Neighborhood News
COVID-19 No Match for Aquinas as Literacy Training Moves Online
Aquinas Literacy Center in Chicago's McKinley Park neighborhood has continued its mission of literacy education through the COVID-19 pandemic thanks to moving its tutoring, volunteers and events online.
- Aquinas Literacy Center shutters McKinley Park neighborhood-based headquarters due to COVID-19 pandemic.
- Training, volunteer support and community events have moved online to continue mission of teaching English to adult learners.
- Center anticipates reopening in September.
Read more: COVID-19 No Match for Aquinas as Literacy Training Moves Online
McKinley Park Rallies for Defense, Cleanup and Support of Neighborhood
Neighbors and groups of every stripe in the McKinley Park neighborhood of Chicago have spontaneously activated in the face of social challenge and unrest, banding together to deter looters, clean up the neighborhood and provide desperately needed food, medicine and rent assistance.
- Citizens' watch group deters looters from the McKinley Park Target store for three nights running.
- Volunteer neighbors and groups spontaneously collaborate to provide assistance with food, medicine and rent.
- William McKinley American Legion Post No. 231 saves 35th Street Walgreens from devastation.
Read more: McKinley Park Rallies for Defense, Cleanup and Support of Neighborhood
Graffiti Artists Bomb Neighborhood Viaducts with Colorful Designs; City Paints Them Over
Dozens of original street art designs appeared throughout the McKinley Park neighborhood's railroad viaducts over Memorial Day weekend. However, within several days, all had been removed due to City and railroad policy on unsanctioned artwork.
- Art Heals Chicago project brings an army of street artists to cover most viaducts in the McKinley Park neighborhood with original murals.
- Lack of official permission results in erasure of street art by Streets and Sanitation.
- Alderman George Cardenas and others note difficulty of working with the railroad companies that own the viaducts.
Read more: Graffiti Artists Bomb Neighborhood Viaducts with Colorful Designs; City Paints Them Over
Looting, Arson, Attempted Home Invasions Mar McKinley Park Neighborhood
Employees clean up broken glass in front of the Jewel-Osco grocery store at 3644 S. Archer Ave. on the morning of Monday, June 1, 2020, after looters broke in and raided the liquor department the night before.
Incidents of crime related to civic unrest tied to the protests of the Minneapolis police slaying of George Floyd have resulted in looted stores, arson and attempted home invasions in the McKinley Park neighborhood of Chicago.
- Looted stores in the McKinley Park neighborhood clean up after break-ins and vandalism the night before.
- Local residents foil attempted serial home invasions early in the morning of Monday, June 1.
- Local looting and break-ins are part of civic unrest tied to protests of the Minneapolis police slaying of George Floyd.
Read more: Looting, Arson, Attempted Home Invasions Mar McKinley Park Neighborhood
Lightfoot Exhorts Neighborhood to Respond to Census
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot speaks directly to the McKinley Park neighborhood in a video highlighting the local low response rate and the importance of the U.S. Census for funding and political representation.
- Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot says the McKinley Park neighborhood needs to do better in responding to the U.S. Census.
- Video message highlights importance of an accurate census count for funding and political representation.
- Fewer than 50 percent of McKinley Park's residents have responded thus far, with only a third responding in some areas.
Read more: Lightfoot Exhorts Neighborhood to Respond to Census
