Illustration: Alex Kraus/15 West Environment From Vacant Lots to Gardens of Resistance Communities across Chicago and its suburbs are joining cities nationwide in rewriting the narrative around food access and green space. Residents are turning abandoned lots into vibrant spaces for growing food, building community, and practicing resistance. By Liana Ordoñez • 4 min read
Two chairs in remembrance of Fred Hampton and Mark Clark. | NaBeela Washington/15 West History Candlelight Vigil Reunites All Fred Hampton and Mark Clark Survivors After 56 Years Survivors of the 1969 raid, former Black Panthers, residents, and community organizers gathered at the site of the assassination to honor how the Black Panthers' revolutionary work continues today, amid opposition over who has the right to tell their story. By NaBeela Washington • 5 min read
CICA’s main company dance ensemble rehearses their final number at the Collaborative Institute of Cultural Arts in Brighton Park on Oct. 21, 2025. | Araceli Ramirez/15 West Art Viva la Vida: Honoring Memory Through Dance in Chicago At CICA’s Brighton Park studio, young dancers spent weeks rehearsing Veracruz-style folklórico for the Día de Muertos showcase on Nov. 2, learning the music and traditions behind the performance. By Araceli Ramirez • 6 min read
Mijares pouring rose tea into a mug as guests arrive. | NaBeela Washington/15 West Art a mascletà for burning and flowering: Natasha Mijares on ritual, resistance, and rebirth Artist Natasha Mijares brings the Valencian tradition of mascletà to Humboldt Park through spoken word, textile, and performance. By NaBeela Washington • 7 min read
A freshly prepared latte and blueberry muffin. | NaBeela Washington/15 West Eating Our Way Home Eating Our Way Home: Addis Cafe Part one of a series featuring food spaces that feel like home, this cafe thrives at the intersection of Ethiopian tradition and community turned family. By NaBeela Washington • 5 min read
Chicago Transit Authority train car, late evening. | Genesis Falls/15 West Housing We Were Here In the first of three parts, a photo essay 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. By Genesis Falls • 4 min read
Photo courtesy of Patricia Ostaszewski. Berwyn Silence Isn't Good Enough: Berwyn Leaders Push for Transparency. Tired of unanswered questions and fragmented information, Janel King and fellow residents are creating new paths to transparency in Berwyn. By NaBeela Washington • 4 min read
