Spring in the Garden w/ AGA
It’s that time of the year again- the Avondale Gardening Alliance is holding our annual Spring in the Garden event at Chief O’Neill’s on Sunday, May 31st from 3-6pm! Spring in the Garden is our celebration of everything that comes along with spring- the optimism of warmer weather, the beginning of planting season, and reconnecting with nature. All while wearing flower crowns- you can’t have a bad time when you’re wearing a flower crown!
Alt Academy
Alt Academy exists because too often, restaurant and bar workers are told to “level up," but only if we can afford it.
In hospitality, skills are currency. Certifications and classes cost money. Time off costs money. And so much knowledge, from bar technique to financial literacy to harm reduction, gets gatekept behind paywalls, exclusivity, or insider networks. Meanwhile, the workers who keep this industry alive are expected to figure it out on their own.
Alt Academy flips that model.
We create a free, community-centered space where hourly workers can build practical skills, share knowledge, and access tools that are usually out of reach. No elitism. No industry ego. No “who do you know?” energy. Just hands-on learning, mutual aid, and space to grow alongside people who understand the realities of this work.
Because skill-building shouldn’t require privilege. Community shouldn’t require a cover charge. And the people who sustain hospitality deserve spaces that sustain them back.
Free Skill-Share Classes for Chicago Restaurant & Bar Workers!
Alt Academy is a full day of free classes, community lunch, arts & crafts, and intentional time to connect. We’re getting our hands dirty, building survival skills, leveling up financially, and sharpening tools, literally.
Here’s what’s on deck:
11 AM - 12:15 PM From Trash To Tasting Menu
12:30 PM - 1:45 PM: Finance literacy
1:45 - 2:15 Free Community Lunch
2:30 PM - 4 PM Bar Basics
4:00 PM - 5:30 PM Community Conversation
Plus:
Community lunch (free!)
Arts & crafts hang space
Free knife sharpening (bring those dull blades!)
Drop in even if you’re not registered for a class, come eat, craft, and say hi.
We prioritize Black, Brown, immigrant, disabled, and LGBTQIA+ hourly workers. All are welcome.
From Prairie to Poppy
Join Chicago Dissenters and Palestinian Youth Movement on April 9th at the Watershed Art & Ecology (1821 S. Racine) for a zine release launch event! The zine will underscore the connections between weapons, food sovereignty, and environmental justice from Chicago to Palestine! 🇵🇸
Doors open at 6:30, event will begin promptly at 7pm.
Food will be available for purchase on a sliding scale.
This is a masks required event!
Intro to Canning & Fermentation
join us for a hands on class to learn the basics of canning and fermentation!
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfz8CldA1Ibc09jXiTq1D1scFq1rW4tOLZE90YbxSs7REhg-g/viewform
