Notes from Chicago

Chicago is a city of two truths: deep love and real weight, often in the same breath. In this final mini-episode from our summer archive series, we're revisiting five conversations that capture both sides of the story. Chris Smith makes the case for exploring the South Side beyond Hyde Park. Dr. Mimi Guiracocha shares what it took for a Pilsen community to physically stop ICE from entering their neighborhood. Tony Hatchett tells the origin story of the Chosen Few Picnic, Isis Ferguson points to

What brought you to Chicago, and what has it given you in return? In this mini-episode from our summer archive series, host Ashley Phillips shares her own origin story before revisiting three unforgettable conversations about what this city means to the people who call it home. Hear from cross-stitch artist Emma McKee (aka StitchGawd) on the traumatic visa saga that led her to Chicago and how a Christmas gift for her mom turned into a Chance the Rapper collaboration. Documentary filmmaker Johnn

This summer, we're revisiting some of our favorite conversations. In this episode, we talk about the weight artists and organizers carry, and why they keep carrying it anyway. Photographer Kenn Cook Jr. reflects on capturing the West Side's true story and the West Sider who moved him to tears with her reaction to his work. Muralist-turned-fiber-artist Andy Bellomo opens up about painting through anxiety and postpartum in full public view at the Chicago Cultural Center. Laura Baginski remembers E

We just hit a milestone!!! 40 episodes and almost a year of Notes from Chicago. To celebrate, we're kicking off a summer series of mini-episodes built around themes from the archive, and this first one is about accidental beginnings. None of these five people planned for their project to become what it became. Our 40th episode kicks off a short summer hiatus. We'll be back with new full-length interviews this fall, but keep an eye out for more mini-episodes in the meantime. In this episode, As

Dyanna Knight Lewis is the publisher of the Chicago Defender and regional VP of Real Times Media. Her connection to the paper started long before her career did. In this episode, Dyanna joins Notes from Chicago to talk about stewarding one of the most storied Black institutions in American media, 121 years old and counting. Follow the Chicago Defender: * Website: https://chicagodefender.com * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chicagodefender Follow Notes from Chicago: * Spotify: https://ope

Before it was a 40,000-person festival, it was a Fourth of July picnic outside the Museum of Science and Industry. This week, Tony Hatchett of the Chosen Few DJs joins Notes from Chicago to trace house music's roots from The Warehouse and disco-era South Side parties to becoming a founding member of the crew behind the world's longest-running house music festival. Follow Chosen Few DJs: * Website: https://chosenfewdjs.com/ * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/djtonyhatchett | https://www.inst