In the Loop

The latest play to hit the stage at Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theater is BLKS, the first play from poet Aziza Barnes, author of the collection i be but i ain’t and co-host of the The Poetry Gods podcast.  BLKS tells the story of a group of young African-American women friends in the wake of a cancer scare. Morning Shift talks to Aziza Barnes about the play, her poetry, and more.

The Children’s Health Insurance Program, known as CHIP, is a federal program that provides coverage for kids from families that earn too much to be on Medicaid and too little to afford private insurance.  Lawmakers in Washington failed to reauthorize CHIP by the September 30 deadline and have yet to act, leaving the nine million children and around 370,000 pregnant women across the nation who rely on it in limbo. According to a recent report in the Chicago Tribune, the roughly 255,000 children who get insurance through CHIP have nothing to worry about until next October because funding is in place, but families in many other states are not as lucky. 

The Children’s Health Insurance Program, known as CHIP, is a federal program that provides coverage for kids from families that earn too much to be on Medicaid and too little to afford private insurance.  Lawmakers in Washington failed to reauthorize CHIP by the September 30 deadline and have yet to act, leaving the nine million children and around 370,000 pregnant women across the nation who rely on it in limbo. According to a recent report in the Chicago Tribune, the roughly 255,000 children who get insurance through CHIP have nothing to worry about until next October because funding is in place, but families in many other states are not as lucky. 

At the City Club of Chicago Tuesday, Erikson Institute president and CEO Geoffrey Nagle gives a presentation called “The First 1,100 Days Last Forever: How Chicago Can Meet The Needs Of Our Youngest Children.” In advance of that program, Morning Shift spoke with Nagle about the work the institute is doing with CPS and why the earlier you get to a child, the more likely he or she is to succeed in academics and beyond.

At the City Club of Chicago Tuesday, Erikson Institute president and CEO Geoffrey Nagle gives a presentation called “The First 1,100 Days Last Forever: How Chicago Can Meet The Needs Of Our Youngest Children.” In advance of that program, Morning Shift spoke with Nagle about the work the institute is doing with CPS and why the earlier you get to a child, the more likely he or she is to succeed in academics and beyond.

While the Trump administration is taking steps to undo President Obama’s record on fighting climate change by pulling out of the Paris Accord, cities are stepping up.  A summit on climate change involving mayors from around the globe happened Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017, in Chicago. The conference comes after President Trump said the U.S. will pull out of the Paris agreement. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel stops by the studio to tell Morning Shift more.

While the Trump administration is taking steps to undo President Obama’s record on fighting climate change by pulling out of the Paris Accord, cities are stepping up.  A summit on climate change involving mayors from around the globe happened Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017, in Chicago. The conference comes after President Trump said the U.S. will pull out of the Paris agreement. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel stops by the studio to tell Morning Shift more.

We continue our conversations with some of the Chicago women on the newly unveiled mural by artist Kerry James Marshall. Marshall painted 20 women that have made significant contributions to the city’s cultural landscape. Today we talk with Sandra Delgado.  Delgado is an actor, singer, and writer. She’s a founding member of Collaboraction, an ensemble member of Teatro Vista, and a nationally-recognized advocate for Latino/a theater artists. Her latest work is “La Habana Madrid,” which explores the history of Caribbean Latinos in Chicago.

We continue our conversations with some of the Chicago women on the newly unveiled mural by artist Kerry James Marshall. Marshall painted 20 women that have made significant contributions to the city’s cultural landscape. Today we talk with Sandra Delgado.  Delgado is an actor, singer, and writer. She’s a founding member of Collaboraction, an ensemble member of Teatro Vista, and a nationally-recognized advocate for Latino/a theater artists. Her latest work is “La Habana Madrid,” which explores the history of Caribbean Latinos in Chicago.

Morning Shift sits down with some of those pioneering women working today, including actress and director Sandra Delgado, Chicago Children’s Theatre founder and artistic director Jacqueline Russell, and, in this interview, Barbara Gaines, founder and artistic director Chicago Shakespeare Theater.