Welcome To the Lakefront Free Press
Introduction
Welcome! This is the inaugural issue of the revitalized Lakefront Free Press, a publication with a legacy of covering issues important to the people from the perspective of the people, organized by Lakefront DSA. Don’t expect any comics because none of us can draw. What you can expect are articles relevant to you, covering groups and individuals who are making a positive impact.
We at the Lakefront Free Press hope to facilitate building connections between like-minded folks who aspire to such community-first solutions, since relationships are the foundation of who we are. If you want to wallow in misery, go doomscrolling on the website formerly known as Twitter. There’s certainly plenty of stories of that nature circulating these days.
The people we’ll be covering are those who have asked themselves how best to improve the well-being of their neighbors and are taking steps to do so. That might be through making art, widening the reach of public services, or sharing skills and knowledge. In short, we would love to write about you, and the places you call home. We want to express your stories, tackle your problems. What should you expect from us is honesty and an everyday perspective.
Lakefront DSA gets its name from the area of its membership being more or less along the coast of Lake Michigan. This includes North Chicago, Waukegan, Deerfield, Gurnee, and more. We’re made up of ordinary people who want to make our communities healthier and happier for people of all backgrounds and demographics. We are not friends with the current political establishment and don’t want to be, since the establishment has failed the public it ostensibly represents so often.
Our chapter is a part of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). DSA is the largest socialist organization in the United States with over 92,000 members. With that said, while we are a part of national DSA, the content is being made by us and others who live in the Lakefront area specifically.
How to Change Things
“Taking action” is a vague concept, yet it is required to create positive change in our lives and communities. Action at Lakefront DSA means motivating local people and organizations to assist in improving our community’s government policies, quality of life, and overall conditions. We coordinate food banks to give food to those most in need. We collaborate with local unions and workers to wrestle more benefits from manipulative corporations. We provide a space to bring together like minded individuals taking these actions.
We’ll be using this publication to announce local events, publish interviews with members of our community about topics that directly affect them, and provide insight on how you can get involved. Meeting the needs of our community means understanding those needs. We require your feedback to make this a reality. Please take a moment to fill out our survey at the end of the issue to give us a better understanding of who is reading, as well as what you want to see from our publication. And take care!
The People Behind the Press
Scott
My name is Scott Becker, and while I am many things - engineer, game designer, author - I am first and foremost a person trying to make the world a better place. Throughout my education, I was focusing on the ‘standard’ path laid out for many of us: get a degree, get a job, become independent. But upon entering the workforce, the cracks in our society quickly began to show, both in my own life in the form of incompetently managed companies and in politics with the rapid rise of fascist talking points and policies among the republican party.
It is abundantly clear to me now that if we want to move forward into a bright future, one with a livable planet, fundamental rights for everyone, and any semblance of joy in our communities, we all need to do our utmost to push back against the tide of capital. At first that may seem an impossible task. But the wealth of billionaires comes from our work, and if we come together, we can build that world.
My hope is that the Lakefront Free Press can reach the hearts of Lake County residents with this message and spur them to action. If even as small a number as two of you reading this are inspired, then I’ll be content. Because I believe that you won’t stay silent either. Two becomes four becomes eight, more and more until we the people again stand united against tyranny. May kindness spread where greed reigns.
Dominic
I was raised in the south suburbs of Chicago with relatively apolitical parents. Like most kids, I had no idea how the world worked. Luckily, I knew that learning paved the path to “success”. My relentless efforts placed me near the top of my high school class, qualified me for the UIUC school of engineering, graduated with a bachelor’s degree, and was somehow on my way to “success”.
After all the STEM learning I could possibly absorb, I realized I had lost my subjectivity, my soul, and my passion for engineering. The most important things we learn are typically learned the hard way. Once I began my career in engineering it became alarmingly clear to me that the wealthy use engineering as a tool to extract value rather than progress in any meaningful direction as a society.
Throughout my journey I had always dreamed of designing new things that helped make the world a better place. This dream is exceedingly difficult to produce in real life, because everyone is making money for themselves rather than helping anyone else.
My name is Dominic Tascone, and this is why I am a socialist. I want to connect, discuss, and act in ways that help more people than just myself. If you want to do that too, please join the cause and volunteer some of your time to support the Lakefront DSA. Thank you!