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Discover CEO David Nelms on how JDRF is working to find a cure for diabetes
Imagine having a healthy 4-year-old son one day and being told he has a serious, life-threatening disease the next. In 1990, our son Bradlee was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes, and went from learning his ABCs to learning about insulin levels. From that day forward, …
Playwright Richard A. Roberts aims to aid the homeless with his new play, ‘The BenchMark’
It’s been said that life imitates art. Perhaps it’s the other way around — or just that both are true. My late father was a periodically homeless alcoholic whose addiction cost him his home and family. Growing up with him informed my decision to accept …
Dr. Rudy Lombard works to educate men about prostate cancer
Talking about prostate cancer makes people look down at their feet and want to change the subject. I know because I talk about it every day.
Jaslene Gonzalez on being a mentor both at home and in the modeling world
Recently I’ve been asked what I think of the new season of “America’s Next Top Model.” In my opinion, this season’s theme is “understanding your competition.” This cycle, the girls are competing with guys for the first time. So far, the men have been in …
Goodman Theatre Resident Director Chuck Smith reflects on Chicago’s evolving theater audiences
It seems fitting for me to direct “Pullman Porter Blues” on the 50th anniversary of the historic March on Washington. Taking place on the cusp of porter unionization in the 1930s, Cheryl L. West’s new play is both a Chicago story and a pivotal moment …
Diabetes expert Dr. Louis Philipson stresses importance of accurate diagnosis
I will never forget the phone call I made in 2006 to the parents of Lilly Jaffe, then a 6-year-old girl from Chicago who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes back when she was just 1 month old. She and her family had endured years …
Philanthropist Diane Donald on how Ronald McDonald House keeps families connected to their hospitalized children
About a year ago, my husband, PGA Tour golfer Luke Donald, and I walked into the Ronald McDonald House near the Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago for the first time. Like many others, while I had heard of the charity, I …
The joy of helping Chicago children express themselves
I’m proud to be the artistic director at Barrel of Monkeys, an ensemble of actor-educators who teach creative writing residencies in Chicago Public Schools. After six weeks of writing, we adapt the students’ stories into an hourlong variety show that’s presented at their school. When …
FOX 32’s Mike Flannery examines the causes behind — and possible solutions to — Chicago’s violence problem
Chicago’s tide of homicide — after a frightening surge in 2012 — has now receded to about where it was in 2011. But that’s still 2 1/2 times higher than the national murder rate. Violence here continues to chase away jobs and residents. And the …
Artist Amanda Ross Ho on the impetus behind her new installation at the MCA
This month, I had the pleasure of unveiling my first large-scale, outdoor, public work, “The Character and Shape of Illuminated Things” on the Museum of Contemporary Art plaza. This was an honor for multiple reasons, as it represented both a milestone in my career as …
HGTV star and author Kelly Edwards on having the courage to follow your passion
I like to say I’m a bit of a hybrid. I am a little bit fearless, a little bit humble. I’m a little bit Wicker Park and a little bit River North. I’m a little bit interior designer and a little bit television personality. My …
Celebrity trainer Jim Karas explores the cause behind — and potential cure for — food addiction
Addiction. We’ve all been touched by it personally, professionally or via the media. Last month, we learned the talented young “Glee” star Cory Monteith died from an overdose that stemmed from his drug addiction, following in the footsteps of Whitney before him. We watched Tiger …
Todd Ricketts: Bikes can help solve some of the world’s problems
When I was growing up in Nebraska, we didn’t have a lot. This meant that the only bike I ever owned was a hand-me-down from Woolworth’s. The crank on the bike was broken, and would lock up when I pedaled down the street. One night, …
Sarah Wood on how she’s fighting for Chicago’s kids
I was raised in Waukegan in a very diverse environment. I listened to old-school hip-hop, attended my fair share of quinceaneras and was exposed to different cultures, foods and traditions. Waukegan shaped me. It raised a daughter who wants to teach tolerance, respond to need …
Jory Des Jardins on finding her voice — and creating a community
It was early 1994. I had graduated from the University of Illinois and was headed to New York City with my short resume, the address of a friend’s aunt’s apartment where I would stay for a few days, and $60. My dad was a lifelong …
Deb Rickert shares the bittersweet experience of being a military parent
‘You made them strong, we’ll make them Army Strong.” This is an Army recruiting commercial that always gets my attention, as it reflects both a proud yet uncertain parent and a determined young soldier. I have two sons on active duty, so the mix of …
