As of November 4th, the federal government entered its 36th day of shutdown, breaking the previous record set during Trump's first term For context: this means that roughly 800,000 federal employees are working without pay, Social Security services are understaffed, crucial data collection has stopped, and food assistance payments for 42 million Americans have been threatened.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that air traffic controller shortages could force the closure of "certain areas of airspace" and promised thatyou'll " see flight delays" and " mass cancellations"Thisisn'ttheoretical If you fly out of O'Hare, this is affecting you. The shutdown's leverage in negotiations is literally the threat of making your ability totravelimpossible
What'sthefightabout?Democrats want the extended enhanced subsidies for Affordable Care Act insurance to continue Republicans want those subsidies to expire The White House has indicated it's willing to let this continue indefinitely. Chicago residents should understand that this isn't a Washington problem that will resolve itself This is affecting hospital funding, food safety inspections, and basic infrastructure maintenance right now.
2. Health Insurance Premiums Are Doubling and Congress MightLetItHappen
Open enrollment started November1st Ifyou'relookingat Affordable Care Act plans on healthcaregov, you'll see premiums that may have doubled or even tripled from 2025 This isn't insurance companiesbeinggreedy;it'swhat happens when federal subsidies expire.
For the past few years, Congress maintained"enhanced"premium subsidies that made insurance affordable. These subsidies mean thataround22millionAmericans including self-employed people,smallbusinessemployees, and freelancers could actually affordtobuycoverage.
Withoutthosesubsidies?According toKFF,anonpartisanresearch organization,averagepremiums wouldincrease114%acrossthe country
Inconcreteterms:ifyou're60years old, earning $80,000 a year, and currently paying $439 monthly for insurance, you ' re looking at $1,059 monthlystartingin2026ifsubsidies expire That's more than 15% of income The question before Congress is whether to extend the subsidies Republicanshavemadeit clear they won't. Your healthcare decisions for 2026 might depend on what Congress decides in the nextfewweeks.
3 Immigration Enforcement Has Become Indiscriminate andIncreasinglyViolent
“The raid at Rayito de Sol on November5thwasdramatic,butit's one data point in a much larger enforcement campaign Operation Midway Blitz has resulted in more than 3,000 arrests in Chicago since September These aren't all at the border They're happening in neighborhoods, at schools, at communitycenters.
“The Supreme Court, in an emergency ruling this year, allowed immigration enforcement stops based on " race or ethnicity, command of English, location, and type of job" That's a constitutional violation being endorsed by the highestcourtinthenation Itmeans law enforcement can pull over people based on appearance It means your neighbors are living in fear It means that if you look like you might be undocumented which is often code for looking Latino you 'repotentiallysubjectto arrest. Chicago has tried to position itself as a sanctuary city, but sanctuary status means nothing against federal enforcement with helicopter raids and tactical units This is the national enforcement reality right now It's coming to neighborhoodsinyourcity.
Why? Exit polling shows that voters' primary concern wasn't abstract political ideology. It was theeconomy Morethanhalfof NewYorkCityvoterssaidrising cost of living was their top concern In California, nearly half of voters identified "the economy " as their main issue These aren't people responding topartisanmessaging Theseare peoplestrugglingwiththeirrent, their groceries, their ability to maintaintheirstandardofliving
Meanwhile, Treasury data shows that while stock markets hit record highs and GDP growth remains solid on paper, wagegrowthhasn'tkeptupwith inflation For most Americans, the economy doesn't feel good. It doesn't matter if economists sayit's"fundamentallysound"If you 'reaChicagoanworkingtwo jobsandstillworriedaboutyour lease,theeconomyfeelsbroken. The election results suggest that voters are holding the current administration responsible for thatfeeling
5 Your Choices About Healthcare, Immigration, and Governance Are About to Be Made for You Unless CongressActs
All of this connects The government shutdown is directly linked to whether health insurance subsidies continue Immigration enforcement determines who gets deported and who stays. Theeconomy'sdirectionwillbe shaped by policy decisions being made in Congress right now
4 The Economy Is Stalling, and Voters Just SentTrump a Message AboutIt
On Election Day 2025, Democrats sweptmajoroff-yearelections They won governor ' s races in two states. They won in New York City They won in California. In a year when the incumbent president's party usually gets punished, they gained ground.
What'scriticalforChicagoansto understand is that none of this is predetermined Congress could extend the subsidies and end the shutdown Congress could mandate that immigrationenforcementcan't rely on racial profiling Congress could implement different economic policies The reason these decisions haven't happened isn't because the options don't exist It's because political actors have chosen the confrontation instead
That choice that specific political choice is what's affectingyourhealth insurance, your neighbors' security, and your city's ability to function Thegovernmentworksforyou Theoretically The question is whetheryou're going to hold it accountable for the choices it's makingonyourbehalf
At 7 a.m. on Wednesday, November 5th, the walls between childhood and citizenship collapsed at Rayito de Sol Spanish Immersion Early Learning CenteronChicago'sNorthSide.
Video footage shows the moment clearly enough, though clarity offers no comfort: federal agents in tactical gear,facesmasked,enteringadaycare duringdrop-off Awoman in apre-K classroom, fleeing, screaming in Spanish: "I have papers."The physical struggle The forcible removal Childrenwatching Teacherswatching Parents arriving to drop off their infantsintowhatwassupposedtobea sanctuary, instead witnessing something that belongs to another kindofnation
The woman was Diana Santillana, according to parents who knew her From Medellín, Colombia. A teacher who had beenworkingwith children inthatclassroom.
The daycare had recently assured parents that all their educators were legallypermittedtowork
That assurance, clearly, meant nothing against the machinery of enforcementThe daycare had recentlyassuredparentsthatalltheir educators were legally permitted to work. That assurance, clearly, meant nothing against the machinery of enforcement
Thiswasn'taviolationofpolicy.Itwas thepolicy
What happened at Rayito de Sol wasn'tanisolatedincident Itwaspart ofOperationMidwayBlitz,afederal immigration enforcement initiative thathasresultedinmorethan3,000 arrestsintheChicagoareasinceearly September We're talking about agents rappelling from Black Hawk helicoptersinthemiddleofthenight. We're talking about overwhelming force deployed in recreational areas. We'retalkingaboutteargaslaunched at protesters This is what aggressive immigration enforcement looks like in practice not abstract policy but concrete raids on the fabric of ordinarylife.
The problem is that this version collides with what dozens of witnesses parents,teachers,aldermen sawanddocumented Theyrecognizedagents entering the building without showing a warrant They looked at agents walkingthroughclassroomswithweaponsinabuildingfulloffour-montholdsandtoddlers
MALACHI WEBSTER - STAFF WRITER
They watched a woman claiming to have documentation being ignored, pursued, and physically restrained They observed not a dangerous criminal being apprehended but a preschool teacher being removed from her workplace in front of terrified children
What made Wednesday remarkable wasn't the enforcementactionitself Chicagohadalreadybecome accustomedtothem Whatmadeitremarkablewasthe targeting of a sanctuary Daycares aren't usually considered high-value targets in immigration enforcement campaigns. But under the current operational tempo, there apparently are no sanctuary spaces left. No places where the rules of enforcement don't apply Not schools Not places of worship Not daycareswherethemostvulnerablemembersofsociety arebeingeducated
The cascading trauma is worth noting Parents raced fromtheirjobs.Thefacilityclosedfortheday.Children were exposed to violence yes, state violence counts during what was supposed to be the ordinary, safe beginning of their day. Teachers questioned whether theircoworkersweresecure Theentireinfrastructureof trust that makes early childhood education possible shatteredinminutes
And then there's the question nobody wants to ask directly: What message does this send about who belongs?Awomanwithdocumentation.Ateacherwitha job. A person embedded in a community. Removed from that community in front of children. The signal isn't subtle. It's not about who's legal or illegal. It's about who can be removed, at any moment, regardless of status It's about establishing a hierarchy of security and belonging,withsomepeoplepermanentlyvulnerable "AldermanMattMartin,representingthe47thWard,was direct: "You had agents with guns who were walking around the facility with teachers inside, with children inside, and so we are of course demanding that she be releasedimmediately"
Chicagohasaparticularhistorywithsanctuary.Thecity took the stance, at least rhetorically, that immigration authorities shouldn't rely on local police cooperation. That there were limits That certain rights applied to certain places But rhetorical sanctuary means nothing against the force of federal enforcement It means nothingwhenagentsdecidethatadaycareisn'tprotected space
WhathappenedatRayitodeSolwasn'tanexceptionto howwe're operating. It was the operating system made visible.It'swhatitlookslikewhenenforcementbecomes theorganizingprinciple,whenenforcementreachesinto spaces we assumed were outside its scope, when enforcement prioritizes demonstrating power over protectingvulnerability
Thedaycarewillreopen Teacherswillreturn Parentswill dropofftheirchildrenagain,thoughwithadifferentkind offearnow theknowledgethatnospaceisguaranteed to be safe. Some peoplewill argue that this is necessary. That enforcement has to show it operates everywhere. Thatnobodyisexempt.
Chicago Theological Seminary (CTS), in collaboration with the Chicago History Museum, is honored to present the Jackson Oral History Project Pop-Up Panel Exhibition, a traveling educational andculturalinitiativethathighlights a pivotal chapter in Chicago’s civil rights history. The exhibition explores thework and influence of Rev Jesse Jackson and the Chicago Breadbasket Movement, foregrounding the voices and lived experiences of individuals who helped shape a transformative moment in the ongoing fight for racialandeconomicjustice.
The exhibition features nine largescale interpretive banners, each displaying historical photographs, contextual narrative, and excerpts from oral history interviews Central to the project are three newly recorded oral histories, captured specifically to expand the public record and enrich understanding of the Chicago Breadbasket era. The included interviews offer firsthand accounts from individuals who organized, strategized, and mobilized alongside Rev Jackson, helping to build the infrastructure of a movement grounded in faith, dignity,andcollectiveaction
“No great movement occurs without a cadre of competent, faithful individuals who share theleader’spassionandcommitments,”saidRev Dr BrianE Smith,whohelpedguidethe developmentoftheprojectanditsoralhistoryrecordings “Followingtheillustriouscareerof Rev JesseJackson,wehavecarefullycultivatedrelationshipswithsomeoftheearlypioneers oftheChicagoCivilRightsMovement
The Jackson Oral History Project is made possible through the generous support of the Donnelly Foundation, whose contribution ensured the preservation, interpretation, and publicsharingofthesevitalhistories
BYLAURAMILLER- MANAGING EDITOR
PHOTO CREDIT: ERIKA BRACEY
ThePurpose-DrivenPower ofToiSalter
FromaHydeParksalontothehigh-stakesworldoffinance, Toi Salter has spent her life blending faith, focus, and fierce determination. Now, as a record-breaking fundraiser and mentor to the next generation, she’s proving that obedience isn’tsubmission it’sstrategy.
“Obedience doesn’t limit you — it liberates you. ”
There’s a quiet command in the way Toi Salter moves through the world one built not on ego, but on purpose. For decades, she’s balanced entrepreneurship, mentorship, and philanthropy with a gracethatfeelseffortlessbutisanythingbut.Herstoryreadslikedivine choreography every twist, every risk, every reinvention guided by faithandconviction
“I’vealwaysknownGodhadHishandonmylife,”shesayssoftly,her tonebothcalmandabsolute “Ididn’talwaysknowwhatthenextstep looked like, but I knewIwasn’twalkingit alone Everytime I thought somethingwasending,itwasreallyjustGodmovingmeintoposition.”
Thatquietcertaintyhascarriedherfromhergrandmother’sbeautysalonto boardroomswheremillionsofdollarsmovethroughherstewardship and to grand ballrooms where she’s raised millions more for education and equity. Her life, at its core, is not about chasing success; it’s about obeying purpose
TheFoundation:Faith,Family,andFirstDreams
Salter'sfoundationwasbuiltathome intheindustrioushumofafamily ofentrepreneurswhomadethingshappenlongbefore"self-made"became aslogan Hermother,JacquelineWalker,wasasuccessfulentrepreneur,but Saltergravitatedtowardshergrandmother Hergrandmotherranabeauty business from her basement, a one-woman force of confidence and craftsmanship
"She had long nails and such pride in herwork,"Salterrecalls "I used to sit thereandjustwatchher howshehandledhercustomers,howtheylitup aroundher Shemadepeoplefeelbeautifulandimportant IknewIwanted thatsamefeeling thatabilitytocreatesomethingthatbroughtpeoplejoy"
In 1983, Salteropened hernail salon in Hyde Park one of the first of its kind in the city. It was an instant success, but more than that, it was a gatheringplace
"You'd be amazed at who came through those doors," she says "Writers, stylists, radio hosts the energywas electric We talked about everything frombusinesstolovetowhatwasgoingoninthecitythatweek.Itwasn'tjust asalon itwasconnection Itwascommunity"
Ifsocialmediaisaboutcreatingengagement,Salterwasdoingitlongbefore hashtagsandtimelines "Wewereourownnetwork,"shesays "Youcouldfeel it Peoplelefttherebelievinginsomething inthemselves,inpossibility" Eventhen,Salter'sinstinctswereteachingherhowconnection,purpose,and commerceworktogether Shejustdidn'thavethelanguageforityet
ThePivot:FaithandFinancialVision
Afterseveralyearsofsuccess,Salterbegantofeelarestlessnessshecouldn't ignore "It's not that I didn't love what I was doing," she says "It's that I startedhearingthatwhisperagain thatinnervoicesaying,'You'vedone this part. Now let's move on. '" So Salter did. She sold her business, went backtoschool,anddecidedtostartagain fromscratch
Salter's uncle, the late Roger Salter, an entrepreneur and mentor, helped point the way "He showed me his February check seven figures," she says,eyeswideningevennowatthememory "Isaid,'Okay,Iunderstand whatobediencelookslikeinmotion'"
But this was never about chasing wealth It was about stewardship understandinghowmoneyworks,and how it could serve others when managedwithcare
"I saw how many professional athletes weremakingmillionsandlosingitall," she says. "Not because they weren't smart, but because they didn't have guidance. I thought, if I could just be that steady voice the one that says, 'Let's plan before we spend, let's build beforewe buy' maybe I could help changethatstory"
Today, as CEO and founder of Salter Financial Management LLC, Salter manages and oversees the financial and business affairs of professional athletes and media personalities Her approach is part mentorship, part management,andpartministry.
"Entrepreneurshiphasneverfelthard," she says "When you ' re walking in passion, you ' re being carried I've learned that when you work in your purpose, the work itself becomes the reward."
Salter pauses, then adds with a laugh, "That doesn't mean it's easy But it's grace-filled There'sadifference"
Salter's philosophy of giving has little to do with transactions and everything to do with transformation. "People think fundraising is about asking for money, " shesays."It'snot.It'sabouttellingastory thatmovestheheart Ifyoucanremind people that theirgivingchanges lives not in theory, but in real time they'll giveeverytime"
Salter leans forward slightly as if letting you in on a truth "You have to connect the mission to emotion. When I talk aboutUNCF,Italkaboutthestudents thefaces,thefamilies WhenItalkabout the Urban League, I talk about opportunity Because we ' re not raising money,we 'reraisingpossibility."
Salter's voice softens "And you can't ask people to give to something you don't believeinyourself That'swhyIshowup, whyIwritecheckstoo,whyIpickupthe phone and call people I know could be doing more It's not pressure it's partnership.We'reinthistogether."
Salterpauses,smiling "SometimesI'llcall andsay,'Iknowyousaidyouweregoing to give 10, butwhat about 25?'And then we both laugh, and they do it anyway. Because when it's for the right cause, peoplerisetoit"
Shesitsback."That'showIknowGodis in it When you can make people feel seen and inspired that's ministry Whether it's through faith or finance, I just want to be in service to something biggerthanme."
Faith,Purpose,andReinvention
Salter doesn't chase change; she obeys it "God wants me to stretch,"shesays."Tocomeoutof mycomfortzonesoHecanshow up and show out in my life. My jobistobeobedient"
When she says "obedient," it doesn't soundsubmissive itsoundsstrong It's a word she's reclaimed as strategy. "I've learnedthatobediencedoesn'tlimityou," shesays."Itliberatesyou.Itteachesyouto trust the timing, even when you can't traceit"
“We’re not raising money. We’re raising possibility.”
“Think like a child, but have grownfolk execution.”
Salter laughs softly "I take naps unapologetically I say no as a sport. I've learned to shut down thenoise andit'sallright"
There's a gentle humor in her delivery, the ease of a woman who's spent decades proving herself and now refuses to hurry "I used to think stillness was unproductive," she says "Now I understand stillnessisstrategy"
In essence, your manners reflect your respectforetiquetteanddecorum,which inturnareshapedbybroadersystemsof rules,protocols,andlaws.
Each of these words has a long history and specific setting whether a business meeting, a courtroom, a wedding, or a dinner party Think of Robert’s Rules of Order or Miss Manners as modern guidestothesetimelessprinciples
behind you ’rebeingpreparedYou’renotlosingpurpose you ’ re learningitonadeeperlevelThepauseisnottheendofyourstoryIt isthepage-turnSo,aswecloseout2025,giveyourselfpermission toembracethepausefully,intentionally,andwithoutguiltBecause whenyouhonorthepause,you prepareyourspiritforthepivot andyoumakeroomfortheshift
Part2 ThePivot iscomingnext
CNWChi-Lights! Atthe PigmentedBlackFineArtFaire~ October30thatZhouB.Arts Center
HEALTHYLIVING
CardioorWeights
Notlongago,someonetoldme,“Onceyou’re over40,youshouldfocusmoreonweight training especiallyforwomen.Cardiojust raisescortisol”
As it turns out, there’s some truth behind the statement, but also a fair bit of misunderstanding The reality is that both women and men benefit from rebalancing their fitness approach after 40 just not by abandoningoneformofexerciseinfavorof theother.
Abalancedroutineforthoseover40includes2-4daysofstrength trainingwithcompoundmovements,2-3daysofmoderatecardio,and 1-2sessionsofflexibilityormobilitywork,likeyogaorstretching The AmericanCollegeofSportsMedicinerecommendscombiningstrength, aerobic,balance,andmobilitytrainingforhealthmaintenance Also, prioritizesleep,nutrition,andstressmanagement
SPORTS
Chicago'sTeamsAreDoingWhatPoliticiansCouldn't
MALACHI WEBSTER - STAFFWRITER
Chicago needed something to believe in again Not the kind of empty cheerleading that mayors hand out before ribbon cuttings, but somethingraw thekindofcatharsis that comes when your team walks ontothefieldatSoldierFieldortakes the court at United Center and remindsyouthatthecityyoulivein stillknowshowtoaspire.
For the past several years, Chicago had been wrestling with itself Political upheaval, cultural fracture lines, the general sense that somethingessentialhadcomeloose. You could feel it in the neighborhoods, in the bars, in the way people talked about their own city with something between resignation and anger Crime dominatedconversations Economic uncertaintystalkedeverycoffeeshop discussion about the future The municipal machinery groaned under pressure, and the energy that once defined this city that thick, confident Midwestern grit mixed with big-shouldered ambition had startedtofeellikearelic.
Thencamethesportsnarrative
The Chicago Bears, fresh off a chaotic 2024seasonthatexposedeveryfaultlinein their organization, executed what amounted to organizational triage Out went the old regime's tactical incompetence IncameBenJohnson,the architect of the Detroit Lions' explosive offense,amansorespectedthatwhenthe Bearsturnedtohim,itfeltlesslikehiringa coachandmorelikecallinginaspecialist whoactuallyknewhowtofixwhatwas broken. More crucially, they surrounded their franchise quarterback, Caleb Williams, with genuine support AnAllProleftguardinJoeThuney.Anoffensive line that didn't collapse like a house of cards. Suddenly, a rookie who looked overwhelmed last season had a fighting chance
Johnson didn't come in with empty promises Instead, he demonstrated somethingChicagohadbeenstarvedfor: competence Deliberate, methodical competence. During training camp, he pushed Williams hard the kind of challengethatseparatesgoodcoachesfrom great ones. "He's a sponge right now," Johnson said, and you could feel the difference in how he talked about the quarterback Not coddling Not making excuses Butgenuinebeliefcoupledwith highstandards.
The Bears' 2024-2025 season community report tellspartofthestorythatthe stat sheets miss More than 230 community appearances Over 470 volunteer hours. Players whodidn'tjustshowupfor obligatory charity photos but showed up repeatedly. Hospitalroomsvisited Kids reached through youth programs notinthefancy neighborhoods, but in North Lawndale, where community meant something tangible. When the Bears collected 24,000 coats in their annual drive, that wasn't nostalgia. That was a team remembering thatthecityhadbeenthere forthemduringleanyears
DeMar DeRozan and the Chicago Bulls told a differentkindofstory one about patience and philosophicalconviction.In a league obsessed with novelty, the Bulls made a counterintuitive choice: they believed in their foundation more than in the lottery of free agency While other franchises chased flashy names, Chicago doubled down on development. Coby White, the 25-year-old North Carolina product, became the nucleus ESPN didn't justcasuallyrankhimahead ofbothDeRozanandZach LaVine for the 2025-26 season; that ranking was a validationoftheBulls'entire strategic pivot. The organization had been willingtolookfoolishinthe short term to build somethingdurable
The Bulls' community initiatives mirrored the Bears' approach but with theirownflavor.Fourfocus areas education, community investment, health and wellness, and access to opportunities thataddeduptosomething more than marketing speak. When Ayo Dosunmu hosted his third annual Block Party for Chicago youth, that wasn't obligation.
What the Bears and Bulls are offering is a reminder that identity can be rebuilt That a city doesn't havetoacceptthenarrativethatit's in decline That excellence, when applied consistently and with genuine belief in the community, becomescontagious.
Forthe first time inyears, Chicago had something other than grievance and complaint to rally around. It had the possibility of Tuesday night basketball in a resurgent franchise It had the genuine momentum of a quarterback and a coaching staff thatlookedpreparedtocompete It had players who understood that their most important work happened in the community, not justonthefieldorcourt.
Brooklyn-born artistpremieres "Wabash &You"withJoffrey Balletwhile championing diversity in dance
Kai El Zabar- Editor-in-Chief
When Chanel DaSilva's new ballet premieres at Chicago's Harris Theater this week, audiences will witness more than just an elegant love story set against the backdrop of downtown Chicago They'll see the work of an artist who has dedicated her career to transforming the dance world from the inside out
DaSilva, a Brooklyn-born dancer, choreographer, and social justice advocate, describes herself as an "artivist" someone who uses art as activism Her latest work, "Wabash & You," debuts Thursday, November 6, as part of the Joffrey Ballet's two-part program "Matters of the Heart," running through November9
FromDancertoChange-maker
DaSilva's journey in dance began at age three when she pointed to a picture and told her grandmother she wanted to do that. Enrolled at the Bernice Johnson Cultural Arts Center in Queens, she immediately fell in love with West African, tap, jazz, and modern dance By 16, she had the confidence to audition for Juilliard, despite her mother's skeptical question about whether she was "really good." DaSilva's answer was simple: yes, she was She earned a scholarship and neverlooked back
But success in the danceworld revealed a troubling pattern. DaSilva found herself repeatedlybeing the only brown face in the room "I asked myself,Whyis that?" she recalls
Around age 30, after establishing herself as a performer, DaSilva decided to expand herimpact beyond the stage. She co-founded Move NYC, a social justice nonprofit dedicated to creating greater diversityand equityin the dance profession
Around age 30, afterestablishing herself as a performer, DaSilva decided to expand herimpact beyond the stage She cofounded Move NYC, a social justice nonprofit dedicated to creating greaterdiversityand equityin the dance profession. Togetherwith partnerNigel Campbell, she examined the systemic barriers that keep Black and brown dancers, particularly women, from accessing elite training and professional opportunities
"We peeled back that onion and realized that it takes access and opportunityat averykeyand pivotal age, usuallyinyourteenage years, to getyou in the roomsyou need to be in," DaSilva explains
BreakingDownBarriers
The obstacles, DaSilva discovered, are deeplyentrenched The most significant barrieris financial In ballet and otherdance disciplines, aspiring dancers typicallyneed to eitherpaytheirwayinto prestigious programs orreceive scholarships However, the scholarship system itself perpetuates inequality Because men are scarce in dance, scholarships tend to go to Black and brown male dancers,while girls who are in abundance often miss out, regardless of their talent
DaSilva recalls auditioning for programs as a teenagerand qualifying, onlyto face program fees of $3,000 ormore "Iwas informed that I qualified, 'but the fee is $3,000' towhich mysingle mothermomwithout hesitation simplytold me, 'I got a mortgage to pay, babe. I can't afford to send you, '" she remembers.
Without financial support or mentorship, manytalentedyoung dancers give up on theirdreams and pivot to othercareers
DaSilva considers herself lucky She received a fewscholarships and found herself in the right place at the right time. Her acceptance to Juilliard opened doors that might otherwise have remained closed But she's determined to ensure other youngwomen of colordon't have to relyon luck
Move NYC provides mentorship, professional development, and dance training entirelytuition-free The programming connectsyoung peoplewith opportunities and professionalswho can guide their advancement, creating pathways that bypass traditional financial barriers.
LeadershipandRepresentation
As DaSilva transitioned into choreographyand direction, she encountered anothergap: the scarcityof Black and brownwomen in leadership positionswithin the dance field To address this, she created Catapult, a platform specificallydesigned to helpwomen connect, cultivate their skills, and advance into and remain in leadership roles.
"Nowthat I'm a choreographerand director, I'm sitting in leadership roles often, and again, there's not a lot of brown and Blackwomen in leadership positions in the dance field," she notes
DaSilva didn't initiallyenvision herself as a choreographer As a Juilliard freshman, she dropped her composition class, surprising herinstructorswho told hershewas " a fabulous choreographer" She resumed herstudies and developed hercraft, though itwasn't until afterherperforming careermatured that she realized she had more to saythrough choreography.
"Mychoreographyusuallyfeels like a journal entryof all the things that I'm hearing and experiencing in mylife and in theworld around me, " she explains "Ratherthan pouring that out on Instagram orFacebook in the comment section, instead I pourit into mywork."
TheLanguageofDance
As a choreographer, DaSilva is an intentional storyteller who blends multiple dance languages ballet, modern, WestAfrican, jazz, and hip-hop She combines the virtuosityand seeminglyimpossible athleticism of these formswith simple, everydaygestures: a touch of the face, a hand to the heart, a racing heartbeat
"I blend dance languages that alreadyexist," she says, "combining thatwith simple gestures that I do every day, so thatwhen an audience membercomes to see it, the storyis clearand it's also relatable"
ChanelDaSilva
ARTS&CULTURE
ChoreographerChanelDaSilvaBrings
LoveStorytoChicagoStage
Kai El Zabar- Editor-in-Chief
"Wabash &You" exemplifies this philosophy. Inspired by WabashAvenue and performed in collaboration with the bandThe Main Squeeze who perform live onstagewith the dancers the ballet tells the storyof a brief but unforgettable romance in downtown Chicago.The set design features scenes from downtown underthe El train, capturing the city's distinctive urban landscape
DaSilva's connection to Chicago is deeplypersonal, a romancewith the citythat she has parlayed into artistic expression Herwork shares the billwith anotherpiece by choreographerAnnabelle Lopez Ochoa about Frida Kahlo, creating an evening united bythe theme "Matters of the Heart"
A MessageofLoveand Support
DaSilva hopes audienceswill take awaythree things from "Wabash &You."
"Numberone, come to have a fun evening of enjoyment," she says "Numbertwo, I'd love the audience towalk awayknowing that love can findyou at anytime, and knowthat if that love doesn't last, that doesn't make it any lessvaluable Numberthree, please continue to support the arts because the arts are what keeps us human and afloat as a society."
Around age 30, after establishing herself as a performer, DaSilva decided to expand her impact beyond the stage She co-founded Move NYC, a social justice nonprofit dedicated to creating greaterdiversity and equityin the dance profession.
Herbroadermission extends beyond anysingle performance Through her choreography, hernonprofit work, and herleadership platforms, DaSilva isworking to ensure that the danceworld becomes more representative of the diverse communities that make upAmerican society She's chipping awayat longstanding barriers, changing who appears onstage,what stories get told, andwho leads the field.
Foryoung dancers of colorwho dream of careers in ballet and contemporarydance, DaSilva represents both inspiration and tangible support. She's proof that barriers can be overcome, but she's also creating systems to ensure that future generationswon't face the same obstacles she did orat least won't have to overcome them alone orthrough luck
As the curtain rises on "Wabash &You" thisweek, audienceswill witness not just a love storyset in Chicago, but the culmination of one artist's determination to use herplatform forchange, one performance, one mentee, and one leadership position at a time.
"Wabash &You" and"Broken Wings"performNovember 6-9 at the Harris Theaterfor Music and Dance in Chicago.
ARTFORSALE
SSCACSellsArttoBuildNewBuilding WandaWright
Electricitydanced as it traveled at the speed of light zapping through the cavernous space of Haven sparked bythe soul of MargaretTaylorBurroughs Goss- Founderof the 85-yearold South Side Community Arts Center(SSCAC) fundraising campaign. The Village glowed in anticipation and celebration of its new facilityscheduled for completion in 2027
Patrons across the diaspora packed thevenue to standing room only. Music pulsedwhile guests eagerlybuzzed beneath a canopyof dazzling lights, hautevibes andARTFOR SALE! Tables ladenwith irresistible cuisine from local gourmet restaurants lining expansivewalls sent guests in full pursuit of tastydelights and laughteras theyrushed to bid, nosh,viewand settle in place before a live auction. Heartfelt action and sincere love for cultural treasures borewitness to the tangible impact of donations, support and kindled dreams as it realized hopes
Candace Hunter(CHLEE) journaled heartwarming stories of localAfricanAmerican Artists historywhich created a palpable spirit of pride and unity Factually- artists came to Chicago from everywhere- one of theirfirst public offerings became the famous Lake Meadows 35th StreetArt Fair
The FederalArt Project (FAP), part of theWPA,was established in 1935 and attracted notable artists like EldzierCortorand Gordon Parks
TheWPAoperated in Chicago from 1935 to 1943, employing millions for public and cultural projects, with EleanorRoosevelt's support. It aimed to make art accessible during the Great Depression and promoted Black artists at the SSCAC The Evening Auction, opened byTwyler Jenkins and Executive DirectorMonique Brinkman-Hill, honored contributors like Pemon Rami, Masequa Myers, and Dr. Bob Starks.Alively biddingwar, led by auctioneerCandace Hunter, featured prominent attendees, including Bishop Dr Horace E Smith and MBDC CEO Debra Johnson.
Step 4: Make the cheese sauce: In a deep sauté pan over medium heat, melt the butter Sprinkle in flour,whiskingtocombineintoaslurry Graduallypourinthemilk,whiskingcontinuously,toforma thinsauce Slowlystirincheddarcheeseandchilipowderuntilfullycombined Removesaucefrom heat
