Indiana kids meet an opossum, a skunk and an owl. Oh,my.
By Stephanie Fox Medill Reports Sitting cross legged on the floor, a group of children smiled excitedly as a small creature walked up to each of their feet, wiggled its nose and moved on. The children’s hands fidgeted in their laps, itching for a chance to touch an animal that most people are terrified to […]
Transgender woman challenges South Africa to open a new conversation about LGBTQ+ discrimination
By Thomas Ilalaole Medill Reports JOHANNESBURG, South Africa According to a recent government study, three million South Africans present themselves in a gender-non-conforming way. But in the city of Johannesburg, the LGBTQ+ community continues to struggle for acceptance. In South African society, stereotypes and expectations of masculinity are deeply ingrained, and identities that don’t exist […]
Soldier Field 10 Mile race kicks off running season from 50 yard line
By Nicole Croteau Medill Reports Kicking off the start of running season, RAM Racing held its Soldier Field 10 Mile race where runners start and finish at the 50 yard line. The annual race on Memorial Day weekend is open to all runners at all levels. Starting on the famous field, the course then guides […]
South-side youth group uses open-mic events to prevent gun violence
By Shannon Longworth Medill Reports Memorial Day weekend in Chicago has typically seen the year’s first major spike in gun violence in the city, and this year was no different. More than 40 people were shot, five of them fatally, over the holiday weekend. It’s one of the reasons Good Kids Mad City hosted an […]
Art and science in the time of Cajal: How paying homage to neuroscience’s founder helps scientists frame new research
By Valerie Nikolas Medill Reports “Undoubtedly, only artists devote themselves to science.” – Santiago Ramón y Cajal, 1900 interview Art and science may seem like complete opposites to some. But for Santiago Ramón y Cajal, the father of modern neuroscience, blending the two led him to groundbreaking discoveries about the human mind. Growing up in […]
Legacy, change, fulfillment: Northwestern’s Nick Paciorek looks his future face-to-face
By Andre Toran Medill Reports The mid-July sun illuminated the sky above Chuckie Fick’s California home with a glow sweeter than the first bite of a summer peach. There in Fick’s backyard, Northwestern pitcher Nick Paciorek stood on the lip of a makeshift putting green, focusing on the instructions he just received. “Front shoulder uphill, […]
Goat yoga: Connecting with animals, the earth and each other
By Stephanie Fox Medill Reports Floral incense float to the floor in a swirl of smoke. A cool breeze sneaks through the window cracks and echoes the sounds of the country. Outside, the sun is shining, but inside Blue Sky Farm’s make-shift yoga studio the low-light and metal star-covered walls elicit a feeling of serenity […]
The Odds of Becoming a MLB Umpire are Slim to None — But Don’t Tell That to Vincent Stio
Ben Friedl Medill Reports Young baseball fans often dream of playing shortstop for their favorite Major-League teams. Chicago Cubs. However, for 11-year-old Vincent Stio, this dream is trivial. Instead, Vincent wants to be where the real action is, behind home plate calling balls and strikes. “Umpires actually get to call the game, which is more […]
American students become kung fu masters at Chicago studio
By Jessy Zhou Medill Reports Master Wu Jing Chao came to the United States from China with a dream: to allow individuals in America to understand, appreciate and practice authentic Chinese martial arts. He founded Bei Dou Kung Fu in 2006, and says he was one of the first schools to officially offer classes that […]
The Bronzeville Incubator hopes to rekindle the community’s history of black entrepreneurship
Ebony JJ Curry Medill Reports Bronzeville, also known as the Black Metropolis, is a center of African-American history on Chicago’s south side. At its peak in the 1930s and 1940s, Bronzeville was a mecca of entrepreneurship and culture, creating a black renaissance that rivaled the one in Harlem. Today, The Bronzeville Incubator has re-introduced that […]