When he was hired as a digital archivist for the PBS show American Masters in 2025, James P. found something he wasn’t sure was possible. “It’s been one of the greatest, if not the greatest, work experiences I’ve had in my life,” James says. “I feel like my life has purpose to it, which I […]
What does it take to save a species? A veterinarian with a state-of-the-art CT scanner. A keeper who notices an aardvark skipped dinner. A nutritionist who knows exactly what belongs on a gorilla’s menu. Scientists tracking animals thousands of miles away. Women checking camera traps in the Himalayas. A photographer who can make a mouse […]
October brings some of the year’s biggest events to Chicago, from the Chicago Marathon and Chicago International Film Festival to the opening of Northwestern’s new Ryan Field. Eric Idle, Gorillaz, the Smashing Pumpkins, David Byrne, and Robert Plant are among the major names on a packed arts and culture calendar. And with glowing jack-o’-lanterns, haunted […]
Many people struggle with deciding what to do next, especially when the stakes are high. Someone may be recommended for a promotion they don’t feel qualified to take, or question their connection with a spouse after decades of marriage. The circumstances vary, but the question is often the same: What is the best option, and […]
When preparing young people for the future, we often focus on academic success, career readiness, and character development. While those areas are essential, some of the most important life lessons begin with something much more fundamental: knowing how to care for oneself and one’s family. At Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago (BGCC), cooking programs […]
“American history is longer, larger, more various, more beautiful, and more terrible than anything anyone has ever said about it.” When James Baldwin wrote those words in 1963, he captured the exact tightrope that educators walk today. As the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary in 2026, teachers are not just reflecting on a historical […]
The welcome at Ballet Chicago‘s sensory-friendly performance of The Nutcracker begins before the curtain rises. A visual schedule helps families know what to expect. House lights remain partially illuminated, Tchaikovsky’s score is played at a lower volume, a quiet room is available for those who need it, and audience members are free to move around […]
When the lights came up after a collection of short documentaries about immigration enforcement in Chicago, the audience did more than applaud. Viewers contributed $4,000 to a legal-support fund and stayed to speak with filmmakers, attorneys, and community advocates working directly with affected families. The event was part of Speak Truth, a new initiative within […]
When 73-year-old Wisconsin resident Leslie slipped in her bathroom one morning, she never imagined she would spend the next six hours on the floor, unable to stand. Her daughter had just left when Leslie lost her footing. Her reading glasses shattered, cutting her forehead and leaving her bleeding and disoriented. Her phone was on the […]
When a grandmother enrolled her 9-year-old grandson, whom she is raising on her own, in day camp this summer, she was hoping to give him a positive outlet to build friendships and confidence, in order to improve his mental health issues. Unfortunately, he did not know how to swim, and the camp did not offer […]
