When Laurie Richter’s son was beginning his college search a few years ago, he wasn’t just seeking an academically challenging and socially rich environment in which to spend four years. A high school athlete, he was also looking for a place to play basketball. The Richters quickly discovered, however, that navigating the recruitment process was […]
It’s impossible for us to know who we truly are without knowing something of our mothers. That’s why Fern Schumer Chapman, a former reporter for the Chicago Tribune and Forbes, has spent years unraveling the enigma that is her mother, who was orphaned by the Holocaust. Fern’s first book, “Motherland: Beyond the Holocaust: A Mother-Daughter […]
Parneshia Jones’ parents were set on her becoming a doctor or a lawyer. So, when she transferred from pre-med to become a creative writing major at Chicago State University, “They were horrified,” she says. But Parneshia, who was raised in Evanston, grew into a highly accomplished poet and was able to channel her talents into […]
Annie Burnside is a soul nurturer on a mission to help people feel closer and more connected to God. Her particular calling is teaching parents to help their families develop spirituality together. Annie glows as she discusses this and her strong connection to God. She feels a divine energy that flows through and connects her […]
From the moment you spot Carolyn Crimi’s feet—she’s sporting hot pink Chuck Taylors with sparkly laces—you know you’re in for a dose of fun, whimsy and creativity. Crimi puts these qualities to use as an author of award-winning children’s picture and chapter books. “I started writing kids’ books in first grade and never stopped,” she […]
Loved ones with severe memory loss often retreat to inner worlds. A recent international documentary, “I Remember Better When I Paint,” co-directed by Berna Huebner of Highland Park, shows how art therapy can bring them back. The film is based, in part, on personal experience. Huebner’s mother, Hilda Gorenstein, also known as Hilgos, was an […]
At Chicago Botanic Garden’s World Environment Day, a small but dynamic group of children determined to make the earth a healthier place manned one of the popular community displays. The Highland Park Green Kids were eager to discuss their mission and demonstrate energy-saving projects. They are part of a local grassroots organization founded by kids […]
Cassandra Friedman’s children have jokingly asked their mother to change her name. After all, they don’t want to be associated with a woman who hangs around coffee shops playing music in hopes of raising money for Alzheimer’s. “I’m not shy, I’ll do anything to spark an interest in donating,” Friedman, 56, says. “It wouldn’t be […]
It takes guts to apply for a job posing nude. But imagine the confidence it takes to apply for that job when you can’t see. Just ask Beth Finke, who lost her sight from diabetes in her 20s, and then her job. “At first I tried walking with the cane, but was afraid of falling […]
Sharon Morton of Deerfield fosters intergenerational giving back. At the tender age of 7, Michael already considered himself a philanthropist and social activist. Each year, through the auspices of the MIMAST Philanthropy Club—and in partnership with its founder, his grandmother, Sharon Morton—young Michael, his brother, Steven, and cousin Matthew carefully decide how to spend their “philanthropy […]
