Stories by erica gunderson

Author Francesca Royster appears on “Black Voices” on June 16, 2023. (WTTW News)

‘Choosing Family’ Brings Home Lessons of Gathering Kin Across Time

In her new book, DePaul University professor Francesca Royster describes the process of becoming a mother and building a family as a queer Black woman.

(WTTW News)

‘Let the World See’ Exhibit at DuSable Museum Teaches Children About Emmett Till

A touring exhibit is aimed at helping children understand the tragedy and legacy of Emmett Till’s life. Through photographs and artifacts, the exhibit shows how young Till’s lynching and his mother’s subsequent actions fueled the civil rights movement.

(Courtesy of Mr. Dad’s Fathers Club)

Organizations Working to Uplift, Support Black Dads Host Father’s Day Events in Chicago

Community leaders say recognition, support and mentorship for fathers is critically important — not only for the dads themselves but also for the kids they’re raising.

(WTTW News)

Sample Cuisines of the World at Flavors of Albany Park, June 21

Albany Park on the city’s Northwest Side is one of Chicago’s most diverse neighborhoods, and as such, it’s also home to an incredible variety of restaurants.

(WTTW News)

TikTok Creator Ernest Crim III Uses Black History to Affirm and Heal

Educator Ernest Crim III believes learning Black history saved his life — and now, through anti-racism workshops and TikTok videos, he wants to do the same for others.

(Courtesy of Dwight White II)

Chicago Artist Offers Juneteenth Events Celebrating Black Creativity

Chicago-based visual artist Dwight White II curates cultural events. From June 19-25, he’s celebrating Juneteenth with a mural activation, gala evening and artist celebration day party.

(WTTW News)

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to Send Free Books to Low-Income Families Across Illinois

The state is partnering with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to mail new books to Illinois children each month. The Dollywood Foundation pays for the books, while state and education partners provide the shipping costs.

(Courtesy of the Back of the Yards Neighborhood Council)

Fiesta Back of the Yards Returns with Food, Music, Carnival Rides Through June 18

Fiesta Back of the Yards is back in full force with food, music and carnival rides on 47th Street.

Chicago skyline. (Michael Izquierdo / WTTW News)

From Health Care to Educational Opportunity, Annual Report Details Persistent Problems Plaguing Black Chicagoans

The Chicago Urban League released its 2023 “State of Black Chicago” report, which measures outcomes in health, education, income,and housing for Black Chicagoans as compared to other racial groups. 

Migrants in Chicago are pictured in a file photo. (WTTW News)

Volunteer Medical Students Work to Meet Health Needs of Migrants Arriving in Chicago

As part of the city’s response, police stations have become makeshift shelters for new migrants before they transition into long-term housing. Recently, a volunteer team of medical students has begun making the rounds at those police stations to assist with refugees’ health needs. 

A dish from Demera Restaurant, an Ethiopian eatery in the Uptown neighborhood. (Erica Gunderson / WTTW News)

Chef at Demera Restaurant Showcases Ethiopian Cuisine While Cooking for a Cause

On the bustling corner of Lawrence Avenue and Broadway in the Uptown neighborhood, Demera Restaurant has been introducing Chicagoans to Ethiopian cuisine since 2007.

A painting is displayed in the “Los Huecos del Agua” exhibition at the National Museum of Mexican Art in Chicago. (WTTW News)

Exhibition at National Museum of Mexican Art Places Native Mexican Culture Front and Center

What does it mean to be native Mexican after centuries of colonization? And how do those cultures present themselves today, despite efforts at their erasure? Those questions are at the heart of a new art exhibition. 

Actors from the City Lit Theater production of “Aztec Human Sacrifice” perform. (WTTW News)

Musical ‘Aztec Human Sacrifice’ at City Lit Theater Finds Surprising Humor in Unusual Premise

The ritual of human sacrifice in Aztec culture provides the unlikely backdrop for a musical now running at City Lit Theater. 

Margaret Piwowar talks with participant Rosa Gonzalez. (WTTW News)

Paramedic Partnership Program Helps Patients Manage Long-Term Health

People with chronic conditions can find themselves trapped in a costly, self-perpetuating emergency room cycle. A pilot program connects Chicago Fire Department paramedics with patients who need help managing chronic conditions at home.

Openlands is hosting guided paddling trips through the African American Heritage Water Trail on the Far South Side. (Courtesy of Openlands)

Free Canoe Paddling Tours on African American Heritage Water Trail, June 10-12

Openlands is hosting guided paddling trips through the African American Heritage Water Trail on the Far South Side. It’s a way to experience how Black history and nature intersect.

The Humboldt Park neighborhood in Chicago. (WTTW News)

Fiestas Patronales Puertorriqueñas Returns to Humboldt Park, June 8-11

The celebration kicks off with a Community Day on June 8 and continues through the weekend with a parade, carnival, musical and dance performances, arts, workshops, and of course, plenty of good food.

(WTTW News)

Author Cynthia Pelayo Blends Horror and History in ‘The Shoemaker’s Magician’

In “The Shoemaker’s Magician,” Cynthia Pelayo blends film history and Chicago history into a genre-crossing journey into the occult. The story opens with the discovery of a gruesome murder in a downtown theater.

(WTTW News)

NEIU’s Jose Rico Says State Higher Ed Budget Boost Will Help Fend Off Tuition Increase

The Illinois state budget passed this week included increased funding for higher education. That was welcome news to Northeastern Illinois University, which has seen some financial and institutional turbulence in recent years.

(Courtesy of Circus Vazquez)

Circus Vazquez Returns to Chicago Area With Shows Through June 11

Five brothers started Circus Vazquez in Mexico City in 1969. The family-run circus has made the Chicago area one of its stops for more than 20 years.

Author and DePaul University forensic accounting professor Kelly Richmond Pope appears on "Black Voices" on May 26, 2023. (WTTW News)

Fraud Big and Small Detailed in New Book ‘Fool Me Once’

In “Fool Me Once: Scams, Stories, and Secrets from the Trillion-Dollar Fraud Industry,” DePaul University forensic accounting professor Kelly Richmond Pope explores the many forms fraud can take and the sometimes surprising stories of the people who perpetrate it.

Hector Perez of the Union League Boys & Girls Clubs appears on "Latino Voices" on May 26, 2023. (WTTW News)

‘La Ultima Palabra’ on How Mentorship for Kids Changes Lives

Kids in mentorship programs might not yet appreciate how their mentors have helped keep them on a successful path. But Hector Perez of the Union League Boys & Girls Clubs says these programs are critical to shaping productive futures.

My Block My Hood My City founder Jahmal Cole gives appears on "Black Voices" on May 26, 2023. (WTTW News)

‘The Last Word’ on Saving Street Basketball in Chicago

My Block My Hood My City founder Jahmal Cole says bringing back basketball to our parks will lead to a safer city. Cole is leading the Save Street Ball campaign to replace and restore rims and nets across city parks.

Chesa Rollins, owner of Chesa’s Bistro & Bar, appears on "Black Voices" on May 26, 2023. (WTTW News)

How a Celiac Diagnosis Led This Chicago Chef to Open a Gluten-Free Restaurant

The kitchen at Chesa’s Bistro & Bar is entirely gluten-free, meaning customers with severe allergies can dine without worrying about cross-contamination.

(WTTW News)

Non-Citizen Veterans Face Deportation for Post-Service Infractions

Service in the U.S. military can be a speedier route for people hoping to get citizenship, but it’s not a guarantee. Non-citizen veterans are subject to deportation for crimes committed after the military service, and application of those rules can be inconsistent across states.

(WTTW News)

UIC Study Finds Youth Unemployment Spiked During Pandemic

Mayor Brandon Johnson has instructed the city’s budget office to find ways to fund youth unemployment and enrichment programs — and according to a new study by UIC’s Great Cities Institute, those jobs are critically needed.

Felix Martinez was named residential sanitation driver of the year. (Michael Izquierdo / WTTW News)

Mt. Prospect Residents Say Award-Winning Trash Collector Felix Martinez is Community Treasure

Most neighborhoods don’t eagerly anticipate the weekly arrival of their sanitation engineer, colloquially known as the garbage man. But most neighborhoods don’t have a national award-winning sanitation engineer like Felix Martinez taking away their trash.