Stories by maya miller

Catchy Ringtone Offers Upbeat Reminder of Immigrants’ Rights

As concerns over deportation rise in many immigrant communities, a local union has found a unique way to spread an educational message.

A group of students who participated in the M.U.S.I.C. Inc. program. (Courtesy of Sarah Dupuis)

Music Education Class Sets the Tone for Bright Futures

Can the violin lower student dropout rates? A classically trained musician and a social worker think music lessons have the power to inspire change.

Vida, a 20 year-old asylum seeker from Ghana, lives at the Marie Joseph House of Hospitality for Women in Hyde Park. (Maya Miller / Chicago Tonight)

Hyde Park Home an Alternative to Detention for Refugees, Asylum Seekers

The Marie Joseph House of Hospitality for Women in Hyde Park houses 10 asylum seekers and refugees. Thanks to a unique partnership with ICE, women who would otherwise be in detention facilities live in the co-op style home.  

(Fibonacci Blue / Wikimedia Commons)

Looking for Love? Local Experts Say ‘Get to Work’

In a culture where swiping left and right has become part of the dating ritual, a local clinical psychologist and her former student have some advice: get to work.

German traditions are in full swing in Lincoln Square. (Royal Opera House Covent Garden / Flickr)

10 Things to Do This Weekend: June 1-4

Art fairs, comedy shows and street festivals usher in the weekend. Here are 10 things to do in and around Chicago. 

Ed Paschke Exhibit Features Rare Works of ‘Mr. Chicago’

When asked to describe the late artist Ed Paschke, Vesna Stelcer, the director at the Jefferson Park art center that bears his name, chooses one word: timeless.

The Gray-Cloud house in 2017. (Courtesy of David Cloud)

Rumors of Underground Railroad in Irving Park Prompt Archaeological Dig

A farmhouse built in 1856 may have ties to the Underground Railroad. This summer, the homeowners and a Lake Forest archaeologist will begin work to uncover the mystery.

A bird’s-eye view of the new soccer field, running track and basketball court at Donald Morrill Math & Science Elementary School. (Courtesy of Southwest Organizing Project, Chicago).

Community Initiative to ‘Reclaim Southwest Chicago’ Expands

A program targeting vacant homes and crime in a 20-block section of Chicago’s Southwest Side is expanding after a four-year pilot – and a noticeable change in the neighborhood.

Some 8,638 Chicago residents left the city in 2016. (Bert Kaufmann / Wikimedia)

Chicago Tops Nation in Population Loss for Second Straight Year

For the second consecutive year, the city of Chicago experienced higher levels of population loss than any other city in the nation, according to 2016 data released Thursday by the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Belmont-Sheffield Music Festival (Special Events Management / Facebook)

10 Things to Do This Memorial Day Weekend

A scenic bike ride, street festivals, baseball, mole and a State Street parade usher in the long weekend. Here are 10 things to do in and around Chicago. 

Aerial view in 2011 shows parts of North Lawndale and East Garfield Park (Ian Freimuth / Flickr)

Plan for North Lawndale to Tackle Vacant Lots, Economic Development

How grassroots organizing is increasingly shaping the West Side community, which is looking to develop a shared vision for economic development.

(Matt Turner / Flickr)

Have Some Cash? Illinois.com Domain Name For Sale

Bids are expected to exceed tens of millions of dollars for the singular domain, which Chicago entrepreneur Josh Metnick put up for sale earlier this week.

A Museum Hack tour in progress at the Art Institute of Chicago. (Courtesy of Museum Hack)

Hacking the Traditional Museum Experience, One Tour at a Time

Museum Hack’s offbeat tours of the Art Institute of Chicago aim to engage the next generation of museum-goers. “Your job is fun first, education along the way,” says one tour guide.

(Quinn Dombrowski / Flickr)

10 Things to Do This Weekend: May 18-21

Frank Lloyd Wright homes, outdoor festivals, comfort food and a giant garage sale usher in the weekend. Here are 10 things to do in and around Chicago.

CTA Red Line rendering (Courtesy of the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning)

What Should Chicago Look Like in 2050?

Self-driving cars, shuttles that come to your door with the click of a button, walkable communities—these are just a few of the alternative futures residents are being asked to consider this spring and summer.

‘Robot Revolution’ Returns to Chicago

They can play blackjack, dance and climb walls. The Museum of Science and Industry brings back its interactive exhibition – with a few new additions.

(Courtesy of The Chicago Community Trust)

Issues Facing Chicago to be ‘On the Table’ Tuesday

More than 5,000 conversations across the Chicago area are set to take place Tuesday as part of the Chicago Community Trust’s annual On the Table initiative.

In a new report, the Institute for Housing Studies at DePaul University found that Cook County's affordable housing supply has not kept up with demand. (Diego Delso / Wikimedia)

Report: Cook County Short Nearly 190,000 Affordable Rental Units

Cook County's affordable housing supply has not kept up with demand, according to a report issued by the Institute for Housing Studies at DePaul University.

More than 100 designers showcase their work when the Renegade Craft Fair pops up in Pilsen. (Courtesy of Renegade Craft Fair)

10 Things to Do This Weekend: May 11-14

Celebrate Mother’s Day with spring blooms, handmade designs, food trucks and more. Here are 10 things to do in and around Chicago.

According to the Illinois Office of Tourism, 110 million people visited the state in 2016. (IvoShandor / Wikimedia Commons)

State’s Office of Tourism Reports ‘Robust Growth’ in 2016

Illinois’ fiscal woes do not appear to be discouraging out-of-towners from visiting, according to figures released by the state’s Office of Tourism.

Psychiatry shortages are impacting city and state agencies, as well as residents. (Elica Coaching & Counseling / Wikimedia)

Chicago Struggling to Fill Gaps Left By Psychiatrist Shortage

A nationwide shortage of psychiatrists is being felt in Chicago, from the Department of Public Health to area medical centers and health providers.

Chicago Launches Website on Climate Change

An announcement last month from the EPA prompts Chicago to launch its own website dedicated to the science behind climate change.

Four participants of a Learning Circle at the Whitney Young Library take a quick break to pose for a picture. (Courtesy of Chicago Public Library)

Chicago Public Library Recognized for Digital Leadership

When it comes to innovation in digital learning, Chicago is getting noticed.

In 2016, 7,600 Chicagoans hosted guests through Airbnb. (Courtesy of Airbnb)

Chicago Residents Earned $67 Million Through Airbnb in 2016

Spare bedrooms are bringing in decent money for some Chicago residents: According to vacation rental website Airbnb, Chicago-area hosts earned an average of $4,100 in 2016.

Sample beer and play giant Jenga at Soldier Field on Saturday. (Courtesy of Red Frog Events)

10 Things to Do This Weekend: May 4-7

A beer tasting in Soldier Field, live music and kite-flying pros usher in the weekend. Here are 10 things to do in and around Chicago.

(Courtesy of SEIU Healthcare Illinois Facebook)

Nursing Home Workers Strike Averted in Final Hours

SEIU Healthcare Illinois members reached a tentative agreement on a three-year contract with the Illinois Association of Health Care Facilities late Wednesday night, avoiding a strike in which 5,000 nursing home workers across 53 Chicago-area facilities were expected to participate.