Chicago Flips Red Investigation Update

Former Young Women’s Leadership Charter School — Migrant Shelter Operations
Location: 2641 S. Calumet Ave., Chicago, IL 60616
Originally Filmed: May 16, 2025

Key Public Figures Connected to the 4th Ward

• Brandon Johnson — Mayor of Chicago
• Lamont Robinson — Alderman, 4th Ward
• Robert Peters — Illinois State Senator, 13th District
• Toni Preckwinkle — 4th Ward Committeewoman & President, Cook County Board of Commissioners
• Jonathan Jackson — U.S. Representative, Illinois’ 1st Congressional District
• Pastor Chris Harris Sr. — Senior Pastor, Bright Star Church Chicago

Overview

Chicago Flips Red is revisiting its investigation into the migrant shelter currently operating inside the former Young Women’s Leadership Charter School in Chicago’s 4th Ward.

The school closed on June 7, 2019, after officials cited declining enrollment and financial challenges. Today, that same publicly funded building is being used as a migrant shelter.

Following the release of our original investigation, Pastor Chris Harris Sr. publicly stated that he was running the shelter. The facility remains active.

Follow the Money

Public records show the City of Chicago awarded major migrant meal‑service contracts to:

• 14 Parish LLC
• Seventy-Seven Communities Meal Services LLC

At this time, Chicago Flips Red has not confirmed which vendor is providing meals to the shelter at 2641 S. Calumet Ave. We are actively seeking records that identify the vendor assigned to this location.

Records the Public Deserves to See

Chicago Flips Red is calling for the release of:

• All contracts related to the shelter
• Meal‑service invoices and delivery records
• Purchase orders and payment records
• Subcontracting agreements
• Records identifying who approved expenditures
• Documentation naming the meal‑service vendor assigned to 2641 S. Calumet Ave.

Unanswered Questions

1. Why was an all‑girls public school closed due to declining enrollment and financial challenges, yet later repurposed as a migrant shelter?
2. How much taxpayer money has been spent to operate this facility?
3. Who is responsible for managing the shelter today?
4. Which vendors have received contracts connected to this location?
5. What oversight measures exist to ensure accountability?

Our Position

Chicago taxpayers deserve transparency regarding public spending and the operation of publicly funded facilities. Chicago Flips Red continues to call for a full forensic audit of taxpayer spending related to Chicago’s migrant shelter system and for the release of records that allow the public to follow the money.

Chicago Flips Red
Common Sense. Accountability. Transparency.
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