By: Shirley Truong, Marco Garcia, Christian Lee, Gabriela Sampsel
As winter quickly approaches and the weather turns cold, the Rogers Park/Edgewater neighborhoods are preparing to accommodate existing and new migrants.
Republican Governors from states like Texas and Florida have sent buses full of migrants to sanctuary cities to protest federal immigration policies. Chicago has received 357 buses full of migrants since August 31, 2022.
In response to the increasing number of migrants seeking refuge, the City of Chicago, announced that the indoor facility that’s part of the Broadway Armory Park would be converted into a migrant shelter.
This initiative began in July and aimed to provide housing for up to 250 people. Now that the seasons are changing, it has become a crucial lifeline for those in need.
The entrances to the Armory have been temporarily closed off to the public, only allowing for staff and residents to enter. This has been done for safety and security of the residing migrants. As a result of this protocol, the Broadway Armory was unable to comment on their plans for the winter.
They do want the neighborhood to know that all fall programs that are traditionally held at the Broadway Armory, will instead be held at nearby Chicago Park District locations.
On the other hand, this plan has not gone without opposition. Comments from residents in the area have expressed concern, saying that the Armory may not be the best building to use compared to other city buildings. Others have also shown discontent for not being able to use the armory for their usual activities anymore, even if they have been relocated.
Similar to the Broadway Armory, neighborhood schools are also playing a role in helping ease the migrant’s transition to the changing climate. Many schools are collecting cold weather supplies, supporting families by providing childcare, and educating them on adapting to the cold weather.
Senn High School has had a history of community advocacy and they are once again answering the call. Coordinator and Instructor Donald Schiek from Senn High School offered some insight.
“We are doing a donation drive at our school. We have been collecting various clothing items to help students prepare for the cold weather. We are also collecting hygiene products that are helpful in the colder months–lotion, chap-stick, kleenex, etc.” said Schiek.
Although Senn’s community efforts are admirable, it shouldn’t go without mentioning that it hasn’t come with unique challenges.
Schools across the city are in dire need of bilingual teachers and for the English Language Learners Program (ELL) to expand. Schiek mentioned how the ELL program at Senn has grown by 80 students since September. Expanding the ELL program would alleviate heavy burdens on schools like Senn who are doing the legwork for migrant students, especially during this time of year.
CPS reported that around 1000 new ELL/migrant students have been enrolled since the fall.
“We are working to find solutions and expand our systems of support for our students, but we can only do so much. It is tiring. Students want and deserve a better learning environment. We need systems that are better equipped to handle this level of change, and leaders that recognize how they can more adequately support young immigrants’ educational experiences” said Schiek.
Schiek emphasizes how he hopes that Mayor Johnson and Governor Pritzker can continue to closely collaborate in hopes of getting more federal support.
On a broader scale, Coordinator of Participatory Budgeting & Outreach for the Office of the 49th Ward Jeffrey Gonzalaz wanted to highlight impactful initiatives the community has done so far, as well as what they plan to do. Gonzalez has been put in charge of responding to the pressing concerns surrounding the migrant crisis.
“The City has struggled to keep up with the crisis due to a lack of funding coming in from the federal government. I’m sure you’ve read news about the city signing contracts with Gardaworld and Favorite to provide sites for tent basecamps to depopulate the police stations and get new arrivals into winterized tents as winter approaches,” said 23-year old Gonzalez.
“The city has also worked to try and get RFPs out the door for local non-profits to help. This crisis is unprecedented for Chicago, and without more federal funding, the City is limited in how it can respond.”
The Rogers Park and Edgewater neighborhoods continue to show their commitment to providing refuge and opportunity to the migrants during the cold winter months.
Per Donald Schiek, Centro Romero, Edgewater Mutual Aid Network, Chinese Mutual Aid Network, Heartland Alliance, RefugeeOne, and World Relief are great neighborhood resources to consider.
For information on additional community resources for immigrants in the City of Chicago, click here.
