Once a neighborhood unwelcoming to families of color, Marquette Park is not only a more diverse community today, but one that's now home to a Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. memorial.
Stories by brandis friedman
Remembering the 1st Step of Martin Luther King Jr.’s 1,000-Mile March
Jan 16, 2017 | Brandis Friedman
How 2012 Chicago Teachers Strike Changed Fight Over Public Education
Jan 5, 2017 | Brandis Friedman
A new book argues the teachers strike of 2012 did more than just force a contract. A look inside “A Fight for the Soul of Public Education.”
Judges Help Foster Children Find Independence
Dec 21, 2016 | Brandis Friedman
From the foster system to one of the hottest restaurants in town: How one young man is “mixing it up.”
Bitter Cold Especially Challenging for Chronically Homeless
Dec 19, 2016 | Brandis Friedman
Weathering the cold is especially hard on people who live outside. What’s being done to help the homeless.
Part-Time Professors at City Colleges Want More From Their Employer
Dec 13, 2016 | Brandis Friedman
Adjunct professors at the state’s biggest community college system say their working conditions make it difficult for them to do their jobs.
Watchdog Says CPS Board Blocking Ethics Investigation
Dec 8, 2016 | Brandis Friedman
An investigation into whether or not the Chicago Board of Education’s top attorney violated a Chicago Public Schools ethics policy has been stalled, according to the district’s Inspector General Nick Schuler.
CPS Board Approves Revised Budget With $215M Gap
Charter Applications and Inspector General Investigation on the Table
Dec 7, 2016 | Brandis Friedman
Chicago Public Schools has a budget, but it could change again before the end of the school year.
Mentoring Program at Chicago Schools Expands to Girls
Nov 22, 2016 | Brandis Friedman
No longer just for the boys, a popular mentoring program is now making sure girls aren’t being left behind.
DACA Recipients Fear the Future Under Trump
Nov 17, 2016 | Brandis Friedman
As inauguration day grows closer, so does the fear for some young immigrants that their status in the U.S. will be revoked.
Learning Gardens at CPS Schools Plant Seeds for Healthy Food Choices
Nov 16, 2016 | Brandis Friedman
Students at some Chicago Public Schools are getting their hands dirty while feeding their minds.
New Report Aims to Increase Principal Retention at CPS
Nov 14, 2016 | Brandis Friedman
A tough job, but hundreds of Chicago educators do it–a new report on making sure the best principals are on the jobs in Chicago Public Schools.
Detainees Work Through Trauma in Jail, Aim for ‘Something Different’
Oct 31, 2016 | Brandis Friedman
We bring you part two of our story on a program that aims to stop the revolving door of the criminal justice system – from inside the Cook County Jail.
Navigating Community College Takes Support, Time for These Students
Oct 25, 2016 | Brandis Friedman
Though community college is expected to last only two years, it's a long road for many students. A look at how some students are getting plenty of support along the way.
New Program to Stem Chicago’s Violence Epidemic Starts in Jail
Oct 20, 2016 | Brandis Friedman
For many young men inside the Cook County Jail, violence on the streets is a daily reality. But a new program based at the jail aims to change that reality.
Strike Deadline Looms for UNO Charter School Network, Teachers Union
Oct 17, 2016 | Brandis Friedman
The city narrowly missed a massive teachers’ strike last week, but another is brewing for parents at a major charter school operator.
CTU, CPS Agree to Contract, Full Cost Remains Unclear
Oct 11, 2016 | Brandis Friedman
Chicago teachers were back in schools Tuesday instead of on the picket line. We take a closer look at the eleventh hour contract agreement between the district and teachers union.
CTU Preps for Second Strike in 2 Contracts
Oct 10, 2016 | Brandis Friedman
Picket signs are printed and teachers say they're ready to walk out as parents scramble to find care for their children.
CPS Sends Layoff Notices to Almost 250 Teachers, Staff
Oct 3, 2016 | Brandis Friedman
Some Chicago Public Schools students may be missing their teachers as more than 250 layoff notices go out Monday.
Whole Foods Brings Economic Development, Lower Prices to Englewood
Sep 29, 2016 | Brandis Friedman
A brand-new grocery store opens its doors in one of the city's food deserts. What does it mean for neighbors in Englewood?
CTU Sets October Strike Date if No Contract Agreement Reached
Sep 28, 2016 | Brandis Friedman
The CTU plans to serve CPS its 10-day strike notice Thursday for a possible Oct. 11 walkout. We hear more about the plan from CTU Vice President Jesse Sharkey.
Lawmakers Considering How to Pay for an Education Funding Overhaul
Sep 22, 2016 | Brandis Friedman
Though the state is spending more money on education this year than in the past seven years at least, some advocates argue it's still not enough, and the way we spend that money is inequitable. Thursday, we report on how lawmakers are working to change that.
Education Funding in Illinois: How the Evidence-Based Model Works
Sep 21, 2016 | Brandis Friedman
One way to achieve the goal of providing an “adequate” education to all Illinois school children? Spending much more money per child. We crunch the numbers.
Charters Closed by CPS Are Back to School Under State Control
Sep 14, 2016 | Brandis Friedman
Students at three Chicago charter schools won a fight to keep doors open, but the schools are now under state control. A look at how they're starting off the new school year.
Rwandan Genocide Survivor, Advocate on Holocaust, Modern-Day Genocide
Sep 13, 2016 | Brandis Friedman
It was one of the most brutal massacres of our generation: hundreds of thousands killed during the Rwandan genocide. Survivor Clemantine Wamariya shares her story and her work to make sure it never happens again.
Chicago Teachers Union House of Delegates Plans for 2nd Strike Vote
Sep 7, 2016 | Brandis Friedman
The rank-and-file members of the Chicago Teachers Union have already approved a strike, but the union is planning a second vote. Find out why.
CPS School Year Starts Again Without Teachers Contract
Sep 6, 2016 | Brandis Friedman
For the second year in a row, Chicago Public Schools begins the school year without a teachers contract. Can a deal be struck soon?