Posts tagged criminal justice reform
Congressional Candidate Offers Ultimatum to Political Rivals

For a grassroots campaign like that Anthony Clark, that takes no money from political committees, paying for poll would eat large sums of his campaign money. That's why he devised a plan where he and the two other Democratic challengers for Illinois state representative in the 7th district split the cost of the poll, and whoever is not in the lead drops from the race. 

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Leslie’s Place support home in danger of closing

After 25 years, a West Humboldt Park support home for formerly incarcerated women is close to being shuttered. When Leslie Brown-Simmons became the first woman in Illinois to be granted clemency, she experienced first-hand the difficult transition out of incarceration and opened Leslie’s place in 1994, hoping to ease the process for other women.

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Inside City Hall: hundreds of Black and Brown activists denied entry to Chicago City Council’s vote on police academy

The heavy presence of Chicago police officers in City Hall early Wednesday morning was a precursor for what #NoCopAcademy activists would face before the City Council’s 38-8 vote to approve the construction of a controversial police and fire training academy in West Garfield Park.

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Through interactive event, Westside organization puts people in the shoes of re-entering individuals

Imagine exiting the realities of being incarcerated — an experience that has been proven to be traumatic for a lot of people — and facing the stress of re-entering society; to wake up, go about life and not be considered a citizen despite already paying one’s debt to society. There are many people who inquire about the effects of mass incarceration; how are people affected by it and what can be done to dismantle this system?

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Revolutionizing recess: nature playgrounds benefit children in McKinley Park

Jessica Fong still remembers the hours she spent playing outside and making mud pies as a kid growing up in Humboldt Park. Now the pre-K Chicago Public Schools teacher worries her students won’t have those memories. Up against a national trend of children spending hours staring at their phones, laptops, tablets and TV screens every day, Fong is employing a new kind of playground to help inspire a love of nature in her students.


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How 16 shots changed Chicago

Nearly four years after Chicago Police Officer Jason Van Dyke killed 17-year-old Laquan McDonald, the Van Dyke trial began just this month. The prosecution rested its case last week. Now, the defense begins its attempt to prove Van Dyke was justified in shooting McDonald 16 times. As the trial nears its end, Chicago waits for the verdict with baited breath.

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