A transformed liquor store in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood is now a pop-up market offering fresh produce for an area often hit with food insecurity. It’s an effort by Austin teenagers, with funding from Chicago professional athletes, and the By the Hand Kids Club. But it was an idea driven by the teens. The widespread protests… Read More

It’s not too late for students in grades K-8 to register for a free online learning program through Project Exploration that includes home-delivered science exploration kits, daily Zoom classes, and hands-on STEM activities. The program, based in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood, usually holds in-person summer classes but switched to a virtual format because of the COVID-19… Read More

A group of teenagers from Austin got a boost from Chicago professional athletes to open a new food market for the Austin community. Austin, with only two stores where residents can buy healthy fresh food, has long been known as a food desert even while the neighborhood had 12 liquor stores. According to a story… Read More

A Chicago sports radio talk show host collected over $660,000 from listeners to make the dream of a new brick-and-mortar food store in Austin a reality. Last summer, former Chicago Bears linebacker Sam Acho recruited many of his fellow athletes to raise money to help create a pop-up food market on the site of a… Read More

Austin neighbors who are facing hunger issues because of the COVID-19 pandemic are welcome at a pop-up food pantry each Saturday morning through the end of August at Third Unitarian Church. The pantry will be open from 10 a.m. to noon every Saturday through Aug. 29. Third Unitarian Church, 301 N. Mayfield in Chicago, is… Read More

Austin residents are invited to a free screening on June 26 of Soul Food Junkies, a story about the upsides and downsides of one of America’s most popular types of ethnic cuisines and how to boost access to more fresh and healthy food in the community. Besides the film, there will be a cooking demonstration,… Read More

Appointments are still open for this weekend, March 26-28, for Austin residents to get initial doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. For the final three weekends of this Austin vaccine rollout, vaccinations will be for second doses only. Anyone 18 years or older who lives in Austin is eligible. The vaccine will be given at no… Read More

Austin residents 16 and older have more neighborhood opportunities to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Appointments are available for those 16 and older to get inoculated with the Pfizer vaccine at Loretto Hospital. Those signing up for the first shot will get an automatic appointment for a second shot three weeks later. There is no date… Read More

Forty Acres Fresh Market is hosting an Austin City Market every Thursday afternoon featuring fresh fruits and vegetables and other food from local vendors. The market is open from 1-6 p.m. at Austin Town Hall, 5610 W. Lake St., every Thursday until Sept. 17. All vendors at the market accept SNAP/EBT, Link, and Link Match…. Read More

A 10-acre empty expanse in Chicago’s North Austin neighborhood that has been vacant for three decades will become a sports center for kids in the fall of 2022. The dirt- and weed-filled land on North Laramie Avenue used to be the site of a paint factory, but by next fall it will offer sports, education,… Read More