In the past year, Chicago has made international news as asylum seekers from Ukraine and Venezuela desperately seek refuge in the Windy City. More recently, the press has rightfully covered the dishearteningly unequal treatment received by these two groups of migrants.  Such stories from Chicago remind us that migration is inherently political in character, injustices among diasporic communities are real, and representation itself often informs a group’s well-being. Given these latest headlines, a current exhibit at Chicago’s Museum of Contemporary Art feels particularly timely. Titled entre horizontes: Art and Activism Between Chicago and Puerto Rico, the survey show features 17 artists, each of whom maintain a relationship with both Chicago and Puerto Rico.  Having opened in August 2023, entre horizontes—best translated as “between horizons”—will run through May 5, 2024. Curated by Carla Acevedo-Yates, the ambitious exhibition features an “intergenerational group of artists with ties to Chicago” who work in [...]

Outside a Chicago police station in the Belmont-Cragin neighborhood on the City’s west side, 43-year-old Colombian migrant Kanes Barros stood in 33-degree weather, listening to Chicago’s Life Impacters Foundation creator, Yolanda Pena address the approximately 60 migrants sheltered outdoors at the 25th District police station in Chicago’s 36th ward. “She [Pena] is saying that we can only have our sleeping things, the clothes, and our bags outside now in our tent,” said Barros, one of the people staying in a tent outdoors at the police station. Having recently arrived by bus, Barros and some migrants outside the station wandered the parking lot to keep warm, talking only briefly to one another. “City of Chicago has the food here at the police station,” he said, not realizing volunteers are providing hot meals for migrants. “But for health, they took us to the doctor, but we have to solve [find] the [...]

“There is beauty everywhere, even beyond that border wall,” says artist Patricia Perez, 43, a second-generation Latina of Guatemalan and Puerto Rican heritage.

When Ocean Medina, 11, and Joe DeLutrie, 52, first met through the Big Brothers Big Sisters of CT mentorship program, they bonded fairly quickly. The pair got to know each other by going to the library, playing basketball, and spending time at the playground.  Almost two years later, the pair has traveled to New York City for a photoshoot and a celebration as part of Macy’s upcoming holiday campaign, which Medina and DeLutrie were chosen to participate in. “It was pretty exciting, knowing how it was country-wide that we were selected,” DeLutrie shared about the experience. “Ocean’s definitely the star, I’m just a costar to compliment him. It was pretty incredible.” Between November 3 and December 24, the 2023 holiday campaign will be shown at over 500 Macy’s retail locations across the country—including six Macy’s retail stores in Connecticut: Danbury, Farmington, Manchester, Milford, Stamford, and Trumbull. Macy’s and Big [...]

A Northwest side non-profit community organization expanded their mutual aid efforts to migrants by creating English language courses for the new arrivals. Jefferson Park community members have been working to provide support to migrants at Friendship Community Place (FCP), 5150 N. Northwest Hwy., in collaboration with Friendship Presbyterian Church, as a response to the fast growing number of migrants coming to Chicago. Rev. Shawna Bowman, one of the pastors at the church helping run the efforts, said they started to create English courses after some migrants recently expressed their interest in learning the language.  “There was some conversation about the need for an English as a second language class, specifically to help give tools to people to advocate for themselves,” Bowman said.  Professionals from different industries in the neighborhood come in to lend support to their new neighbors by providing English classes and childcare during the class.  Lena Charles, [...]

Neighbors divided on city’s plan for a winterized “Base Camp” shelter at 38th Street and California Avenue