The Block Club Chicago Podcast

Host - Jon Hansen In the 1980s, Chicago's expressways were surrounded by dirt. Gateway Green stepped in to beautify the area, and 36 year later the 2nd-generation non-profit keeps picking up steam ... and millions of pound of garbage.  Want to donate to our non-profit newsroom? CLICK HERE Who we are Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization dedicated to delivering reliable...

Host - Jon Hansen Scattered throughout Chicago's neighborhoods are brown (usually) honorary signs. Some people are famous, others are only known to those who lived on that block. And some have names that nobody can figure out who they honor! Linda Zabors chronicles them all! Want to donate to our non-profit newsroom? CLICK HERE Who we are Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organ...

Host - Jon Hansen Summary - Jessica Housley has made hundreds of bouquets of flowers and left them behind for complete strangers to find all over Chicago. It's bringing together people in incredible ways.  Want to donate to our non-profit newsroom? CLICK HERE Who we are Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization dedicated to delivering reliable, relevant and nonpartisan cov...

Host - Jon Hansen For 25 years, Chicago Debates has prepared the next generation of leaders through competitive debate. Jon Hansen stopped by to check it out! Want to donate to our non-profit newsroom? CLICK HERE Who we are Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization dedicated to delivering reliable, relevant and nonpartisan coverage of Chicago's diverse neighborhoods. We be...

Host - Jon Hansen Chicago is a city of neighborhoods. Every neighborhood has a gem. Callers and Block Club Chicago reporters share their favorite local spots! Want to donate to our non-profit newsroom? CLICK HERE Who we are Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization dedicated to delivering reliable, relevant and nonpartisan coverage of Chicago's diverse neighborhoods. We be...

Host - Jon Hansen Edna Jackeline Vazquez Núñez is Monterrey-native who began running ultramarathons when she was 17, and never stopped. In 2016, she became the first Mexican-American to complete the daunting 4 Deserts Ultramarathon Series. Want to donate to our non-profit newsroom? CLICK HERE Who we are Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization dedicated to delivering reli...

Host - Jon Hansen Just off the Green Line at 51st, Boxville is Chicago's first shipping container marketplace that uses modified shipping containers for commerce in place of traditional brick and mortar spaces. Katrina Roddy joins the podcast and Jon Hansen takes a tour of the accelerator program.    Want to donate to our non-profit newsroom? CLICK HERE Who we are Block Club Chicago is a 501(...

A new film called 'Tagged' is a love letter to Chicago's public street art and the artists remain on the fringe of mainstream recognition. Grant Troyer and founder of local production company, Kernel Productions, made this film to try and change that. Host - Jon Hansen Want to donate to our non-profit newsroom? CLICK HERE Who we are Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organizatio...

Timeless Gifts pairs up Chicago students with musical mentors, fostering a relationship and inspiring kids to follow their performance dreams! Host - Jon Hansen Guest - Joan Collasso ,  an Emmy Award winning vocalist, she came up with the idea of establishing a youth mentoring program in the performing arts  that pairs up the children with professional singers, musicians and technical experts. Wan...

Block Club Chicago is celebrating Pride Month with a virtual panel about creating safe, inclusive spaces for all LGBTQ people. Our Jake Wittich will moderate, and he and panelist Jo MaMa joined Jon for a preview! Host - Jon Hansen Reporter - Jake Wittich Guest - Jo MaMa Want to donate to our non-profit newsroom? CLICK HERE Who we are Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organizati...

Jeanine Valrie Logan, a Chicago midwife, is creating a South Side birth center. She hopes it can be the first step in empowering Black health care workers and patients and bring change to a community that lacks maternal health resources. Host - Jon Hansen   Want to donate to our non-profit newsroom? CLICK HERE Who we are Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization dedicated...

Edgar Florentino is brightening up the neighborhood he grew up in by landscaping "hot corners" — streets where there is a lot of gun violence. Host - Jon Hansen Reporter - Madison Savedra  Want to donate to our non-profit newsroom? CLICK HERE Who we are Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization dedicated to delivering reliable, relevant and nonpartisan coverage of Chicago'...

Impact Culinary Training is a 12-week, no-cost training program for 16-24 year olds from the city's West Side. The program aims to diversify our city's kitchens while improving an often stressful and difficult workplace.  Host - Jon Hansen Want to donate to our non-profit newsroom? CLICK HERE Who we are Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization dedicated to delivering reli...

Host - Jon Hansen Guest - Ryan Lee Want to donate to our non-profit newsroom? CLICK HERE Who we are Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization dedicated to delivering reliable, relevant and nonpartisan coverage of Chicago's diverse neighborhoods. We believe all neighborhoods deserve to be covered in a meaningful way. We amplify positive stories, cover development and local...

Host - Jon Hansen Reporter - Maxwell Evans Want to donate to our non-profit newsroom? CLICK HERE Who we are Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization dedicated to delivering reliable, relevant and nonpartisan coverage of Chicago's diverse neighborhoods. We believe all neighborhoods deserve to be covered in a meaningful way. We amplify positive stories, cover development an...

The episode highlights: The Bulls Barber Who Says Cutting Hair Saved His Life, The South Side Mom Stitching Together Her Dream, A Missing Ring's 25-Year Journey Home, and The Mom Who Fought For Black Hair.  Want to donate to our non-profit newsroom? CLICK HERE Who we are Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization dedicated to delivering reliable, relevant and nonpartisan co...

After years of struggling with physical problems, Billy Zureikat was diagnosed with a rare disease. His love of cooking has provided a creative and therapeutic outlet, and he's on a mission to help others through his culinary skills. Host - Jon Hansen Want to donate to our non-profit newsroom? CLICK HERE Who we are Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization dedicated to del...

People once arrested for marijuana possession are now learning how to work in the legal weed industry thanks to a scholarship program funded by cannabis tax revenues. Host - Jon Hansen Reporter - Pascal Sabino Want to donate to our non-profit newsroom? CLICK HERE Who we are Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization dedicated to delivering reliable, relevant and nonpartisan...

Block Club Chicago is partnering with Weigel Broadcasting to launch a TV show on WCIU! Host Brandon Pope joins Jon Hansen to discuss the project, and why he's excited to be a part of the Block Club world! Want to donate to our non-profit newsroom? CLICK HERE Who we are Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization dedicated to delivering reliable, relevant and nonpartisan cove...

Host - Jacoby Cochran Want to donate to our non-profit newsroom? CLICK HERE Who we are Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization dedicated to delivering reliable, relevant and nonpartisan coverage of Chicago's diverse neighborhoods. We believe all neighborhoods deserve to be covered in a meaningful way. We amplify positive stories, cover development and local school counci...

Host - Jon Hansen Dion Dawson, founder of Dion's Chicago Dream, is expanding access to free, fresh food from Englewood directly to your door. Want to donate to our non-profit newsroom? CLICK HERE Who we are Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization dedicated to delivering reliable, relevant and nonpartisan coverage of Chicago's diverse neighborhoods. We believe all neighbo...

Jim Graziano shut down his family’s generations-old wholesale business and started selling sandwiches, beef kits, giardiniera and designer T-shirts. Now, the shop is enjoying its most profitable years ever. Host - Jon Hansen Reporter - Mack Liederman   Want to donate to our non-profit newsroom? CLICK HERE Who we are Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization dedicated to de...

Host - Jon Hansen Guest - Mike Vanderbilt @mikevanderbilt Want to donate to our non-profit newsroom? CLICK HERE Who we are Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization dedicated to delivering reliable, relevant and nonpartisan coverage of Chicago's diverse neighborhoods. We believe all neighborhoods deserve to be covered in a meaningful way. We amplify positive stories, cover...

Over ten years ago, Jamila Trimuel got 6 girls together to mentor them and help them become successful. Now, Ladies of Virtue works with hundreds of Chicago girls to instill them with purpose, passion, and perseverance, all while preparing them for college, careers and to become change agents in their communities.  Host - Jon Hansen  Want to donate to our non-profit newsroom? CLICK HERE Who we are...

A family that closed its  restaurant last year due to the pandemic recently opened a grocery store in Lincoln Square. The couple met 20 years ago as teenagers attending Foreman High School in Portage Park and working part-time at Armitage Produce in Logan Square. Host - Jon Hansen Reporter - Alex V Hernandez Want to donate to our non-profit newsroom? CLICK HERE Who we are Block Club Chicago is a&n...