By The Grassroots Collaborative
Dear Journalist,
We are excited that you’ll be visiting Chicago and reporting on the NATO summit. Grassroots Collaborative has organized tours visiting four Chicago neighborhoods on May 17 and 18, so that you have the chance to see working class neighborhoods in the city, meet with local residents who are fighting for improvements, and report on the connections between Chicago struggles and your city.
Watch this teaser for the tour on May 17th:
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Teaser -Tour on May 18th:
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TOUR ITINERARY:
Thursday, May 17th
8:15 a.m.: Pick-up from downtown location TBA
8:30 a.m.: Depart
9:00 a.m.: Tour of Little Village neighborhood, one of the largest Latino neighborhoods in Chicago
9:45 a.m.: Tour of recently closed down mental health clinics in the Back of the Yards community
10:50 a.m.: Return to downtown location
Friday, May 18th
8:15 a.m.: Pick-up from downtown location TBA
8:30 a.m.: Depart
9:00 a.m.: Tour of Englewood, highlighting public safety and foreclosure blight
10 a.m.: Tour of Brighton Park, highlighting public schools and safety
10:50 a.m.: Return to downtown location
Locally, Chicago shows its misplaced priorities through the hosting of NATO. Chicago corporations will spend $14 million alone for NATO parties, while Mayor Emanuel shuts down half of the city’s mental health clinics, closes schools, and squeezes the city’s working class.
Nationally, the U.S. accounts for 75% of all NATO defense spending. At the same time, millions of U.S. families have lost their housing through foreclosures, the number of families in extreme poverty escalates, and unemployment continues to devastate communities across the country.
Internationally, NATO promotes the misplaced idea that militarism promotes peace. NATO members account for 70% of the world’s military spending. Meanwhile, the global poor continue to grow and fall deeper into poverty.
REGISTER FOR THE TOUR
Follow @GrassrootsChi
#natoChiTour
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Comments welcome.
Posted on May 14, 2012