A Chicago-based writer and researcher with a progressive outlook.
Description of a program administered by the St. Louis Regional Arts Commission to promote social good through the arts, and in cooperation with local artists.
Mike Ford utilizes architecture, design and hip-hop music to engage young people who would otherwise not be exposed to the field.
Description of various applications of blockchain for projects designed to promote social good.
Fans of an underused Chicago bike path that’s more than 6 miles long hope a welcoming new mural will encourage more cycle traffic and amplify the green space’s value as an important community asset. They want the artwork, which was created with input from current users, to spur additional investment and boost the larger effort to make Marshall “Major” Taylor Trail a more popular destination.
As a high school student living in the Englewood neighborhood, on Chicago’s south side, artist and photographer Tonika Lewis Johnson noticed the continuity of several of the city’s street names on her daily commute to Lane Technical College Prep High School, located on the city’s north side. The character of the streets, however, varied widely going from south to north. Eventually, those impressions manifested themselves in the Folded Map Project, an installation of photographs, a video of interviews with participants of the project and a map display of the city on exhibit till October at the Loyola University Museum of Art, which is free to the public.
Like many cultural institutions across the country, the Cleveland Museum of Art did not truly reflect the demographics of the city in its staffing or in its patronage. The museum recently enacted “For the Benefit of all: the CMA’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Plan.” Along with the museum’s comprehensive strategic plan, “Making Art Matter,” the plans encapsulate the museum’s commitment to becoming more representative of its city.
Review of the process behind the making of the composition "Chicago Immigrant Stories" by Orbert Davis and the Chicago Jazz Philharmonic.
Description of expansion plans for Gotham Greens on Chicago's South Side, a sustainability-oriented produce grower based in New York.
Fun description of the lavish mansions owned by celebrities and wealthy indivduals.
An article about the ongoing restoration process of Chicago's iconic Union Station published in the March/April 2017 edition of Chicago Architect magazine.
An article about the attempts to establish an urban arboretum in Chicago's West Woodlawn neighborhood.
A first-hand account of a study abroad experience in Helsinki, Finland that was a 3rd-place winner in Transitions Abroad's annual student writing contest.
Overview of what is and is not allowed by employers to attempt to control their employees' personal conduct.
Overview of computer backup options for entrepreneurs and small business owners.
Overview of measures that can protect computer data from ransomware and other unauthorized access.
A sharp-witted but nonetheless serious consideration and comparison of various highly paid professions ranging from athletes to drug lords to government officials.
Practical advice on choosing a laptop for personal or business use.
A blog post analyzing the intersection of affordable housing and sustainable development in the built environment.
A consideration of the logistics associated with living without a personal automobile.
An overview of a web-based tool developed by the author to gauge the value of a vacant or abandoned structure based on its physical location and surroundings.
Blog post on high-speed rail in the United States.
A comprehensive five-article series on arranging a study abroad experience independently.