U.S. Rep. Danny Davis is leaving Congress. Chicago Cubs Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg dies. Canadian wildfires cause Chicago to once again have the worst air quality in the world. Plus, the Illinois Governor is urged to declare a state of emergency for flooded neighborhoods and much more.
Reset goes behind those headlines and more with NBC-5 Chicago reporter Christian Farr, Block Club Chicago reporter Francia Garcia Hernandez and Chicago Sun-Times reporter Mitchell Armentrout.
For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.
We hear the story of a local woman, “Maria,” who fled war-torn Syria for the United States more than 10 years ago. While her request for asylum languished in the courts for the last seven years, she carried on the work of creating a new life, forming a community, and working as an immigration advocate. Just this week, she found out that her request for asylum has been denied. She now finds herself in a state of limbo, unable to return to her own country out of fear of persecution, uncertain of a future here.
In the final installment of our weeklong series looking into what it’s like to be an immigrant without permanent status in the U.S., we focus on the experiences of asylum seekers and refugees.
We speak with “Maria” from Syria; Maya Oyarbide-Sanchez, Refugee One Wellness Director; Heena Musabji, Legal Director at CAIR-Chicago; and Maketh Mabior, a former refugee from Sudan and lay leader of the South Sudanese congregation at St Paul's Church. All of today’s guests work on representing, resettling, and supporting refugees and other displaced people under a cloud of uncertainty created by the current administration.
For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.
Lollapalooza is in full swing as thousands of fans descend on Grant Park, snarling traffic. We’ll give you a 101 of what you need to know, highlights of the four-day music festival, and how not to get on the nerves of fellow concert-goers. And if you’re looking for counter-programming, we’ll find out more of what Chicago has to offer in the coming weeks.
Arts and culture experts Sofie Hernandez-Simeonidis (WBEZ) and Ambar Colón (Chicago Sun-Times) break it all down.
For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.
After over 800 student visas were suddenly revoked this spring, immigrants studying or hoping to study in the U.S. fear sudden and unanticipated visa termination.
Illinois has over 60,000 international students who bring in revenue to the state and its universities. With a constant fear of visa termination, and changes to the applicant vetting process, Reset digs deeper into what it all means for international students in Illinois.
Our panel: Jay, a student visa holder; immigration lawyer Scott Pollock; WBEZ higher education reporter Lisa Kurian Philip; and University of Chicago Professor Clifford Ando.
For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.
The tax and spending bill recently signed into law radically alters how borrowers will pay back their student loans, lowers the amount of money graduate students and parents can borrow, and officially sunsets President Biden’s SAVE program, which is known for low monthly payments, and expedited loan forgiveness.
Reset speaks with student loan borrower Kia Clair, rising senior at Northern Illinois University; Alex Lundrigan, policy and advocacy manager, Young Invincibles; and Lisa Kurian Philip, WBEZ higher education reporter, about how these changes could affect local borrowers and what they can do to prepare.
For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.
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.
Family associations were once the backbone of social and economic organization for Chicago’s Chinatown. Their evolution over the decades tells the history of the community.
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.
