A yearning for justice and dedication to equality in the African American community today mirrors the same hopes and struggles more than a century ago, as reflected in author Lawson A. Scruggs’ book “Women of Distinction,” written in 1893. Progress has been slow, but Dr. Scruggs lauded the efforts of 91 Black women who helped […]
Category: Social Justice
Posted inCity News
Concerns About Gentrification, Suitability, and the Civic Center Permeate Public Hearing on Proposed TIF
“This [TIF], in my opinion, is the method for removing the Black community at all costs. … It should not be supported by any member of the City Council.” — Bennett Johnson
Posted inSocial Justice
Q&A About Evanston Beach Token Policies and Black Residents
This article first appeared on the Evanston Public Library website. Abdel Shakur is a local writer, teacher and advocate for excellent Black teaching. Q: Can you give us a little history and tell us about how this policy was used to block marginalized residents in the past? Abdel Shakur: In the early 1930s, the community […]
Posted inSocial Justice
Evanston Pride Reschedules Events for July 17
After rain forced the cancellation of Evanson Pride Celebrations – but not the Parade – on June 26, the events have been rescheduled for this Saturday, July 17. The Community Picnic will now be held at 4 p.m. at Ingraham Park, and the Candle Lighting and Remembrance Ceremony at 7 p.m. at the Civic Center. […]
Posted inCOVID19
Two Suburban School Districts Address the Social-Emotional Effects of the Pandemic
This piece is part of a collaboration that includes the Institute for Nonprofit News, The Beacon/KCUR; Bridge Michigan/Side Effects Public Media; Cicero Independiente/South Side Weekly; Detour Detroit/Planet Detroit/Tostada Magazine; Evanston RoundTable/Growing Community Media; Madison 365/Wausau Pilot & Review; and MinnPost/Sahan Journal. The project was made possible by a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation […]
Posted inArt & Life
Local Author Writes to Empower Children
When Nonku Kunene Adumetey’s father died, the childhood trauma she spent her whole life pushing down, resurfaced. She spiraled into a state of anger and sadness while juggling a new baby, grieving her father’s death, and seeing the people who assaulted her at his funeral. A first time mom, Adumetey said she realized she wouldn’t […]
Posted inUncategorized
Woman Celebrated as ‘The Grandmother of Juneteenth’ Visits Evanston
Opal Lee was with President Biden at the White House on June 17 when he signed a bipartisan bill making Juneteenth a federal holiday, the first national holiday since Martin Luther King’s Birthday was established in 1983. On Sunday, July 4, the 94-year-old Ms. Lee, of Fort Worth, Texas, spoke to a crowd gathered at […]
Posted inSunday
Indivisible Evanston Rallies Against Voter Suppression
A crowd of about 100 rallied in Fountain Square Sunday, June 27, against voter suppression. The rally, convened by Indivisible Evanston together with Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky and Mayor Daniel Biss, called for passage of the For the People Act. The 10-part bill, introduced back in January by Rep. John Sarbanes, addresses voter access, election integrity […]
Posted inArt & Life
Juneteenth: A bittersweet holiday
Every Independence Day, I have 30 to 40 family and friends at my house in Evanston for a cookout. I always brag that my menu of chicken rice pilaf with vegetables, grilled fish, turkey burgers, chicken hot links, grilled Brussels sprouts, asparagus, cabbage and baked sweet potatoes is much healthier than the traditional cookout foods […]
Posted inArt & Life
Sixth and Ninth Ward Host Trans-Affirming Workshop
Nearly 23 residents attended a June 22 virtual workshop on trans-affirming practices, co-sponsored by Council Members Tom Suffredin, 6th Ward, and Cicely Fleming, 9th Ward. The workshop covered topics including pronoun usage, intersectionality, terminology, the history and context of transphobic systems, “outing,” and coming out. Many parents and grandparents who wanted to better support their […]