■ It Takes a Village early childhood center opens PAGE 6
FREE Vol. 38 No. 42
October 16, 2024 ■ Also serving Garfield Park ■ austinweeklynews.com
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New Austin Family Health Center opens on West Side
General Election Guide Page 11
Mayor Brandon Johnson addresses the event at Moore Park Fieldhouse.
The new facility will serve anyone regardless of income By ZOË TAKAKI Contributing Reporter
The Austin Family Health Center on Lake Street is expected to open its doors to patients on Monday to provide a wide variety of health services to the Austin community. The healthcare nonprofit PCC Community Wellness Center built the new, state-of-the-art facility. “From the moment that our first patient walks through the door on Monday morning, throughout their entire experience through the entire facility, our goal is to address the whole person, body, mind and spirit,” said President and CEO of PCC Community Wellness Center, Alyssa Sianghio at the ribbon cutting Thursday. The facility will offer services that include primary care, diabetes and chronic disease management, substance abuse treatment and mental health services. There are also a number of spaces dedicated to promote healthy lifestyles, including a wellness center, a test kitchen to teach residents about healthy diets, and a classroom for education and events. “This is a space for the community and affords See HEALTH CENTER on page 3
City set to launch the West Side ‘People’s Plan’
Crime reduction will take a block-by-block approach, tackling root causes By SAM TUCKER Contributing Reporter
Three grassroots organizations will be involved in an intensified hyperlocal approach to public safety on the West Side, the city announced Tuesday. A fourth will be conducted on the South Side.
Mayor Brandon Johnson and his staff made his announcement Oct. 8 when he hosted a public meeting at the Moore Park Fieldhouse with the Austin community to update the People’s Plan for Community Safety, a new strategy to reduce crime and violence in Chicago’s highest-risk communities.
The mayor said that the Chicago Westside Branch NAACP will work in Austin, Teamwork Englewood in Englewood, and Beyond the Ball in South Lawndale. A “community convener” for West Garfield Park will be announced later, he said. See CRIME on page 10
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Injustice Watch’s guide to the 2024 Cook County judicial elections