February 8 - 14, 2021 Vol. 29 No. 06
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Arts & (Home) Entertainment
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SportsWise
We are replacing our usual calendar with virtual events and recommendations from StreetWise vendors, readers and staff to keep you entertained at home! Getting ready for the Super Bowl.
Cover Story: The Future of Black Lives Matter
President Donald Trump has been voted out of office, but the issues at the heart of Black Lives Matter remain as critical as ever, and the role Black women will play will be vital.
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From the Streets
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The Playground
The Wellington Avenue United Church of Christ sold its Lakeview building and distributed 10 percent of the profits to 19 social justice organizations. Also, Chicago City Council members seek a hearing on the proposed Chicago Inclusive Housing Ordinance would require different percentages of affordable housing for different neighborhoods, based on costs and gentrification pressures.
ON THE COVER: May 30, 2020: People protest from their cars on Dearborn Street during a Black Lives Matter Chicago protest at Federal Plaza in downtown Chicago. Thousands protested police brutality and racial injustice in the wake of the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis Police. THIS PAGE: June 5, 2020: Protesters gather in Uptown on what would have been Breonna Taylor's 27th birthday. They said her name, mourned, demanded justice and celebrated Breonna and Black Womxn everywhere. (Kathleen Hinkel photos)
Dave Hamilton, Creative Director/Publisher
dhamilton@streetwise.org
StreetWiseChicago @StreetWise_CHI
Suzanne Hanney, Editor-In-Chief
suzannestreetwise@yahoo.com
Amanda Jones, Director of programs
ajones@streetwise.org
Julie Youngquist, Executive director
jyoungquist@streetwise.org
Ph: 773-334-6600 Office: 2009 S. State St., Chicago, IL, 60616
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ARTS & (HOME) ENTERTAINMENT RECOMMENDATIONS Since being stuck inside, which shows have you been watching? Which movies? Have you read any good books lately? Any new music releases have you dancing in your living room? StreetWise vendors, readers and staff are sharing what is occupying their attention during this unprecedented time. To be featured in a future edition, send your recommendations of things to do at home and why you love them to: Creative Director / Publisher Dave Hamilton at dhamilton@streetwise.org
Ballet Premieres!
'Boléro' The Joffrey Ballet announces the world premiere of “Boléro,” named after the acclaimed orchestral piece by the composer Maurice Ravel, to be performed by 15 members of the company on February 12 at 5 p.m. “Boléro” marks the first live performance since The Joffrey’s opening of “The Times Are Racing,” which opened at the Auditorium Theatre on Feb. 12, 2020, exactly one year before “Boléro.” It will be livestreamed free via the Joffrey’s YouTube channel, youtube.com/TheJoffreyBallet. Uniquely, the work showcases the alternate creative talents of two current longtime male Joffrey dancers: Yoshihisa Arai choreographed "Boléro" in his third work for the company and Temur Suluashvili, who has collaborated with Arai, designed costumes.
(HOME) ENTERTAINMENT
Pure Laughs!
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'Out, Darn Spot!' Hell in a Handbag Productions presents the campy comedy “Out, Darn Spot!,” streaming via Vimeo. 1969 was a year to remember. Along with the moon landing, the end of the Beatles and the beginning of “The Brady Bunch,” the final episode of Lady Marcia Macbeth’s long-running lifestyle program, “I’m Not a Suppressed Homemaker!” aired. Why was it the last episode? In a nutshell, after helping her husband commit murder, she opened the show covered in blood and on the verge of multiple nervous breakdowns. Ever the professional, she managed to find the time to bake a chicken pot pie and kidnap Lesley Gore! The episode, once long-lost, has been brought to light. Hell in a Handbag’s Tyler Anthony Smith risked life and limb to learn the truth. This is the story of Lady Marcia Macbeth – the original real housewife. Fair is foul, and foul is fair, what happened that day live on air? The event starts streaming on February 12 at 8 p.m. and runs Thursdays - Sundays until March 21. Tickets are $17. More information can be found at http://www.handbagproductions.org.
Historic Children's Play!
'Educations in Colonialism and White Supremacy: King Philip's War in 19th-Century Schools' History rarely pays much attention to student plays and school work, but, when studied, these historical artifacts tell us a lot about how children learn, perform, and ultimately embody the cultural values of their era. Join the Newberry Library for a free virtual talk with literary scholar Karen Sánchez-Eppler about “Philip or the Indian Chief: A Tragedy in Four Acts,” a manuscript play written and performed in 1839 by cadets at Norwich Military Academy, where it was staged as part of the school’s graduation ceremonies. In a talk moderated by the Newberry’s Rose Miron, Sánchez-Eppler will explore how the play and other early 19th-century pedagogical materials were used to propagate white supremacy and settler colonialism, offering striking and provocative lessons for our present. The event is free and open to the public, 4 - 5 p.m. February 11. Register at newberry.org/public-programs.
Explore Nature at Home!
Scientific exposure: a National Geographic Live virtual event Natural history photographers working with National Geographic have often emerged from scientific backgrounds, enabling them to reveal wildlife and our natural world in surprising ways. Molecular biologist-turned-photographer Prasenjeet Yadav combines his experience in research with his photography skills to highlight natural history and science stories in Asia. Anand Varma has developed innovative techniques to create stunning images of creatures whose details are otherwise invisible to the naked eye. Join them for stories and conversation on the intriguing intersection of science and photography. Register at tickets.auditoriumtheatre.org for this 6 p.m. February 9 event. Admission is $20 and more information will be provided once tickets are purchased.
City Tour!
Virtual walking tour: East Hyde Park Chicago is well-known as “the city of neighborhoods.” Join Chicago Architecture Center docents Maria Corpuz and John Hug on the first-ever virtual stroll through their South Side neighborhood, East Hyde Park, an area filled with architectural treasures old and new. Corpuz and Hug highlight structures built prior to the 1893 World’s Fair along with beautiful low-rise Art Deco buildings, Mies van der Rohe’s first high-rise, as well as more recent neighborhood additions, such as Solstice on the Park (2018) by Studio Gang. The virtual tour is at noon on February 10. Admission is $8 for the public with a $3 convenience fee for all online transactions and free for students and CAC members. Register at www.architecture.org/programsevents/detail/cac-live-virtual-walking-tour-east-hyde-park/. Registered participants will receive a Zoom link three hours before the event begins. If you do not receive a link, contact tickets@architecture.org at least 30 minutes prior to the event.
Chicago History!
Innovations at the 1893 World’s Fair Delve into the most famous event in Chicago history: the World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893. This one-hour virtual event led via Zoom shares the inventions, engineering feats, and gastronomical exhibits that wowed visitors to the 1893 World’s Fair. On this enhanced interactive experience, you will see photos of the jaw-dropping sights like the Electricity Hall and the Court of Honor, hear stories of technological marvels like electric boats and a massive telescope, consider the variety of foods on display at the Fair, including giant food sculptures and have the option to play a riddle-based game based on innovations at the time. The winner gets a prize! Register at chicagodetours.rezdy.com/406501/innovations-at-the-1893-world-s-fair. Individual tickets are $20 or groups of four can purchase tickets for $35. Once registered, a Zoom link will be emailed for the participants to join the event which takes place Feb. 12, 7-8 p.m.
Lunch Reading!
Reading for Young People: Jillian Tamaki Join the Poetry Foundation for a special Valentine’s Day-themed reading for young people ages 8 and under with Jillian Tamaki. Tamaki is the author and illustrator of the picture books “They Say Blue,” a Caldecott Honor book, and “Our Little Kitchen,” as well as being co-creator (with Mariko Tamaki) of the YA graphic novels “SKIM” and “This One Summer,” which won a Governor General’s Award and a Caldecott Honor. This virtual event is set for 11 - 11:30 a.m. on February 13. It is free and open to the public. This reading will include live captioning. Register to reserve your spot at www.poetryfoundation.org/events/category/kids-ya.
-Compiled by Hannah Ross
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Vendors Russ Adams, John Hagan and Donald Morris chat about the world of sports with Executive Assistant Patrick Edwards.
SPORTSWISE
Predicting
the outcome of
John: Super Bowl LV features the Kansas City Chiefs and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. On paper, It’s an intriguing matchup of age—Tom Brady—versus beauty—Patrick Mahomes; in physical play, it’s going to come down to the Buccaneers’ defensive line and the Chiefs’ offensive line. What could be a problem for the Chiefs is they are missing two key offensive linemen, while the Bucs’ defensive front has improved dramatically over the year. If this were solely about the position players, the Chiefs would have the advantage because of their explosiveness, but with the o-line banged up… Donald: Well, Patrick Mahomes is going to have his hands full. Considering Tom Brady’s control and understanding of the Bucs’ offense, he could now be considered the quarterback-in-charge. Now, Mahomes does have a pretty good game himself, so I truly wanna see what’s going on. Though they both have the package to pull this one out, Mr. Tom Brady’s skills, combined with his long-yardage capability, I’m definitely looking forward to seeing him work. Russ: I may disappoint with the following, but it’s how I’m rolling: I have no prediction for this game. Listen, I like Brady and Mahomes—
in fact, are my two favorite football players this year— so, with that, I’m going to sit back, relax, and hope for the best game of my life. I’m already set with a couple of dollars in Football Squares, so maybe I can come up a little bit there, but if not, it’s cool. Enjoy, y’all, because this will be, I believe, football at its finest. Patrick: Russ, that sounds pretty good. I’m one foot in with you, one foot out. I’ve jumped on the Chiefs’ bandwagon as a dynasty-to-be… despite the fact no team has repeated in nearly 20 years; that said, I am a huge Tom Brady fan. Of course, it’s based on his play with the New England Patriots prior to this year, but it’s still Tom Brady. This could be a game where I’ll have to sit down, tune in, and see where my heart lies in regard to who I want to win. As for what my brain is telling me, it’s obvi-
Super Bowl LV
ously tough to root against Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs. If nothing else, he has an awesome first name! So, yeah, the Chiefs are good. But Tom is Tom. That said, predictions? Donald: Although I’m also somewhat in Russ’s camp, especially with the Packers bowing out, I’m giving the nod to Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Patrick: That the Buccaneers are the first team to ever luck into hosting a Super Bowl, coupled with the fact that Tom Brady is at the lead, Buccaneers for me as well. John: Despite the Chiefs’ possible disadvantage on the line, I pick them in a squeaker: 2724. Russ: Like I said, for me, this is about competing. I’m going to enjoy the heck outta this one! Any comments or suggestions? Email pedwards@streetwise.org
BLACK HISTORY MONTH Part 1: Chicago American Giants Prior to the polished form of the Major Leagues that we know today, a league of players and teams created and built a powerful organization of its own. The Negro Leagues held it down in what was, at the time, a lesser and racist form of a “separate, but equal” entity. Baseball, respectfully, was more than Babe Ruth, Rogers Hornsby or, even, Joe DiMaggio; it was, also, Satchel Paige, Josh Gibson, Cool Papa Bell and, of course, Jackie Robinson. In Chicago, a Negro League team named the Chicago American Giants flourished. For many, the American Giants stood as tall as any baseball team. Next week: Chicago American Giants: Background/ Heyday
#KNOWTHEPAST #SHAPETHEFUTURE #YWCAEEI
SAVE THE DATE!
BLACK HISTORY MONTH SERIES
The History + Future of Black Wealth WEDNESDAYS| FEBRUARY 2021 12PM CST
Follow: @ywcachicago Economic Empowerment Institute
WHAT NOW FOR BLACK LIVES MATTER? WHATEVER HAPPENS UNDER BIDEN, THE ROLE OF AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN WILL BE VITAL by Clare Corbould
During the summer, anti-Trump sentiment fused with anti-racist activism in the US, causing huge numbers of Americans to protest all around the country. President Donald Trump has been voted out of office, but the issues at the heart of Black Lives Matter remain as critical as ever. In fact, the high turnout for both sides in the election demonstrates two things: the power of the movement and the need for it to continue. But where does Black Lives Matter go from here?
Decentralized organization is key If you can’t name the three Black women — Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors and Opal Tometi — who coined the phrase “Black Lives Matter” in 2013, there’s a good reason for that. Seeking to avoid what they saw as the mistakes of the Civil Rights Movement, they stayed low-key and used social media to facilitate local activists taking responsibility. The 2020 US election has decisively demonstrated the power of this strategy, because it took varied local organizations to activate important pockets of Black voters, Latino voters, and young voters. During the summer’s large protests, hundreds of thousands of people registered to vote, especially Black Americans. Activists learned their tactics from a long tradition. Decentralized organization, often led by women, has always been integral to African Americans’ campaigns for rights. The Civil Rights Movement succeeded because of the work of women such as Ella Baker and Fannie Lou Hamer, which culminated in the 1965 Voting Rights Act. But in 2013, a conservative-leaning Supreme Court ruled sections of the Voting Rights Act were unconstitutional. Nine states — including seven in the South, where voting had been closely supervised by the federal Department of Justice — were now able to limit the franchise.
In other words, those in power could resume discriminating against voters. So too could other states, now that the threat of having such supervision imposed was removed. Voter suppression efforts, which were already a problem, have abounded since.
Black women lead the charge African American women were the backbone of the Democratic Party’s 2020 electoral success. Along with Kamala Harris successfully running for vice president, some 130 Black women ran for Congress — with almost 100 on the Democratic side. Democratic politician and activist, Stacey Abrams, also led a new organization, Fair Fight. Together with other organizers, it made Georgia a swing state by registering roughly one million additional voters since 2016. Nearly two-thirds are voters of color. In Atlanta and cities elsewhere, such as Detroit and Milwaukee, Black voters registered and turned out. Not all African American voters favored Democratic candidates, of course, but the proportion was high enough to deliver key states to the party. Importantly, the proportion of Black women who voted for Trump was small and, in Georgia for example, it was less than half that of Black men.
THIS PAGE: Voter registration drives were organized around the US ahead of election day (Bebeto Matthews/AP photo). OPPOSITE PAGE: June 2, 2020: A woman leads chanting as peaceful protesters march from Wrigleyville to the 18th District police station. The Tuesday protest proceeded peacefully from Wrigleyville to the 18th District Station, where protesters took a knee in front of dozens of police officers in riot gear (Kathleen Hinkel photo).
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ABOVE: President Biden and Vice President Harris take the stage in Detroit on Aug. 11, 2020 (Reuters photo). RIGHT: May 30, 2020: Two women raise their fists while wearing protective masks with George Floyd's last words, "I Can't Breathe," written on them. They were among thousands attending a Black Lives Matter Chicago protest at Federal Plaza in downtown Chicago in the wake of the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis Police (Kathleen Hinkel photo).
Success beyond the election The Black Lives Matter movement is much more expansive in its aims than either defeating Trump or putting a Democratic president in the White House. Joe Biden has heeded those aims, noting during the campaign and in his first speech as president-elect that one of the nation’s major challenges is “systemic racism.” Surveys this year have also shown unprecedented sympathy for Black Lives Matter causes among white Americans. While support has fallen in the months since protests following George Floyd’s death in May, unexpected groups of white people have demonstrated a concerted commitment to protesting.
Movement’s strength also brings out Republican vote The record-breaking turnout for Trump, especially given the appalling failure to manage the COVID-19 crisis, suggests the successes of Black Lives Matter have also generated a parallel backlash. Trump certainly used the visibility of the protests to anchor his campaign around anti-Black Lives Matter rhetoric and sentiment. He tweeted “LAW AND ORDER!” many times, in his familiar all caps. When asked in the presidential debates about racism and racial inequality, he pivoted to this theme.
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More than 70 million voters seem to have been persuaded or at least not dissuaded by Trump and Republicans’ racist dog-whistling.
Much more work to do Anti-racist organizers knew long before Biden was even picked as the Democratic candidate it wouldn’t matter who won the White House, because true change comes only from grassroots activity. The mission will be helped if the broad anti-racist coalition that seemed to emerge mid-year can be sustained, even without the galvanizing presence of Trump in the White House. In the medium-term, activists nationwide will continue to work to mitigate the varied forms of voter suppression, because these disproportionately affect voters of color. The apparent closeness of the presidential election — a mirage produced by Republican state legislatures’ decision not to count mail-in ballots until election day — drew a great deal of attention to this widespread disenfranchisement. The long-term targets of Black Lives Matter activists are harder to pinpoint. But they include police violence, incarceration levels, and the many other injustices that stem from systemic racism, whether in the United States or other countries.
Trump also railed against “critical race theory” and teaching history in schools that focused too heavily on racism.
In all arenas, the dispersed nature of the organizing and the key role played by African American women will remain absolutely vital.
Republicans joined Trump in attempting to frighten voters, by claiming Biden would heed the vision of Black Lives Matter activists to defund and abolish the police.
Clare Corbould is associate professor for the Contemporary Histories Research Group at Deakin University, Victoria, Austrailia. Courtesy of The Conversation.
WHERE THE PROTESTS END, OUR WORK BEGINS. For nearly a century, we’ve been working to promote racial justice. Help us achieve it once and for all. UntilJusticeJustIs.org
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Wellington Avenue church sells building, donates partial profit to local non-profits by Suzanne Hanney
The congregation of the Wellington Avenue United Church of Christ (WAUCC) has sold its centuryold church building in Lakeview and donated about 10 percent of the net proceeds -- $270,000 -- to 19 non-profit social justice organizations. The church building at 615 W. Wellington Ave., just west of Broadway, was sold in September for $2.85 million to Chabad of East Lakeview, a local non-profit Jewish community. "Like many congregations, WAUCC's membership has dwindled over the last few years, and we no longer need so much space," said Pastor Ann-Louise Haak. "As a community of faith with a deep commitment to social justice, the members voted to use their resources to help build up their community rather than continue to maintain a building," she added. The congregation continues to meet via Zoom and will plan its physical space after the pandemic; more information is at waucc.org
FROM THE STREETS
"The Coronavirus pandemic and the economic recession have made their work more difficult and stressed their shrinking budgets," Pastor Haak said of the grantees. “Several of the recipient agencies, we were happy to learn, [would] use the Wellington funds as matching grants in their year-end fundraising campaigns."
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Recipients include: ● North Side Housing and Supportive Services (NSHSS), which operates a shelter, under COVID-19 conditions, for 40 homeless men in Uptown and provides case management services, and clothing, meals and supplies for many more. NSHSS also provides apartments for 194 formerly homeless persons. Other homeless programs that received grants were Deborah's Place, Sarah's Circle, the Night Ministry, and the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless. ● Lakeview Pantry, which was on track to provide 4 million meals to more than 100,000 clients in 2020, as well as mental health and social services. A Just Harvest, CROP Walk, and Bread for the World are other grantees that feed the hungry. ● Faith In Place runs five environmental programs with 359 faith partners throughout Illinois, and by the end of 2020 they will have planted tens of thousands of trees in the state, engaged in energy conservation, water preservation, sustainable agriculture.
WAUCC also made grants to Christian Peacemaker Teams, ONE Northside, Circles & Ciphers, Equal Justice Initiative, READI Chicago, Greater Chicago Broadcast Ministries, EcoJustice Collaborative, Immigrant Justice Task Force, and HelloBaby. WAUCC was formed in 1909 with the merger of the Lincoln Park Congregational Church and the Evanston Avenue Congregational Church. The first worship service in its newly constructed building was on Jan. 1, 1911. In 1910, a woman, Lily McDaniel Merill, became an associate pastor. The senior pastor, Dr. Edward Williams, ministered to an AfricanAmerican regiment during the Civil War. In the 1920s, its Women’s Guild sewed and sent clothing to the needy. During World War II, women made bandages for the Red Cross, the first woman was elected to the Board of Trustees, and its youth sent gifts and cards to Japanese Americans detained in U.S. prison camps. In the 1960s, Students for a Democratic Society, protesting at the Democratic Convention, slept in the basement. A draft counseling center was established in 1968 and lasted until the end of the Vietnam War. In the 70s the congregation marched for peace, worked on police surveillance and to repeal the draft, and welcomed Good Shepherd Parish and its LGBTQ ministry. The church ordained the second openly gay U.C.C. minister in the U.S. and advocated in the anti-apartheid movement to stop all investments in South Africa. In the 80s, Wellington became officially “Open and Affirming” to all LGBT people and the second U.S. congregation to provide sanctuary for people who were fleeing war and violence in South America. Its issues in the 90s were opposition to the School of the Americas, to the death penalty and police brutality, support for environmental justice and universal health care. Since 1999, the award-winning TimeLine Theatre has presented its plays there. Early in the 20th century, the congregation concerned itself with debt cancellation for impoverished nations, opposition to sanctions on Iraq and to the Iraq War. Today’s focus includes the environment, racism and immigrant justice, including deportation, family separation and border atrocities.
ABOVE: The interior of Wellington Avenue United Church of Christ; exterior. (Both photos by Eric Allix Rogers / Chicago Arcitecture Center.) RIGHT: From top: Alds. Maria Hadden (49th ward), Byron Sigcho-Lopex (25th ward), and Matt Martin (47th ward). (City of Chicago photos.)
Aldermen seek hearing on proposed affordable housing/ Anti-gentrification ordinance by Suzanne Hanney
Mayor Lori Lightfoot “has a lot of alignment” with the goals of the proposed Chicago Inclusive Housing Ordinance (CIHO), which would require developers to set aside different percentages of affordable housing for different neighborhoods, based on housing costs and gentrification pressures. “This ordinance was drafted specifically with full knowledge of the [Department of Housing/DOH] inclusionary task force,” Ald. Maria Hadden (49th ward) said during a January 27 virtual press conference. “We had a conversation with the [Lightfoot] administration when it was introduced in December and January, but our goals have a lot of alignment. Specific elements are moving in the same direction.” Hadden was joined by Alds. Byron SigchoLopez (25th) and Matt Martin (47th) and advocates from ONE Northside and Access Living, who are seeking a hearing before the Chicago City Council’s Housing Committee. They say the proposal would reform the current Affordable Requirements Ordinance to achieve desegregation and help combat the looming eviction crisis. Based on a DePaul University Institute for Housing Studies (IHS) report, the proposed ordinance would divide the city into low-, medium-, or high-cost areas, further segmented by displacement pressure due to rising housing costs. The ordinance would require developers to build the following percentages of affordable housing: • 10 percent in lower-cost zones • 20 percent in lower-cost zones vulnerable to displacement and moderate-cost zones • 30 percent in moderate-cost zones vulnerable to displacement, high-cost zones and highcost zones vulnerable to displacement. Englewood and West Englewood, South Shore and Greater Grand Crossing, were examples of lower-cost zones with previously stable prices, and people now vulnerable to displacement, according to IHS. New City and Grand Boulevard neighborhoods served by the CTA Orange, Red and Green Lines, as well two census tracts near the proposed El Paseo, were deemed moderatecost/rising neighborhoods. High-cost neighborhoods with previously affordable housing, and, thus, susceptible populations, were Irving Park and Addison just west
of the Kennedy Expressway/CTA Blue Line, West Town just south of Humboldt Park and the areas around the CTA Brown Line terminus in Albany Park and the 18th Street station on the Pink Line. Although they had moderate rents in 2017, these neighborhoods are now among the highest priced in the city, according to the DePaul IHS report, and “proactive planning is essential to preserving affordability.” The DOH’s inclusionary housing task force found two problems with the present Affordable Requirements Ordinance (ARO). First, its units are targeted to people making at least 60 percent of the Area Median Income, or AMI, ($38,220 for a one-person household), which is unaffordable to more than 6 in 10 Black Chicago households and 5 in 10 Latinx households. Second, the report noted that 75 percent of ARO units are studios and one-bedrooms, while the average Black household has 2.7 people and the average Latinx has 3.7. The CIHO would require 60 percent of units to be at least two-bedroom and 30 percent to be three-bedroom, with incentives for developers who create more. In addition, half the units would have to be affordable to people earning 50 percent of AMI ($31,850), which is the median Latinx income. Another quarter of the units would have to be targeted to people at 20 percent AMI ($12,740) the annual income for a majority of disability recipients; the final quarter would be priced at 30 percent of AMI ($19,150), the median Black household income. “The Department of Housing is committed to the creation and preservation of housing that is affordable for all throughout Chicago's 77 community areas,” Eugenia Orr, DOH director of public relations, said in an email response to a question about Lightfoot’s support. “To that end, the Inclusionary Housing Task Force continues to be instrumental as we work toward a new ARO that is rooted in the goals of reducing segregation, serving lower-income residents and larger household sizes, and providing increased accessibility. The next iteration of the ARO will focus on these shared goals and we look forward to continuing to work with aldermen, advocates, and other stakeholders to strengthen the inclusionary purpose of this tool.”
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StreetWise vendor Jimmie Beckless introduces stepson sEmaj to the vendor force by Samantha Friedkin
Jimmie Beckless has been a StreetWise Vendor for 13 years. Over the years, Jimmie has moved around between three different spots, but he has been able to settle into one location with loyal and friendly customers. Jimmie was homeless for about four years before coming to StreetWise. His friend and fellow vendor, Charles Dixon, brought him to the organization and he’s been with StreetWise ever since. Even during the pandemic, Jimmie has been able to build up his customer base at a Chicago Starbucks location. “The management and customers are really great,” he mentioned while talking about his vending experiences throughout the pandemic.
INSIDE STREETWISE
One of the biggest challenges for Jimmie has been connecting with the local residents and finding opportunities to tell people what StreetWise is and why he is selling the magazine. At first, “a lot of people would turn their heads and not even look at me.” Jimmie said. This was “good with him” and he tried to not let it discourage him or let it anger him.
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“I had to let people know what StreetWise is about: that it helps prevent people from being homeless and it empowers them to work,” Jimmie said. “People saw me out there every day trying to support myself.” Jimmie mentioned one of his biggest strategies to do this was to let people into his life. He would talk to his customers about his life before StreetWise and about his military career. Jimmie said that he would talk to people every day as they walked by. He learned to tolerate it and accept it if people did not want to talk back to him. Jimmie learned that if he didn’t let this bother him, “people would start to talk with me and engage, and eventually they would buy a magazine.” Jimmie says that the one thing keeping him out and selling StreetWise is his family. “They have been very supportive and understanding.” Jimmie said. He has a 14-year-old son who is a straight-A student and Jimmie wants to see him graduate from high school in a few years.
Recently, Jimmie has brought his stepson Semaj to StreetWise. Semaj was always interested in StreetWise and learning the ins and outs of sales. “He wanted to get into it to learn more about how to sell, and he thought this would be a good way to do it.” Jimmie found him a location a few blocks away from his own location at another Starbucks. Although they do not sell together as a team, Jimmie is still able to help Semaj learn and grow through his own experiences vending. The management and the customers at Semaj’s location know Jimmie very well. He said “They look out for [Semaj] and they support him.” Jimmie is committed to selling StreetWise as long as needed to support his family. Even through the pandemic, Jimmie has maintained a positive outlook and looks forward to greeting his customers each day. “I want to say thank you to the customers who have supported me and I appreciate their cooperation with me,” Jimmie said. He wished the world “a very happy holidays” and he hopes “COVID-19 will end soon because people need to be healthy and survive this thing.”
Jimmie and Samaj (Amanda Jones photo).
Streetwise 1/25/21 Crossword To solve the Sudoku puzzle, each row, column and box must contain the numbers 1 to 9.
Sudoku
PuzzleJunctio
Crossword Across
©2016 PuzzleJunction.com
10 Go straight 38 Criminal 11 Annoyance charge 12 Ancient Greek 39 Sculptor’s marketplace output 13 Seating 41 1980’s Geena sections Davis sitcom 18 Buddy 43 Band box 22 Burden 45 Needle 24 Completely continuously wn 25 Similar 47 Besmirches 26 Exploit 48 Sleeper’s woe 27 Sicilian city Droops 49 Caper Telegram 28 Stadium 50 Some offerings, at showdowns Prayer leader Rickshaws times 51 Road curve Dutch commune 29 PC linkup 53 Paraphernalia 31 Tomato blight Wedding 55 Recipe abbr. member 32 “Dog Day 56 Skin cream Afternoon” Water conduits additive Teen spots character 57 Egg producers Butterfly 34 Pocketbook 59 Genetic stuff PuzzleJunction.com 35 ©2016 Stiff hair catcher Copyright 60 Make lace Albanian money Picture holder Unlawful firing? Disrespect Pinball paths Varieties
Copyright ©2021 PuzzleJunction.com
©PuzzleJunction.com
Solution lastSudoku week's Puzzle Answers
Solution
Sudoku Solution
Find your nearest StreetWise Vendor at www.streetwise.org
35 “Pink Panther” films actor 38 Black Hills Mt. 40 Vanquish 41 Pretense 42 Kind of court 43 Philippine language 45 Connect 47 Plucks 48 On a horse 49 ___ Cayes, Haiti 51 Peruvian coin 53 Era 56 Heroic tales 57 Royal pains 60 Dry, as wine 62 Mornings, for short 63 Trendy 65 Uno + due 67 Handle clumsily
How StreetWise Works
Our Mission
Orientation Participants complete a monthlong orientation, focusing on customer service skills, financial literacy and time management to become a badged vendor.
Financial Literacy Vendors buy StreetWise for $0.90, and sell it for $2. The profit of $1.10 goes directly to the licensed vendor for them to earn a living.
Supportive Services StreetWise provides referrals, advocacy and other support to assist participants in meeting their basic needs and getting out of crisis.
S.T.E.P. Program StreetWise’s S.T.E.P. Program provides job readiness training and ongoing direct service support to ensure participants’ success in entering the traditional workforce.
THE PLAYGROUND
To empower the entrepreneurial spirit through the dignity of self-employment by providing Chicagoans facing homelessness with a combination of supportive social services, workforce development resources and immediate access to gainful employment.
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