Seven-year-old Kailyn McIntire twirled the brand new hair extensions that she tied into her braids. “I have pink hair!” She squealed. McIntire won the hair accessories just minutes before in one of the many raffles offered at the Safe and Peaceful Community Rally.
Read MoreFiona Bradley didn’t know what to do when she saw a passenger sprawled out on the train’s floor at two in the morning.
Read MoreOn Friday October 12th, Garfield Park Conservatory hosted their annual plant-based fashion show, FLEUROTICA. A visually stunning event, FLEUROTICA combined bio-degradable materials with the aesthetics of runway fashion. Here’s what the evening looked like.
Read MoreCity Limits is a series from The Real Chi profiling artists who are not only pushing the culture forward with their work but actively working in their communities to better the city of Chicago.
Read MoreIt’s not yet the holiday season but Damon Locks thought Chicago deserved a gift. On Nov. 15, Locks and the Black Monument Ensemble will present “Where Future Unfolds – Flowers for Chicago,” a sprawling 80-minute music-and-dance performance hosted at the Garfield Park Conservatory as part of the month-long Red Bull Music Festival.
Read MoreLast month, the Garfield Park Conservatory hosted its annual FLEUROTICA runway show, where floral designers from across the Chicagoland were given the opportunity to showcase garments made entirely of plants, flowers, and organic materials.
Read MoreFirst Defense Legal Aid is determined to de-escalate police-related violence and educate Westside community members about their rights when encountering police. The kickoff event for the 24 ward’s “Know Your Rights” campaign took place on Oct. 13 at the Austin Health Center.
Read MoreIt’s 3 p.m. on the West Side, and Marie Henderson has managed to dodge the biggest news of the day: Mayor Rahm Emanuel isn’t running for re-election. Even the broadcasters themselves were shocked by Emanuel’s announcement.
Read MoreDespite similar marijuana usage across all racial groups, Chicago has seen incommensurately more arrests and tickets given in black and brown neighborhoods than in predominantly white ones, even since its possession was decriminalized in the city in 2012.
Read MoreSet for Oct. 5 in Pilsen, the Brown Skin Lady Show is all about embracing change as the city transitions toward the fall season.
Read MoreDestiny Harris emceed the night of the Report Release on Aug. 29 for No Cop Academy, an endeavor that is being led by black youth demanding that the proposed $95 million being allocated to build the Joint Public Safety Training Academy in West Garfield Park be redirected to Chicago Public Schools.
Read MoreThe newly-renovated Woodson Regional Library got more than just a facelift. After a nine-million dollar restoration, the library is set to become the city’s first dementia-friendly library.
Read MoreIncarceration affects many black and brown people in Chicago, whether prosecuted or not. One of the forces in Chicago actively working towards dismantling the criminal justice system is an organization run and lead by students.
Read MoreNearly four years after Chicago Police Officer Jason Van Dyke killed 17-year-old Laquan McDonald, the Van Dyke trial began just this month. The prosecution rested its case last week. Now, the defense begins its attempt to prove Van Dyke was justified in shooting McDonald 16 times. As the trial nears its end, Chicago waits for the verdict with baited breath.
Read MoreRising from her seat in the middle of William Penn Elementary School’s small library, a young mother looked over her shoulder, sighed, and pleaded, “Please stop taking my pencils out of my pencil box.”
Read MoreThere currently exist many organizations aimed at helping Chicagoans navigate the city’s medical marijuana program, but most are sponsored by cannabis companies in Illinois and very few groups service the South and West Sides of the city. Black and brown folks stand to benefit just as much from access to cannabis as anyone else, but they are readily skipped over by many advocacy organizations.
Read MoreWest Side residents looking to explore their inner farmer can attend the Garfield Park Conservatory between noon and 4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 15 for the seventh annual Harvest Day. The recommended donation for attending the event is $5. Hosted by the Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance, the event will be a family-friendly celebration of urban agriculture in the city of Chicago.
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