Our Shared Hope

Thank you to everyone who wrote in about what is giving you hope. Your uplifting thoughts are needed more than ever. We share them below as reminders of our collective strength and light shining through the darkness.

Despite the suffering and the anxiety, the audacity of hope persists. We stand up, and we show up. Rebecca Solnit, writer, historian and activist, articulates this beautifully:

“Hope locates itself in the premises that we don’t know what will happen and that in the spaciousness of uncertainty is room to act. When you recognize the uncertainty, you recognize that you may be able to influence the outcomes—you alone or you in concert with a few dozen or several million others.”

Together, let’s push forward in positive action. 

If you would like to connect with new friends over social events, food drives, town halls, canvassing, book clubs, or other calls to action, check out ICNW's upcoming events here.

Please enjoy reading these sparks of hope from our neighbors. There's no telling what we can accomplish when peaceful, passionate activists link hands. We wish you all a new year bright with possibilities.

In Solidarity,

The Amplify with ICNW Team

Mark, 71, Old Irving Park

My hope—and prayer—as we enter the celebration of our 250th year as a nation is that young people increasingly wake up to and throw off the shackles of the income inequality, racism, sexism, classism and xenophobia that surrounds them. I'm 71, started my political activity in the ’60s and am doing my best to help!

MM, 44, Oak Park

I’m finding hope in the people of my city. I see teens chasing ICE vans, and I’m moved, thinking of their bravery. I see neighbors banding together, joining rapid response teams and keeping whistles on their keychains. I see us coming together, peacefully, to resist. 

I’m hopeful by the joyful tone of our protests and our commitment to peace. Peace has a reputation for resilience, but I truly believe it’s a mighty, enduring force, capable of binding people together in the face of oppression. Our peacefulness gives me hope.

B.Bilbo, 28, Belmont Cragin/Dunning

The greatest hope I have experienced as of late is the incredible zine community that Chicago is full of. Whenever I go to Quimby's, Chicago Zine Fest, CAKE, Zinemercado or Pilsen Zine Fest, I'm knocked in the face by unique and beautiful stories of struggle and victory and sadness and relatability. Whenever I meet my friends for our drawing group at the bar or coffee shop and we discuss anything and everything zines, we find ways to support local organizations and distribute materials. Whenever I meet with other baristas who are fighting for unionizing Starbucks, I find so many are connected to zines, puppetry and storytelling. It's amazing. So in the morning, instead of scrolling, I'm a lot more likely to have my cup of tea with a good comic book.

Colleen, Gen Xer, Irving Park

What's giving me hope is so many Chicagoans' complete refusal to tolerate inhumanity and their desire to get involved. Our city's "Oh f*ck it, let's go" spirit to show up and help is just breathtaking and beautiful and powerful. Compassion and action will get us through.

Kathy, 61, Jefferson Park

1) My local elected officials are giving me hope! They fight for and deliver on policies that keep our community and our state moving forward with wisdom and compassion. 

2) This gives me hope: remembering that we are just one part of the long arc of history. In every age of humankind, there have been both good times and bad times … so, we are not unique or special! If we choose to focus solely on what's bad, we give up having anything good in our lives. Alternatively, we can fight against what's bad while also seeking out and celebrating good things, both small and large.

Erica, NW Side

What gives me hope is seeing families and Chicago communities come together to support each other, especially in these times of permitted meanness, when government leaders encourage and impose cruelty and when civility is being cast aside. Kindness matters, and when I see it expressed in this chaotic time, it gets my full focus and appreciation. The resilience I witness daily — neighbors helping neighbors, people stepping up when it matters  — that's what keeps me going.

Jordan, 29, Lakeview

In 2025, I put a lot of intentional effort into connecting with my community. It has been a difficult process. I do not naturally reach out. But the community response and getting to know my neighbors and like-minded activists have given me so much motivation and connection! I am hopeful for what we can accomplish together in this coming year.

BB, 67, Independence Park

The good people in our community! Whether we're marching, meeting or helping those who've been kidnapped by ICE, there is a growing resistance to all of the government's illegal activities. They are weakening in numbers and in strength, and our numbers are growing.

Tracy, 60, Sauganash

I am so lucky to be surrounded by helpers—the best of humanity—clamoring to do good, to make things better. And this group truly seems to be growing every day. It's hard to feel hopeful amid allllll the hate and devastation. But this bubble of beneficence keeps hope afloat for me.

Suzy J, Queenager, Portage Park

The sheer number of activists marching alongside me in the resistance, literally and figuratively. So many dedicated individuals, each helping in their own way ... making bracelets, art, music, whistle patrols, mutual aid. It all restores my faith in humanity and makes me feel like the world will be okay, eventually.

Spencer, 27, Ravenswood

We rose up and showed the corrupt government in D.C. that they pale in their strength compared to we the people. This year, just in time for our country’s semiquincentennial, we will begin the process of truly taking America back with a historic victory in the midterms!

Lindsay Welbers, 40, Jefferson Park

“Chicagoans tried to bear witness. They tried to fight back. The city’s reaction to federal immigration agents followed a long-established pattern of resistance born here during the workers’ rights movement of the 1880s and the Civil Rights Movement more than a half-century later. Despite the racial segregation that still defines many of its neighborhood borders, Chicago, as much as any American city, is a place that unites against forces its people find unjust.” As reported in Sunday’s Chicago Tribune: https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/28/chicago-immigration-operation-midway-blitz-2/?share=trh0hloiobide1yicogi

Want to find more reasons to be hopeful?

Yeah, us too!

To connect with neighbors of all ages over social events, food drives, town halls, canvassing, book clubs, art making, or other calls to action, check out ICNW's upcoming events here.

• You can also check out ICNW's linktree resources at: https://linktr.ee/indivisiblechicagonw (if it doesn't open directly from the link, you can copy and paste the link to your browser or right-click the link and select "open in new tab")

There is something for everyone, and if you have an idea you'd like our community to join in, you can create a member-led event.