Our 2025 Impact
Experimental Station’s mission is to build independent cultural infrastructure by providing essential resources that respond to local needs. Our programs address food insecurity, strengthen Illinois’ food system, provide youth with enriching educational opportunities, foster creativity and the arts, and enhance community wellbeing.
Read our latest newsletter for more on our impact and the meaningful stories shaping our community.
Bringing fresh, healthy foods to Woodlawn and surrounding neighborhoods year-round while reducing barriers to access and offering hands-on food education.
61st Street Farmers Market
local farmers and food artisans supported
35+
2,500+
weekly customers served
local children and adults learned to grow and prepare healthy food
600+
SNAP households accessed affordable, healthy foods
300+
Empowering youth through free in-school and after-school bike education, building problem-solving and leadership skills.
Blackstone Bicycle Works
500+
South Side youth learned bike mechanic skills
400+
community members received free repair support through Open Shop
95
free bikes given to youth in the community
Making fresh foods more affordable with Link Match by doubling the value of Link (SNAP) purchases statewide.
Link Up Illinois
markets and farm stands offered Link Match
128
28
grocers and co-ops offered Link Match
in fruits and vegetables provided year to date to Link users
$1.53+ Million
of Link Match users surveyed stated that their health has gotten better because of Link Match
75%
A community-informed process that aims to build a diverse, equity-focused, sustainable, and resilient food system in Illinois.
Illinois Food System Roadmap
319
stakeholders provided their insights and input
1
Phase I report completed identifying core opportunities for an Illinois foodshed
Read our latest newsletter for more on our impact and the meaningful stories shaping our community.
Blackstone Bicycle Works Featured on ABC 7 Chicago News!
We are thrilled to share that Experimental Station’s Blackstone Bicycle Works program was featured yesterday on ABC 7 Chicago Eyewitness News! Reporter Leah Hope visited BBW at 6100 S Blackstone to interview two BBW Earn-A-Bike Summer Camp participants, siblings Leila and Nazareth, who shared their enthusiasm for the program.
Youth become passionate about biking and safe rides through Earn-A-Bike Summer Camp
Through Blackstone Bicycle Works (BBW)’s 2024 Earn-A-Bike summer camp, 39 youths aged 9-17 not only earned their bikes but also went home with the knowledge and spirit of true cyclists. While many participants came with some riding experience, five youths learned to ride a bike for the first time, overcoming their fears.
2023 Increasing Food Access Report
Through the work of our Link Up Illinois, 61st Street Farmers Market, and Link Access for Chicago Farmers Markets programs, Experimental Station already envisions the potential for an agricultural transition supported by rebuilding linkages between Illinois farmers and low-income Illinoisans seeking access to fresh and healthy foods. We invite you, in reading our 2023 outcomes on the following pages, to see why we are excited. We hope that you will be excited too!
2023 Newsletter!
Our fall newsletter is an overview of our work empowering youth in Chicago's South Side, increasing fresh food access statewide, and supporting cultural practitioners and local business incubation in 2023.
![[MOVING INDOORS] 61st Street Farmers Market](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62a372a33bd00d46bf071f6d/1700246389608-72EHJLW3L57HV1SCOCV6/winter+ad.png)
[MOVING INDOORS] 61st Street Farmers Market
Here are the dates for our [INDOOR] market for this winter.
Nov. 4, 11, 18 | Dec. 2, 9, 16 | Jan. 13 | Feb. 10 | Mar. 9 | Apr. 13
We will continue to offer our region's finest and our favorite farmers and products throughout the winter season!
Maggie Bridger | Lab E: In-Process Showing April 2nd 1pm - 3pm.
LabE is a series of monthly cohort meetings addressing particular needs of disabled dance artists.
Limited capacity. Advanced registration is requested and appreciated.
Please click for details and to register.
GIVING TUESDAY: YOUR GIFT COUNTS
Make your contribution monthly, quarterly, or yearly and become a sustaining partner in our work to provide essential resources in our communities.
Chicago Farmers Market to Distribute Senior Coupons
Experimental Station and Chicago Farmers Market Collective to distribute $25 coupons to 7,500 seniors in Chicago
Link and Link Match Locations
Download 2022 Guide to Illinois Farmers Markets, Food Co-ops, and Grocery Stores Accepting Link and Link Match
2021 Increasing Food Access Report
With increased resources, longstanding partnerships, new collaborations, and the availability of COVID-19 vaccines in 2021, Experimental Station was able to expand, deepen, enhance, and—in some cases—simply return to some of our food access work.