AustinWeeklyNews_112625

Hope Center completes frame, celebrates with ‘topping-o ’ ceremony

Final beam placed on new children’s health facility, a rst for the West Side

By JESSICA MORDAC Staff Reporter

A crane lifted the final beam of the Austin HOPE Center onto the frame of the building on Nov. 17, completing the internal structure of the West Side first standalone pediatric specialty and behavioral health facility.

The 25,000-square-foot building W. Chicago Ave is expected to be completed in late summer next year. Then, Lurie Children’s Hospital will rent space in the building from Stone Community Development Corporation Neighborhood Initiatives to provide youth in and around Austin with af able, high-quality primary ioral health resources, and services children with chronic diseases.

“Let this beam be a banner of symbol of unity and a reminder that, when community comes together, transformation follows,” said Pastor Contrell Jenkins,

Constuction workers guide the nal beam into place at the topping-o ceremony for the new Austin HOPE Center on Nov. 17.

See HOPE CENTER on pa ge 8

Entertainment apprentices train for lm and TV careers

Writers’ rooms, acting workshops and professional-level training for industry hopefuls

By HECTOR CERVANTES Contributing Reporter

Chicago teens and young adults are getting a direct path into film and television careers thanks to the new Entertainment Industry Apprenticeship Program, a hands-on training initiative launched this year by Hollywood producer and South Side native Denita Patterson. Through Destiny Outreach’s Dreams and Destiny curriculum, apprentices receive industrylevel workshops, professional development and paid placements designed to open doors that

See ENTERTAINMENT on pa ge 9

The Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation is committed to supporting, creating, and implementing solutions identified in our landmark Community Voices report. Our 2024-25 Community Grants recipients are advancing the strategic priority of mental and behavioral health for youth and young adults.

Our community and those who work tirelessly to support it need your help — we hope you will consider them in your year-end giving.

We recognize and celebrate the Community Grants Cohort:

• A Greater Good Foundation

• &Rise

• Austin Coming Together

• BUILD

• Dominican University

• Family Service and Mental Health Center of Cicero

• The Firehouse Dream

• Front Porch Arts Center

• Kehrein Center for the Arts Foundation

• Kinfolk CoLab

• Maywood Fine Arts

• Nehemiah Community Project

• New Moms

• Race Conscious Dialogues

• Thrive Counseling Center

• YEMBA

• Youth Crossroads

• Youth Outreach Services

ACT awards honor leaders in Austin

They were recognized during Austin Coming Together’s annual membership event

By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter

Austin Coming Together reco gnized a group of leaders in Austin at its annual membership awards on Nov. 20 at Morgan MFG in Chicago.

The awards celebrated companies and individuals in Austin who have led through volunteering, funding and advocating for the neighborhood.

“Tonight is special, not just because we’re celebrating outstanding partners and colleagues, but because we’re reco gnizing what it means to be part of a community that is being redefined every single day,” said Darnell Shields, executive director of Austin Coming Together, at the awards.

“Austin Come Together has been on a journey, a journey to truly serve those who live in this community, who work in this community, who have raised families in this community,” said Shields. “For many organizations, community is a word that appears in a mission statement in a news-

letter. But for us, community is action. Community is momentum. Community is what happens when people who share values also share responsibility.”

Awards and their recipients are:

Excellence in early childhood development — Lurie Children’s Hospital

Lurie Children’s Hospital aims to improve children’s health with clinical care, advocacy, research and educational efforts. The hospital is being honored because of its involvement with the Austin HOPE Center, where Lurie Children’s will offer pediatric and behavioral health services when the center opens next year

Lurie Children’s was also recognized for its maternal and child health team that has been working with Austin providers to create the Next Generation Home Daycare and Angelic Scholars Academy – both for early childhood development. The hospital also manages West Side Healthy Parents and Babies, which has connected over 150 people who are pregnant and parenting to health care resources since launching in April

Excellence in neighborhood safety and youth development — Institute for Nonviolence Chicago

The Institute for Nonviolence Chicago aims to educate, sustain, console and celebrate communities. They were honored with the award because of their work advancing neighborhood safety and empowering young people.

INVC is the first SC2 – Scaling Community Violence Intervention for a Safer Chicago – hub leader in Austin. Eight other local organizations that are a part of the SC2 collaborate to serve those at the highest risk of participating in gun violence.

Excellence in workforce development - ITW

ITW is a global manufacturing leader across multiple industries. In 2014, it opened the David Speer Academy, a STEMfocused school that this year had a 98% graduation rate.

In 2022, the company partnered with United Way to develop the workforce and continue economic development in Austin and Belmont-Cragin. ITW is bringing its first Austin-based manufacturing facility to the neighborhood to create careers, teach skills and provide long-term economic mobility in the area.

Excellence in housing and neighborhood development — Habitat for Humanity

Aligning with its mission to build quality homes and support homeownership, for Humanity built its first homes in Austin earlier this year. The initial three houses have been purchased by Austin residents, who are now a part of Habitat Humanity’s af fordable homeownership am. Habitat for Humanity has also supported 27 Austin resident-led projects, funding the likes of block parties, resource fairs and youth development programs.

Member of the year — Legal Aid Chicago

Legal Aid Chicago provides civil legal assistance to those who are vulnerable or living in poverty. The group started partnering with ACT in 2020 on re-entry work, offering legal services, and now has space

AU STIN WEEKLY news

Interim Executive Director Max Reinsdorf

Sta Repor ter Jessica Mordacq

Contributing Editor Donna Greene

Senior Audience Manager Stacy Coleman

Fellow Vanessa Lopez

Reporting Partners Block Club Chicago

Columnists Aisha Oliver

Design/Production Manager Andrew Mead

Editorial Design Manager Javier Govea

Designers Susan McKelvey, Vanessa Garza

Senior Media Strategist Lourdes Nicholls

Marketing & Adver tising Associate Emma Cullnan

Development Manager Mary Ellen Nelligan

Circulation Manager Jill Wagner

Operations Associate Susan Babin

Social Media and Digital Coordinator Maribel Barrera

Special Projects Manager Susan Walker

Senior Advisor Dan Haley

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Chair Eric Weinheimer

Treasurer Nile Wendorf

Deb Abrahamson, Mary Cahillane, Steve Edwards, Judy Gre n, Horacio Mendez, Charles Meyerson

Darnell Shields, Audra Wilson

HOW TO REACH US

PO Box 6670, River Forest, IL 6035

PHONE (773) 626-6332

CIRCULATION Jill@oakpark.com

ONLINE www.AustinWeeklyNews.com

Schock home on Midway Park gets city hall landmark status

51 a ordable apartments to be built next to the Green Line in East Gar eld Park

By MICHAEL LIPTROT Block Club Chicago

Chicago’s City Council last week approved landmarking of an Austin home by Chicago architect Frederick Schock.

Known as the Fred C. Beeson House No. 4, the colonial revival-style house at 5830 W. Midway Place is one of several designed by Schock in the neighborhood — and one of dozens designed by Schock in the area, according to a landmark report. The landmarking serves to preserve the exterior of the home and garage

“This work shaped the visual character of Austin during its period of greatest growth from the late 19th through the early 20th centuries, during which it was annexed to the City of Chicago,” according to the re port

Built in1920 and listed at the time for $30,000, the home features a red brick veneer with stone trim, according to the landmarking report. The house still has its original wood, double-hung windows.

Beeson, a construction company executive and wood importer, hired Shock to build the house, the fourth house the architect built for the businessman and his fam-

ily. Shock also built a warehouse for Beeson that is now a part of the Fulton Market landmark district.

The house features the colonial revival style, based on 17th- through early 19thcentury architecture of American colonists and other historical styles.

A ordable apartments on Kedzie

A 51-unit af fordable housing development is slated to be built near the Kedzie Green Line stop in East Garfield Pa rk, one of two West Side housing-related measures passed by the City Council last week.

Known as Hub32, the development will bring apar tments and commercial space to a vacant, city-owned lot at 136 N. Kedzie Ave. The five-story building will hold 51 apar tments, nearly 4,000 square feet of commercial space, 12 car parking spaces and 26 bike parking spaces, according to

e Fred C. Beeson House #4 at 5830 W. Midway Place in Austin has been approved to become a Chicago landmark.

city documents.

Apartments will be rented out to people earning up to 60 percent of the area median income, which is $50,400 for a one-pe son household, according to the city.

The breakdown in apar tment makeup is unclear; an earlier, 63-unit plan called 14 one-, 34 two- and 15 three-bedroom apar ments.

The development was selected through a request for proposals for projects that could take over the city-owned lot. Hub32 was announced as the winner of the quest for proposals process in March 2023.

The City Council on Friday gave final approval to the Hub32 project. There is no timeline yet for the project’s construction, according to city officials.

East Gar eld Park’s Hub32 Apartments at 136 N. Kedzie was approved by the City Council on Nov. 14.

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Harmon avoids $9.8M in

nes a er state elections board deadlocks again

Critics say sta recommendations should have prevailed

By BILL DWYER Contributing Reporter

State Senator Don Harmon will not have to pay more than $9.8 million in fines and forfeitures, after the Illinois State Board of Elections deadlocked for a second time along partisan lines.

As it did in October, the eight member Illinois State Board of Elections — four Democrats and four Republicans — deadlocked 4-4 at its Nov. 18 meeting on a motion to deny an appeal by Harmon of penalties related to his alle ged violation of state campaign finance law.

That effectively allows Harmon’s appeal to stand, due to no board majority having voted to either deny or affirm his appeal. Both ISBE hearing officer Barbara Goodman and the election board’s General Counsel, Marni Malowitz, had recommended denying the appeal.

“As far as I’m concer ned, this case is over,” Malowitz said after the board vote, to which Harmon’s attorney, Mike Kasper, replied, “Agreed.”

“We’re pleased to have this matter finally behind us and to focus all of our energy on solving the real problems facing Illinoisians every day,” Harmon spokesman Tom Bowen said in a statement Tuesday.

Others suggested there are still issues to be decided.

ISBE chair Laura Donahue, who is also a for mer Republican state senator, told Capitol News Illinois that the non-decision leaves the election board “in kind of a limbo” due to having legal recommendations but no definitive decision.

“We won’t have any direction because we’ve had recommendations from the hearing officer, our general counsel and we don’t know what an election cycle is defined (as),” Donahue said, expressing hope that the Illinois Legislature or the court system could fill in the blanks.

Senate Republican Leader John Curran, R-Downers Grove, said in a statement he was disappointed the board ignored the recommendations.

“When the facts support a major violation,

the rules should be enforced — no exceptions,” Curran said. “This decision undermines accountability and further erodes the public’s trust.”

On a separate motion at the Nov. 18 meeting, the elections board voted to remove the case from its docket and also voted for a motion stating that it lacked jurisdiction over constitutional issues, including free speech, that Harmon’s lawyer had raised

Last spring ISBE staff found that the Friends of Don Harmon organization had violated state election law by accepting just over $4 million more than legally allowed. At issue is whether Harmon’s action lifted the caps through the end of that election cycle -for a period of approximately 10 months -- or until he ran in the 2026 general election, another two years later

An ISBE appointed hearing officer found that Harmon had violated the law and recommended to the ISBE that fines and forfeiture be imposed on the Harmon campaign. ISBE General Counsel Malowitz concurred with the hearing officer. But at its October meeting, the board deadlocked 4-4.

The next day The Liberty Justice Center issued a press release saying that it had filed a petition with the ISBE on behalf of Nick Binotti, seeking to have Binotti be part of the case being heard.

The LJC’s involvement in the Harmon case, the press release stated, “underscores a simple principle: no one is above the law — not even those who helped write it.”

In an Instagram post the day before the Nov. 18 ISBE meeting, the LJC stated, “Don Harmon violated Illinois campaign finance law. The SBE’s own hearing officer agreed. If the board deadlocks again, we’re stepping in. The courts can decide whether members broke state law or compel them to act.”

The LJC said that their intervening in the case was “to ensure that this complaint receives full consideration and that the law is not quietly nullified by inaction.”

“His intervention preserves the right to seek judicial review if the board fails to act, promoting transparency and fairness in Illinois elections,” the LJC said on its website.

Parkside tenants protest as city takes to court landlord

Residents, plagued by bugs, drugs and sewage, reached an agreement, but the owner hasn’t followed through

By MICHAEL LIPTROT

Block Club Chicago

Austin residents are again rallying against the owners of an apar tment complex, claiming that an ag reement with property management to address sanitation and other building issues has fallen apar t.

Members of the Parkside Terrace Alliance, for med by residents of Parkside Apartments at 143 N. Parkside Ave., held a protest Nov. 8 demanding the complex’s owners address longstanding issues in the building, including pest problems, sewage backup and security concer ns

Tenants of the complex have organized around the building issues for the past year, with tenants even staging a rent strike to compel owners Infinity Capital Partners and property manager East Lake Management to act.

The building’s owner and property manager have left the building in disrepair, including unsecured entrances, which has led to issues with crime and drugs, organizers and residents said. There are bed bug infestations, ceilings caving in, faulty wiring and raw sewage pooling in hallways, they said.

The tenant group’s organizers said they reached a deal with Infinity Capital in midAugust where, in exchange for tenants resuming rent payments, the owner agreed to forgive “tens of thousands of dollars” in owed rent, provide security for the building until the drug issues could be addressed and make necessary building repairs, alongside other demands. But since the deal, no repairs have been made to the building, organizers said.

“We followed the city guidelines, and they still haven’t done anything. We just want to be treated fairly,” said Christa Long, a Parkside resident of 11 years who lives in the building with her daughter, mother, sister

An Austin Weekly News partner

and cousins.

Parkside Apartments has failed its past four inspections by the Department of Buildings, including three failed inspections this year, city inspection records show.

The most recent inspection of the building, on May 19, yielded 10 citations, including failure to maintain exterior walls being free from conditions that might admit rain or dampness, failure to maintain exterior doors and failure to maintain stairwells.

Some of the recent inspections were spur red by complaints, but neighbors and tenant organizers want to see the city inspect individual units in the building.

State Rep. La Shawn Ford spoke at the Nov. 8 rally and echoed those calls.

“Today is a call for the city to come out and inspect individual units. We cannot treat humans like this,” Ford said in a press release.

The city has also taken the building owners to court over outstanding building infractions, with the next court date set for Dec. 4, said a spokesperson for the building department.

“The safety and well-being of our neighbors are the Department of Buildings’ top priority, and enforcing the Chicago Construction Code is the foundation of that commitment,” a department spokesperson said in a statement. “All future inspections will be scheduled and completed in accordance with the court order, allowing the Department of Law to amend the case as necessary based on inspection findings.”

Ald. Chris Taliafer ro (29th) said his of-

ous infestations, including insects (le ) and rodents (right).

fice has been involved with contacting the Department of Buildings on behalf of tenants as well as making 311 requests and sending police to Parkside to address safety issues.

“If those conditions have not subsided or even gotten worse, then we have an obligation as a city to make sure that we are calling the property owners to the carpet and putting pressure on them,” Taliafer ro said. “If they’re going to operate and col-

lect rent in the city of Chicago, they need to make sure that they’re providing housing that is livable.”

Infinity Capital did not respond to a request for comment.

Other aspects of the ag reement with Infinity Capital have been met, organizers said, including rent debt being forgiven, security being contracted and two new building staf f being hired, including a janitor.

anksgiving gratitude from GCM

Has there been a Thanksgiving in memory where we had more urgent, more complex reasons to offer up our thanks for being pa these villages and neighborhoods served ing Community Media?

There is the strong and vital pulse of community, of sharing, of generous listening and collecti times which are perilous West Side and out to Ri port on neighbors showing care and love to each other whether it is food pantries being urgently replenished, whistles being blown or a local high school student singing the National

Anthem before a Bears us at GCM es thanks for the ge and the responsibility of serving our We thank readers who are also donors to our nonprofit newsroom. thank advertisers who use our reach to build their busipledge our best ef for ts in the year ahead to be a strong, accurate and accountable voice for our communities. With our gratitude.

Dan Haley Senior Advisor and Interim Editor

WHAT IS NON-AGEIST

HUMOR, ANYWAY?

1128 LAKE ST LOWER LEVEL MONDAY, December 8

6 – 8 PM • $1

(Scholarships available for the 2-drink minimum)

ACE (Action Community Engagement) is amping up the holiday season with an evening of fun, food, laughter and libations as we explore ‘What Is Non-Ageist Humor, Anyway?’

Jokes will be told, opinions expressed, and comedy sketches acted out by local ACE members. If you get the urge, go ahead and tell one of your own jokes and let the audience decide.

Brought to you by

AC T AWARDS

from page 3

in the Aspire Center.

The group was honored at the ACT membership awards for advancing justice and working to create equitable neighborhoods. Last year, Legal Aid Chicago handled over 14,500 cases with a 95% success rate and $34 million in financial benefit to clients. Also within the last year, Legal Aid Chicago has launched a partnership with the University of Chicago to prevent youth violence by addressing the social determinants of health like housing and environmental harm.

Champion of collective impact in Austin — Deloitte

Through its partnership with United Way of Metro Chicago, Deloitte Chicago has created economic and community development in Austin. The consulting firm uses its staf f and facilities to help organizations supporting Austin.

The Mildred Wiley community re award

■ Morris Reed, CEO of Westside Health Authority - For over 30 years, Westside Health Authority has helped locals with employment services, reentry and youth development. In 2018, WHA bought the for mer Emmet School that, in June, reopened as the Aspire Center.

■ Malcolm Crawford, founder and director of the Austin African American Business Network Association - Twenty years ago, Crawford created the AAABNA as a way for businesses to network and advocate for themselves. Helping to give Austin businesses a voice, Crawford launched a series of Black economic empowerment rallies that have increased revenue for businesses.

■ Elizabeth Abunaw, owner and operator of Forty Acres Fresh Market - In September, Abunaw launched Chicago’s first Black- and woman-owned grocery store. The market came after, in 2017, Abunaw started a grocery delivery service and popup markets. As one of the only fullservice grocery stores in Austin, Forty Acres Fresh Market improves access to quality food and nutrition in the neighborhood.

HOPE CENTER

Children’s health care

from page 1

CEO of Stone CDC and pastor at Lively Stone Missionary Baptist Church, at the beam raising ceremony. Jenkins brought the idea for the HOPE Center to Lurie Children’s Hospital, according to its CEO Tom Shanley

“Children today are only 20% of the entire Medicaid spend, but they’re 100% of our future,” Shanley said at the ceremony. “We have to get to the point where the zip code is not the most important determinant of your health and well-being. This project is going to make sure that, if you live in Austin, you are going to come out with the same exact health care that you have anywhere in the city.”

The first floor of the Austin HOPE Center will house offices and programming space for Stone CDC, plus a cafe and community meeting spaces. Lurie’s Children Hospital will be based on the second floor, offering clinical exams and services for specialty care, behavioral and physical health. Offices for Thresholds, which provides services for mental health and substance use, will be on the third floor.

Shanley said that local youth have had an integral role in designing and developing the HOPE Center — the thing he’s most proud of in building the center

UJAMAA Construction is building the center, and Gregory Ramon Design Studio designed it.

The building has been funded by new market tax credits and grants secured by the Chicago Neighborhood Initiatives. Grants came from the Chicago Department of Planning and Development, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and Lurie Children’s Hospital.

It’s among the first brick-and-mortar projects in Chicago to use proceeds, $5 million worth, from the Chicago Housing and Economic Development bond, according to Ciere Boatright, commissioner of the Chicago Department of Planning and Development.

But the $22 million project, which broke ground last June, still needs $4.8 million of funding. At the beam raising ceremony, State Rep. La Shawn Ford called for additional financial assistance for the HOPE Center.

At the beam raising, Ahking Garrett, a student from Christ the King Jesuit College Prep in Austin, shared what being involved in the project meant to him.

“I can stay involved in this project by using my voice as a Black boy and a Black teenager from the West Side of Chicago to bring things that people like me want to see in the world,”

Garrett said. He’s a part of the school’s United Nations club, where he and over a dozen other students brainstormed the center’s scope of operations and its name (which was previously the Austin Community Health Hub).

Darnell Shields, the executive director of Austin Coming Together, told Austin Weekly News that he wants to see more oung people involved with ommunity projects like the HOPE Center.

“Can you imagine the impact this is going to have on them growing up?” Shields said, to be a part of a multi-millionollar project. As a child who’s involved, “I’m not thinking that that’s not possible. I’ve seen it happen.” He added, “This is vidence and proof that you are worthy, cared for and that ou do matter because look at the investment that is happening in support of you.”

“As a state legislator, I feel like we have to do everything that we can to help the Stone Community Development Corporation pay this off because we know that state reimbursement rates are low, and we know that government funding is not what’s going to do it,” Ford said. “This is going to be great, not just for the West Side of Chicago, but for the health of our city.”

“This is evidence and proof that you are worthy, cared for and that you do matter because look at the investment that is happening in support of you.”

DARNELL SHIELDS Executive direc tor, Austin Coming Together

Austin Coming Together helped to convene the groups involved with the HOPE Center and advocate for its funding and resources. The HOPE Center is also a part of ACT’s Austin Forward. Together uality-of-life plan that aims to improve the neighborhood’s community narrative, youth empowerment and economic development among other goals

Kenya Merritt, Chicago’s deputy mayor of business, economic, and neighborhood development, said a resource like the HOPE Center is long overdue in Austin, which has seen decades of systemic disinvestment that impacts residents’ health and life expectancy.

“For far too long, the people of Austin and the West Side have been asked to settle for less,” said Merritt, an Austin resident. “We’ve had to travel too far, wait too long and beg for the same quality-of-life care that other parts of the city take for granted. So, when we look at this structure, I don’t see concrete and steel. I see a physical manifestation of our city’s renewed commitment to equity.”

“We aren’t just celebrating a new building,” Merritt added. “We are celebrating a promise kept to the people of the West Side.”

Students spend the morning presenting their lm pitches to prog ram leaders before heading into production to shoot their projects later that a ernoon

ENTERTAINMENT

Reaching for their destiny

from page 1

many young creatives have long struggled to access.

“This program has been very successful, and we’re so grateful for how successful it’s been out of the gate. This is not just exposure — this apprenticeship takes it to a whole other level,” Patterson said.

Destiny Outreach was created to help young people reach their full potential in life, school and work while introducing them to careers in entertainment, technology and business. Its curriculum titled Dreams and Destiny centers on three F’s — finding, fighting for and fulfilling your dream; paired with personal, professional and workforce development. The overall Dreams and Destiny Program is the umbrella initiative and under it sits the Entertainment Industry Apprenticeship Program launched in June of this year.

Patterson began working professionally in the arts as a teen. She majored in Radio, TV, and Film with a minor in Broadcast Journalism at Northwestern University. After colle ge, she moved to Los Angeles, working on shows like “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” “Moesha” and “Thea,” as well

as films including “Six De grees of Separation” and “Bad Boys.”

Patterson later founded Destiny Outreach to help young people develop socially, emotionally and vocationally, offering the Dreams and Destiny curriculum to prepare participants for careers in entertainment, technology and business.

Students in the apprenticeship were able to learn from writer and producer Sylvia Jones for an interactive writers’ room exercise and actor Charles Gardner for an acting workshop to help the students understand the industry at a higher level.

in arts education and is seeking hands-on industry experience. Both joined the program to gain professional skills and opportunities in entertainment.

“When I saw this program, I was really interested in the apprenticeship opportunity for them placing you in a department, where you can really get those hands-on experiences,” Romer said.

“I created this program because I wanted Chicago’s young people to have the same opportunities I had to discover their purpose early on.”

The first cohort graduated 21 apprentices who started on June 3, completing 55 hours of training before being placed in summer jobs for 100 to 200 hours. The second cohort launched on Nov. 4 and now includes 26 apprentices.

DENITA PAT TERSON Hollywood producer

Aisha Romer and Nicholas Torres, both from Chicago’s West Side, are participants in the apprenticeship program. Romer, a University of Illinois Chicago graduate, studied theater and is pursuing a career in film, while Torres, a Chicago High School for the Arts alumnus, has a background

Coming from a background in arts education, Torres graduated from The Chicago High School for the Arts and took some community colle ge courses. After recently completing a play, they sought more industry experience and professional guidance, feeling unprepared in areas like applications and resumes, and found this opportunity invaluable.

Before the program, Torres felt only partially able to access opportunities in entertainment, with some limitations affecting their experience.

“A big thing about the entertainment industry is who you know and the connections you have. Going in with next to nothing, I had my arts education and the people I knew from that, but still it felt like I was going in alone. This program definitely

provides support and the connections you need to navigate the industry,” Torres said. This is Romer’s second workforce training program of the year. Unlike the first program, which lacked an apprenticeship component, this one allows participants to apply what they’ve learned, gain realworld experience and get paid for showcasing their skills.

“I feel like this program demystifies a lot of the industry. It makes it feel much more attainable than before. Even in my previous program, there were still things I was left in the dark about, and it felt like you’d just figure them out once you got on set. This program really prepares you beforehand and explains everything ahead of time,” Romer said.

Patterson launched the Entertainment Industry Apprenticeship Program to give Chicago youth the kind of early exposure and hands-on training she received but knew many others lacked.

“I created this program because I wanted Chicago’s young people to have the same opportunities I had to discover their purpose early on,” Patterson said. “When I left for Los Angeles in my early twenties, I realized how much exposure and mentorship shaped my career. Now I’m bringing that knowledge home so our youth don’t have to leave Chicago to chase their dreams. They can start building them right here,” Patterson said.

Your right to know... In print • Online

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENTCHANCERY DIVISION

BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A. AS TRUSTEE FOR MORTGAGE

ASSETS MANAGEMENT SERIES

I TRUST Plaintiff, -v.-

ROBERTA CARTER, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA -

SECRETARY OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, ILLINOIS

HOUSING DEVELOPMENT

AUTHORITY, CAN DO RLJV LLC

Defendants

2021CH04798 1431 N LONG AVENUE

CHICAGO, IL 60651

NOTICE OF SALE

PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on March 29, 2022, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on December 8, 2025, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker, 1st Floor Suite 35R, Chicago, IL, 60606, sell at public in-person sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 1431 N LONG AVENUE, CHICAGO, IL 60651

Property Index No. 16-04-112008-0000

The real estate is improved with a single family residence.

Sale terms: If sold to anyone other than the Plaintiff, 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance, in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours.

The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in ‘’AS IS’’ condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court. Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale.

Where a sale of real estate is made to satisfy a lien prior to that of the United States, the United States shall have one year from the date of sale within which to redeem, except that with respect to a lien arising under the internal revenue laws the period shall be 120 days or the period allowable for redemption under State law, whichever is longer, and in any case in which, under the provisions of section 505 of the Housing Act of 1950, as amended (12 U.S.C. 1701k), and subsection (d) of section 3720 of title 38 of the United States Code, the right to redeem does not arise, there shall be no right of redemption.

The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information.

If this property is a condomini-

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

um unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g) (1) and (g)(4). If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/18.5(g-1).

IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW.

You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales.

For information, examine the court file, CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. Plaintiff’s Attorneys, 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100, BURR RIDGE, IL, 60527 (630) 794-9876 THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION

One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236-SALE

You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc. com for a 7 day status report of pending sales.

CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100 BURR RIDGE IL, 60527 630-794-5300

E-Mail: pleadings@il.cslegal.com

Attorney File No. 14-21-03222

Attorney ARDC No. 00468002 Attorney Code. 21762 Case Number: 2021CH04798 TJSC#: 45-2716

NOTE: Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you are advised that Plaintiff’s attorney is deemed to be a debt collector attempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose. Case # 2021CH04798 I3276259

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENTCHANCERY DIVISION

WELLS FARGO BANK, N. A. AS TRUSTEE FOR THE CERTIFICATEHOLDERS OF CARRINGTON MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST, SERIES 2007-FRE1, ASSET-BACKED PASSTHROUGH CERTIFICATES, Plaintiff vs. BEVERLEY A. PETRUNICH; THOMAS DI PIAZZA; OFFICE OF THE STATE GUARDIAN AS PLENARY GUARDIAN OF THE ESTATE AND PERSON OF BEVERLEY PETRUNICH; UNKNOWN OWNERS GENERALLY, AND NON-RECORD CLAIMANTS

Defendant 23 CH 820 CALENDAR 63

NOTICE OF SALE

PUBLIC NOTICE is hereby given that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure entered in the above entitled cause Intercounty Judicial Sales Corporation will on January 5, 2026, at the hour 11:00 a.m., Intercounty’s office, 120 West Madison Street, Suite 718A, Chicago, IL 60602, sell, in person, to the highest bidder for cash, the following described mortgaged real estate: LOT 27 IN BLOCK 4 IN THE SUBDIVISION OF LOT 1 IN THE COUNTY CLERK`S DIVISION OF THE WEST 1/2 OF THE SOUTH WEST 1/4 OF SECTION 25, TOWNSHIP 40 NORTH, RANGE 13 EAST OF THE THIRD PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN IN COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. P.I.N. 13-25-309-008-0000. Commonly known as 2629 N. Troy Street, Chicago, IL 60647. The real estate is: multi family residence. The successful purchaser is entitled to possession of the property only. The purchaser may only obtain possession of units within the multi-unit property occupied by individuals named in the order of possession. If the subject mortgaged real estate is a unit of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit other than the mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by subsection (g-1) of Section 189.5 of the Condominium Property Act. Sale terms: At sale, the bidder must have 10% down by certified funds, balance within 24 hours, by certified funds. No refunds. The property will NOT be open for inspection. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file before bidding. IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER THE ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(c) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW. For information call Sales Department at Plaintiff’s Attorney, Altman, Strautins & Kromm, LLC d/b/a Kluever Law Group, 200 North LaSalle Street, Suite 1880, Chicago, Illinois 60601. (312) 2360077. SPS001839-23FC1 INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION intercountyjudicialsales.com I3277100

Submit events and see full calendar at austinweeklynews.com/events

AUSTIN FORWARD. TOGETHER. 2025 QUARTER 4

November 26, 2025

THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY PUBLISHED ITS FIRST QUALITY-OF-LIFE PLAN CALLED AUSTIN FORWARD. TOGETHER. (AFT) IN 2018. THIS QUARTERLY PUBLICATION DESCRIBES HOW AUSTIN COMING TOGETHER (ACT) IS SUPPORTING THE COMMUNITY TO IMPLEMENT AFT AND OTHER EFFORTS.

FROM VISION TO REALITY

POWERED BY COMMUNITY: ASPIRE CENTER SHOWS WHAT AUSTIN CAN BUILD TOGETHER PAGE 3 ASPIRE CENTER FOR WORKFORCE INNOVATION: OUR FIRST 90 DAYS PAGE 4 ANCHOR TENANTS PARTNER FOR THE COMMUNITY PAGE 7

Special thanks to these Austin Forward. Together. quality-of-life plan legacy investors:

Since 2010, Austin Coming Together (ACT) has facilitated collaboration to improve education and economic development outcomes in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood.

Today, we serve a network of 50+ organizations committed to improving the quality of life in the Austin community. Our strategic plan is called Thrive 2025 and outlines how we will mobilize our resources to achieve four impact goals by the year 2025: Quality Early Learning, Safe Neighborhoods, Living Wage Careers, and Stable Housing Markets.

ACT BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Officers

CHAIR

Larry Williams

Broker, State Farm Insurance

VICE CHAIRMAN

Bradly Johnson

Interim CEO, BUILD Inc.

SECRETARY

Jerrod Williams

Law Clerk, Illinois Appellate Court

ACT STAFF

Leadership

Darnell Shields

Executive Director

Research & Evaluation

Andrew Born*

Senior Director of Community Impact

Mia Almond Research Associate

Operations

TREASURER

LaDarius Curtis

Director of Community Engagement, Greater Chicago Food Depository

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Darnell Shields

Austin Coming Together

Directors

Sharon Morgan

Director of Graduate Support & Community Outreach, Catalyst Schools

Reverend Reginald E. Bachus Pastor, Friendship Baptist Church

Deirdre Bates* Director of Operations

Dearra Williams

Executive

Operations Lead/ Assistant to the CEO

Londen Mance

Office Administrator

Alfred Jackson Community Liaison/ Receptionist

Strategic Initiatives

Sandra Diaz*

Service Delivery Enhancement Manager, Austin Community Hub

Emone Moore

Engagement Coordinator, Austin Community Hub

Dollie Sherman

Engagement Specialist, Austin Community Hub

ACT MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS

A House in Austin

Academy of Scholastic Achievement

Austin Childcare Providers Network

Austin Community Family Center

Austin Weekly News

(Growing Community Media)

Be Strong Families

Beat the Streets Chicago

Bethel New Life

Beyond Hunger BUILD Inc.

By The Hand Club For Kids Cara Catholic Charities

Chicago Austin Youth Travel Adventures

Chicago Community Loan Fund

City of Refuge

Defy Ventures Illinois

Erikson Institute

Friends of the Children

Friendship Community Development Corp. of Austin

Greater West Town Community Development Project

Housing Forward

i.c. stars

IFF

Tenisha Jones

Executive Management Professional

Reginald Little

Business Development Specialist, Great Lakes Credit Union

Deborah Williams-Thurmond

Founder & CEO, D.W. Provision Consulting Services

Ruth Kimble

Founder & CEO, Austin Childcare Providers Network

Clara Bonnlander

Social Services Coordinator, Austin Community Hub

Ethan Ramsay* Planning and Investment Manager

Grace Cooper Lead Organizer

Nyla Larry Project Coordinator

Natalie Goodin

Special Projects Manager

Institute for Nonviolence Chicago

Jane Addams Resource Corporation

Kids First Chicago

KRA Westside American Job Center

Learning Edge Tutoring (fka Cluster Tutoring)

Legal Aid Chicago (fka LAF)

Max Komnenich

Associate Principal, Lamar Johnson Collaborative In Memoriam

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Jack Macnamara

1937–2020

FOUNDING BOARD CHAIR

Mildred Wiley 1955–2019

Arewa EKUA Community Organizer

La’Shawna Bundy Community Land Trust Coordinator

Mary White Community Resource Coordinator

Krystal Cano

Community Resource Coordinator

Marketing & Development

Robbie Gorman Director of Development

Jon Widell

Marketing and Development Specialist

Sydni Hatley

Marketing and Development Specialist

*Also part of the ACT Leadership Team

Manufacturing Renaissance

Mary Shyrese Daycare

Maryville Academy

Mercy Housing Lakefront

New Moms

OAI, Inc.

Oak Park Regional Housing Center

Open Books

PCC Community Wellness Center

Project Exploration

Renaissance Social Services, Inc.

Sarah’s Inn

South Austin

Neighborhood Association

St. Joseph Services

St. Leonard’s Ministries

Stone Community Development Corporation

The Catalyst Schools

The Journey Forward

The North Avenue District, Inc.

Towers of Excellence

UIC Jane Addams College of Social Work

VOCEL

Westside Health Authority

West Side Forward

Worldvision

Youth Guidance

Powered by Community: Aspire Center Shows What Austin Can Build Together

JBy Darnell Shields Executive Director, Austin Coming Together

ust months after opening its doors in June 2025, the Aspire Center for Workforce Innovation is demonstrating what is possible when a community’s long-held dreams are met with sustained commitment, collective action, and real investment. For years, many of the ideas behind this project were dismissed as too ambitious or out of reach. But here in Austin, we always knew what we were capable of. Now, we’re watching those once-distant concepts come alive in real time—translated into programs, services, and opportunities that are already changing lives.

The Aspire Center was built with a clear, urgent purpose: to confront the barriers that have held too many of our residents back from achieving economic mobility. At Austin Coming Together (ACT), our vision has long been to create a truly thriving Austin community. With the Aspire Center, located at the former Robert Emmet Elementary School on Madison and Central, we are closer than ever to realizing that vision.

From day one, the services inside the Aspire Center were intentionally designed to address the needs our residents voice most consistently— access to quality jobs and job training, opportunities to build generational wealth, and accessible legal support. These offerings, led by ACT’s Hub team and delivered in partnership with our anchor tenants, are helping us meet both the immediate and long-term priorities of the community. Already, the early impact has been unmistakable.

Westside Health Authority (WHA), a lead partner in the Center’s development and operations, is providing critical wraparound support that many job seekers need in order to succeed. Residents are accessing case management, job readiness training, transitional employment, permanent job placement assistance, and more—services that ensure people are not

navigating life’s challenges alone while trying to secure stable work.

Jane Addams Resource Corporation (JARC) is scaling access to hands-on welding and advanced manufacturing training for the West Side through their presence at the center. Participants are gaining industry-recognized skills that lead to living-wage employment, and the demand for these programs continues to surpass expectations.

BMO is offering on-site financial education, coaching, and banking access— helping residents build financial stability, repair credit, open accounts, and plan for the future. On-site legal assistance is available at no cost, including support with expungement, criminal defense, and other services that remove long-standing barriers to employment and opportunity, thanks to the Cook County Public Defender’s Office and Legal Aid Chicago.

Each of these offerings is part of a larger system of support—one that reflects how Austin has always worked best: collaboratively, with shared responsibility and shared vision.

The Aspire Center is not just meeting its goals—it is living out the promise we made to our community. We set out to build a place where residents could access pathways to better jobs, stronger financial futures, and greater stability. Today, we are seeing those pathways fill with neighbors determined to move forward.

This is what we envisioned. And as we continue to grow, we intend not only to fulfill our commitments but to exceed the hopes we all carried into this project. Austin deserves nothing less.

Aspire Center for Workforce

COMCAST FLAGSHIFT LIFT ZONE (FLAGSHIP LIFTZONE ANNOUNCEMENT ON SITE)

In September, Comcast opened the Flagship Lift Zone at the Aspire Center for Workforce Innovation. This massive $500,000 investment provides free highspeed WiFi and technology offerings including laptops, digital cameras, and meeting pods for virtual or in-person meetings, collaborations or interviews.

This also brings with it a partnership with scaleLIT, with the help of ACT’s Hub team to provide digital skills programming and its Career Pathways Navigators training to the Aspire Center, helping job seekers in the area.

DEFENDERS OF THE COURT

In September, Freedom Defense Center of Austin, in partnership with the Institute for Nonviolence Chicago and Westside Health Authority, hosted a 3-on-3 basketball tournament and community legal resource fair as part of My Block My Hood My City’s #SaveStreetball initiative. Teams were sponsored by Anchor Tenants: ACT and WHA, along with BUILD and Contextos (in-house creative partner of FDCA.

The day showcased the strength and intentionality of not only the interior, but also the exterior of the Aspire Center. A day outside featuring free haircuts, food, and drinks, in addition to legal and community resources to help people know their rights, and come together to celebrate the community.

Innovation: Our First 90 days

BMO GRAND OPENING

In October, fellow ACWI Anchor Tenant, BMO opened their second Austin branch inside the Aspire Center, further establishing the bank’s commitment to the West Side. BMO’s Zero Barriers to Business program will have a strong presence at this branch, aiming to expand access to capital and address the structural barriers that have historically stunted business growth in underserved communities. BMO’s involvement in the Aspire Center is part of a larger, collaborative effort to reimagine the former Emmet Elementary School as a regional hub for job training, small business development, and building community wealth.

OPEN HOUSE CHICAGO

In late October, Open House Chicago hosted their annual architecture and urban exploration festival, and in our first year of operation, the Aspire Center was chosen as a participation site!

The Aspire Center was featured across Chicago Architecture Center platforms as one of Open House Chicago’s new sites, and we are also thrilled to share that the Aspire Center was listed as a top recommendation by Chicago Sun-Times’ Lee Bey!

With nearly 500 guests visiting and touring the space this was an opportunity to help spread the word around the great work of everyone in the Aspire Center and bring some additional attention to the beauty within the Austin community.

With the release of the AFT Highlighted Agenda, ACT is going “on the road!” Our team will be on tour and available to co-host discussions about the new phase of Austin’s AFT quality-of-life plan and its vision and strategy, with block clubs, churches, community organizations, coalitions, etc. Other ways we’ll ensure to update the community on the progress of implementing the Highlighted Agenda are through newspaper sections like this, emails, and social media.

Plan Leaders

Community

Narrative

TASK FORCE CHAIRS

Kenneth Varner

Healthy Schools Campaign

Dearra Williams

Austin Coming Together

Reesheda Graham

Washington

The Kehrein Center for the Arts

STRATEGY LEADS

Suzanne McBride

Austin Talks

Cindy Gray Schneider

Spaces-n-Places

Maria Sorrell

Community Resident

Megan Hinchy

Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago

Andraya Yousfi By the Hand Club for Kids

Jai Jones PSPC, The Chicago Community Trust and Community Resident

Adrienne Otkins Community Resident

Michael Romaine The Culture

Keli Stewart Front Porch Arts Center

Kenn Cook Westside Historical Collective

Economic Development

TASK FORCE CHAIR

Roxanne Charles West Side Forward

STRATEGY LEADS

Emily Peters Jane Addams Resource Corporation

Tina Augustus Community Resident

Melissa O’Dell Defy Ventures

Fanya Buford-Berry Community Resident

Baxter Swilley Community Stakeholder

Ed Coleman Austin Chamber of Commerce

Education

TASK FORCE CHAIR

Charles Anderson

Michele Clark High School

STRATEGY LEADS

Pam Price Director of Parent University at CPS

Ruth Kimble

Austin Childcare Providers Network

Cata Truss Community Resident

Housing

TASK FORCE CHAIRS

Athena Williams Oak Park Regional Housing Center

Allison McGowan Community Resident

STRATEGY LEADS

Shirley Fields Community Resident

Rosie Dawson Westside Health Authority

Public Safety

TASK FORCE CHAIRS

Bradly Johnson BUILD Inc.

Marilyn Pitchford Heartland Alliance

STRATEGY LEADS

Edwina Hamilton BUILD Inc.

Jose Abonce The Policing Project

Ruby Taylor Taproots, Inc.

Youth Empowerment

TASK FORCE CHAIR

D’elegance Lane

Community Stakeholder

STRATEGY LEADS

Aisha Oliver Root2Fruit

Helen Slade

Territory NFP

Dollie Sherman

Austin Coming Together

Chris Thomas YourPassion1st

Civic Engagement

TASK FORCE CHAIR

Deborah Williams-Thurmond

D.W. Provision

Consulting Services

Anchor Tenants partner for the community: Westside Health Authority and Jane Addams Resource Corporation

host forklift training at Aspire

By Jonathan Widell Marketing & Development Specialist, Austin Coming Together

Recently, in September, two Aspire Center Anchor Tenants, Westside Health Authority (WHA) and Jane Addams Resource Corporation (JARC) came together for the community to launch a forklift certification training program. The entire program takes place inside of the walls of the Aspire Center.

These cohorts take place over a two week period, and consist of three days of job readiness training from WHA, followed by two days of forklift certification training through JARC. Westside Health Authority helps them get interview ready through mock interviews, builds relationships with their case managers and career specialists/ job coaches, in addition to leaning into the group aspect of the cohort which adds another element where they can help and learn from one another as well. WHA helps make the participants comfortable and reminds them what makes them unique, before helping with job placement upon completion.

Jane Addams Resource Corporation offers the forklifting certification training on site at

the Aspire Center. The training is led by Jose Ramirez from JARC and the training is very hands on, involving both exams they need to pass, filling out the necessary paperwork, and learning about the standing forklift. This program is unique because JARC is not only able to offer the necessary information for people to learn, but they can receive direct training so they are prepared when they are taking the next step in their careers.

While the program is led by WHA and JARC, this is a collaborative effort that leverages other Aspire anchor tenants as well . ACT plays a key role in helping refer people to the program, screening them, and making sure community residents are aware of its existence. Our Hub team serves as the intake coordinators and first point of contact, ensuring that people are being helped and being placed properly. There is also a financial literacy aspect at the end of the training that allows BMO to potentially play a role. This was what we envisioned when this idea started. This program coming together demonstrates the intent and optimization of what was envisioned for the community through the Aspire Center.

The demand has already been so high that the first cohort had to be expanded to accommodate interest, which shows the need for, and the impact programs like this can have in a community like Austin. n

This shows the power of collaboration, when two likeminded organizations come together with the vision of wanting to empower the community with a resource that becomes a service not only for the community, but for Chicago.

JOSEPH GREEN, WHA