Last Saturday, Open Books and Imagination Library partnered with Teamwork Englewood for a celebratory kick-off of their efforts to inspire a love of reading in young Chicagoans. Already Open Books has enrolled over 2,000 children in the Austin, Garfield Park, Little Village, North Lawndale and Pilsen communities in the Imagination Library program. Recently, executive director Eric Johnson’s plans to reach every…
Tag: Englewood
The Insider’s Guide to Englewood STEM High School
After a tour of Englewood STEM and a chance to meet its new principal, Tanesha Peeples became a believer.
To Get the Schools We Deserve, We Must Tell Our Stories
I have a love/hate relationship with the city of Chicago. I love the city for its beauty, vibrancy, diversity and opportunity. I hate the city for how its underserved communities sometimes gets the short end of the stick—especially when it comes to education. I grew up in Englewood and there were no good school options in my community. Luckily, my…
What Are TIFs and Why Is the Teachers Union Wrong About Them?
There were two very important events in Chicago yesterday. One serves as an example of what SHOULD be happening more in Chicago with TIF funds. The other presents a terrible idea and embodies exactly what SHOULD NOT happen with these dedicated funds. Early yesterday morning there was jubilation on the south side as a Whole Foods store opened in the…
Chicago : A Tale of Two Cities
I don’t know how many times I’ve taken a ride down Lake Shore Drive and just had to take the same picture of the skyline or the sun rising/setting over the lake. Still rolling along, the extravagant high-rises, vibrancy of downtown and visions of people enjoying what Chicago has to offer makes you feel like you are really a part…
One, Two, Sallie Mae is Waiting for You…
I am a first generation college graduate who didn’t have a plan. I attended a diverse, magnet elementary school in Brighton Park and received a very different education than some of my peers in Englewood. Scoring above average on the IOWA test and getting good grades afforded me the opportunity to be accepted to one of the best high schools…
Englewood barber fights back against violence with free haircuts
Sunni Ali Powell didn’t allow the fatal shooting that occurred at his barbershop in Englewood in May (2016) force him to close the doors. The clientele has dropped and members of the community exclaim not to feel safe, but Powell’s Barbershop on 63rd Racine remains open. This weekend Powell launched a ceasefire movement to reduce violence in Englewood by giving…
From “The Great Migration” to “First Generation” : My Story #ProofPointDay
My grandparents hailed from Mississippi to Chicago during The Great Migration. My grandfather, Robert Thompson, was a hard worker who took a job at a meat factory and also drove a pickup truck collecting odd objects he would sell along the way. My grandmother stayed at home, tending to their four boys. My father graduated from what was known as…