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15 West @15west.org · 29/09/2026

Pothole? School budget? Property taxes? Who’s on the ballot? 🤔 In partnership with Oak Park Public Library this October we’ll be leading Civics 101: Who Does What in Oak Park?, a free two-part workshop. oakpark.librarycalendar.com/event/who-does-what-village-oak-park-135838

Illustrated flyer in blue, orange, and cream. A girl with long flowing dark hair floats upward, reaching toward a glowing envelope icon with a cursor, while a boy above her shouts into a megaphone. Below, a magnifying glass sparkles over an open book, with swirling ribbons connecting the scene. Text reads: "Civics 101: Who Does What in Oak Park? Pothole? School budget? Property taxes? Who's on the ballot? Find out who's actually in charge. 10/6 + 10/13, 5:30–7:00 p.m., 834 Lake St., Oak Park, IL, Veterans Room. Free, all welcome, no civics degree required.

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15 West @15west.org · 22/09/2026

Subdistricts, but make them pizza. 🍕😭 Because election language can be A LOT. Our latest ASL explainer breaks it down. 📹 Jenica Teregeyo, ASL Video Reporting Fellow Read our full accessible voting guide: bit.ly/accessiblevoting26 #accessibility #deafcommunity #voting

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15 West @15west.org · 15/08/2026

Spotted in the wild: 15 West in print! 😍

A hand holds the July 15, 2026 issue of The Culture newspaper outdoors. The front page features an illustrated Chicago street scene with a CTA train and voting imagery beneath the headline, “Beyond Campaign Promises: What State Representatives Actually Do on the West Side.”

A hand holds page 8 of The Culture, featuring the 15 West story “Beyond Campaign Promises: What State Representatives Actually Do on the West Side” by Nel Afenya. The page includes an illustration of a woman casting a ballot, surrounded by envelopes and an “I Voted!” sticker.

A hand holds page 9 of The Culture, the continuation of 15 West’s story about the role of state representatives. The newspaper page includes illustrations of West Side residents and neighborhood scenes, along with a sidebar introducing 15 West as a resident- and volunteer-powered newsroom.

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15 West @15west.org · 26/07/2026

Nelly brought the 2000s to Brookfield Zoo on July 25. 🎶 But how does a zoo become a concert venue? Learn how: www.15west.org/brookfield-z...

Rapper Nelly smiles and raises one arm onstage under blue concert lighting, wearing sunglasses, chains and a sleeveless Brookfield Zoo Chicago shirt. Text reads: “Nelly performed at Brookfield Zoo. Here’s how the East Mall became a concert venue.”

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15 West @15west.org · 17/06/2026

At Jem Junkies, custom grillz and tooth gems are both craft and care 💎 Learn how co-founders Kristy Ramsey and Kimberly “Kim” Randall built a Black- and queer-owned Chicago studio are building clients up through safety, design, and confidence with NaBeela’s story: www.15west.org/featured/jem...

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15 West @15west.org · 09/06/2026

Can plastic be redeemed? Our latest story explores artist Cody Norman, whose coral-like sculptures at Garfield Park Conservatory transformed discarded plastics into forms of adaptation, repair, and possibility. Read NaBeela (@nabeelawashington.com)’s full story: www.15west.org/featured/cod...

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15 West @15west.org · 28/05/2026

“Black people need services too,” Asia Bee said. Her Austin nonprofit, Darrin’s Voice, supports autistic youth and families through creative programming, caregiver resources, and community-centered care. Read NaBeela (@nabeelawashington.com)’s full story for 15 West: www.15west.org/featured/one...

A black and white photo of a mother and son deeply embraced in a huge. The mother in this photo is Asia Bee hugging her son, Darrin.

A young Black male teen in a navy pullover is seen sitting with his arm out-stretched out of frame. The text "Bee created Darrin's Voice a nonprofit named after her 14-year-old son" are floating beneath this photo on a deep yellow rectangle.

Three young teen males are seen. One is leaning over a younger one who is seated. His hands guide the younger one's hands during a painting session. The third teen smiles beside the two.

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15 West @15west.org · 25/05/2026

🚨 A FOIA response from Chicago Fire Dept. confirms the cause is listed as undetermined because collapse and heavy damage made it impossible for investigators to safely determine an exact origin. Residents described how quickly conditions changed inside their homes.

Boarded up house and gated off property on Fulton st.

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15 West @15west.org · 15/05/2026

The Continental Pageant is more than a competition. It's set the stage for performance, legacy, community, and queer resilience ❤️ Founded in Chicago in the 80s, the pageant continues to shape drag pageantry locally and beyond. Read Alondra Carmona’s full story: www.15west.org/featured/ins...

Drag performers posing near the end of the competition.

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15 West @15west.org · 12/05/2026

A new Little Village mural is turning grief into a public call for cancer prevention. Residents gathered for the unveiling of “En Memoria a las Víctimas de Cáncer,” honoring community members lost to cancer and urging prevention, screening, and care 🎗️ Explore our latest story by Araceli Ramirez.

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15 West @15west.org · 10/05/2026

REPOST from our student reporter, Erica Afenya: “I had the privilege of attending the 49th annual Peter Lisagor awards on behalf of 15 West. Thank you to Chicago Headline Club Foundation for having me!”

Two seated women smile near a round table at an awards ceremony.

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15 West @15west.org · 20/04/2026

🚨 DEVELOPING—A fire burned through at least two residential homes in West Garfield Park this morning. Chicago Fire and Police are on scene. Residents gather as crews work to contain the blaze. More details as they become available. #WestGarfieldPark #Chicago #BreakingNews #15West

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15 West @15west.org · 19/04/2026

Access shouldn't depend on your ZIP code 🚫 Our latest story explores data from @cdph.bsky.social and disability access on Chicago's West Side, where residents face uneven infrastructure and limited neighborhood resources.

A man of color with visible limb difference stands beside text that reads ‘Neighborhood conditions for adults with disabilities.’

Text on a yellow textured background reads 'The data is stark.

A city report found that 1 in 4 Chicago adults lives with a disability, and the South and West Sides have higher percentages of disabled residents than the North Side.

In Austin alone, more than 26,000 residents were living with a disability in 2024.'

Text on lavender textured background reads 'But access is bigger than one event or one program.

Advocates at Access Living
say disabled residents are also navigating major challenges around housing, transportation, healthcare, and food access— especially on the South and West Sides.'

Near the bottom, hands raise to spell out the word "access" using sign language.

Text on a yellow textured background reads 'The Chicago Neurodiverse Social Club hosts free and low-barrier events across the city, with a focus on accessible venues, transit, noise levels, and flexible environments for neurodivergent adults.'

An older woman seated in a wheelchair waves near the lower right edge of the image.

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15 West @15west.org · 12/04/2026

101 lbs. 13 volunteers. 2 hours. 😮‍💨 Earlier today, neighbors across #Berwyn came together for our FIRST block cleanup — and they weren’t playing around. 3 routes. 13 bags. Over 100 lbs of trash off our streets, alleys, and litter hot spots near train tracks.

A group of Berwyn residents pose in front of Berwyn Rec ahead of a community cleanup. Some kneel, others stand and smile

A resident in a lavender jacket, black track pants, and orange nitrile gloves wheels back more trash collected on her route in a black cart.

A mom and daughter clean vehicular debris from the sides of train tracks. The mother kneels as a train goes by behind her. Her daughter watches.

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15 West @15west.org · 09/04/2026

👀 Have you heard? Today is #LocalNewsDay, a day to celebrate the local news you trust and info that keeps our communities informed. At 15 West, we’re honored to serve the West Side of Chicago and suburbs every day. Support local by reading our latest stories on 15west.org and/or subscribing.

Orange Local News Day (April 9) celebratory graphic

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15 West @15west.org · 29/03/2026

Humans vs trash, 2-0 😤. Join us this #earthday & #localnewsday for a #Berwyn community cleanup in Ward 2. Use this form to request cleanup on your block: bit.ly/BerwynWard2C... DM or Email programs@luckyjefferson.com to volunteer!

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15 West @15west.org · 13/03/2026

For #OakPark residents, the upcoming March 17 referendum on a $40 million indoor aquatic center is raising questions, mainly because the ballot doesn’t mention that the Ridgeland Common outdoor pool would be replaced.

An illustration of a red ballot box labeled "BALLOTS" in the foreground of an outdoor pool deck, surrounded by yes/no ballot papers flying through the air.

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15 West @15west.org · 11/03/2026

For more than 20 years, Anita Piotrowski kept a sketch tucked in a drawer. Then she retired, and used fabric to bring it to life.

Piotrowski holding up her Art Institute quilt. | NaBeela Washington/15 West

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15 West @15west.org · 10/03/2026

For longtime #LittleVillage residents, September 2025 was unlike anything they had ever seen. And even though the National Guard withdrew from their operation in December, fear stayed behind.

The "Bienvenidos a Little Village" arch on 26th Street silhouetted against a colorful sunset sky.

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15 West @15west.org · 25/02/2026

8% of Illinois Muslims identify as Hispanic. For Chicago’s Latino Muslim community, finding a space that felt like home meant building one yourself. For years, that’s exactly what Ojala Foundation has been doing in Berwyn: a home for Latino Muslims, and a neighbor to everyone else.

Palestinian and Mexican flags at Ojala's Eid celebration. Provided by
Jordan Esparza-Kelley

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15 West @15west.org · 16/02/2026

It featured photos by Gazan photojournalist Ismail Abu Hatab, who was killed by an Israeli missile strike in June 2025 before the show opened at Walls Turned Sideways in East Garfield Park.

Several photographs clipped to a clothesline with wooden clothespins, showing various scenes including ocean views and people at a beach. Additional photos are visible in the background on what appears to be a desk or table surface.

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15 West @15west.org · 16/02/2026

How often have you seen Palestinian children smiling? A Chicago exhibition called “Between Sky and Sea” aimed to change that.

Photograph suspended on a clothesline capture moments of everyday life and a coastal scene in Gaza

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15 West @15west.org · 10/01/2026

Celebrating the remaining hours of an unseasonably warm day by honoring the people who aren’t afraid to get a little dirty to build something better. El Paseo Community Garden in Pilsen — once a polluted “brownfield” — is now a sanctuary where land stewardship, culture, and resistance grow.

A family of four water a larger than life, split down the middle tomato. There’s a silhouette of a city in the background and swirling green vines atop brown dirt.

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15 West @15west.org · 13/12/2025

56 years after the FBI-coordinated assassination, all survivors of the raid on 2337 W. Monroe St. gathered together for the first time. During the historic vigil, candlelight illuminated the West Side block as the site was dedicated as part of The Black Panther Party Heritage Trail in Illinois.

Woman looks down while holding a candle high in her left hand during a candlelight vigil and moment of silence to honor and remember the assassinations of Fred Hampton and Mark Clark on Dec 3.

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15 West @15west.org · 07/12/2025

After a record-breaking playoff debut, the #ChicagoWinds are recruiting for Year 2. 89 athletes competed for 53 roster spots at recent tryouts in Oak Park. "I never want to leave. This is exactly where I want to be," said quarterback Sarah Teubner.

Two athletes are seen hitting the field to earn their spot with the Chicago Winds for the 2026 season. A girl in bright pink shorts jumps up to catch a thrown football. A player behind her attempts to block it. | Zoë Takaki/15 West

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15 West @15west.org · 27/11/2025

Chicago organizers are responding with a rapid-response model that mobilizes neighbors, legal aid, and advocacy groups within hours of a raid or detention.

A gathering of hundreds attend Whistlemania I throughout Chicago’s Northwest and West sides. Photo shows a rapid response training in motion; participants are seated. | Photo by
Lauren Neher/15 West

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15 West @15west.org · 27/11/2025

“ICE broke up my family. F— em!” This isn’t just anger — it’s the lived reality of families torn apart by shifting immigration enforcement tactics.

A table of Volunteers assemble whistle kits at Pizzeria Martello's in the Hermosa neighborhood. Whistles, Know-Your-Rights zines and more are laid around the table.| Photo by Lauren Neher/15 West

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15 West @15west.org · 08/11/2025

On the West Side, the spirit of community is alive. “Stone Temple has become an anchor for those drifting in uncertainty. Today, under Pastor Reshorna’s leadership, the church continues to serve as a reminder that the solution to displacement includes small acts of care,” writes Genesis Falls.

Community members line up outside Stone Temple to receive fresh produce, pantry staples, and hot meals. | Genesis Falls/15 West.

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15 West @15west.org · 01/11/2025

Owner Kalkidan “Kalki” Tesfaye has created more than a coffee shop; she’s built a living room for the neighborhood, where world music drifts through conversation and coffee is brewed with intention.

An aerial close-up of a salted caramel latte with a heart latte art and a cortado on a deep brown tinted table inside a coffee shop called Addis Cafe.

A close up of a variety of indoor plants.

A close-up of two stacks of books and a table top game. One book atop one of the smaller stacks reads “The Atlas of Beauty”.

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15 West @15west.org · 01/11/2025

One Google search led us to a coffee shop that feels like home. In part one of our new series, #EatingOurWayHome, we visit #AddisCafe — a West Suburban café where Ethiopian tradition meets community turned family.

Owner Kalkidan “Kalki” Tesfaye of Addis Cafe

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15 West @15west.org · 18/10/2025

“Is there no possible way to finish this work faster?” said Amari M., a commuter who frequents the Austin Station. Once construction concludes, the station would benefit all residents, regardless of mobility.

From the bottom of the stairs leading to the top of the Green Line's Austin station platform, a man is seen walking up

Closed entrance of the Green Line’s Austin station in Chicago.

A bald man carries a scooter in his right hand as he boards an L train.

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15 West @15west.org · 18/10/2025

A bald man carries a scooter in his right hand, as he boards the L train.

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15 West @15west.org · 16/09/2025

In the first of three parts, her photo essay #WeWereHere explores how Chicago’s West Side communities insist on presence and dignity in the face of displacement, revealing the persistence of life where others see only absence.

A man rests on a Chicago Transit Authority train car, late evening. | Genesis Falls/15 West

A woman feeds, watches pigeons near a West Side street corner, downtown skyline in distance. | Genesis Falls/15 West

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15 West @15west.org · 16/09/2025

Displacement is often described only through the absence of housing, of resources, of security. “But when I look through the viewfinder, I see something else: the persistence of life,” writes Genesis Falls.

A young man smokes under a transit overpass. | Genesis Falls/15 West

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15 West @15west.org · 10/09/2025

Kicking off on Sept 13 is our FREE 3-week media training! Learn to decode misinformation, engage critically with media, and publish your own stories on 15West.org. Attend all 3 sessions to qualify for paid reporting on Chicago’s West Side. Open to anyone interested in community journalism!

Promotional flyer for “Media Literacy 101: From Resident to Journalist.” Features a person using media tools—microphone, camera, laptop—surrounded by colorful shapes. Text highlights free virtual trainings on Sept 13, 20, and 27, 11:00 AM–12:30 PM, for storytellers of all abilities. Logos for 15West.org, Cook County Government, and City Bureau appear at the bottom, along with a QR code for more info.

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15 West @15west.org · 03/09/2025

The restaurant has a wide range of customers, from teachers and students from the neighboring school (Little Village Lawndale High School), to warehouse workers, to retired neighbors. www.15west.org/grandma-irma...

A staff member looks at a ticket; text is right aligned to describe Irma’s compassion, even in the face of ICE

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15 West @15west.org · 03/09/2025

From selling homemade barbacoa from her kitchen to opening her own restaurant, Irma Ceballos has created a neighborhood pillar where family recipes meet unconditional hospitality.

Steak over scrambled eggs over a verde sauce

A full plate featuring the Mexican staple barbacoa, rice, beans, and a side of marinated vegetables, like carrots.

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15 West @15west.org · 21/08/2025

Enough time has passed—let’s talk Summer Smash. The energy and performances from Lyrical Lemonade’s festival still linger through Chicago’s hip-hop scene. Head here to read our reflection: www.15west.org/summer-smash...

A drawn person floats in a body of water over the words “Summer Smash Brought the Heat”

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15 West @15west.org · 01/08/2025

This data-driven tool was developed with Northwestern's Buffett Institute (buffett.northwestern.edu) and a variety of community partners. Still, environmental community activists and residents question the city's ability to support those most vulnerable to the effects of a warmer climate.

Rachel Williams, a Black Chicago doula and activist, shares her experiences on heat and policing with the audience as a resident and panelist.

Right: Mayor Brandon Johnson arrives at Columbus Park Refectory; Northwestern’s Dr. Jennifer Chan presents data from the forthcoming Heat Vulnerability Index (HVI), highlighting communities with elevated risk of heat-related deaths. The data shows that areas most vulnerable to hot and humid days—particularly during heat waves—are concentrated on Chicago’s South and West Sides. Left: Angela Tovar, Commissioner and Chief Sustainability Officer at the City of Chicago’s Department of Environment welcoming Brandon Johnson.

Residents, city officials, and community organizations, come together to address extreme heat.

A man in a bright orange tee, Reverend Booker Vance, presents a question for panelists.

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15 West @15west.org · 30/06/2025

The trust Memphis rapper Key Glock has earned from fans isn’t just about his music; it’s about his refusal to compromise his Memphis identity for mainstream acceptance. Read our review of Glock’s Chicago tour stop: 15west.org/in-key-glock...

In Key Glock We Trust graphic featuring man holding up arms strong amid swirl of graffiti like colors

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15 West @15west.org · 21/06/2025

Get ready for #news for everyone. Who are we? #15West is a new volunteer-supported newsroom and a fiscally sponsored project of @luckyjefferson.com dedicated to connecting people mile by mile, block by block, throughout neighborhoods west of Chicago.

15 West is a fiscally sponsored, volunteer-supported newsroom dedicated to connecting people mile by mile, block by block, throughout neighborhoods west of Chicago.

Made possible by Cook County’s Digital Equity Impact Grant, we want to be one of the first news spaces to intentionally cater to readers of all needs, abilities, and competencies.

We aim to increase understanding of the news and diminish the likelihood that someone is misinformed about the world around them.

We’re neurodiverse first, getting news to people of all abilities.

Noticas para todos.

¿Quiénes somos?

15 West es una sala de prensa fiscalmente patrocinada y operada por voluntarios que se dedica a conectar a las personas a lo largo de los barrios del oeste de Chicago; milla por milla, cuadra por cuadra.

Gracias al aporte del condado de Cook para el Impacto en la Equidad Digital, queremos ser uno de los primeros espacios de noticias que sirva a lectores de todas las necesidades, habilidades y competencias.
Nuestro fin es aumentar la comprensión de noticias y disminuir la posibilidad de que alguien esté mal informado sobre el mundo a su alrededor.

Neurodiversidad antes que nada, llevando noticias a gente de todas las habilidades.

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