Although I never actually lived in Pilsen, it has always been a neighborhood in which I could feel at home. Aside from having family living in Pilsen, I basically grew up in this neighborhood because I attended elementary school at a local Catholic school from Kindergarten - 8th grade and went to high school just across a viaduct from Pilsen.
Like many of Chicago's neighborhoods, Pilsen is home to a rich ethnic culture. It is currently home to many Mexican immigrant families and is known to be a working class community. From its urban murals to its National Museum of Mexican Art, Pilsen has many landmarks that tie it closer to the Mexican community. However, Pilsen has also been known for its violence since it is home to gang activity. Recently, the South Side community has been changing and heading towards a new direction as young artists and UIC students are moving to its eastern border.
From what my parents always say, Pilsen - 18th street in particular - has drastically changed from the neighborhood it once was in the early 90's, and the community has noticed it as well. Even though the crime rate in Pilsen is higher than the city's average, the neighborhood, according to a resident, has seen improvement since the 80's where "gang life was a more prominent part of Pilsen than today" (Garvey). In the sense of residents' safety, Pilsen is definitely moving in a better direction as it is losing its emphasis on gang life.
The neighborhood is under concern of heading towards the direction of gentrification as well. Although the majority of Pilsen's population is still Mexican, the most recent census has shown that the "Latino population in the Lower West Side, which includes Pilsen, dropped by 25 percent" (Garvey). Although Pilsen is a very welcoming community, long-time residents do not want to see their neighborhood taken away. The Resurrection Project, "a non-profit founded by local churches in 1990 to help preserve affordable housing options in Pilsen," has made it its goal to keep Pilsen a primarily working class Mexican community (Richardson). Despite these efforts, the prices of apartments and homes in the neighborhood are still increasing. Prices of homes within the community have risen from $145,000 in 2001 to $295,000 in 2006 (Garvey). I, however, do not completely believe that the residents of Pilsen would allow themselves to be kicked out of their own neighborhood. Although I do see improvements within the community, I also believe that these improvements can continue without the absence of a group of people who help this neighborhood thrive. Pilsen's community is known for its activism which is why "Pilsen may be one of the areas best armed to keep gentrification in check" (Richardson). Pilsen is definitely welcoming to new residents, but at the same time, the neighborhood shouldn't have to kick out its older residents to see the community improve.
Apart from the neighborhood's ongoing changes, Pilsen is very well known to be a notable site for its art. Up until my sophomore year of high school - part of 2010 and 2011 - I hadn't really been appreciative of the art within the Pilsen community. What made me realize how beautiful the murals are was my time working at a local public radio station within the PIlsen community. I remember driving through Pilsen when I was younger with my grandpa looking at the murals and not knowing what to make of them. I found many of them to be confusing and pointless, which was very naive of me to think. It wasn't until a visit to the National Museum of Mexican Art that I felt more connected to the community through the displays the museum had to offer. It was there that I realized the museum, "murals and symbols have been an important means of expressing Mexican cultural identity in the United States" (Margolin). The art within the boundaries of Pilsen do an amazing job at depicting the every day lives of Mexicans in the U.S. as well as depicting the common struggles that many Mexicans face in this country. Aside from the bigger issues that the art raises, the murals as well as the museum offer what many other neighborhoods in Chicago lack. They define Pilsen as an artistic community that helps the neighborhood thrive in a positive direction. As Pilsen continues to head towards a new direction, one thing is for sure: the murals and museum will "continue to reinforce the street as a vibrant center social life" (Margolin). The art itself is what is attracting all the change in the first place.
Like many of Chicago's neighborhoods, Pilsen is home to a rich ethnic culture. It is currently home to many Mexican immigrant families and is known to be a working class community. From its urban murals to its National Museum of Mexican Art, Pilsen has many landmarks that tie it closer to the Mexican community. However, Pilsen has also been known for its violence since it is home to gang activity. Recently, the South Side community has been changing and heading towards a new direction as young artists and UIC students are moving to its eastern border.
From what my parents always say, Pilsen - 18th street in particular - has drastically changed from the neighborhood it once was in the early 90's, and the community has noticed it as well. Even though the crime rate in Pilsen is higher than the city's average, the neighborhood, according to a resident, has seen improvement since the 80's where "gang life was a more prominent part of Pilsen than today" (Garvey). In the sense of residents' safety, Pilsen is definitely moving in a better direction as it is losing its emphasis on gang life.
The neighborhood is under concern of heading towards the direction of gentrification as well. Although the majority of Pilsen's population is still Mexican, the most recent census has shown that the "Latino population in the Lower West Side, which includes Pilsen, dropped by 25 percent" (Garvey). Although Pilsen is a very welcoming community, long-time residents do not want to see their neighborhood taken away. The Resurrection Project, "a non-profit founded by local churches in 1990 to help preserve affordable housing options in Pilsen," has made it its goal to keep Pilsen a primarily working class Mexican community (Richardson). Despite these efforts, the prices of apartments and homes in the neighborhood are still increasing. Prices of homes within the community have risen from $145,000 in 2001 to $295,000 in 2006 (Garvey). I, however, do not completely believe that the residents of Pilsen would allow themselves to be kicked out of their own neighborhood. Although I do see improvements within the community, I also believe that these improvements can continue without the absence of a group of people who help this neighborhood thrive. Pilsen's community is known for its activism which is why "Pilsen may be one of the areas best armed to keep gentrification in check" (Richardson). Pilsen is definitely welcoming to new residents, but at the same time, the neighborhood shouldn't have to kick out its older residents to see the community improve.
Apart from the neighborhood's ongoing changes, Pilsen is very well known to be a notable site for its art. Up until my sophomore year of high school - part of 2010 and 2011 - I hadn't really been appreciative of the art within the Pilsen community. What made me realize how beautiful the murals are was my time working at a local public radio station within the PIlsen community. I remember driving through Pilsen when I was younger with my grandpa looking at the murals and not knowing what to make of them. I found many of them to be confusing and pointless, which was very naive of me to think. It wasn't until a visit to the National Museum of Mexican Art that I felt more connected to the community through the displays the museum had to offer. It was there that I realized the museum, "murals and symbols have been an important means of expressing Mexican cultural identity in the United States" (Margolin). The art within the boundaries of Pilsen do an amazing job at depicting the every day lives of Mexicans in the U.S. as well as depicting the common struggles that many Mexicans face in this country. Aside from the bigger issues that the art raises, the murals as well as the museum offer what many other neighborhoods in Chicago lack. They define Pilsen as an artistic community that helps the neighborhood thrive in a positive direction. As Pilsen continues to head towards a new direction, one thing is for sure: the murals and museum will "continue to reinforce the street as a vibrant center social life" (Margolin). The art itself is what is attracting all the change in the first place.