Stop watching those White House press briefings

and pay attention to your neighborhood, wherever you are

How I love our beautiful south side.

This is beautiful Washington Park where little is in full bloom yet but the weeping willows. Even from the edges this place is restorative and tranquil.

And here’s a street a few blocks from me. This family has put out signs thanking pretty much everyone there is to thank. I hope these messages bring a smile to our service providers and essential workers, and also any scientists who pass by.

In grim dark times it is comforting to know that spring still arrives, beauty is still everywhere, and people can be decent, even jolly.

Since it so nice to think of beautiful things I’ll give you some more.

You will be find this to be a luminous listen, this virtual choral piece from my favorite choir, the south side’s Chicago Chorale.

And how about another one. This is the Chicago Children’s Choir (another south side gem) and Young At Heart, a Massachusetts choir, singing together from their quarantine homes at great distance from each other.

Feeling better yet? No? Okay, I got some more for you.

My almost favorite organization in the city, My Block My Hood My City, has been helping out seniors throughout the quarantine (video below), and is gearing up to bring together Chicagoans who need each other through their Youth-Senior Connect program (https://www.formyblock.org). I love, love, love these folks. Support their work if you can.

And from the 61st Street Farmer’s Market comes this cool initiative:

When the coronavirus pandemic forced the 61st Street Farmers Market to go virtual last month, people using SNAP benefits were left behind since Illinois Link cards aren’t accepted online.

But market organizers have come up with a workaround: You can purchase a food box from the Back of the Yards-based Star Farm to be donated to neighbors on public assistance.

The boxes include organic seasonal produce like microgreens, spinach, mushrooms, asparagus and radishes. The crops are sourced from Star Farm and other local farms.

Eggs from Illinois and Michigan and bread from Publican Bakery in Fulton Market are included, as well.

Star Farm is a vendor at the market and has an existing community-supported agriculture program, so it made sense “to use the infrastructure already in place,” Zeldin said.

Nearly 70 homes will receive food boxes Friday, the first day of deliveries under the program.

You can order one of these boxes for someone who needs one. Check it out and get involved here.

Finally, to get you ready to talk about some school-related things I’ll bring up in my next post, here’s some good news for public education from Michigan, well explained by Jennifer Berkshire and Jack Schneider. Check it out. A constitutional right to literacy.

By the end of that you’ll be all warmed up and ready to deal with all I have to lob at you, schoolwise, later this week. Thanks as always for reading. Sign up to get this newsletter regularly:

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