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FREE Vol. 38 No. 12
March 20, 2024 ■ Also serving Garfield Park ■ austinweeklynews.com
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Holding parents responsible, page 8
North Lawndale celebrates, develops community
Lawndale Christian Development Corporation’s Lawndale United promotes local resources for affordable housing and co-op businesses that empower the neighborhood By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter
JESSICA MORDACQ
Deondre’ Rutues, the 15th District Council’s community engagement specialist, speaks at the council’s 10th monthly meeting.
15th District Council tackles issues of fentanyl, gun violence in Austin
Since its inception in 1987, the Lawndale Christian Development Corporation has worked to fulfill the church’s call for love and justice by addressing social issues and disparities throughout North Lawndale. A big part of that includes initiatives of creating affordable housing, co-op businesses and community organizing. “Our understanding of that calling is to com-
The council’s 10th meeting focused on public safety problems affecting West Side youth
See NORTH LAWNDALE on page 2
By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter
West Side
2024
A magazine for the West Side
The 15th District Council’s 10th meeting Thursday focused on Austin’s youth, centering the discussion on the fentanyl crisis and gun violence. One attendee started the meeting’s period of public comment asking about whether it was right for the Chicago Board of Education to vote to remove Chicago police officers from schools last month, adding that he knows of some
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Austin • Garfield Park • North Lawndale
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Lourdes Nicholls 708.613.3329 lourdes@oakpark.com
kids who have good relationships with their school’s police officers. “The optics of an armed officer can be a deterrent, a distraction, or can be perceived as a threat,” said Carmelita Earls, chair of the 15th District Council. Arewa Karen Winters, who spoke personally and not as the 15th District See 15TH DISTRICT on page 4 Publication Date: May 2024
Ben Stumpe 708.613.3330 ben@oakpark.com
West Side 2023/24
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