Lightfoot Inaugurates Summer Learning Challenge at McKinley Park Library
New Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot visited the McKinley Park branch of the Chicago Public Library on Monday, June 24, to kick off the library system's Summer Learning Challenge. While there, she acknowledged the central role that libraries play in communities, especially for children.
"Libraries are where magic happens," Lightfoot said. "It's where kids can come ... and use their imaginations for endless possibilities to really grow themselves."
Read more: Lightfoot Inaugurates Summer Learning Challenge at McKinley Park Library
Summer in McKinley Park Kicks Off With Shows, Camps and Community Events
Alpitude performs on Sunday, June 30, at the McKinley Park Farmers Market.The McKinley Park neighborhood is set to enjoy another week and weekend of music fun and performance. Otro Ritmo: South Side Punk Night has gotten so popular that One City Tap is adding a second night each month: This Tuesday, June 25, view live performance from The Lipschitz, plus DJs from the Beh! Collective, including DJ Rafa of Not Normal Tapes and DJ Terca, joining house DJs Malice and Orno.
The live music concert series returns to the McKinley Park Farmers Market this Sunday, June 30, at the William McKinley memorial in McKinley Park. Catch the unique mountain sounds of the Farmers Market Concert: Alpitude and stick around for great fresh food and goods (including your Sunday pastry and coffee) and fun lawn games like Bocce Ball
Read more: Summer in McKinley Park Kicks Off With Shows, Camps and Community Events
Yo-Yo Ma Stuns in McKinley Park Pop-Up
Cellist Yo-Yo Ma and local pianist Ben Serwer approach the performance space in front of the McKinley Park field house on Friday, June 21.
Cellist Yo-Yo Ma treated McKinley Park to a quick pop-up performance in front of the field house at noon on Friday, June 21, as part of the park's Make Music Chicago festivities and Ma's Day of Action with Yo-Yo Ma. Performing John Lennon's "Imagine" accompanied by local pianist Ben Serwer, Ma captivated the crowd before being whisked away to the next of his full day of community appearances for his Day of Action.
Serwer treated listeners to more performance before ceding the piano to a long line of neighbors young and old ready to try out the piano: The instrument will be present outdoors in the park all summer for anyone to play as part of the Pianos in the Parks program. Among others, McKinley Park neighborhood blues musician Eric Noden belted out some ragtime and entertained the crowd.
McKinley Park Native Gery Chico Plots Next Steps, Community Improvements as LISC Board Chair
New Chicago LISC Board Chair Gery ChicoCommunity organizer and former Chicago mayoral candidate Gery Chico has moved to a new role that he hopes engenders the opportunities and community he enjoyed as a child growing up in the McKinley Park neighborhood, he said. Now serving as the new board chair for Chicago's Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), Chico is spearheading efforts to help neighborhoods inspire commercial development, engage in community planning and support youth programs.
"I understand what neighborhoods need, especially when they’re being invested in," Chico said, pointing to the local investment a LISC can help inspire. “I want people to think when they’re older, 'Wow, I really had a nice experience growing up in that neighborhood, and it enables me to do what I do today.'"
