September 6 - 12, 2021 Vol. 29 No. 35
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Arts & (Home) Entertainment
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SportsWise
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Cover Story: Matt Damon
We are replacing our usual calendar with virtual events and recommendations from StreetWise vendors, readers and staff to keep you entertained at home! The SportsWise team discusses who should quarterback the Chicago Bears. After a break from films that was more emotional than he bargained for, Matt Damon is searching for meaning in his work. He tells The Big Issue why new film "Stillwater" runs deep, and reveals an affinity for and knowledge of street papers.
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Inside StreetWise
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The Playground
StreetWise celebrates its 29th anniversary with a party and open house for our vendors and neighbors.
Voice of the Streets - op-ed
Nonprofit Gabriel's Light opens National Suicide Month with an op-ed by founder Carol Deely.
ON THE COVER: Matt Damon poses at the 74th Cannes Film Festival - Screening of the film "Stillwater" not in competition - Cannes, France, July 8, 2021 (REUTERS/Johanna Geron). THIS PAGE: Matt Damon presents nominations at a reception for the 89th Oscars® on Friday, Feb. 24, 2017, in Beverly Hills (Mike Palma / © A.M.P.A.S.).
Dave Hamilton, Creative Director/Publisher
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StreetWiseChicago @StreetWise_CHI
Suzanne Hanney, Editor-In-Chief
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Amanda Jones, Director of programs
ajones@streetwise.org
Julie Youngquist, Executive director
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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 what to do at home and why you love them to Creative Director / Publisher Dave Hamilton at dhamilton@streetwise.org
Trailblazing Women!
Chicago Avant-Garde: Five Women Ahead of Their Time This new gallery at the Newberry Library, 60 W. Walton St., celebrates five Chicago women who took radical risks to benefit their lives and their art between the 1930s and the 1950s. Given the political and social context of the time, the exhibit explains how artist Gertrude Abercrombie, poet Gwendolyn Brooks, choreographers Katherine Dunham and Ruth Page, and dealer-curator Katharine Kuh turned contemporary challenges into inspiration, be it racial segregation and violence, anti-communist rhetoric, sexism, or the Great Depression. The gallery experience includes a catalog filled with photographs and essays to help detail the lives and work of these women. Admission is free for the public and the show runs from September 10 through December 30, Tuesdays - Fridays 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Saturdays noon - 4 p.m. More information can be found at newberry.org/chicago-avant-garde-exhibition.
US History!
(HOME) ENTERTAINMENT
'Thirteen Days' Join City Lit Theater Company, 1020 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., for the premier of the stage adaptation of Robert F. Kennedy’s Memoir of the Cuban Missile Crisis “Thirteen Days.” City Lit received permission to incorporate transcripts of John F. Kennedy’s strategy sessions from the 13 days following the discovery of Soviet missiles pointed at the US in Cuba. The show tells the story of how JFK navigated conflicting counsel on military response during this tense era of the Cold War. As with many of City Lit’s productions, the cast will be a diverse ensemble of women performing a story that originally consisted only of white men. The show runs September 10 through October 24 and showtimes vary by day. For more information or to reserve tickets (beginning at $28 with discounts for students and seniors), go to citylit.org. Full vaccination is required for attendance.
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Good Reads!
36th Annual Printers Row Lit Fest Presented by the Near South Planning Board, the Printers Row Lit Fest is coming to Dearborn between Polk and Ida B. Wells this Saturday and Sunday, September 11 & 12, from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. This event is the largest free outdoor literary showcase in the Midwest and it’s complete with all sorts of attractions for readers of all ages including readings by national and local authors, writing workshops, and other live performances and interactive activities as well as food and music! Programming for the festival spans all genres, so there’s something for everyone. A full schedule as well as other information and guidelines is available at printersrowlitfest.org.
Cool as Ice!
Free Summer Screening - 'The Ice King' The Chicago International Film festival is back with another virtual summer movie! "The Ice King" tells the story of John Curry, the first openly gay Olympian. The sport? Figure skating! Curry took to the ice again and again blending traditional techniques of the sport with softer elements of modern dance and ballet. The film brings together archival video footage with more current commentary from friends and experts into a thorough overview of Curry’s art and impact. This FREE film experience will be available to stream beginning at 6:30 p.m. on September 8, with a 24-hour watch window. Register online at chicagofilmfestival.com/film/the-ice-king.
Sassy Comedy!
Femmes the Rules Come to the Lincoln Lodge, 2040 N. Milwaukee Ave., on September 8 at 8 p.m., for a night of comedy with a unique twist! Los Angeles-based comedians Sammy Mowrey (Adult Swim [pictured]) and Bailey Norton (Reductress) host this show where female and nonbinary comedians are paired with male comedians and the men get interrupted - all in good fun, of course. During the male comedian’s set, his counterpart can interrupt him with jokes, commentary, and arbitrary strikes. Three strikes and he’s out and the female/nonbinary comedians get to take over and do their set uninterrupted! Tickets are only $5, so get them while you can through eventbrite.com.
Chicago History!
Book Talk: Chicago, an Illustrated Timeline Join Chicago Architecture Center Director Hallie Rosen at noon on September 8 for a virtual discussion of Ellen Schubart’s book “Chicago, an Illustrated Timeline” as she details the rise of Chicago into the metropolis we see today. Schubart’s work follows Chicago’s evolution, beginning with first settlement on Potawatomi communities, through its time as a more simple midwestern outpost, all the way through to its standing as a modern megacity. Complete with comprehensive illustrations and photography, this book and Zoom conversation is a perfect option for anyone interested in Chicago’s political, economic, and architectural history. Admission is free for CAC members and $8 for the general public at www.architecture.org/programs-events/ detail/book-talk-chicago-an-illustrated-timeline.
Photojournalist Impact!
Through the Lens of Arthur Rothstein: Beyond Shanghai The Illinois Holocaust Museum presents a virtual educational program about the life and legacy of Arthur Rothstein, a photojournalist widely recognized for his coverage of the Dust Bowl during the Great Depression. He also headed a lesser-known project photographing a Jewish refugee community in Shanghai during World War II. The virtual program will explore this project within the context of Rothstein’s career at large. Come history buffs, come journalists, come photographers for this unforgettable presentation of a long-forgotten gallery of work. It will be presented at 6:30 p.m. on September 9 by Rothstein’s daughter and her husband, who has a history in urban planning and affordable housing work. Register for FREE at ilholocaustmuseum.org/events.
A Bronzville Landmark tour!
Wabash YMCA Historic Tour The Wabash YMCA at 3763 S. Wabash Ave. is regarded as the birthplace of Black History Month and lauded more generally as an important center for community and economic progress for African Americans in Bronzeville for over 50 years. Given the location's historical and cultural significance, The Renaissance Collaborative is offering FREE tours of the facilities on the second and fourth Saturdays of each month at 10:30 a.m., complete with vintage photos and newspapers to provide historical context for the building’s importance. Reservations must be made at least a day in advance, and though admission is free, there is a suggested donation of $20 to help support The Renaissance Collaborative’s community work and programming. More information is available on the eventbrite.com.
Free Concert!
Baroque in the Park Music of the Baroque (MOB) is celebrating 50 years of orchestral music with this outdoor concert at Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park, 201 E. Randolph St. Bring your family and friends to the Great Lawn September 10 at 6:30 p.m. to hear the Music of the Baroque Chorus and Orchestra perform testaments to the era. The program includes Handel’s “Music for the Royal Fireworks,” Vivaldi’s “Gloria,” and the Baroqueinspired “Spectacle of Light” by Chicago-based composer Stacy Garrop, specially commissioned for MOB’s 50th anniversary. Ifetayo Ali-Landing will also be making her MOB debut with the final movement of Haydn's “Cello Concerto No. 1 in C Major,” making this show a wonderful celebration of new and established Chicago talent! Admission is free for the general public. To learn more about the show, go to baroque.org/BITP2021, and to learn more about guidelines for attending concerts in Millennium Park, visit chicago.gov. -Compiled by Audrey Champelli
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Vendors Russ Adams, John Hagan and Donald Morris chat with Executive Assistant Patrick Edwards.
Patrick: John, we’ve spoken about this a few times, so I know you’re ready to kick off this Bears discussion. We’ve finally made it, and, so far, things COVID-related are holding on so as to not interfere as seriously as they did during the past year-andchange. A ton of exciting news on the homefront, so what do you have, John? John: This year, the Bears will excite. Now, they may not make it to the promised land, but we’ll have a ton of moments. Some good, some bad, but my big prediction: Justin Fields will start at quarterback week 1 at the Los Angeles Rams.
SPORTSWISE
Russ: Oh, wow. John: Sunday Night Football this weekend, 7:20 p.m. start in Los Angeles against the Rams. Justin Fields will be slinging the ball around the field. If Andy Dalton—our official projected starter at quarterback—doesn’t bring the excitement and dazzle that Justin Fields has shown, the Bears will concede that Fields is the man to carry us to the promised land. Patrick: Is that the smart thing, though?
offense and defense going, that’s probably the best thing for him. Donald: I won’t lie, I want to see Justin Fields out there today, tomorrow, next week; shoot, whenever the Bears play. At Ohio State, just last year—yes, the man is a rookie for those not in the know— he led the Buckeyes through an undefeated season, only to lose to Alabama in the championship game. Now, he did have a subpar game, going 17 for 33 with only one touchdown in the 52-24 loss, but he didn’t lose any respect for himself, and we didn’t lose any for him. Russ: Agreed. Shoot, Alabama was no joke last year. Patrick: They weren’t.
John: Well, personally, I believe the Bears should start Andy Dalton, and develop Fields slowly. Until we can get a few other pieces of the
John: True. But, even so, I think if we hold Justin back from starting for just a few games, see how Dalton’s
working it, and when we play the Packers in week 6, if Dalton’s not doing what he could, then get Justin in there to finish off against Aaron Rodgers. Russ: I like it. Let Dalton get to that one and mano-a-mano with Rodgers. Donald: Now, fellas, I’m looking at the following game: We got Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Let’s see what’s really going on with that! Patrick: Good point. While it would be cool if Dalton is able to withstand the pressure—of public opinion and Justin Field’s arm and control—through the Green Bay Packers game, and if he is still the starter when Tampa Bay rolls in, it won’t be horrible to get Fields in there at some point to go up against, perhaps, the greatest quarterback to ever play the game.
Russ: Could be really exciting. The young buck turning back the old, grizzled veteran… John: Unless we, also, have the old, grizzled veteran turning back the clock—not that the clock seems to be affecting Brady in any shape and form—but, yeah, Tom has the ability to put a whupping on Fields. Donald: My money’s on Brady. But…I would love to watch that one. Shoot, the hype alone will be worth the entrance fee. Patrick: Y’all are rolling with the good points today. I am with y’all. Russ: Fellas, I feel a good one coming. Any comments or suggestions? Email pedwards@streetwise.org
MATT DAMON 'I always looked forward to being an experienced actor.'
by Adrian Lobb / The Big Issue UK / bigissue.com/ courtesy of INSP.ngo
Matt Damon is 50. Logically it makes sense. Next year marks 25 years since he introduced himself to the world as a triple threat screenwriter-producerlead actor on ”Good Will Hunting.” He won the Best Original Screenplay Oscar together with his longterm collaborator Ben Affleck for it, while his performance as a genius working-class janitor (which also got a Best Actor nomination), particularly in scenes with Robin Williams, was both complex and supremely natural. Damon has been a major movie star ever since. But still, we have to double and triple check when we realize he is into his sixth decade and more than a quarter of a century into a career that has seen his films take in almost $7 billion at the box office. “Believe me, I did too, man. It’s a weird feeling,” he says. “I do reflect on it a lot. I feel incredibly blessed to have the life I’ve had and the career that I’ve had. On the other hand, I can’t believe it’s been that long.” A quick skim through his films confirms his longevity and adaptability – and that he’s worked with many of the greatest directors on the planet. In 1998, he was the titular star of Steven Spielberg’s ”Saving Private Ryan,” while the following year he was the eponymous ruthless sociopath opposite Jude Law, Cate Blanchett and Gwyneth Paltrow in Anthony Minghella’s ”The Talented Mr. Ripley.” Three years later, he confirmed himself as a major action hero as ”The Bourne Identity” kicked off a franchise that modernized the genre. He’d later stand shoulder to shoulder with Morgan Freeman’s Nelson Mandela when he played South Africa’s wholesome rugby union captain Francois Pienaar in the Clint Eastwood-directed ”Invictus” (scooping another Oscar nomination), play Liberace’s lover in Steven Soderbergh’s ”Behind The Candelabra,” star as a mob mole in Martin Scorsese’s ”The Departed” before delivering a Golden Globe-winning performance full of heart in Ridley Scott’s acclaimed ”The Martian.” But Damon’s boyish charm remains. The goofy, friendly, openness he has brought to the big screen so often is beaming in from Cannes. He asks how many interviews we are doing today. “Just you, Matt.” He’s quick to deadpan, “Yeah, you’re my only one too. I flew all the way to Cannes just to talk with The Big Issue,” before he asks about the magazine. “That’s fantastic, man,” he says. “We have a newspaper, in the town I grew up in – Cambridge, Massachusetts – called Spare Change. And it’s the same concept. That’s great.”
The previous night Damon shed tears as the standing ovation for his new film ”Stillwater” lasted more than five minutes. “The moment kind of snuck up on me,” he says. “There was a lot going through my mind. I was happy the film had played so well, obviously, because I’m really proud of it and we worked really hard on it – and we’ve been holding on to it.
Camille Cottin as "Virginie," Matt Damon as "Bill" and Lilou Siauvaud as "Maya" in director Tom McCarthy’s "Stillwater," a Focus Features release (Jessica Forde / Focus Features).
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“During a recent interview, I recalled a discussion I had with my daughter where I attempted to contextualize for her the progress that has been made – though by no means completed – since I was growing up in Boston and, as a child, heard the word ‘f*g’ used on the street before I knew what it even referred to,” he said. He continued: “I have learned that eradicating prejudice requires active movement toward justice rather than finding passive comfort in imagining myself ‘one of the good guys.’ “It was supposed to come out last year but the pandemic changed those plans. So after that long wait, to have that kind of reception was really moving.” But it was about more than that. What moved Damon to tears was returning to the essence of what makes the cinema so special – the collective experience. “There was the added COVID factor, which was that I hadn’t been in a movie theatre with 1,000 strangers in SO long,” he says. “And that reminder of why we need that, why it’s so important. I have been to Cannes four or five times, but it has a deeper meaning for me having had that experience. “You get accustomed to watching things at home on your TV and without any experiences in a cinema, that starts to become the new normal. Then to suddenly have this experience in a cinema, you’re like, that’s why we do this! So the moment snuck up on me and I got a little emotional because I just felt this overwhelming relief and joy and gratitude.” Damon took some time away from moviemaking after filming ”The Martian,” ”Jason Bourne,” ”The Great Wall,” ”Suburbicon” and ”Downsizing” back to back. Initially, the plan was to spend time with his wife, Luciana, and their four children. But fate intervened, and it meant he was able to be with his father, who has since died, during a long illness. This time out, he says, has made him reassess the stories he wants to tell. “Stillwater” feels like a change in direction born out of that period of reflection. It is all too fitting, then, that Damon’s press run for the film has attracted some criticism and reflection in itself. He was widely condemned after the Sunday Times published an interview in which he talked about how his daughter had reacted angrily to a “joke” Damon told at home that used a homosexual slur. He followed up with a statement to clarify his position and assuage the anger.
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“And given that open hostility against the LGBTQ+ community is still not uncommon, I understand why my statement led many to assume the worst. “To be as clear as I can be, I stand with the LGBTQ+ community.” This interview took place before the furor over his comments, but his character in “Stillwater” could almost be a study of somebody a typical social media mob may not agree with. It is a fine film and a special performance, with themes of connection and growth and second chances that extend far beyond the plot. Damon plays Bill Baker – a classic American everyman, a rough-and-ready oil rig worker from Oklahoma who goes to Europe to get his daughter out of jail for a crime she says she didn’t commit. He works hard and says little apart from the prayers he offers before chomping into his Subway sandwiches (even in cosmopolitan France). The character could so easily be an underwritten, two-dimensional cliché. But not in Damon’s hands, and not in this film. Instead, he is taken seriously, allowed complexity, and feels completely real. “That’s exactly right – most movies would look down their nose at Bill, and this movie is the opposite,” says Damon. “We have tremendous empathy for him. It’s a very specific person. It’s not just the guy from Stillwater. It’s a roughneck from Stillwater. That’s a very specific thing and we were so lucky because these roughnecks gave us incredible access. “We went down there, drove in their trucks all over Oklahoma to different oil rigs, they showed us how they do their job, brought us to their houses, we had barbecues with their families.
ABOVE: Actor Matt Damon, actor Abigail Breslin and director Tom McCarthy on the set of "Stillwater," a Focus Features release (Jessica Forde / Focus Features). OPPOSITE PAGE: Matt Damon in "Stillwater."
“And you just soak up so much when you’re walking in someone else’s shoes – or at least walking next to them.
where you are. And then you start to make those connections. As an actor, I couldn’t do my job if I didn’t believe that.
“You get all the details of a character like this. The specifics. Because there’s a universality in specificity, right? So the more detail you can put into building this character, you know, that goatee and the wraparound shades, the hat, the jeans with fire retardant on them that feel like cardboard when you’re walking. And the work is so physically demanding. These guys work harder than anybody I’ve ever seen. They have to be very strong. They eat and drink a certain way so they’re kind of beefy. So I put weight on but lifted heavy weights to just be a bigger, beefy kind of guy. All of that put together, it’s like their uniform. My hope is that when they see the movie, they’ll go ‘Yeah, Bill Baker looks like someone who I work with.’”
“We’re all connected and your experience dictates the type of person you are. It’s a great reminder when you really sit with people that the media would tell you you’re so different from and you realize that they have a great value system and they are highly moral people, they love their kids, they love each other. The big things are all the same.”
This time spent in the most Republican of all the US states, with voters whose political views and ways of life are a world away from his own, helped remind Damon of something vital. “Once you spend time with people…” he begins. “I always walked away from those research trips going, ‘God, the things that connect us are so much greater than the things that divide us.’ “The politicians will always stoke the divides because it’s in their self-interest. But when we can just get together? They live differently down there than I grew up, but how would I live if I lived in rural Oklahoma? They’ve chosen to organize their lives in a different way, but it makes total sense if that’s
We follow Bill as he leaves the certainty of the town and football team and people he knows and loves to travel to Marseille on one of his awkward, semi-regular visits to his estranged daughter – who is serving a long prison sentence for the murder of her girlfriend. Again, it could be a classic American-fights-for-justice, "USA, USA, USA" film in less skilled hands. But again, it isn’t. Instead, Damon’s character cuts a diminished figure in this world and culture he neither understands nor cares for, struggles to connect in a language he doesn’t know and has never needed, and cannot make himself heard, however loudly he speaks. Damon spoke with director Tom McCarthy before shooting about the wider themes, of the US re-engaging with the world post-Trump. “The scenes, when put together, can make a larger thematic statement, but when you’re doing the scenes, you have got to believe what Bill does in each situation and his reaction,” he says. “And a lot of that came from the roughnecks. They’re totally unapologetic about their worldview. And why shouldn’t they be?”
"This is all I wanted to do, and I’m happy to report that I’m still really having fun. And I’m getting better at it too, and that’s exciting."
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"The things that connect us are so much greater than the things that divide us." Bill forms an unlikely, mutually beneficial friendship with local theatre maker Virginie (played brilliantly by Camille Cottin) and her daughter Maya. He is pointedly asked whether he voted for Trump. The relief around the dinner party table when he says no is palpable. But Bill goes on to say that was only because he couldn’t vote because he had been in prison. “You know, it’s actually an incredibly naive question from the worldly, French cultural elite, right?” says Damon. “Oklahoma’s the reddest state in America. And these guys work in the oil fields. They’re always gonna vote red. And they’re not apologizing for it. I talked to those guys – they see it as a binary choice involving their ability to provide for their kids. And they’re always going to choose their kids, as we all do, right? That’s what we wanted to put into the character. “So when Virginie says, ‘You sound very American right now’, he doesn’t understand why that would be a pejorative. He’s like: ‘Good. I am!’” Does Damon, then, see this as a film that could help heal? Whether that is rifts between people or within families due to the increasingly entrenched, factionalzed political sphere or between the US and the wider world? “I find it really healing,” he says. “That would be the only reason to make it. If, you know, regular audiences can walk out feeling more connected to each other. “This is the kind of movie I grew up loving and watching. The kitchen-sink drama. It’s heartbreaking. This guy is trying to repair this damage that he’s done to his relationship with his daughter and he doesn’t have any of the tools he needs. “I found it really beautiful and unpredictable where it goes. By the time you get to the end of the movie, he has been on
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a big, big journey. He gets what he wanted at the beginning of the movie, but by the end, he’s a different man.” After his emotional return to Cannes, we end by wondering how the role of cinema and the stories told may change or evolve post-COVID. “That’s a great question. Actually, I was talking with Steven Soderbergh about that exact thing the other day,” says Damon. “And he thinks the one question we can’t answer right now is, what is the audience gonna want coming out of this? And that could go any number of directions. I just hope they want to watch 'Stillwater.'” “I’m looking to always have this feeling that I had after 'Stillwater.' I feel very relaxed about the work. I hope that’s a product of the many years I’ve been doing this and I hope I’m arriving at a point where I can creatively have some peace, you know what I mean, and not be second guessing myself. That’s the feeling I’m going to chase.” Damon, whose next film is ”The Last Duel” – another cowrite with Affleck, in which they star with Jodie Comer and Adam Driver – seems invigorated, keen to get back to work, and plans to be acting for years to come as cinema responds to the changed world. “It’s a weird feeling – a lot of my friends report the same thing, that it’s strange so much time has passed,” he says. “I just want to keep doing it. This is all I wanted to do, and I’m happy to report that I’m still really having fun. And I’m getting better at it too, and that’s exciting. “I always looked forward to being an experienced actor on top of everything else. And maybe a wiser one.”
Matt Damon as "Bill" in director Tom McCarthy’s "Stillwater," a Focus Features release (Jessica Forde / Focus Features).
StreetWise celebrates 29 years!
On August 24, StreetWise celebrated its 29th anniversary with a special party and open house for our vendors and neighbors. Guests were invited to tour our new space and treated to a delicious lunch and special treats. Vendors also received a special StreetWise "swag bag," and all guests were invited to tie dye their own StreetWise-logoed T-shirt!
COUNTERCLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Vendor Russell Adams shows of his new tie-dyed T-shirt. Vendor Gwen Freeman, Executive Director Julie Youngquist, Vendors A. Allen, and Percy Smith. StreetWise Magazine Sales Specialist Ron Madere and StreetWise founder Judd Lofchie. Vendor Paula Green tie dyes a StreetWise Logo shirt.
Pictures continue on page 14...
Nonprofit Gabriel's light aims to aid in the prevention of youth suicide for national suicide prevention MOnth - op-ed Gabriel joined our family through adoption. We enjoyed a relationship with his birth family in Ethiopia and visited every few years. A happy, outgoing baby, little boy and pre-adolescent, Gabriel shared a bright smile with everyone around him. As a 7th grader, Gabe was social, involved and academically strong. Gabe recently had been a Lollipop Kid in the St. Clement School play “The Wizard of Oz Jr.” with his older sister Maeve, who was Auntie Em. Our lives were turned upside down on Nov. 14, 2018 when we lost Gabe to suicide. It seemed like a normal Wednesday: homework and piano lessons. Gabe didn’t make it to his piano lesson that day. Our family could not have been more shocked and unprepared. Eighteen months ago, we started Gabriel’s Light with the hope that others may learn and grow from the tragedy of losing our 12-year-old son Gabe to suicide. A few key learnings that we would like everyone to know: 1. Suicide is the second leading cause of death for youth ages 10-24.
VOICE OF THE STREETS
2. 80% of suicidal youth tell a peer of their plans. Not a parent or sibling. Therefore, kids need to know the warning signs, and what to do if a peer shares at-risk thoughts. www.gabrielslight.org/blog/risksigns-suicide
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3. Certain circumstances tend to precede a child’s suicide. There is never just one circumstance but largely an intersection of the child’s mental health, prior suicidal behavior, trauma, combined with problems at school, with the family or with other peers. A third of the children had a specific mental health concern identified prior to their suicide, most commonly ADHD or depression. Open communication with parents & kids is a must. Being extra alert that a mental health condition already exists is very important. Your pediatrician is your first source of assistance. As a parent, if you have a hunch something is wrong, contact your pediatrician and a therapist for your child to see. 4. Kids spend a huge amount of time on devices…it is very important that parents establish ground rules for the devices. In addition, utilizing a device-monitoring software can save parents lots of time and provide valuable feedback of what kids are looking up, talking about etc… Gabriel’s Light recommends Bark technology. Bark is free for schools and there is a monthly fee for families. Bark sends alerts to schools and parents of risky behavior (depression, suicide, violence, etc.) utilizing algorithms that understand the ever-changing landscape of technology, acronyms, and slang. www.gabrielslight.org/blog/ parental-controls. 5. Kindness is so very important. Everyone, especially youth, need to feel included in social groups, families, etc. Bullying still exists and cyber bullying is something that we all need to stay on top of. Being kind to yourself comes first. Treating yourself as well as you treat your best friend or favorite relative is a good starting point. In a world where you can be anything, “be kind” is a favorite saying of Gabriel’s Light. www.gabrielslight.org/blog/kindness-cards and www.gabrielslight.org/blog/back-to-school and www.gabrielslight.org/blog/ shine-the-light-campaign.
6. Montelukast/Singulair- In March, 2020 FDA began requiring a Boxed Warning stating that serious mental health side effects that may include suicidal thoughts or actions have been reported in patients taking the asthma and allergy medicine montelukast (Singulair) www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-safety-and-availability/fda-requiresboxed-warning-about-serious-mental-health-side-effects-asthmaand-allergy-drug. Parents need to understand the risks of allergy and asthma medication, and ensure that they are necessary. There is more information on our website: gabrielslight.org. Carol Hufford Deely President + Founder, Gabriel’s LIght www.gabrielslight.org Gabriel Deely (photo provided by Carol Deely).
SUPPORTING STUDENTS AT HOME The start of a new school year can be an exciting yet uncertain time for the whole family. Due to the circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic, many kids are facing mental health challenges right now. In fact, 82% of 11-17year-olds who took a screen at mhascreening.org from March 2020-July 2021 were showing signs of a mental health condition.
Even if your child or teen seems to be doing well, they were impacted in some way by the events of the last year and a half. All schoolage youth experienced some degree of:
If you are concerned about your child or teen’s ability to readjust to in-person school and have a good year, there are things you can do at home to set them up for success and support them during this transition. Not only is the home environment the most significant factor affecting academic achievement, family member interactions help provide social and intellectual development and improve child confidence.1
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Uncertainty Fear Loss of normalcy or disruption of routine Reduced peer interaction or loneliness Lack of structure Grief or loss
TAKE CARE OF YOUR OWN MENTAL HEALTH Children and teens pick up on anxiety and tension in adults around them. Be open about your own feelings and lead by example in how you deal with them by modeling healthy behaviors and coping skills.
REEVALUATE YOUR EXPECTATIONS AND ANTICIPATE CHALLENGES Children and teens may act differently in school than they have before because of the adjustments they had to make last year to adapt to virtual learning. Anticipate some disorganization, forgetfulness, and anxiety. They may also have higher levels of irritability and frustration than you’re used to. Patience and compassion are key.
WORK AS A TEAM WITH THE SCHOOL Teachers and parents/caregivers should work together for the best outcomes, especially since students may act differently at home and in the classroom. Be familiar with options for supports available through your child’s school to help accommodate them if they are struggling emotionally or academically. You are your child’s best advocate!
ENCOURAGE COMMUNICATION AND EMOTIONAL VULNERABILITY Trust is important. Your child needs to know they can come to you and that you’ll really listen when they do. Be curious and ask questions about your child’s day, what they learned, how they felt, etc. – especially since adolescents usually aren’t the most forthcoming. For those who are dealing with lots of fear and anxiety, they may require frequent comforting and reassurance to feel safe.
KNOW WHEN YOUR CHILD’S STRUGGLES MAY BE A SIGN OF SOMETHING BIGGER Common signs of mental health conditions in youth include problems with concentration and memory, changes in appetite, feeling sad or hopeless, loss of interest in things they used to enjoy, excessive worry, irritability, changes in sleep patterns, and/or angry outbursts. Check out our fact sheet, Know the Signs: Recognizing Mental Health Concerns in Kids and Teens, for more information. A Parent Screen is available at MHAScreening.org to help you determine if your child or teen may be having emotional, attentional, or behavioral difficulties. These results can be used to start a conversation with your family doctor or a school mental health professional.
MHASCREENING.ORG
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MHANATIONAL.ORG/BACK-SCHOOL
1Khan, F.N., Begum, M., Imad, M. (2019). Relationship between Students’ Home Environment and their Academic Achievement at Secondary School Level. Pakistan Journal of Distance and Online Learning, 5(2), 223-234. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1266643.pdf
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Continued from page 11 Clockwise from top left: Vendors Adrian Gardner, A. Allen, and Gwen Freeman show off their new fashionable creations. Vendors Paula Green, Marnessa Miller, and Keith Hardiman wave hello. Vendor Jacqualine Sanders preps her T-shirt for tie-dying. All photos by Dave Hamilton, Amanda Jones and Julie Youngquist.
Streetwise 8/30/21 Crossword
Sudoku
To solve the Sudoku puzzle, each row, column and box must contain the numbers 1 to 9.
8 Fictional hunchback 9 Get into shape 1 Rodin sculpture at the Met 2 Choir attire 3 Tender spots 4 Scream star Campbell 5 To be, in old Rome 6 Off the mark 7 Midge
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1
9 7 3
36 Sicilian peak 7 Rewards for 37 Skyrocket waiting 38 Ultimate 8 Solitary ending 9 Fuzzy fruit 40 Via 10 Blue-pencil 44 Cobbler’s tool 11 Time past 49 Actor 12 Winter toy Guinness 15 Test choice 51 Draft pick 21 Speech 53 Simulated problem 56 Crumbs 23 Capture 26 Roasting rod 58 Obtuse 60 Tropical fruit 28 Like some 61 Pismire buckets 62 After cross or 30 Saw wn wild 32 The Brady 63 They’re Bunch inflatable 1 River divider housekeeper 64 Blubbers 2 Bypass 33 Lawn 65 Forest unit 3 Scientist’s tool ornament? 66 Hindu garment 4 Tart plum 34 Curved Copyright ©2021 PuzzleJunction.com 67 Zest 5 Following molding 6 Charters 35 Egg container 70 Propel a boat
4 9
6
4 1 2 5
5 6 7
1
8
3
2 8
6 2 7 9
Copyright ©2021 PuzzleJunction.com
©PuzzleJunction.com
lastSudoku week's Puzzle Answers Solution
Solution
Sudoku Solution
6 8 5 1 7 3 2 9 4 4 9 1 2 8 5 7 3 6 7 2 3 6 9 4 1 5 8 8 3 9 4 1 2 5 6 7 2 5 6 7 3 8 4 1 9 1 7 4 5 6 9 3 8 2 9 4 7 8 5 1 6 2 3 Find your nearest 4 6 8 7 5 Vendor at 3 1 2 9 StreetWise 5 6 8 3 2 7 9 4 1
PuzzleJu
Crossword Across 1 Makes a scene? 5 Commuting option 8 Mermaid’s home 11 Needle point? 13 Paltry 14 Scoop, briefly 16 French farewell 17 Pond organism 18 Snob 19 Long, dismal cry 20 Level 21 “___ the fields we go” 22 The Night of the Hunter screenwriter 24 Horse barn 27 Meter reading 31 Invitation request 33 Like some cigars 34 Winter eave hanger 36 Colonel’s insignia 38 Responded 40 Treated badly 44 Up and about 46 Deep blue 47 Get-out-of-jail money 49 Nimble 51 Awestruck 52 Croatian capital 54 After star or gold 56 Course setting (Abbr.) 57 Judge’s forte
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59 Santa ___, California 63 Go ballistic 65 Rara ___ (rare bird) 66 Kick out 68 Enough, for some 69 Refuse 70 Fate 71 Reply to a captain 72 Bard’s “before” 73 Lecherous look Down 1 Gasteyer of Mean Girls 2 Buffalo Bill’s surname 3 Threesome
4 5 6 7 8 9 10 12 13 15 23 25 26 27 28 29 30 32 35 37
One-dish meal Trust in Implore Parches Small intake Dress Away from home Maui dance Aussie pals Folklore fiend Welcome Falcon’s picker-upper “To do” list Evergreen King topper Dead letters? Bakery buy Manhandle Fine thread Southern breakfast dish
39 41 42 43 45 47 48 50 52 53 55 58 60 61 62 64 67
Completed Band booking Conceit Follow persistantly Beaujolais, e.g. Chimp’s treat Part of CIA Fastidious Mostel of Fiddler fame Knife edge Arduous journey Swear to Race place King Pinnacle Golf ball support Nicotine’s partner
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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.
Solution
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