Community Grill-Out Recap: A Huge Success!

We fired up the grill, served up good food, and shared meaningful conversations — and we couldn’t be more grateful for everyone who came out to our ESCIC Community Grill-Out this past weekend!

The event was more than just a cookout — it was a powerful reminder of what community looks like when we come together with purpose and warmth (and a few brats on the grill).

🙌 Connecting Over Shared Plates and Shared Goals

From longtime residents to new faces, neighbors gathered around picnic tables to share food, stories, and ideas for the future of the East Side.

Members of the ESCIC board were present and had the opportunity to speak with dozens of community members — learning more about the hopes, concerns, and dreams people have for our neighborhood.

These conversations are exactly why ESCIC exists: to center local voices in the work of preserving, protecting, and investing in the places we call home.

💬 What We Heard

Some of the recurring themes in our chats:

• The need for more affordable spaces for small businesses

• Interest in how membership works and how to get involved

• Creative ideas for reinvesting in vacant lots and storefronts

• A strong desire to keep decisions community-led — not driven by outside developers

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🧡 Thank You

We’re deeply thankful to everyone who stopped by, brought a dish, or took the time to talk with us. Your input fuels our mission — and we’ll be sharing follow-ups from this event soon.

If you missed it, don’t worry — there will be more events coming up. In the meantime, you can still become a member, submit your ideas, and get involved right here on our website.

👉 [Become a Member]👉 [Submit a Suggestion]👉 [Contact the Board]

Together, we’re cooking up a better future for the East Side — one neighborly moment at a time.