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Shaka Senghor shares how he transformed his life while in prison
I was invited to speak at TEDxMidwest this weekend because of my work in the community as a mentor and anti-gun violence advocate. During my talk, I will share my journey from an emotionally hardened and violent “thug” into a caring and compassionate mentor who …
Rick Smolan says “Big Data” may be more transformative than the Internet
This week, I’m going to be speaking at TEDxMidwest and sharing a fascinating adventure I’ve been on with 100 of the most talented journalists in the world. I have one of the best jobs on the planet. Every 18 months, I get to dispatch a …
Erin McKean shares how to make the most of a conference
Chances are, many of you reading this column will attend a conference in 2013 — in the next few months alone, Chicago is hosting TechWeek and the National Restaurant Association Show, and this week is the Comic & Entertainment Expo. This upcoming weekend in Chicago, …
Joel Sartore is out to save the Earth’s captive species with The Photo Ark
For more than 20 years now, I’ve been a contributing photographer for National Geographic Magazine. They’ve sent me to every continent, and I’ve worked on 34 photo essays so far. Most dealt with conservation issues. But it has not been enough. Every year, I see …
Clyde Guilamo on the importance of mentorship for low-income students
‘Pay it forward.” Those words have stuck with me ever since I was 14 years old. I’m a first-generation American who grew up in one of the poorest neighborhoods in the Bronx. Back then, college was a dream. I knew I wanted to get there, …
Sherri Shepherd explains how a diabetes diagnosis saved her
I am a Type 2 diabetic. Before you start feeling that wave of sympathy and start praying that God take the diabetes away from me … hold on. I actually want to say thank you to diabetes. Diabetes could’ve killed me, but it saved my …
Bonnie Blair on what she’s learned from her family’s struggles with cancer
Large families like mine tend to have higher chances of getting certain diseases, and for us, that disease has been cancer. My father, brother and sister have all succumbed to various types of cancer. My dad was a heavy smoker, and had quit for a …
Rohini Dey on the importance of women’s networking
Like most women, I grew up with the notion there was something distasteful about networking. It was smarmy and sleazy. People of poor character would put themselves “out there” to be seen and heard, build that Rolodex and mingle unnecessarily — quite clearly schmoozing. Networking …
Jennifer Davit celebrates Earth Day by sharing her gardening tips
Chicago’s front yard: How could someone’s “office” get any better than this? As director of the Lurie Garden in Millennium Park, sometimes I forget I’m just steps off Michigan Avenue, in this serene respite of plants, flowers and wildlife. As the weather warms and the …
Marion E. Simon looks back on a life of turning tragedy into triumph
I was born in 1918. I’m turning 95 this summer, which makes me nearly a century old. A milestone like this causes you to think back on your life — both the shining moments and the days you’d like to forget. The most important lesson …
Manny Sanchez explains why pre-kindergarten education is essential for our country’s future
My parents immigrated from Mexico and did not graduate high school, though my mother earned her GED. They recognized the value of education, and pushed their seven children to see college and professional careers as dreams that were within our reach. Now, I’m the co-owner …
Jaslene Gonzalez shatters common myths about dating violence
Recently, I appeared on the “Nancy Grace Show.” I was so surprised when I first got the call from the show’s producers. I was asked to come on the show to talk about my personal experience as a domestic violence survivor and relate it to …
Juddy Talt gets over the girl with the help of his new film, “Language of a Broken Heart”
It was Henry Miller that once said, “The best way to get over a girl is to turn her into literature.” So began my journey of writing, starring in and producing my first film, “Language of a Broken Heart,” which was filmed partially in Rockford …
Bill Kurtis remembers Roger Ebert
We know Roger Ebert loved the Sun-Times and his career as a newspaper columnist. But ironically, it was his illness and losing his voice that caused him to explore another venue. All of us have been thinking about the future of journalism. But while we …
Natalie Laczek shares her stance on copyrighting in the fashion industry
In the early morning hours of April 29, 2011, I, like so many others, waited for Kate Middleton to enter Westminster Abbey so I could get that first look at her wedding gown. There had been speculation about which designer would be working on it, …
Israel Idonije on his recent humanitarian trip to Africa
It’s been one week since I returned from the Israel Idonije Foundation’s (TeamIIF) annual humanitarian trip to Africa, and I’m still on cloud nine. Absolutely everything about the trip — from start to finish — was amazing. This year, after many years of visiting and …
