IMAN Hosts “Save Our SNAP” Block Party in West Englewood

Chicago, Illinois — May 16, 2026 — Community members, organizers, artists, advocates, and families gathered in West Englewood for the “Save Our SNAP” Block Party hosted by IMAN (Inner-City Muslim Action Network) in partnership with the Greater Chicago Food Depository. Held at Go Green Griot Plaza on Chicago’s South Side, the event brought together live performances, community resources, food access initiatives, and public advocacy in response to recent federal changes impacting SNAP benefits.

Recent federal changes to SNAP have expanded strict work requirements and narrowed eligibility for many recipients. Adults ages 18-64 are now required to complete at least 80 hours of work, volunteering, or approved training each month to maintain benefits, while several previous exemptions have been removed. Additional restrictions impacting certain noncitizens and limitations on eligible food purchases in some states have also raised concerns among organizers and community advocates about growing food insecurity and reduced access to essential resources.

The gathering served as both a celebration of community resilience and a direct response to growing food insecurity affecting working families, seniors, students, immigrants, and vulnerable residents across Illinois. Organizers connected attendees with volunteer opportunities, exemption resources, and local organizations working to support neighbors who may lose access to food assistance programs.

Organizers emphasized that access to food is not simply a policy debate, but a moral and human issue impacting entire communities. The event also reflected IMAN’s broader mission of combining direct service, civic engagement, health equity, and grassroots organizing to strengthen historically underserved neighborhoods throughout Chicago.

The Muslim Civic Coalition is proud to stand alongside organizations like IMAN and community partners working to protect access to essential resources while uplifting dignity, mutual care, and collective responsibility. Efforts like the “Save Our SNAP” Block Party demonstrate the power of community organizing rooted in compassion, service, and justice.

As neighbors gathered for music, conversation, and support on the South Side, the event stood as a reminder that protecting food access and caring for one another remains a shared responsibility across Chicago communities.