Black Panther Event

Photo Credit: Ross LaSalle

On October 15th at the Fred Hampton House, people from all across Proviso Township celebrated the 55th anniversary of the Black Panther Party. This event was hosted by The Hampton House, Chairman Fred Hampton Jr. and Akua Njeri. This event was not only to celebrate the 55 years of the party but also to unveil the new “People’s Bench”(the refurbished Hampton family bench), official Little Free Library, and the updated Community Fridge & Pantry via ribbon cutting ceremony.

The hopes for the new space is to teach the younger generation of the impact of Fred Hampton’s life and legacy had and continues to have in Maywood, the Proviso District, and American History.

The collective of organizations involved included Save the Hampton House, Black Panther Party Cubs, Best of Proviso Township, Engaged Berwyn, Suburban Unity Alliance, Maywood Fine Arts Association, Immanuel Lutheran Church and No Child Goes Hungry.

We sent a spring mentee, Ross LaSalle to document this event through photos and video. What an honor it was to be a part of such an inspiring ceremony. We can only hope to continue to grow in our partnership with The Hampton House, and Fred Hampton Jr.

“It was inspiring and amazing being in the presence of such historical black individuals.”

- Ross

Photo Credit: Ross LaSalle

Maywoodian Families

Hello! We are a group of Firehouse Mentees trying to share the stories of families in Maywood. We wanted to share the faces of our community and show the diverse stories that make up Maywood. We also wanted to spotlight the experiences and opportunities that the Maywood community has brought for each of the families. We are excited to present these unique stories and we hope you enjoy learning more about your neighbors and the history of this great community! Thank you to all the families who shared their stories with us, we couldn’t have done it without you!

1. The Arteaga Family

Meet the Arteaga Family!

2. The Hurt Family

Meet the Hurt Family!

3. The Bustamante Family

Meet the Bustamante Family!

4. The Hernandez-Franco Family

Meet the Hernandez-Franco Family!

5. The Wellington Family

Meet the Wellington Family!

Maywoodian Families | Arteaga Family

Photo Credit: Mya Frank

How long have you lived in Maywood?:

About a year and a half.

What are you loving about Maywood?:

We love seeing small businesses come to life and thrive like the delicious Italian Ice shop down the street from us. We also love how friendly our neighbors are. We have felt welcome in our neighborhood since day one. People usually smile and wave as we take walks; it's been nice to enjoy that with the kids. There's also a community garden a few blocks away that my family gets fresh veggies from occasionally. My daughter takes drama classes at Maywood Fine Arts and it has been awesome to see her grow in her talents. We are also so grateful for everything that The Firehouse Dream is doing for the young people of the Proviso District. I like that there are opportunities to get involved in the community as well, like when my daughter and I participated in the neighborhood clean up.

Favorite memory in Maywood?:

Hmmm, I'd have to say it's a tie between the day we purchased our home and celebrated with kids inside of it and when I went on an 'Equity in the Arts' march with my daughter through Maywood Fine Arts. Buying our first home was a big deal and I also loved seeing my daughter flex her social justice muscles for our community.

What opportunities has Maywood brought to your family?:

We would not be able to afford a home this beautiful if it wasn't for Maywood. The previous owners took immaculate care of the place and were such beautiful people; we felt honored to be the next owners. It has been a blessing to have a yard for the kids to play in and space for them to run around. We lived in apartments previously. It has also been a privilege to work for The Firehouse Dream. The fact that they pay their contractors a living wage is huge for us and has allowed us to stay afloat even during the pandemic.

What hopes do you have for your Maywood community?:

I have a lot of hopes for Maywood. I would love to see more families move in. More playgrounds would be amazing too, as we don't have any that are upkept near us, which is really unfortunate. Also, an end to the gun violence that can sometimes terrorize our neighborhoods, and just an overall decrease in crime, would be a blessing. I would like to feel safer walking by myself or with my children. I'd also love to see the downtown area revitalized with shops and restaurants, for our residents to enjoy but also to bring in revenue from surrounding areas as well. A grocery store would be an answered prayer too.

What is something that your family enjoys doing together?:

Our family enjoys taking the kids to the park, going on nature walks in forest preserves, and having crazy, sometimes superhero-themed, dance parties at home :)

Photo Credit: Mya Frank, Suha Kassar, Cristal Andrade, Jasmyn Scavella, Houmam Kassar