Who’s who at Experimental Station?
Experimental Station (ES) is a non-profit organization dedicated to building independent cultural infrastructure on Chicago’s South Side.
ES sublets parts of our building, at 6100 South Blackstone Avenue on the border of Hyde Park and Woodlawn, to a wide array of projects: some are programs of ES (the organization) and some are independent tenants. All have a deep stake in the community we’ve built together!
Programs of Experimental Station
These programs are all run by staff of ES. They will be covered by the union.
Blackstone Bicycle Works uses a retail bike shop setting to support and engage youth from some of Chicago’s most underserved neighborhoods, where they acquire problem-solving, leadership, and vocational skills that encourage confidence and independence.
The 61st St. Farmers Market hosts dozens of local farmers and vendors in a year-round indoor and outdoor farmers market. The market also runs a variety of food and nutrition education programs for our neighbors.
Link Up Illinois is a program that matches Link purchases of fresh foods at farmers markets, farm stands, food co-ops, and independent grocery and corner stores across Illinois.
Experimental Station (when there isn’t a pandemic) also hosts and programs arts and cultural events.
Tenants of Experimental Station
These are independent organizations that rent space from ES, and frequently collaborate with one another. We’ve indicated if each organization is on record as supporting the union.
The Invisible Institute is a journalism production company working to enhance the capacity of citizens to hold public institutions accountable. Invisible Institute supports the ES union!
invisible.institute
Build Coffee is a café and bookstore, designed as a hub of great coffee and radical collaboration. Build supports the ES union!
buildcoffee.org
The Hyde Park Herald is a weekly newspaper that covers Hyde Park, Kenwood, Woodlawn and the rest of the mid-South Side.
hpherald.com
South Side Weekly is a nonprofit newspaper dedicated to supporting cultural and civic engagement on the South Side, and to developing emerging journalists, writers, and artists. South Side Weekly supports the ES union!
southsideweekly.com
Civic Projects is a hybrid architecture practice. Their work includes architecture as well as community and strategic planning, grant writing, and small-scale revitalization.
civic-projects.com
Market Box is a joint mutual aid project by South Side Weekly, Build Coffee, Invisible Institute, ES, and other collaborators. The project sources food from small farms and distributes it for free across the South Side of Chicago. Market Box supports the ES union!
marketboxchi.org