About

After working this site for over a year, I figured out the two reasons why I created Shorty: 1) to make the South Side of Chicago relevant and 2) to share resources on the South Side.  Allow me to explain what I a mean. I’m going to try to give you the cliff note version.

To Make the South Side Relevant

Chicago is a  very segregated city. In the simplest terms, the South Side is mostly black and brown and the North Side is mostly white, which makes it very easy to ignore or misrepresent the residents of the former.  And the local news stations have a field day sharing all of the shootings and other violent acts on our side of town.  While many of the stories are true, they tend to make ALL South Siders south of 35th street look like criminals, which is totally untrue.

Speaking of 35th Street. Have you ever looked at a tourist map of the Chicago? Depending on the map you look at, the city of Chicago ends at 35th Street. There was one map I saw that ended at 55th Street, but all the city ends at 35th Street on all others. It sucks to be ignored and misrepresented; I am no longer content with being either.

So, yes, my goal is to make my side of town relevant despite what you see on TV and tourist maps.

To Share Resources on the South Side

The South Side is full of resources but one would never know unless they read community newspapers and connected with organizations in the different communities. Press releases, news updates, employment and educational opportunities are sent to me all the time, which I am proud to share.  But reality really set in when my mother was able to get a free mammogram after signing up at a food pantry where she volunteers. It occurred to me that although there are many women in need of these services, only people connected with that particular institution only knew about them.

That incident gave me two thoughts. First, how many more people could have been served had they known about them? And second, how many organizations lose funding because they do not serve enough people due to lack of marketing?

Anyway, that is why Shorty exists and we are committed to sharing information on culture, education, employment, health and youth programs and activities from 22nd Street to 135th Street (North to South) and Western to the Lake Front (East to West).  Although the South Side is our primary focus, we share information on all sides of towns. If we can help others, we share it.

Communities Highlighted on Shorty

If you know of any organizations that offer services that fall into our target categories, please send the contact name and number or the flyer to resources@goshorty.net or leave it at 877.570.5228.