Perfectionism might sound like a good thing, but in practice, it can perform more like procrastination – and waiting for perfect scenarios can prevent us from getting the credit and success we deserve.
Stories by Erica Gunderson
Get Your Geek on at South Side Science Festival on Sept. 29
The event brings out hundreds of University of Chicago scientists who will take over the campus offering panels, experiments and demonstrations to fascinate the whole family.
With DACA Again Under Threat, Recipients and Families Express Confusion and Fear
It is expected the final decision on DACA’s future will lie in the hands of the U.S. Supreme Court – that would be the third time DACA has come before the high court since it was instituted by executive order during the Obama administration in 2012.
Get the Hispanic Heritage Month Party Moving with Cumbia Music. Here’s Some Picks
It’s the second week of Hispanic Heritage Month, so it’s time to kick the party into high gear with some truly celebratory music. Music journalist Sandra Treviño says one of the best ways she knows to get people on the dance floor is with the sounds of cumbia.
Violence Prevention Organizations Team Up to Train on Best Practices
The Southland RISE collaborative brought together hospital trauma center staff and violence prevention street outreach workers in a shared training workshop. The goal was an exchange of ideas and resources focused on curbing violence on Chicago’s South Side.
Meet Música Mexicana, the Latino Sensation That’s Sweeping the Nation
Music is a big part of any celebration. So for Hispanic Heritage Month, we’ve asked music journalist Sandra Treviño to dial in on a few music styles, genres and trends across the Latino diaspora.
As Tensions Run High at Police Station Migrant Shelters, Volunteers Speak Out on Shelter Conditions
Currently, about 1,600 migrants are living in police stations across Chicago — a solution that was intended to be temporary. But many of those men, women and children have been sleeping on floors or in tents outside police stations for months.
60 Years After 16th Street Baptist Church Bombing, Legacy of Four Young Girls Lives on at Carole Robertson Center
Every year, the Carole Robertson Center for Learning holds ceremonies and social justice activities in remembrance of Carole Robertson, Addie Mae Collins, Cynthia Wesley and Carol McNair — the four little girls killed in a 1963 white supremacist attack on the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Ala.
Get Back to Your Roots at Morton Arboretum for Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration
This month, the Morton Arboretum is inviting people to get back in touch with their roots with a variety of events and programs highlighting Latino cultures and communities, beginning with the Celebración de los Árboles on Sept. 16-17.
University of Chicago Professor Helps Bring Students From Diverse Backgrounds Into the Lab
This year, Juan Mendoza was named a Freeman Hrabowski Scholar by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, which funds efforts to bring more scientists from diverse backgrounds into scientific institutions. Mendoza said he got right to work on recruiting.
With Federal Funding Ending, Child Care Advocates Warn of Looming Cliff
A report from the Century Foundation shows that without pandemic-era federal funding, thousands of providers would no longer be able to hire and pay staff, meaning rapid shutdowns in families with small children fending for themselves.
Joseph Jr. Scholarships Seek Latino Applicants for College Funds
After photographer Jose Refugio “Fugie” Almanza tragically lost his 12-year-old son, Almanza sought to turn his pain into purpose. He founded the Joseph Jr. Scholarship Foundation, which aims to help Latinos fund their college educations.
Support Small Businesses During Black Restaurant Weeks, Sept. 10-24
The National Black Restaurant Weeks campaign is returning to Chicago with two full weeks of specials and events at 35 Black-owned eateries.
Children’s Book by Chicago DACA Recipient Tells Story of Migration Through a Child’s Eyes
In her book “Homecoming: El Viaje a Mi Hogar,” Margarita Quiñones Peña describes the migrant journey to Chicago through her own eyes as a child coming to her new home of Chicago in 1993.
Creating Candles and Connections at Above Average Candle Studio
The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted every facet of our lives and left many people feeling disconnected. At a North Park studio, owner and instructor Ogi Merzier-Emiabata brings people together with candle-making classes.
Volunteer-Run Migrant Shelter Todo Para Todos Ends 5-Month Run in Pilsen
Since May, organizers with the volunteer collective Todo Para Todos said they’ve hosted 260 residents and have found permanent housing for more than 150 of them. The shelter ended its operations this past weekend.
79th Street Renaissance Festival Celebrates Auburn Gresham Community, Sept. 9
The 18th annual 79th Street Renaissance Festival returns to Auburn Gresham on Saturday, Sept. 9, with entertainment, food, community resources and a carnival including a 50-foot-tall Ferris wheel.
One ‘Whirlwind’ Year In, Community Groups Assisting Migrants Say There’s Much More Work Ahead
From the moment the first bus of migrants arrived in Chicago a year ago, much of the ongoing work of supporting migrants has been done by volunteers, mutual aid groups and community organizers who swung into action.
With Forbearance Period Over and Forgiveness Gone, What’s Next for Student Loan Debt
The picture for student loan debt has been pretty tumultuous over the last couple of years. Borrowers will soon begin repaying their federal student loans after a forbearance period ends this month.
Captain Bill Pinkney, Pioneering Sailor, Dies at 87
In 1992, native South Sider Captain Bill Pinkney became the first African American to sail around the world solo via the Southern Capes. It was a feat that took 22 months, which he chronicled in a video diary and in a documentary.
Safer Foundation Unveils Mural Honoring US Rep. Danny Davis in East Garfield Park
The nonprofit Safer Foundation provides assistance to citizens returning from incarceration. Much of its work is made possible thanks to the Second Chance Act, which was championed by longtime U.S. Rep. Danny K. Davis and passed in 2008 with bipartisan support.
Examining Effects of Extreme Heat in Chicago’s Black Communities
Chicago is one of 18 cities participating in the Heat Watch 2023 program with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, in which community volunteers collect temperature and humidity data to analyze for underlying reasons and potential mitigation efforts.
Jazz Up Your Labor Day Weekend at the Chicago Jazz Festival
Labor Day weekend will once again be filled with the sounds of jazz at the Chicago Jazz Festival, a four-day showcase of all forms of jazz including a lineup of local, national and international artists.
After July Flooding, Communities Express Interest in Green Infrastructure Improvements
After the July 2 storm that caused catastrophic flooding across Chicago’s West Side and some western suburbs, many residents are still dealing with the damage. Now, some of those communities are exploring green infrastructure solutions that can help prevent future flooding events.
Emerging Latino Music Takes Over Navy Pier at LatiNxt, Aug. 26-27
The LatiNxt Music Festival returns to Navy Pier this weekend with two full days and nights of performances showcasing up-and-coming Latino artists.
Villapalooza Returns to Rock Little Village, Aug. 26
The pandemic put 26th Street’s annual Villapalooza music festival on hold for a few years — but on Saturday, it’s back with more space than ever for young local artists to showcase their community and culture.
