■
Longtime West Side politician gets building named in her honor
PAGE 3
FREE Vol. 37 No. 1
January 4, 2023
■
Also serving Garfield Park
■
austinweeklynews.com
@AustinWeeklyNews
@austinweeklynews
@AustinWeeklyChi
M Meett SSarahh H Hardnette, d tt page 6
As flooding increases, city wants basement housing safer
More frequent and severe storms in recent decades have put city’s immigrants and low-income people in basement units at increased risk By SIRI CHILUKURI Borderless
This story was originally published by Borderless Magazine. Sign up for their weekly newsletter to learn the latest about the Midwest’s immigrant communities.” This story is part of a collaborative series, from the Institute for Nonprofit News, Borderless Magazine and four other news partners, examining climate resilience across the Great Lakes. This reporting was made possible with support from the Joyce Foundation. Daniela* was relieved when she finally got an apartment on the North Side of Chicago in 2017. See FLOODING on page 5
SHANEL ROMAIN/Staff
Ald. Emma Mitts, center, helps Bethel New Life, Rush and Amazon officials, including Bethel CEO Sharif Walker, third from right, cut the ribbon on the new food pantry that opened in December.
Bethel New Life opens new pantry amid realignment
A new food hub with Amazon Fresh highlights Bethel’s new emphasis on partnerships amid downsizing that saw the nonprofit go from 350 employees to just eight
By SHANEL ROMAIN
Community Narrative Reporter
Sharif Walker, the president and CEO of Bethel New Life, one of the largest social service nonprofits on the West Side, has major ambitions for the organization, which has See FOOD PANTRY on page 8
Happy New Year! Kick your year off with fresh news! Sign up for FREE email updates at AustinWeeklyNews.com