Illinois’ comeback story starts here.

4,098 Chicagoans killed in gang crime in 20 years

4,098 Chicagoans killed in gang crime in 20 years

Chicago gang crime declined to its lowest level in the past two decades in 2023, but the numbers may be more about gangs fracturing and police losing their gang database. Still, more than 1-in-5 homicides were suspected of being gang related.

By Patrick Andriesen

Joel Hamernick

Joel Hamernick

After getting his start in the Cabrini Green public housing development, Joel Hamernick has spent 30 years working with gangs and neighborhood groups to prevent gun violence in Chicago. “About 20 years ago, the gangs in Chicago had a strong governmental hierarchy and a lot more structure. But today, almost none of that structure remains.”...

Rob McMillan

Rob McMillan

“I first started thinking about Dearborn Denim in 2014 because I wanted to get out of my job as a bond trader and start my own business.” “When I looked at apparel manufacturing, I realized you can manufacture in Chicago paying fair wages and sell directly to customers online and really shrink the supply chain...