Mental health resources on the West Side, Austin Easter events and other West Side news
The Westside Weekly Review for the week of April 6, 2025 - April 12, 2025
Good afternoon, readers and subscribers.
Over the years, I’ve written multiple articles about mental health service providers on the West Side, and efforts to expand access to mental health services. I’ve written many times about how the stigma around getting mental health services can keep people from getting the help they need. How, in the end of the day, mental health issues should be approached the same way as other health issues - something that can be treated. Something you can’t overcome just by ignoring it.
This is something I found myself reflecting on because of something I’ve been dealing with… pretty much all of 2025 so far. Some days, even weeks, are better. This past week has been one of the worst. I am trying to follow what I hoped folks who’ve read Austin Weekly News over the years would get out of the article - get help, but even that has been a struggle.
Frankly, I don’t know if I’ll make it. But whether I do or don’t, I would encourage anyone reading this who is struggling, or knows someone who is struggling, to look into their options. Bobby Wright Comprehensive Behavioral Health Center, Habilitative Systems, Safer Foundation, Sinai Health System, Cook County Health system and others are out there on the West Side, and many services out there do take Medicaid. I know there are barriers, the paperwork, finding the time for it all, but I would encourage you to at least look at what’s out there.
Until, hopefully, next weekend.
Igor Studenkov
Editor, Westside Review
Last week in West Side news
Block Club Chicago had the latest chapter in the ongoing saga of whether Riot Fest is staying or leaving North Lawndale’s Douglass Park this year. The short version is that it is staying, at least for this year, but read all the details at the link.
Austin Weekly News covered Austin’s New Inspirational Missionary Baptist Church, 5825 W. Division St., trying to raise money to replace its deteriorating roof.
Both Austin Weekly News and Block Club Chicago covered the groundbreaking of the new Habitat for Humanity homes in Austin.
Cook County Chronicle profiled Transforming Retail Economics of Neighborhood Development (TREND) Chicago, a social enterprise that supports commercial development in historically disinvested neighborhoods. As the article points out, one of the benefities was Momentum Coffee, which has a location in Austin.
Austin Weekly News covered the April 4 march that commemorated the 57th anniversary of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination, and the iconic civil rights leader’s work in North Lawndale.
Block Club Chicago looked at the latest exhibit at the Lawndale Pop-Up Spot museum at 3601 W. Douglas Blvd. Like a lot of its exhibits, the “ReCovered: Chicago’s Urban Tree Canopy” shines the light on equity issues - in this case, how many trees different neighborhoods get.
As the article points out, trees cool the streets, even if slightly, so the more trees there are, the more bearable the weather is during the summer.
Austin Weekly News previewed the Ashley J. Dance Center, an Austin dance studio that’s having its grand opening today, and profiled the dancer behind it.
And Block Club Chicago looked at last Thursday’s workshop on how parents can talk to kids about deportation - a pertinent issue even on the West Side. The workshop was co-organized by several police district councils, including 10th police district council, which covers the section of North Lawndale south of Roosevelt Road and all of Little Village.
Coming up this week on the West
State Sen. Lakesia Collins (D-5th) will be holding a community meeting on Monday, April 14 at 6 p.m. at West Garfield Park’s Gospel Temple Church of God In Christ, 3855 W. Harrison St. Attendees are encouraged to share their thoughts on “the state budget, federal cuts to essential services, and how these changes impact our families.”
On Wednesday, April 16, Ald. Chris Taliaferro (29th) will be holding his monthly ward meeting for Galewood/Montclare portions of his ward. The meeting starts at 6 p.m. at Rutherford Sayre Park fieldhouse, 6871 W. Belden Ave.
On Thursday, April 17, the Northwest Home Equity Assurance Program’s governing commission is meeting at 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. at 3234 N. Central Ave. The program was originally created to prevent white flight by using proceeds from the special taxing district to make sure homeowners don’t lose money when they try to sell their homes. Since white flight is less of a concern now and the taxing district was never abolished, the governing commission has been using the money in other ways (like, ironically, helping property owners pay their property taxes).
While this mostly includes Northwest Side, Galewood is part of the district.
On Saturday, April 19, Black Researchers Collective is holding a Community Coffee Chat at Garfield Park Community Council offices at 4215 W Washington Blvd. The event, which starts at 10 a.m. and wraps up at 11:30 a.m., will discuss the issue common throughout both Garfield Parks - families struggling to keep their homes. The coffee chat is the way to collect residents’ experiences and “help shape the research the Collective will conduct in Garfield Park.”
Also on April 19, Austin Town Hall Park fieldhouse, 5610 W. Lake St., will host the Austin Resource Fair between noon and 4 p.m. The fair will feature 30 vendors, activities for kids and plenty of refreshments.
Also (also) on April 19, State Rep. Camille Lilly (D-78th) will host a block club summit (as in a summit of block clubs that fall within the city and suburban portions of her district). The summit will take place at noon to 1:30 p.m. at Austin’s T & C Fitness Club, 5906 W Chicago Ave.
West Side Easter Events
We figure this one deserves a special category. There are three events coming up this week, and all of them are taking place in Austin.
On Thursday, April 17, Austin Town Hall Park will host an Easter egg hunt for kids ages 3 to 12, at 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. The event will feature “Arts & Crafts, Dance with the bunny, and activities.”
On Saturday, April 19, La Follette Park, 1333 N. Laramie Ave., will host an Easter egg hunt for kids ages 11 and under at 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
There will be three age-based hunt times:
11am, ages 2 & under
11:30am, ages 3-5
12pm, ages 6 & up
Also on April 19, Moore Park at the other end of Austin, at 5085 W. Adams St., will host an Eggstravaganza at 2 p.m. to 5 .m. for kids ages 12 and under.
“We will have fun skating, painting, an egg hunt, and much more.”