About Us

THE GATE newspaper

Chicago community news for Back of the Yards and surrounding neighborhoods

A Back of the Yards Neighborhood Council Publication

THE GATE fills a gap in Back of the Yards

The Gate Newspaper Turns WordPress Workshop into New Website

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THE GATE Staff

Adriana Cardona, editor

Adriana Cardona is the editor for the Back of the Yards Neighborhood Council’s newspaper, THE GATE. Adriana’s focus is to bring the community together by informing community residents about events and services in their neighborhood and surrounding areas. Along with the editorial team, Adriana utilizes the newspaper as a tool to share inspiring stories from neighborhood residents and spark solution oriented conversations about ongoing challenges in Back of the Yards and surrounding neighborhoods.

Adriana came from Medellin, Colombia in 1997. She went to school in Iowa and graduated from Loras College with a B.A in International Studies and a minor in Business. After graduation, she worked empowering Latino immigrants through advocacy and education. Going door-to-door and welcoming arriving immigrants in small rural areas, Adriana learned about some of the issues affecting Latino immigrants in the Midwest and centered her advocacy efforts sharing immigrant’s challenges with the mainstream community. In rural Iowa, she brought both receiving and newcomer communities together to open the lines of communication and create more welcoming communities.

During the last five years, Adriana has worked in Chicago’s south side neighborhood, Back of the Yards.  First, she worked with Latino residents around legislative campaigns in support of immigration reform and driver’s licenses for undocumented immigrants. Later, she worked connecting Latino youth with meaningful internship experiences and developed strategies to ensure high school student’s access to post secondary education. Adriana is seeking a master’s degree in Public Service Management from DePaul University.

Adriana Cardona speaks at the launching of the We Are Not Alone anti-violence campaign. Click here

Lucia Anaya-Assistant Editor

Lucia Anaya is the assistant editor for the Back of the Yards Neighborhood Council’s community newspaper, THE GATE. A resident of Chicago’s south side neighborhood of Pilsen, Lucia has made Back of the Yards her second home and is actively involved in the community. She regularly attends community forums, meetings and workshops, and has come to understand the issues and needs of community residents.

Lucia attended DePaul University where she studied Journalism and Latin American Studies, graduating with a B.A. in Communications. In addition to her community work for Back of the Yards, Lucia is a contributing Arts and Entertainment writer for Gozamos, an online magazine for local, young Latinos. She also contributes stories to the local media initiative, We Are Not Alone/No Estamos Solos, an anti-violence campaign highlighting positive initiatives happening in the city. Through both of these side projects, Lucia has gained knowledge of various, diverse communities in the city and has become more aware of the issues affecting each one.

Monica Reynoso- Translator/Contributing Writer

Before joining THE GATE Newspaper as the official translator and contributing writer, Monica Reynoso worked as an activist for the driver’s licenses in support of immigration reform, driver’s licenses for undocumented immigrants and the big box living wage ordinance. She had the opportunity to participate in grassroots campaigns and organize neighborhood residents in support of these initiatives. Monica also attended City Council meetings on other important legislations, met and talked to elected officials and spoke to various media outlets about these legislations.

Additionally, for seven years she was part of the St. Joseph Church choir, a youth group that performed volunteer work for the residents of Back of the Yards and for the community in general.