WATCH: Pilsen activist uses fitness, political education to combat life expectancy gap
By Chantel Ropp Medill Reports According to an analysis of the largest 500 U.S. cities by NYU School of Medicine, Chicago is the city with the largest life expectancy gap amongst low income and affluent communities in the country. One nonprofit organization in the Pilsen neighborhood is tackling these inequities through fitness, political education and […]
Stacking the deck: Northwestern researchers demonstrate effect of psychology studies on racial equity
By MacKenzie Coffman Medill Reports Research on stereotyping often aims to understand when and why people hold biased beliefs. Yet, it also reflects the impact that psychology played in forming and perpetuating stereotypes in the first place. James Wages and Sylvia Perry, who both have Ph.D.s in psychology, published a recent study that demonstrated how […]
Chicago This Week Episode 5
Yemeni activists and supporters demand end to ‘War on Yemen’ on global day of action following a teach-in by CDSA
By Leonna McAfee Medill Reports Dozens of activists from the women’s peace group CODEPINK, Chicago Area Peace Action, Chicago Democratic Socialists of America, and Chicago Committee against War and Racism rallied in downtown Chicago at Federal Plaza on Monday evening, demanding the Biden administration move forward with policies that will end the war in Yemen […]
Creating a TRiiBE of her own
By Grace Asiegbu Medill Reports On the ninth floor of the historic Nichols Tower on the West Side of Chicago sits a shared workspace with creaky floors and the smell of old books. Tiffany Walden, 31, walked out of a corner office with a bright smile. Tiffany relayed all the meetings and work she hadn’t […]
In BUILD, Chicago youth find an alternative to gang violence
By Shreya Bansal Medill Reports CHICAGO — It’s the day before Thanksgiving and a group of young and old men have come out to play football as a part of their “turkey bowl.” When a police car passes by, the officers wave and smile at the players. One of the older men waves back and […]
Chicago ranked most welcoming city to immigrants, despite hurdles
By Seb Peltekian Medill Reports Chicago is the most welcoming city for immigrants in the country, according to the latest Cities Index of the New American Economy, an immigration advocacy and reform organization. “Chicago has a very pro-immigrant posture, which no doubt is to the benefit of the people we serve. Our local and state […]
The Silver Van: How one local organization is fighting the opioid crisis
By Kaisha Young Medill Reports In recent years, opioid-related deaths have spiked nationwide. Since 2001, the Chicago Recovery Alliance has been working to combat the opioid crisis by utilizing a harm reduction approach with users across the city. Photo at top: The Chicago Recovery Alliance van is parked at an outreach location. (Kaisha Young/MEDILL)
Recovery Behind Bars: Cook County Jail’s Opioid Treatment Program
By Paige Tortorelli Medill Reports Every year, 5,000 detainees in Chicago’s Cook County Jail are treated for an opioid addiction. With such a large portion of its population using opioids, effective treatment has been a priority for this jail. Much debate has arisen in the past few years about medical-assisted treatment in jail. In jails […]
Out, but not in: Examining barriers to reentry
By Kaisha Young Medill Reports Approximately 11,000 people are released from Illinois prisons each year. In this edition of Medill Newsmakers, we take a look at the challenges returning citizens face when trying to reenter society. Photo at top: A man walks on the sidewalk outside Cook County Jail. (Kaisha Young/MEDILL)
