Evanston Rules podcast joins forces with the RoundTable

Evanston’s leading podcast focused on education, economic opportunity, culture and improving the community is joining forces with the RoundTable.

Evanston Rules, a program that features hour-long intimate conversations with prominent Evanston families and leaders will be featured on the RoundTable website, in our email newsletter and mobile platforms. These podcasts are the partnership of – and currently produced by – Evanston natives Laurice Bell and Ron Whitmore, whom have known one another since childhood.

The program features in-depth conversations with important local figures including 5th Ward City Council member Bobby Burns; Dino Robinson, founder of Shorefront Legacy Center; Nancy Glick, former ETHS student and current Director of Infectious Diseases at Mount Sinai Hospital in Chicago; and Hecky Powell, the legendary community leader and owner of “Hecky’s” barbeque restaurant. Powell’s interview on Evanston Rules was the last he gave before he died. Whitmore is a retired educator who taught preschool and kindergarten in Evanston for 15 years before becoming the Officer of Early Childhood Education and Principal at Chicago Public Schools.  Bell has spent the last 30 years living in Los Angeles as a director and producer of music videos for a long list of recording artists, including Tupac Shakur, Selena, Miles Davis and many others. She also has done extensive work with nonprofit organizations. 

Bell says they were intentional about the podcast being “Black-driven,” not about other people narrating Black people’s stories. The two hosts bring their insight about the city and their genuine curiosity about other people to the show.

“We’re excited that the RoundTable has chosen to support our efforts in sharing diverse stories that create a tapestry that we aim to celebrate in Evanston,” said Bell.

Added Whitmore: “We started Evanston Rules because this is our home. We care about our city – yes, it’s a podcast, but we’re also looking at encouraging those that haven’t always had a voice and creating equity in our city.”

The RoundTable will host a rotating series of recent Evanston Rules programs on a new page devoted to podcasts and videos. The first four episodes feature the late Hecky Powell, Dolores Holmes, the Miller family and Bernie Foster.

“We couldn’t be more thrilled that Laurice and Ron have chosen to partner with the RoundTable,” said Executive Editor Tracy Quattrocki. “This is a great opportunity for the RoundTable to broaden our efforts to showcase diverse voices around our community.”

Look for Evanston Rules on the RoundTable’s new page featuring podcasts and videos.

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