November 25-December 1, 2009 by StreetWise

V O L . 17 N O . 48 Buy StreetWise only from a badged vendor

NOVEMBER 25-DECEMBER 1, 2009

M I S S I O N: TO

H E L P P E O P L E H E L P T H E M S E LV E S TO S E L F - S U F F I C I E N C Y T H R O U G H G A I N F U L E M P L OY M E N T

SWEET days are ahead By Bill Coats Social Worker, Jane Addams College of Social Work am a social worker associated with the Jane Addams College of Social Work (JACSW) at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Over the past two months at StreetWise headquarters I’ve talked to vendors and staff members about SWEET, the StreetWise Worker’s Empowerment Enterprise Team program, and how it was approved by JACSW Dean Creasie Finney Hairston, JACSW field division director Barbara Coats, and the StreetWise board of directors. I’ve been seeking to learn what works, what doesn’t work, what opportunities there are for improvement, and the threats that keep vendors from using StreetWise to become more self-reliant. The purpose of the StreetWise/JACSW partnership is to allow vendors and master’s-level interns to team up so they can build on their experiences and strengths, learning skills, gaining knowledge, and finding resources each side needs to achieve its goals. Vendors will be helped in their efforts to reach self-sufficiency, while interns will learn how to put their social work skills and knowledge into helpful action. The SWEET program is being launched in three phases. During the first phase, Planning, I interview StreetWise vendors and staff members, collect data, and make a study of the social work practices that have proven most effective; an analysis of these findings will help create the Action Plan, with specific goals and outcomes for SWEET. The second phase is Pilot Implementation, which gives an intern and his or her supervisor the opportunity to refine the program and prepare for the third phase, Full Implementation, in the fall of 2010. While the first phase won’t be complete until the end of December, there are trends emerging in the initial responses from vendors and StreetWise staff. Upon completion of their orientation, most vendors are enthused and grateful to have 15 free copies of StreetWise waiting for them, but they struggle when they’re selling the magazine for the first time. New vendors as well as experienced ones have both been asked,“What might keep you or others from coming back to StreetWise so you can buy more magazines to sell?”

Here a re some of the responses: • “My greatest fear is that I will get ill again and not be able to get out to sell.”

• “Not thinking straight . . . I get distracted and buy things I want.” • “I am coming back sober, but last time it didn’t matter how much I made, I used it all . . .” • “Not having enough money left to buy more magazines after I’ve paid my bills.” • “Not knowing at the beginning how many magazines to buy—either running out or having too many.” • “Letting the weather get in my way—I need to get a good raincoat.” • “Some of the vendors continue to panhandle or sell free papers [The Onion , RedEye, etc.], breaking the code of conduct.” • “Finding a good location for selling the magazine can be difficult at first.” Providing the necessary help to get new vendors off to the best possible start, and supporting more experienced vendors’ efforts to meet their goals, will be critical to the SWEET program’s success. Through networking with other advocates, interns will learn how to support and enhance the capacity of health and human services to meet the needs of all StreetWise vendors. By identifying new and accessible community resources, SWEET will be able to publish an up-to-date resource guide. And by giving interns the opportunity to work with vendors, new social work skills and knowledge will be acquired. Anyone who wants to answer my question about what they think works or doesn’t work with the vendor program is encouraged to meet me at StreetWise, 1201 W. Lake St., on Mondays,Tuesdays, and/or Wednesdays up through the third week of December.

Attention Readers! What questions do you have for 2010 Candidates for political office: U.S. Senate, Illinois Governor and Cook County Board President?

STREETWISE STAFF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/PUBLISHER BRUCE CRANE BCRANE@STREETWISE.ORG EDITOR-IN-CHIEF SUZANNE HANNEY SUZANNESTREETWISE@YAHOO.COM DIRECTOR OF DISTRIBUTION GREG PRITCHETT GPRITCHETT14@YAHOO.COM

& VENDOR SERVICES

PRODUCTION & MARKETING MANAGER BEN COOK BCOOK@STREETWISE.ORG DIRECTOR OF ADVERTISING CORPORATE DEVELOPMENT GRACE FEDERIGHI GRACE@STREETWISE.ORG

ADVERTISING SALES EXECUTIVES MARY FAITH HILBOLDT PROOFREADER ROBERT CASS

BOARD OF DIRECTORS ROB FEDERIGHI—PRESIDENT CHICAGOBROKER.COM

JOHN J. LEONARD MORGAN STANLEY

PETE KADENS—VICE PRESIDENT SOCORE ENERGY

JUDD LOFCHIE—FOUNDER LOFCHIE & ASSOCIATES, INC.

JUDD R. HORWITZ—TREASURER JUDD R. HORWITZ & CO. P.C.

ADAM MEEK BROWNFILED MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATES

RAY GILLETTE—SECRETARY NONPROFIT CONSULTING LEE BARRIE KURMAN COMMUNICATIONS, INC. RICHARD BOYKIN BARNES & THORNBURG LLP EMILY BRINKMOELLER OVERSEAS STRATEGIES, LLC DANNY K. DAVIS U.S. CONGRESSMAN, 7TH DISTRICT, ILLINOIS LATONYA ELLIS VERIZON WIRELESS PAM FRYE RETIRED

JASON MERSEY J.P. MORGAN TIMOTHY RAY NEAL, GERBER & EISENBERG LLP JONATHAN REINSDORF STONEGATE DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS, LLC WHITNEY ST. PIERRE PATRICIA TILLMAN VENDOR REPRESENTATIVE KEVIN WARD THE FORWARD GROUP ERIC WEINHEIMER CARA PROGRAM IRA WILLIAMS CEDA

Send us your questions and the neighborhood you live in by Friday, December 4. Include your name and a .jpg photo (if you’re willing to let us use either in print).

STREETWISE IS PUBLISHED WEEKLY AND IS SOLD BY THE POOR AND HOMELESS OF CHICAGO. STREETWISE IS A REGISTERED 501(C)3 NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION AND IS A MEMBER OF THE NORTH AMERICAN STREET NEWSPAPER ASSOCIATION.

Send information to Ben Cook at bcook@streetwise.org & suzannestreetwise@yahoo.com.

1201 W. LAKE, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60607 OFFICE: 312.829.2526 FAX: 312.829.2623

W W W. S T R E E T W I S E . O R G

N O V E M B E R 25-D E C E M B E R 1, 2009

WorldWise INSP’s Maree Aldam discusses the history and growth of Street News Service, a story sharing service between street papers that provides the content featured in each week’s WorldWise. page

Event Calendar 0p9.5

Holiday Times! Get in the spirit by going to caroling at Cloud Gate, Christkindlmarket, Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade, Bucktown Bazaar, and Millenium Park ice skating.

page

Homelessness 101

Entrepreneur Spotlight Making ends meet

With a brand-new board of direc-

Meet hard-working Ola Herring, a multi-talented StreetWise vendor who likes to sing Madonna & Donna Summers tunes in her spare time.

tors Chicago leaders on homelessness face the recession and state budget cuts.

page

news

entertainment

streetwise

volunteer

From the Street page 4 WorldWise page 5 This Week in Chicago page 7 Cover Story page 11-13

Ginny & the Chef page 6 DineWise page 6-7 Event Calendar Page 8 Theatre Page 9

The Playground page 14 Vendor Profile page 15

Volunteer Chicago

N O V E M B E R 25-D E C E M B E R 1, 2009

W W W. S T R E E T W I S E . O R G

Online at www.streetwise.org

From the Street: Sit-in at Stroger’s Office By Mary Faith Hilboldt StreetWise Staff

ction Now members arrived at the Cook County Building on Tuesday, November 10, armed with supplies and outrage, ready to stage a sit-in in front of Cook County Board president Todd Stroger’s office. They were demanding at least a $3 million budget amendment for foreclosure outreach and court mediation. Action Now officials promised to stay overnight and through the Veterans Day holiday, right up to the November 12 deadline for budget amendments—or until Stroger met with them. Timothy Evans, chief judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County, addressed the crowd that Tuesday and asked them not to stay overnight, but promised he would seek the amendment from Stroger and the Cook County Board. On Thursday the crowd returned, and Evans assured organizers of his support for the amendment. During the November 10 sit-in, 25 people sat amid sleeping bags, pillows, suitcases, and ample food and water. Another 40 protested outside on the street. “Stroger has done nothing for people,” said Toni Richards.“We are losing 100 homes a day. We are in despair; our homes are coming apart while he is in his comfort zone. “I didn’t lose my house because I refused to

GreenWise: By Ben Cook

StreetWise Staff

ccording to a new study compiled by the Frontier Group, emissions of carbon dioxide from fossil fuel consumption increased 19 percent in the United States between 1990 and 2007. Carbon dioxide is the leading pollutant in global warming.

Nationally, however, the rate of emissions growth has slowed in recent years, with emissions peaking in many states in 2004 and ‘05. Seventeen states saw overall declines in carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel use between 2004 and 2007, while 33 states, many in the Great Lakes/Midwest region, saw emissions rise. Texas remained the nation’s number-one emitter of carbon dioxide from fossil fuel use in ‘07, followed by California, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Florida. Electricity generation and transportation are by far the largest sources of carbon dioxide emissions in the U.S., responsible for 40 percent and 33 percent of fossil fuel-related emissions, respectively, in ‘07.

lose it,” Richards continued.“I fought in court.” But most people don’t even know they have that option, she said, so part of the $3 million amendment would go toward community outreach to inform residents of their rights. Jacqueline Judge of West Garfield Park told the crowd,“I am evicted out of my house right now. Because of a mortgage scam. A house I worked for for 17 years. Where do I go? I asked the bank to help me. They won’t help me because my house appraised low. I will be evicted in one week.” People are moving their possessions into storage lockers following foreclosure, said Madeline Talbott, Action Now’s treasurer. “Then they move into the storage locker, with no other place to live.” Meanwhile, those who’ve been given insufficient notice leave their possessions behind in foreclosed homes, Richards said, enticing thieves to break in and take furniture, even copper pipes. The result is decreasing property values and unsafe neighborhoods. “Everybody loses,” Richards said. “If they kick me out,” Judge explained, “my house will be abandoned, tore up. The bank will only get $10,000 for it. I have a day care there, a school.” Talbott added, “It’s in the HSBC [bank]’s interest to have her keep her house. We need to get the borrowers into court, sit down with the lenders in mediation.”

Our Contributing Writers Ginny & the Chef: Originally a professional chef, Chef J now writes a syndicated weekly column on food and fitness in Chicago. He’s also the president of the Chicago Research Chefs LLC and president emeritus of the Chicago Nutrition Association. Ginny has written nutrition and fitness articles for several local and national publications, such as the Chicago Tribune and On-Health magazine. She has a bachelor’s degree in nutrition science and dietetics and a master’s degree in nutrition communications and marketing. Cindy Kurman Barrie and Lee Barrie are the principals of Kurman Communications, Inc., a Chicago-based marketing and public relations agency. Please follow all StreetWise restaurant features on Twitter @DineWise and subscribe to the blog at: http://dinewisechicago. blogspot.com. Or visit their blog at gotbuzzatkurman.com Julie Cameron has over 16 years’ experience in the fashion and retail industry. She is also president of Urban Shop Guide, a Web site that has been featured in publications such as Daily Candy, Elle UK, and American Airlines’ in-flight magazine. Urban Shop Guide explores Chicago’s best neighborhood shopping secrets with tours for both residents and visitors. Cameron is a member of The Fashion Group International and the Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau, and she participates in local neighborhood merchant associations. Mary Faith Hilboldt is a freelance writer and blogger, with a B.A. in journalism from Marquette University, and a certificate from Stanford University for a mass media institute in T.V. producing. She shared two awards for feature writing from the Illinois Woman’s Press Associates with StreetWise editor Suzanne Hanney. She blogs at postsfromparadise.blogspot.com.

Power plants and transportation were also the fastest-growing sources of emissions between 1990 and 2007. Between 2000 and 2007, emissions of carbon dioxide from fossil fuel consumption increased at one-fifth the rate they did during the ‘90s: • Carbon dioxide emissions are estimated to have declined by 2.8 percent in 2008 (to their lowest level since 2001) and are projected to fall even farther in ‘09 due to high oil prices last year, the recession, and the declining carbon intensity of the economy. • However, these reductions are far from the proposed cut in emissions the U.S. must make by 2020—roughly 35 percent—in order to do its share to avert the impact of global warming.

Energy-related CO2 emissions by state (in million metric tons): Texas: 675 California: 400 Pennsylvania: 277 Ohio: 270 Florida: 258

Illinois: 244 Indiana: 234 New York: 201 Louisiana: 195 Georgia: 186

New York and Texas—the nation’s eighthhighest and highest emitters of carbon dioxide, respectively—saw the greatest absolute declines. Many northeastern states have reduced carbon dioxide emissions from electric power plants by switching from polluting (and expensive) oil to cleaner natural gas. Texas, meanW W W. S T R E E T W I S E . O R G

while, has led the nation in wind energy installations, helping to stabilize emissions from its power sector. The Frontier Group is a national eco nonprofit. Its report details the fourfold strategy for cleaner emissions: limits on carbon pollution, renewable electricity standards, more efficient homes, and greater investment in transportation alternatives.

N O V E M B E R 25-D E C E M B E R 1, 2009

International Network of Street Papers: Street News Service

By Eleonora Terrile Courtesy of PetaliRossi.com

Petali Rossi: What is the Street News Service and what is its purpose? Maree Aldam, International Network of Street Papers (INSP): The Street News Service plays a crucial role in our work to build a strong, independent media movement. It’s an alternative online news agency [that] brings together the best of street paper journalism from around the world. It’s a valuable editorial resource for street papers, and it helps to increase their capacity to be diverse, challenging, and sustainable independent media in their local communities. The SNS is a Web-based forum for street papers to exchange and circulate content. Through the service, street papers can also access news, features, and photographs contributed by our external media partners, Reuters and Inter Press Service. Being part of this editorial network also allows them to gain additional exposure [to] issues and campaigns from their local community and have their voices heard through wider republication throughout their own country and across the world. In the long term, the increased exposure and profile gained through use of the SNS enables street papers to gain recognition from policy makers, potential funders, and local and national governing bodies. This can lead to additional funding, support, and publicity. All of this directly helps the street paper vendors to increase their sales, as the diversity and quality of SNS material allows street papers to increase their profile. In the long term, the more sustainable the street paper organization, the more people that are helped. The Street News Service also aims to challenge public perspectives on poverty and injustice by offering exclusive commentary on important social issues from 37 countries around the world. The service aims to inform and educate public opinion, action, and debate on development, social, and cultural issues. PR: When was it created? MA: The Street News Service was initially developed and launched by the North American Street Newspaper Association. NASNA and INSP work very closely together: NASNA’s 25 [members] are also members of INSP, and the two organizations share the same vision and purpose in supporting and advancing the street paper movement. The Street News Service went global in 2004 and launched its first-ever news feed in November of that year. Since then the service has gone from strength to strength, annually processing more than 2,000 specialized articles and pictures in over 15 languages. Last summer we hired a journalism master’s student as a dedicated SNS intern. The intern took on the day-today running of the service, which allowed us to invest substantial time and energy in developing the overall project. We continue to run the SNS internship program, and it has proved to be a great way to improve and develop the service, and has so far provided a fantastic work experience opportunity for three young journalists. The SNS is now a really valuable resource to INSP members.

N O V E M B E R 25-D E C E M B E R 1, 2009

PR: How much news do you receive every week from the street papers? MA: We receive around 15 articles each week from our papers. Street paper editors select articles they think will be of interest to their colleagues around the world, and the street paper content is also supplemented through our media partnerships with Reuters and Inter Press Service. Reuters donates two articles every week and allows us access to their fantastic database of photographs. IPS donates 15 development-related articles each week, in five different languages. Last year we decided to make better use of the rich, global journalistic network, and we started producing in-house content too. We now produce three international columns each month with the assistance of street paper editors on every continent. All articles and pictures are collated each week into an e-mail news feed, which is sent out to our members, partners, and supporters in three languages. INSP actively works to maintain a bank of nearly 60 volunteer translators, many of whom are professional translators and interpreters, to ensure that more members are able to contribute to and benefit from the Street News Service. We currently offer translation services in German, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Norwegian, Polish, Danish, Dutch, Italian, Japanese, Russian, Swedish, Ukrainian, Hungarian, and Slovak. PR: Thanks to this service, the street papers can get independent information from all over the world. What are the main subjects discussed in the worldwide street papers? MA: Street papers are all different in their capacity, style, size, and editorial approach. This adds to the diversity of the Street News Service, bringing rich and colorful news, issues, and information from around the world. We see articles as diverse as investigative reports, exclusive interviews, testimonies from street paper vendors, film and book reviews, and features on a variety of topics—from social issues to music. PR: Is it possible for external media to publish material from street papers? MA: At present, republication from the Street News Service Web site is only available to INSP street papers, as the service really started out as an editorial resource for street papers. The Web site is open to anyone as an information resource, however, and as it has developed a wider readership, we do receive some external requests for republication. External media are always free to contact street papers directly, and this is usually welcomed. As we develop the service further, we will be thinking about how we might be able to utilize the popularity of the Web site to allow street papers to gain a greater public presence and forge stronger positions in their communities. PR: What will be the next step for the Street News Service?

STREET NEWS SERVICE

INSP’s Maree Aldam WorldWise

Maree Aldam

MA: In 2010 INSP has big development plans for the SNS. Thanks to funding from the European Union, we will work in partnership with Inter Press Service to build on the service that we offer to our street papers, and also develop it to become a valued resource for students, journalists, government, and the general public. We have already started to plan a new Web site that will allow our members to share content more easily and will also allow the public to access the unique perspectives of street papers. This new-look SNS will encourage individuals to communicate and participate in important social debate, using interactive features such as forums and voting. They will also be encouraged to participate in related INSP activities such as campaigning [through the Web sites of INSP and its partners]. For the first time, we will also employ a full-time editor for the service. This will really allow us to take the service to the next level and involve our whole membership in developing a really great editorial and public resource. PR: Thanks to the SNS project, you hear a lot of stories from marginalized people, and you hear about interesting projects to defend their rights. But what is “your recipe” to defend human rights? MA: I think it’s important to raise awareness of injustice, whatever form it may take. Knowledge allows people to speak out about human rights, protect marginalized people, and challenge governments and decision makers. The media can and should be a part of this process. I feel lucky to work for an organization that helps to fight poverty and injustice but also builds independent media throughout the world. The two go hand in hand. © Street News Service: www.street-papers.org

W W W. S T R E E T W I S E . O R G

FoodWise with Ginny & Chef J

By Ginny & Chef J StreetWise Contributors (www.ginetics.org, www.researchchefs.us)

Unhealthy Healthcare A funny thing happened on the way to sign up for health insurance—I was denied coverage by the same company I’d just had health insurance with. I know, it doesn’t make any sense to me, either, especially since I have a preexisting condition that needs to be monitored with daily medications and twice-a-year blood tests. I had been on my husband’s plan, but his company closed down, we got divorced, the COBRA coverage got switched, and now I’m in a pickle. What baffles me more is that when I apply for these different private health plans, such as Cigna, Aetna, Humana, and BlueCross/ BlueShield, they interrogate me about my health history, including a five-page questionnaire that, with all due respect, my doctor or at least my doctor’s assistant should be answering instead of me.

DineWise By Lee Barrie & Cindy Kurman Barrie StreetWise Contributors

Dining While Holiday Shopping, Part I: On the Magnificent Mile It’s holiday shopping season—and we empathize with folks who want to take a respite from their shopping journey by enjoying a good meal between credit card signatures. So for the next four weeks, we will highlight various popular shopping neighborhoods, offering our take on where you will enjoy eating while marching from store to store. Your feet will thank you as much as your taste buds. We’ll start on the Magnificent Mile, since holiday shopping wouldn’t be complete without a trip to this world-class district. We’re talking about Michigan Avenue between Wacker Drive to the south and Oak Street to the north. Here are some of Chicago’s finest

It kind of reminded me of the last time I applied to a university to take some classes: I had to fill out this huge online application, send in my transcripts, write letters, etc. I thought that’s what we pay the staff of these establishments to do. I guess that’s why productivity and profits are up but jobs are down, because the average American worker is doing all the work while the “boys” at the top collect all the gravy. My neighbor, a self-employed electrician, was telling me about his health insurance dilemma. He’s 52 years old and in good shape; however, he has a congenital heart condition. He’s sought out many plans, but even with a high deductible policy he’s been denied time and time again. One helpful agent told him that plans vary from state to state, so if he can find a plan in another state that will accept him, he should consider moving. Talk about drastic health care measures. Even prisoners get health care. Perhaps not the best, but some is better than none, which is what’s being fed to us over and over in the news. Needless to say, I do hope Congress passes some sort of health care bill. I agree with former president Bill Clinton, who said, “The worst thing to do is to do nothing.” I know many people who deserve health care, including myself—I take extremely good care of my body, but I have a genetic condition that must be monitored. We need real health care reform, not health harm. For reliable health plan information, go to the Health Policy Institute’s Web site at healthinsuranceinfo.net (information is specific to each state).

stores and the people-watching is as good as the shopping…and so is the food. Grab a quick snack or break for coffee Espression by Lavazza Two locations: 140 E. Walton St. next to the Drake Hotel and the John Hancock Tower Observation Deck (312) 640-2440 (Walton Street) Espression is the coffee café concept from this Italian coffee company that has taken Europe and Chicago by storm. The red, white and black ultra-contemporary atmosphere is chic and the lounge-type seating is a comfortable way to enjoy the excellent, creative espresso beverages and freshly made Panini, salads, pastries and gelato. The coffee beverages are excellent; for refreshment we love the Shakerato, an iced coffee beverage, and the scoop of gelato topped with a shot of espresso. If you want to spring for the admission price to the observation deck at the Hancock, it’s a good place to bring your out-of-town guests.

Chef J’s Secret Recipe: Easy Halibut Caprese’ (serves 4) FoodWise Shopping List: •1lb. fresh halibut (cut into 4 1-in.thick pieces) •8 large fresh tomato slices (cut to ¼ in. thick slices) •2 c. fresh baby spinach •4 dried apricot halves •salt and pepper to taste •1 tbs.seasoned bread crumbs •¼ tbs.olive oil FoodWise Cooking Instructions: Preheat oven to 425 •Lightly spray baking pan with non-stick cooking spray. •On bottom of pan, evenly place tomato slices. •Place fish on top of tomato slices, and lightly salt and pepper. •Place an oven proof lid or piece tinfoil on top of pan. •Bake in hot oven for 12 to 15 minutes. •“Top” the baked fish with fresh baby spinach leaves, prior to serving. Nutritional Info •Garnish each piece of cooked fish with one apricot half. •Serve hot! – with steamed white rice and carrots. cooking to ensure even browning. •Remove from oven and season with salt and ground pepper to taste.

(312) 642-5888 Delicious Chinese filled steamed buns can typically be found in small neighborhood eateries in Chicago’s ethnic neighborhoods—we love them—but Lettuce Entertain You has found a way to put them up front and center, right in the lobby of Water Tower Place. This delightful kiosk serves up a wide range of flavors and levels of spiciness. Stop by and pick some up. They’re filling and different in a very good way. Sit down and relax

Wow Bao 835 N. Michigan Ave., Water Tower Place

Coco Pazzo Café 636 N. St. Clair St. (312) 664-2777 This popular, casual sister to Coco Pazzo in River North is located one block east of Michigan Avenue at Erie and St. Clair. The fare is Italian, Tuscan-style, and everything is made with fine ingredients and well-honed technique. There are many delicious choices, from the antipasti bar and splendid salads to excellent pastas, risottos and entrees. We love the seven-vegetable salad, the shaved artichoke salad, the gnocchi, the fresh fish and, as an indulgence, the wondrous Tuscan fries. It’s a great place

W W W. S T R E E T W I S E . O R G

N O V E M B E R 25-D E C E M B E R 1, 2009

This Week in Chicago

25 Years ago... By Suzanne Hanney & Sylvester Quast StreetWise Contributor & Vendor Volunteer

A program to combat gang crimes in Chicago Public Schools, as well as opposition to newly appointed Ald. Dorothy Tillman (3rd Ward), were major news in the November 28, 1984, edition of the Chica go Defender . “Street gang activity once again has reared its ugly head to terrorize our community and tarnish the good name of our city,” CPS superintendent Ruth Love said at a press conference. Crimes such as the killing of Simeon Vocational High School basketball star Ben Wilson (who was considered by many to be the top high school player in the country) a week earlier were “having a detrimental effect on the educational programs of our schools,” she added. Love’s plan called for gang prevention task forces, police officers to monitor high schools, and more involvement from students, staff, and the community. Targeted schools were Carver, 13100 S. Doty; Gage Park, 5630 S. Rockwell; Corliss, 831 E. 103rd; Collins, 1313 S. Sacramento; Crane, 2245 W. Jackson; DuSable, 4934 S. Wabash; Hubbard, 6200 S. Hamlin; Juarez, 2150 S. Laflin; Farragut, 2345 S. Christiana; Marshall, 3250 W. Adams; Near North, 1450 N. Larrabee; Orr, 730 N. Pulaski; and Phillips, 244 E. Pershing. Gang prevention task forces had been established the previous year at local school and district police levels. Dr. Orpen W. Bryan, the Board of Education’s deputy superintendent of field management, said most activity occurred outside schools when students were at lunch or going to and from school. He asked parents, students, faculty and staff, and community members to alert officials to any suspected gang activity.

to get away from the hustle and bustle of Michigan Avenue for a little while. Café Spiaggia 980 N. Michigan Ave. (312) 280-2750 This is the casual sister to the four-star Spiaggia, next door, and it has a spectacular view of the Michigan Avenue holiday scene. The menu is wide ranging, from delicious antipasti and salads to wood-fired pizza, plus pasta dishes and entrées. The potato gnocchi with wild boar ragu and Parmigiano Reggiano is to die for. Devon Seafood Grill 39 E. Chicago Ave. (312) 440-8660 Fish and seafood rule at this restaurant and lounge one block west of Water Tower Place on Chicago Avenue. The street-level lounge area is contemporary and stylish, but don’t let the downstairs dining room fool you; it’s spacious and beautiful, with comfortable booths and tables and many small, semi-private rooms that are perfect for conversation or a touch of romance, if you’re so inclined. Start your meal with the addictively decadent house-

N O V E M B E R 25-D E C E M B E R 1, 2009

Meanwhile, Dorothy Tillman accused Ald. Richard F. Mell (33rd Ward) of funneling money into her ward in order to defeat her in the special aldermanic election to be held the following February. Mell was part of the 29-member majority bloc on the City Council that opposed Mayor Harold Washington, until special elections in 1986 gave the mayor the 25-25 split he needed to overcome “the 29.” (His vote as chair of the council allowed him to break the tie and begin his various initiatives.) Washington was Chicago’s first African-American mayor. Tillman said Mell promised that his allies would send money through the 16th Ward office of former state Rep. James C. Taylor, an ally of former mayor Jane Byrne.“I was also told by Mell that [state Rep.-elect] Jerry Washington will be the point man in this plot and that he would set up his office in the third ward at 47th and State,” Tillman said. Mell responded to the Defender that he was just kidding. Washington called Tillman a “liar” and said her comments were “a cheap shot.” Tillman had been appointed to her post in December 1983; after bitter feuding, she was confirmed the following May. She replaced Ald. Tyrone Kenner, who’d been indicted for mail fraud in August of ’82 and was convicted on May 24, 1983. “In the past, the aldermen have been able to control Black wards because they have control of their puppet aldermen,” Tillman said. “I am not controllable, and only accountable to those who put me in office.” However, Tillman faced potential resistance from CHA residents within her ward, namely Taylor Residents United Towards Unity (TRUTH). The group was meeting behind closed doors with two of the alderman’s possible opponents. Tillman remained in office until an April 2007 runoff with Pat Dowell.

made biscuits, and then enjoy a wide selection of delicious fish or seafood, prepared in both simple and more complex ways. Foodlife 835 N. Michigan Ave., Water Tower Place (312) 335-3663 Imagine more than a dozen food stations, each with its own special cuisine. Wander around and choose what you want from any of them: Italian, American, Thai, Chinese, Sushi, Deli, you name it. If you’re shopping around the Mile and are trying to please many different palates, this casual, cafeteria-style restaurant may fill the bill. The food is good, the prices are reasonable and there’s something for everyone. Frankie’s 5th Floor Pizzeria 900 N. Michigan Ave. (312) 266-2500 Frankie’s is a great place if you’re bringing the kids along. The thin-crusted pizzas, all made from organic flour, run the gamut from traditional Margherita to some Sardinian specialties. You’ll also find sandwiches, salads and antipasti, plus free wi-fi. W W W. S T R E E T W I S E . O R G

November 25-December 1 events Wednesday The 14th annual open-air, German-style Christkindlmarket Chicago showcases handmade ornaments, accessories, clothing, and gifts from more than 50 vendors; also features German food and drink (potato pancakes, bratwurst, schnitzel, strudel, beer, hot spiced wine, and more). Be a part of the City of Chicago Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony on Wed 11/25 at 4 p.m. and celebrate Christkindlmarket’s grand opening two days later (also at 4 p.m.). Daley Plaza, 50 W. Washington St. Free. For more info, call 312-494-2175 or visit christkindlmarket.com. The Green City Market sets up inside a heated tent during the fall session (through Wed 12/23) and moves inside the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, 2430 N. Cannon Dr., for the winter (Sat 1/16-Sat 4/24). Shop for fresh produce and pantry items—artisanal cheeses, meats, fish and poultry, apples, root vegetables, baked goods, sauces, fresh pasta, and more—from roughly 30 vendors. Free. Chef demonstrations take place at 10:30 a.m. every Wednesday and Saturday during the fall market, and about four times daily during the winter market. (RSVP to attend chef demos: admin@chicagogreencitymarket.org.) For more info, call 773880-1266 or visit chicagogreencitymarket.org.

Thursday The 76th annual McDonald’s Thanksgiving Parade features marching bands, floats, giant helium balloons, horses, performances, and more

Friday: Caroling at Cloud Gate

along State Street, all the way from Congress Parkway to Randolph Street. The parade will be broadcast live on WGN-TV, 8-11 a.m., and for the first time will be rebroadcast later in the day on Chicago’s CLTV, 2-5 p.m. Free. For more info, call 312-235-2217.

Friday Hold a candle and watch it flicker on the surface of the Bean during Caroling at Cloud Gate, a 50minute holiday sing-along featuring a different choral group each Friday at 6 p.m. (11/27: Apollo

2009 Hot Holiday Trends While experts are not predicting a stellar sales forecast for this season, there are some trend items particularly for women that may drive the category. Faux fur vests, Layered chain jewelry, Large statement necklaces, Chunky circle knit scarves, Sequinstops, jackets, scarves, dresses, Flat motorcycle boots, 1940’s style skirts and blouses, Motorcycle-style leather jackets, Oversized tees and Studded bags will be key sellers in all price points. For men, besides the usual socks and ties, there are other items that are projected big sellers. DVD’s about sports, beer of the month club memberships, Wii’s, new cologne launches, grills, and computer software. Books that will be hot include The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown, the Edward Kennedy Memoir and new books by Stephen King, John Grisham, Michael Crichton Garmins, I-pods, the Kindle, HDTV’s, computers, and Digital Cameras will lead the electronics category in sales this season. The season will start early with many retailer hosting Pre-Black Friday sales and special events. Happy shopping! -Julie Cameron

W W W. S T R E E T W I S E . O R G

Chorus of Chicago; 12/4: Chicago Children’s Choir; 12/11: Old Town School of Folk Music; 12/18: Wooten Choral Ensemble). Millennium Park, 201 E. Randolph St. Free. For more info, call 312-7421168.

Saturday Make a dent in your holiday shopping at the Bucktown Bazaar, with handmade gifts from the DIY set and established artisans, including some featured in the annual Bucktown Arts Fest; includes a silent auction. Sat-Sun 11/28-11/29, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Holstein Park Fieldhouse, 2200 N. Oakley Ave. Free.

Monday Certified laughter yoga instructor Donna Nelson aims to give your funny bone a workout and promote world peace during Chicago Cycle of Laughter, a group bike ride along city streets and the lakefront. Includes about 20 minutes of pre-ride laughter exercises that incorporate improv and breathing (those without bikes are welcome to participate in the pre-ride exercises). Meet at the Haidan Indian Totem Pole, 3550 N. Lake Shore Dr., at 6 p.m. Free. Visit everybodyneedsdetox.com for more info.

Tuesday Warm up this winter with a few rounds of outdoor ice skating in Millennium Park (through Sun 3/14). McCormick Tribune Ice Rink, 55 N. Michigan Ave. Free; $10 skate rental. For more info, call 312-742-1168.

N O V E M B E R 25-D E C E M B E R 1, 2009

StreetWise Theatre Miracle on 34th Street at Porchlight Theatre Porchlight Theatre calls its production of Miracle on 34th Street “a Christmas classic with the feel of a Norman Rockwell painting.” The play is adapted from the novel by Valentine Davies and the 1947 movie of the same name, which starred Maureen O’Hara, Natalie Wood, and Edmund Gwenn. When a white-bearded gentleman named Kris Kringle claims to be the real Santa Claus, he loses his room at the Maplewood Home for the Aged in New York City because the board of directors believes him to be mentally unstable. He then fills in for the Macy’s department store Santa who was fired for drinking on the job, but Kringle himself almost gets fired after he provides shopping tips to parents—such as recommending a rival store. Tricked into going to the Bellevue mental hospital when he argues that Santa Claus really exists, Kringle ultimately brings about a genuine miracle, spreading a wave of love throughout the city and convincing a divorced, cynical single mother, her somber daughter, and the entire state of New York that Santa Claus is no myth. Miracle on 34th Street runs through Sun 1/3 at Porchlight Music Theatre, Theatre Building Chicago, 1225 W. Belmont Ave. Performances are Fri 8 p.m., Sat 2:30 and 8 p.m., and Sun 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $40 and can be purchased at the Theatre Building box office and Ticketmaster outlets or by calling 773-3275252. —Suzanne Hanney

N O V E M B E R 25-D E C E M B E R 1, 2009

Souvenir at Northlight Theatre Souvenir, playing at Northlight Theatre through Sun 12/20, is a touching and comic tribute to New York socialite Florence Foster Jenkins, whose tin ear couldn’t keep her off the stage at Carnegie Hall in 1944. (She rented the space.) Similar to the smug dowager played by Margaret Dumont in the Marx Brothers movies of the ’30s, Jenkins didn’t realize that audiences packed her annual charity performances in that decade just so they could laugh as she murdered the music of Mozart, Verdi, Gounod, and Brahms. “To describe her voice, one must rely on metaphor,” Brooks Peters wrote in Opera News in 2001. “Imagine the shrill caw of an aging turkey buzzard. Or the wail of a wounded wolverine caught in a trap.” Jenkins was a true “rara avis [rare bird]—especially when she appeared onstage sporting a pair of gigantic angel-wings strapped to her back.” As seen through the eyes of her gay accompanist, Cosme McMoon, Souvenir gives new meaning to the word “camp,” Ben Brantley wrote in his 2005 New York Times review. “It’s not the sniggering side of this enthrallment that the play emphasizes, but something more tender—an amused but sincere admiration for the valiant excesses of women who refuse to accept their limitations, whether of old age, ugliness or, in

W W W. S T R E E T W I S E . O R G

Mrs. Jenkins’s case, unconditional tone deafness.” Written by Stephen Temperley, Souvenir was first produced off-Broadway, then at the Berkshire Theatre Festival in Massachusetts, and finally on Broadway. It’s since become one of the most produced plays in the United States, with productions also running in Argentina, Germany, Switzerland, Australia, Denmark, and Sweden. Performances are Wed-Thu 7:30 p.m., Fri-Sat 8 p.m., and Sun 2:30 and 7 p.m. Northlight Theatre is located at 9501 Skokie Blvd. in Skokie. Tickets are $35-$50 and can be purchased at northlight.org or by calling 847-6736300. —Suzanne Hanney

Cover Story

Homelessness

101 By Suzanne Hanney Editor-in-Chief

owever you define “homelessness,” the recession and the Illinois budget crisis have brought the issue to the forefront for Chicagoans.

A one-night count on January 27 of this year revealed that there were 6,240 Chicagoans living on the street, in abandoned buildings, or on CTA trains; the number was 318 persons higher than it was two years ago (a five percent increase). Another 4,286 people were staying in emergency shelters, and 1,070 were in transitional housing. This “point-in-time” count used the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) simple definition of homelessness:“when an individual lacks a fixed, regular and adequate place to sleep or . . . regularly spends the night in a shelter, similar institution or a place not meant for human habitation.” HUD requires the point-in-time count for cities across the nation every two years as a prerequisite for federal funding. A broader definition of homelessness would include everyone who is “precariously housed”—at risk of losing their home, or dou-

N O V E M B E R 25-D E C E M B E R 1, 2009

bled up with friends or relatives. When that description is used, the number of homeless adults in Chicago climbs to 21,000, according to the Web site of the Chicago Alliance to End Homelessness, the nonprofit that directs more than $50 million in state and federal grants toward ending homelessness. The recession could push the homeless population higher, Mayor Richard M. Daley said at the Alliance’s annual breakfast on October 28. He based his statement on the 50 percent increase in calls this year to the city’s Homeless Prevention Call Center, which can provide emergency assistance with rent or utilities. “We see the recession getting worse, people losing their homes as bridge loans come up,” Daley said afterward. He referred specifically to homes left vacant after foreclosure—and then vandalized. He also urged banks to work with borrowers to keep them in their homes. As Action Now lobbied for just such a foreclosure mediation amendment to the Cook County budget on November 10, the grass-roots organization reported that 100 families a day on the South and West sides are losing their homes (please see story on page 4). Meanwhile, the Woodstock Institute reported 20,592 foreclosure filings in Chicago last year and 14,749 through the third quarter of this year. Foreclosures are down 9.6 percent in W W W. S T R E E T W I S E . O R G

Chicago overall, but up in neighborhoods such as the Loop (+64.7%), Lincoln Park (+52%), Lakeview (+86.7%), and Lincoln Square (+35%). Ahead of the recession, Chicago started the Homeless Prevention Call Center and the Plan to End Homelessness, said Alliance CEO Nancy Radner. Begun in 2003, Chicago’s Plan was the first endorsed by its mayor. “Thank goodness we did this before the economy took a dive, because now we have many things in place: six years of implementing the Plan so our homeless system is more streamlined, and we have more permanent housing,” Radner said. “And we’ve created from scratch our whole prevention system that didn’t exist before the Plan at all. Therefore we were able to have all these strong and visible partners, all working together in this time of crisis.”

The 10-Year Plan The 10-year Plan to End Homelessness emphasizes prevention first—keeping people in their homes. “Housing First,” or rapid rehousing of people who become homeless, is the second tenet of the Plan. The third prong is “wraparound services” designed to keep people in their homes.Tailored to the individual needs of low-income families, wraparound services can include case managers to help families access food stamps, government

PHOTO BY AHMED KAREEM JABBAR

Cover Story

Chicago Alliance to End Homelessness CEO Nancy Radner, left with Abner Mikva, a new board member at October 28 breakfast. Mikva is former state legislator, congressman, federal judge, and White House counsel.

benefits, mental and physical health care, job training, and child care. Populations with special issues when it comes to escaping homelessness include people with mental illness, veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder, domestic violence victims, ex-offenders or others released from institutions, youths who are thrown out of their homes over issues of sexual choice or who leave because of abuse, and immigrants facing multiple barriers (language, money, etc.). Radner said that Chicago’s emergency fund won a large share of federal stimulus money— $23 million to be used over the next three years, plus an additional $9 million for community organizations that locate housing and provide stabilization services—because the government saw mechanisms for distribution. HUD secretary Shaun Donovan has visited the city’s Homeless Prevention Call Center, which is housed at Catholic Charities and linked to 55 agencies; people who need emergency assistance access it by calling the city’s 311 telephone line and asking for “short term help.” Stimulus funds can be used for rent, security deposits, utilities, and three months of storage, but not mortgage payments, according to Kimberly Holley, director of development for the emergency fund. Government money from the fund is restricted to people making 50 percent or less of the area median income, ($37,700 for a family of four). Hence, there is still a need for private donations, Holley said. Last year the emergency fund saw a 300% increase in calls from people with incomes higher than $37,700, Holley added. The fund distributed $4.7 million (to 8,868 households/20,000 individuals). An additional $6 million requests that qualified by income could not be met.

Marquee Civic Leaders Another achievement Radner cited was the new Chicago Alliance to End Homelessness board of directors, which attracted marquee civic leaders similar to a museum or ballet com-

pany’s board. “One thing we said was we wanted to make homelessness a major civic issue . . . so we spent two years recruiting this board.” Radner started with a “dream team” of three people: Quintin E. Primo III, founder of CAPRI Capital Management; Abner Mikva, former state legislator, congressman, federal judge and White House counsel to President Clinton; and Chris Kennedy, president of Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc. and son of Robert and Ethel Kennedy. Internal and external networking led to the remainder of the board: Diane Primo, chair of the Primo Center for Women and Children; Prudence Beidler; Lester N. Coney, executive vice president at Mesirow Financial; and James Reynolds Jr., founder, chairman, and CEO of Loop Capital; Judy Gold, a partner at the Perkins Coie law firm; former city treasurer Judy Rice, now a vice president at Harris Bank. Jason Tyler, senior vice president and director of research operations at Ariel Capital, had already been a board member at the emergency fund for 15 years, and stepped up to the Alliance board, as did Richard Klawiter, a partner at the DLA Piper law firm. Still other Alliance board members are Debbie Reznick, senior program officer at Polk Bros. Foundation; Randall Doubet King; and Juanita Irizarry, program officer at the Chicago Community Trust and former executive director at Latinos United. Rounding out the Alliance board are two people who’ve actually been homeless, Lonnie Fulton and Dorothy Yancy, who were elected by the board’s consumers’ commission. There are also two service commission members elected from among 70 homeless advocacy organizations: Audrey Thomas, executive director of Deborah’s Place, and Arturo Valdivia-Bendixen, vice president for programs and partnerships at the AIDS Foundation of Chicago. Radner, a housing lawyer who’d been with the Legal Assistance Foundation of Chicago, has a W W W. S T R E E T W I S E . O R G

master’s degree in social policy from the University of Chicago and was the founding executive director of the Partnership to End Homelessness in 2000. She previously headed up a group of socially responsible investors in supportive housing at the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs and was a program officer at a corporation for supportive housing. The Alliance Board formed from the merger in 2006 of the Partnership to End Homelessness (an organization of service providers) and the Chicago Continuum of Care, (which administered HUD money). Radner said the intention of the merger “was to create a strong private-sector partner on the Plan to End Homelessness.” The Alliance is entirely private sector, although it “works hand in hand with the City wherever possible. We got rid of any duplication, strengthened our power base by putting everybody into one organization.”

‘Housing First’ is new solution The solution to homelessness has shifted in the last 30 years, according to the Alliance.When homeless people first began to appear on city streets in the 1980s, the ad hoc solutions were soup kitchens, overnight shelters, and medical care. Then in the 1990s there was a movement toward transitional housing and comprehensive care for specific problems that contributed to homelessness, such as substance abuse and mental health issues. But many people still remained homeless, or intermittently so. “The experiences of the last 30 years have led to the conclusion that permanent housing is a prerequisite to stability,” notes the Alliance’s Web site. “This approach, called ‘Housing First,’ also builds on research that indicates that the factors that contribute to a household’s homelessness are best remedied once the household is housed.” Chicago’s unsheltered population has dropped 38 percent since the point-in-time

N O V E M B E R 25-D E C E M B E R 1, 2009

count in 2007.The city has 6,400 units of permanent supportive housing, including 2,800 that have been added since 2003. More permanent housing is needed to make the Plan to End Homelessness work, says the Sweet Home Chicago Coalition, which is behind a proposed City Council ordinance that would allot 20 percent of TIF funds for units for verylow-income households. TIFs (short for tax increment financing) are supposed to improve blighted areas, but only four percent of what they’ve generated the last 15 years has been spent on affordable housing, says Julie Dworkin, policy director at the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless. In 2008 alone the city collected $550 million from TIFs, which would mean $110 million for affordable housing, or 650 units a year. “Anywhere we can get more money for affordable housing is a good thing,” Radner says of the proposed ordinance. “Is this viable? I don’t know. But I do know the primary place we look for money to build and operate housing is the federal government.”

Taking stand on state budget crisis In July, when the state budget crisis threatened elimination of homeless prevention dollars, street outreach, and supportive services, the new Alliance board sent an open letter to legislators. Homeless prevention services took a 79 percent cut, according to Nicole Sauler Amling, director of policy at the Alliance. Instead of last year’s $3.5 million in state aid, for example, Chicago’s emergency fund received $720,000—the amount it normally would have distributed in three months, Holley said. About 53 percent of Chicago’s homeless service providers had to cut services, at least temporarily. Thresholds cut its linkage services for people with severe mental illness who were leaving state hospitals and prisons. Thresholds CEO Tony Zipple said some staff was laid off for

60 days, but most jobs were restored by September. Cathedral Shelter was forced to eliminate 2 of the 18 beds in its halfway house for men who’ve completed detox programs, according to interim executive director Kevin McCullough. There is usually a waiting list of 10 people for this three-month program. Cathedral is among 53 percent of Alliance service providers that are still owed money by the state of Illinois. McCullough said the agency is waiting on $79,000, or 30 percent of its $254,000 contract for the halfway house. Although Cathedral had a mix of revenue for its overall budget of $1.7 million, the state shortfall forced it to turn some full-time positions into part-time ones. A bigger concern is the contract in light of next year’s budget, McCullough and Sauler Amling said. “Next year we could face even larger state deficits,” she said. “Many organizations now are able to survive by creative budgets and stretching money more thinly. If there are even more cuts next year, there’s only so much you can do to keep doors open.” As a member of the Responsible Budget Coalition, the Alliance hopes to restore FY 2009 funding levels through new state money, such as individual and corporate income-tax increases along with higher personal tax exemptions and property-tax credits. Early next year the Alliance will also have preliminary results of a two-year evaluation, started in June, of the Plan to End Homelessness, Radner said. It’s the first time a Plan to End Homelessness has been evaluated. Funding will come from the city and local foundations, and researchers at Loyola University and the University of Chicago will follow 600 homeless individuals over one year to see where more resources should go. That research will then impact the next three years of the Plan.

PHOTO BY AHMED KAREEM JABBAR

Cover Story

STORY PHOTOS BY BEN COOK

N O V E M B E R 25-D E C E M B E R 1, 2009

W W W. S T R E E T W I S E . O R G

The Playground

Ask Eugene

Crossword

“ all the brilliance that will fit”

Need to post a legal notice or a classified ad? Contact us at advertising@ streetwise.org or 312.829.2526

Deadline: must submit 3 Mondays prior to desired publication date.

Dear Eugene: I have some friends coming into town and I’m worried that they will be bored. They’re already staying with me, so I’m nervous that they’ll judge my home and decorating scheme, plus I don’t know if there’s enough activities for them to do here. Also, I’m worried that one or more of them might have a cold and that it might spread to the rest of us. Absolutely the last thing I want to do is look after my friends while feeling under the weather, understand? Other than that I would like your help thinking of great activites, appetizers, things to wear. Thanks in advance. -Host with the Least Dear Host, I stopped listening about half-way through your whimpering about... what was it again? Guests... keeping them occupied? You sound like Woody Allen might after a nearlethal dose of Red Bulls. Plus, you left out some rather crucial data: where are your guests from? Are they from Nebraska? If they are, just take them for a walk downtown... trust me, even in downtown Nebraska they’ve got nothing on the bustling holiday energy we have here. If they are from Florida, they will be too cold to leave your place, so you should stock up on board games ASAP because you are entering a world of pain. And you want me to recommend specific appetizers for people I don’t know? Fine. Make cheddar-stuffed crocodile nostrils with a lemon-tartar reduction over a bed of Dior-scented rice balls. Now go away, you’re giving me contact anxiety. You can send Eugene your questions at 1201 W. Lake, Chicago, IL, 60607 or e-mail him at supreme_eugene@yahoo.com.

Sudoku Difficulty: Medium

StreetWise publishes every Wednesday

Last Week’s Answers

W W W. S T R E E T W I S E . O R G

N O V E M B E R 25-D E C E M B E R 1, 2009

Entrepreneur Spotlight

Making ends meet By Ben Cook StreetWise Staff

treetWise vendor Ola Herring has an upbeat attitude, and a desire to be nice to all the people she encounters every day. It’s important for her to appear professional and courteous—and she wants to make her loyal customers’ day better the same way they do that for her. “First of all I want to say that StreetWise saved me from being put out of my apartment. I had lost my job two and a half years ago from UPS, and so right after that I needed to find someplace to work to pay my rent. I remember looking 20 to 30 different places all over town, as a waitress or something. I remember one particular time I was in line for a job, and there was 200 people in line, and of course they didn’t pick me. It was getting bad out there. “Then three to four months went by, and I was $2,000 behind in my rent. A friend of mine was working for StreetWise, and he was making money every day and staying in this hotel. I decided right then that perhaps StreetWise would work for me to help keep my bills paid. Without StreetWise I would probably be out of my apartment and homeless. “So I went to StreetWise, and I found out that I didn’t have to be homeless to do this. I got my free papers, and I did alright the first day. From then on I kept doing it every day. I told the manager of my apartment [building] to give me a chance because I’m trying to do something. It’s a very small apartment, but it’s much better than nothing. “I have a new [vending] location now—I’ve been there since June. It’s at 401 East Illinois. I

just want to say that it’s not always easy to do this [sell StreetWise], but I need to do it to keep food on my table and keep my spirits up. I always try to be nice to people and try to be kind and hoping they have a good day. Some people are rude, but I don’t think they mean . . . they might be having a bad day. I had one guy be rude to me, and then when he came out of the store he apologized to me, which was really nice. I think it’s important to have a positive attitude and be friendly to everyone. Being nasty certainly isn’t going to help me out any. “When I’m not selling StreetWise I like to read my books or sing. I’ve got a good singing voice. I can sing rhythm and blues, Madonna, and Donna Summers. People ask me why I don’t sing [in public], but maybe one of these days I will. My other hobby besides singing and reading is cooking.” Ola is also very much a family person. Her sister, who lives just around the block from her, is trying to raise eight kids while relying on Social Security, and Ola takes it upon herself to help her sister out with her responsibilities. To her customers she’d like to say, “I’m just so grateful for what I have—this is so much better than panhandling. I chose this, and I’m so glad I did. I want to thank people so much for helping me out. I’m going to keep on doing what I’m doing, but thank you to everyone for being so understanding. I also want people to know that I’m not and have never been on drugs of any kind . . . I’m just trying to support myself and my family.” You can find Ola at 401 E. Illinois on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from noon to 6:30 p.m., and occasionally on Saturdays.

Meet: Ola Herring

“

I’ve got a good singing voice. I can sing rhythm and blues, Madonna and Donna Summers. People ask me why I don’t sing, but maybe one of these days I will. —Ola Herring

Look for the Badge! Please purchase your copy of StreetWise from badged vendors only!

For questions or comments regarding our vendor force, please contact Greg Pritchett at (312) 829-2526 or at gpritchett14@yahoo.com.

N O V E M B E R 25-D E C E M B E R 1, 2009

W W W. S T R E E T W I S E . O R G

157