Ready for change: a local muralist aims to beautify tough neighborhoods

By Torene Harvin Rahmaan ‘Statik’ Barnes is more than just the man who painted the Prince mural in Avalon Park. He has made it a mission to make many of the city’s tough neighborhoods more appealing. [vimeo 170722175 w=474]

Local Programs Ensure Ex-Offenders Can Look Forward to Brighter Future

By Torene Harvin A Medill Newsmakers Report In this edition of Medill Newsmakers, three guests shared what they are doing to keep young men and women out of prison and on a path to success. [vimeo 169989381 w=474]

Medill Reports Newscast

By Torene Harvin Watch the Medill Reports News Update. This week our reporters take a closer look at homelessness in Chicago and we get an update on the Sox season so far. [vimeo 165453593 w=474] Photo at Top:Jessica Edgerton consoling a homeless man who was robbed of his sneakers. (Stephanie Golden /Medill Reports)

Chicago Police officers put down the cuffs and pick up a ball to bond with kids

Torene Harvin An Austin community center organized a number of activities this week to keep Chicago Public School students busy during Spring break. For the second time, officials from The Peace Corner Youth Center (PCYC) invited local police officers to play basketball with kids on Wednesday. Many of the young people were looking forward to […]

Local college women answer the call for Hillary at Old Town phone bank

By Jasmine M. Ellis and Torene Harvin With the March 15 Illinois primary less than a week away, local college students hosted an evening of phone banking for presidential candidate Hillary Clinton on Thursday at the Parkway Ballroom in Old Town. Sponsored by Hillary for America, several of the volunteers remember meeting Clinton at a young age […]

Experts Discuss How to Reduce Illinois Prison Population

By Torene Harvin More than 40 people gathered at the Jenner and Block law firm Wednesday to discuss Gov. Bruce Rauner’s plan to decrease the Illinois state prison population. The Illinois Policy and American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) announced strategies to decrease the prison population by 2025. “There are only a couple of ways to […]