Englewood
Redistricting Fault Lines
On October 25, the assembly hall of the Hyde Park Union Church was nearly empty. This gathering was a preliminary informational meeting concerning a process that Chicago undergoes every decade—aldermanic ward redistricting. »
Englewood & Auburn-Gresham
There’s a common question asked to visitors of Englewood and Auburn-Gresham: “Do you know where you are?” If you’re walking in the neighborhoods west of the Dan Ryan and south of 55th, and a worried, well-meaning passerby thinks you might not be from the area, you might get asked yourself. If you’re not careful,... »
Grapes of Change
Bill Lavicka, an eccentric rehabber and preservationist, has proposed turning the Raber House into a winery and vineyard. The rehab initiative, which he refers to as the “Chateau Chicago” project, aims to transform the long-abandoned building into a multiuse space for grape cultivation and wine sales. »
Rhymes and reasons
“Yes! No! Listen to the poem!” the audience chanted as up on stage twenty-odd students from schools across the South Side recited their poetry in Englewood’s first Youth Poetry Duo Slam. »
The Gospel According to Barrett
The Life Center Church of God in Christ sits on the corner of Garfield and Indiana, just east of the honorary two-and-a-half block Rev. T.L. Barrett, Jr. Blvd. The boulevard’s namesake is sitting in a pew close to the pulpit. »
Dollars and Census: Will more South Siders march to the mailbox in 2010?
For most of the boys and girls participating in “March to the Mailbox” day, the Census 2010 one-size-fits-all T-shirts and hats are plainly oversized. Some can barely see over their signs, while others juggle fliers and census paraphernalia. Small as some of these volunteers may be—the youngest at just nine months old—their voices ring... »
Moving in Circles: When does a new home lead to a new life?
Movement is part of the American dream. Across an ocean to the new world, west to the last frontier, then up the social ladder, out to the suburbs—or so they say it goes. Social mobility and housing mobility are inextricably linked in the national psyche. But there is a darker, less public story about... »
The Turnaround: The Academy for Urban School Leadership is transforming Chicago’s worst public schools
Harvard Elementary School in Englewood was a teacher’s worst nightmare. Kids ran in and out of classrooms in the middle of class, started fights, and swore at faculty. Principals cycled through without making any impact. In 2007, less than a third of Harvard students passed the Illinois Standards Achievement Test (ISAT), putting the school... »
