■ January is Poverty Awareness Month PAGE 9
FREE Vol. 39 No. 1
January 8, 2025 ■ Also serving Garfield Park ■ austinweeklynews.com
West Siders work to reinstate midwifery birthing privileges at West Sub Midwives, told in November they would no longer be allowed to deliver babies, now have the option under OB/GYN supervision By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter
The future of midwives who once delivered babies at West Suburban Medical Center is still uncertain as community members fight to reinstate their services. West Siders, public officials and staff working at West Suburban Medical Center held a press conference at the hospital Jan. 6 to continue speaking out against the loss of midwives and family medicine doctors’ birthing privileges, which were repealed last month. These medical professionals are a part of the PCC Community Wellness Center, which West Suburban contracts for services. Many locals say this move reveals the stark truth about birthing inequity on the West Side of Chicago, since PCC’s labor and delivery services offered comprehensive birth plans for patients living there. “This is more than a policy failure – it’s a blatant attack on the health and dignity of women in our communities,” said 1st District Cook County Commissioner Tara Stamps in a statement announcing the press conference. “When community hospitals end 30-year partnerships with anchor organizations, like PCC Wellness See WEST SUB on page 8
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Kenn Cook Jr Jr. named Legler Library’s 2025 artist-in-residence page 6
The Joy of nursing PROVIDED
Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center recognizes Austin resident Joy Adams for her commitment, passion and the smile that never dims By JESSICA MORDACQ | Staff Reporter At the end of 2024, Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center in Lakeview announced its nurse of year: Joy Adams, an Austin resident known for her warmth and effervescent smile.
Adams has worked at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center for about 7 years. Today, she’s a registered nurse in surgical intensive care, where she supports patients recovering from surgery and critical medical events, and See JOY ADAMS on page 4
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