Gentrification In Pilsen Case Study

The topic of the discussion/ lecture was about gentrification in Pilsen, a lower West Side community area on the West Side of Chicago. In the discussion I learned that gentrification is the process of renovating a district or community so that it conforms to middle class state. It was commented how property values have increased, rents have increased, and the number of low income Latino families has decreased. Pilsen is losing Hispanics, particularly Hispanic families because rents are so high. People, specifically caucasion, are buying properties in the Pilsen area and remodeling them. The owners rent the apartments for a high price, which the majority of the Pilsen community cannot afford. The majority of the people that can afford these apartments are middle class caucasions. Another aspect of how the Pilsen community is changing because of gentrification is that a lot of murals that represent the Latino community are being removed. An example that was given in the lecture was …show more content…
Before I went to this lecture I honestly did not know any knowledge on gentrification, but after the lecture I believe I can have a well spoken discussion with anyone about what gentrification is and how it affects a community. I can also communicate to my family what gentrification is because many of my family members do not know much about this topic.
This discussion expanded my worldview because now I am aware that I can help gentrification is by eating and shopping in businesses own by Hispanic and other marginalized minority groups. Before this lecture I really didn't think about where our money goes and who we are supporting, but now I know that we can support minority groups by helping them financially instead of supporting caucasion middle class people who are taking over the culture and properties of Latino