Kelly Parker voted in her first presidential election at Willow Elementary School in Homewood, the very same elementary school she once attended. Parker called it a full circle moment. “My mom took me to vote. I was very excited. She was very excited,” said Parker, who said she was proud[Read More…]
Author: Lolita Cusic
Growing pains: You Matter 2 stays true to its mission despite funding challenges
No good deed goes unpunished — or so the saying goes. Area nonprofits are feeling the sting of those words as they find their funding being cut, frozen or eliminated altogether. You Matter 2, a nonprofit in Flossmoor that offers programming to empower and educate south suburban youth, is one[Read More…]
‘Riding for America’ takes off at the Nathan Manilow Theatre
Nancy Hays was off to the races as soon as she heard Isaac Burns Murphy’s story when she visited the Kentucky Derby Museum in 2019. Murphy, a famous African-American jockey in the late 1800s, had been reduced to a footnote in history. Hays was appalled and determined to tell the[Read More…]
The Drama Group closes the curtain on applying for National Endowment for the Arts grants
If President Donald Trump has his way, the National Endowment for the Arts will be DOA in 2026, according to his proposed budget for 2026, which he released to Congress on May 2. The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) is one of several organizations on the current administration’s chopping[Read More…]
Nonprofits chilled by federal budget freezes and cuts
In freeze tag, players must freeze if the person who is “It” tags them during the game. Nonprofits all over the country experienced something very similar on Jan. 27, 2025, when the Trump administration issued an order to freeze grant money and contracts, effective at 5 p.m. the next day.[Read More…]
‘Someone to watch over me’: Ballantrae Neighborhood Watch works to keep residents safe
In Season 10 of “Chicago Med,” Flossmoor resident Les Rodgers appeared in three episodes of the popular NBC drama. He played Simon Albrecht, the hospital’s chief of security. In real life, his current role also involves security. Rodgers is the founder of the Ballantrae Neighborhood Watch in Flossmoor, which he started five[Read More…]
Stepping out: Talented H-F Steppers win another title
If you’ve ever been to a step show, you’ve felt the energy, gotten caught up in the rhythm, seen the precision moves and felt the joy and pride of the steppers on stage. If you’re a member of the Divine 9, you also probably got a little nostalgic. Stepping is[Read More…]
Health & Wellness 2025: Adult PT expansion just what the doctor ordered
Sheralee Shah is a firm believer in counting your blessings. Shah, who has been a physical therapist for 20 years, has seen the toll that strokes, injuries and disease have taken on her patients. She’s also seen her patients rebound, helping them regain the ability to walk, drive and perform[Read More…]
Health & Wellness 2025 | There’s no place like home for Flossmoor doctor
Sometimes a visit to the doctor literally can change your life. “I had a patient come in who was in a wheelchair, who couldn’t walk,” said orthopedic physician Dr. William Payne. “But now the patient is able to dance. That’s why I’m doing this. Things like that inspire you to[Read More…]
Health & Wellness 2025 | When minutes count: Franciscan Hospital’s Acute Stroke Ready designation is a lifesaver for stroke victims
Jennifer Biank is a woman on a mission when it comes to strokes. “A stroke is not the same as a heart attack. Your brain is experiencing trauma,” said Biank, who is coordinator of Clinical Outcomes and Stroke at Franciscan Hospital, Olympia Fields. “I need you to have the same[Read More…]
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