Shohn Williams is the Dean of Students at Lindblom Math & Science Academy in Chicago’s West Englewood neighborhood. In this conversation with Lindblom Academy student Daniel Animashaun, he talks about what public education means to him, and shares stories behind and inspired by the photo at left: a photo taken in the school’s gymnasium as part of an event he organized for Chicago youth. It focused on supporting their life skills, financial literacy and sense of community accountability—oh, and they played basketball, too.