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The Most Dangerous Hoods in the U.S.: Four Chicago neighborhoods made the list of the “25 Most Dangerous Neighborhoods in America.” We discuss the details of the report.
WBEZ Bureau Check In: This week we check in with Englewood Bureau Reporter Natalie Moore. She’ll discuss a question submitted as part of the Curious City project. Would legal pot hit Chicago gangs’ pocketbooks?
Students Walk Out: This past Friday, students at Lincoln Park walked out of class in protest of teacher layoffs at the high school. Lincoln Park Senior Devon Booker joins us live on the air.
Dana Norris is founder of Story Club a storytelling open mic that began 4 years ago when there were only a handful of events like it. Today, there are dozens of storytelling shows across the city. Luis and Dana talk about Dana’s journey from studying theology at the University of Chicago to hosting her own storytelling event. Luis asks Dana “What is a story?” and they discuss the sudden spike of events around Chicago.
In areas hit by CPS school closings, taxpayers have spent more money on incarceration than on education. We discuss. Angela Caputo of the Chicago Reporter joins Shantell & Luis live on the air to discuss the findings of the report along with ways that this realization impacts certain communities.
More on Incarceration: In areas hit by CPS school closings, taxpayers have spent more money on incarceration than on education. We discuss.
Digital Textbooks: Some universities in the nation are implementing a new pilot program that will replace all textbooks with digital textbooks. The new platform will not only allow professors to obtain real-time data on whether or not a student opens the book, but a host of other habits that traditional textbooks do not afford. We have a conversation about privacy rights and whether or not the new practice is invasive.
Job from Around the Way: We present the latest job lead in hopes of making the search a bit easier in this tough economy.
“DOPE follows the life of a joint from seed to eventual consumption. Created and performed by youth age 13-19, DOPE is fast, funny and unapologetic look at the USA’s most controversial drug.”
Above is a description of Free Street Theater’s newest production, “DOPE: 420 Stories About Pot, Weed, Khush, Prisons, Parents, and People”. Though it seems like an adult conversation, producers of the play point out that many teens face consumption of this drug every day. Now they are bringing the conversation to the stage. Luis and Shantell talk with several members of the Free Street Theater about the mission of their theater and this particular show.
Protesters Threatened: Dartmouth College cancelled classes after sexual assault protesters received rape threats on campus. The students organized the rally in protest of how the college was handling sexual assault, racism and homophobia. We discuss.
Fast Food & Retail Strike: Retailers in Chicago are protesting for better pay and more opportunities in their industry. We discuss their “Fight for $15 Campaign.”
Biden’s Words: The Vice President spoke at the memorial service for slain MIT police officer Sean Collier who was killed during a shootout with the Boston bombing suspects. He referred to the suspects as “two twisted, perverted, cowardly, knock-off jihadis.” We play a game of racist or not racist with the Vice President’s remarks.
How does a bat boy for the Chicago Cubs end up on the 6 o’clock news? That’s the story of Walter Jacobson, a journalist and commenter who spent 50 years in Chicago TV news and is now being presented with a Chicago Legend award at the Chicago International Film Festival. Luis and Shantell talk with Jacobson about his long-standing career and the stories he recounts in his memoir Walter’s Perspective: A Memoir of Fifty Years in Chicago TV News.
Find out what it was like to play catch with Jackie Robinson and how he got his first byline by getting naked at an Indiana nudist colony, plus he discusses some of the more turbulent parts of his career and offers plenty of advice on how to practice journalism.
Jeff and Elizabeth Maldonado lost their son Jeff Jr. aka J-Def the day after his 19th birthday. He was a victim of mistaken identity as a result of gang violence. The Chicago Latino Film Festival is screening the film “19 And A Day” which chronicles the couple’s struggle in the wake of the tragic incident and how they turned their grief into the J Def Peace Project.
April marks sexual assault awareness month in Chicago. Luis and Shantell speak with Molly Norris, of IMPACT Chicago, an organization that seeks to teach women self-defense skills with full force, fully adrenalized lessons. The lessons require participants to strike a fully padded male volunteer, in order to to simulate the rush of adrenaline and feeling of combat. As Molly says: “You’re worth fighting for, and you have the physical strength to do it.”
Man About Town: We check in with Chicago Pride’s nightlife and society columnist Terrence Chappell on the latest weekend happenings in the region.
Havana Blue: Jazz musician Orbert Davis joins us live. He talks about the Chicago Jazz Philharmonic’s latest production “Havana Blue.”
Story from Around the Way:Danny N. reminds us why anger management and tequila don’t mix. The story was originally told at the monthly storytelling event “Grown Folks Stories” hosted by Cara Brigandi.
