As a lifelong Chicagoan, Brandon Johnson wishes more people could see the city through the eyes of the mayor. Growing up in a faith-centered family on the “West West” Side of Chicago, serving the community has always been a deeply-instilled passion in Johnson’s life. After becoming a public school teacher in Cabrini-Green, Johnson was galvanized to pursue politics — later becoming a Cook County commissioner and the 57th mayor of Chicago, “the greatest freaking city in the world.” This is what his Chicago sounds like.

This segment of “This Is What Chicago Sounds Like” was edited and produced by Ari Mejia. Find the mayor on Instagram @chicagosmayor.

Chicago DJ and all-around music man Jesse De La Peña hosts Vocalo’s 5 O’Clock Mix and Friday Night DJ Series, and plays a key part in shaping the station’s sound. Growing up all around Chicago, Jesse started out as a DJ in his early teens — inspired by his mother’s disco records, Chicago’s hip-hop scene and the diverse music broadcasting on local radio stations. He joined Team Vocalo in 2011 as a music curator, going on to establish the Vocalo DJ collective and shape the station’s sound into what you hear today. This is what his Chicago sounds like.

Vocalo audio and community storytelling producer Ari Mejia highlights members of the Vocalo Team for the last several segments of “This Is What Chicago Sounds Like.” Jesse’s shows, the 5 O’Clock Mix and Friday Night DJ Series, are scheduled to end on May 28.

This segment of “This Is What Chicago Sounds Like” was edited and produced by Ari Mejia. Follow Jesse on Instagram @jdlp and Twitter @jessedelapena.

Bekoe has been Vocalo’s morning host for the last four and a half years. From his teenage years of making beats for aspiring high school rappers to his commitment to local music discovery at iLLANOiZE and Vocalo, Bekoe’s passions have always centered on uplifting Chicago’s music scene. Through highlighting Chicago talent, Bekoe hopes to create a platform for the local artists of today and tomorrow. This is what his Chicago sounds like.

As Vocalo’s terrestrial signal shuts down at the end of May, Vocalo audio and community storytelling producer Ari Mejia highlights members of the Vocalo Team for the last several segments of “This Is What Chicago Sounds Like.” Bekoe’s shows, The Windy City Hour and Mornings With Bekoe, are scheduled to end on May 28.

This segment of “This Is What Chicago Sounds Like” was edited and produced by Ari Mejia. Follow Bekoe on Instagram and Twitter @officialbekoe.

Chicago photographer Kenn Cook Jr. highlights the beauty of his West Side home with new project #MyWestSideStory. Already a community advocate, working with organizations benefiting the West Side like the NAACP, Cook found his advocacy niche in documenting the everyday life of his family and neighbors through photography. He showcases the spirit of the West Side with rich, authentic portraits, and hopes to encourage future generations to continue the community’s culture and keep fighting for positive change. This is what his Chicago sounds like.

This segment of “This Is What Chicago Sounds Like” was edited and produced by Ari Mejia. See some of Kenn Cook Jr.’s work at bykenncook.com or @bykenncook on Instagram.

Monica Trinidad is a queer Latin visual artist, communicator, and cultural strategist from the South Side of Chicago, committed to amplifying marginalized voices through combining art and activism. Trinidad’s activism blossomed during their college years, where they first explored anti-war movements and recognized the power of young voices as a catalyst for change. This is what their Chicago sounds like.

This segment of “This Is What Chicago Sounds Like” was produced by Ari Mejia. Keep up with Monica Trinidad on Instagram at @itsmonicatrinidad.

Adam Rust is the co-owner of Andersonville oddities shop Woolly Mammoth. Located at 1513 W. Foster Ave. since 2010, Woolly Mammoth has showcased the macabre and mystifying rarities from Chicago and beyond. Owned and operated by couple Adam and Skye Rust, Woolly Mammoth has grown into a staggering collection of oddities attracting locals and tourists alike. Featuring everything from human hair and bones to funerary and medical tools to taxidermied raccoons, stepping into Woolly Mammoth is like stepping into an alternate universe. This is what his Chicago sounds like.

This segment of “This Is What Chicago Sounds Like” was produced by Ari Mejia. Keep up with Woolly Mammoth by following them on Instagram at @woollymammothchicago.

Taste of Lebanon fits the description of many generationally-loved Chicago staples: Good prices, better food, small menu and nothing fancy. Manned by Ali Faraj, Taste of Lebanon is a no-frills, family-owned restaurant in Chicago’s Andersonville neighborhood, serving up shawarma and falafel to hungry neighbors for decades. Taste of Lebanon was opened by Faraj’s father in 1996, after trying his hand at numerous business ventures. Since then, the eatery has consistently served Lebanese street food out of a small-menu, fast-paced kitchen on West Foster Avenue. This is what his Chicago sounds like.

This segment of “This Is What Chicago Sounds Like” was edited and produced by Ari Mejia.

Multi-media performance collective Manual Cinema brings audiences into their world of puppetry, intricate soundscapes and immersive visuals. Founded in 2010 by Ben Kauffman, Julia Miller, Drew Dir, Sarah Fornace and Kyle Vegter, Manual Cinema’s works go beyond puppetry to become multimedia, multi-sensory works of art akin to live cinema. The Emmy-winning collective has worked on countless stunning projects since 2010, including a collaboration with the Chicago Poetry Foundation, and their shadow puppets were featured in 2021 film ‘Candyman.’ Manual Cinema co-artistic directors Ben Kauffman and Julia Miller say they hope to present well-told stories in a new way through all of their projects. This is what their Chicago sounds like.

This segment of “This Is What Chicago Sounds Like” was edited and produced by Ari Mejia. Learn more about Manual Cinema by visiting manualcinema.com.

Helene Achanzar grew up throwing herself into any and every hobby — but she’s always been a writer. She found a natural voice for poetry at a young age; it was something she could engage with and practice without a formal environment. Now, Achanzar is the director of programs at the Chicago Poetry Center, where she manages poetry residencies, workshops and other educational programs for Chicago Public Schools. Bringing opportunities to students in Chicago Public Schools makes Achanzar look back on opportunities and connections she had as a student, and the importance of meeting working artists at a young age. This is what her Chicago sounds like.

This segment of “This Is What Chicago Sounds Like” was produced by Ari Mejia. Keep up with Helene’s work by visiting heleneachanzar.com.

Erin Rembert is a pole dancer and “tooth fairy” (or tooth gem artist) inspired by her firm roots in Chicago and tangible alchemy. Honoring her ancestors is a throughline in all of Rembert’s work, with an emphasis on personal and spiritual wellbeing. Whether she’s helping people fall in love with their gem-adorned smiles or performing burlesque and cabaret, Erin Rembert honors her ancestors and spreads love to those around her. This is what her Chicago sounds like.

This segment of “This Is What Chicago Sounds Like” was produced by Ari Mejia. Keep up with Erin’s work on Instagram @midnite_maven.