THE CHICAGO REPORTER INVESTIGATION RAISES DOUBTS ABOUT QUALITY OF TEEN GUN CHARGES

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Our Publications       Our Online SpacesCRS Chicago Reporter Catalyst Chicago	THE CHICAGO REPORTER INVESTIGATION RAISES DOUBTS  ABOUT QUALITY OF TEEN GUN CHARGES In the May/June 2011 issue, an investigation of gun convictions against teens in Cook County revealed that, in nearly half of the cases examined, a gun was never recovered. The issue also reveals that big banks owe the City of Chicago at least $2.2 million in fees for not registering bank-owned vacant homes, and that Latinos are likely to be the city’s largest racial group by the year 2020. Read the full issue: www.chicagoreporter.com THE CHICAGO REPORTER  NEW REPORTER AND BLOGGERS The Reporter is proud to announce the hiring of Maria Inés Zamudio to cover health, immigration and labor. The Reporter has also added Steven Ross Johnson to its team of bloggers. “THE BARBERSHOP” In a series of four radio shows, the Reporter examined Chicago’s new mayor, Rahm Emanuel, exploring his transition and issue-team selections, his inauguration speech, his campaign contributors, his relationship with the Chicago City Council and the political moves he’s made during his first month in office.    AWARDSThe stellar reporters at the Reporter took home awards from the Chicago Headline Club's Peter Lisagor Awards for Exemplary Journalism and the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) Salute to Excellence Award.  CATALYST CHICAGO  CATALYST CONVERSATIONS Catalyst members attended a Catalyst Conversation event featuring Jo Anderson, senior advisor to U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and former executive director of the Illinois Education Association. View a video of the event.  NEW EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBERS The Catalyst staff and editorial advisory board thank members whose terms are expiring and welcome their successors. AWARDSCatalyst Editor in Chief Lorraine Forte and Deputy Editor Sarah Karptook home two Peter Lisagor Awards for Exemplary Journalism in the feature writing and in-depth reporting categories from the Chicago Headline Club. The awards were given for the Catalyst In Depth cover story “Setting the Agenda: Advice for the next mayor,” which was published in the Fall 2010 issue, and a story collaboration, “Charter Schools,” with WBEZ. EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP WHATS NEXT FOR CPS?On April 25, Executive Director Rev. Calvin S. Morris, Ph.D., served as a panelist in the first of a series of five public forums on issues important to Chicago held in commemoration of the 125th anniversary of National Louis University. The discussion, titled What’s Next for CPS?, probed the challenges and opportunities faced by the Chicago Public Schools on the eve of Rahm Emanuel assuming mayoral office in Chicago. RALLY TO END THE WAR ON DRUGSOn June 17, Dr. Morris participated in a rally demanding an end to the War on Drugs on its 40th Anniversary. Dr. Morris offered closing remarks at the gathering, held at the Thompson Center. UNCOMMON MAN AWARDOn June 25, Dr. Morris was honored by the Vivian Harsh Society with the “Uncommon Man Award” at the Society’s 14th Annual Black Music Month Celebration Breakfast. The award recognizes a man who has worked behind the scenes to promote and support the Vivian Harsh Society, which provides public access to the second largest research collection of African-American literary resources in the country. UPCOMING EVENTS July 21, 2010The Chicago Reporter will hold the July/August issue “drop party” on Thursday, July 21, 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m., at M Lounge, 1520 S. Wabash Ave. Join the Reporter staff after work to discuss their latest investigation. Register online or For more details contact:ashaw@communityrenewalsociety.org or call 312-673-3865 >> IN MEMORIAM In the last year and a half, Community Renewal Society has lost two great supporters and advocates of our work: John D. Purdy Sr. andMrs. Ruth Davee. MEDIA Over the past months, our staff has been hard at work analyzing the latest news headlines, appearing on a variety of media outlets, including: The Chicago ReporterNBC 5 “The Talk” with Marion Brooks (Alden Loury) WTTW 11 “Chicago Tonight” (Alden Loury) WPWR TV MY 50 FOX “Perspective” (Kimbriell Kelly guest hosted four episodes) WCIU “26 N. Halsted” (Angela Caputo) CAN TV “Chicago Newsroom” (Alden Loury guest hosted) WBEZ AM 91.5 “Eight-Forty-Eight Month in Review” (Kimbriell Kelly) WVON AM 1690 “Matt and Perry Show” (Alden Loury guest hosted) Vocalo 89.5 FM “Feminist Wednesday” with Brian Babylon (Kimbriell Kelly) Catalyst ChicagoCBS 2 News (Linda Lenz) NBC 5 “The Talk” with Marion Brooks (Lorraine Forte) ABC 7 News (Linda Lenz) FOX Chicago News (Sarah Karp) WTTW 11 “Chicago Tonight” (Linda Lenz) WGN 9 "Adelante" with Lourdes Duarte (Rebecca Harris) CAN TV “Chicago Newsroom” (Linda Lenz) WBEZ (91.5 FM) “Eight Forty-Eight”(Linda Lenz/Rebecca Harris) WVON AM 1690 “Cliff Kelley Show” (Lorraine Forte/Sarah Karp) WVON AM 1690 “Best of WVON” show (Lorraine Forte) Vocalo 89.5 FM “Extra News Radio” with Elias Cepeda (Rebecca Harris) Through a partnership with Vocalo, a Chicago Public Radio venture broadcasting on 89.5 FM and vocalo.org, The Chicago Reporter now hosts "The Barbershop Show," a regular weekly community affairs series on the station’s "Zocalo" program.  For media inquires and interview requests, contact: Al Shaw, Media Relations(312) 673-3865  CAMPAIGN UPDATE Children of Incarcerated Campaign In May, Community Renewal Society congregation leaders from across the Chicago metropolitan region traveled to Springfield as a part of the Day of Faith in Action and met with elected officials to secure services for children of incarcerated parents. As a result, the General Assembly restored the Comprehensive Community Based Youth Service (CCBYS) program to the Department of Human Services and funded it at $11.5 million. View photos and video on the CAN facebook page  Congregational Listening Campaign This past month, the Civic Action Network launched a Congregational Listening Campaign. This campaign trains local church leaders to conduct relational meetings in their churches and communities to: 1) build a stronger and more relational church 2) find new leaders in their congregations 3) identify the next issues for the Civic Action Network to organize around. CAN organizers have already trained over 50 congregational leaders and will be holding more trainings soon, including one at Grace Lutheran Church in Evanston on Saturday, July 2. For more information, contact Alex Wiesendanger: awiesendanger@communityrenewalsociety.org or call 312-673-3840 Community Renewal Society is funded by: AARP, Advocate Healthcare, Boeing Corporation, Lange Burk Fund, Catholic Campaign for Human Development, Challenge Fund for Journalism, The Chicago Community Trust, Chicago Tribune Foundation, The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, Ford Foundation, Lloyd A. Fry Foundation, Fund for Investigative Journalism, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, J P Morgan Chase, The Joyce Foundation, The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, McCormick Foundation, McDougal Family Foundation, Oppenheimer Family Foundation, Polk Bros. Foundation, Pierce Family Foundation, Retirement Research Foundation, Rush Alzheimers Disease Center, SEIU Healthcare Illinois Indiana, Wieboldt Foundation, and the Woods Fund of Chicago.