Some young Midwesterners don’t align fully with Democrats or Republicans
By Anne Snabes Medill Reports MILWAUKEE — Stephanie Olsen does not align with a political party and sees too much “tribalism” in politics. “I think identity politics is toxic,” said Olsen, a 30-year-old Milwaukee resident. “We’re just fighting against each other constantly. Really, if you actually talk to a human being, you probably agree on […]
My Block, My Hood, My City delivers care packages to seniors for COVID-19 prevention
By Yilin Xie Medill Reports What can you do to help your neighborhood prevent the spread of the coronavirus? Jahmal Cole, the CEO and founder of My Block, My Hood, My City, said, “Let’s take direct action.” My Block, My Hood, My City, a Chicago based community organization, contacted Senior Viral Response to deliver free […]
Windy City Harvest takes elitism out of urban farming and fresh produce
By Briana Garrett Medill Reports The modern farmer is changing fast, with the terrain for food production and urban farming at the center of this transition. Urban farming can mean produce gardens in backyards, rooftops and assigned city land plots as well as farming systems such as aquaponics, an agricultural approach where fish wastes nourish […]
2020: The Year of the Rat – Chicago’s Animal
By Jenny Ly Medill Reports As Chinese New Year celebrations have long come and gone earlier this year, 2020 marks the Year of the Rat.
Veo chief executive talks safety, regulation and Chicago’s second e-scooter pilot
By Kari McMahon Medill Reports In the summer of 2019, Chicago ran an electric scooter pilot program that examined whether scooters could be a viable alternative mode of transport for city residents. Out of the 10 companies that participated, only one was from Chicago. The three-year-old electric scooter company, Veo, serves over 50 cities with […]
Jesse Leinwand: The peaceful simplicity of apes
By Mackenzie Evenson Medill Reports Strolling into the Park Place Café at noon on a chilly Chicago day in January, Jesse Leinwand dressed the way he does every day, rain or shine: knee-high rubber boots, tall socks and khaki shorts reminiscent of the late crocodile hunter Steve Irwin. The 30-year-old Lincoln Park Zoo research assistant […]
Chicago high schools need more women to coach boys’ teams
By Clara Facchetti Medill Reports When Emma Manning started coaching boys’ track and field at Lake View High School, she encountered a lot of resistance from her athletes. Manning said that a lot of the boys would question her training program during practice, asking why they had to do things a certain way. “I think […]
Boys’ wrestling only woman coach in Chicago high schools on her wins and challenges
By Clara Facchetti Medill Reports Angela Kus started her coaching career in Chicago sixteen years ago. Kus, who is an English teacher, had always been interested in sports and wanted to coach football. When she first expressed her interest, her male principal at the time laughed and suggested that she coach volleyball or cheerleading. So, […]
Puerto Rican communities take matters into their own hands
By Joel Jacobs Medill Reports As Puerto Rico struggles with crushing public debt, an economic recession and natural disasters, many residents disillusioned with the local and federal government have taken matters into their own hands. For many of the approximately 3.1 million Puerto Ricans on the island, the strategy going forward is oriented around self-reliance. […]
Illinois models boys’ and men’s volleyball growth at all levels
By Leah Vann Medill Reports Christine Giunta’s deep, sharp voice swells in the Glenbard West High School gym, permeating the air with commands to the boys’ volleyball players who dwarf her in height. Giunta is not only the head coach, but also the founder of the boys’ volleyball program at Glenbard West. She developed it […]