[CivicLab] [CivicLab.us website][Social Justice Needs a Home]

Welcome to CivicLab Radio – original podcasts covering a range of civic, change and policy topics. Meet some of the most effective and had working organizers in Chicago and learn about the issues they are fighting for. The first set was produced by Peggy Xu in 2015. Peggy was a media intern from the University of Chicago. At the time she was a second-year student at the University of Chicago. At CivicLab Peggy was able to speak with co-workers there to create the first set of podcasts for CivicLab Radio.

CivicLab Radio by Tom Tresser

CivicLab Radio is a collection of podcasts produced by CivicLab Media. These short recordings document social change and policy organizing efforts currently under way in Chicago. The first set were produced by Peggy Xu, a media intern from the University of Chicago. Peggy Xu is a second-year student at the University of Chicago.

CIVICLAB RADIO BACKGROUND

Program 001 – Fair Housing in Chicago (37 minutes)- Interview with Morgan Davis, Executive Director of the Chicago Area Fair Housing Alliance.

• References & Further Reading

1. Crime Free Ordinances — http://povertylaw.org/sites/default/files/files/housing-justice/cost-of-being-crime-free.pdf
2. How We Built the Ghettos — http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/03/13/how-we-built-the-ghettos.html
3. Separate, Unequal, and Ignored — http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/chicago-politics-segregation-african-american-black-white-hispanic-latino-population-census-community/Content?oid=3221712
4. How Segregated Is Chicago? — http://politics.suntimes.com/article/chicago/how-segregated-chicago-and-does-it-matter/tue-05272014-114pm
5. Manhattan Institute Report — http://www.manhattan-institute.org/html/cr_66.html
6. Restrictive Covenants — http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/1067.html
7. The Great Migration — http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/545.html

• Organization Website – http://cafha.net
• Music – “Procrastination Causes Death” by Freeplay Music (Composers Phillip Bright, Brennan Johnston)

Program 002 – Mass Incarceration (20 minutes) – Interview with Ayanna Harris – Chicago Alliance to Free Marissa Alexander – http://freemarissanow.tumblr.com.

• References & Further Reading:
  1. Drug War & Mass Incarceration by the Numbers –http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/08/drug-war-mass-incarceration_n_3034310.html

2. NPR Coverage of Marissa Alexander – http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2014/11/25/366567307/florida-woman-in-stand-your-ground-case-accepts-plea-deal

3. Mandatory Minimums – http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/congress-should-reform-the-mandatory-minimum-sentences-for-drug-offenses/2014/07/23/df845d68-1125-11e4-9285-4243a40ddc97_story.html

4. Racial Disparities in Drug Sentencing – http://www.vox.com/2014/7/1/5850830/war-on-drugs-racist-minorities

5. Post-Conviction Restrictions – http://www.huffingtonpost.com/thomas-white/felony-life-sentence_b_3384710.html

6. A Brief History of the Drug War – http://www.drugpolicy.org/new-solutions-drug-policy/brief-history-drug-war

7. Excerpts from the New Jim Crow – http://www.thenation.com/article/new-jim-crow

• Music: “Iced Up” by Freeplay Music (Composers Phillip Bright, Brennan Johnston)

Program 003 – NextGen Illinois (9 minutes) – Interview with Grace Pai, Outreach Fellow with the Roosevelt Institute.

• • Organization Website:  www.nextgenil.orgMusic: “Falling For You (Piano Version)” by Sean FournierWatch this brief intro video to the project:
  Program 004 – Tax Increment Financing and the TIF Illumination Project (28 minutes) – Interview with Tom Tresser, Co-Founder of the CivicLab and lead organizer for the TIF Illumination ProjectReferences:
  1. TIF Primer — http://www.cookcountyclerk.com/tsd/tifs/pages/tifs101.aspx2013 TIF Analysis — http://www.tifreports.com/tif_illumination/tif-annual-reviews/2013_analysis/CivicLab’s FOIA Request — http://www.tifreports.com/2014/09/11/foia-request/TIFs’ impact on job creation & economic development — https://planning.unc.edu/people/faculty/williamlester/LesterTIFinChicagoforthcoming.pdfInternational Business Times article — http://www.ibtimes.com/chicago-mayor-rahm-emanuel-cuts-schools-pensions-while-preserving-fund-corporate-subsidies-1648754Music: “Building Blocks” by Freeplay Music (Composers Phillip Bright, Brennan Johnston)
  Program 005 – Move To Amend (23 minutes).References:1. 40 Charts That Explain Money in Politics – http://www.vox.com/2014/7/30/5949581/money-in-politics-charts-explain2. Campaign Finance After Citizens United – http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/jurisprudence/2012/07/campaign_finance_after_citizens_united_is_worse_than_watergate_.html3. A Guide to Political Donations – http://elections.nytimes.com/2012/guide-to-political-donations
  • Organization Website: https://movetoamend.org
  •  Music: “Iced Up” by Freeplay Music (Composers Phillip Bright, Brennan Johnston)

Program 005 – Move To Amend (23 minutes).

References:

1. 40 Charts That Explain Money in Politics – http://www.vox.com/2014/7/30/5949581/money-in-politics-charts-explain

2. Campaign Finance After Citizens United – http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/jurisprudence/2012/07/campaign_finance_after_citizens_united_is_worse_than_watergate_.html

3. A Guide to Political Donations – http://elections.nytimes.com/2012/guide-to-political-donations

• Organization Website: https://movetoamend.org
•  Music: “Iced Up” by Freeplay Music (Composers Phillip Bright, Brennan Johnston)