When Polish People Came to Chicago, They Came to Jackowo

Chicago once had the second highest population of Polish people in the world outside of Warsaw, and many called Jackowo, which is the Northwest Side neighborhood Avondale, home. Back in March, we talked to Mary Wisniewski and Joanna Marszalek, who have both lived in Jackowo and shared their stories of family, migration, and Polish bakeries. They wrote “The Death (and Possible Rebirth) of Jackowo,” for Chicago magazine, which recently won the Chicago Journalists Association’s Boyden Award for best feature. Host Jacoby Cochran sat down with Wisniewski and Marszalek in March to talk about how the neighborhood has changed from Polish to Latino in recent decades.

This conversation was originally published on March 10, 2022.

The Avondale Neighborhood Association is hosting a series of public meetings to talk about a neighborhood community plan, including tonight at 6 p.m.

Some news: Comment on the Chicago Police Department’s draft policy for its Criminal Enterprise Information System (aka the new gang database). 

The Chicago Elite Classic high school basketball tournament is back this weekend.

Remember to nominate City Cast Chicago as Best Podcast and Hey Chicago as Best Newsletter in the Reader’s 2022 Best of Chicago under the City Life category.

Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago

Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

Call or Text Us: (773) 780-0246