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BrownTown continues to dialogue about the relationship between electoral and radical politics with Alderman Byron Sigcho-Lopez and Alderperson-elect Jessie Fuentes. With the historic 2023 Chicago municipal elections in the rearview, the team situates what this never-before-seen cohort of socialist and progressive alderpeople and new mayor means in terms of the city's social movements and political history. If electoralism is a mere tool in the toolbox in the work towards collective liberation, what potential does this new energy from Chicago's Left have to facilitate the conditions for political and social transformation?In this fourth installment, BrownTown and the alders discus everything from the decades-long history of mayors and movement, voter turnout, the power of relationships in organizing, to pop culture-saavy internet memes. We've witnessed the number of socialist and progressive alders grow exponentially from 2015 to 2019 to 2023. As insiders, Byron and Jessie share about going from movement to municipal government while all four unpack the nuances of sustaining a liberatory praxis in relationship to the state apparatus. Originally recorded April 6, 2023, two days after the municipal run-off elections. GUESTSAlderman Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25th Ward) came to the US alone as a teenager where he found care in teachers, coaches, and community members who gave him shelter, guidance, taught him English, and a pathway to a good education. He eventually settled in Pilsen, a historic immigrant working class neighborhood in Chicago, and worked as an adult education teacher, founding the bilingual adult education program at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Byron became politically active when he successfully lead community efforts to keep a neighborhood public school open after then-Mayor Rahm Emanuel attempted to close it. Later, he served as the Director of the Pilsen Alliance and co-founding the campaign to Lift the Ban on rent control in Illinois. As alderman, Byron was the Chief Sponsor of an ordinance to curtail harassment of homeowners who have been targeted by predatory developers. He is a member of the Chicago DSA. Byron holds a BS in Mathematics and Business Administration, an MS in Economics, and is currently a PhD candidate in Urban Education Policy. Follow Byron on Facebook (political), Instagram (personal, political), and Twitter (personal, political). Stay up to date with his City Council work and 25th ward services at 25thward.org.Alderperson-elect Jessie Fuentes (26th Ward) is a queer Latina grassroots organizer, educator, and public policy advocate with over a decade of experience in education, criminal justice reform, affordable housing, community development and sustainability. A child of Humboldt Park and a seasoned organizer, Jessie's lived experience overcoming poverty, violence and generational trauma, coupled with her professional accomplishments, prepared her to serve the residents of the 26th Ward. Through personal resilience, community support, and restorative justice she was able to turn her most challenging life experiences into tools to uplift others facing similar life circumstances. Jessie sees her new role in City Council as a message to young people that transformation and change are possible and that one's life circumstances do not dictate their destiny. Follow Jessie on Facebook (personal, political), Instagram (personal, political), and Twitter (personal, political). Stay up to date with her upcoming City Council work at Jessiefor26thward.com. Mentioned or alluded to in episode:Previous installments: (1.0 with Camille Williams (2018), 2.0 with Ald. Maria Hadden (pre-COVID 2020), 3.0 with Stephanie Skora (fall 2020))Chicago's Progressive Alderpeople Retain Seats, Look To Expand Influence On City Council — And Even Mayor's Race (Block Club Chi)Caullen's election Instagram highlights -- memes and commentary :)Commentary | An appeal to Chicago's Black voters: don't fear your liberation by Damon Williams (TRiiBE)The Revolutionary Column | The War on Gangs stunted our growth by Bella BAHHS (TRiiBE)Midwest Socialist Article on 2023 Municipal Elections by Chris O.Brandon Johnson's Ground Game Defeats Obama Machine in Chicago by Luke Goldstein (The American Prospect)Election Night Coverage: Morgan Elise-Johnson (of the TRiiBE) on WTTWEve Ewing's Instagram post on electoralism and movementBenji Hart's Twitter post -- election highlights and reflective thoughtsEpisode Note: Byron SIGCHO-Lopez is NOT RAYMOND Lopez, despite what David may say... Opinions on this episode only reflect David, Caullen, Byron, and Jessie as individuals, not their organizations or places of work.--CREDITS: Intro soundbite from Brandon Johnson's April 4, 2023 mayoral election victory speech. Outro song Chi City by Common. Audio engineered by Kiera Battles. Episode photo by Davon Clark.--Bourbon 'n BrownTownFacebook | Twitter | Instagram | Site | Linktree | PatreonSoapBox Productions and Organizing, 501(c)3Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Site | Linktree | Support
What is the impact of a landmark district on gentrification? In this episode of Buildings on Air we answer that question and more with Chicago Democratic Socialists of America member and community organizer Diego Morales. We talk about the the debate surrounding the proposed Pilsen Landmark District here in Chicago, and why/how the community is pushing back.If you want to get involved with and stay up to date about the push back against the landmark district check out Pilsen Alliance on Facebook and Twitter.
In the state of Illinois, it is illegal to institute rent control but recently Chicago voters have repeatedly expressed their support for lifting that ban. On this week’s episode of the podcast we spoke to Simone, a landlord and lifelong Chicagoan, who supports lifting the ban. We also talked to Heather McClaren about Chicago DSA’s work as a member of the Lift the Ban Coalition. We touch on the history of powerful real estate interests in Chicago, recent trends in gentrification, how the coalition hopes to move forward and the arguments that are often made against rent control. The “Lift the Ban” coalition is led by the Kenwood Oakland Community Organization, Lugenia Burns Hope Center, Northside Action for Justice, and Pilsen Alliance. Current membership includes: Action Now Institute, American Indian Center, Autonomous Tenants Union, Chicago Democratic Socialists of America, Coalition for Equitable Community Development, The Community Law Project, Lawyers Committee for Better Housing, Little Village Community Development Corporation, Metropolitan Tenants Organization, Northwest Side Housing Center, ONE Northside, People for Community Recovery, SEIU HCII, Somos Logan Square, 33rdWard IPO, 25th Ward IPO, United Working Families, and Westside Health Authority.
Jonathan Mendoza is a poet, performer, and organizer who’s just getting his feet under him here in Chicago. He previously did his organizing thang in Boston and San Antonio, and now works as a housing rights organizer with Pilsen Alliance, a nonprofit advocacy organization based in the primarily Mexican and Mexican-American neighborhood. He’s also a real smartie and a real cutie.
Hector chats with Byron Sigcho, who is running for alderman in Chicago's 25th Ward and is the executive director of Pilsen Alliance, a group working to protect working-class residents from displacement.
We sit down with Chicago activist Jose Requena of Pilsen Alliance and much more to talk about working within a community for the needs of that community, balancing the need… The post Scapi Radio 10.08.18 Jose Requena appeared first on Scapi Magazine.
Sarah spoke to Jose Requena and Loreen Targos of Pilsen Alliance about what gentrification is and what their organization is doing to push it back. We discuss the Illinois ban on rent control, affordable housing and what needs to shift in politics to make Chicago a city where people can thrive.
My guest for today’s episode is Byron Sigcho, the executive director of Pilsen Alliance, here in Chicago. Pilsen Alliance is a social justice organization committed to developing grassroots leadership in Pilsen and neighboring working class, immigrant communities in Chicago’s Lower West Side. They work for quality public education, affordable housing, government accountability and healthy communities. To accomplish this, they use innovative community education tools and programs, direct action organizing campaigns and advocacy initiatives. Their goal is to reflect the popular education philosophy of building social consciousness for personal and social collective transformation. In our conversation, Byron and I discuss how they tackle such a large mission with a small staff and how they leverage partnerships to increase capacity. We also discuss the importance of addressing issues both large and small in the community, and how he as an executive director approaches professional development opportunities for their staff and board. Show Notes Contact me: nonprofitoptimist@gmail.com
This episode of Buildings on Air host Keefer Dunn chats with Byron Sigcho of the Pilsen Alliance on the fight against gentrification, and Sarah Rafson of Point Line Projects about CARYATIDS, a feminist architecture group working in the 90's in Chicago. Lastly, Skylar Moran subs in for our regular mailbag correspondents Ann Lui and Craig Reschke to answer your listener questions about architecture.
A panel discussion with Jamie Kalven: Writer, Invisible Institute; Tom Walsh: Director of Advocacy and Public Policy, Jewish Council on Urban Affiars; Victoria Romero: President of the Board, Pilsen Alliance. Moderated by Virginia Parks: Assistant Professor, School of Social Service Administration, University of Chicago.
A panel discussion with Jamie Kalven: Writer, Invisible Institute; Tom Walsh: Director of Advocacy and Public Policy, Jewish Council on Urban Affiars; Victoria Romero: President of the Board, Pilsen Alliance. Moderated by Virginia Parks: Assistant Professor, School of Social Service Administration, University of Chicago.