The Legacy of School Segregation in Evanston, Part One: ‘Investigating Our History from Different Perspectives’
On May 13 the Evanston Public Library sponsored the first of two forums about “The Legacy of School Segregation” in Evanston. Morris “Dino” Robinson, the Founder and Executive Director of Shorefront Legacy Center, and Mary Barr, author of “Friends Disappear,” were the featured speakers. Evanston youth organizers representing the group Talking Whiteness moderated the forum. Heather Norborg, Lifelong Learning and Literacy Manager of […]
COVID-19 Update on May 18: Three New Cases in Evanston, 1,495 in the State
The City of Evanston is reporting that as of May 17: 12,172 Evanston residents who are 65 or over have […]
City to Provide Summer Program for Youth Stressed by COVID-19 Pandemic
In one of their last acts, the retiring City Council members on May 10 gave approval to a proposal from […]
LATEST NEWS
Two Middle-School Best Friends Cooked Up Some Fun During the COVID-19 Lockdown
Aden Johansen and Ellie Warren, eighth-graders at Nichols School, met at a summer theater program in 2019. They became friends; and over the COVID-19 lockdown developed an even deeper friendship […]
District 65 Appoints Three New Principals, One Assistant Principal
Submitted by School District 65 Evanston/Skokie School District 65 has announced the hiring of three new Principals for Dawes, Dewey and Washington Elementary Schools and an Assistant Principal for Willard […]
David Chack Discusses Leonard Bernstein with Levy Lecture Crowd
David Chack embraces many roles, but he shines as a teacher, actor, and artistic director. Through the magic technology of Zoom, he shared his knowledge about the life and career […]
Office of Sustainability Leadership Transition
After seven years working for the City, Kumar Jensen, Chief Sustainability and Resilience Officer, will step down from his role at the end of the summer. In order to ensure […]
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RECENT POSTS
Barely Seated, New Alderperson Devon Reid Places Proposals for Free Beach Tokens, Hazardous Pay Increase for Employees on Council’s Next Agenda
New Eighth Ward Alderperson Devon Reid wasted little time putting his agenda into action, asking officials at the City Council’s inaugural meeting May 10 to consider making beach tokens free and establishing hazardous pay for […]
Police Department’s Use-of-Force Policy to Incorporate ‘Sanctity of Life,’ ‘Proportionality’ and Other Recommendations
The increased awareness of police shootings – particularly of unarmed Black and Brown people – would seem to make establishing trust between police and residents an uphill battle. It is, nonetheless, one that Evanston Police […]
Not Barking Up a Tree to Say Interest Is High in City’s Next Dog Park
Evanston’s recent municipal election may have received a rather tepid response, but in another area, there is no lack of interest in the winner of a contested process. More than 100 people were signed on […]
Just Wanna Watch Netflix and Eat Ice Cream
Dear Gabby, I’ve gone through all the stages of the pandemic: from being obsessed with COVID numbers to appreciating the slower simpler pace, from wearing the same pajama bottoms everyday on all my Zoom calls […]
New Council Will Vote on Fate of Ethics Board
Members of the newly installed City Council will get the chance to make the call on staff recommended changes to the way ethics complaints are heard. Members of the former Council, meeting on May 10, […]
The Traffic Guy hears …
… that the comfortably cool weather and comparative lack of rainfall have brought construction back to Evanston. Crews are already at work patch-patch-patching – removing the top two inches of ‘distressed and failing” asphalt and […]
Fifth Ward STEM School Plan Promises Equity
The Fifth Ward of Evanston, the historic heart of the Black community in the west-central part of the City dating to the days of redlining, has not had a District 65 neighborhood school since Foster […]
With Changeover, Big Contrasts Between 80th and 81st Evanston City Councils
City officials faced a tricky situation May 10, allowing the 80th Evanston City Council to finish its business and install the 81st City Council. By law the new City Council had to be seated at […]
CITY NEWS
COVID-19 Update on May 17: Four New Cases in Evanston, 946 in the State
Vaccination Events for Those 12 and Older Community members 12 and older can register to receive the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at two upcoming events in Evanston. The City is sponsoring a vaccination clinic […]
Solid Waste Coordinator Position
The City is currently hiring a Solid Waste Coordinator. This position will be responsible for managing the City’s Solid Waste programs and implementing programs that support the Evanston Climate Action and Resilience Plan […]
COVID-19 Vaccinations Available for Evanston Students 12 and Older on May 21 and 22
Community members 12 and older can register to receive the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at two upcoming events in Evanston. Last week, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention authorized the Pfizer vaccine […]
City of Evanston Launches Community Solar Program
The City has partnered with the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus and Chicago-based MC-Squared Energy Services to participate in the MMC CS2 Residential Community Solar Program, which helps residents and small businesses save money and develop renewable […]
ART & LIFE
A Prescribed Dose of Nature
After a 50-minute walk in the park, a person’s mood improves and their cognitive function increases, according to a 2019 study in a body of work […]
Interfaith Action of Evanston Hospitality Center Celebrates 35 Years
Community members are invited to celebrate the 35th birthday of Interfaith Action of Evanston’s Hospitality Center with a special virtual event at 7 p.m. on May 23. […]
RoundTable Wins Lisagor Award for Best Neighborhood / Community News
The Chicago Headline Club, one of the largest Society of Professional Journalists chapters in the country, announced the winners of 2020 Peter Lisagor Awards. An impartial […]
Young Evanston Artists Foundation Announces Mid-May Pandemic-Friendly Urban Gallery Walk
Young Evanston Artists Foundation 31 announces the return of its annual art festival – but not to Raymond Park, where it has been held since 2015. […]
SCHOOLS
School Districts Post Application Processes to Fill Board Vacancies
The two Evanston/Skokie School Boards each have an open position for which they are now taking applications. The vacancy on the District 202 School […]
ETHS Students Earn 2021 Latin Exam Recognition
Evanston Township High School students participated in the 2021 National Latin Exam, with 43 of the 57 participating students earning awards. The 40-question exam, […]
Applications to Fill Vacancy on District 65 School Board Must by Submitted by May 21
The District 65 School Board is inviting residents of the District to apply to fill a current vacancy on the District 65 School Board. […]
School District 65 Initiates Discussion of $10.6 Million in Federal ESSER Funding
Kathy Zalewski, business manager, confirmed that District 65 is expecting to receive a total of $10.6 million in ESSER funds. The funds will be received in three phases.
PUBLIC SQUARE
Anna Galland and Sarah Williams: 100 Days In: Step It Up for Democracy
It’s been more than 100 days since President Biden and Vice President Harris took office, and even in the midst of a terrible and ongoing pandemic, there’s a lot for our country to celebrate. The […]
SPORTS
Lesch Puts Evanston Back on State Gymnastics Map
The experience of competing at the Illinois High School Association state gymnastics finals laid a foundation for Aryeh Lesch to build on for next year. At […]
Johnson Sets Hurdles Mark at Deerfield Invitational
Kalil Johnson dominated the hurdles competition at another major invitational Saturday. Just wait ‘til the weather warms up. The Evanston senior broke the Deerfield Invitational record […]
ETHS Girls Water Polo Team Falls in Three Overtimes at CSL Tourney
Evanston’s girls water polo team inches closer to New Trier every time the two rivals meet this spring. Maybe the fifth time will be the charm […]
McGuire Powers Kits to 5th Straight Softball Win Against New Trier
Now that the New Trier-Evanston softball rivalry has turned lopsided in another direction, Madison McGuire still believes it’s special. That’s why the Wildkits’ senior captain thought […]
REPORTS & ANALYSES
District 202 School Board Reacts to Emails About Eliminating School Resource Officers
Administrators said SROs at ETHS have a different philosophy and role than do SROs at many other schools.
High Percentage of Students Entering ETHS Lack ‘Proficiency’ in Reading
Only about 30% of Black and Latinx students are entering ETHS proficient in reading.
AP Results Mixed: More Students Earn 3 or Higher on Exams, But Fewer Minority Student Enroll
There has been a decrease in the percentages of minority students taking AP classes over the past few years.
Developing a Segregated Town, 1900-1960
Evanston’s first African American residents arrived in the 1850s, and by 1880 there were approximately 125 African Americans in Evanston. The number grew to 737 in 1900. At that time, many of the African Americans in Evanston worked in domestic and personal service. With the Great […]
The Role of Foster School in the Implementation of School District 65’s Desegregation Plan in 1967 and Its Closing in 1979
Foster School, virtually an all-Black school in 1966, was closed as a neighborhood school in 1967 as part of the District’s desegregation plan, and it was closed altogether in 1979. As time passed, many in the community have recognized that these actions put the burden of […]