Entrevista con Nachieli Macias, Coordinadora de Servicios Educativos de Casa Jalisco en Chicago, donde nos explica los servicios que nos ofrece esta organización. Si tienen preguntas o requieren de mas información acerca de la Coordinación de Servicios Educativos de la Casa Jalisco, están localizados en el 1600 West Lake Street, Melrose Park, Illinois 60160 y su numero telefonico es el 708.223.8576 Ext. 108

Printed in Extra Newspaper 3/29/12 and posted online here.

Martin Macias, Jr.

The Department of Public Health is scheduled to close six of twelve remaining mental health clinics which serve over 5,000 residents and employ 155 workers, who are 85% Black and Latino. Close to 3,000 of those are uninsured, and another 2,000 carry Medicaid or private insurance. Health Commissioner Dr. Bechara Choucair claims the main objective is to improve mental health infrastructure city-wide. Members of the Mental Health Movement in Chicago say closing the clinics will have a devastating impact on the people that rely on them, such as forcing people to travel farther from their homes for services and being turned away for not being able to pay. The six clinics that remain open will be privatized which the coalition says will hurt the quality of treatment and jeopardize relationships that patients have established with clinics.

Residents of Logan Square, along with members of the Mental Health Movement gathered at Resurrection Church on Wednesday for a public forum highlighting the disparities in services to the Latino and Black communities. Latinos, the fastest growing minority population in the city, face barriers to services which explain why only 36% of Latinos combating depression received care in 2010 compared to 60% of Caucasians. The coalition is demanding the city’s mental health clinics be kept open, fully funded and services improved.

Former City Clerk and State Rep. Miguel Del Valle was present and asked how Mayor Emanuel could justify cutting funds for schools, libraries and now clinics. Del Valle shared the stage with residents who shared testimony of their struggles with mental health and how the clinics have helped them. Mayor Emanuel, Ald. Cardenas, Ald. Reboyras, State Senator Munoz and Ald. Moreno were all invited and didn’t attend.

Resident Debra Delgado shared her story: “My two boys were shot and killed two years ago. They had their youth cut short. I was in distress and I think I would be with them in heaven right now if it weren’t for the staff at Northwest Clinic.” Delgado relies on the services offered by Northwest Clinic in Logan Square which is scheduled to close on April 9th along with a clinic in Rogers Park. Four south-side clinics, one each in Beverly/Morgan Park, Back of the Yards, Woodlawn and Auburn Gresham are set to close April 30th, 2012.

Mayor Emanuel and the City Council don’t seem to have the interests of the city’s poor, unemployed and marginalized taxpayers at heart. Corporations and charter schools are routinely given TIF subsidies and tax breaks while basic public services such as our libraries, parks and mental health clinics are being cut. Gov. Quinn announced a $100 million tax break for three of Illinois’ richest corporations and soon after Mayor Emanuel was given authority to award no-bid contracts in relation to the upcoming NATO summit, on top of a proposed $65 million on security. Is the 99% in Chicago being ignored?

The Mental Health Movement has been organizing on this issue for more than three years. They’ve kept the pressure on Mayor Emanuel since his first day in office, delivering petitions, holding public forums and staging actions such as the sit-in last November in City Hall. The coalition is even proposing its own recommendations for raising the money needed to keep the clinics open such as a “yacht” tax which is estimated to generate up to $1.3 million in revenue.

Representatives from the Illinois Nurses Association also shared testimony at the forum. “These are not just places where people who suffer from mental illness can get counseling and treatment” said Maribel Quinones a nurse and advocate. “These are spaces where patients have a community that supports them. How can we talk about addressing violence and creating safe communities without investing in providing access to mental health services?”

“We have are the safety net for people and provide services others can’t or won’t offer to this community. We have a policy of never turning anyone away because they can’t pay. How can we make people decide between paying for therapy or groceries.” said Rose Torres, MA. “The closure of even this one clinic would represent a significant loss for the community.”

It’s estimated that closing six of the twelve mental health clinics will save $2.3 million in the city’s 2012 budget, or about $1.30/yr for each resident. The current $6.3 billion budget passed unanimously without a single dissenting vote and no public hearing on the cuts to clinics was held. Speakers at the forum made it clear that Alderman Cardenas (12th), who chairs the Committee on Health and Environmental Protection, has gone back on his promise to hold a hearing numerous times even though he has the authority and responsibility to hold a forum and give advocates a chance to make their voices heard. But they claim Ald. Cardenas has gone back on his word numerous times in order to please Mayor Emanuel. “I’ve been told by staffers in his office that it was a call from the Mayor that led to the cancellation of those hearings” said Matt Ginsberg-Jaeckle.

As people left the auditorium they passed a sign that read: “How much is a human life worth?”

What is a human life worth to our city? How much of your tax dollars should go towards securing health, food and an education for everyone in Chicago? Do we have a responsibility to take care of each other, especially the sick? These are questions that every Chicagoan must grapple with.  What will it take for all of us to care and get involved? Are we going to sit back quietly while Mayor Emanuel does this to our neighbors?

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From Community Media Workshop

Southside Together Organizing for Power issued a statement on the cancellation of the G8 summit:

“The cancellation of the G8 summit comes as this city sits at a crossroads. Will we be a global city based on strong neighborhoods, robust public services, human rights and active public participation or a global city based on catering to corporations and hiding the poverty left in their wake?

“A good first step towards choosing the former path and putting people before profit would be to use a chunk of the $60-plus million raised by the city to cover the costs of the G8 summits to stop the closure of the 6 mental health clinics and the privatization of all seven of its neighborhood health centers and use the rest towards creating jobs, saving and improving schools and taking care of the people and communities that make up this city.

“STOP calls on Mayor Emanuel to immediately halt the closure of the mental health clinics and privatization of its neighborhood health centers as a first step in showcasing to the world the Chicago that the people demand and deserve. “

Ireri Unzueta de la Alianza de Jóvenes Inmigrantes por la Justicia (IYJL) visita el estudio de Radio Arte durante el programa de #SinPapeles el jueves 8 de marzo del 2012.
Con ella conversamos acerca de hacer público el hecho de ser indocumentado de manera personal, las ventajas, desventajas y las implicaciones que esto tiene en la comunidad. Esto en vísperas de la Semana Nacional de Salir de las Sombras que en Chicago inicia con una manifestación en la Plaza Daley el sábado 10 de Marzo de este mismo año.

Detalles acerca de las actividades a realizarse en esta semana en Illinois entrando a este vínculo.

Por Gerardo Vázquez

Francisca Bonilla comparte con Sin Papeles su historia y las experiencias que ha tenido como una inmigrante viviendo en los Estados Unidos. Francisca y su familia se vieron obligadas a regresar a su pais de origen. Después de un tiempo ella y su familia deciden emigrar una vez mas.

Para Sin Papeles: Servando Cadenas.

Moira Pujols y Jochy Herrera de la revista cultural Contratiempo de Chicago, visitan el estudio de Radio Arte. Conversaron con el equipo de Sin Papeles acerca de la organización de la revista, los escritores compartieron como fue su llegada a dicha publicación, las actividades que realizan hoy día; también nos contaron acerca de planes futuros, otros oficios que realizan y para finalizar hablaron acerca de su experiencia como inmigrantes dominicanos en Chicago. Esta conversación marca el inicio en forma de la colaboración entre la revista y el programa sobre inmigración de Radio Arte, Sin Papeles.

Por Gerardo Vázquez con la colaboración de Servando Cadenas y Victor Alan Lozano.

Valentino ha estado envuelto en el ambiente musical desde una temprana edad; ahora en sus vida como adulto el ha encontrado un motivo y una manera para ayudar a la comunidad inmigrante. Valentino, junto a su grupo musical, trabajan en conjunto con diferentes organizaciones para recaudar fondos para las causas que lo necesiten.

Para Sin Papeles: Servando Cadenas.