ARCHIVES

Little Village Toxic Tour

by  

Editor’s Note: The following story was written by a student in our first-ever Eco Youth Reporters program, conducted in conjunction with award-winning journalist Kari Lydersen, Michigan State University’s Knight Center for Environmental Journalism, and Imagine Englewood If, a youth services organization based in that South Side neighborhood. The Eco Youth Reporters program is generously funded by the McCormick Foundation:

The smoke stacks of the Crawford coal plant in Little Village look like giant chimneys. This is one of many pollution sources in Little Village, a small, mostly Mexican neighborhood on the Southwest Side that is affected by a lot of pollution and where finding a job is very hard.

Eco Youth reporters Makylia Anderson and Tyreshia Black reporting in Little Village. Photo by Kari Lydersen.

During a “Toxic Tour” with the Little Village Environmental Justice Organization (LVEJO), we saw different polluting industries including MRC, a plastics recycling plant that melts down car bumpers and other things. LVEJO has had many meetings about MRC.

Many people report breathing problems and there are also high rates of cancer, according to LVEJO, in the area around MRC and another facility, Meyer Steel Drum.

Read more »

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
Categories: Homepage UYIJP

The Health Effects of Pollution in Pilsen

by  

Editor’s Note: The following story was written by a student in our first-ever Eco Youth Reporters program, conducted in conjunction with award-winning journalist Kari Lydersen, Michigan State University’s Knight Center for Environmental Journalism, and Imagine Englewood If, a youth services organization based in that South Side neighborhood. The Eco Youth Reporters program is generously funded by the McCormick Foundation:

Parents gathered in Pilsen on May 11 at the Casa Aztlan Community Center, 1831 S. Racine, to get information on how to try to keep their children safe from lead poisoning and other sources of pollution in the Near Southwest Side neighborhood.

People at the meeting were extremely concerned about lead from the smelter H. Kramer and also about particles and other pollution from the Fisk coal burning power plant. Doctors and city health officials were also there.

Chicago public health department doctor Cortland J. Lohff informed the audience that lead is a dangerous compound that can cause poisoning depending on dosage. Children ages six months to six years old are most likely to get lead poisoning, according to Lohff. When they play in parks and playgrounds where there are high levels of lead in the soil, it can easily get into their systems and cause brain damage and behavioral problems.

Read more »

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
Categories: Homepage UYIJP

Environmental Journalism Program Image Gallery

by  

For the past few weeks, Chicago youth involved in the Eco Youth Reporters program, funded by the McCormick Foundation, have explored global environmental issues on a local level. They interviewed local experts on topics ranging from coal plants to the dangers of invasive fish species. Under the guidance of award-winning reporter Kari Lydersen and Michigan State University’s Knight Center for Environmental Journalism, these journalists are learning to effectively cover the larger environmental issues and spread awareness within the Chicago community through print stories, photography and video documentation.

Tyreshia Black snags invasive zebra mussels. (Photo by Kari Lydersen)

Read more »

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,
Categories: Homepage Uncategorized UYIJP

We The People Media’s New Video Site

by  

We are pleased to announce the debut of We The People Media’s You Tube Channel. To see original coverage of key issues as well as previous episodes of “RJ TV,” our live, call-in program over the CAN TV network, Click here.
More than 3,000 viewers have already tuned in to see a documentary about the aftermath of the beating death of Derrion Albert on Chicago’s South Side produced by Mary C. Johns, We The People Media’s Deputy Executive Director and Residents’ Journal’s Editor-in-Chief. Dozens have also seen Mary’s film of the commemoration of the 54th anniversary of Emmet Till’s murder.
Become a subscriber to our You Tube Channel and check back frequently to see exclusive new videos and leave your comments at http://www.youtube.com/user/Wethepeoplemedia#p/a

Tags: , , ,
Categories: Homepage Uncategorized

A new season of RJ TV

by  

We are thrilled to announce the new season of “RJ TV,” our live, call-in program over the CAN TV network. “RJ TV” focuses on issues of concern to low-income youths and families, and provides viewers throughout Chicagoland with the chance to share their perspectives. The new season begins Monday, July 6, at 6:30 p.m. over cable channel 21, and will run for 12 weeks at the same time. A longtime partner of We The People Media’s, CAN TV provides non-profit organizations, elected officials and others with incredible opportunities to broadcast to millions of viewers.
If you have any queries or suggestions for future segment discussion topics please email Ethan Michaeli at ethan@wethepeoplemedia.org or Mary C. Johns at mary@wethepeoplemedia.org

For a complete schedule and descriptions of CAN TV programs Click here

Tags: , , ,
Categories: Homepage Uncategorized

The Spring 2009 Issue of Residents' Journal is Now Online

by  

The Spring 2009 issue of Residents’ Journal hit the streets with circulation crew distributing 40,000 copies of the paper to 250 locations in Chicago. Throughout the week of March 23, two vans with 6 circulation staff members distributed the latest issue of Residents’ Journal to various community centers, businesses, schools and religious institutions throughout the city.

As well as the usual distribution locations of the paper, circulation staff found new drop off points for the paper, so be sure to check your local café, diner or barber shop.
If you were unable to get grab a copy on the streets, the complete issue is now available online. Please click on the image above to view the Spring 2009 issue of Residents’ Journal.

Articles written in the Spring 2009 Issue by the students of the Urban Youth International Journalism Program can be found by: clicking here…

Tags: , ,
Categories: Homepage Uncategorized