Ariel Parrella

Affordable Apartments At Logan Square Church Break Ground After 6 Years In The Making The Humboldt Park United Methodist Church project is the first sanctuary space in Chicago that will be turned into affordable housing, developers said.

Last Friday, I sat with several Northwest Side housing organizers and elected officials as we chattered our teeth inside the Humboldt Park United Methodist Church, which is finally ready to be transformed into affordable housing and will get a big makeover. blockclubchi.co/48oP60e

Snowy owls were spotted near the Montrose bird sanctuary, drawing crowds to the lakefront. Park blockclubchi.co/3Xg2f5y

Hundreds Pack The Metro — And Lakeview Streets — To Honor Tony Fitzpatrick: 'Tony Was Chicago' The Chicago visual artist, poet and actor died in October at the age of 66. A Sunday "celebration of life" included a program at the Metro and second line parade through the neighborhood.

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Beautifully told by @quinnmyers.bsky.social for @blockclubchi.bsky.social

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Little Village’s 26th Street is slowly coming back to life after months of immigration raids. blockclubchi.co/4rnuRrk

Chicago Immigrants Struggling With Mental Health After ICE Raids: 'They Want Us To Be Scared' Mental health professionals are providing impacted families with free support, workshops and guides, which some say have helped. But the trauma lingers.

Last week I sat down with Andrea, whose husband was recently taken by immigration officials. Despite navigating a new normal — and a complicated court system — she was all smiles as she told me about her family’s journey to Chicago&the support she’s received from neighbors. blockclubchi.co/3LLpUZ2

A pair of snowy owls on the coast of Chicago

A Midwest Bond Fund Is Helping Detained Chicago Immigrants Return To Their Families The Midwest Immigration Bond Fund launched in 2020 to provide bond assistance to people navigating the complex immigration legal system. That mission has become more difficult under the second Trump a...

The Midwest Immigration Bond Fund launched in 2020 to provide bond assistance to people navigating the complex immigration legal system. That mission has become more difficult under the second Trump administration, the group said. blockclubchicago.org/2025/11/17/b... via @blockclubchi.bsky.social

Mayor Brandon Johnson signed an executive order Saturday redirecting city funds towards food banks and other organizations fighting food insecurity in the wake of changes to SNAP benefits. blockclubchi.co/3XvlckC

Shop Local 2025: A LGBTQ+-Owned Businesses Gift Guide 🎁

From queer literature to tickets to a drag cooking class, you’ll find something for everyone at these LGBTQ+-owned businesses while supporting a marginalized community. blockclubchi.co/3WWQpwZ

Some happy news: The Kratowicz family completed their $90K goal to buy a new van with over 350 people who signed up for the weekend's 5K! www.instagram.com/p/DRFsdNYEYH_/

Avondale Neighbors Rally To Help Family Buy ADA Van For 2 Boys With Special Needs The Kratowicz family have wanted to buy an ADA van since this summer, when their boys, Sullivan, 3, and Tatum, 2, were diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder called D-Bifunctional Protein Deficiency.

Friends, strangers and medical practitioners are coming together to support an Avondale family’s need for a wheelchair-accessible van that will help them care for their two sons with complex medical issues. A 5K run/walk this weekend will support their cause.
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Chicago Abortion Fund Celebrates Milestone As State Expands Reproductive Health Efforts At the 40-year mark, the Chicago nonprofit — the largest independent abortion fund in the country — is serving record numbers of patients.

Spoke with Chicago Abortion Fund Executive Director Megan Jeyifo and Deputy Gov. Grace Hou about their efforts to protect reproductive freedom as CAF celebrates their 40th anniversary

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On the day when reports continue to say that Border Patrol chief Greg Bovino and agents are to leave Chicago, Bovino shares this highly edited photo from the Bean photo op on Monday. Note the blurred faces.

My original story in @blockclubchi.bsky.social: blockclubchicago.org/2025/11/10/b...

Chicago School Board Votes To Keep ChiArts Open, Close EPIC Academy The school board is ending agreements with independent operators of the two high schools. Chicago High School for the Arts will remain open as a district-run school.

Some positive news regarding Chi Arts in Humboldt Park from @chalkbeat.org: The Chicago Board of Education school board decided to keep ChiArts open as a district-run school and provide $1.5 million for the transition. blockclubchi.co/4nHY3G9

Logan Square's Highly Anticipated 2-Way Traffic Circle Pattern To Open Next Week The updated pattern adds safer pedestrian crossings, improves traffic flow and allows for parts of the square to more easily close for community events, officials said.

Get ready! Two-way traffic around Logan Square is set to begin Nov. 6. It’s arguably the most anticipated part of the project — and the most confusing. Since it's been a long time coming, I broke down how the new pattern will work and why the city chose a two-way design.
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Context: As Old Irving Park prepares for Halloween festivities, neighbors are on edge after masked federal immigration agents unleashed tear gas in the community Saturday, leading to the cancellation of a children’s costume parade. blockclubchicago.org/2025/10/28/a...

Some great friday news for Portage Park!

Apartments and townhomes are being pitched for a vacant Avondale lot. blockclubchi.co/42UMHY0

Chicago Alderperson Demands $100,000 In Damages After ICE Agent Handcuffed Her The incident left Fuentes with injuries to her wrists, shoulders and arms, including bruising and "extreme mental distress, anguish and fear," according to a claim she filed Tuesday.

Ald. Jessie Fuentes, whom federal agents handcuffed and threatened with arrest, has taken the first step toward suing the federal government, saying she wants to hold the agents accountable and show she wasn’t intimidated by violence.
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A Chicago high schooler had just returned from chemotherapy. Then ICE arrested her father. blockclubchi.co/4njEhR7

YouTube video by Press Forward Reformation

"With no billionaire owners to answer to, @blockclubchi.bsky.social believes their responsibility is to the community." — @charlesmblow.bsky.social

Don't miss @jensabella.bsky.social + @afrodip.bsky.social in this new doc series on the crisis facing local news. www.youtube.com/watch?v=xymb...

A federal judge pressed ICE and Border Patrol leaders on their tactics and use of tear gas in Chicago. blockclubchi.co/4n9ww05

"Please Show Up"

Belmont Cragin Business Owners Beg For Support As ICE Fears Devastate Sales And Closures Loom Despite fear and uncertainty in the area, business owners are trying to stay positive: "One less dinner in Roscoe Village and Wrigley and out in this neighborhood that needs help will make a huge diff...

Despite fear and uncertainty in the area, business owners are trying to stay positive and hope outsiders will come patronize their shops: “One less dinner in Roscoe Village and Wrigley and out in this neighborhood that needs help will make a huge difference. blockclubchi.co/4ouCMAR

Belmont Cragin Business Owners Beg For Support As ICE Fears Devastate Sales And Closures Loom Despite fear and uncertainty in the area, business owners are trying to stay positive: "One less dinner in Roscoe Village and Wrigley and out in this neighborhood that needs help will make a huge diff...

Yesterday I spent the day in Belmont Cragin talking to neighbors and business owners who have seen a dramatic slump in business. It was emotional to hear that some businesses, all family or locally owned, could close if they don’t see enough sales within the next two months.
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I’m back from vacation, and put together the past few days’ strong images from our @blockclubchi.bsky.social team.

GALLERY: Two Weeks In Photos: Chicagoans Stand Up To ICE, Johnson's New Budget And Much More blockclubchicago.org/2025/10/17/t...

Chicago Chocolatier Stands Up To Pro-ICE Online Trolls — And Her Sales Are Up Katherine Duncan said her decision to post a sign in her shop Katherine Anne Confections that says, “Everyone Is Welcome Here, Except ICE,” likely spurred the onslaught of negative reviews.

"We’ll be fine, honestly. Go out and support a GoFundMe or buy groceries for a Latino neighbor. Or go join one of those rapid response groups that are walking kids and from their schools," the owner said. | blockclubchicago.org/2025/10/17/c... via @blockclubchi.bsky.social

rest in peace D'Angelo. absolute genius, left us with a small but perfect body of work. man, this hurts.

A 15-year-old U.S. citizen was taken by the feds for 5 hours after an East Side protest, his attorney said. blockclubchi.co/42FrSzH