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 11 months ago Tagged

Illinois has few rules and regulations when it comes to homeschooling. (Photo credit: Mike Stephen/WGN Radio)

Mike Stephen explores the impacts of the lack of homeschooling regulation in Illinois with Capitol News investigative reporters Beth Hundsdorfer and Molly Parker and then discusses the legacy of Gwendolyn Brooks with her daughter and president of Brooks Permissions: Nora Brooks Blakely. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our Apple Podcasts Page, Spotify, or our RSS feed.

Posted 11 months ago Tagged

We get an update on local education issues this week. (Photo credit: Mike Stephen/WGN Radio)

Mike Stephen welcomes Chalkbeat reporter Reema Amin to discuss the latest on Chicago Public Schools’ position on police officers in schools and how schools are funded and then discovers the Secret History of the 1960s soul group from Evanston: The Drew-Vels. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our Apple Podcasts Page, Spotify, or our RSS feed.

Posted 12 months ago Tagged

Should Chicago school board members be paid for their work? (Photo credit: Mike Stephen/WGN Radio)

Mike Stephen discusses the possibility of paying Chicago school board members with Becky Vevea, bureau chief of Chalkbeat Chicago, learns about the important work of HelloBaby in the West Woodlawn neighborhood from founder and executive director Debbie Frisch, and chats with local musician Mark Lofgren about his new album. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our Apple Podcasts Page, Spotify, or our RSS feed.

Posted 1 year ago Tagged