Elmwood Park Advocate Marks Its One Year Anniversary
From the Volunteer Staff Of The Elmwood Park Advocate:
One year ago, a group of village residents launched the Elmwood Park Advocate. We set out to build a community newsletter that could make up for the lack of local news reporting on the village.
What we achieved in a year greatly exceeded our expectations, and that is owed to the Elmwood Park residents who engaged with the newsletter’s reporting and writing and participated in “Community Conversations” that we held at the library.
The first year was a result of trial and error, mixed with a fair amount of experimenting. Some of what we tried worked. Yet through it all, the newsletter accumulated over 1,000 followers on our Facebook page. Traffic to our articles doubled, tripled, and in a few instances, quadrupled.
From the beginning, the Elmwood Park Advocate searched for stories to cover that reflected the interests of residents, like code enforcement related to weeds and “high grass.” We reported on the village’s purchase of homes that were then demolished and replaced with parking lots. These stories sparked a range of responses from residents, and we shared feedback that we received with readers.
The Elmwood Park Advocate demonstrated its value when ICE and the Border Patrol were conducting operations in Chicago and surrounding communities, including Elmwood Park. We tracked landscapers and roofers who were detained, cutting through the misinformation and rumors that spread about ICE’s presence in Elmwood Park. The newsletter also offered a platform to those in the community, who wished to share their frustration with how Village President Angelo “Skip” Saviano and Superintendent Dr. Leah Gauthier responded to the fear generated by ICE.
Early in 2025, the newsletter uncovered the fact that Gauthier and the school district had deleted nearly all of the school board meeting videos broadcast to YouTube. We brought this to the attention of the Cook County Local Records Commission, and members pledged to look into the district’s destruction of public records.
We interviewed both John Carrozza and Jarrett Knox, who competed in the Democratic primary for a Cook County judge position. It was the Elmwood Park Advocate’s first election coverage, and by educating voters on one of the few contested judicial races, the newsletter increased its credibility.
Those who attended our “Community Conversations,” as well as readers, are well aware that the library initially challenged the Elmwood Park Advocate when we tried to use the library’s main meeting room for free. The library board largely went along with this effort to discourage the newsletter from using the library to engage with residents and gather news.
But the Elmwood Park Advocate stood its ground. The library backed down and changed the meeting room policy so that all residents could reserve rooms without being forced to pay $100/hour. We created positive change.
Along with the reporting that the newsletter published on records obtained through the Freedom of Information Act, deputy editor Sara Lindsay, writer Ann Lindsay, and film critic Don Shanahan contributed dozens of articles.
“I’m deeply proud of the work we’ve done over the past year and everything the newsletter has grown into. As someone who is not a journalist or writer by trade, stepping into this role was far outside my comfort zone, but it has been absolutely worth it,” Sara Lindsay shared.
“Over the last year, I’ve learned so much about Elmwood Park, its history, its challenges, and most importantly, its people.”
“One of the best parts of this experience has been meeting so many wonderful people and helping create spaces for conversation and community,” Sara Lindsay added. “Access to information matters, and I’m grateful that we’ve been able to provide that for the people of Elmwood Park.”
“Having seen the Advocate’s development since its inception, it has blossomed into something I couldn’t have predicted,” Ann Lindsay said. “It’s not only a source of hyperlocal news. It’s a point of connection for many residents.”
“Through ‘Community Conversations,’ I met and connected with residents whose perspectives differed from mine but whose passion for a safe, flourishing village was the same as my own.”
“Achieving the village we all want can only be done through access to information, honest storytelling and a commitment to transparency,” Ann Lindsay contended. “The Advocate always strives for all three, and I’m grateful that it has helped me become a more informed and engaged resident.”
Shanahan said, “At its core, the Advocate is the epitome of ‘neighbors helping neighbors.’ The good folks writing for this online publication are actual citizens of this community, not disconnected journalists on the outside looking in from some assigned beat beyond our borders. I think that’s a trait of investment and commitment that has been lost in local journalism for too long.”
“The Advocate has empowered citizens to raise the bar for our shared civic accountability. We needed that around here. When done right, that process of shared information and ensuing social reaction becomes a partnership in the name of responsibility over some kind of political confrontation.”
“As for my small part as the resident film critic, I find pride in providing balance where I can,” Shanahan stated. “This fine village is more than its conflicts and obstacles. There’s a collection of cultures and demographics eager for entertainment. There’s a blue-collar, fun-loving heart here in Elmwood Park that wants to relax after long days of work and maximize family time. I am one of those very people.”
Editor Kevin Gosztola declared, “We are part of this community. We tell stories, share information, and ignite discussion about our village because we have a deep commitment to our neighbors and this place that we call home.”
“Thank you to everyone who has supported, read, shared, contributed, or simply stopped to talk with us along the way,” Sara Lindsay said.
We’re excited to keep growing in our second year. If you have comments or suggestions that may help us improve the Elmwood Park Advocate, email newsletter@elmwoodparkadvocate.org
Most Viewed Articles Published During The First Year
What Elmwood Park Residents Should Know If Confronted By ICE
‘It’s A Terrible Situation’: Village President Responds To Elmwood Park Residents’ Concerns About ICE
Former Elmwood Park Fire Chief Faces Criminal Charges For Allegedly Shutting Tiny Tap Employee In Cooler
‘Free America’ Protest In Elmwood Park Marks Anniversary Of Trump’s Second Term
Meet The Candidates Running In The 11th Judicial Subcircuit Race
Library Director Would Like The Power To Police Residents’ Speech
ICE Targets More Landscapers Working In Elmwood Park
Editorial: Elmwood Park School District Silent As ICE Spreads Fear
Letter To The Editor: A Clear Conflict of Interest
School District Destroyed Nearly All Of Its Archive Of Board Meeting Videos