Chicago Pastor Bruce Ray called to a ‘disruptive’ mission
Yingxu Jane Hao The Rev. Bruce Ray never planned to become a pastor. Son of a Kentucky pastor in a small town in northwestern Illinois, Ray longed to become a writer. So he went to the University of Iowa to study English with an emphasis in creative writing and a minor in social work. Though his life […]
DuSable guide is on fire for his heritage
by Yingxu Jane Hao Amani Edward Conley began his journey with black history as a seventh grader and has never looked back. He now works as the manager of the education department for the DuSable Museum of African American History — co-founded in 1961 by teacher and art historian Margaret Burroughs. Conley started at DuSable […]
Chicago street musicians convert “non- believers”
By Yingxu Jane Hao & Satvika Khera M alik Cohran has performed in Chicago his whole life. He is the son of legendary Chicago jazz musician Kelan Phil Cohran, who is best known for his trumpet performances in the Sun Ra Arkestra in the early ‘60s. “I’m a person who loves music. I’m fortunate enough […]
Clinton supporters in Chicago look beyond her Super Tuesday wins
By Yingxu Jane Hao D emocratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and her Republican rival Donald Trump dominated the Super Tuesday states this week, each winning seven. Both of them won in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Massachusetts, Tennessee and Virginia. Clinton also won Texas, and Trump Vermont. As Clinton supporters gathered in downtown Chicago to watch the […]
“Scapegoat No Way”: Chicago Chinese Americans back NYPD ex-cop Peter Liang
By Yingxu Jane Hao A nger toward the conviction of ex-New York City police officer Peter Liang brought Chinese Americans to downtown Chicago over the weekend to demand a fair trial for him and fair treatment for the Chinese American community. [vimeo 156632646 w=474] Liang, the 28-year-old rookie cop is the first NYPD officer prosecuted […]
Former Gov. Quinn urges Rauner to pass MAP grant funding bill
By Yingxu Jane Hao Recipients of the Monetary Award Program (MAP) tuition grants from over 130 colleges and universities in Illinois might be the next victims of the state budget deadlock. The program, funded through Senate Bill 2043, is likely to be stalled since Governor Bruce Rauner said he would veto the bill. As Springfield […]
Why Chicago teachers rejected a contract offer as schools brace for budget cuts (video)
By Jasmine Cen The Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) held a mass rally in downtown Chicago last Thursday after the union rejected a contract offer from Chicago Public Schools (CPS). On Tuesday, CPS announced cuts of up to $120 million from the current school year budget. [vimeo 154885267 w=474]
Tzedakah and Sadaqah: Charity tradition gets Jews and Muslims together
By Yingxu Jane Hao This year on the eve of Hanukkah, Oak Park Temple in the western suburbs hosted an intersection of three major Abrahamic religious traditions. Families from the Muslim Leadership Academy of the Islamic Foundation Mosque joined families from the Religious School of Oak Park Temple on Saturday, Dec. 5. for an evening […]
Five things experts want you to know about U.S. refugee resettlement
By Yingxu Jane Hao Since the attacks in Paris and San Bernardino, debate has intensified in the U.S. over policies on Muslim refugees. While polls indicate fear of refugees and governors have called for shutting the door on them, many regular Americans are still supportive. At a panel discussion hosted by Northwestern University’s Center for […]
Christian and Muslim supporters: halting Syrian refugees what ISIS wants
By Yingxu Jane Hao The House stopped short of imposing a religious test for Syrian refugees, but the vote two weeks ago to intensify the screening of Syrians seeking to enter the United States drew criticism from Christian and Muslim supporters of refugee resettlement. “ISIS terrorists want Muslims to feel like they are unwelcomed in […]
