention expo allows these organizations to connect with each other — and with young people.

Strides for Peace is putting on its 2nd annual event at the University of Illinois Chicago’s Dorin Forum Nov. 21

11/13/2024

Basketball with a twist, a beekeeper in Lawndale, and tools for your next DIY project. See what's inside our Fall 2024 edition of West Side Magazine!

www.austinweeklynews.com/2024/11/10/fall-2024-west-side-magazine/

A news site committed to in-depth reporting on issues concerning the Austin neighborhood located on the West Side of Chicago, Illinois.