■ Ford promotes Harris PAGE 8
FREE Vol. 38 No. 35
August 28, 2024 ■ Also serving Garfield Park ■ austinweeklynews.com
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Austin’s violence issue overshadowed by DNC, advocates say Members of the 15th Police District Council say a safety plan is needed but ignored by Democratic leaders By DEBORAH BAYLISS Contributing Reporter
As Chicago Police and other city resources were mobilized for the Democratic National Convention this week, members of the 15th Police District Council held a news conference Wednesday to highlight possible solutions to the ongoing violence in the Austin community. Speaking from inside the Brian Pickett Funeral Home, during a Wednesday evening where the press conference was held – just a few feet away from a white casket used to symbolize the constant occurrence of deaths in the community due to gun violence and other violent crimes – Deondre’ Ruteus, community engagement specialist for the 15th Chicago Police District Council, said he and others wanted to shine light on the violence in Austin. See VIOLENCE on page 4
A i T Austin Town Hall H ll Farmers Market, page 4
Simone Merrick, a youth ambassador, gives her graduation speech at the Youth Ambassador celebration on Aug. 23.
Youth ambassadors apply life skills to their community
SAM TUCKE TUCKER
Now they will build on what they learned, promote civic engagement By SAM TUCKER Contributing Reporter
The Island has 13 new youth ambassadors, newly trained in life skills and ways to help and promote their community. On Friday, Aug. 23, the group, who range in age from 12 to 15, celebrated the completion of the Island Civic Association Youth Ambassador’s summer
program, designed to teach the participants life-skills and civic engagement. The program pays youth to attend workshops and organize local events with the expectation they will use their new skills in school and beyond. The Island is a portion of Austin south of the Eisenhower Expressway. Dr. Deondre Rutues, a resident of The Island and a volunteer leader, said the program aims to give youth
SEPTEMBER 13-14, 2024
a head start in community building. He said that he’s seen block clubs in The Island dissolve and as community members age, he doesn’t see many opportunities for youth to “pick up the baton.” This program, he said, helps fill the gap. “It’s just this opportunity, in a nutshell, to have them become the face of See AMBASSADORS on page 2