The Year in Revi January Taste for the Homeless
StreetWise participated in “Taste for the Homeless,” an event created by Michael Airhart, one of the 20 Most Inspiring Chicagoan honorees in 2019. It featured entertainment, food, clothing giveaways, opportunities to speak with social workers, and resources to apply for jobs, all in an exciting party atmosphere, that most people who are experiencing homelessness don’t get to experience very often.
Cooking Demo
Heartland Health Centers stopped by the StreetWise offices to share quick and easy tips to stay healthy on a budget. Vendors even got to partake in a cooking demo, making a lovely (and healthy) pumpkin mousse.
North American Network of Street Papers
The International Network of Street Papers (INSP) officially launched North American Network of Street Papers (NANSP), to build relations and support for street papers specifically on our continent. StreetWise has been very proud to contribute to the initiative, as our network steadily grows. Follow them at facebook.com/INSPNorthAmerica
NBA All Star Game celebration/Notre Take Over
StreetWise was grateful to feature the work of local artist, Cody Hudson, who collaborated with Nike's Jordan Brand to create a capsule collection for the 8x8 - Unite project. The aim of the project is to celebrate the return of the NBA All Star game to Chicago, by having 8 local artists create art work representing the 8 different CTA train lines. Hudson's work for the project launched exclusively at Notre (118 N. Peoria St.). Notre hosted a party on January 24 to preview the launch of the collection, as well as to preview the January 27 issue of StreetWise! The party also featured a limited print by Hudson, with proceeds from its sales being donated directly to StreetWise.
February #TheCOOLParty
The StreetWise Auxiliary Board kicked off our first fundraiser of the year with the annual #TheCOOLParty benefit. The event was hosted at the Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center (4046 W. Armitage Ave.) The night was filled with music by My Boy Elroy, Chicago Traffic Jam, and StreetWise Vendor Lindsey Slator. Multiple artists donated their work to sell, with all proceeds benefiting StreetWise.
Oscars & #VendorWeek
StreetWise celebrated #VendorWeek (February 3 - 9) with our annual Oscars edition. StreetWise vendors and friends were treated to screenings of Academy-nominated films, and got to weigh in on the buzz just ahead of the 92nd Academy Award ceremony. Many of our vendors accurately predicted who would be taking home trophies. The majority of vendors predicted a Best Actress win for Renée Zellweger ("Judy") and all of our vendors believed Joaquin Phoenix ("Joker") would take home Best Actor. Our vendors chose "Parasite" as the most loved film, but 3 vendors believed it would not take top prize because it is in a foreign language: so happy to be proven wrong!
Law @ the Margins
StreetWise collaborated with Law @ the Margins “The Right to a Home” series, with a piece about food justice in Chicago, written by Alexandria Jacobson, assisted by vendor Lee A. Holmes. Holmes and Editor-in-Chief Suzanne Hanney later collaborated on a story about veteran homelessness.
