Senior citizens, pregnant women, children and people with disabilities have bore Chicago’s cold winter and hot summer weather, waiting in front of a shelter-less bus stop on Cermak Rd. and Morgan Street—in Chicago’s Pilsen area. This bus stop is not just a far distance from Alivio Medical Center (where residents often visit), Casa Maravilla Senior Home and neighboring residential homes, the difficultly also lies in the danger of the crosswalk at the intersection near the exit of an expressway.
Pilsen Neighbors Community Council (PNCC) worked with local residents earlier, particularly looking for solutions to create a more livable community in Pilsen. PNCC met with different groups from Harrison Park, Dvorak Park, and Casa Maravilla, made up of local residents, including senior citizens. With PNCC’s tools in community organizing, and their philosophy that everyone is capable of bringing about change, residents publicly voiced their concerns on the issue. Using the skills gained from leadership training, the group organized with Gamaliel of Metro Chicago to bring about the crucial need for change. First, residents petitioned Alderman Daniel Solis and CTA’s president Richard Rodriguez to support a re-route to Morgan and 21st Street, including the construction of a bus shelter.
On December 5, the group marched from the bus stop, to Casa Maravilla’s Senior Home. The march led to a press conference with Alderman, Danny Solis (25th Ward), representatives from the CTA, local organizations and residents. Pilsen’s Alderman, Danny Solis is meeting with CTA’s President, Richard Rodriguez, to push for a reroute for a more liveable community. Mayor Daley has publicly announced his support of a reroute during a press conference at Casa Maravilla’s official opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony last February.
Senior citizens discuss and expose the dangers of current bus stop location on Cermak Rd. and Morgan Street
With the help of community leaders and the office of Congressman Gutierrez, we have recently opened the GMC Immigration Legal Clinic at Pilsen Neighbors Community Council! We are proud to assist the Pilsen community and residents in the Metro Chicago area.
Pilsen Neighbors Community Council is joining AARP on Monday, March 28 on a rally to stop ComEd’s unfair utility rate hikes that are affecting the community.
