Good morning, Chicago.

Stephanie Herrera started Amoxtli Book Club nearly three years ago after beginning her sobriety journey, and the group has grown into a space for Latinx college graduates and creatives seeking connection in Chicago.

The club meets every Monday at Pilsen Arts and Community House and hosts events such as open mic nights and workshops — building community ties.

Miss Mel leads Sunflower Soule Farm, LLC, which brings fresh produce to Back of the Yards and fights food injustice.

She is recovering from eye surgery and has temporarily closed her farmstand—planning to reopen and continue serving her community soon.

Marshall Square is a quiet neighborhood within Little Village that features green boulevards—Marshall Boulevard and 24th Boulevard—supporting local art, food and community events as residents and family-owned businesses keep its heritage alive.

Tony Nelson runs Flowers Unlimited & Gifts in Avalon Park, a florist that began in 1984 and was once called Flair Florist on 79th near Cottage Grove.

He builds community trust by offering quality arrangements and mentoring local youth through the One Summer Chicago program.

ChiTown Drive-In in Pilsen revived Chicago’s drive-in movie culture after the pandemic, serving as a safe outdoor venue where families and individuals watch films.

Director Jonathan Williams said the community hub will host special events like the Selena screening—combining nostalgia with a modern movie experience.

Since 1946, model train fans have gathered in the basement of Calumet Park Fieldhouse to build a miniature civilization that shows old towns, factories, and modern upgrades—reflecting Chicago’s local history.

The group meets on Wednesdays and Fridays from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and plans to further upgrade the detailed layout.

Chicago comedian Jaime De Leon used his community organizing in Little Village to launch his stand-up career and now hosts the monthly Pilsen Stand Up show (every third Wednesday, 8:00 to 11:00 p.m.) at Simone’s Bar, blending personal experiences with fresh Mexican American humor while recovering from cancer.

The former home of Helen C.

Maybell Anglin—known as the Soul Queen—is a striking mid-century modern structure in Chatham that reflects the legacy of Black professionals who built distinctive homes in the 1950s and ’60s. The residence at 84th and Calumet features natural stone and wood details that tell a story of cultural resilience in Chicago.

The Social Justice Initiative at University of Illinois Chicago is hosting an opening reception today at Chicago Justice Gallery for an exhibition titled We’re Not All Here / No Estamos Todes by artist Soledad Muñoz, curated by Lola Ayisha Ogbara.

The exhibit features woven textiles, a sound installation, a video documentary and maps that trace histories of loss and resistance.

Local owner Larry Mondragon opened Definitive Selection at 1745 W.

18th St., a streetwear boutique in Pilsen that celebrates Chicago’s hip-hop and graffiti heritage—hosting pop-ups and DJ sets to support local talent. The shop blends past cultural traditions with today's urban style.

The National Public Housing Museum opened the Beauty Turner Academy of Oral History in the last remaining Jane Addams Homes in Little Italy—this program honors Turner by training summer apprentices to record CHA residents' stories—while the museum offers free admission Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

City agencies are set to redesign the Morgan Shoal shoreline between 45th and 51st Street with armorstone revetments—stepped terraces—accessible trails while leaving the ancient reef and 1914 shipwreck untouched.

Local residents have criticized the plan as disconnected from local history and want to keep the area as a natural refuge before construction begins in early 2026.

Studio Yogi on 71st Street in South Shore offers accessible yoga classes including free sessions for Black men to help lower stress – it was founded by Julia Perkins after her osteoarthritis diagnosis and provides a welcoming space for community connection.