Lifelong educator and 25th Ward Alderwoman candidate Aida Flores partnered with the Miguel Ángel Ríos Memorial Project to prepare Southside families for the school year with direct mutual aid.
On August 27, families, elders, and kids filled 18th Street for the Back to School Palooza. Neighbors played old-school hopscotch on the pavement to cumbia and house music, while organizers distributed free backpacks, diapers, and clothing to prepare students for the year ahead.
The event was led in partnership with the Miguel Ángel Ríos Memorial Project, founded by a mother who turned the unthinkable loss of her son into a legacy of action. Miguel’s memory is kept alive by actively taking care of the next generation—providing school supply drives and family resources across the Southside.
For 15 years as a public school teacher and principal, Aida knows the financial weight the start of the school year puts on working-class families. Distributing supplies right on the block isn't just a giveaway. It is how a neighborhood protects its own kids, ensuring every student walks into the classroom on day one fully equipped and ready to learn.
