3 Comments
User's avatar
Joji's avatar
Jan 1Edited

I appreciate this callback to pilsen. During my time at Rush College I became close to the Lozano family, who are prominent in Pilsen and run the Lincoln Methodist church on S Damen. I enjoyed intimate moments at Thalia hall, I used to frequent community yoga classes there with my ex wife and I saw Ibeyi, a Cuban twin duo who sing in Yoruba at Thalia… I lived in east lawndale at the time.

Satoru Inoue's avatar

Ah, I have been to the public library branch in Pilsen, named after Rudy Lozano.

Joji's avatar

Yes the Lozano story is interesting history in itself. There is a school and library there named for Rudy Lozano.

Rudy is the brother of Pastor Ema Lozano at Lincoln Methodist (uncle of my friends). Rudy was the victim of a political assassination during the first term of Mayor Harold Washington in the 1980s. He was a key organizer of the Black-Brown coalition that got HW elected. His son, Rudy Lozano Jr., has been a political organizer in the city as well, I believe he helped manage the campaign for Chuy Garcia.

I've seen some interesting events there. Dia de Los Muertos in Pilsen was quite memorable. Nuevo Leon was a great Taqueria, the original site burned down but I think it was re-established.