ENGLEWOOD — While violence often makes the news in Englewood, Chatham and Auburn Gresham, there were many other stories of importance to the residents living there.
Here are some of the stories that mattered in 2015:
1. The group known as the "Army of Moms," received national attention. Tamar Manasseh, the organizer of Mothers Against Senseless Killings, formed the group in June to patrol the neighborhood where she grew up after the slaying of Lucille Barnes, 34, in the 7500 block of South Stewart. The Bronzeville resident said that her roots will always be in Englewood, which is why she cares so much about the welfare of the community. Since the group was founded, the mothers have expanded to other neighborhoods, recruited in Hyde Park, and hosted a prom for young adults who didn’t attend their own.
2. Even after Ald. Toni Foulkes (16th) declared victory in April's runoff election, it wasn’t final. Less than 200 votes separated Foulkes and challenger Stephanie Coleman. This was a race to watch because it was between the 27-year-old Coleman, the daughter of former Ald. Shirley Coleman, and Foulkes, a current alderman who decided to run in another ward after the remapping. Both candidates were forced into a runoff after Foulkes garnered 42 percent of the vote to Coleman's 36 percent in the February election. In the end, Foulkes prevailed.
3. Director Spike Lee turned a camera on Auburn Gresham and the rest of the South Side while filming “Chi-Raq” — and also had to spend a lot of time defending it from critics. Lee's project had stirred controversy among some city politicians and residents, mainly because of the title that compares the city to a war zone. He said the film was being criticized “by people who know nothing about this film. A lot of people have opinions about the so-called title of the film, but again, know nothing about the film," he said.
4. Dixon Elementary in Chatham received Chicago Public Schools' top rating for the first time. The local gem, which has been known in the neighborhood for delivering a high-quality education for a long time, bested 99 percent of schools nationwide in the growth on test scores in reading and math.
5. A proposed pot clinic for the Chatham community was ripped by a neighborhood group. The Eighth Ward Accountability Coalition, which formed during the 2015 elections, opposed the medical marijuana dispensary proposed for 1526 E. 84th St. CEO Lester Hollis of Harborside Illinois Grown Medicine touted the benefits of the dispensary coming to the community to the Chatham Business Association in August. But the coalition took two busloads of community members to the city's Zoning Board of Appeals meeting to oppose the plan. In November, residents declared victory after Harborside withdrew its application.
6. The Englewood Whole Foods delivered some good news to small-business owners in January. Business owners like Rachel Bernier-Green of Laine’s Bake Shop learned that her treats would be on the shelf when the store opens in August 2016. The opportunity to meet with Whole Foods happened through the Greater Englewood Community Development Corporation, which partnered with the grocer and hosted three workshops for the city’s small businesses and entrepreneurs.
7. Lindblom Math and Science Academy students took on a big two-part project with the help of their instructor, Lawrence Bass. He introduced his second- and third-year students to a community garden project at the beginning of the 2014-2015 academic year. They expanded the existing Hermitage Street Community Gardens, which are overseen by Cordia Pugh, an Englewood resident.
The second garden became a veterans' meditation garden. Veterans from the Jesse Brown Veterans Affairs Medical Center who have mental and emotional troubles are able to enjoy it. Students designed and helped build both gardens.
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