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
Players try out for the Chicago Winds 2026 season. | Zoë Takaki/15 West Sports After playoff run, Chicago Winds find new talent for Year 2 The team proved women's tackle football has an eager audience in Chicago, and they're just getting started. By Zoë Takaki • 6 min read
Volunteers assemble whistle kits at Pizzeria Martello's in Hermosa. | Lauren Neher/15 West ICE Chicago's community organizers build rapid response model as ICE shifts focus nationwide Community groups across Chicago are equipping residents with legal guides, know-your-rights trainings, and rapid response networks to protect immigrant families. By Lauren Neher • 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
Genesis Falls/15 West Housing We Are Here, pt. 2 In the second 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 • 5 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
Signage outside the CTA’s Green Line Austin station direct riders to the temporary entrance. | Arturo Fernandez/15 West Accessibility Austin station construction forces riders to walk extra block Months of construction test commuters' patience as $25 million accessibility project continues By Arturo Fernandez • 3 min read
A student holds up a newly grown cucumber. | Maya Swan-Sullivan/15 West Environment Forgotten to flourishing: Heritage students transform school garden Heritage Middle School students are learning that food doesn't just come from grocery stores; it grows from soil, seeds, and hard work in their seven-bed community garden. By Maya Swan-Sullivan • 5 min read
A crowd forms ahead of Trippie Redd's set. | NaBeela Washington/15 West Music Summer Smash brought the heat. Chicago’s still feeling it. Two months later, the festival’s energy, emotion, and performances still echo across Chicago’s hip-hop scene. By NaBeela Washington • 6 min read
Residentes, funcionarios de la cuidad, y organizaciones comunitarias, se juntaron para discutir el calor extremo. | NaBeela Washington/15 West Español Residentes de los Lados Oeste y Sur Cuestionan el Plan Más Reciente de la Cuidad en Contra de Las Altas Temperaturas El nuevo Indice de Vulnerabilidad al Calor de Chicago busca señalar los vecindarios más vulnerables al calor, pero los residentes en áreas historicamente desinvertidas cuestionan si los datos traerán ayuda significativa. By Keila Gallardo • 6 min read
Foto cortesía de Patricia Ostaszewski. Español El Silencio No Basta: Líderes de Berwyn Presionan por Transparencia Cansada de las preguntas sin respuesta y pedazos de información, Janel King y otros residentes de Berwyn estan creando nuevas vías para la transparencia. By Keila Gallardo • 5 min read
