As the sun warms the snow-kissed blocks of “Paseo Boricua,” community members create a steady flow of traffic. Masks and other face coverings are the new additions to the attire worn by all. Still, as is the tradition on Division street between Western Avenue and Mozart Avenue, where Chicago’s Puerto Rican Community is concentrated and celebrated with businesses and organizations focused on the preservation of Puerto Rican culture in the face of gentrification (Flores-Gonzalez, 2001), these masks contain Puerto Rican flags and other symbols associated with the island and the culture it houses.
It is a Saturday in March during a pandemic. Messages on the importance of social distancing are on repeat from politicians and medical organizations, while simultaneously warnings of the adverse effects isolation have on one’s mental health are touched upon in the media. For Chicago youth, the violence hasn’t subsided despite the curfews, the quarantines, and the other social stipulations conceived by society’s efforts to combat Covid-19. “Yeah, bro… we still here living the life we live – ya feel me? Covid ain’t changed nothing but forcing us to wear a mask and we can’t sit at a local spot and eat. We gotta take our food-to-go,” says a 17-year-old high school student who calls the Humboldt Park area of Chicago home. “Oh, and we can’t say goodbye to our people who get killed or die cause of the virus,” he adds.
But there is a change on “Paseo Boricua” during this time of pandemic-driven economic hardship. Another accomplishment of Chicago’s Puerto Rican Cultural Center is made tangible as of February 6, 2021, when the “WEPA! MERCADO DEL PUEBLO” opened its doors to community vendors. Providing a space for the community to gather – following face coverings and 6 feet of distance (when possible) – and purchase goods produced by local entrepreneurs. The market’s idea was born from the need for vendors who were regularly participating in community pop-ups to have an indoor space where they could continue selling their products without having to battle the frigid temperatures of the Chicago winter. The initiative will continue to expand and evolve to the next phase, where local vendors will receive assistance to establish storefronts.
Walking into the “Mercado Del Pueblo” comes with a greeting from one of the most potent tools the community has to prevent youth violence; the smile of a young person. Emitting energy that speaks to a sense of purpose and pride, the two young women who greeted me when I entered into the space did so with flyers for upcoming events and a brief explanation of the vendors that were present. Their smiles were contagious not only to me but to all the vendors in attendance. In the back of the space, traditional Puerto Rican food was being sold, and it was here where I found a congregation of young people laughing and talking in a manner that denoted a sense of comfort and relaxation. There was no denying that the community was genuinely embracing this community space.
Taking a moment to stop at every vendor’s table, observe their products, make a purchase, and engage in a brief chat, proved beneficial in confirming the assessment I made of the vibe that permeated through the market. Time and time again, the positive effects on the community were iterated to me by the vendors. “I grew up in this neighborhood, and there was a time that we knew not to be outside. We knew when we had to be home because the violence was bad. Now, we still have problems, but you know what? These kids have a place where they can come and safely hang out now and get something to eat at a good price. They also become familiar with other community members, and when they see each other in the street, they can say “hello”. That makes a difference,” said one vendor when I asked her how she felt the initiative was impacting the community.
A key aspect of conflict resolution is understanding the root of the conflict. A key aspect of understanding the conflict is understanding the perspective of those involved. A key aspect of understanding the perspective of those involved is understanding their lifestyle. The WEPA! MERCADO DEL PUEBLO addresses a need the community on Division Street has. A community that is no stranger to the fight against gentrification, this initiative instills pride in the people of Paseo Boricua and that pride has the potential to quell potential conflict among the youth in the area by reminding them that the community is home to more than them and those in their immediate circle. With the extension of their network comes an appreciation for the existence of others. With this appreciation comes (hopefully) an understanding that life should not be disregarded. I would argue that when someone not only knows the name of the bystander behind the target of their rage but also cares about their wellbeing, the individual may be less likely to act in a manner that could rob another of their life.
©Dr William “King Mission” 2021