The Southeast side of Chicago is home to the Eastside, Hegewisch, and Pullman neighborhoods.
The population of Pullman is 83% African American with a relatively older population (median age of 40 years) Hegewisch has a nearly even split between Hispanic (47.8%) and White (44.3%) residents, transitioning from a predominantly Polish American area to one with a growing Latino population. The East Side is a predominantly Hispanic neighborhood.
The neighborhoods are currently predominately low-income with between 20 – 30% of residents (depending on the neighborhood living) below the poverty line with over double the unemployment rate of the rest of the city.
In addition, the neighborhoods are plagued by some of the highest pollution levels in Chicago, resulting in cancers and breathing diseases as well as high rates of crime and limited educational opportunities, including in the arts. Neighborhoods trying to thrive under these conditions face multiple educational challenges, including lower rates of higher education attainment and schools that struggle with resource limitations and socio-economic pressures.
Overall, the arts and nonprofit landscape in these neighborhoods is characterized by a mix of social services, historical preservation, cultural programming, and community-focused initiatives. Most if not all nonprofits in these neighborhoods are currently operating at full capacity and are unfortunately having to turn away individuals due to the high demand for their programs.
Despite their best efforts, these organizations are unable to accommodate everyone seeking assistance, highlighting a significant gap between community needs and available resources. This is especially true when it comes to the art.