Author: WBEZ Chicago

From agricultural laborers to software engineers, America offers multiple pathways for people to live and work in the country on temporary work visas. However, obtaining these visas can be frustrating and workers’ legal status is still tenuous. Reset hears from Coleman Immigration founding partner Christina Coleman and one Chicagoan about his experience on a temporary work visa. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Retirement is out of reach for a growing number of Americans who simply can’t afford to stop working. But seniors looking for work often face age discrimination. A program in Chicago provides job training, computer skills, and resume coaching for low-income seniors and has placed hundreds of seniors in jobs in community centers, schools, and public assistance programs. But as of July 1 of this year, the 140 seniors participating in this program have been furloughed due to federal and state funding cuts. Reset speaks with Sheryl Holman, CEO, Community Assistance Program. Plus, Patricia Johnson, Sandra Robinson, and Sharon Rainey, who participated in CAP’s Senior Community Service Employment Program. They share how CAP’s training and job placements helped them, and what needs to be in place for them to thrive. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Amidst the Trump administration's crackdown on immigration, green card holders are getting caught in the middle. Stories persist of people with lawful permanent residency being detained and denied re-entry into the country, despite the law seemingly being on their side. As fear and concerns continue to grow, so does the conversation around what some call the “right” and “wrong” ways to enter the country. But what does it really mean to go through the process the “right” way? Reset hears from a local immigration lawyer and two Chicagoans about their experience getting a green card. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

On July 19, My Block, My Hood, My City hosted its annual Downtown Day. The event brings teens downtown to experience some of what Chicago has to offer. While groups like MBMHMC work to forge connections between teens and their community, proposals like the failed “snap curfew” ordinance can make some young people feel like city leaders don’t trust them. Reset sits down with My Block, My Hood, My City CEO Jahmal Cole, high schooler Damarion Spann and Pritzker Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health at Lurie Children’s chair Dr. John Walkup to discuss how this lack of trust affects young people’s outlooks, and how to help forge the connection between the city and teens. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Two houses, both alike in dignity, in fair Chicago, where we lay our debate. Which of these two homes are the oldest in the land? Well, therein lies the dispute. For Part One of Two in Reset’s latest “What’s That Building,” Sasha and architecture sleuth Dennis Rodkin visit two sites in Chicago and try to answer the question: which can claim the title of Chicago’s oldest house? First up: Noble-Seymour-Crippen House. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Former ComEd CEO and Madigan confidante is sentenced to prison. O’Hare sees the busiest day ever. Vandals target immigration organizations in Little Village. NASCAR passes on another race in the Loop and Chicago Mayor Johnson introduces a new plan to snuff out smoking on CTA. Reset goes behind those headlines and more in our Weekly News Recap with Block Club Chicago reporter Mack Liederman, Chicago Sun-Times federal courts reporter Jon Seidel and WBEZ investigative reporter Dan Mihalopoulos. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

On July 26, 1990, then-President George H.W. Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act, or ADA, into law. This was a turning point for the quality of life for disabled people in the country. But disability rights activism didn’t start when the ADA was introduced into Congress. Reset talks about disability advocacy before and after the ADA. We also dig into recent efforts to weaken it and how the community continues to fight. Our panel: Charles Petrof, senior ADA attorney with Access Living; Mike Ervin, writer and disability rights activist; and T.J. Gordon, co-founder of Chicagoland Disabled People of Color Coalition. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

More Illinois suburbs are cracking down or regulating the use of e-bikes and e-scooters. In Fox Lake, e-bikes and e-scooters are now banned from sidewalks. In Elk Grove, riders must have a driver’s license. And in Hinsdale, children are banned from riding e-scooters altogether. The patchwork of rules is leaving many potential riders confused on what they can and can’t do. Reset finds out more about how local municipalities are trying to balance mobility with safety. We chat with Elk Grove Village Mayor Craig B. Johnson, Jim Merrell with Active Transportation Alliance, and Dave Simmons with Ride Illinois. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

As we head into the dog days of summer, it’s time to make the most of the season and check off items on our summer bucket lists. So, we sat down with John Kessler, Chicago Magazine dining critic, Ambar Colón, Chicago Sun-Times arts and culture reporter, Mike Davis, WBEZ theater reporter to get dining, ice cream and theater recommendations. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.