This week’s changemaker is helping to fight hunger, unemployment, and hopelessness on the West Side. She’s really focused on the North Lawndale neighborhood, where she helps run a church that doubles as a community garden, food pantry, and much more. Reshorna Fitzpatrick is executive pastor of Stone Temple Baptist Church, and a community advocate.

AND MORNING AND WELCOME BACK. THIS WEEK'S CHANGEMAKERS HELPING TO FIGHT HUNGER ON EMPLOYMENT AND HOPELESSNESS ON THE WEST SIDE OF CHICAGO AND FOCUSING ON THE NORTH LAWNDALE NEIGHBORHOOD. A CHURCH DOUBLES AS A GARDEN, FOOD PANTRY AND MORE. WE HAVE THE EXECUTIVE PASTOR OF STONE TEMPLE BAPTIST CHURCH. AND A COMMUNITY ADVOCATE AND CHANGEMAKER. GLAD TO BE WITH YOU. HAVE YOU ARE HERE. A YEAR AGO, I MET YOU AT YOUR COMMUNITY GARDEN NEXT TO YOUR CHURCH. SINCE THEN, YOU HAVE REALLY EXPANDED THAT. TALK ABOUT HOW YOU ARE WORKING WITH OTHER GROUPS. I'M EXCITED. WE HAVE THE PLAN WERE WE ARE TEAMING UP WITH FOUR DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS. WE HAVE THE FIREHOUSE AND THE STONE TEMPLE. WHAT WE ARE DOING IS PROVIDING FOOD THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY AND CREATING THE GARDENS AND THE FOOD TRUCK. OFTEN TIMES, WHEN PEOPLE HAVE

FOOD AVAILABLE, THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT CANNOT GET TO IT. WE WILL TAKE THE FOOD TO WHERE EXCITED ABOUT THAT. NORTH LAWNDALE IS A FOOD DESERT AND A PLACE WERE PEOPLE MIGHT NOT HAVE EASY ACCESS TO FRESH PRODUCE AND VEGETABLES. THIS IS WHAT YOU DO. TO IT AND LOVE IT. PEOPLE ARE LEARNING HOW TO PLANT THEIR OWN FOOD. WE HAVE ACCESS TO PRODUCE. I'M REALLY EXCITED. THIS WILL BE A REALLY GOOD YEAR UNDERSTANDING HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO GROW YOUR OWN FOOD. YOU KNOW HOW HEALTHY IT IS AND YOU KNOW WHAT YOU NEED TO MAKE SURE YOUR BODY IS TAKING HEED TO WHAT YOUR DOCTOR IS SAYING. YOUR CHURCH IS RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE AND YOUR GARDEN IS IN THE MIDDLE OF A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT FACES A LOT OF VIOLENCE YOUR MISSION IS TO CREATE JOBS. I KNOW YOU HAVE A NEW THING COMING THIS MONTH. YES. LAWNDALE. TALK ABOUT EXCITED. ON JANUARY 16th, WE HAVE A SERVICE WITH THE JEWISH UNITED FUND AND WE HAVE A GRAND

OPENING FOR THE CAFI. IT IS GOING TO BE AMAZING. FOR IT. WE HAVE A GOOD GROUP OF PEOPLE COMING FROM THE COMMUNITY TO WORK IN THAT POP UP CAFI THAT WILL BE AMAZING. YOU SHOWED ME ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE CHURCH THAT THERE WAS A SPOT WHERE YOU WERE PUTTING SHIPPING CONTAINERS AND LIKE THEY DO IN BROWNSVILLE IS PLACES TO EMPLOY PEOPLE. WE HAVE THE POP UP SPOT MUSEUM. THEY TAKE CARE OF THAT. WE CHANGE EXHIBITS. WE HAVE A FLOWER SHOP ALSO COMING IN APRIL. YOUR HOME AND FOR WHATEVER OCCASION. IT IS SO EXCITING. WE TALKED ABOUT LAST YEAR. NOW IT IS MANIFESTING. I LIKE TO TALK AND ACT. YOU ARE DEFINITELY A WOMAN OF ACTION AND THAT IS WHAT THIS IS ABOUT. WHEN I WENT TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD, I SAW THAT YOU CARE SO MUCH. THERE IS A REFRIGERATOR OUTSIDE OF YOUR CHURCH WHERE PEOPLE CAN COME AND GET FREE FOOD ANYTIME.

THE FREE LOVE CAFI HAS PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER, AND DROP OFF FOOD. THERE IS NOT A DAY THAT PEOPLE CAN COME AND NOT FIND SOMETHING TO EAT. IT IS FREE FOOD FOR ALL. YOU SAID EARLIER. WE ARE LIVING IN A FOOD DESERT. WE ARE FIGHTING THAT AND I THINK WE ARE WINNING. SPEAKING OF WINNING, THE LAST THING I WANTED TO ASK YOU NEW YEAR AND LOOK AT THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT MIGHT BE STRUGGLING IN SO MANY WAYS, PART OF YOUR MISSION I THINK IS TO INSPIRE YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD FOR HOPE. ISN'T THAT PART OF YOUR MISSION AS WELL? ABSOLUTELY. WITH ALL THE NEW BUSINESSES AND THE SERVICES WE ARE HAVING, I'M EXCITED BECAUSE WE HAVE SUBSTANCE FOR THE SOUL. PEOPLE ARE MEETING US AND BECOMING A PARTNERSHIP WITH US AND BECOMING MEMBERS. WE HAD THIS FUNNY THING IN THE COMMUNITY WHERE THEY CAUSE THE FUNERAL CHURCH. WE ARE NOW THE BAPTIZING

CHURCH. WE HAVE GONE OUTDOORS AND WE ARE MEETING PEOPLE. I'M JUST LOVING IT. IT IS A BEAUTIFUL SPACE. WE SPOKE EARLIER ABOUT THE VIOLENCE. I WAS READING AN ARTICLE THAT SAID THE VIOLENCE HAS GONE DOWN 58%. IT HAS A LOT TO DO WITH US BEING IN THE COMMUNITY. AND BEING INTERGENERATIONAL ABOUT OUR PARTNERSHIPS. I'M EXCITED ABOUT THAT. US THIS MORNING. WHAT WE LIKE TO DO IS CELEBRATE OUR CHANGEMAKERS. WE APPRECIATE IT.

The Culture of Sports in Chicago

It is no secret that the city of Chicago has developed a culture of sports. The city has a long history of being involved in major sporting events and has been recognized as a world leader in sports. As a result, several awards have been given to the city. In recent years, the city has been named the best sports city in the world, two years in a row.

Sports have played an important role in bringing people together and promoting social interaction. This has led to a number of social and cultural changes in the way sports are played and marketed. Since the rise of the modern sports industry, sports have also become a source of prestige, pleasure, and power. The evolution of sports has been influenced by social and economic movements, as well as globalization. Currently, the city’s sports culture is a reflection of the city’s renaissance.

If you are planning on attending a major sporting event in the city this weekend, be sure to check the event’s status in advance. Many of these events are subject to cancellation, so it is a good idea to get confirmation directly from the venue. You can do this by checking the venue’s website or office.

If you are looking to have a fun night out, there are plenty of events happening in the city this weekend. Check out What’s On Tap in Chicago This Weekend to learn about the hottest events and entertainment in the area.