The Cook County Department of Corrections has one of the largest "garden programs" in the city. Featuring over an acre of crops and a $150,000 greenhouse, the expansive program yields quality produce year-round. Recently some of Chicago's top restaurants "Publican, Blackbird, and Avec) have begun purchasing jail-grown produce to be served in their establishments. Last month, Sopraffina, a Chicago-based catering company became the jail's first bulk-buyer, helping the program to progress to even greater heights. I speak with the Program Director, Kerry Wright and a few of her workers (inmates) about what the program means to them.

A Garden Behind Bars

A discussion about being black in America from my point of view as a bi-racial person. Originally Aired on WBEZ and Vocalo.org. 

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Am I Black Enough For You?

In this piece, we attempt to discern the differences between cultural appreciation and cultural appropriation through the lenses of two white, female scholars of black culture. Danielle Wilson studies "Race in the Modern Atlantic" at the University of Chicago, while Lauren Tamm has degrees from DePaul University in African Black Diaspora and Non-Profit Management. We discuss how their motivations and experiences compare while exploring a deeper understanding of why it is important to have a positively-appropriated voice in the academic conversation of race. 

This piece originally aired on "Practically Speaking" through Chicago Public Media (Vocalo, 90.7fm )on March 2nd, 2014. 

Cultural Appreciation vs. Cultural Appropriation

In this piece, Alex Thibodeau seeks out CTA employees who go "above and beyond" their job requirements to ensure that the morning commute runs smoothly. Through the exploration of their motivations, the piece tries to get to the root of what makes these people unique. We meet Bruce Meredith, Antonio Acevedo and Jelida Dupart, CTA attendants who take significant time each day reaching out to customers on a personal level. While the public transit certainly isn't perfect, these people make commuting (and the world) a better place.  

Originally aired on Vocalo's "Practically Speaking" 90.7fm (CHI), 89.5 (NW Indi) or streaming at vocalo.org

Above and Beyond - A CTA Transit Story

Recent DePaul graduate, Richard Hebron voluntarily lives homeless in Chicago for 4 months as an attempt to better understand the issue of homelessness. Originally aired on WBEZ and Vocalo.org. 

Alex Thibodeau

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