Our Story: From Mutual Aid to Collective Liberation

The Gage Park Latinx Council (GPLXC) was born in March 2018 from the lived experiences of three Queer residents: Katia A. Martinez, Samantha A. Martinez, and Antonio D. Santos. Growing up on the Southwest Side, they saw firsthand the impact of structural disinvestment, from the lack of green spaces and food insecurity to the scarcity of trauma-informed youth programs. The three co-founders started organizing from the local public library, and soon their unique approach to community care turned into a thriving organization and community center.

Where systems failed, GPLXC stepped in. Rooted in the long-standing tradition of mutual aid practiced by Latinx families, GPLXC was founded to transform those informal acts of care into a permanent community movement.

Healing & Community Care

Today, we operate as a grassroots hub for a neighborhood that is 92% Latinx, predominantly immigrant, and fiercely working-class. We understand that justice isn’t just about policy, it’s about wellness.

With the opening of our second community space, Bienestar by GPLXC, we have deepened our commitment to mental health and community care. Located at 5251 S. Kedzie Ave, Bienestar serves as a sanctuary where residents engage in holistic art and cultural practices, social-emotional learning, and the radical act of healing and joy. We believe that by nurturing our communities’ internal well-being, we strengthen our collective power to dismantle systems of harm.

Milestones & Impact

Our work in Gage Park has resonated far beyond the Southwest Side, gaining national recognition for our model of community-led change.

• ¡Aquí en Chicago! Exhibition: Our work is featured at the Chicago History Museum, highlighting our role in the city's vibrant Latinx history. Additionally, Antonio Santos served as an advisor for the exhibition and contributed an essay to the museum catalog.

• Gerber/Hart Library & Archives: Chicago’s largest LGBTQIA+ archive honored GPLXC with a dedicated exhibit showcasing our intersections of Queer and Latinx organizing in Chicago.

• National Media Feature: Recognized on MSNBC for our rapid-response mutual aid and community support systems, including our work with LGBTQIA+ Latinx youth. This was GPLXC’s first national television appearance, in addition to dozens of local news features.

• Making Mexican Chicago: Our work and mission are featured in the definitive book by Dr. Mike Amezcua, documenting the fight for space and power in the city.

• The Obama Foundation: GPLXC Co-founder Samantha Martinez welcomed leadership from the Obama Foundation to our space to discuss our approach to grassroots organizing and community investment.

• COVID-19 Mutual Aid: GPLXC successfully mobilized one of the city’s largest grassroots food and financial assistance programs during the height of the pandemic, delivering direct relief to thousands of neighbors. Through this work and advocacy, GPLXC co-opened Chicago's first-ever COVID-19 vaccination site right here in Gage Park.

• White House Recognition: GPLXC was honored by the White House for our life-saving efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our rapid-response mutual aid and vaccination initiatives were recognized as a vital lifeline for the Southwest Side by President Joe Biden.

• National Health Advocacy: Co-Founder Antonio Santos was invited to join a panel with the U.S. Surgeon General to discuss GPLXC’s unique, trust-based methods for overcoming vaccine hesitation in Latinx communities and how they could be replicated nationally.