![]() Zapata also captured some of the protests across Chicago this summer, particularly the unity rallies that unfolded in Chicago’s Latino neighborhoods on the South Side after racial tensions increased, including one rally in Pilsen in June. The right to safety in our communities needs to be considered essential.” “The reality to be documented, and living through the intersection of a pandemic and the fight for social justice, makes us confront the question that if our labor is seen as essential, and our workforce is deemed essential, then our rights to having resources and equality needs to be essential too. “All my friends are essential workers, so I wanted that to be documented,” Zapata said. Zapata said he produced public service announcements in English and in Spanish to inform residents about the dangers of the coronavirus because he felt like nobody else was doing enough to warn them. Instead of waiting for a government rescue, they’ve come together to help one another. Photojournalist and creative Mateo Zapata said this year he’s seen the community step up. “It becomes a much more attractive neighborhood for families to come and live here, which is great, however, it becomes a challenge when you start raising rents, and families that have lived here for years can no longer stay here,” Reyes said. The community has seen a lot of economic development and has many attractions, she said. It's one of many battles Pilsen is fighting.Īdvocates like Veronica Reyes of The Resurrection Project are also working to secure affordable housing for residents who’ve called Pilsen home for generations but are now struggling to keep up as rents rise in the popular neighborhood. “But little did we know, it’s December and again, numbers have risen up.” ![]() you go home as a small business, in two weeks we’re gonna come back,” said Esparza. “At the beginning of this pandemic it was supposed to be a 15-day break for the small businesses. However, regulation aimed at curbing the spread of the virus makes it difficult for the area’s small businesses to thrive, said Alex Esparza, executive director of Economic Strategies Development Corporation. Video: Watch our full interview with Ald. ![]() It’s not adequate or enough, but I think we as a community are coming together to demand a better response.”īut he feels optimistic that people are coming together. “We continue to have issues with testing. “We’ll continue working with public health officials to ensure that essential workers are prioritized,” Sigcho-Lopez said. Byron Sigcho-Lopez, whose 25th Ward includes Pilsen, hopes the city has learned from its response in terms of testing and tracing. Latino communities in Chicago, and across the country, have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. The ZIP code 60608, which includes most of Pilsen, has a 13.7% positivity rate as of Dec. ![]() Now, the Pilsen Alliance is fundraising to help those in need pay their utility bills. ![]()
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