When Illinois required businesses to shut down last March because of the coronavirus pandemic, many workers were left without an income. Now, researchers say they are seeing a dramatic increase in poverty.
Firsthand
Poverty is not just an urban issue. We speak with Lake County resident Gary Ladehoff, who is featured in WTTW’s new documentary series “Firsthand: Living in Poverty,” and Maggie Morales of the Lake County Community Foundation.
Long before the coronavirus pandemic, communities of color across Illinois and in Chicago were experiencing an epidemic of poverty. We discuss the root causes of poverty and what public officials are doing to address it.
What are basic income payments, and why do some advocates say they can help families in poverty reach their financial goals? We discuss the concept as part of WTTW’s new “Firsthand: Living in Poverty” initiative.
It’s been an extraordinarily violent year in Chicago, which has seen around 750 homicides, according to police. As part of our series on gun violence, we talk with victim advocate Pastor Donovan Price.
The city’s 2021 budget includes $36 million for violence prevention programs. That’s nearly $25 million more than in the 2020 budget, but some advocates say the additional funding is still not enough.
As Chicago experiences a surge in COVID-19 cases, data shows the city’s 2020 homicide rate outpacing 2019. We speak with Jamal Cole, founder of My Block, My Hood, My City, as part of our series.
Following one of Chicago’s most violent summers in recent history, officials and advocates are stressing the importance of mental health care for victims of violence and their families — but access to those services can be difficult.
A mass shooting injures at least 15 people outside a funeral home in the city’s Auburn Gresham neighborhood. How community leaders are responding to the gun violence crisis.
CPD to deploy 1,200 additional officers each day of Fourth of July weekend
“As a dad ... I struggle to make sense of the reckless gun violence that continues to take the lives of our young people throughout the city,” Chicago Police Superintendent David Brown said after 14 people were killed over the weekend.
With 49 shot and 10 killed over Memorial Day weekend, Mayor Lori Lightfoot is ripping her new police superintendent’s strategies. “This was a fail and whatever the strategy is, it didn’t work,” Lightfoot said.
Even in the shadow of the pandemic, gun violence in Chicago has not stopped. How the fight against COVID-19 is affecting the fight against violent crime.
What’s behind the spike in gun violence this year? And what can be done to stanch it? As part of our WTTW Firsthand initiative, we take a closer look at the problem – and possible solutions.
Northwestern sociology professor Andrew Papachristos has a striking idea when it comes to thinking about shootings in Chicago. He and local advocate Franklin Cosey-Gay tell us about their work with data and research.
As part of our special episode on gun violence, we discuss the policies being proposed at the state and federal level with U.S. Reps. Robin Kelly and Jesus “Chuy” Garcia and state Rep. La Shawn Ford.
As part of WTTW’s new documentary series “Firsthand: Gun Violence,” five experts offer big ideas in “Firsthand Talks” sessions for addressing gun violence in Chicago. Four of those experts join us in discussion.
