Notes from Chicago

Notes from Chicago is a love letter to the greatest city on the planet. Every week join host and longtime Chicago resident Ashley Phillips as she talks with artists, entrepreneurs, scientists, tastemakers and more about their relationship with the city on the make.

Notes from Chicago is a society podcast hosted by Unknown Host, with 0 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Unknown Host hosts Notes from Chicago, a society show with 0 episodes published.

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  Episode #45

  220,000 Visitors and Counting: Inside Chicago's West Side Conservatory

  Sep 29, 202636 min

  This week on Notes from Chicago, we're at the Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance with President & CEO Jennifer Van Valkenburg. Jen breaks down what it actually means to run one of the three largest conservatories in the country, from the 30-year public-private partnership with the Chicago Park District, to the community advisory board and youth council that shape every decision, to why they retired a beloved event (RIP Beer Under Glass) in favor of programming built with, not just for, the neighborhood. We talk about the conservatory's evolution from "hidden gem" to the "shining jewel of the West Side," the 220,000 visitors who came through last year, and what's next. Follow Jennifer Van Valkenburg, Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance: * Website: https://garfieldconservatory.org/ * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gpconservatory/ 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/

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  Episode #44

  Developing Chicago's Next Leaders with Mark Payne, Public Allies Chicago

  Sep 22, 202633 min

  Mark Payne has spent his career developing Chicago's next generation of civic leaders, and he learned to do it the same way he learned to love the city: from his family. His father, Jimmy Payne, was a celebrated Afro-Cuban and tap dancer who taught dance in Chicago from 1947 into his 90s; his mother drove the family up and down King Drive telling stories of the Great Migration. That upbringing in Bronzeville, Englewood, and Auburn Gresham shaped Mark into a Public Allies alum himself, and today he leads the organization Michelle Obama founded in 1993 to train young people for careers in nonprofits and government. In this episode, Mark talks with host Ashley Phillips about what he learned serving as Deputy Chief of Staff for Public Safety under Mayor Rahm Emanuel during a difficult stretch for the city, what actually makes someone a good community leader, and why he started his own podcast, "Keep the Faith, Baby." This conversation is about neighborhoods, patience, and the long arc between doing the work and seeing it pay off. Follow Mark Payne: * Public Allies Chicago Website: https://publicallies.org/chicago/ * Keep the Faith, Baby podcast Website: https://keepthefaithbaby.org/ * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/empane360 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/

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  Episode #43

  The South Side, ICE Resistance & House Music: A Chicago Love Letter

  Aug 25, 202616 min

  Chicago is a city of two truths: deep love and real weight, often in the same breath. In this final mini-episode from our summer archive series, we're revisiting five conversations that capture both sides of the story. Chris Smith makes the case for exploring the South Side beyond Hyde Park. Dr. Mimi Guiracocha shares what it took for a Pilsen community to physically stop ICE from entering their neighborhood. Tony Hatchett tells the origin story of the Chosen Few Picnic, Isis Ferguson points to the hidden pockets of culture, and Nina Idemudia offers a grounded answer to a question many of us are asking right now: how do you make change when the problems feel too big? Explore the full episodes we revisited today: 1) Chris Smith '48 Half Marathons to Help the Hungry with Chris Smith' - Full episode: https://www.notesfromchicago.com/48-half-marathons-to-help-the-hungry-with-chris-smith/ 2) Dr. Mimi Guiracocha ' The Fight for Immigrant Rights in Chicago' - Full episode: https://www.notesfromchicago.com/the-fight-for-immigrant-rights-in-chicago-with-dr-mimi-guiracocha/ 3) Tony Hatchett ' 35+ Years of Chosen Few DJs & Chicago House Music' - Full episode: https://www.notesfromchicago.com/35-years-of-chosen-few-djs-chicago-house-music-with-tony-hatchett/ 4) Isis Ferguson ' Queer Spaces, Bud Billiken, and Chicago Home Movies' - Full episode: https://www.notesfromchicago.com/queer-spaces-bud-billiken-and-chicago-home-movies-with-isis-ferguson-and-alyssa-gregory/ 5) Nina Idemudia ' How to Fix Chicago’s Housing & Transit Problems' - Full episode: https://www.notesfromchicago.com/how-to-fix-chicagos-housing-transit-problems-with-nina-idemudia/ Follow Notes from Chicago: * Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0qkYwUroGt4hMZQlhTg32z * YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NotesfromChicago * 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/

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  Episode #42

  What Chicago Gave Me: Stories of Arrival, Belonging & Reinvention

  Aug 11, 202615 min

  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/

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  Episode #41

  The Weight of It: What Chicago's Artists Carry to Create

  Jul 28, 202623 min

  This summer, we're revisiting some of our favorite conversations. In this episode, we talk about the weight artists and organizers carry, and why they keep carrying it anyway. Photographer Kenn Cook Jr. reflects on capturing the West Side's true story and the West Sider who moved him to tears with her reaction to his work. Muralist-turned-fiber-artist Andy Bellomo opens up about painting through anxiety and postpartum in full public view at the Chicago Cultural Center. Laura Baginski remembers Early Birds Club co-founder Susie Lee, who kept building joy for others even through stage four cancer. And 2025 MacArthur Genius Grant winner Tonika Lewis Johnson tells the story of the Folded Map Project and the phone call that changed her life. Explore the full episodes we revisited today: 1) Kenn Cook Jr., discussing how he captures the true essence of the West Side of Chicago.Full episode: https://pod.link/1838675173/episode/ZWI1NjJlODQtYTMzNy00ODU0LTk4MWUtNzFmYTNjNjRmYjAw 2) Andy Bellomo explores how large-scale public art becomes a powerful vehicle for queer community, activism, and belonging in Chicago. Full episode: https://pod.link/1838675173/episode/YzlkYzQ2YzYtZDIxMC00OWM0LThlOWEtZDgzYTFlZDU2N2Iz 3) Laura Baginski discusses the essence of Chicago, the importance of creating safe spaces, and the legacy of her late co-founder, Susie Lee. Full episode: https://pod.link/1838675173/episode/MTFkNzI5ZmEtNmFlMy00MDk2LWE3YmItOTc3NTY2NGM5NjA3 4) Tonika Lewis Johnson discusses her impactful work, including the Folded Map Project, which visualizes segregation in Chicago. Full episode: https://pod.link/1838675173/episode/Zjg5NjM4ODYtZjUyNy00MTVhLWFiYTAtOGU3ODc1NTUxNDZk 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.

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