June 2025: Juneteenth Reparations Task Force, Journalism Layoffs Report, Workshops for Journalists
June 2025, Issue 3
Hey, Narrative Change Community!
Welcome to Reflections, the official newsletter for all things related to Public Narrative! We will guide you through news you may have missed, share local jobs and resources, spotlight events, and prospects of interest of nonprofit organizations, storytellers, newsrooms, mediamakers, and policy makers. Plus, there is a section for Chicago Independent Media Alliance (CIMA) members!
In this issue:
📰 News: Gov. JB Pritzker to launch 2026 reelection and CPS delays its budget amid $529M shortfall.
🔗 Resources: Training and workshops for journalists and freelancers, cooking programs available to communities and organizations.
📅 Events: Film screening in Bronzeville, Downtown Day event for youth, and happy hour fundraiser for local neighborhoods.
📣 PN Updates: Mayor Brandon Johnson appoints Public Narrative’s Jhmira Alexander to the Chicago Reparations Task Force, Alliance Matters campaign participants to be announced soon.
And we want to hear from you too! We won't be able to capture it all, so send us your news, and you might find it right here in an upcoming newsletter that thousands in our community receive.
See what's being published this month.
Photo by David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Pritzker Set to Announce 2026 Reelection Campaign // Axios Chicago
Gov. JB Pritzker is expected to launch his 2026 reelection campaign this week, while also weighing a 2028 presidential run. However, budget pressures and service cuts have recently challenged his administration. Find more information about his campaign and potential challenges here.
Chicago Public Schools Budget for 2025-26 School Year Delayed // Chalkbeat Chicago
CPS’s budget is now delayed until late July, creating uncertainty as the district now faces a projected $529 million deficit. Without new city or state funding, cuts or borrowing may be expected. Read more about it here.
Mayor Brandon Johnson Announces Juneteenth Task Force Members
Mayor Brandon Johnson announced the appointment of members to the Chicago Reparations Task Force, including Public Narrative's President and Executive Director, Jhmira Alexander. The 40-member task force will support a historic effort to build Chicago’s first Reparations Study. Read more in the press release here.
Explore local resources.
July 11: Newsroom Safety Across America // International Women’s Media Foundation, Cicero Independiente, the Medill School of Journalism, Press Forward Chicago Peer Learning Cohort
Participate in a journalist safety training event geared towards helping freelance journalists and small-to-medium newsrooms protect their journalists’ physical, digital, and emotional wellbeing. Sign up here before June 30, 2025.
July 11: Freelance Meetup at the National Association of Hispanic Journalists' Annual Conference // National Association of Hispanic Journalists, Institute for Independent Journalists
The NAHJ Annual Conference features a freelance journalist meet up hosted by Institute for Independent Journalists leaders, Katherine Reynolds Lewis and Valeria Fernández. Registration is free, so sign up here.
July 12: Chicago Freelance Business Workshop: Your Path to Financial and Emotional Sustainability // Institute for Independent Journalists, Palabra, National Association of Hispanic Journalists
Attend a full-day workshop for freelancers to build financially and emotionally sustainable careers covering business planning, client strategy, time management, and mental health. Open to all experience levels. Get a closer look at their free start-up guide for freelancers and register for the workshop here.
Culinary and Nutrition Education Programs // Common Threads
Common Threads provides interactive cooking and nutrition programs through their partnerships with CPS schools, healthcare organizations, urban farms, and community-based organizations on the city’s south and west sides. Learn more about their programs here.
Explore Chicago's media/storytelling opportunities.
Community Outreach Coordinator // City of Chicago, Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability
CCPSA is seeking an applicant to support in organizing meetings, leading outreach, and building community relationships. This role plays a key part in connecting residents with local police oversight and public safety initiatives. Apply to Job Number 412401 on the CAREERS site before July 1, 2025.
Product and Ops Support Manager // City Bureau
City Bureau is seeking a Product and Operations Support Manager to support its national Documenters programs by managing tech troubleshooting, user support, and partner operations. Apply here before July 13, 2025.
Investigative Editor // Block Club Chicago
BCC is hiring an Investigative Editor to help manage and lead its citywide investigative team focused on uncovering injustice, inequality, and corruption, especially on the South and West Sides. Apply here before June 27, 2025.
Student Interns // City of Chicago, Chicago Department of Transportation
CDOT is hiring three student interns to support policy research, data analysis, and community engagement strategy with the Commissioner’s Office and Division of Planning and Policy. Apply to Job Number 412700 on the CAREERS site before July 9, 2025.
Public Narrative and El Tímpano
Public Narrative is always looking for ways to support independent media ad revenue generation, particularly from the public sector– and to also amplify great nonprofits. During our research, thanks to our friend, Silvia Rivera at MacArthur Foundation, we discovered the great work and the unique innovations of Oakland-based El Tímpano, which practices a listening post style of reporting that serves the nonprofit community and is led by WBEZ alum, Madeleine Bair. They have a revenue model that has caught the attention of the field and many foundations.
PN’s Vice President of Journalism and Media Engagement, Sylvia Ewing, was so impressed that she nominated them for the prestigious Clarence B. Jones Awards and they earned a 2025 contender slot. Check out all of the finalists and learn more about Dr. Jones who was the co-author of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech, and the Communications Network along the way.
See what’s happening this month.
June 27: “Beyond Closure” Film Screening // AIA Chicago, CNU Midwest, Strong Towns Chicago
View the documentary covering the aftermath of fifty Chicago Public Schools closing in 2013 at the Overton Center for Excellence in Bronzeville. Get your free tickets here.
Be United Bash 2025: Brewing a Stronger Chicago // United Way of Metro Chicago’s Young Leaders United
Attend a happy hour fundraiser at Molson Coors Corporate Pub. Proceeds support local neighborhoods through the Neighborhood Network Initiative. Learn more about the event and get your tickets here.
July 19: Downtown Day // My Block, My Hood, My City
Downtown Day invites youth from Chicago’s South and West Sides to explore Downtown Chicago’s signature spots and vibrant businesses. Volunteers are needed, sign up here.
Public Narrative Offers a First Look at the Latest Institute of Independent Journalists Layoff Survey, Thanks to Our Friends at the Field Foundation
Graphic by the Institute for Independent Journalists
The state of journalism and local media has impacted job security for journalists and freelance writers. Learn more about journalist layoffs from this first look at reporting by Institute of Independent Journalists, shared to us early from our friends at the Field Foundation. View the full report here. Also, check out their yearly layoff tracker, which is updated regularly.
Don’t miss these upcoming free events and resources by the Institute of Independent Journalists as a part of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists Annual Convention:
July 11: Freelance Journalist Meetup
July 12: Chicago Freelance Business Workshop: Your Path to Financial and Emotional Sustainability
UPCOMING: Alliance Matters Participants Revealed Soon
Graphic by Ink Factory for Public Narrative.
Public Narrative launched its Alliance Matters “Temperature Check” with an invitation to submit a project as part of a Chicago Independent Media Alliance Editorial and Talent Development Campaign. The final participating newsrooms and media will be informed of their selection by June 27. Look for their exciting content, events, and research results between the end of July to September 2025.
Learn more and support CIMA with a donation today!
Be a supporter of narrative change.
Reflections aims to spotlight the different worlds that make up our narrative change ecosystem. We'll share some events, call-to-actions, news stories and even people working towards shifting narratives that impact us all.
And we want to hear from you too! We won't be able to capture it all, so send us your news, and you might find it right here in an upcoming newsletter that thousands in our community receive.
Email our Digital Engagement Manager, Ivy Do, at ido@publicnarrative.org if you have any other inquiries about our newsletter.
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Public Narrative is a Chicago nonprofit dedicated to cultivating narrative change and supporting community-oriented journalism since 1989.
