Media
I have been interviewed on television (WTTW Chicago Tonight), radio (WBEZ National Public Radio), and numerous print outlets such as the Chicago Tribune, the Chicago Sun-Times, the Pioneer Press and other local media.
I also write a column for Patch.
Patch editorials:
We Can Do Better: The Case for a Mixed-Income Westfield Old Orchard (February 20, 2024)
Diverse Housing for a Diverse Skokie (April 30, 2023)
From Houses to Homes: Toward a Humane Housing Policy in Skokie (January 14, 2023)
Vote "Yes" for the People of Skokie (October 13, 2022)
Our Communities Shape Us: A Highland Park and Highwood Reckoning (September 12, 2022)
Carvana does not conform with the Skokie Comprehensive Plan (February 5, 2022)
Antisocial Engineering: Development When Community Doesn’t Matter (January 8, 2022)
Walking the Diversity Talk in the Suburbs: The Case for Human Relations Commissions (August 31, 2021)
Social justice candidates can win on the North Shore – if we vote (April 4, 2021)
Housing is for People: Elected officials promote genuine community when they ensure inclusive, mixed-income housing (January 13, 2021)
Reclaim Winnetka for people, not profit: Support for Black lives shines light on residents' desire for inclusive, diverse suburbs (September 9, 2020)
Systemic racism starts and ends with housing: State deadline looming this month is chance to affirm open and welcoming suburbs (June 17, 2020)
The following is a sampling of my appearances.
Bylines (see also Publications):
'Do We Need Affordable Housing' Is the Wrong Question to Ask (Shelterforce Magazine, February 9, 2021)
Black Women Made Visible: Timely Reissue of 1893 Book (Metropolis, November 7, 2020)
Systemic Racism Starts and Ends with Housing (Shelterforce Magazine, July 17, 2020). See also Wilmette Patch with the original version of this op-ed (June 17, 2020).
Musician, champion of orchestral music dies (Cook County Chronicle, March 8, 2020)
"Lead from the Rear" and Other Thoughts from our New Executive Director (Senior Moments from H.O.M.E. blog, August 20, 2018)
Book Review: Mississippi Jail Hangings: Behind the Magnolias (Esther Muhammad) (Evanston Roundtable, May 3, 2017)
Community Organizing: Integrating a Woman's Approach (Shelterforce, February 17, 2017)
Book Review: Championing a Civil Rights Activist and Labor Leader: Nonfiction Review of “Reverend Addie Wyatt: Faith and the Fight for Labor, Gender and Racial Equality” (Marcia Walker-McWilliams), NewCity, January 20, 2017
Gail Schechter's Best Reads of 2016 (Evanston Public Library, December 12, 2016)
Television/Video:
On H.O.M.E., WZRD, November 29, 2021
Chicago Fast Pitch 2019: Coaches’ Award (2nd Place)
50 Years Later, Fair Housing Movement on North Shore Marches On (Chicago Tonight, WTTW, July 23, 2015)
Affordable Housing in Winnetka (WTTW, Chicago Tonight, interview with host Phil Ponce, April 6, 2011)
On "Defamation: The Play" and Race on Chicago's North Shore, Interview with playwright Todd Logan, in Evanston, IL, August 2013.
Housing Strategies in the Northern Suburbs, Interview with Karen Chavers, interviewed by Wanda Wells, FOX TV, January 9, 2000
Radio:
What Does Intergenerational Housing Look Like In Chicago?: Two local leaders share how they’re working to improve living conditions for seniors of all backgrounds. WBEZ, September 13, 2021
Illinois Lawmakers Strengthen A Law That Requires Some Cities To Submit Affordable Housing Plans, WBEZ, June 6, 2021
With No Oversight, Illinois Cities Flout State Law That Encourages Affordable Housing, WBEZ, January 21, 2021
Despite mandate, affluent suburbs fail to build affordable housing, WBEZ, October 12, 2015
Fair Housing Campaign in the Suburbs, WBEZ Morning Shift interview, June 1, 2015
Newspapers:
Open Communities leader reflects on long journey as she ends run, Chicago Tribune, December 7, 2015. (if difficulty accessing, here is the article in PDF).
Open Communities director to step down, Chicago Tribune, November 2, 2015.
Holocaust Museum speakers discuss housing segregation in Chicago area, The Daily Northwestern, January 15, 2015.
Sudanese leaders learn to strategize with local community organizers in Medill Reports, May 11, 2010, and in Continuum Magazine.
Music- and Humanities-Related:
A Reading of Simone de Beauvoir, at the 2014 Nelson Algren Birthday Party, Chicago, IL
Celebrating the UnSung, August 3, 2007 WBEZ. On Alec Wilder, with Richard Wyszynski.
Nightfall, by John Morrissey, arr. and conducted for clarinet and strings by Richard Wyszynski, June 4, 2006, North Shore Chamber Orchestra, Alice Millar Chapel, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL.