FREE
AUSTIN WEEKLY news ■
Ald. wants stiffer punishments for crimes near senior housing,
Vol. 32 No. 3
■
January 17, 2018
■
austinweeklynews.com
■
Also serving Garfield Park
@AustinWeeklyChi
@AustinWeeklyNews
PAGE 5
JJamahl hl Cole’s C l ’ MLK challenge , page 4
Nike ad features wisdom of Dorothy Gaters The Marshall coach, winningest in IHSA history, waxes poetic on equality By MICHAEL ROMAIN Editor
Dorothy Gaters — the winningest basketball coach in Illinois High School Association (IHSA) history — was allowed to share some of her abundant wisdom in a short promotional video Nike released last week in time for the Martin Luther King, Jr. national holiday. “I think if you consider a person equal to you, then you will treat them with a certain amount of respect and dignity,” Gaters says — her calm, dignified tone a fitting soundtrack to a black-and-white tableau that puts in stark relief Chicago’s two sides: one that’s overwhelmingly poor and darker-hued; the other wealthy and overwhelmingly white. The short ad opens with an expansive shot of the sky followed by the city’s famous skyline foregrounded by Lake Michigan. Gaters voice intermixes with the sound of water rippling and wind howling. “I think if you consider a person equal to you, then you will treat them with a certain amount of respect and dignity,” Gaters says before a freighted pause made heavier by the U.S. flag rippling in the breeze. “If we don’t have a mindset of fairness, we can’t translate that into the next generation,” the prominent coach continues as the sound and sight of the city’s ‘L’ train signal an ironic transition — a sidewalk view of the city’s relatively impoverished, racially segregated West Side, where Marshall High School is located. Gaters has coached the lady’s varsity basketball team at the school since 1976. She’s amassed more than 1,000 wins, 24 city championships, eight state titles, seven Coach of the Year selections from the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association and even more accolades than space allows. Gaters hosted her annual MLK Classic basketball See DOROTHY GATERS on page 6
ALEXA ROGALS/Staff Photographer
Fit for a king
The Ella Flagg Young Elementary School Praise Dancers, perform for an audience on Monday, during the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration and health fair at West Suburban Medical Center in Oak Park. More photos on page 8.
CPS CEO: ‘I don’t play race politics’
Janice Jackson talks critics, goals By MICHAEL ROMAIN Editor
During a phone interview last week, Dr. Janice K. Jackson — the current interim CEO of Chicago Public Schools who is expected to be appointed to the position permanently later this month — shared her ambitions and goals for the district, among other thoughts.
Jackson was chief education officer for CPS before assuming the top post. Below are excerpts from that talk.
AWN: Do you feel some anxiety about coming into this position considering what’s happened to your predecessors? (Forrest Claypool resigned after controversy resulting from an ethics violation and Barbara Byrd-Bennett was sentenced to four years in federal prison for her role in a kickback scheme) JKJ: Anxiety wouldn’t be the right word. Obviously, it’s a huge job, but it’s something I’ve worked for my whole ca-
reer. As a teacher, a principal, and district leader, this is a role I’ve sought. And the community has looked for someone with an education background.
AWN: What are some of your top priorities coming into the position? JKJ: A few things stand out. My primary goal is always to improve the academic performance of the district. CPS is on the rise, with record high graduation rates, record high rates across the board on every single metric we measure
Austin Chamber of Commerce on the move... 773.854.5848 • www.austinchicagochamber.com
See JANICE JACKSON on page 4