Maurice Mobetta Brown doesn’t believe in genre boundaries. The Grammy Award-winning trumpeter has built a career that seamlessly flows from jazz stages to hip-hop studios, from performing with Silk Sonic to producing records with J. Ivy. Now, with five albums
This week’s music drops hit with purpose, power, and plenty of personality. From the triumphant return of hip-hop legend Slick Rick to a surprise collaboration between Juicy J and Logic, the rap world is buzzing. Lil Tecca delivers sleek melodies
For more than three decades, the Real Men Cook event has served as a cornerstone celebration of Black fatherhood and community in Chicago. Founded in 1989, the annual Father’s Day gathering has evolved from an upscale affair featuring Chicago’s elite
A Trolley Ride Through Time: My Journey on Chicago’s Route 66 Choose Chicago’s Route 66 Neighborhoods by Trolley Tour is a moving immersion into the layered neighborhoods of Chicago. Beginning and ending at the Art Institute, the tour weaves through
On June 7, Ravinia was a sanctuary. Black, queer, unapologetically bold. A place where freedom danced alongside fashion, and art bled into activism. When Janelle Monáe and Grace Jones share a bill, you’re witnessing an experience that shifts culture. Monáe
UK rapper Little Simz returns with Lotus, her sixth studio album and her most personal and emotionally revealing project to date. Across 13 tracks, she unpacks betrayal, the meaning of loyalty, and the pursuit of inner peace all while anchoring
On a night where Broadway celebrated its brightest stars and most resonant stories, Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’s Purpose emerged as the evening’s crowning achievement, winning the 2025 Tony Award for Best Play. The Pulitzer Prize-winning drama, which first premiered at Chicago’s Steppenwolf
BabyTron Travels Through Time in New Video ‘Lord of the Multiverse’ Detroit rapper BabyTron continues to prove he’s one of the most unorthodox and talented artists in the game. Known for his humorous, offbeat, and creative approach to music, his
The intro, “King Carter,” opens Tha Carter VI with big, bold, and epic energy—a poetic tribute to Lil Wayne’s impact. It sets the stage for something monumental. You expect greatness, a defining chapter in the legacy of one of rap’s
In the summer of 2022, Victoria Vann made history in the village of Westchester, Illinois, when she organized the community’s first-ever Juneteenth celebration. As a newly elected village trustee, Vann saw an opportunity to bridge cultural recognition with civic engagement
New Music Friday: June 6, 2025 — Major Drops from Lil Wayne, Little Simz, Joey Purp and More Hip-hop and R&B heat up with big releases this week It’s the first Friday of June, and that means a fresh batch
In 2025, the Carter G. Woodson Regional Library marks a significant milestone: its 50th anniversary. Situated at 9525 S. Halsted Street in Chicago’s Washington Heights neighborhood, the library has been a cornerstone of education, culture, and community engagement on the
More than seven decades after Henrietta Lacks’ cells were taken without her consent and used to create groundbreaking medical advances, her grandson Alfred Lacks Carter is working to transform her complicated legacy into a force for community healing and medical
Dr. Teni Brown is working to transform women’s healthcare from within the medical establishment. As a urogynecologist and reconstructive pelvic surgeon, she specializes in treating conditions that many women find difficult to discuss, including pelvic organ prolapse and incontinence. But
As Black maternal mortality rates continue to reach alarming levels in the United States, advocates are turning to traditional practices and community-centered solutions to address the crisis. Star August Ali, director of the Black Midwifery Collective, is at the forefront
Sister Yaa Simpson describes herself as “your favorite community epidemiologist,” and her approach to public health research reflects a deep understanding that effective healthcare interventions must be rooted in cultural authenticity and genuine community connection. Working with the Association of
On May 31, 2025, TACTS (The Association of Clinical Trial Services) hosted its Annual Health & Wellness Networking Social in recognition of National Clinical Trials Day. The event, grounded in advocacy, awareness and healing, brought together health leaders, community members
Neighborhood Housing Services (NHS) of Chicago is rolling up its sleeves and calling on residents, corporate partners and community organizations to do the same. As part of its 50th anniversary and in recognition of National NeighborWorks Month, NHS is leading
Dr. Chakika Williams is redefining what comprehensive healthcare looks like in the modern era. As a dual board-certified family and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, she has created something unprecedented in the wellness industry through her SkyRose Rejuvenation Clinic &
Louisiana native Meghan Dawson is making waves as she steps into one of musical theater’s most demanding roles. The accomplished performer, who credits her upbringing surrounded by rich musical culture for sparking her performance aspirations, now commands the stage as
