Author: WBEZ Chicago

The Bronzeville high school on Chicago’s South Side has been fertile ground for numerous writers, civil rights leaders, professional athletes and more. For the latest in our “What’s That Building?” series, Reset hears from Dennis Rodkin of Crain’s Chicago Business about the history of the school and why it’s produced so many illustrious alumni.

Chicago is struggling to keep up with the number of migrants coming into the city. As officials scramble to open more housing, Chicagoans are stepping up to help migrants themselves. Reset gets the latest on how those efforts are shaping up with Elvia Malagón, social justice and wage gap reporter for the Chicago Sun-Times, Evelyn Figueroa, director of Pilsen Food Pantry and Jen Durham, volunteer for Nuevos Vecinos. Then Reset talks to WBEZ education reporter Nereida Moreno about migrant students in CPS.

Most industrialized nations offer workers paid time off, but it’s still somewhat rare in the United States outside of what’s often called “white collar” work. Reset discusses the Paid Leave For All Workers Act with Ben Opp, HR hotline advisor at HR Source and Mark Maxwell, political editor at KSDK News in St. Louis and former Capitol bureau chief for WCIA in Springfield.

We’re switching it up and sharing one of our favorite podcasts: City Cast Chicago. It’s hosted by Reset regular Jacoby Cochran and features interviews with news and culture makers from across the city. So be sure to subscribe to their podcast so you can be even more of a Chicago insider.

Chicago band Half Gringa’s new EP contains a unique blend of alt-country rhythm, folk-inspired vocals and a dash of crunchy distorted guitars. Reset discusses ancestors, musical inspirations and coping with loss through music.

The race for Chicago’s next mayor is in its final stretch. Who is in the lead, and what did voters this week say is the top issue on their minds? Also: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis visits Chicago and a favorite local show gets the ax. Reset breaks down these stories and much more with Jacoby Cochran, City Cast Chicago host, Tiffany Walden, editor-in-chief and co-founder of The Triibe, and Rachel Hinton, enterprise reporter for Illinois Answers Project with Better Government Association.

While navigating the nonprofit world, Dede Cadet discovered her newfound passion: decorating homes. This hobby has since grown to a slew of projects, different aesthetics and true happiness. Reset speaks to the artist about her life, journey and joy.

Toronto — the hometown of Reset host Sasha-Ann Simons — and Chicago were both incorporated as cities in the 1830s. And the similarities between Hogtown and the Hog Butcher for the World don’t end there. Reset takes a closer look at how legislative politics works in Toronto and whether those systems could be instructive for Chicago.

DJ Spinderella is an iconic figure in hip-hop and music, rising to fame as one-third of the trio Salt-N-Pepa. And now, she’s swapping out headphones for a museum curator hat to design the music room of the National Public Housing Museum in Chicago. Reset talks to the DJ about the connection between public housing and music, her curator vision and the soundtrack to her childhood.

It’s been one year since Russia invaded Ukraine. Reset hears from Ukrainian refugees about what it’s like building a life in Chicago, including: Olha Tsvyntarna, Ukrainian who fled the war, Anna Cirilli, principal at St. Nicholas Cathedral School, Oksana Vasylenko, Ukrainian refugee, mother of son attending St. Nicholas school, John Hewko, CEO of Rotary International and The Rotary Foundation, and Dan Diaczun, president of the Illinois division of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America.