Author: WBEZ Chicago

Chicago is more than just the place where Arionne Nettles grew up, she writes, it’s in her DNA. In her debut book, We Are The Culture: Black Chicago’s Influence on Everything, Nettles takes readers through the history of how Black Chicagoans have led pop culture in America for decades, and gives insight into the ways culture shapes our lives and spreads across borders. Reset sits down with Nettles to discuss the city’s Southern roots, its cultural contributions and her own Chicago upbringing. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Since 1989, LSCs have won funding for their schools, removed corrupt faculty, renamed schools and even opened new campuses. Ideally, an LSC is typically made up of a school’s principal, a couple of teachers, parents, community members, and even students. But that’s not always the case. Reset learns more about Local School Councils in Chicago from two council members, Chinella Robinson and JP Paulus, and Chalkbeat Chicago’s Reema Amin. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Chicago has given the world many wonders: architecture, ketchup-less hot dogs, house music. But did you know about the influence the city has had on poetry? Slam poetry got its start in Chicago in the 1980’s, spawning worldwide competitions, including the largest youth poetry festival in the world, right here in Chicago. Reset sits down with three local artists, Haiku Fest founder Regina Harris Baiocchi, Chicago’s first-ever Poet Laureate avery r. Young, and Illinois’ fifth Poet Laureate Angela Jackson, to learn what makes Chicago’s poetry scene unique. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

The smell of bread used to waft out of a five-story building in Washington Park. After years of vacancy, the factory is back on the market. So what’s that building? Architecture sleuth Dennis Rodkin stops by Reset to dig into the past and future of the Schulze Bakery. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Alvin Cobb, Jr. is an Atlanta-native who found his way to Chicago to play jazz. He’s worked alongside several musicians both in and out of the jazz world, like Chance the Rapper, Nola Adé and Marcus Printup. Reset sat down with the musician to hear more about his journey and on making his first album featuring fellow jazz artists Katie Ernst and Julius Tucker. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Chicago’s Civilian Office of Police Accountability releases body cam footage from a deadly March traffic stop where officers fired nearly 100 shots in less than a minute. Plus, new legislation aims to close a race gap in teacher evaluations, and stargazers head downstate for a total solar eclipse. Reset goes behind the headlines of those stories and much more in our Weekly News Recap with Andy Grimm of the Chicago Sun-Times, Ravi Baichwal at ABC 7 News, and Leigh Giangreco with Crain’s Chicago Business. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Life wasn’t always easy for poet Nikki Pitan, who grew up with domestic violence, and fatphobia affecting her self esteem in her far South Side home. She tells Reset about how her new memoir outlines her lifelong journey of healing and breaking those generational cycles. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Spring is coming and going in Chicago so fast you might think you’re on a bit of a roller coaster. Reset turns to cultural historian and chef, Jordan Wimby (aka Melanin Martha), for more on cool-season crops to plant now and in-season veggies for your dinners this week. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Congress has yet to pass a Green New Deal, a set of policies that aims to reduce emissions and provide a just transition to green jobs. So, high schoolers and the Sunrise Movement are taking matters into their own hands. Evanston Township High School is the third high school in the U.S. to pass a Green New Deal of their own. Reset learns more about the effort with student Milo Slevin and Reset Sustainability Contributor Karen Weigert. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.