Leaving Our Favorite City

chicago skyline at sunset with lake michigan and part of a sailboat in the foreground

We’ve made plans to leave our favorite city in the world – a place I (Luke) wanted to live for a decade before I moved here, and still my favorite place I’ve ever lived. Ashley and I are doing this by choice, and we know this represents a privilege. We’re moving to Tulsa, Oklahoma, in…

Scholar Story | Lena

african american girl holding up hoodie over her face

Lena, GLP 2017 Lena’s story is part of a project entitled “Scholar Stories.” Please see this project’s portfolio page for more details and additional stories in this series.   “My finger hurts,” Lena said, in an earnest yet ill-conceived attempt to justify why she was awake – again. Up past 3 a.m. – again. And surrounded by…

Defining the Problem; Envisioning a Solution

lens image inverted cityscape unique vision

Originally included in Empowering Innovators, 2018.  At the Global Leaders Program, we believe Chicago-area youth possess the innate ability to create great change, and through the program, we cultivate the natural talent and capacity for innovation of Chicago's underserved populations. Specifically, we aim to increase access and resources for those from backgrounds historically underrepresented in STEM:…

Scholar Story | Stacy

Stacy, 2015 Stacy's story is part of a project entitled “Scholar Stories.” Please see this project’s portfolio page for more details and additional stories in this series. “Stacy, finish your food!” her dad exclaims in Cantonese, the dominant tongue in this North Side Chicago household of Asian diaspora elders and first-generation American offspring. Stacy’s story begins far…

Story Listening

Stories make strategies and policies personal. The experiences and circumstances of real people serve to humanize contentious political discourse and give weight to larger trends. I’m passionate about crafting similar narratives and learning experiences, sharing these opportunities for growth and understanding, and contributing to lasting change in our world. My voice is an amplifier; I look forward to handing others the mic.