In the Loop with Sasha-Ann Simons

The community of Bronzeville has boomed in the last few years with many dubbing it Chicago's 'black metropolis.' But with a growing neighborhood comes concerns over safety. One transit advocate, Ronnie Matthew Harris, and his team at GoBronzeville are encouraging biking, public transit, and walking as a way to combat those concerns plus enhance the neighborhood. Morning Shift went to Bronzeville and spoke with Harris about his vision for the community and why he's so determined to make his hometown pedestrian friendly.

A few weeks ago, hip-hop artist and activist Rhymefest had a scary run-in when he was robbed at gunpoint in his car on the South Side. The experience only got worse when he went to police. According to his account, he was mistreated when he reported the crime. The CPD later apologized. Since then, Rhymefest has decided to turn those negative encounters into a positive by organizing what he calls a Truth and Reconciliation series where police and community members will share their stories and open up a dialogue.  Morning Shift talks to Rhymefest about the robbery, his encounter with police, his subsequent meetings with Mayor Rahm Emanuel and CPD brass and his plans for Truth and Reconciliation in the City of Chicago.

Dr. Maya Angelou is known for seminal works such as “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.” But a recent documentary delves deeply into her early life in the Jim Crow South, her time as a calypso singer and performer, and her activism. The directors of Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise join Morning Shift to talk about the woman within the icon.

No matter what happens between now and the end of the season, the Chicago Cubs will be playing baseball in October. Late last night, St. Louis lost on the west coast, mathematically eliminating themselves from the division title. That means the Cubs are champs of the National League Central Division. WBEZ’s Cheryl Raye Stout joins us to talk about this huge step, and how the team and the fans are hoping that this is just the beginning.

Colson Whitehead’s latest novel, The Underground Railroad, mixes fantasy and history to take us on a harrowing journey from slavery to freedom. It tells the story of Cora, a slave on a cotton plantation in Georgia, who struggles towards freedom along the path of an underground railroad made real in in this novel.

Anyone who hasn’t seen the inside of the Elks Veterans Memorial should scurry on back and see the inside. It’s worth it (and it’s free.)

Have you ever heard of Goalball? That’s one of two sports unique to the Summer Paralympics. With the 2016 Games currently underway, we wanted to take a closer look at the unique activities bringing 4,342 athletes to Rio this year. 

At City Council on Wednesday, the Black Caucus delivered Mayor Emanuel one of the closest votes during his five years in office. Aldermen voted 26-21 on a plan for hiring contract workers at O’Hare. The measure passed but some problems remain. 

From the blues of Muddy Waters to iconic storefront theaters, from the birth of house music to the home of slam poetry, Chicago has always been a city of innovation, creativity and the arts.  But cultivating the arts scene here has been an uphill battle in recent years.

Most Wednesdays, Morning Shift gets a sneak peek into what Ayana Contreras is cooking up for her Thursday night program Reclaimed Soul on Vocalo.  This week, Ayana is gearing up for a live version of Reclaimed at the Promontory Point Field House, and we’ll get a preview of some of the cuts she’ll be busting out.