Stories by Erica Gunderson

As the city begins to stir from its COVID-19 slumber, we talk with local journalists about how the reopening is impacting Latino communities.

It took less than a year for pharmaceutical companies to successfully develop vaccines for COVID-19. The unprecedented time frame has raised questions for some about the vaccine’s safety. We learn about the science behind the shots.

Journalists Brandon Pope (WCIU), Glenn Reedus (Chicago Reporter) and Rachel Hinton (Chicago Sun-Times) look at what’s ahead for the country under the new Biden administration.

Jesus del Toro, director and general manager of La Raza newspaper, and Jackie Serrato, editor-in-chief of the South Side Weekly newspaper, discuss Inauguration Day and the big changes already underway.

For more than four decades, the Rodriguez family has run a community food pantry out of their East Side garage with little more than their own hands.

The more than 50-year-old organization is seeking to make cultural connections that help kids achieve their full potential.

The Illinois Legislative Black Caucus passes criminal justice legislation. Amanda Vinicky gives us the rundown on a week of sweeping changes in Springfield.

Following the election of Kamala Harris as vice president in November, Chicago poet Leslé Honoré updated a poem she wrote in 2017 to celebrate the historic nature of Harris’ win. 

On the 55th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.’s arrival in Chicago’s Lawndale neighborhood, we revisit the work he did to end slum conditions and combat discriminatory housing practices.

The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that one-third of Chicago’s Latinos — the majority of them women — are living in poverty. We explore the relationship between poverty and domestic violence.

The founder of an arts organization in Little Village gives us the last word on how adversity can spark creative solutions.

For the first time in 10 months, some Chicago Public Schools students are set to return to their school buildings Monday. What parents can expect — and what critics of the plan have to say.

What state governments are doing — and what some think they should be doing — to increase COVID-19 vaccination rates in the Black community.

Married musicians and educators Jean-Paul Coffy and Yakini Ajanaku-Coffy share their thoughts on giving back to the community.

Since Chicago Public Schools were closed to in-person learning in March, the move to remote learning has been difficult for many families. But for the CPS families who speak Spanish at home, there is an additional barrier. 

The Chicago Symphony Orchestra is offering a last-minute gift before 2020 is over: a concert with renowned pianist Jorge Federico Osorio filmed at Orchestra Hall that you can enjoy at home.

In any year, applying for college can be a stressful time for high school students. But like so many other things this year, the pandemic has made the application process even more uncertain and difficult. 

’Tis the season for the delicious coconut drink that’s a treasured tradition for Puerto Ricans. We share a coquito toast with comedian Mike Oquendo and learn how to whip up a batch at home.

Communication with your health care providers is crucial for good outcomes, but what happens when you don’t speak the same language? Two local doctors talk about breaking through language barriers in medicine.

A recent investigation finds immigrant teenagers are illegally employed working night shifts in suburban factories. ProPublica reporter Melissa Sanchez joins us with the story.

A new generation of activists and organizers are working to build on past coalitions and bring Chicago’s Black and Brown communities together to end the systemic inequities that have persisted in our city for decades.

The owner of Gerri’s Palm Tavern appeared in a few WTTW features over the years, including a 1987 special about 47th Street called “Precious Memories.” We revisit that conversation.

Starting a new job is always demanding, but when that job is university president and the year is 2020, it comes with a few extra challenges. We check in with Cheryl Green, the new president of Governors State University.

This summer, tensions between Black and Latino Chicagoans threatened to explode into violence before activists restored peace, but the incident underlined the sometimes uneasy history between our city’s Black and Latino communities.

With the prospect of a long, dreary winter at home ahead, many Chicagoans are fluffing their nests with houseplants. We check in with some local plant shops to see how business is growing.

Dr. Ian Smith has been covering the COVID-19 pandemic from just about every angle. He joins us to discuss the pandemic and the importance of equitable distribution of a vaccine.