Issuu

August 15 - 22, 2022 Vol. 31 No. 33

$3 $1.85 + Tips go to your Vendor

Starting

June 27 Streetwise will cost

$3 + Tips

We Are Giving Our Vendors a Raise! Beginning June 27, StreetWise costs $3.00 + tips. Vendors will now earn $1.85 per issue instead of $1.10 for every magazine sold.

Why now? StreetWise has not increased the price of our magazine to the vendors or customers since 2008! It was only the second increase in the 30-year history of StreetWise. The cost of living has gone up 34% since 2008. A dollar's worth of goods in 2008 would cost $1.34 today. Our vendors deserve more money in their pockets to offset the rising costs of food, transportation and housing. StreetWise magazine is an award-winning weekly publication that also serves as a platform for people with lived experience to share their stories and their views as writers and more. Post-COVID inflation has hit us hard. Our production costs have increased 25% over last year.

Selling StreetWise is a Job Selling StreetWise isn’t begging, and it isn’t asking for charity. It’s a job. Our vendors are self-employed microentrepreneurs who build relationships and create connections between and across communities that change perceptions about homeless and low-income individuals. The new price of $3, with vendors paying $1.15 for their papers, means each paper sold nets the vendor a solid $1.85. It raises the floor so that our vendors earn a wage that is worth their while. It’s time for this to happen. We talked with our vendors and received feedback from some of our customers and supporters. We have nearly unanimous support for the price increase. Now is the time. The price increase, by expanding one of the most reliable income sources we have, will give StreetWise vendors an income they need to thrive, and not just survive.

Our Vendors Deserve a Raise!

Arts & (Home) Entertainment

More and more events are happening in Chicago, and we want you to know about the best of the best!

6 SportsWise

The SportsWise team discusses the legacy of NBA legend Bill Russell.

7 HealthWise 8 Cover Story: climate change Tips for staying hydrated.

Tom Williams is a 20-year veteran of the wind power industry. The three big topics we should focus on are mitigation, adaptation, and resiliency.

From the Streets

The Network: Advocating Against Domestic Violence, says that calls to the Illinois Domestic Violence hotline have increased 9%, but the number of survivors reaching out to law enforcement have dropped 5%. The domestic violence service providers make four recommendations. Mayor Lori Lightfoot and the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) have awarded $6.5 million to Chicago nonprofit arts organizations, up $1.7 million – 280 percent – from last year. Advocates on the Northwest Side hold a press conference with Ald. Ariel Reboyras (30th ward) to demand 100 percent affordable housing at a proposed City-led development.

The Playground DISCLAIMER: The views, opinions, positions or strategies expressed by the authors and those providing comments are theirs alone, and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, or positions of StreetWise.

Dave Hamilton, Creative Director/Publisher

dhamilton@streetwise.org

StreetWiseChicago @StreetWise_CHI

Suzanne Hanney, Editor-In-Chief

suzannestreetwise@yahoo.com

Amanda Jones, Director of programs

ajones@streetwise.org

Julie Youngquist, Executive director

jyoungquist@streetwise.org

Ph: 773-334-6600 Office: 2009 S. State St., Chicago, IL, 60616

LEARN MORE AT streetwise.org

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT RECOMMENDATIONS Compiled by Emma Slings

Broadway in Millennium Park!

Broadway in Chicago Summer Concert After three long years, Broadway Chicago is back in Millennium Park, presented along with the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events at 6 p.m. Monday, August 15. Selections at this free concert will come from Disney's "The Lion King," "Dear Evan Hansen," "Wicked," and "MJ," the four-time Tony Award-winning musical about Michael Jackson, as well as "1776", Disney's "Aladdin," "Chicago," "Les Miserables," "Tina" and "Jagged Little Pill." “Our favorite event of the year finally returns for the first time in three years, and we’re coming back with performers from favorite Broadway blockbusters! Mark your calendars – this is a night you do not want to miss,” said Eileen LaCario, vice president of Broadway In Chicago. Grab a blanket, some snacks and head over to the Jay Pritzker Pavilion, 201 E. Randolph St.

Poetry in Play!

'My Brother Langston' Poet Langston Hughes entertained the prolific and profound legends of his time in his Harlem apartment. On this fascinating journey, accompanied by music from the Harlem Renaissance, we come to understand why Hughes was considered one of the greatest poets and civil rights leaders of his time and why his poetry continues to speak to us today. This play, by Reuben Echoles, is part of the four-play Season of Healing and Joy at the Black Ensemble Theater, 4450 N. Clark St. Previews are August 19 & 20, with opening night August 21. Performances are 3 p.m. Sundays, 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, with an additional 3 p.m. performance Saturday, August 27. The play runs 90 minutes with no intermission and the audience is limited to 150 people as a COVID precaution. The play closes September 18. More information at blackensembletheater.org or 773.769.4451.

An Evanston Tradition!

(HOME) ENTERTAINMENT

Art & Big Fork Festival Evanston’s annual Art & Big Fork Festival (800 Church St.) is back this weekend, August 16-18. Enjoy three days filled with artwork from over 130 juried artists from around the country, exhibiting unique, usable art like handmade jewelry, one-of-a-kind furniture and home accessories, along with more traditional media like paintings and photography. Featuring a range of price points, this festival is perfect for art connoisseurs and others who are just looking to fill the blank space on their wall. Art lovers also have the chance to see live demonstrations and join one-on-one booth chats. This free event runs Friday 4 - 9 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. - 9 p.m., and Sunday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Beyond the art scene, enjoy tasty treats and live music from blues and light rock group Ron Steta Trio, an eclectic mix of old school jazz and rock from Brad Cole, folk and soul from Jeff Libman and more.

Dances From West Africa!

Najwa Dance Corps’ Night Out In The Park Najwa Dance Corps will present a free one-hour program as part of the Chicago Park District's Night Out in the Parks series, at 3 p.m. Saturday, August 20 at Schreiber Park, 1552 W. Schreiber Ave. Its "Dances of West Africa" will encompass the Sene-Gambia Region, Guinea and Liberia, with live drumming, narration and audience participation for all ages. Founded by Najwa I in 1977, the company's repertoire ranges from traditional rituals of Africa to the glamorous chorus girls of the swing era. Born Arnell Pugh in Clarksdale, MS and raised in Chicago, Najwa means "one who is spiritually in tune." Learn more at najwadancecorps.org

Look to the Sky!

Chicago Air and Water Show Celebrating a history of more than 60 years, the Chicago Air and Water Show is back in full force Saturday and Sunday, August 20 and 21, after a COVID absence in 2020 and a scaled down show in 2021. Enjoy an afternoon of high-speed aerobatics along the lakefront from Fullerton to Oak Street, with North Avenue Beach (1600 N. Lake Shore Drive) as the focal point. See aircraft like the U.S. Navy F-35C Lighting II and the U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor, and headliners the U.S. Navy Blue Angels and the U.S. Army Parachute Team, the Golden Knights, as well as a Missing Man formation in memory of Rudy Malnati, Jr., a member of the Chicago pizza dynasty who directed the show until his death last December. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. both days. FREE.

Lyric in the Park!

Lyric Opera at Millennium Park Lyric Opera of Chicago celebrates the start of the 2022-23 season with "Sunday in the Park with Lyric," 7 p.m. August 21 at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park, in collaboration with the City of Chicago and the park. The program will include excerpts from Lyric's upcoming season: Verdi's "Ernani" and "Don Carlos," Rossini's "Le Comte Ory," Bizet's "Carmen," Humperdinck's "Hansel and Gretel," "Fiddler on the Roof" and "West Side Story" performed by members of the Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center, with Katherine Beck, an alumna of the center, as special guest. Lyric Music Director Enrique Mazzola will lead the Lyric Opera Orchestra. Visitors entering the park after 6 p.m. will pass through metal detectors as a safety measure. FREE.

Bonsai in Every Room!

Chicago Botanic Garden Bonsai Show Are you wanting an easy-care plant addition to your apartment? Well, look no further than the 44th Mid-America Bonsai Show & Sale at the Chicago Botanic Garden (1000 Lake Cook Road). From August 19 to 21, scan the types and styles of the 200 featured bonsai trees. Whether you’ve got two green-thumbs or you can’t seem to keep a plant alive, attend demonstrations and lectures on care. Then, visit the vendors for your tree and supplies. Get inspiration from the Chicago Botanic Garden’s permanent bonsai collection of over 50 trees or at the Regenstein Center, where enthusiasts from across the country bring their trees to be judged. General admission to the garden allows access to the garden show, but an additional fee and registration is required for the workshops. Visit chicagobotanic.org or midwestbonsai.org for details. Admission starts at $15.95, with extra fees for workshops and parking.

Stingrays & Saxophones!

Jazzin’ at the Shedd A lineup of Chicago’s top jazz artists are waiting for you every Wednesday at the Shedd Aquarium! From 5 - 10 p.m. through August 31, relax with food and drinks on the terrace or stroll the aquarium and see its featured animals and habitats! On August 17, Michele Thomas will perform jazz-inspired R&B, soul and neo-soul. Jazzin’ at the Shedd adult tickets are $19.95 for residents and $39.95 for non-residents. Seating is first come, first served. For more information, visit sheddaquarium.org.

Apocolypse Now!

Chicago Dance Crash 'Booms Day' Chicago Dance Crash’s signature blend of concert and street dance styles paints a colorful picture of life, strife and relationship goals after the end of the world with "Booms Day," running Fridays and Saturdays at 7 p.m. August 26–September 10, at the Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn St. After a vague and expansive “boom” takes the fun out of everything, the 8-year-old narrator is alone with a boombox, and is joined by one person, then another, until she has to make choices: friends or family, love or blood, peace or freedom. Add a greedy gang of marauders and a distant city beyond the wastelands, and the result is a world premiere combining comedy and suspense with a ton of stylistic, highenergy movement. $25 at chicagodancecrash.com

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Vendors Russell Adams, John Hagan and Donald Morris chat about the world of sports with Executive Assistant Patrick Edwards.

Russ: The sports world lost a legend. Bill Russell—William Felton Russell for any of y’all looking to impress your friends—was one of the NBA’s greatest players of all time. John: Shoot, for the most part, on the list of many as worthy of that top 5.

Donald: True. And the thing about Russell is that he was a model of a player out there on the floor. He kept it simple, but extremely dominant. He reminds me of Dennis Rodman; snatching boards and blocking shots; on occasion, dunking on the entire other team! Russ: That’s funny…and true.

SPORTSWISE

Russ: You’re right. And, by the way, this man was on a team that won eight straight championships. That has the possibility of never happening again. Just way too much player movement. Patrick: And it’s trippy, too, because I was thinking about the Bulls’ run during the 90s, and thinking they could’ve had that eight straight years…but something could’ve easily gone wrong. If we think about it, the Bulls didn’t sweep any team in the Finals, which isn’t that horrible considering the supposedbest team from the West stands in the way.

John: So a lil’ background on him. He was born in 1934 in West Monroe, Louisiana. He didn’t dominate as he grew into himself, but he kept at it until he arrived at the only college to give him a scholarship: University of San Francisco, which he led to two straight NCAA championships before winning a gold medal at the 1956 Olympics. Drafted by the Boston Celtics, the 6-foot-10inch center changed the game with his fast-break offense that moved rebound balls back upcourt to his teammates. His defensive play helped the Celtics win not only eight champi-

onships in a row, but, also, 11 championships in 13 years— Donald: And two were as a player-coach! Russ: Mr. Russell wasn't afraid of standing up for himself and his race and those who believed in fairness and equality amongst all people. He was alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. for his "I Have a Dream" speech and Muhammad Ali when he resisted the draft. And, remember, he’s in Boston, what’s considered one of the most racist cities out there. Also, before I forget, he was the first Black NBA coach, so that’s one other thing to add to Bill’s legend. Donald: Also, he was an ambassador to the NBA, teaching such stars as Julius “Dr. J” Erving, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson and even Michael Jordan on how to be on the court as well as off.

John: Bill Russell’s impact will forever be felt because of how Rashanah Baldwin it impacted the NBA prior to Larry Bird and Magic Johnson. He made defense a value-point and paved the way for taking pride in playing on a team, a.k.a. Celtic Pride. Patrick: In recent days, fellas, since hearing about Bill Russell’s passing, I’ve been watching a lot of his old clips, and I must say he was pretty friggin’ good. He battled Wilt Chamberlain and the best thing about what I saw is that the two of them challenged one another. They battled without all of that complaining about every call, no ill-intentioned elbows—at least not often. Donald: I agree, sir. Let these young folks—players and nonplayers alike — understand what’s really going on. Man up. Be yourself…but do that with Bill Russell’s legacy in mind. Any comments or suggestions? Email pedwards@streetwise.org

The importance of hydration In order for our bodies to work properly, we need water. Water helps to maintain body temperature and remove waste. It helps to lubricate our joints, enabling them to move well. Different people need different amounts of water to stay hydrated. Water should be consumed daily. Plain water is best for hydration, but other drinks and foods can help, too. Fruit and vegetable juices, herbal teas and various milk products help to add to your daily water needs. Other sources of water include fruits (e.g., watermelon), vegetables (e.g., lettuce) and soup broths. While caffeinated drinks can hydrate, they may cause some people to urinate more often, releasing the fluid that we are trying to save up. It is also important to remember that other fluid choices like sugary sodas and juices may add extra calories to the diet. Sports drinks are helpful if the plan is to exercise at higher than normal levels. These drinks contain ingredients that increase energy and replace losses of chemicals eliminated through sweat. However, some sports drinks are high in calories, sugar, and sometimes salt or caffeine. Energy drinks usually contain large amounts of caffeine or other ingredients that can overstimulate you. Most of these drinks also contain large amounts of added sugar. They should also be avoided by children and teens. Ways we lose water: • Using the bathroom • Sweating • Breathing We lose water even faster when the weather is very hot, or with physical activity, or with illness. Symptoms like fever, vomiting and diarrhea can cause additional rapid water loss. It is important to rehydrate often to avoid dehydration in those situations. We become dehydrated when we don’t drink enough water. As we get older, our brains may not be able to sense dehydration as well or send “thirst” signals.

Here are some tips to stay hydrated: • Keep a bottle of water with you during the day. • Add a slice of lemon or lime or infuse your water with cucumber if you don’t like the taste of plain water. • Drink water before, during and after a workout. • If you are feeling hungry, drink water. Drinking water can help you feel full. Sometimes we think we are hungry, but we are actually thirsty. This can help with weight loss. • Be creative! Use an app on your phone to remind you to drink water. • Drink water when dining out. It’s free! Our bodies depend on water for survival. Treat your body with care and hydrate it! Reference: https://familydoctor.org/hydration-why-its-so-important/ Dr. Marina Claudio is a board-certified family physician who has been in practice since 2003. She is currently a medical director at Molina Healthcare of Illinois/Wisconsin. Dr. Claudio is a graduate of the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Chicago and completed her residency in Family Medicine at the UIC/Advocate Illinois Masonic Family Medicine Residency Program. Dr. Claudio has been active in the Spanish-speaking communities in Chicago, having done numerous community presentations and media interviews for both local and national Spanish language news programs.

HEALTHWISE

Here are some signs that tell you that you are dehydrated: • Urine is darker than normal • Little or no urine • Dry mouth • Fatigue • Severe thirst • Headache • Confusion • Dizziness • No tears when crying

by Dr. Marina Claudio

WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT

CLIMATE CHANGE by Tom Williams

According to the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication, nearly 6 out of 10 Americans now consider themselves either “alarmed” or “concerned” about global warming, and the number of folks in the “alarmed” category (31 percent) has tripled between 2014 and 2020. So, more folks are concerned and talking about this topic than ever before. Just a decade ago, chances were that if you were an activist seeking to inform your friends on the science, impacts, and action required to reverse climate change, you could expect to get into an argument. Today, far more people are concerned about climate change and want to talk about it.

COVER STORY

The first thing to know about talking about climate change is this: Actually talk about it! And remember that “talking” is a two-way street that includes listening as well. Experts on communicating about this thorny topic always advise that open-minded, informative discussion with lots of questions and answers is the best way to go.

The second thing to know about this complicated topic is that just discussing what you are doing to react to climate change does a great deal to motivate others to take action themselves. For instance, folks are more likely to look at installing solar panels on their house, buying an electric vehicle, writing to their reps in Congress or senators, or joining in activism if they know their friends and family are doing the same thing. So talking about taking action yourself is a great way to inspire others to do the same. The third thing to know is what to talk about. If your goal is to inspire others to take action, it is worth picking topics you are comfortable with. If your goal is to learn more, it helps to figure out what you want to learn more about. The three big topics in response to climate change right now are "mitigation," "adaption," and "resiliency." There is a bit

of crossover between these topics, so it is worth providing more detail. Mitigation is about reducing the primary cause of climate change—emissions of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, methane, and a wide variety of combustible and noncombustible gases. Mitigation is therefore mostly about switching to non-fossil forms of power—wind, solar, hydro, nuclear, electric vehicles (EVs) and electric heating, AC, and hot water systems fed by low carbon electric generation. Mitigation also comprises better land use and includes measures such as planting more forests and the use of regenerative farming techniques. Adaptation is about adjusting to the impacts of climate change—which include drought, wildfires, sea level rise, and extreme weather—but also changing our lifestyles and buying decisions to deal with the future impacts of a low-carbon economy. There is a lot of overlap between adaptation and resilience; however, adapting tends to be more about personal choices. Courses of action you could take to adapt to the impact of climate change include installing rooftop solar, converting to heat pump heating and cooling, investing in an EV and home vehicle chargers, and switching to more of a plant-based diet. Resiliency refers to the defensive measures taken to reduce the economic impacts of climate change—building sea walls to deal with sea level rises, flood management projects, water conservation and its impacts on agriculture, and ensuring that building codes help protect property. If you are living in South Florida, public investment in projects to defend communities against sea level rise is a big topic. If you are living in California, wildfire resiliency and water conservation are big topics. If you are living in Ohio, the fact that U.S. Department of Agriculture growing zones have shifted

Collage by Ben Baxter

one whole zone in the last 60 years and are likely to move one whole zone north in the next 30 should be a big topic for agricultural communities. The fact is that, today, we all live in places that will experience some impacts from climate change, and there are a wide variety of things we can do personally or as advocates or activists to change how we respond individually and as communities. Unlike in the past several decades, we now have more options to combat climate change than at any other time in our lives. The cost of renewable energy has plummeted, the cost of EVs has begun to drop and the cost of charging them is far below the cost of gasoline, and the cost of high efficiency electric HVAC and domestic hot water heating has dropped significantly. Arguments that these measures are just too expensive, too new, or too hard to understand have all been defeated by simple progress in technology development. Today, solar and home energy storage has become more affordable than ever, and wind power is less expensive than ever. More wind and solar is being installed today than fossil generation. Major auto makers will aggressively move to 100% EV production over the next two decades. Building technology and the products available for reducing the carbon footprint of the homes and commercial buildings we live and work in is rapidly becoming more available at better prices. The goal now is to spread the word and take the time to learn what’s new during this exciting time. So, to bring this discussion to a close, consider the following: Pick a topic or area of concern you either know something about or have a passion about and learn the facts so that you become a knowledgeable advocate. Then talk about it in everyday conversation just like you would talk about your

kids’ sporting events, the best deals at the grocery store, or local politics. If you decide to install solar on your home or install a heat pump hot water heater, brag about your energy bill. If you by a plug-in hybrid car, brag about the fact that you only fill your tank up once a month. If you join an activist group and convince your local representative in congress to sponsor a bill to increase EV infrastructure, brag about how satisfying it felt to make a difference. As one person making personal decisions to live a more sustainable lifestyle, you have small impact. As one person talking to everyone you know about what you are doing to live a more sustainable lifestyle (and asking others about what they themselves are doing) you can impact the decisions of dozens or hundreds of people. You will do more than you can imagine to normalize talking about climate change. In the end, convincing your friends, family, neighbors, and the occasional policy maker that responding to climate change is just a normal thing to do, part of everyday life, and something that will make a difference, has more impact than you can imagine. Just those sorts of efforts have moved the conversation from fear of the unknown to a majority of Americans getting behind change in just a couple decades. You can keep that wave of action moving. Tom Williams is a 20-year veteran of the wind power industry and a Climate Reality Leader associated with the Climate Reality Project, an international organization founded by Al Gore dedicated to catalyzing change to respond to climate change with over 40,000 trained activists worldwide. Learn how you can be trained to educate others at climaterealityproject.org Courtesy of Toledo Streets / International Network of Street Papers

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Illinois Domestic violence providers report: lack of support for victims by Emma Slings & Suzanne Hanney

Jasmine was drugged and raped by her ex-boyfriend in October 2019. Today, she is a domestic violence survivor, but no thanks to the “compounded harms she experienced at the hands of her abuser, law enforcement and former community members,” she said as part of the July 11 release of the 2022 edition of “Measuring Safety,” by The Network: Advocating Against Domestic Violence. The Network is a collective of 40+ non-profit organizations that serve people affected by gender-based violence in Chicagoland. Jasmine went to break up with her boyfriend, but instead ended up comforting him about his friend who had committed suicide a week earlier. That’s when it happened. “That night irreparably changed my life forever. I could barely keep my eyes open while telling him to stop until I had completely passed out.” She said she felt dead inside when she left the next morning, went straight home, crawled into bed and cried. Mustering up strength a few days later, Jasmine called her abuser, who shifted the blame onto Jasmine herself. A month later, Jasmine opened up to her mom, who took her to file a police report.

FROM THE STREETS

Initial engagement with her case was positive. The assigned officer seemed compassionate and understanding, and the detective said he’d do everything he could. Three months later, in January, an officer went to visit her abuser – and to the wrong house. No one ever looked for her rapist again.

Jasmine called the detective weekly for updates, to no avail. She contacted every organization at her disposal, including the state attorney’s office, only to be turned away. A legal advocacy group refused to take her on because they represented her abuser. Then, Jasmine was introduced to Resilience through YWCA and was given an initial advocate who reached out to Jasmine’s detective weekly. The detective, though, never returned calls or was always “on vacation.”

tic Violence, as well as domestic violence liaison officers and domestic violence subcommittees for the advisory councils in each of CPD’s 25 districts. Under the Illinois Domestic Violence Act, responding officers are supposed to take certain actions, such as advising the victim of the importance of seeking medical attention and preserving evidence; providing the victim and dependents with transportation to a medical facility or place of safety and inventorying any weapons used, according to the Chicago Response. A Domestic Incident Notice (DIN), also available in Spanish, Polish and Braille, provides a victim information on how to obtain an order of protection and how to contact the Domestic Violence Help Line. Police have tried to triage domestic violence victims themselves, but at the suggestion of Mayor Rahm Emanuel, CPD began to engage social service agencies in 2016 to make it happen more quickly, CPD Domestic Violence Operations Coordinator Aileen Robinson told StreetWise in 2019 (October 28-November 3, Vol 27, No. 43). The partnership began with Family Rescue in the Grand Crossing and South Chicago Districts (3rd and 4th) and then with Connections for Abused Women and their Children (CAWC) in the Shakespeare (14th) District. More specific than just handing a victim a list of phone numbers, police ask the victims’ permission to give their names to service agencies, said CAWC Executive Director Stephanie Love-Patterson. They also ask them specific questions to see whether the violence against them is increasing, CPD’s Robinson said. Was a weapon or drugs involved? Was an ambulance called, or did they go to the hospital? Did the aggressor attempt to choke them – which could not only cause a stroke if a blood clot broke loose, but which indicates a 750% greater future likelihood of homicide. The CPD program has expanded, with Robinson still in charge.

Jasmine gave evidence, phone numbers, jobs, locations to the police, but received no help. “Resilience has literally been the only organization alongside YWCA to provide me with trauma and therapy and a lawyer to acquire a restraining order over the course of seven arduous months,” she said.

The Network report also examined subsidized housing and public benefits; it found that survivors are often unable to access these resources. Only 86 public housing applicants who are domestic violence survivors were housed in 2022, fewer than 6% of the survivors who applied.

The Network’s “Measuring Safety” report says that while calls to the Illinois Domestic Violence Hotline increased 9% (32,000 contacts) in 2021, the number of survivors reaching out to law enforcement dropped 5% in the last year. The Network attributes the decline to survivors’ adverse experiences with law enforcement, the legal system, and the family regulation system.

Safe housing can be a barrier for many gender-based violence survivors. In 2021, 4,452 survivors in Illinois were turned away from domestic violence shelters due to lack of space. With recent increases in State and City funding, many providers are working to expand the number of beds they can offer.

For its part, the Chicago Police Department (CPD) website describes a “Chicago Response” protocol that involves the CPD, Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, and the Mayor’s Office on Domes-

Demonstrating the gravity of economic need, nearly half (42%) of Illinois survivors last year reported an income of $500 or less per month. A small number of flexible financial assistance programs exist in Chicagoland, though inconsistent sources of funding mean these

are often unavailable. The Network’s Crisis Response Fund distributed $463,214 in 2020 to support survivors with housing, utilities, and other barriers to accessing safety. “Addressing the survivor as a whole person—one who is parenting, growing up surrounded by violence, in need of economic assistance, and may require mental or physical health care—is critical,” says Olivia Farrell, director of policy, advocacy and research at The Network. Drawing on data from survivor interviews, gender-based violence service providers, and public sector agencies, including the Illinois Domestic Violence Hotline, local and state police, the Department of Children and Family Services, the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, the Cook County Department of Public Health, and the Chicago Housing Authority, the report makes four recommendations:

• Increased financial investments in gender-based violence services. Illinois and the City of Chicago made historic investments of $70.9 million and $35 million, respectively, in work to eliminate gender-based violence in 2021, which should be sustained to ensure the programs that are working can be funded and expanded. • Prioritized direct, community-based services. Communitybased services are trauma-informed and wrap childcare, economic assistance and community-building around the victim. • Awareness campaigns to connect survivors to communitybased resources. Ninety percent of survivors interviewed were unfamiliar with them. • Increased gender-based violence data collection and availability. Limited data collection means this sector is often unable to support the full range of survivors’ needs and successfully advocate for these needs.

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DCASE AWARDS $6.5M IN Activists gain GRANTS TO NONPROFIT support for a ARTS ORGANIZATIONS housing in be by Suzanne Hanney

Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot and the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) awarded $6.5 million to Chicago nonprofit arts organizations August 1. Funding for this 2022 CityArts Program increased 280 percent, up from $1.7 million last year, DCASE officials said. “The continued, equitable revitalization of our arts and culture scene remains essential to our ability to recover from this pandemic on a socioeconomic level,” Mayor Lightfoot said. “I’m proud to increase our grant funding in support of local artists and arts organizations to advance our recovery and bring beauty and life back to our neighborhoods.” The 2022 City budget provided $26 million in new arts and culture investments — including $10 million for a dedicated revenue stream to guarantee baseline funding for Cultural Grants, which will no longer be subject to the vagaries of the hotel tax. “In 2022, with additional funds, and our operating budget being largely restored to pre-pandemic levels, DCASE is now poised to serve the needs of Chicago’s vital arts community this year and well into the future,” DCASE Commissioner Erin Harkey said. This year’s grant amounts were also increased for greater impact; instead of onetime grants of $2,000 to $25,000, they are $10,000 to $50,000, renewable for one year. There were also 280 grantees this year, compared to 200 last year. More than a dozen projects were aligned with 2022 as the #YearofChicagoDance: • Ballet Folklorico de Chicago for “Arte en le Noche,” a re-creation of the Island of Janitzio’s candlelit boats during the Day of the Dead. • Chicago Dance History Project for “Digitizing Dance: 2022 and Beyond,” a two-fold initiative towards community documentation and an audience engagement pop-up booth. • Chicago Dancemakers Forum, production residencies for dance innovation, in partnership with local venues.

• Chicago Tap Theatre and Making a Difference Dancing Rhythms (M.A.D.D Rhythms) Organization for “Bridging the Gap, One Step at a Time” and the 6th annual Chicago Tap Summit, a three-day celebration of Chicago tap and music culminating in a public showcase and faculty performance. • Clinard Dance, for “Flamenco de Barrio en Barrio,” to explore correlations between jazz, blues and flamenco. • DanceWorks Chicago, for “New Dances 2022,” which provides a platform for early-career choreographers to create work with artistic, logistic and financial support. • International Latino Culture Center of Chicago, for Chicago’s first Latino Dance Festival, highlighting traditional and contemporary forms in Latin America, Spain and Portugal. • Links Hall Incorporated, for “You Choose: Links Hall Curators-in-Residence,” which fully funds BIPOC artistcurators to create more opportunities. • LUMA8, for the Arts in the Dark Halloween Parade, which includes unique floats, puppets and dance. • Red Clay Dance Company for “In the Making,” a career incubator that provides affordable studio space, supportive infrastructure and professional development, spanning four weeks. • Soham Dance Space for Parijat Desai’s “Dance in the Round,” which harnesses the power of circle dances from Gujarat, India, to support inclusion. • South Chicago Dance Theatre for “Memoirs of Jazz in the Alley: A Dance Opera,” which memorializes Chicago’s historic jazz in those street venues. • The Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago, for Chicago Artists Spotlight Platform, which will select 10 artists to teach one class in their neighborhood, one virtual class, and to be featured in public forums. –Suzanne Hanney, from online materials

in alderman's affordable elmont triangle Liberating Spaces through Neighborhood Action members gather outside Ald. Ariel Reboyras office. Ald. Ariel Reboyras (both photos by Suzanne Hanney). Below: Ideas for the proposed development at Belmont Triangle (JGMA images).

Ald. Ariel Reboyras (30th ward) says he will continue to seek 100 percent affordable housing – or no less than 50 percent – on a proposed City-led development of 3.89 acres at the Belmont Triangle on the Northwest Side. “I have asked the Department of Planning and Development (DPD) to look at 100 percent affordable housing,” the Avondale alderman said at an August 1 press conference outside his office at 3559 N. Milwaukee Ave. with youth of Palenque LSNA (Liberating Spaces through Neighborhood Action, formerly the Logan Square Neighborhood Association). “I read all those letters that the kids sent and I can truly understand where you are coming from.” Totally affordable housing is difficult to achieve, because market rate units typically leverage the affordable ones – although advocates say the opposite is true. “I am hoping they get at least 75 percent,” Reboyras told StreetWise afterward. “There are at least 300 units that are going to be built. If we can do no less than 50 percent, that is a big number. I am pushing for something higher. I will not sign off on the project if they tell me it is 20 percent. I will say the project is dead. I will let the community speak.” Christian Urbano of Palenque LSNA and the 30th ward said that the Black and Brown Logan Square of his childhood has faded away before his eyes. Favorite “mom shops” closed down, to be replaced by fancy stores that “everyone thought would make the community better” and by bars. The joy of walking down the street is gone as families on his block moved away because they couldn’t pay rent. “Just a few weeks ago I was confronted by a white man telling me I didn’t belong here and I should leave.” “Our people should be able to sleep at night without worrying about paying rent,” said Ruby Vazquez, another Palenque youth leader. “Thirty, 40, 50 percent is not enough; 100 percent affordable homes is what we need. It shouldn’t take rich people to make our community cleaner or better.” In addition to entirely affordable housing, the advocates also want a library and park space at the Belmont Triangle, as expressed through surveys by Palenque LSNA and DPD.

Their model is the Pioneer Bank building at North Avenue and Pulaski Road in Humboldt Park, part of the INVEST South/West initiative for disinvested communities. The winning bid conceived by Team Pioneros will include the offices of JGMA progressive architecture and design, entrepreneurial incubator space, 75 affordable units, a Latino cultural center and possibly a Chicago Public Library branch. Is there a comparable consortium in Avondale? “I think there is,” Reboyras responded to StreetWise. “I am waiting to see who answers to the proposal. I advocated for members of the community – the Avondale Neighborhood Association, 30th Ward United, Palenque — to be part of this selection process.” The DPD chose the Milwaukee Triangle, according to its Request for Proposals (RFP) released July 21, after assessing numerous vacant sites, their acreage, ownership, existing building stock and “potential for catalytic change on the corridor.” The site now includes a Walgreens and a strip mall with an H&R Block and tattoo shop at the south end and a Mexican restaurant, liquor store and hair salon at the north end. The City does not own the properties, but would facilitate a private transaction between the selected RFP respondent and the owners, who have submitted letters of interest. The target price is $15.5 million, based on an appraisal last March. Besides developing an opportunity site on the Northwest Side, the RFP seeks to maximize participation of neighborhood residents. New housing would be a mix of rental and ownership, affordable to a variety of people, in studios to three-bedroom units. There could be 300 units in two-flats, three-flats, mid-rise apartments and condominiums – and also 22 townhomes, according to the RFP. Ground level commercial space would be at key locations, with Milwaukee Avenue the access to open space. The site is within the Fullerton/ Milwaukee Tax Increment Finance (TIF) District, set to expire in 2024. The TIF could help with assembling and rehabilitating existing parcels and with new infrastructure, such as sidewalks and public utilities.

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e1 to8/7/17 Sudoku 9.

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Streetwise 7/24/17 Crossword To solve the Sudoku puzzle, each row, column and box must contain the Sudoku numbers 1 to 9.

64 Chef famous for his great skill 67 Gloomy Gus 68 Up and about 69 Container weight 70 Oil cartel 71 Connery and Bean, e.g. 72 Relaxing spots 73 “Let it stand”

8 Send, in a way 37 Honey brews 9 Two39 Ring-tailed dimensional animal 10 Cry of mock 42 Spangle horror 46 Jockey’s whip 11 Ancient 48 Thespians greetings 50 Hands out 12 Beak part 52 Liabilities 13 Besides that 54 Long cars 19 High-angle gun 55 Embrace 21 Hit the bottle 56 Crow’s home 25 Beguile 57 Standing up 27 Alpine call straight 29 Big cats Down 58 Wood sorrels 1 Piece of history 31 Ricelike pasta 59 Medicinal 32 Llama land 2 Kind of acid amount 3 Unwholesome 33 Kind of team 60 Ionian gulf atmosphere 34 Design 62 Certain hockey 35 Soprano 4 Bacon bit shot 5 Dense Ponselle 65 Racket 6 Bossy remark? 36 Camera 66 Geologic time diaphragm 7 Like some wills period Copyright ©2017 PuzzleJunction.com

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Crossword Across 1 Siberian city 5 Investigate 10 Lassie portrayer 13 With 2 Down, parents 14 Stitched 15 Self-images 17 End of grace 18 Bearded 19 Legendary elephant eaters 20 Pilgrim to Mecca 22 Whistle-blower 23 Black billiard ball 24 Unbiased 27 Fall mo. 30 Energy 31 Dash widths 32 Heating fuel 35 Skillets 37 Mound on the ground 39 Leading the pack 40 Ghostlike 41 Playacting 44 Endocrine gland output 46 Theologian’s subj. 47 Unagi, at a sushi bar 48 First family member 49 Put in rollers 50 Followers 53 Sound from the fold 56 Sis’s sib 57 Spunky one 61 Yin’s opposite 62 Ancient region of northeastern Africa

64 Blood’s partner 65 Axis of ___ 66 Spiral-horned antelope 67 Land of the leprechauns 68 Hoosier humorist 69 Elaine ___ (“Seinfeld” role) 70 Relax Down 1 Moonfish 2 See 13 Across 3 Zipped 4 System for writing Japanese using adapted Chinese characters 5 Prostate test

6 Encloses a present again 7 Dog tag datum 8 Bovril, e.g. 9 Byrnes of “77 Sunset Strip” 10 Jeopardy 11 Wide-eyed 12 ___ Fyne, Scotland 16 Retired flier inits. 21 Eager to start 23 It got dyed 25 White House souvenir 26 Bed-andbreakfast 27 Proposal 28 Felony 29 Its capital is Innsbruck 32 Entitlement checks (Brit.)

33 Dress style 34 Winter hazard 36 Winter hrs. in L.A. 38 Hesitation sound 42 Butterfly catcher 43 Spherical item 44 Romance novel lead 45 Egg cells 50 Golf score 51 City-like 52 Like a beaver 53 Exiter’s exclamation 54 Basalt source 55 Oklahoma city 58 Seconds 59 Discordia’s Greek counterpart 60 Monthly check 62 Kan. neighbor 63 Infomercials, e.g.

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