It’s a myth that young people don’t care about politics or social issues. In Chicago, organizers are building relationships among Black youth and young adults so they feel empowered to participate in their communities and vote.
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Election
More than 55,000 Chicagoans over 18 are experiencing homelessness, and it’s difficult to prioritize voting alongside immediate needs. But advocates say it’s important to mobilize, especially with a presidential administration targeting government spending.
Thousands of Illinoisans could not vote in November, as the state bans people from voting while serving time for felony sentences. This exclusion from the civic process highlights how incarceration and reintegration challenges can prevent someone participating in democracy.
One big issue was largely missing from the election season: Covid-19 and Long Covid. Chicago organizers and disability advocates are still fighting for locals to take the issue seriously. They are urging residents to demand that public officials reinstate citywide Covid mandates, such as mandatory masking and testing.
Organizers who work in education, homelessness and housing justice shared several tips on how Chicagoans can get more involved in key local issues affecting our communities in 2025.
State Rep. La Shawn K. Ford hasn’t given up on making it legal for people convicted of felonies to vote while serving their sentence. He’s working on new legislation after his first bill stalled in Springfield.
Jahmal Cole, founder of youth advocacy organization My Block, My Hood, My City, said it’s critical for mentors like him to show young people how local politics affect their lives and how they can overcome challenges to use their influence.
Jess Maciuch, a Northwestern University researcher of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Long Covid, laments that there’s little talk of chronic illness during election season.
Niya Kelly of the Chicago Coalition to End Homelessness challenges common misconceptions about voting without a permanent address.
Englewood and Bronzeville residents say politicians aren’t doing enough when they’re not campaigning for votes.
A collaboration between Chicago Documenters and Civic Reporting Fellows dug into questions surrounding the electoral process. Here’s what they found.
[South Side Weekly] Though the Southwest Side changed from majority-white to majority-Latinx in the last few decades, resources and political representation haven’t followed. These residents are looking to change that.
Analysts offer insight into the failure of the so-called “fair tax” amendment.
[Chicago Reader] From voter outreach to working for their communities, undocumented immigrants across the Chicago area don’t let their immigration status get in the way of participating politically.
Amid a pandemic and spike in anti-Asian attacks, being an election judge in 2020 was about supporting democracy and taking a stance against racism.
These organizations supported the amendment for a graduated income tax, but now must find ways to support their communities after election loss.
[INN] Los inmigrantes de todos los orígenes étnicos y diferente estatus legal tienen interés en la votación sobre la enmienda fiscal justa. Esto es lo que algunos defensores de los inmigrantes en Chicago tienen que decir al respecto.
For undocumented immigrants, a graduated income tax may even out a system they pay into but rarely benefit from.
[Block Club Chicago] Immigrants of all ethnic backgrounds and varying legal status have a stake in the vote over the fair tax amendment. Here’s what some advocates for immigrants in Chicago had to say about it.
[Chicago in Arabic] الخدمات الاجتماعية تسعى في الصراع من أجل تحقيق ضريبة عادلة