Southwest Side Stories

By The Southwest Collective

The Southwest Collective brings you stories of our neighbors doing extraordinary things on the southwest side of Chicago.

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Episode 11: Addressing food insecurity through mutual aid

Southwest Side StoriesJan 03, 2022

00:00

45:55

Episode 19: Chicago’s historic Acero charter school strike

Caroline Rutherford, Bethany Rouke, and Daniria Dukes of United Educators for Justice talk about the historic 2018 strike against the Acero charter school network.

This was the first charter school strike in U.S. history, with much of the action focused on the southwest side, where 9 of the 15 schools in the Acero network are located.

Union negotiators won significant gains in 2018, and are seeking to both protect those gains and expand on them in their upcoming contract.

United Educators for Justice website:
https://www.ctulocal1.org/union/ctu-acts/united-educators-justice-acero

New York Times article on the 2018 strike:
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/04/us/chicago-charter-strike.html

Block Club Chicago article on the 2018 strike:
https://blockclubchicago.org/2018/12/10/charter-strike-over-acero-uno-chicago

Music: 101 chillin beat by BeatMachine (c) copyright 2021. Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.
http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/BeatMachine/63349

Sep 12, 202221:30

Episode 18: Envisioning protected bike lanes on Archer ... and beyond

Alex Perez, an Advocacy Manager with the Active Transportation Alliance, talks about the state of our streets on the southwest side (not good) and the potential for new infrastructure like protected bike lanes and greenways (sorely needed).

Major streets like Pulaski and Archer can be especially dangerous for cyclists, which is one reason why the Southwest Collective plans monthly bike rides that stick exclusively to the side streets and only cross major streets at a traffic light or a stop sign.

SWC’s next monthly community bike ride, Aug. 6 at Gage Park:
https://fb.me/e/4FL5e9cVr

Active Trans website:
https://activetrans.org

Story map of conditions along Chicago’s spoke routes (including Archer):
https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/f410863dfa0d46ad830518f7b99b1bea

Block Club article on fatal crash in Clearing:
https://blockclubchicago.org/2022/06/28/15-year-old-bicyclist-dies-after-a-truck-driver-hit-him-on-the-southwest-side-last-week/

Aug 01, 202224:17

Episode 17: Fighting for fair working conditions at El Milagro

Jose Uribe, a Workplace Justice Campaigns Organizer with Arise Chicago, and Alfredo Benedetti, a food production worker with El Milagro Tortillas, talk about the Sept. 2021 walkout at the famous factory in Little Village and subsequent gains for El Milagro Workers.

They describe harsh working conditions and sub-standard pay, and remind all workers of the rights and protections they enjoy, regardless of their immigration status.

This interview was conducted in both Spanish and English, with periodic translation throughout.

Arise Chicago: https://www.arisechicago.org

Block Club Chicago article on initial walkout: https://blockclubchicago.org/2021/09/24/el-milagro-employees-locked-out-of-factory-during-walkout-while-protesting-pay-working-conditions

Block Club Chicago article on recent victories: https://blockclubchicago.org/2022/04/11/el-milagro-workers-announce-wage-and-schedule-wins-after-months-of-organizing

Democracy Now segment: https://youtu.be/r6RddssgsJY

Jul 25, 202223:52

Episode 16: Organizing for safe neighborhoods, one block at a time

Monse Ayala, the Community Organizing Supervisor with Increase the Peace and La Casa Norte, talks about working with young leaders, responding to violence, and building community on the southwest side.

She urges everybody to get involved by getting to know their neighbors, reaching out to community-based organizations, and demanding more out of their elected officials.

Increase the Peace:
https://www.increasethepeacechicago.org

La Casa Norte:
https://www.lacasanorte.org

3rd Annual Black & Brown Unity Car Parade livestream:
https://fb.watch/dtb_RWzxC9

Block party permit information: https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/cdot/provdrs/construction_information/svcs/block_party_permitinformation.html

Jun 06, 202236:03

Episode 15: What’s cooler than being cool? (ICE COLD!)

De Colores Ice Cream & Coffee Shop co-owner Dolores Zaragoza Lopez talks to us about her family-run and community-focused small business in Archer Heights.

Dolores also regularly showcases paintings and other art from local artists. Looking to spruce up your walls? Stop by the corner of 49th and Archer, and check it out!

De Colores Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/DeColoresChicago

De Colores Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/decoloresneveria

🍨🍦🍨🍦🍨

May 02, 202212:30

Episode 14: Breaking ground on the LeClaire Courts redevelopment

Cabrera Capital principal and LeClaire Courts redevelopment project lead Mark Kirincich talks about the ambitious plan to build housing, a federally qualified health center, and a grocery store at the site of the former low-rise public housing project.

Project information from Cabrera Capital:
https://www.cabreracapital.com/leclaire/

Block Club Chicago article:
https://blockclubchicago.org/2021/10/15/major-development-with-700-units-grocery-store-and-more-could-spark-change-on-southwest-side-alderman-says/

Chicago historian Sherman “Dilla” Thomas on TikTok:
https://www.tiktok.com/@6figga_dilla?lang=en

Music: 101 chillin beat by BeatMachine (c) copyright 2021. Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.
http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/BeatMachine/63349

Apr 11, 202229:48

Episode 13: Werk Mija ... small business beyond brick and mortar

Werk Mija founder Xochitl Carmona talks about starting a new Latina-owned lifestyle brand in late 2020, encouraging other entrepreneurs to follow their dreams, and using both social media and in-person pop-up events to grow her business.

Check out the Werk Mija website for tops, coffee mugs, bags, and more.

Werk Mija website:
https://werkmija.com

Werk Mija shop:
https://werkmija.com/collections/shop-all

Social media: Follow @werkmija on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and Twitter

Mar 07, 202227:28

Episode 12: The hidden history of school desegregation in Ashburn

Ismael Cuevas talks about an ugly fight over school desegregation in 1977, in which a vocal group of white parents in Scottsdale and Ashburn made it clear that they did not want Black students attending their neighborhood public schools. Ismael grew up in Scottsdale, but never heard about this particular history until he started researching his neighborhood.

South Side Weekly article:
https://southsideweekly.com/a-history-of-school-desegregation-in-the-far-southwest-side/

New York Times coverage from 1977:
https://www.nytimes.com/1977/09/09/archives/more-whites-picket-over-chicago-busing-but-students-in-transfer.html

https://www.nytimes.com/1977/09/13/archives/chicago-police-escort-students-after-clash-at-antibusing-rally-two.html

https://www.nytimes.com/1977/09/15/archives/busing-protests-curbed-in-chicago.html

https://www.nytimes.com/1977/09/19/archives/both-sides-in-busing-fight-charge-chicago-mayor-lacks-leadership.html

Unrecorded Malvina Reynolds song lyrics:
http://people.wku.edu/charles.smith/MALVINA/mr276.htm

Feb 07, 202235:10

Episode 11: Addressing food insecurity through mutual aid

Cosmos Ray of Bronzeville/Kenwood Mutual Aid and Graciela Guzmán of Belmont Cragin Mutual Aid talk about their work with the Chicagoland Food Sovereignty Coalition. Starting in the early days of the pandemic, the Southwest Collective worked with CFSC to distribute food through the USDA Famers to Families Food Box program. Staring January 15, 2022, the Collective will distribute fresh produce through a FREE Farmer's Market at Garfield Ridge Baptist Church (5520 S. Narragansett).

Facebook event for Jan. 15 farmer's market:
https://fb.me/e/1mcBlAXF8

Chicagoland Food Sovereignty Coalition website:
https://www.chifoodsovereignty.com

Donate to the CFSC new warehouse fund:
https://bitly.com/newhomein2022

Donate to CFSC general funds:
https://bit.ly/DonateCFSC

Volunteer with CFSC:
https://bit.ly/CFSCvolunteer

Donate food to CFSC:
https://bit.ly/CFSC-Food-Donation

Contact CFSC:
chifoodsovereignty@gmail.com or (312) 971-7195

Jan 03, 202245:55

Episode 10: Building community at Eberhart Elementary

Eberhart Elementary parent (and former teacher) Alejandra Frausto talks about the tight-knit community at this large CPS school in Chicago Lawn. She also discusses the well-publicized failure of Aramark to ensure an adequate number of custodians for Eberhart; how parents, teachers, and administrators decided to take matters into their own hands; and why it's important to view these types of incidents as the structural problems they are.

Eberhart Elementary website:
http://eberhart.cps.edu

Chicago Sun-Times story on Eberhart community clean-up:
https://chicago.suntimes.com/2021/10/29/22753119/eberhart-elementary-school-dirty-schools-cps-chicago-public-schools

Martin Luther King, Jr. Living Memorial:
https://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/parks-facilities/martin-luther-king-jr-living-memorial

Music: 101 chillin beat by BeatMachine (c) copyright 2021. Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.
http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/BeatMachine/63349

Dec 06, 202145:36

Episode 9: Who are these guys, anyway?

Podcast hosts Alberto Requena and Dixon Galvez-Searle take a break from interviewing their neighbors to interview each other. They get into growing up in Chicago; organizing in Archer Heights and on the broader southwest side; and their hopes for our shared communities.

Chicago Sun-Times article on cannabis education:
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/2021/4/22/22397825/marijuana-hemp-olive-harvey-college-greenhouse-legalized-cannabis-industry-jobs

South Side Weekly piece on the old Miami Bowl lot:
https://southsideweekly.com/best-of-archer-heights-west-elsdon-2020/#best-blank-canvas

Learn more about improved Medicare for All:
https://pnhp.org/what-is-single-payer/faqs/

Nov 08, 202121:41

Episode 8: History as it happens; lessons from the pandemic

Seventh grade social studies teacher Eric Haak talks about his more than two decades teaching at Edwards Elementary in Archer Heights (where his father also taught); remote learning during COVID; and returning to the classroom during the 2021-22 school year.

Edwards Elementary website:
https://edwardsib.org

Chicago history with Sherman Dilla Thomas:
https://www.tiktok.com/@6figga_dilla

Music: 101 chillin beat by BeatMachine (c) copyright 2021. Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.
http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/BeatMachine/63349

Oct 25, 202133:38

Episode 7: Truck around and find out; how industry impacts our communities

Environmental advocate Rolando Favela talks about the large (and growing) number of trucks traveling down residential streets on the southwest side; their impact on traffic and air quality; and what residents can do to get involved and organize for change.

Block Club article on Hilco's distribution center opening in Little Village:
https://blockclubchicago.org/2021/07/27/as-hilcos-target-warehouse-opens-activists-dread-more-pollution-truck-traffic-in-little-village-our-community-is-being-sacrificed

Sun-Times article on Amazon purchasing Central Steel & Wire property in Gage Park:
https://chicago.suntimes.com/business/2021/7/14/22577872/amazon-buys-sw-side-property-for-35-million

Openlands guide to how to get trees planted in your neighborhood:
https://openlands.org/2021/04/30/how-to-get-trees-planted-in-your-chicago-neighborhood

Music: 101 chillin beat by BeatMachine (c) copyright 2021. Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.
http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/BeatMachine/63349

Oct 11, 202118:06

Episode 6: What makes our neighborhoods iconic?

Designer Steve Shanabruch talks about his long-running Chicago Neighborhoods project designing logos for Chicago's official community areas...as well as some that the city missed. He also discusses his current project, a series of WPA-inspired Chicago tourism posters.

Southwest side neighborhood logos:
https://www.thechicagoneighborhoods.com/neighborhoods/tag/Southwest+Side

Chicago neighborhood tourism posters:
https://www.thechicagoneighborhoods.com/neighborhood-tourism-series

CBS Chicago news story on Marquette Park playground:
https://chicago.cbslocal.com/2021/09/14/marquette-park-playground-fixed-alderman-david-moore-chicago-park-district/

Music: 101 chillin beat by BeatMachine (c) copyright 2021. Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.
http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/BeatMachine/63349

Sep 27, 202140:26

Episode 5: Youth programming from sports to STEM...and beyond

Youth organizers Elizabeth Cardona and Stephanie Arriaga talk about the comprehensive *in-person* programming for young people offered by Astrrongu Southwest Youth Council. Services range from sports and recreation to STEM and community service, just to name a few. If you or somebody you know could benefit, please reach out to them today!

Astrrongu Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/AstrronguSWYC

Latino Organization of the Southwest (LOS) Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/Latinoorganizationofthesouthwest

Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture:
https://balzekasmuseum.org

Sep 13, 202115:20

Episode 4: Public health and vaccination during the COVID-19 pandemic

Dr. Jasmine Saavedra, a pediatrician at Esperanza Health Centers, talks about public health on the southwest side, our response to COVID-19, and the importance of vaccination. She also answers questions about children under 12 (who cannot be vaccinated yet) going back to school.

FREE at-home COVID-19 vaccination appointments:
https://bit.ly/AtHomeVaccine

Esperanza Health Centers, which operates five clinics across the southwest side:
https://www.esperanzachicago.org

Livestream of SWC's Aug. 21 back-to-school event at Pasteur Elementary:
https://fb.watch/7HybEGkcUc/

Music: 101 chillin beat by BeatMachine (c) copyright 2021. Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.
http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/BeatMachine/63349

Aug 30, 202140:55

Episode 3: Savory and sweet southwest side restaurants

Two Archer Heights restaurant owners talk about the sweet and the savory side of running a small business on the southwest side, and the connections they've built with the community.

Angelo's Stuffed Pizza (4850 S. Pulaski) has been delivering pizzas for nearly 30 years and has become a neighborhood staple, while Borinken Cakes (5328 S. Archer) is an exciting new addition to the area.

More info on these businesses at http://www.angelosstuffedpizza.com and https://www.borinkencakes.com.

Aug 16, 202120:20

Episode 2: Building and growing the Southwest Collective

Southwest Collective founder and executive director Jaime Groth Searle talks about building something new on Chicago's southwest side, bringing nearby neighborhoods together, and delivering for the community during the COVID-19 pandemic.

FREE at-home COVID-19 vaccination appointments:
https://bit.ly/AtHomeVaccine

Block Club article on Divvy expansion:
https://blockclubchicago.org/2021/07/08/divvy-expanding-across-northwest-southwest-sides-with-more-stations-and-bike-lanes-coming

Where to buy Ricola for Dixon's untimely cough:
https://www.ricola.com/en-us/products/assortment/all-products?ps-open

Aug 02, 202155:47

Episode 1: Organizing for racial justice in Garfield Ridge, and beyond

Youth organizers Nicola Augustyn, David Ruiz, and Ariana Ascencio discuss planning a Black Lives Matter protest, and a subsequent Juneteenth march, in the southwest side neighborhood of Garfield Ridge during the summer of 2020.

Chicago Sun-Times news article: https://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/2020/6/4/21281022/garfield-ridge-protest-chicago-police-black-lives-matter

Chicago Sun-Times interviews with protesters: https://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/2020/6/5/21280918/chicago-george-floyd-protesters-speak-out

Special thanks to De Colores Ice Cream & Coffee Shop for letting us use their space to record: https://www.facebook.com/DeColoresChicago

Jul 19, 202149:46