‘Englewood Barbie’ organizes sleep outs for the unhoused in Chicago

Aleta Clark, aka Englewood Barbie, organizes sleep outs for unhoused people known as ‘the Friends’ under a viaduct in Pilsen.

Aleta Clark, the community philanthropist also known as Englewood Barbie
Aleta Clark (center, in hat), also known as Englewood Barbie, hosts Sleep Outs throughout the winter season to engage the community and raise awareness for the living conditions of the Friends. Courtesy of Aleta Clark
Aleta Clark, the community philanthropist also known as Englewood Barbie
Aleta Clark (center, in hat), also known as Englewood Barbie, hosts Sleep Outs throughout the winter season to engage the community and raise awareness for the living conditions of the Friends. Courtesy of Aleta Clark

‘Englewood Barbie’ organizes sleep outs for the unhoused in Chicago

Aleta Clark, aka Englewood Barbie, organizes sleep outs for unhoused people known as ‘the Friends’ under a viaduct in Pilsen.

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Under a viaduct in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood, a DJ plays house and R&B music while folks dance with cups in their hand. They smile, laugh and hug as though they’re family or friends celebrating together again after a long time apart.

But this isn’t a late-night neighborhood block party. It’s a “Sleep Out” for a group of folks known as “the Friends” who reside under the viaduct at 2000 S. Canalport Ave.

Aleta Clark, the community philanthropist also known as Englewood Barbie and leader of the organization Hugs No Slugs that hosts the Sleep Outs here and elsewhere on the South Side, tells the DJ to cut the music so she can pray over the food they’re about to serve. In her prayer, Clark thanks God for providing the resources and asks for a path forward for her goal of opening a shelter for the Friends. “We’re nowhere near the million dollars we need for the shelter, but we’re trusting you to make a way” she says.

One of the Friends, Mr. Reuben, expresses frustration that the shelter hasn’t come to fruition yet, getting so upset that Clark and her staff have to get him to calm down.

“It was disheartening but we had a conversation. I’m transparent with them about fundraising and where the money is going. I’m very honest and open with them so they can trust me,” Clark said later.

Aleta Clark high-fives community member
Clark high-fives one of the community members who came out to support Club 51 and the Friends just before dinner is served. Courtesy of Aleta Clark

For Clark, providing resources for the Friends is a lifestyle and a challenge. She often spends nights in a tent under the viaduct with them in a show of solidarity and support for their living conditions.

“What I do with the Friends every day is just a way of life. I don’t identify it as charity,” Clark said.

Clark got her nickname “Englewood Barbie” by simply living her life in Englewood — and looking fly while doing it. People in her community saw her doing work in the community and “they started calling me Englewood Barbie and it stuck.”

Showing up for people that count on you is something Clark takes seriously. She grew up in foster care and reunited with her birth mother at the age of 18. She recognized the power of her words back when she lived at a group home as a child, writing letters to the director of the home whenever she felt the staff was treating her and the other kids unfairly.

“I’ve always been a firecracker and I’ve always known I had a voice that needed to be heard,” Clark said. “I didn’t want them to think that just because we didn’t have any family that they could treat us any kind of way. I had a voice and I would make sure someone heard me.”

Clark lost her mother to a drug overdose eight years after their reuniting. Then the murder of Tyshawn Lee inspired Clark to provide safe spaces for people to be off of the streets.

The few days leading up to the last Sleep Out of the season fell on her mother’s birthday, making being around the Friends difficult.

“It was extremely hard for me to be in my tent last night knowing that some of the Friends may possibly be getting high around me,” Clark said. “I was crying and just wanted to go home to my kids. I left at 4 a.m.”

Spending time with her 11-year-old daughter and 13-year-old son is at the top of Clark’s priority list.

“My kids and I have a very open relationship. My son told me that he hates when I let work distract me from coming home, and my daughter said I’ve been yelling a lot,” Clark said. “It’s painful to hear those things but it shows me how me being burnt out and pushing myself affects my family life. But it gives me an opportunity to fix things.”

For Clark, fixing it looks like dedicating the summertime to her children, using it as an opportunity to celebrate birthdays, travel and spend quality time together as a family. And limiting her time on social media even though Instagram plays a major role on how she gets the word out about the Sleep Outs, which is part of her Club 51 initiative to help the unhoused.

“It’s not always peaches and cream at Club 51. Here we’re real and don’t walk on eggshells around the Friends. I don’t do that with anybody,” Clark said. “Sometimes it does get crazy out here and we forgive. We’re like a family. We roll with the punches, there’s no rulebook.”

Aleta Clark poses in front of black, yellow, red striped wall
Aleta Clark, aka Englewood Barbie, has become known for her tireless efforts to support and raise funds for a shelter for the Friends.

Billy, one of the Friends who roams across the city and country, shined light on the impact of the work Clark and her staff are doing.

“I’ve come back to Chicago 15 different times to live here because Barbie and her folks take care of me,” Billy said. He pays it forward by helping Mr. Ray, one of the elderly Friends, make his way to the front of the food line so he can make a plate and head to his tent to call it a night. “He’s like my dad. I try to look out for him when I can.”

Being visible online and known for having access to resources comes with its fair share of difficulties – including a time when she had a gun pulled on her in public in an attempted robbery. But Clark said she realizes that people are inspired by the work she does and is glad that people see her as a safe space to turn to.

“I know the work I’m doing is not normal work. It can be difficult but I just try to remember they see me working to help people and it’s inspiring to them,” Clark said.

Samantha Callender is a digital reporting fellow for WBEZ. Follow her across socials @OnYourCallender.