March 9 - 15, 2020

March 9 - 15, 2020 Vol. 28 No. 10

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See what Chicago has to offer!

SportsWise

Half the SportsWise team makes MLB predictions for 2020.

Cover Story: the future is female

March is Women’s History Month, and 2020 marks the centennial anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which guarantees women's constitutional right to vote. StreetWise wanted to highlight women who have taken the torch from the powerful women before them, and who continue to do work to advocate in today’s society.

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From the Streets

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The Playground

Figure Skater Adam Rippon shares stories about food insecurity and dealing with his sexuality in his book "Beautiful on the Outside."

inside streetwise

Vendor Kimberly Brown shares why she joined StreetWise and how it has helped her get closer to achieving her goals.

ON THE COVER: Lizzo photo provided by Atlantic Records. THIS PAGE: Dr. Eve L. Ewing reads excerpts during the "Electric Arches" book launch. Photo by Lauren Miller.

Dave Hamilton, Creative Director/Publisher

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StreetWiseChicago @StreetWise_CHI

Suzanne Hanney, Editor-In-Chief

suzannestreetwise@yahoo.com

Amanda Jones, Director of programs

ajones@streetwise.org

Julie Youngquist, CEO

jyoungquist@streetwise.org

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Todd Rosenberg photo

Decadance Chicago: See March 12, 14 & 15

MARCH 10

Sketching Class When: 3:30 p.m.

Where: Harold Washington Library, 400 S. State St. What: Join fellow artists in sketching still-life pencil drawings of everyday objects. No artistic experience necessary.

Pencils and paper will be provided, but first come, first served. chipublib.bibliocommons.com. FREE.

MARCH 11

Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concert When: 12:15 p.m.

Where: Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St. What: Silver medalist and audience prize winner of the 2016 Sendai International Competition, Taiwanese American Pianist Evan Wong has appeared in recitals and concerts throughout North America, Europe and Asia. FREE.

MARCH 12

Parts of Speech: Hari Kunzru When: 7:30 p.m.

Where: Music Box Theatre, 3733 N. Southport Ave. What: Journalist Hari Kunzru will be responding to the article

by Bertolt Brecht called “Five Difficulties in Writing the Truth,” published in the 1930s, which asserted that writers must be able to recognize, proclaim and weaponize the truth. Kunzru will also be talking about today’s

greatest difficulties in writing the truth, including increasing distortions, misinformation and harassment campaigns. Find out more at mcachicago.org.

FREE.

MARCH 12, 14 & 15

Decadance Chicago When: Thurs 7:30 p.m.; Sat 8 p.m.; Sun 3 p.m.

Where: Harris Theater, 205 E. Randolph St. What: Choreographed by Ohad Naharin, this event features excerpts from Naharin’s most popular pieces including "Sadeh21," "Naharin’s Virus," and "Minus 16" performed by Hubbard Street Dance. Tickets start at $40 at hubbardstreetdance. com.

MARCH 13 - 29

'Clementine' When: Fri & Sat 7:30 p.m.; Sun 2 p.m.

Where: Chicago Dramatists, 1105 W. Chicago Ave. What: As two playwriting students' desires clash, a secret from the past forces the pair to confront the realities of criticism and the unknown future of their relationship. $10 at littletimetheatreco.com.

MARCH 14

Chicago River Dyeing When: 9 a.m.

Where: Chicago River, between Columbus Dr. & Wabash What: This will be the 58th Annual Chicago River Dyeing

for St. Patrick’s Day, where the city turns the river emerald green! Many businesses along the river will be hosting special viewing parties. The water starts turning green right at 9 a.m. More info at choosechicago.com. FREE. St. Patrick’s Day 5K & 8K Run/Walk When: 9:30 p.m.

Where: Cannon Drive at Fullerton Pkwy, 2410 N. Cannon Dr. What: Kick off the spring running season with the city’s oldest St. Patrick’s Day sprint. $45 registration includes an official long-sleeve race shirt, money-saving goodie bag, finisher medal and a complimentary sponsored beverage at the post-race party. There will be awards for the best dressed in St. Patrick’s Day costumes.

Benefiting The Greater Chicago Food Depository. Register at chicagoevents.com.

65th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade When: 12 p.m.

Where: Columbus Dr., between Balbo Dr. & Monroe St. What: One of the largest St. Patrick's Day parades in the country, the annual downtown parade celebrates Irish heritage. VIP Grandstand seating is available for $50. Chicagostpatricksdayparade.org. FREE. Beethoven Lieder Recital When: 12 p.m.

Where: Skowronski Music Hall, 1020 W. Sheridan Road

What: Loyola University vocal performance majors will be joined by pianist Cody Bradley to present a recital of Beethoven songs that span his career. Artsevents.luc.edu.

FREE. Global Connections: Holi When: 12:45 - 5 p.m.

Where: Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave. What: Holi is a Hindu spring festival celebrated in India and Nepal, also known as the “festival of colors” or the “festival of love.” This Navy Pier event will include the colorful Holi tradition of throwing colored powder, which will be available for purchase while supplies last. Plus, there will be musical and dance performances, as well as specialty foods. FREE. St. Patrick’s Festival When: 1 p.m.

Where: Irish American Heritage Center, 4626 N. Knox Ave. What: This event follows the downtown parade and runs until midnight, featuring traditional and contemporary Irish music and dance, food and drink for purchase, children’s activities, and an arts & craft fair with vendors selling Irish gifts. Visit the Library, Art Gallery and Museum for programming and exhibits such as Irish language lessons, a genealogy workshop and a book sale. $15 tickets and full schedule at irish-american.org.

Chicago Beer Festival When: 8 p.m.

Where: Field Museum, 1400 S. Lake Shore Drive What: This event will feature over 60 breweries, sampling their spring seasonal beers.

Additionally, there will be music, food and the museum’s exhibits open to attendees. $50 at thechicagobeerfestival.com. VIP admission one hour earlier. Tickets will not be sold at the door.

MARCH 15

KidCon When: 9:30 a.m.

Where: Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, 5555 N. River Road, Rosemont What: Attendees of all ages will be able to shop, learn and play.

Interactive areas include slime making, obstacle courses, coding and more. $15 tickets and schedule at kidcon.com.

Northwest Irish Parade When: 12 p.m.

Where: William J. Onahan School, 6634 W. Raven St. What: This parade is a celebration of faith, family and heritage on the Northwest side of Chicago. The committee for this parade was founded with the goal of bringing the Chicago’s Northwest side area a celebration of Irish involvement in the American experience.

There will be an official parade after-party at St. Thecla Falcon Hall for $15. More info at northwestsideirish.org. FREE.

South Side Irish Parade When: 12 p.m.

Where: Western Ave., between 103rd & 115th Streets What: This is a family-friendly celebration of Irish heritage.

More info at southsideirishparade.org. FREE.

MARCH 17

Si-fu: An Evening of Cantonese Opera When: 7 p.m.

Where: Logan Center for the Arts, 915 E. 60th St. What: The tradition of Cantonese Opera - with its vivid costumes, distinctive music and dramatic presentation - has been fostered and developed for over 500 years. Since its inception, this living practice has been carried on by "si-fu," experienced performers and masters of the form. For one performance only, 14 international artists (including six si-fu) will present stories through martial arts, acting and singing.

There is a pre-show talk at 6:30 p.m. with Ariel Fox. $25 at arts. uchicago.edu.

MARCH 17 - APRIL 19

Silk Road Rising 'My Dear Hussein' When: Mon, Tues & Thurs 7:30 p.m.; Fri 8 p.m.; Sat & Sun 4 p.m.

Where: Pierce Hall, 77 W. Washington St. What: This surrealistic tale of a 4-year-old Iranian girl unfolds amidst the carnage of the Iran-

Iraq War of the 1980s. A child, a toy dog and a ruthless dictator walk into a war zone, and fanciful imagination breaks free. The lines between playful fantasy and brutal warfare are gradually blurred as ugly realities become harder to mask. $38 at silkroadrising.org.

THROUGH MARCH 22

'Middletown' When: Sun 2 p.m.; Wed 2 & 7:30 p.m.; Thurs & Fri 7:30 p.m.; Sat 5 & 8 p.m.

Where: Apollo Theatre, 2540 N. Lincoln Ave. What: A universal depiction of love and friendship, this play follows the story of two couples who endure the roller coaster of life together. Staged without a set or props, the stars read directly from scripts, as if reading from the book of their own lives. The cast includes Sandy Duncan, Donny Most, Adrian Zmed and Kate Buddeke. $65 at apollochicago.com.

THROUGH APRIL 12

'Her Honor Jane Byrne' When: Various Where: Water Tower Water Works, 821 N. Michigan Ave. What: Lookingglass Theatre ensemble member J. Nicole Brooks has created this new play about Chicago’s first woman mayor moving into Cabrini-Green. The play is set in 1981, and the city’s simmering

pot of neglected problems is boiling over. Residents, activists, media, the “Machine” and the mayor herself will collide as the city’s raw truths are exposed.

Tickets start at $45 at lookingglasstheatre.org.

'Hundred Days' When: Wed-Sat 8 p.m.; Sun 5 p.m.

Where: The Chopin Theatre, 1543 W. Division St. What: This is the Chicago premiere of the new musical featuring music by The Bengsons.

It is an uncensored true story about embracing uncertainty, taking a leap and loving as if you only had 100 days to live. $40 at kokandyproductions.com.

THROUGH AUGUST 16

'Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg' When: Fri - Wed 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Thurs 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Where: Illinois Holocaust Museum, 9603 Woods Dr., Skokie What: This exhibition is a comprehensive showcase of Justice Ginsburg’s life and her roles as a student, wife, mother, lawyer, judge, women’s rights pioneer and Internet phenomenon. It tells her story using an array of gallery interactives, listening stations, archival photographs and documents, historical artifacts, and contemporary art. $15 at ilholocaustmuseum.org.

-compiled by Rachel Koertner

Chicago River Dyeing: See March 14

Notorious RGB: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg: See Through August 16

Scott Olson photo

Facebook photo

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Vendors Russ Adams and John Hagan chat about the world of sports. Donald Morris and Executive Assistant Patrick Edwards are on hiatus.

SPORTSWISE

Major League Baseball John: Starting with the American League, in the East division, I like the New York Yankees: they’re loaded this year. In the Central, I expect the Chicago White Sox to take it; however, I am a bit worried about the pitching this year. In the West, I’m going with the Oakland A’s and the Anaheim Angels as a wild card, which means the Houston “Cheaters” take a step back this year.

tive division: the Washington Nationals win the division, followed by the Braves, and then, the Philadelphia Phillies. Joe Girardi, the Phillies manager, will be the difference with this ballclub. Last year, they were 81-81 under Gabe Kapler; I believe Girardi can get seven more wins out of this team. Going back to the American League, the wild card will be Minnesota and the L.A. Angels. Russell?

Russ: I’m going to start with the NL Central. I’m looking for the Chicago Cubs and the Cincinnati Reds to go at it.

The Cubs have a new manager and we know anything can happen in baseball. Last year, the Washington Nationals marched through juggernauts to get to the promised land— who would’ve thought that?

Nobody. So, in the Central, I have the Cubs. In the East, I’m taking the Atlanta Braves…this time. In the West, hands down, I have the Dodgers. I mean, c’mon now, they are stacked. They've got everybody. They can’t lose this year. No Astros around to steal their signs.

Russ: Pretty interesting. For the American League, I’m taking the White Sox in the Central, with the Minnesota Twins right behind them, but, eventually, settling for the wild card entry. In the West—and I hate to say it— it’ll be the Astros again. They have talent, so don’t have to cheat. Why steal signs? You’re good; you won 100 games.

You should be okay. Then, in the East, I have to say the New York Yankees. The Yankees are ready. No Houston Astros around to mess them up this time. So, I got the Cubs, Braves, and the Dodgers— with the wild card team: the Nationals…and the Reds. In the American League, I have the White Sox, Yankees, and the Astros—wild card teams the Minnesota Twins and the Oakland A’s. John?

John: In regard to the National League, the West division will be won by the L.A. Dodgers. Unless they suffer a rash of injuries, they have so much talent that they should land on top. In the NL Central, I’m going with the Big Red Machine: the Cincinnati Reds. St. Louis Cardinals for the wild card. The NL East will be the most competi-

John: In the World Series, I want to see the Dodgers versus Yankees. Because these two teams are so loaded with talent, it’s not that farfetched an idea. As far as another White Sox parade in Chi-

predictions for

cago, I believe we’re a year or two away. Russell?

Russ: I’m hoping for a Cubs and White Sox World Series, so we can tear the city up!

Yeah! New York-New York, California-California, now Chicago-Chicago. We can see who is the best. See who claims the braggin’ rights.

2020

John: If the Sox and the Cubs do play in the Series this year, we should ask Mark Giangreco if we could do a live SportsWise from the Chicago Cut—his favorite place.

Russ: I hope it’s a good baseball season. No cheating. Everybody having a good time and enjoying it. I know I will.

10 Women working to change the world: The celebrities Women have a lot to celebrate right now. March is Women’s History Month, and 2020 marks the centennial anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which guarantees women's constitutional right to vote. We at StreetWise wanted to take time this month to celebrate women who have taken the torch from the powerful women before them, and who continue to do work to advocate in today’s society. These are just 10 of the many, many strong women out there, but these are 10 we chose to highlight for their perseverance, dedication, and advocacy. There are five celebrities and five Chicago-based women. We hope their stories inspire you, we know we were!

by Rachel Koertner

"It is just time for us to have a voice.

It’s time for us to have power."

Ellen DeGeneres

Ellen DeGeneres is a woman who, in 1997, risked everything to fight for what she believed in, and who has not stopped since. In that year, DeGeneres came out as gay on the cover of Time magazine, at the same time her character on the sitcom “Ellen” also came out. The show then received some criticism for being “too gay,” and ended the following year. However, DeGeneres kept fighting to get back on TV, and now has a huge hit with her daytime talk show of 17 seasons. During that time, DeGeneres has used her show to advocate for many different important topics, LGBTQ rights and women’s rights most of all. She has also recently spoken up against sexual assault, sharing her personal story on "My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman." In addition, she has created the Ellen Fund, which seeks to protect endangered species. DeGeneres has raised millions of dollars for a variety of causes, and doesn’t seem to be slowing down.

Photo provided by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA)

"I’ve always stood up for the underdog and the underrepresented because I can’t escape from that myself.”

Lizzo

Time’s 2019 Entertainer of the Year may have a lot of success now, but it wasn’t always that way. Singer-songwriter Lizzo was once homeless, struggling and grieving the loss of her father. However, she used the hardship as a motivator to push herself and turn her life around. Lizzo doesn’t let her gender, color, or size stop her from going places. Now, she inspires so many people with her positive music and self-affirming attitude. This revolutionary artist works hard to break stigmas. For example, she openly talks about how she goes to therapy, even though she says there is a notion in society that black women are not allowed to ask for help. She loves her newfound knowledge on how to communicate, and wants each person to stand up for themselves and love their insecurities. She fights for everyone.

Photo provided by Atlantic Records.

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"This is my charge to everyone: We have to be better. It is our responsibility to make this world a better place.”

Megan Rapinoe

Megan Rapinoe is an Olympic gold medalist, part of the World Cup-winning soccer team, and Sports Illustrated’s 2019 Sportsperson of the Year. However, as Rapinoe says, she is more than just a soccer player - she’s an advocate. In 2016, she was among the first white professional athletes to kneel in solidarity with football player Colin Kaepernick during the national anthem to protest the police shootings (and other injustices) of AfricanAmericans. Rapinoe has also made it public that she is part of the LGBTQ community, hoping that her openness will make others less afraid and alone. Additionally, Rapinoe was part of the group on the U.S. Women’s soccer team to sue the U.S. Soccer Federation on allegations of unequal pay. She is one of four representatives spearheading this fight for justice. She wants people of all genders, sexual preferences, and races to know that they are worth it.

Photo by Michael Regan - FIFA

“People are underestimating the force of angry kids. We are angry and frustrated, and that is because of good reason.”

Greta Thunberg

From one girl with a sign sitting on the steps of the Swedish parliament building, to millions of people joining her cause. A girl dealing with depression and Aspergers becoming Time’s 2019 Person of the Year. This is 17-year-old Greta Thunberg, an advocate fighting against climate change. She has been diagnosed with selective mutism, which means she only speaks when necessary. That shows the importance of this topic, which she has spoken about at Tedx talks and at the United Nations Climate Conference. Now she has become the voice of a worldwide movement. She even has a book called “No One is too Small to Make a Difference.” She developed “climate strikes” by skipping school and protesting on the steps of parliament. These climate strikes turned into the Fridays for Future movement, and on Sept. 20, 2019, four million people joined the climate strike that she inspired, which was the largest climate demonstration in human history. A huge legacy, started by a young teenager.

Photo provided by Celinununu.

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“The chance to make a real difference is not an opportunity that everyone is given, and is one I have no intention of taking lightly.”

Emma Watson

Actress and activist Emma Watson has been in the spotlight since she was 9, and has used that spotlight and that pressure to drive her fight for gender equality. At 24 years old, Watson was appointed a UN Women Goodwill Ambassador, dedicating her efforts towards the empowerment of young women and serving as an advocate for UN Women’s HeForShe campaign, which was to show that gender equality is a man’s issue as well - everyone needs to fight for this cause. Also, she has travelled the world promoting women’s rights and education. She has led campaigns fighting against the culture in universities that say women cannot lead, and the complacency on issues of sexual assault in these places. Watson has a scholarship in her name with One Young World, which is a nonprofit supporting young leaders. She started a collaborative and supportive Goodreads Feminist Book Club. All this, and her fight is just beginning.

Photo provided by Disney EPK.

10 Women working to change the world: The chicagoans “With our work the rewards are just endless when someone is willing to be vulnerable.”

Heather Bodie

Artistic director of Erasing the Distance Heather Bodie’s life was changed the first day she joined the program. Erasing the Distance is a nonprofit that uses theatre to educate about mental health and break the stigma around it. The group talks to people who are willing to come share about their lives, and then they use that dialogue to create a short play. Before joining this group, Bodie was the co-founder and executive producing director of The Fine Print Theatre Company, which fosters new plays that reflect current social and political issues. Then a few years after that, she started acting in the Erasing the Distance company. According to Bodie, suddenly she was able to be part of a production where she wanted everyone she knew to see it, not because she was in it, but because of what the show said. Eventually she made the transition from on stage to behind the scenes. Bodie has seen the work of this company not only change her own life, but also the lives of many around her.

Erasing the Distance photo.

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“I think we need different identities and voices represented in media, but it also matters what that representation looks like and what it sounds like.”

Eve L. Ewing

As someone who has attended Chicago Public Schools, taught in them, then studied them as a scholar, Dr. Eve L. Ewing knows them well. Her book “Ghosts in the Schoolyard: Racism & School Closings on Chicago's South Side” challenges the stigma around these schools. Ewing is a sociologist of education whose research is focused on racism, social inequality and urban policy. Plus, she is an instructor for the Prison + Neighborhood Art Project, a visual arts and humanities project for people at Stateville Maximum Security Prison.

She serves on the Board of Directors of MassLEAP, a nonprofit organization in Massachusetts fostering youth development through spoken word poetry. There are so many more programs she is a part of, all advocating for equality and for art. However, one of the things she is most known for is her work writing for Marvel Comics, including “Ironheart,” which is about an empowered black female. This kind of representation is something that Ewing believes the world needs.

Photo by Nolis Anderson.

"We can shape and normalize what is considered possible for the next generation of girls.”

Michelle Morales

Michelle Morales is working to make marginalized people leaders. Being a U.S.-born Puerto Rican woman has shaped her commitment to working for a better and equal world. Morales is president of the Woods Fund Chicago, which promotes social, economic and racial justice in the community. Before this position, she led the Chicago chapter of the Mikva Challenge, an organization that trains teachers and develops youth councils for civic institutions. Teaching at an alternative high school in Humboldt Park taught Morales the power of engagement and selfactualization, as well as how respecting youth is transformational for them and all those around them. She works hard to make the youth around her feel important, valued and engaged.

Woods Fund Chicago photo.

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“I was able to help people find housing where, for the first time ever, they could independently come and go in their wheelchair.”

Karen Tamley

Chicago’s own Karen Tamley is proof that a person does not have to be held back because of a disability. On March 2, Tamley started as President and CEO of Access Living. She previously served as Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities in Chicago for 14 years. In 2016, Tamley was appointed by former President Barack Obama to serve on the United States Access Board, then in March 2019, was elected chair of that board. As commissioner, Tamley supervised the delivery of direct services, including home accessibility modifications and employment services to thousands of people with disabilities. Over 49,000 new curb ramps were built, the most progressive accessible building code in the nation has been established, and a taxicab initiative to increase the number of accessible taxicabs was created.

Access Living photo.

“A microphone is much more powerful than a grenade.

Our art tells us who we are.”

Lena Waithe

Actress, screenwriter, producer - Lena Waithe has done it all. She even became the first African-American woman to win an Emmy award for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series. She has used these many platforms to advocate for racial equality. When she wrote the 2019 film “Queen & Slim,” she purposely tried to flip the usual narrative about race, and to Waithe, it was an urgent piece of art. Waithe has been a huge supporter of expressing and advocating through art, and even helped produce an art exhibit in Refinery29’s 29Rooms that was created to help people experience what it is like to be black in today’s world. Waithe also uses her platform to call for gay people of color to come out, like she did, so those of younger generations will not feel so alone. Additionally, she created Showtime’s “The Chi,” which explores the humanity behind the headlines sensationalizing the South Side of Chicago. Ultimately, Waithe works to be a voice of acceptance, authenticity, and unity.

Photo by Jesse Grant.

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Figure Skater Adam Rippon Faces food insecurity, sexuality, and the challenges of being a queer role model

by Thomas Virgl

Figure skater Adam Rippon graced the Music Box Theater stage to discuss his memoir, “Beautiful on the Outside,” in an recent official Q and A. The conversation centered on how he structured the book, representing sexuality, being a role model, and what the book meant to him.

FROM THE STREETS

Rippon earned a number of achievements as a figure skater. He won the 2010 Four Continents Championships, the 2016 U.S. National Championships and was part of the U.S. team that won a bronze medal at the 2018 Winter Olympics. That same year, he won NBC's "Dancing With The Stars."

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As a personal account of his life, Rippon wanted the book to describe what he had learned throughout his career.

“It was a way to process everything I’ve gone through...I wanted to share the lessons and things that I’ve learned,” Rippon said.

There are quite a few lessons and stories to be discovered in “Beautiful on the Outside,” particularly about self-discovery and overcoming hardships. Rippon was food-insecure while also participating in his regular training regimen.

“I had just enough to pay for my ice, my phone, my car, and my gym membership with an unlimited supply of green apples. If I went out to dinner once or had an unexpected expense, it was all over,” Rippon wrote.

In the book, Rippon wrote about how he had to train and take lessons; money from competitions was his only source of income.

However, while most of the money came from what he won at competitions, it went right back into his expenses for figure skating. The only way he could be financially independent without

cutting time from his training was to be food-insecure.

For most of his life, his mother was responsible for funding his skating. However, because they lived far apart at the time so he could train, and he was 22, Rippon wanted to be on his own. ”I wanted independence from my mom. It didn’t go down the way I wanted it to, but now I got it. All of this started because I wanted to prove to myself that I was an adult and that I was strong. I never meant to hurt my mom, but it was hurting me more to feel like my skating was ruining my family’s life,” Rippon wrote.

Throughout his struggle with finances, Rippon had many differing methods of obtaining food. He had to take advantage of his resources.

“The resort had free green apples and TAZO tea in the lobby, and I would stuff as many into my backpack as I possibly could, and that is what I ate for weeks because the only thing I could afford was anything free,” Rippon wrote.

Although most of the book is written in Rippon’s signature tone (charming with an unapologetic sense of humor), he does not, in any way, undermine the struggles he went through. Along with food insecurity, there was another major issue Rippon was

From Left: The cover of "Beautiful on the Outside" courtesy of Grand Central Publishing. Adam Rippon portrait by Peter Yang.

Rippon performs at the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang on Feb. 11, 2018. Photo by Jamie Squire.

dealing with: his sexuality. Rippon detailed his struggles in his book, and made sure he did it without sugarcoating any significant details.

“I wanted to make sure LGBT+ youth heard my story loud and clear...there were moments that I had nothing, and moments where I had nothing to lose,” Rippon said.

He highlighted both the hardships and the unique experiences he had growing up and discovering that he was gay. One of the details he highlighted was his coming-out process.

“The one thing I didn’t want to be was gay. My family was always accepting of gay people, I knew gay people growing up, and I certainly worked with some in figure skating. But I always thought, that’s not me. It just can’t be me. I can’t be this thing that people made fun of me for when I was little. I can’t be this thing I

know isn’t accepted in my area,” Rippon wrote.

Rippon mentioned that although a lot of these dark thoughts were in his head, nothing bad happened to him when he came out.

“Even when the hate isn’t directed explicitly towards you, you can feel it in the air, like some corrosive mist you can’t wash off,” Rippon wrote.

Highlighting experiences he wrote about during the Q&A, Rippon said that above all, he sought to be the role model that he always wanted when he was growing up.

“I wish that somebody had spoken up. I wanted to make sure that I always spoke up...I tried to say the things I wish somebody had said to me when I was younger. It’s the way I try to act every day of my life,” Rippon said. www.streetwise.org

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Streetwise 1/27/20 Crossword numbers 1 to 9.

Sudoku

To solve the Sudoku puzzle, each row, column and box must contain the

7 8 9 10 11

Whistle-blower 38 Rule against Lean toward 39 Charge carrier Angelic 41 Coastline Amscrayed feature Pakistani 44 Dissuades tongue 45 Golf ball 12 Track offshoot position 13 Song of praise 47 1963 Paul 19 Bleed Newman 21 Faux ___ classic 25 ___ Day 48 Look of 26 Tough tests contempt 27 Check endorser 49 Iridescent 28 Stir-fry pan stone 30 Expounded Down 50 Young alpaca 31 Kind of 1 Oodles 51 Wrongful act message 2 Jewish calendar 54 Baptism or bris 32 Move laterally month 55 Scottish 33 Personals, e.g.

3 Hokkaido hillside 34 Stocking part people 56 Pound sound 35 Laudatory lines 58 Spot checker?

4 Cushioning Copyright 36 ©2020 FederalPuzzleJunction.com constuff 59 “___ a chance” struction over5 Brusque 60 Busy bee in seer (Abbr.)

6 Caesar’s hello Apr.

1 4 8 11 12 13 15 17 18 19 20 21 22 24 26 27 31

Copyright ©2020 PuzzleJunction.com

©PuzzleJunction.com

Sudoku Solution Last Week’s Puzzle Answers

Solution

Find your nearest StreetWise Vendor at www.streetwise.org

THE PLAYGROUND

50 51 55 58 60 62 63 65

Bog Aroma Bumped into Fury Hibernia Building block TV type Old dagger Black Sea port Bunk Autos Diamond Lil actress, Mae Extinct flightless bird Tokyo, formerly Dash lengths Idolize Bad day for Caesar 66 Jai ___ Soaks, as flax 67 Cattail, e.g.

Youngster 68 The Joy Luck Carryall Club author, Magazine Amy word 69 Fewer Admittance 70 Big ___, Helper Calif.

Time zones Gawks Down Hiatus Egyptian 1 Withers cobra 2 Cast out A, in Acapulco 3 Capone Seed cover nemesis Assist illegally 4 Over (Poet.)

Actress Balin 5 Molded, as Lose weight metal Sandwich 6 Cookie shop 7 Tenant Like a 8 Moscow raccoon, e.g. resident or Assortment isinglass

How StreetWise Works

Our Mission

14

35 37 38 40 42 43 45 46 48 49

Solution

To empower the entrepreneurial spirit through the dignity of self-employment by providing Chicagoans facing homelessness with a combination of supportive social services, workforce development resources and immediate access to gainful employment.

Crossword Across

©2020 PuzzleJunction.com

53 Close at hand 57 Capital of Rhode Island 61 Spare, e.g.

62 Broadcast 63 Lariat 64 Footnote abbr.

65 Starbucks offering 66 Telephone button 67 Hard to comprehend

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Orientation Participants complete a monthlong orientation, focusing on customer service skills, financial literacy and time management to become a badged vendor.

Finacial Literacy Vendors buy StreetWise for $0.90, and sell it for $2. The profit of $1.10 goes directly to the licensed vendor for them to earn a living.

Supportive Services StreetWise provides referrals, advocacy and other support to assist participants in meeting their basic needs and getting out of crisis.

S.T.E.P. Program StreetWise’s S.T.E.P. Program provides job readiness training and ongoing direct service support to ensure participants’ success in entering the traditional workforce.

©2020 PuzzleJunction.com

9 Sicilian resort city 10 Level 11 Fair attraction 14 French possessive 15 Surprise word 16 Movie studio need 23 Alpha’s opposite 25 Moore of G.I. Jane 28 Oklahoma city 29 Source 30 Sea eagles 31 Followers (Suffix) 32 “___ stop now!”

33 Kett of the comics

34 Condition of being notched 36 Roomy vehicle 39 Tournament passes 41 Extradite 44 Tropical lizards 47 Curved 51 French farewell 52 King or queen 53 Decorated, as a cake 54 ___ Zeppelin 55 Big fuss 56 Buckle holder 57 Lamb alias 59 Cairo’s river 61 Corn units 64 Enlisted folks (Abbr.)

Kimberly Brown: working at streetwise for her family and her future

by Erika Chavez

My name is Kimberly Brown. I grew up in Chicago and have lived in the Windy City my entire life. My favorite thing about the city is the diverse range of foods available. You can turn on any corner or take the train up or down a couple of stops and find all sorts of different restaurants! My mother raised me to show compassion, love and kindness to all individuals. Now, I am a mother of six and have taught them the same values my mother taught me when I was young. I enjoy spending time with my younger children, and when the weather is nice out, we go to the park or beach and even stroll through the different museums. Maintaining an active, healthy and social lifestyle is important to me. In my free time, I go to a variety of church events because I enjoy spending time with my friends who share the same values as me. My friends at church have been supportive about my new job at StreetWise and have shown excitement when I tell them about the new magazine coming out with my pictures. They say I will be famous one day!

During one of my first jobs, I was working as a salesperson for Avon beauty products. Interacting with people on a daily basis and helping them choose the right products for them allowed me to realize that working in sales was the job for me. I have now worked at StreetWise for over a month, and I feel thrilled when meeting my coworkers and selling my magazines to the friendly faces I encounter during my day. I currently sell my magazines at a police station on the South Side of the city, but I am looking to relocate to the downtown area. I am thinking of selling in front of Macy’s, McDonald’s, or a Subway around the same area. I hope that by working downtown, I will meet more customers and make more sales. The money I make from selling my magazines helps me pay my bills and buy necessities for my children. They are the reason I keep pushing forward.

The key to making sales is smiling, communicating, and establishing a connection that goes further than a simple greeting. From the moment I set foot into my job, the atmosphere in the room made me feel welcomed and appreciated. On my first day at StreetWise, I received a long, thick coat that helps me bear the cold weather of Chicago. I get along with all of my coworkers who support me in my sales. I know my customers love me because they smile when they see me, and they keep coming back.

In my short time at StreetWise, I have felt blessed with countless opportunities that have helped me take small steps forward towards my goals. Some of my future goals are to put my daughter through college and purchase a home and car. I know that working at StreetWise will help me achieve my goals.

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