The Chicago White Sox commissioned three Chicago artists to create murals inspired by the Sox past and present that celebrate the diversity of America’s pastime.
Stories by Erica Gunderson
From Behind Bars to Passing the Bar: Jarrett Adams on ‘Redeeming Justice’
At 17 years old, Jarrett Adams, a Black boy from Chicago, was convicted of raping a woman in Wisconsin. Adams spent 10 years of his life in prison for a rape he maintained he did not commit. He spent those years studying the legal system to overturn his own case —eventually, becoming a lawyer himself.
How Chicago Can Stem the Tide of Black Population Loss
From its founding as a trading post by a Haitian man to the Great Migration to today, Chicago owes much to its Black residents. But since the 1980s, the city that helped shape our country’s first Black president has seen a steady stream of its Black residents flee.
Muralist Asend Blends Latinidad, Baseball Love in Portrait of White Sox’s Jose Abreu
In a mural by Chicago artist Asend, a larger-than-life Jose Abreu swings his mighty bat under the Cienfuegos streetlights of his childhood. Asend’s dreamlike rendering is one of three murals commissioned by the White Sox as part of their Game Changers series.
Chicago Artist Edo Brings Brilliance to Mural of White Sox’s Tim Anderson
No matter what form it takes, there is no mistaking the work of Chicago artist Edo. His wildly vibrant painting of fan favorite Tim Anderson is one of three pieces commissioned by the White Sox as part of their Game Changers series. The series throws a spotlight on the contributions of under-represented communities.
La Ultima Palabra: Marisel Vera
The Humboldt Park native and author of “The Taste of Sugar” gives us the last word on giving Puerto Rico a brighter future.
Workers, Labor Organizations Speak Out Against El Milagro Tortilla Plant at Rally
Worker walkouts amid calls for improved conditions continue at the El Milagro tortilla plant in Little Village. We get an update on the situation from Jorge Mújica, a strategic organizer for the community labor advocate organization Arise Chicago.
Doctors on Closing the Breast Cancer Mortality Gap for Black Women
For women in the U.S., breast cancer is devastatingly common, with one in eight expected to develop the disease over the course of their lifetimes. And for Black women in the U.S., what comes after the diagnosis is especially worrying.
Savor 14 Days of Sabor Latino with Chicago Latin Restaurant Weeks
Chicago restaurants will offer special deals on some of their cultures’ most beloved dishes during the two-week celebration starting Oct. 4.
Moreno Family Has Given Midwestern Twist to Mexican Spirits Since 1977
Mike Moreno Jr. is the third generation to set up shop in the Little Village community. His grandfather, Jose, owned two grocery stores in the neighborhood, and his father, Mike Sr., opened the first Moreno’s Liquors in 1977.
Latino Voices Crossover: Reporter Roundtable on Mayor’s Budget Proposal
Mayor Lori Lightfoot has unveiled her budget plan for 2022, a plan that one alderman called a “Christmas list” of progressive spending items. We break it all down with four Chicago reporters.
Black Voices Crossover: Reporter Roundtable on Mayor’s Budget Proposal
Mayor Lori Lightfoot has unveiled her budget plan for 2022, a plan that one alderman called a “Christmas list” of progressive spending items. Joining us now to break it all down are four Chicago reporters.
Puerto Rican Festival Returns to Humboldt Park After Pandemic Break
After taking a year and a half off due to the pandemic, the Puerto Rican Festival has returned for its 39th year in Humboldt Park.
On South and West Sides, Business is Blooming for Eco-Friendly Florist
A fresh floral arrangement is a quick way to brighten up a room, but those buds and blossoms likely came from farms hundreds or even thousands of miles away. A local organization is on a mission to change that.
New Missing Persons Project To Focus on Women and Girls in Illinois
Black women and girls in the U.S. are disproportionately at risk for abuse, exploitation and homicide. In the Chicago area, an alarming number of Black women and girls have gone missing. Can a new initiative help find them?
ProPublica: DCFS Not Providing Services for Spanish Speakers
A new report says Illinois’ child welfare agency is failing to serve Spanish-speaking children and families in their language. ProPublica Illinois reporter Melissa Sanchez has details.
Caring for Black Mothers: Addressing Racial Disparities in Maternal Health Care
As a Texas law that bans nearly all abortions in that state goes into effect, we take a look at what reproductive health care means for Black women.
Little Village Arch Granted Preliminary Landmark Status
Should full landmark status be granted, the arch will become the first symbol of Chicago’s Latino community to receive that honor, as well as the first time an architect of Mexican descent has had a structure landmarked here.
‘Three Girls from Bronzeville’ Traces Young Women’s Divergent Paths
Journalist and author Dawn Turner has been writing about race, politics and people her whole career. But in her latest book, she’s turned her pen inward as she reflects on her own life’s path and how it diverged from the lives of the two girls she grew up closest to — her sister Kim, and her best friend Debra.
Entrepreneurs Think Outside the Box by Setting Up Shop in Shipping Containers
Most shipping containers are packed with consumer goods, but the brightly painted shipping containers in Boxville at the corner of 51st Street and Calumet Avenue are packed full of small businesses with big ambitions.
Fred Hampton Jr. Seeks Landmark Designation for Hampton House
Slain activist Fred Hampton would have turned 73 years old last month, and though he was killed more than 50 years ago, his memory and legacy still loom large. Now Hampton’s son is seeking a landmark designation for the only surviving building with ties to Hampton’s activism.
Do Police Officers in CPS High Schools Make Students Safer?
Whether to keep cops in schools has been a controversial subject for years. With Chicago Public Schools back in session, we hear how some high schools made the choice to remove or maintain the police presence in their hallways.
Chicago Tonight: Latino Voices, September 4, 2021 - Full Show
A local doctor combats COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. We talk September baseball with the Spanish-language broadcasters for the Sox and Cubs. And teaching young people to document their communities.
Catching Up on Chicago Baseball
As the 2021 baseball regular season winds down, the Cubs and White Sox are headed in different directions. Chicago’s Spanish-language baseball announcers slide in to talk about the teams’ prospects in the postseason and next year.
Mexican Independence Day Parade Canceled, Fiesta Boricua Encouraging Vaccination
The pandemic has shut down the Mexican Independence Day Parade for a second year, but Fiesta Boricua is going ahead with its plans. We talk with the event organizers about their decisions.
CPS Parents Hope for the Best as Students Return to Classrooms
It’s been more than a year since Chicago Public Schools students have sat inside their classrooms full time. Now, with mask mandates, vaccine requirements for staff and other COVID-19 safety protocols in place, CPS children are about to embark on a year unlike any other.
