Episode #42
What Chicago Gave Me: Stories of Arrival, Belonging & Reinvention
What brought you to Chicago, and what has it given you in return? In this mini-episode from our summer archive series, host Ashley Phillips shares her own origin story before revisiting three unforgettable conversations about what this city means to the people who call it home. Hear from cross-stitch artist Emma McKee (aka StitchGawd) on the traumatic visa saga that led her to Chicago and how a Christmas gift for her mom turned into a Chance the Rapper collaboration. Documentary filmmaker Johnny Jones opens up about growing up in North Lawndale and the "experiment" of moving to Lincoln Park. And Jahmal Cole, founder of My Block, My Hood, My City, tells the story of trading a suit for a hoodie. This is Notes from Chicago: real conversations with the people building, shaping, and loving this city, one neighborhood at a time. Explore the full episodes we revisited today: 1) Emma McKee (aka StitchGawd), shares how she accidentally built a career in cross-stitching. Full episode: https://www.notesfromchicago.com/from-the-bulls-to-the-wnba-becoming-the-stitchgawd-with-emma-mckee/ 2) Johnny Jones, documentary filmmaker, founder and CEO of The Lingo Chicago discusses growing up in Rockwell Gardens housing projects on the west side, losing his mother at a young age, and how those formative experiences became the foundation for everything he creates today. Full episode: https://www.notesfromchicago.com/lawndale-stories-with-johnny-jones/ 3) Jahmal Cole, founder of My Block, My Hood, My City, shares what he's learning during his 77-month journey to live in all 77 neighborhoods of Chicago. Full episode: https://www.notesfromchicago.com/77-neighborhoods-77-months-a-listening-tour-for-chicagos-future-with-jahmal-cole/ Follow Notes from Chicago: * Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0qkYwUroGt4hMZQlhTg32z * Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/notes-from-chicago/id1838675173 * YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NotesfromChicago * TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@notesfromchi * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notesfromchicago * Website: https://www.notesfromchicago.com/ Notes from Chicago is a weekly interview show hosted by Ashley Phillips, centering the voices, stories, and neighborhoods that make up the real Chicago. Host: Ashley Phillips Producer & Editor: Tanisha Blakely, https://www.tanishablakely.com/
