It’s a myth that young people don’t care about politics or social issues. In Chicago, organizers are building relationships among Black youth and young adults so they feel empowered to participate in their communities and vote.
Viewing entries tagged
Fellows
CPS teacher resignations and retirements spiked in the early part of the pandemic, and schools throughout the district are struggling with teacher shortages. Advocates say there should be more focus on teachers’ mental health, as well as that of their students.
More than 55,000 Chicagoans over 18 are experiencing homelessness, and it’s difficult to prioritize voting alongside immediate needs. But advocates say it’s important to mobilize, especially with a presidential administration targeting government spending.
Thousands of Illinoisans could not vote in November, as the state bans people from voting while serving time for felony sentences. This exclusion from the civic process highlights how incarceration and reintegration challenges can prevent someone participating in democracy.
Mental health challenges among U.S. college students peaked early in the pandemic. More students are reaching out for help, but many are unable to get proper treatment – so they are left to cope and find support on their own.
One big issue was largely missing from the election season: Covid-19 and Long Covid. Chicago organizers and disability advocates are still fighting for locals to take the issue seriously. They are urging residents to demand that public officials reinstate citywide Covid mandates, such as mandatory masking and testing.
The city needs more spaces for young people to connect and support each other. The best ones are spearheaded by the young people they’re meant to serve, organizers say.
Auburn Gresham residents are leaning on block clubs, community gardens and more as they fight for better mental health resources and social services.
Chicagoans in under-resourced neighborhoods say barriers to accessing mental health services affect youths, adults — and whole communities.
Raymond Thompson, a South Side organizers, believes better mental health will come from having open, self-aware and mindful communication between generations.
Schools across the country — and in Illinois — are facing drastic teacher shortages. One researcher says trauma-informed training could help.
Young Black Americans are at a higher risk than non-Black peers to experience anxiety and depression, and the rate of Black youths who have died by suicide is increasing more rapidly than any other racial or ethnic group. Adults must step in to help Chicago’s youth learn to cope, says therapist Thomas Ivey.
Many Chicagoans overwhelmingly support more mental health clinics and services, but South and West siders are still battling for more access to proper care.
When day laborers do get jobs, it is common for many to be paid far below minimum wage or not at all. The worst cases involve threats of violence, harassment, sexual exploitation and assault. But there are ways for these workers to stay safe.
Thousands have received work permits or temporary protection from deportation for reporting workplace abuse under the Deferred Action for Labor Enforcement. But the future of the program is unclear.
El robo de salarios, los salarios inferiores al mínimo y los enfrentamientos con el personal de seguridad de Home Depot (incluidos agentes del Departamento de Policía de Chicago fuera de servicio) han hecho que el buscar trabajo sea precario para los inmigrantes recién llegados.
Los recién llegados están recurriendo al emprendimiento, a menudo en la venta ambulante o en oficios como la barbería, para proporcionar alimentos a sus familias, ahorrar para una futura vivienda y comenzar una nueva vida en la ciudad.
City Bureau interviewed more than 20 recently arrived migrants living in city-run shelters who have faced struggles as they sought out legal pathways to work in Chicago. Here are three of their stories.
City Bureau spoke with more than a dozen migrant day laborers who said wage theft, sub-minimum wage rates, and clashes with Home Depot security personnel — including off-duty Chicago Police Department officers — have made it precarious for them to look for work.
Organizers who work in education, homelessness and housing justice shared several tips on how Chicagoans can get more involved in key local issues affecting our communities in 2025.