City Colleges students get big boost
Good morning, Chicago. ✶
???? Below: A program supporting City Colleges students pays big dividends in graduation rates and salaries.
????️ Plus: The 2026 Ravinia Festival headliners are revealed, just how much housing Chicago needs to build and more.
???? Keeping score: Northwestern bounces Indiana, 74-61.
????: An 8-minute read
TODAY’S WEATHER ????️
Strong winds and cloudy with a high near 46.
TODAY’S TOP STORY ????
Program giving academic, financial support helps City Colleges grads earn more, study finds
By Mary Norkol
Support works: Community college students who participate in the Chicago-based One Million Degrees program are more likely to earn their degree and see higher wages after they graduate, a study released Wednesday by the University of Chicago Inclusive Economy Lab found. It bolsters the case for wraparound supports, whether embedded within a college or offered by an outside organization.
How it helps: Applicants to One Million Degrees are matched with a program coordinator who can connect them to financial, academic, professional and personal supports. These could include tutoring or help finding child care. The program also provides an annual stipend of $700-$1000 that full-time students can put toward costs like books and transportation, so long as they’re passing their classes and attending required meetings.
Encouraging numbers: Funded largely by donations and grants, One Million Degrees often works with first-generation and low-income community college students. Researchers found 63% of participants earned a degree within eight years, compared with 55% of their peers who didn't get the same support. Seven years after starting the program, participants made an average $14,000 more annually than other students.
MUSIC ????
Labrinth, Lizzo, Ricky Martin, Chance the Rapper to make their Ravinia debuts
By Ambar Colón
Fresh headliners: Labrinth, Lizzo, Ricky Martin, Hugh Jackman and Chicago’s own Chance the Rapper will debut at Ravinia Festival this summer, part of a historic season that features the reopening of the park's renovated iconic pavilion.
Masters of their craft: Dozens of legendary performers will return to perform throughout the summer, including Paul Simon (July 17-18), Gladys Knight (Aug. 11), Bonnie Raitt (Aug. 22), Brandi Carlile (Aug. 26) and Jacob Collier (Sept. 23). Season highlights also include Lizzo and the rock guitarist St. Vincent each performing with orchestras, as well as shows from Billy Idol, Tom Jones, Kool & The Gang and many others.
Nine decades young: Ravinia will also celebrate the 90th anniversary of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s residency, featuring a rare appearance by future music director Klaus Mäkelä. "Ravinia does represent a lot of genres, but most importantly, it represents the importance of music education," Ravinia CEO Jeff Haydon said.
HOUSING ????
Chicago area is short 225,000 affordable rental units for poorest residents, report finds
By Abby Miller
Fulfilling 1/3 of need: Chicago’s affordable housing shortage is placing severe financial strain on low-income renters, according to a new report by Housing Action Illinois and the National Low Income Housing Coalition. The study found only 31 affordable homes are available for rent for every 100 extremely low-income renter households in the metro area. In Illinois, the number of available homes is 34.
Income, costs: Extremely low-income households' annual incomes are at or below 30% of the area median income. In Chicago, that’s $35,970 for a family of four and $25,200 for an individual. In most of these, people are working low-wage jobs, are seniors or have a disability, according to the report. About 76% of such households in Chicago are spending more than half of their income on rent.
Solutions?: Much of the recent apartment development in Chicago is luxury or high-end because developers can’t afford to build lower-rate units without government subsidies. Expanding access to rental assistance and building deeply affordable rental homes could help ease the shortage, according to the National Low Income Housing Coalition.
MORE NEWS YOU NEED ????️
- Georgia do-over: Embattled former Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard has qualified to run in the May 19 general primary election to represent parts of Atlanta and its suburbs on the Fulton County Board of Commissioners — amid an ongoing federal probe.
- Conflicting accounts: The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is disputing the story of Sundas "Sunny" Naqvi, a U.S. citizen from Skokie who claimed she and her colleagues were detained for more than 30 hours by federal immigration authorities over the weekend.
- Ballet Folklorico attack: A man faces misdemeanor charges after he allegedly threatened and threw liquid at children and their parents leaving a Avondale dance studio, according to Chicago police.
- South Side ride: State Rep. Kam Buckner, D-Chicago, filed a bill Monday that would designate Interstate 90/94 between 47th and 95th streets as the Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Memorial Highway.
- Money for museums: Leaders of Illinois’ top cultural organizations advocated at a state hearing Tuesday for more state funding amid economic headwinds.
- Kept from school: Evidence piles up that immigration enforcement in Chicago corresponds with absenteeism in Chicago Public Schools, particularly among English language learners.
FROM THE PRESS BOX ????????⚾️
- Turkey toss: The NFL is considering adding a game the day before Thanksgiving to this season’s schedule.
- Decisive win: Here's how coach Billy Donovan urged Matas Buzelis onto a career-high 41 points in the Bulls’ 130-124 victory Tuesday against the Warriors.
- Heart of a Cub: More than two years of discussions between Andre Dawson and the National Baseball Hall of Fame, regarding the Hall of Famer's portrayal on a plaque, have finally ended in a compromise.
CHICAGO MINI CROSSWORD ????
Today's clue:
Seafood ___ (Filipino grocery store that hosted a viral, late-night rave last week)
BRIGHT ONE ????
Bruce Goff’s creative architecture is hidden in plain sight around Chicago
By Alison Cuddy | WBEZ
Renaissance man: "Material Worlds," an exhibition at the Art Institute of Chicago through March 29, offers a glimpse into the unusual mind and prolific creativity of the late architect Bruce Goff, including his music, paintings and architectural drawings.
Proving grounds: Goff, who grew up and launched his career as an architect in Oklahoma, spent close to a decade in Chicago, from 1934 to 1942, teaching and developing an independent architectural practice. It was here he began to create residences that to this day overturn preconceived ideas about home design.
Self-guided tours: With a few exceptions, Goff created residences for mainly middle class people living across the Midwest and Texas. Some of the Illinois structures still exist, tucked away in neighborhoods from Uptown to Aurora. They may well be homes you’ve driven past, with little more than a small marker to designate their architectural significance.
YOUR DAILY QUESTION ☕️
Daily Q: What kind of museum is missing from Chicago? What should it cover?
Reply to this email (please include your first and last name). We may run your answer in a future newsletter or story.
Yesterday, we asked you: If you could commission public art in Chicago, what and where would it be?
Here’s some of what you said…
“A massive glass globe with an interior depiction of Earth that spins, i.e. a globe within a glass globe as a depiction of Earth’s fragility. Location: South end of Grant Park.”
“We need a monument to [city planner Daniel] Burnham.”
“A park celebrating the work of the late Richard Hunt, along the lines of the abundant display of David Smith’s work at Storm King in upstate New York. Bonus [would be to locate it] adjacent to his massive studio, which hopefully becomes a museum someday.”
“A huge statue of [Donald] Trump with his foot about to step on that horrible-looking thing called the Obama [Presidential] Library.”
“World’s largest [Mike] Ditka. Right next to Trump Tower, but 1 inch taller.”
PICTURE CHICAGO ????
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Written and curated by: Esther Bergdahl
Editor: Eydie Cubarrubia
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