What a Route 66 trolley ride revealed about Chicago

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

Icons align: Grace Jones and Janelle Monáe own Ravinia

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

Little Simz airs it all out on ‘Lotus’

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

‘Purpose’ wins Tony for Best Play, makes history

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, multiverse, time, travel

BabyTron flexes creativity in new time-traveling video

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

Lil Wayne, Carter

What happened to Lil Wayne on ‘Tha Carter VI’?

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

Carter G. Woodson Library: 50 years of Black legacy

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

Alfred Lacks Carter honors grandmother’s medical legacy

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 smashes barriers in women’s healthcare bias

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

Star August Ali fights maternal crisis with tradition

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 blends science and spirit to heal others

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

TACTS honors Henrietta Lacks legacy in Chicago

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

NHS mobilizes Chicago for NeighborWorks Month

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 elevates wellness and aesthetic care

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 &

Meghan Dawson thrills audiences as Tina Turner in Chicago

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

Clipse returns and R&B rises with new heat

Every Friday, fans of hip-hop, rap, and R&B wait to see who’s dropping the next must-listen project. This week, May 30, 2025, does not disappoint. From long-awaited returns to standout debuts and genre-pushing experiments, here are the hottest releases you

How Cordaro McKee fuels culture with ‘Whats the Word’

In the ever-shifting landscape of Chicago’s media ecosystem, few platforms have demonstrated the cultural staying power and community impact of Whats the Word. Founded in 2011 by Cordaro “Cody” McKee as a college publication at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Whats

Vibes and vision: Marqueal Jordan’s musical path

For more than 30 years, Marqueal Jordan has carved out a distinctive place in the contemporary jazz landscape, seamlessly blending his roles as saxophonist, vocalist, and bandleader. The Los Angeles native, who was raised in Kansas City and has called