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.'"
Cellist Yo-Yo Ma to Perform Free Show in McKinley Park at Noon on Friday
The Day of Action with Yo-Yo Ma brings the cellist to McKinley Park for a pop-up performance on Friday, June 21.
International recording artist, music ambassador and master cellist Yo-Yo Ma will perform a free show in front of the McKinley Park field house, 2210 W. Pershing Road, at noon on Friday, June 21. Accompanied by local pianist Ben Serwer, Ma offers this special, last-minute pop-up performance as part of his Day of Action with Yo-Yo Ma, which also includes performances and music-related activities citywide.
Ma comes to McKinley Park thanks to the efforts of the Make Music Chicago and Pianos in the Parks projects, both of which offer more music fun in McKinley Park through that Friday afternoon and evening. Ma's performance is anticipated to be brief as it ties to the pop-up nature of his appearance.
Stick around for the Pianos in the Parks rollout and Make Music Chicago performances starting at 5 p.m., and then enjoy the performance of Beyond This Point and Grammy-winning percussionist Matthew Duvall in the Drumming in the Park program starting at 5:30 p.m.
Arts Take Center Stage This Week in McKinley Park
A huge lineup of music and performance lands in the McKinley Park neighborhood this week, including all the events taking place simultaneously in McKinley Park on Friday, June 21. It's the summer solstice, which brings Make Music Chicago back to McKinley Park, alongside the performance and interactivity of Drumming in the Park and the grand opening of the Pianos in the Parks program. Rumors abound of an internationally known music and recording star making a surprise appearance at McKinley Park: This may be one day you and your family won't want to miss.
Probably the biggest LGBTQ+ Pride Month event on the South Side is the Chicago Reader Pride Block Party on Sunday, June 23, at Marz Communtiy Brewing. This all-ages, all-day, block-long cavalcade of live music, DJs, performance and more benefits numerous local LGBTQ groups and communities of color. On Saturday, June 22, the McKinley Park public library continues its Pride Month event series with the Carol Film Screening as an afternoon matinée.
Read more: Arts Take Center Stage This Week in McKinley Park
Police Tactical Team Deployed to Neighborhood Gang and Drug Hot Spot
The 3800 block of South Honore Street will be the focus of increased scrutiny by police, as stated at the Wednesday, June 12, CAPS meeting for Beat 912.
Additional Chicago Police Department resources, including specialized tactical officers, have been deployed to concentrate on an identified area of problematic drug and gang activity in the McKinley Park neighborhood, said Community Liaison Officer Cheryl Clark at the Wednesday, June 12, meeting of Beat 912 of the Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy (CAPS). The 3800 block of South Honore Street in Chicago — long an area receiving complaints at CAPS meetings and the site of past gang-related activity — will receive extra scrutiny this summer, she said.
"We have assigned tactical teams to look at these problems," Clark said.
Read more: Police Tactical Team Deployed to Neighborhood Gang and Drug Hot Spot
Evergreen Academy Celebrates Upcoming STEAM Program, Schools To Watch Redesignation
Dayanara Macedo, left, and Emily Tweedy from the school band Seven Miles belt out a tune at the assembly on Tuesday, June 11. at Evergreen Academy Middle School.
Evergreen Academy Middle School's status as a 2019 Illinois Horizon School to Watch and its upcoming STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) program expansion received cheers and plaudits at the school's recognition ceremony on Tuesday, June 11. Principal Marian Strok led the ceremonies, also jumping in as a special guest performer on tambourine.
"These kids sold us," Strok said of the students' high performance that led to both the School to Watch redesignation and the STEAM program pick by Chicago Public Schools (CPS). "Only four schools in CPS got STEAM," she said.
1 commentsRead more: Evergreen Academy Celebrates Upcoming STEAM Program, Schools To Watch Redesignation
