When We See Us

This report was originally published in December 2024.

On Nov. 9, Westside community members gathered at BUILD Chicago, 5100 W. Harrison St., to celebrate The Culture, a new Austin-based storytelling platform, and to provide their input about how they want their stories told, what stories they want to be shared, what storytelling means to them, and how they receive news and information. 

Below is a summary of the feedback that we garnered that day. The Culture team and Austin Coming Together’s Authentic Storytelling Campaign will utilize this feedback to guide our work in securing resources, funding, and support for existing arts, culture, local news, and storytelling initiatives. 

What Do You Want To See In ‘The Culture’? 

We received 10 responses that included ideas about stories they’d like to see and ways of telling stories. They recommended stories and information about: 

• Community mentors 
• Labor issues that include:
• Workers’ struggles, organizing, and hiring conditions at Westside workplaces like Amazon 
• Small businesses 
• Laws 
• Financial literacy 
• Coding 
• Farmer’s Markets 
• Digital design and art programs 
• And, generally, “stories that empower and promote unity.” 

Other people focused on the storytelling method, with one person wanting to see “honesty about who’s who on the Westside.” 

We received a comprehensive response submitted by the Austin-based groups Black Workers Matter (BWM), which fights discrimination/segregation in hiring and on the job, and Get Back to Work, Inc., a direct-hire/jobs placement program. The groups provided a constructive critique of previous The Culture reporting and included several recommendations, including: 

• “We want worker self-representation in media.” 
• “How well are essential workers—and the groups they lead—represented in city/neighborhood media?”
• “We want ‘The Culture’ to ‘platform’ the voices and struggles of independent workers’ and workers’ groups like BWM. This includes ‘growing’ and holding accountable employers and development initiatives that are designed to benefit them. With this coverage and feedback, rights can be respected, and programs improved.” 

Where Do You Get Your News & What Is Storytelling To You? 

We received seven responses for this section focusing on storytelling that captures people’s real, authentic experiences.

• “Capturing the stories of families going to church, the grocery store, and playing double-butch.” 
• “Storytelling is sharing your experiences.” 
• “Authentic communication that defines truth.” 
• “Learning and retaining our history.” 
• “Real news told by real journalists.” 
• “Real people in the community.” 
• “Reassurance” 

Where Do You Get Your News? 

Attendees were invited to place a dot on areas indicating where they get their news and how frequently. Among those surveyed, 14 said they get their news from social media (11 said they get their news from social media “multiple times a day”). Despite the media category, most respondents said they check news “multiple times a day.” 

The chart below shows how attendees responded: