The Black British Funk band, Cymande. | Courtesy of Cymande. Music Cymande Reemerges with Fresh Momentum and Deep Roots Ahead of a June 25 stop at Fitzgerald's, bassist Steve Scipio reflects on the band's Caribbean roots, its resurgence through hip-hop sampling, and plans for new music. By NaBeela Washington • 3 min read
Grillz-making workshop attendee inspecting her mold. | NaBeela Washington/15West PRIDE Jem Junkies Is Making Space for Softness At the Black- and queer-owned grillz and tooth gem studio, comfort and conversation are treated as part of the experience. By NaBeela Washington • 5 min read
A woman with Plasticus canistraria, 2023. | NaBeela Washington/15 West Art Cody Norman Imagines a Future for Plastic At Garfield Park Conservatory, artist Cody Norman uses coral-like sculptures and plastic to explore how communities might adapt to a material that isn’t going away. By NaBeela Washington • 6 min read
Protesters march with signs during Chicago’s May Day demonstration. | Provided by Blake Brown-Grigsby May Day Chicago activists see May Day strike as a call for worker power Activists and community organizers hope the May 1 strike will inspire continued worker organizing and collective action. By Khadija Mujahid • 3 min read
Asia Bee and Darrin painting together. | NaBeela Washington/15 West Accessibility One Austin Mom Couldn't Find Support for Her Autistic Son. So She's Building It. Asia Bee spent years navigating a system that offered Black families like hers little more than a diagnosis. Now she's creating the community she never had through Darrin’s Voice, one Saturday at a time. By NaBeela Washington • 5 min read
The “En Memoria A Las Víctimas De Cáncer” mural at Drake Avenue and 26th Street in Little Village on April 30, 2026, honors community members lost to cancer. | Araceli Ramirez/15 West Little Village Little Village mural honors lives lost to cancer After losing several family members to cancer, Dolores Castañeda created a mural at 26th Street and Drake Avenue. Over 50 names honor residents lost to cancer and encourage early screenings. By Araceli Ramirez • 4 min read
Provided by Dan Neniskis and Angelise. LGBTQIA+ Inside the Continental Pageant’s Legacy of Glamour and Resistance An inside look at the Continental Pageant, which has evolved into an international platform celebrating artistry, advocacy, and resilience within the LGBTQIA+ community. By Alondra Carmona • 4 min read
Illustration: Eleni Chapas/15 West Accessibility Organizers Work to Expand Disability Access on Chicago’s West Side After a new city report highlighted stark neighborhood inequities for Chicagoans with disabilities, local advocates say the work to make the city more accessible is far from finished. By Lauren Neher • 5 min read
Illustration: Rae Rae Villarreal/15 West Sex Work Chicago never stopped policing “immoral” women A 2018 loitering law allows police to act on perceived intent, echoing Chicago’s early anti-vice crackdowns. By Aïcha Camara • 5 min read
Illustration: Rae Rae Villarreal/15 West Oak Park Oak Park residents question wording of indoor pool referendum Ballot measure asks voters to approve $40 million in bonds, but does not mention that the Ridgeland Common outdoor pool would be replaced. By Georgia Rau • 5 min read
Community members take turns at a piñata during Ojala's Eid celebration. | Provided by Jordan Esparza-Kelley Faith How Ojala Foundation Is Building What Chicago's Latino Muslim Community Never Had What happens when a Latino Muslim community decides to build its own home and leaves the door open for others in the process. By Sumaiyya Siddiqi • 4 min read
P.E.R.R.O. members rally outside City Hall. | Provided by Zitlalli Paez Environment Pilsen Has Lived Through One Bad Demolition. Residents Are Fighting to Make Sure Fisk Is Different. Residents say the Fisk site is full of heavy metals and coal ash that haven't been properly tested. They halted the demolition once. Now they're fighting to make sure it stays halted until the city does it right. By Liana Ordoñez • 7 min read
