May 2025, Narrative Change Community News
May 2025, Issue 1
Hey, Narrative Change Community!
Welcome to Reflections, the new 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 and for Chicago Independent Media Alliance (CIMA) members, and a message from our President and Executive Director, Jhmira Alexander. Let us know what you think!
In this issue:
📰 News: Block Club Chicago sues ICE, May Day protest demands, the state of local journalism, and staffing crisis at the Illinois Department of Corrections.
🔗 Resources: Legal counsel for immigrants and jobs-for-hire in nonprofit journalism.
📅 Events: AAPI film screenings & discussions and community networking opportunities.
📣 PN Updates: A first look at our highlight reel for the 30th Annual Community Media Awards.
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 some of what's being published this month.
Photo by: Flickr / U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for Block Club Chicago
Block Club Chicago Sues ICE Over Immigration Arrest Records // Block Club Chicago
Block Club Chicago is suing ICE and Homeland Security for violating the federal Freedom of Information Act. After many formal record requests, ICE continues to withhold information about who was arrested during the January immigration sweeps. Read more about the story here.
May Day Protests Draw Thousands in Chicago, Calling for End to Deportations // Borderless Magazine
May Day, also known as International Workers’ Day, has a historical significance to the city of Chicago. This year, thousands of Chicagoans took to the streets to demand justice for immigrant workers and to put an end to deportations. Read more about it here.
Laura Washington: Journalism Jobs May Be in Decline, but Local News Still Has a Bright Future // Chicago Tribune
Laura Washington ‘99, a Studs Terkel Award Honoree, and Sylvia Ewing, Public Narrative’s Director of Journalism and Media Engagement, comment on the state of local, independent journalism in the wake of the new administration. Read along here.
Lockdowns, Staffing Shortages at Illinois Prisons Leads to Visit Cancellations // WTTW
Short staff and lockdowns in the Illinois Department of Corrections are preventing family members and advocates from visiting their loved ones who are incarcerated. This “staffing crisis” has been labeled as the cause for increased lockdowns and last minute visitation cancellations. Read more here.
Explore some local resources.
New to Chicago? Here Are Resources for Immigrants, Asylum-seekers and More // Chicago Sun-Times, La Voz
The La Voz Immigration Resource Guide answers your questions on legal rights, public benefits, housing, health, work, and education. Learn about your rights and protections and what to do when your rights are being violated. Leer la guía en español.
Immigration Attorneys Share Tips for Seeking Legal Assistance During Uncertain Times // Borderless Magazine
Immigration attorneys and compiled legal aid resources answer your questions and provide tips on navigating rapid changes to federal immigration policies. Discover organizations providing free or low-cost legal services. Read the full article here.
Mission, Message: Nonprofits Navigate the New Communications Landscape // Candid.
The Communications Network’s 2025 Pulse Polls | Survey #1 gives us a glimpse in how nonprofits are adjusting their communications strategies under the new administration. Read more about it here.
FOIA Fest 2025 Resources // Chicago Headline Club
Chicago Headline Club hosted its 2025 annual training event, FOIA fest, that provides tips and tools on accessing public records that will help reporters, organizers, and everyday people turn their stories into impactful insights and investigations. Find the 2025 FOIA Fest Resources here.
Explore some of Chicago's media/storytelling opportunities.
Bilingual Deputy Editor // Borderless Magazine
Borderless Magazine is looking for a Deputy Editor to edit stories and off-platform products, assist with Spanish translations and manage the editorial team. Apply here.
Editor-in-Chief // WBEZ Chicago
WBEZ is searching for an Editor-in-Chief to discern daily, weekly, monthly, and future news coverage. This role will oversee the overall editorial direction, content strategy, and standards to ensure journalistic integrity across multiple platforms, including digital, broadcast, print and social media. Apply here.
Student Internships // Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities
The Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities is searching for student interns to learn about disability issues, visit different City of Chicago locations, help with planning events, and work on programs. Apply here.
See what’s happening this month.
May 18: Silky Shah on Unbuild Walls // Haymarket Presents
Silky Shah is joined by historian Charlotte E. Rosen for a conversation on Shah’s book, Unbuild Walls: Why Immigrant Justice Needs Abolition. Shah and Rosen will explore how to bridge the gaps between movements for immigrant rights, racial justice, and prison abolition. Register here.
May 19: Taking Root Documentary Screening & Discussion // VAI Chicago
In honor of Asian American Pacific Islander month, VAI Chicago is hosting a screening of Taking Root, a documentary highlighting the intergenerational impact of war in Southeast Asia. Get your tickets here.
May 22: ComNetworkCHICAGO: May Happy Hour // The Communications Network
The Communications Network is hosting a networking event for ComNetwork CHI members and friends, as well as anyone who works in "Comms for Good" in the Chicago area. RSVP here.
May 30: The 5th Annual Restorative Justice Conference: Resilience & Resistance // BUILD Chicago
BUILD Chicago is hosting its 5th Annual Restorative Justice Conference featuring workshops and panels highlighting effective methods for building individual and collective resilience through community healing and empowerment. Register here.
Who Attended the 1st Annual CIMA Retreat?
Information on the Chicago’s Independent Media Alliance.
Video by: Sulyiman Stokes for Public Narrative
Public Narrative and CIMA members, supporters, and others gathered for the first annual Chicago Independent Media Alliance (CIMA) Retreat . The retreat fostered collaboration, shared resources, and strategized on enhancing the sustainability and impact of independent media in Chicago. Learn more about our collaboration in our video.
Deep dive into PN’s archive.
Then
Thirty-one years ago, Public Narrative, formerly Community Media Workshop, hosted its first Studs Terkel Community Media Awards! In 1994, Public Narrative held its inaugural ceremony where Studs Terkel, himself, would choose the award recipients. The first Studs Terkel Award Honorees were Cheryl Corley, David Moberg, and M.W. Newman.
Learn more about PN’s history here.
Now
Public Narrative just hosted its 30th Annual Community Media Awards, emceed by Cheryl Corley ‘94, an inaugural Studs Terkel Award Honoree. This year, we’ve debuted a new award category, the Dr. Timuel D. Black, Jr. Award for Civic Engagement.
Learn about this year’s winners in our digital program.
A message from our President and Executive Director.
The 30th Annual Community Media Awards Highlight Reel
Video by: Matthew Ewing for Public Narrative
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 Producer, 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.
Ivy Do Writer
Sylvia Ewing Editor
