WBEZ Article on “Is suburban Chicago taking away Devon Avenue’s ‘Little India’ title?”

WBEZ Article on “Is suburban Chicago taking away Devon Avenue’s ‘Little India’ title?”

On August 31st, 2023, Co-Founder and Board Chair Ann Kalayil was featured in an article regarding the evolution and growth of the South Asian community from Devon Avenue to greater suburban Illinois.

The article discussed how “some long-time area advocates and business owners want to see a more intentional plan that responds to the neighborhood’s growing diversity and demands for more public spaces. Chinatown is an example of the type of redevelopment that could happen in West Ridge, according to Ann Kalayil.”

In reference to the comparison between the city vs. the suburbs:

“I also don’t think that we need to look at these hubs, whether it’s in Naperville or Des Plaines, as something that is juxtaposed to … the Devon Avenue hub. They’re all different experiences. … The sum of that is what defines our community, because our community has evolved.”

Ann Kalayil, Co-Founder and Board Chair of SAAPRI
  • Read more from the article here