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City Cast Chicago

We ask local movers and shakers the essential questions.

Emily Mack

 has been helping women in Chicago find housing and stability for 40 years. Board President Rosie Drumgoole caught up with City Cast Chicago to share what makes their approach unique — and how her own story inspires her work.

The following has been edited for length and clarity.

What is Deborah's place and how does it support women experiencing homelessness here in Chicago?

“We are Chicago's largest and longest running provider of permanent supportive housing for single unaccompanied women experiencing homelessness. …We empower women to achieve housing stability, independence, and healing through housing supportive services, education community. That's why 90% of the residents remain housed after they are placed.”

At Deborah's place, you say that housing is the beginning, not the end, of the journey. What does that mean in practice for the women that Deborah's Place serves?

“I think a lot of times people say, ‘Oh, if you get cleaned up … then you can be housed,’ … But the way that Deborah's Place approaches this is, ‘Hey, you should get housing no matter what.’ Everybody deserves a home. It's a trauma-informed approach. It's a harm-reduction approach, and at the end of the day, it leads to long-term stability.”

How does your lived experience shape the way you lead and connect with the women that you serve?

“I know what it's like to not have a place to put your head at night … I know what it's like to have all your belongings in a garbage bag. I know what it's like to feel isolated. When my family was experiencing homelessness, I wasn't in school so I was isolated from my friends. I didn't have the typical high school experience.

[Now] I sit and I can talk to some of these young women … just having that conversation and being able to draw their personalities out, I see how they light up. That motivates me to continue advocating for this organization … I identify with them, I can see myself in them.”

On Nov. 12, Deborah’s Place is hosting a 

Deborah's Place has been helping women in Chicago find housing and stability for 40 years.

3 Questions with Rosie Drumgoole of Deborah's Place

What Chicago celebrities, public figures and key citizens have to say about living here.

3 Questions With Chicago Public Figures

3 Questions With

Walking in Chicago is a meditative experience. Serene when you’re near the lake. Adventurous when you take a new turn.

That’s why writer Michael McColly walked from his North Side apartment to the Indiana Dunes. His 63-mile, two-day journey is chronicled in a new book: 

McColly sat down with Hey Chicago to share some of what he learned. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

What was the most surprising thing you encountered on your walk?

“What surprises me when you walk through cities is that history itself becomes palpable. You can feel it in the streets, in the buildings, in parks, even in the water. In Chicago, you can’t walk along the shore near 31st and not feel the tragic history of 

 when a mob throwing stones caused the drowning death of a Black youth by the name of Eugene Williams for floating over an invisible color line in the water.”

What did you learn about Chicago’s landscape?

“You can’t help but to feel the mesmerizing wonder of this massive wilderness of water upon which this city was built. A body of water so large that it is visible on the moon. Chicago’s lakefront at one end of the shore and Indiana’s Dunes at the other are two remarkable parks: one an urban park built on landfill, the other the result of thousands of years of natural processes. But between them, there is little to no access to the lake. On foot, one must confront the historic inequalities and the ongoing environmental degradation that affects the health of hundreds of thousands of people in this metropolis.”

What are some shorter walks you suggest for Chicagoans?

“A favorite walk for me on the South Side is from Rainbow Beach to Steelworkers Park. From the quiet beach, a favorite of shore birds, then on by the restored prairie and lakefront to the surreal re-wilding going on at Steelworkers Park, with the ruins of US Steel South Works, and an extraordinary lake path. Amazing views of Chicago’s skyline and birds galore during migration.

“I [also] make frequent treks from my apartment to the miraculous Montrose Nature Sanctuary. The walk takes in some of the best beaches and parks on the far North Side — Leone, Loyola, Hollywood (Osterman), and Foster Beach. [I walk] on sand as much as I can until I reach the restored wetlands of Montrose.”

What did Michael McColly learn in his 63-mile trek along Lake Michigan?

3 Questions With the Guy Who Walked From Rogers Park to Indiana

“Carmen” premieres tonight at the Joffrey Ballet — right in time for the dance company’s 70th anniversary. Fittingly, the story is big, dramatic, and classic.

Starring as the titular Carmen, ballerina Victoria Jaiani brings that drama to life. Her character is a hustler: a seductive cigarette girl whose free-spirited ways lead to a tragic love triangle.

Jaiani is also a true Chicagoan, having danced with the Joffrey for 20 years.

Ahead of the premiere, she sat down with Hey Chicago to talk about “Carmen” and local ballet. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

The Joffrey turns 70 this year. Is Chicago still a ballet town?

“What makes the Joffrey unique is how it has opened the doors of ballet to the city through performances, education programs, and community engagement. Ballet here feels accessible, alive, and connected to the Chicago audiences. In turn, Chicago has embraced us with tremendous warmth and pride. The company giving it all to the city and the city giving back its energy and support is what has made Chicago a true ballet town.”

How has performing in Chicago for 20 years informed your ballet practice?

“The Joffrey’s repertoire is incredibly diverse. Each ballet requires a different lens, a different way of moving, and often a different way of thinking about character and story. Two decades here have taught me that ballet is not static; it’s alive, it [evolves], and so must I.”

What's your favorite part of dancing a fiery character like Carmen?

“Carmen is such an extraordinary role because she's unapologetically herself: bold, passionate, and unwilling to be confined by anyone's expectations … She requires not just technical precision, but also an emotional commitment. Every glance, every gesture, every silence carries weight. It's about finding that balance between fire and vulnerability because, while Carmen

is fierce, she is also complex and human … For a few hours, I'm not only telling the story of “Carmen

 I'm also living it. That's both the challenge and the joy of inhabiting a character like her.”

“Carmen” premieres tonight at the Joffrey Ballet — right in time for the dance company’s 70th anniversary.

3 Questions With Carmen — from ‘Carmen’

, has been leading the lyric charge the past two years. Now, there’s a teen poet on the scene: Youth Poet Laureate Eila Kittikamron Mora.

Without poetry, Kittikamron Mora says she would have “turned into a ball of obscurity.”

The 17-year-old finetuned her craft with Young Chicago Authors before she was selected as the city’s youth poet laureate. This weekend, she’ll be reading at 

Ahead of the event, Kittikamron Mora sat down with Hey Chicago to discuss her journey. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

Describe one of your favorite poems you've written. What does it mean to you?

“Disciple.” The longest poem I’ve ever written. I was visiting family in Miami. I hadn’t come out [as trans] to anyone … In Miami, I speak Spanish, and the language is so binary. I would be called 

 … I felt super displaced … Then I just opened a Google Doc and started writing.

“I envisioned a bunch of people crowding around this trans woman who was dying in a storm. And they were mourning her death but butchering her pronouns. … It felt like I was in a trance. It was the first poem I felt truly invested in.”

How does living in Chicagoland influence your work?

"avery r young said, ‘Anything you need, you can come to me and ask me.’ It’s crazy that I’m in this position. His style is so unique and singularly his, it’s inspired me to find my uniqueness.

“Everyone I worked with at YCA, and my fellow youth poet laureate finalists, they’re all so professional and nice. The way they perform is very theatrical, but they’re also so clear and have such good diction. That’s what young Chicago poetry is to me.”

What excites you about the Chicago poetry scene and your new position in it?

“The kids I meet are all super excited and committed to poetry. They truly love it as an art form, and I’m excited to bring the weirdness, bizarreness, and unintelligibility of poetry to the community. Maybe it’s ok not to be understood. Poetry doesn’t need to be understood … I want other poets to know that they can be as crazy as me.” 

Over the next year, Kittikamron Mora will do a reading tour, performing at galas and events including one with Gov. JB Pritzker as well as the Ruth Lily Poetry Prize ceremony.

Without poetry, Eila Kittikamron Mora says she would have “turned into a ball of obscurity.”

3 Questions with Chicago’s Youth Poet Laureate

 stars a few people you may have heard of: Joaquin Phoenix, Emma Stone, Austin Butler, Pedro Pascal ... and Matt Gomez Hidaka. A Chicago native, Gomez Hidaka is now making a name for himself in Hollywood.

In “Eddington” — a neo-Western, COVID-era drama — Pascal plays the mayor of a fictional New Mexico town. Gomez Hidaka plays his unruly son and, might I say, holds his snarky own against 

That’s the kind of opportunity Gomez Hidaka dreamed of while growing up in Rogers Park. “It makes me feel like anything’s possible, really,” he says.

Hey Chicago caught up with the actor to learn more about his journey to the big screen. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

Where did you perform in Chicago as a teen, and what drew you to that scene?

“I did theater all through my childhood. We had this mandatory drama program at my Montessori school, so every year we put on a Shakespeare play that was probably very painful for the parents.

"Then in high school, I wanted to look outside of school productions. I joined American Theater Company, a small black box theater in North Center, and was surrounded by people doing what I loved at a professional level. That energy was addicting.”

Editor’s note: American Theater Company closed in 2018.

How do you feel your Chicago background sets you apart in Hollywood?

“I’m from Rogers Park, one of the most diverse neighborhoods in the city. Growing up around so many different cultures definitely influenced the kind of actor I am. It expanded my worldview.

"In terms of style, one thing I’ve always admired about Chicago actors is their willingness to rip themselves open. I have a theory it’s because of the winters. There’s something uniquely humbling about Chicago’s intense, brutal cold. It strips away any polish, any pretense, and leaves people raw. I feel lucky to have been raised by messy and bold artists like that. They’ve completely shaped my taste.”

What advice would you give to young actors growing up in Chicago?

“Go see theater. Build a relationship with one. Some of the best acting I’ve ever seen has been on Chicago stages. There are just so many incredible theaters. I wish Los Angeles had a Steppenwolf.”

Beyond “Eddington,” you can catch Gomez Hidaka in the dystopian series 

 on Apple TV+. He’s also set to appear in the forthcoming thrillers 

Ari Aster's new film “Eddington” stars a few people you may have heard of, including a local who got his acting start on the North Side.

3 Questions with ‘Eddington’ Actor — and Chicagoan — Matt Gomez Hidaka

 as of last quarter, Crain’s reported. City officials and business leaders have tried to chip away at the problem — like 

efforts to convert offices into apartments on LaSalle Street

So how can Chicago revitalize the Loop? University of Chicago students are trying to drum up solutions

Professor Justin Marlowe is in charge of the 

. He shared the unique ways students are reimagining downtown Chicago.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

What solutions are already impressing you?

“Students recognize the value of green space as a quality of life consideration, but also as a driver of economic development particularly for new tech-centric business models where that's a must-have for younger tech workers who want to be downtown.”

“A couple of groups are actively exploring what it means to do a major 

 downtown, and they've gone so far as to collect data on what it would mean for the Sox or Bears or Red Stars.”

“Students are interested in things we haven't thought about like sustainable agriculture. You could have an entire multi-acre farm operation set up in a building downtown to provide 

fresh produce for the entire neighborhood

You said students are also interested in making downtown equitable. Can Chicago’s downtown be for everyone?

“One of the things that students have had to define early on is exactly what is downtown. And I think for a lot of students who are concerned about the equitable redevelopment of downtown, they've been willing to think about maybe not just a downtown strategy, but multiple downtown strategies serving different parts of downtown.”

“So you could have, in theory, people who are looking for subsidized affordable housing options in the same building with people who are willing to pay quite a bit more for more amenities where they're paying market rate and then some. And that works really well in certain places. In other places, that's just not really an option.”

What other cities are students looking to for examples?

 has had a variety of tax credit programs to encourage [office-to-residential] conversions. They've done some transit investments. They've done some infrastructure investments. They've leaned into their downtown ambassador program to try to create a better quality of life and a lot more events and street life happening downtown.”

“San Francisco has seen a drastic improvement in people coming downtown, crime, and perceptions of the quality of life downtown. There’s a similar sort of playbook there.”

“If you're looking to think about what a pedestrian-friendly downtown looks like, then inevitably you end up looking at someplace like Barcelona.”

Finalists for the Harris Policy Innovation Challenge will be unveiled in the spring.

Downtown office vacancy remains high. So how can Chicago revitalize the Loop?

University of Chicago Students Offer Solutions to Revitalize the Loop

Why Chicago's Downtown Needs Help

20 years to replace more than 400,000 lead lines

 after President Joe Biden imposed a new deadline last week. That’s a long way to go considering the city has 

Today, we’re revisiting a conversation with Axios’ Monica Eng on how Chicago ended up with the 

“Lead can cause developmental disabilities in children, lower IQ, impulsivity, and violence. And in adults, it can cause heart disease. It is not safe at any level, according to the highest health authorities in the world — the National Institutes of Health, the World Health Organization.”

How did Chicago end up with so many lead pipes?

“Places like Cincinnati banned them in the ‘20s. And yet, we required every home — mostly single-family homes and two-flats, but sometimes even as much as 20-flats — to install these. Every single time this came up, the very powerful Chicago Plumbers Union lobbied to keep this in place.”

“Mayor Richard J. Daley was best friends with Stephen Bailey. They grew up together. He was the head of the Chicago Plumbers Union, and he had an in with the mayor. The building code required you to put in these lines that could only be installed by a licensed plumber.”

Is it possible for Chicago to move quickly on removing all these lines?

“Well, our history doesn't say that, but there are cities that have moved very quickly and have certainly moved faster than we have. In Newark, New Jersey, they replaced 23,000 lead lines in three years, moving up to 120 per day. And what Newark's water director Kareem Adeem told the Tribune is, ‘We've shown how to get this done because we had the political will to do it. 

That's what every city needs: political will

.’ And I think that's really telling.”

👀 Worried about lead in your water? Here's what to do

Chicago now has 20 years to replace more than 400,000 lead lines after President Joe Biden imposed a new deadline last week.

Will Chicago Actually Replace Lead Pipes? 

Earth, Wind & Fire Day was technically over the weekend, but we’re singing “

Clark Atlanta University professor Trenton Bailey, the author of “Do You Remember: Celebrating Fifty Years of Earth Wind and Fire,” joined the City Cast Chicago podcast to talk about the 

This interview has been edited for length and clarity. 

Earth, Wind & Fire founder and frontman Maurice White is from Memphis but moved to Chicago. How’d these cities shape his musical background?

“[White] started out playing drums in junior high school. He's in the marching band. After he graduated from high school, he moved to Chicago with his mother, stepdad, and all of his siblings. And for a while, he was going to be a doctor. But he shifted into music — that was his passion. He went to the Chicago Conservatory of Music for a while. He was a session drummer at Chess Records.”

White later moved to LA. Can Chicago really claim Earth, Wind & Fire?

“A lot of people do know that [White] started his band in Chicago, even though it wasn't called Earth, Wind & Fire then. But people do recognize that that's where he got his big musical start. You all can make that claim. I give it to you.”

What would you say Earth, Wind & Fire's impact is on not just Chicago music, but American music?

“Earth, Wind & Fire is a national treasure — even a global treasure. They have been sampled by so many artists. It's just a unique sound. Everyone loves the horns, and it was a gift to the world. I mean, I can't explain it. People just love it.”

🌶️ Plus, what was the band's original name?

Why Chicago Claims Earth, Wind & Fire

How do you feel about Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump’s debate tonight? Nervous? Hopeful? Scared?

, the campaign season has stirred up all kinds of emotions as the Nov. 5 election nears.

Room to Breathe therapist Kelsey Schroeder works with Chicagoans to navigate election-based anxiety. She shares tips ahead of tonight’s debate and an 

How does election anxiety affect people’s everyday lives? 

“For some folks, election anxiety is very much evident in their everyday functioning of how they interact, what they consume on social media, who they talk to.” 

“For others, it can be more of a low hum in the background of an awareness that November is looming.”

“There is a component of just saying updated right now that requires a lot of emotional energy. And I think for a lot of folks, it can feel like something new is happening every day.”

In addition to breathwork and setting boundaries, how does community fit into fighting election anxiety?

“Part of election-based anxiety is also existential anxiety and fear of what it means to be isolated, what it means to feel disconnected, what it means to not have access to resources. One way that we combat it is by being engaged in neighborhood work.”

“Community can be as big or as little as you want it to be. And community can happen within a group of two.”

What advice do you have for people tuning into the debate?

“Before you go into watching it, think about what do you want to get out of it? What are you curious about? What are your expectations? And what may you need to re-regulate if you feel dysregulated during it or after it?”

 Friday is from 6–8 p.m. If you register but can’t attend in real time, you can view the recording for up to eight days.

This campaign season has stirred up all kinds of emotions as the Nov. 5 election nears. 

How to Deal With Election Anxiety

We all know Vice President Kamala Harris has been 

. But so has comedian Allison Reese, who has gone viral for her spot-on impression of the VP, her iconic laugh, and the phrase “n’kay.”

Reese trained in Chicago’s comedy scene for years, and it's where she first developed her Harris impression for a showcase.

Ahead of Harris’ big speech tonight, Hey Chicago caught up with Reese.

What’d you learn in Chicago that has been foundational in this moment as your Harris impression gets so much attention?

“I've always been enamored by political comedy. One of the reasons why I went to Chicago was because I wanted to take advantage of the scene that was ready to satirize.”

“When I was in Chicago, I did a lot of shows that were news based. I did a show called '

' [at iO Chicago], where we would get headlines and do improv based off of the news that week that the audience had picked out. I've done sketch shows that were centered around news at the 

 and it gave me a very specific point of view right away. I knew the thesis statement in my head is, ‘

.’ That's kind of how I go through it of like, ‘Does this spark something in me immediately?’”

After studying Harris as closely as you have, why is she so memeable?

“I feel like it's just because she's being herself, especially in a world that really doesn't like that. The world of politics is so very regimented and you have to fit into these boxes. I think she's so memeable because she really puts her personality out there. And also, I think she’s just funny, and that’s a big part of it, too.”

Maya Rudolph might have some competition from comedian Allison Reese.