Author: WBEZ Chicago

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.

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.