From the Streets to the Courts: Skyhawks wheelchair basketball helps gunshot survivors adapt
By Shen Wu Tan Video by Hannah Gebresilassie Marcus Jones was shot four times during an attempted armed robbery on April 17, 1995 on Chicago’s Southeast Side. Struck three times in the leg and once in the lower back, Jones suffered a serious injury and was devastated when doctors told him he would never walk […]
With strong tournament showing, Wildcats ‘bring some life’ back to team
Text by Michelle R. Martinelli Video by Hannah Gebresilassie The Northwestern women’s basketball team’s performance in the Big Ten tournament left an obvious question: Where has that team been all season? Despite a disappointing 4-14 finish in the Big Ten regular season, the Wildcats (18-15) played like they had finally found their chemistry and became the lowest-seeded […]
Freshman guard returns home for Big Ten tournament
By Michelle R. Martinelli Video By Hannah Gebresilassie INDIANAPOLIS — As a 9-year-old girl standing on an empty court at the Big Ten Tournament, Jordan Hankins was in awe of how huge it looked. Although she wasn’t intimidated and took advantage of being able to shoot around before the teams and their fans showed up, […]
Wildcats eliminate Badgers in overtime in first tournament game
By Michelle R. Martinelli Video By Hannah Gebresilassie INDIANAPOLIS — Northwestern freshman guard Amber Jamison’s dominating defense forced a turnover with four seconds left in overtime Wednesday to help secure the Wildcats’ 76-72 victory over Wisconsin in the opening game of the Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Jamison finished […]
Palestinian music director conducts Persian Concert for packed house
By Vishakha Darbha and Hannah Gebresilassie Emotional, passionate and a musical genius are just a few words used to describe Wanees Zarour. Born and raised in Ramallah, Palestine, director and composer Zarour leads the Middle East Music Ensemble at the University of Chicago, which was established in 1997. His “Persian Concert” at the Reva and […]
A tale of two cities: how education trumps war in Chicago and Reyhanli
By Aryn Braun “There are lots of Syrians in Chicago like me, second-generation Syrians,” says Samia Akhras, 24, of Chicago’s growing Syrian Community. But Chicago isn’t home. Chicago isn’t Syria. Syrian-Americans, like Akhras and her family, are constantly reminded of the violence and upheaval that is everyday life in the Syrian Arab Republic. Akhras’ voice, […]
Buna: The Art of Making Ethiopian Coffee
By Hannah Gebresilassie and Vishakha Darbha Most college students use coffee to survive long nights and tedious assignments, but in Ethiopia and Eritrea, coffee means much more than that. Ethiopia, globally known as the birthplace of coffee, is famous for “buna,” a coffee-making ceremony that involves roasting, grinding and brewing beans while partaking in a […]
Urban League panel works out community trust issues
By Thomas Vogel Video by Hannah Gebresilassie Police tactics, mental-health awareness and youth engagement were top concerns for a panel of community leaders, government officials and media personalities assembled Tuesday for a community forum at the South Side headquarters of the Urban League of Chicago. [vimeo 155727836 w=474] Representatives from Chicago Police Department, community leaders […]
Chicago at center of renewed war on abortion
Text By Aryn Braun Video By Hannah Gebresilassie The battle over abortion rights raged last weekend in Chicago, when competing protests clashed over the legality and morality of abortion in the United States. Abortion rights activists lined up at the corner of Adams and Dearborn in 4-degree weather Sunday to protest Chicago’s March for Life, […]
Protesters crash mayor’s private MLK party
Text by Hannah Gebresilassie Video by Kat Lonsdorf Chicago activists interrupted Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s privately held interfaith breakfast Friday commemorating the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., to protest the mayor’s handling of fatal shootings of unarmed black teenagers by Chicago police. As promised, more than 30 protesters gathered at the main entrance of […]