Good Tuesday morning, Evanston.
Christopher Rufo, a conservative activist and writer with a large online following who helped pioneer Republican attacks on critical race theory and gender identity, has a new target: Evanston/Skokie School District 65’s LGBTQ+ Equity Week.
In April Rufo, published an article “Radical Gender Lessons for Young Children” in the public policy magazine City Journal, where he is a senior contributing editor. In the piece, he highlighted some of the lesson plans that District 65 teachers use during the equity week to teach gender equity, gender expression and accepting classmates for who they are.
The McGaw YMCA revealed a model room for its updated Men’s Residence on Monday as part of its capital campaign to raise $12.6 million for the renovation of the 156 single room occupancy units in its building at 1000 Grove St.
The Men’s Residence, on the third, fourth and fifth floors of the structure, has not been updated since the McGaw Y moved to its present address 92 years ago. On Monday, guests were given a tour of the inside and outside of the building to visualize where the renovated spaces would be and what they would look like.
Annie Britt, the 43-year-old owner of Hair Science salon, has been in her own space as a hairstylist since 2014, and she’s looking to leverage that space to help other local business owners get established too.
To give Evanston startups a boost, Hair Science plans to host a monthly pop-up marketplace where local entrepreneurs can display their business or service on marketing tables at the salon.
Her inaugural pop-up was May 7. Britt said local entrepreneurs of all backgrounds – real estate agents, health care providers, cooks, beauty suppliers – are welcome at the events.
Thank you to all who attended News and Brews, our free celebration of local journalism, on Monday night. We are so grateful for the support from the Evanston community.
Also, a huge thanks to our friends at Sketchbook Brewing Co. and Firehouse Grill, who co-sponsored the event!
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COVID by the numbers: Thirty new cases were reported Sunday, May 8, the last day the city updated totals. The seven-day average is 53.9 cases per day.
Elsewhere on the RoundTable website
Evanston Hockey director breaks sport’s color line: ‘I hope my presence helps build diversity.’ In 1985, 5-year-old Del Morris took a sports camp field trip to the Robert Crown ice rink and discovered an interesting activity called “ice skating.” He has gone on to break racial barriers in hockey as a coach and director, as well as inspire a new generation of young Black players in Evanston.
Questions for author Nina Kraus. Nina Kraus is a Northwestern professor, biologist and amateur musician who thinks about sound and brain health. She is the author of a book for the intellectually curious, Of Sound Mind.
People You Should Know: Doug Silverstein, president of Evanston Hospital. After more than 30 years at NorthShore University Health System, the President of Evanston Hospital stopped by ETHS recently to reflect on the pandemic, his high school experience and the education-to-employment pipeline in Evanston.
The week in photos: May 2-9. A white-throated sparrow made an appearance at the North Shore Channel this weekend. Mike Roche photographed birds near the 17th and 18th holes of the Canal Shores Golf Course, a location “ideal for spotting small birds.”
Picturing Evanston. Some valuable advice, found on the walls of Washington Elementary School on Main Street. (Photo by Joerg Metzner)
Letter to the editor: Hiring yet another consultant company. Has the city of Evanston considered how much revenue would need to be generated at its 1.25% portion of the sales tax to recoup the proposed $245,000 consultant fee to generate more business downtown?
McGaw YMCA Board announces new members. McGaw YMCA announced three new members to its Board of Directors: Brandon Buchanan, Brandon Buchanan, Director, Health Equity, NorthShore University HealthSystem; Nosa Ehimwenman, President & CEO, Bowa Construction; and Sarah McHolland, Co-Owner, Paperwhite Florals.
Childcare Network of Evanston to host first walk/run on May 14. Childcare Network of Evanston will host its first family-friendly walk along Evanston’s lakefront this Saturday, May 14, at 10 a.m.
Join one of the many book groups at the Evanston Public Library. The Evanston Public Library offers a wide range of book discussion groups for community members. Check out some of EPL’s many offerings.
ETHS boys track: Cless claims 3 wins at Thornton Invitational. Matt Cless accounted for three individual wins Saturday and led Evanston’s boys track team to a runner-up finish in the team standings at the Thornton Invitational meet.
ETHS girls water polo: Kit girls end drought, sink Trevs in CSL South water polo. Archrival New Trier held the upper hand for 10 straight years in the Central Suburban League South division championship title game – until the Wildkits finally turned the tables on the Trevians Saturday afternoon.
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Around the web
‘A Recycled Show’: Sustainable Evanston hosts fashion show promoting sustainability, mutual aid. Young adults strutted down a makeshift runway in sustainable outfits Friday night as a part of Sustainable Evanston’s fashion show fundraiser, “A Recycled Show.”
Evanston Grows builds a blooming community, combats food injustice through urban gardening. Left with 1,000 pounds of fresh produce from the Fleetwood-Jourdain Community Center gardens at the start of the pandemic, long-time gardener Jean Fies decided to distribute the leftovers to District 65 families picking up lunches.
Mayor Lori Lightfoot announces fund for Chicagoans, those seeking abortions from neighboring states. The mayor of Chicago challenged other mayors to protect reproductive rights.
The Archdiocese of Chicago has reduced its number of parishes by more than 100. Now what? Local Catholics hope a structural overhaul aimed at consolidating parishes and conserving resources will sustain the church moving forward.
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