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SPRING 2025
‘Our abundant community’
June 4, 2025
A conversation with Reesheda Graham Washington
FREE Vol. 39 No. 22
Help build something this summer
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson interview at Urban Essential Café on May 23.
Territory needs volunteers for its summer woodshop program By LEAH SCHROEDER Contributing Reporter
Territory, a youth-based design studio, didn’t have to look far to find the property they needed for their summer woodshop program. The Austin-based organization, where people build better futures for themselves and their communities, was in search of a woodshop conveniently located to their studio when they realized there was a functioning woodshop just down the street. Though the woodshop had been shuttered since 2018, after Territory revitalized the location in La Follette Park, it became the new home of their summer woodwork design program. “That particular space already exists in our community, but it wasn’t functional or active, and it just needed a little bit more care, a little bit more love to be up and running,” said Ashanti Leach, Territory’s community impact specialist, of the facility at 1333 N. Laramie Ave. The location will be used as a woodworking studio that Territory youth can use to bring their creative designs to life. The teens come up with their own project designs and see the building process through to the end. According to Nicole Castro, Territory’s lead facilitator, teens have expressed that this responSee WOODSHOP on page 6
2 years in, Mayor reflects on his impact on Austin
TODD BANNOR
Halfway through his term, Brandon Johnson breaks down successes and goals for his neighborhood By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter
May marked the halfway point of Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s four-year term. In honor of the milestone, Johnson, an Austin resident, sat down with
Austin Weekly News to outline what he’s accomplished so far in his neighborhood and the strides he still hopes to make – all while his local community shapes his citywide administration. “The influence that Austin has had on my leadership has been centered
around family and community as a whole. I’m going to show up for all of Chicago because that is the spirit of Austin. The strength of our neighborhood is quantified in the pride of our
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