We visit the Hope Chicago 2024 Goal Getters Conference at the Illinois Institute of Technology. (Photo credit: Mike Stephen/WGN Radio)

Mike Stephen visits the Hope Chicago Goal Getters 2024 Conference at the Illinois Institute of Technology. Hope Chicago is a scholarship-focused non-profit designed to provide students and their parents/guardians with the support they need to graduate from college debt-free.  We learn about the amazing work of this local nonprofit from program manager Joeysha Dobbins, scholar Diana Solano, and parent of a scholar April Kern. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our Apple Podcasts Page, Spotify, or our RSS feed.

Posted 6 months ago Tagged

Extreme times call for extreme closeups. Mike Stephen broadcasting from his home studio.

Mike Stephen discusses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on local bars and taverns, chats with the Metropolitan Tenants Organization about the recent halting of evictions in Cook County in the wake of the pandemic, and learns how community radio helps towns during times of uncertainty with WHIW-LP in Harvard, IL.  The local music this week comes from Matt Piet. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.

Posted 5 years ago Tagged

Author and human rights lawyer Pia Justesen and Mike Stephen in the WGN Skyline Studio.

Mike Stephen talks to Pia Justesen, author of a new book called From the Periphery: Real-Life Stories of Disability that is an oral history of those living with disabilities and then discusses mobility justice with Anton Seals, the lead steward of Grow Greater Englewood.  This week’s local music is brought to us by LagPass. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.

Posted 5 years ago Tagged

Mike Stephen discussing TIF districts in Chicago on this week's show.

Mike Stephen learns the powerful story of living with a personality-changing brain tumor from local author Mary Ellen Aschenbrenner, gets an update on TIFs in Chicago from civic educator Tom Tresser, and discusses the efforts to revitalize the Auburn-Gresham neighborhood. Check out the OTL Wrap Party towards the end of the show so you can let us know what you’d do if you were in charge of TIF money in Chicago!  This week’s local music is brought to us by Vo Era. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.

Posted 5 years ago Tagged