Illinois still has a redlining problem. Decades ago, the government labeled Black neighborhoods as “high risk” for home loans. And we’re still feeling the legacy of this policy today. In 2020, WBEZ and City Bureau found that for every dollar that Chicago lenders invested in mostly white neighborhoods, they only invested 12 cents in mostly […]

Illinois school funding was never created equal, but the system remains broken along racial lines today. Last year, African American students at underfunded schools faced an average funding gap of $1,400 more each year than white students at similar schools.   Guest host Tom Philion, dean of the College of Education, sits down with Ralph […]

Public policy touches every part of our daily lives: where our tax dollars go, where we can afford to live, what opportunities our children receive in school. In this episode, Ralph Martire explains how the Center for Budget and Tax Accountability is taking on systemic challenges through policy reform.   Ralph Martire is the Arthur […]

Education is the key to unlock the American Dream. So what will it take for all students to have equal access to its potential, and equal power to shape our democracy?   For 40 years, the Reverend Dr. Janette Wilson has been trying to answer that question. Since its inception, she’s worked with the Rainbow […]

Our University namesake, Eleanor Roosevelt, once said that “a good leader inspires people to have confidence in the leader. A great leader inspires people to have confidence in themselves.”   On today’s episode, you’ll meet three Roosevelt students who are the next generation of women leaders. They reflect on how to challenge bias, obstacles to […]