Putting Chicago To Work

The American dream now has people considering a $100,000 farewell tour before declaring bankruptcy.

Come on, man. I get what you’re thinking, but that’s some CRAZY talk.

Housing is expensive. Interest rates hurt. Groceries cost too much. A lot of people feel like they’re doing everything right and still getting smoked financially.

But maxing out every credit card, borrowing $100,000, taking a few dream vacations, and then declaring bankruptcy isn’t a life hack. That’s a financial gr***de with a delayed fuse.

Debts tied to fraud can be challenged and may not be erased at all. Chapter 7 can stay on your credit report for up to 10 years, and the damage can follow you into apartment applications, car loans, insurance rates, and future borrowing.

You’re not beating the system. You’re handing future-you the bill, plus interest, legal fees, and a decade-long cleanup project.

I know the housing market feels broken, but burning down your entire financial life won’t make the house any cheaper.

I know inflation is real because ordering lunch now requires the same level of commitment as buying concert tickets.

Five years ago, dropping $10 to $12 on lunch felt a little expensive.

Now it’s $18 after tax, a drink, and somehow you’re being asked if you’d like to leave a 25% tip.

We’ve gotten so used to higher prices that we barely react anymore.

Not because it feels normal.

Because we’ve run out of energy to be shocked.

It’s one of those small reminders that inflation isn’t just something economists debate.

It’s something you feel every single day.

And yes… I still paid for the sandwich. 😅

They think you won’t show up twice. Prove them wrong.

The gas station developer at 7508 S. Lafayette just got another continuance from the Chicago Zoning Board of Appeals — Case 116-26-S is now pushed to August. This is the second delay on this special-use request, and delays like this usually bank on residents losing steam. Ward 6 Alderman William Hall’s office (773-241-3100, 8541 S. State St.) can confirm the exact August hearing date and agenda placement. Mark your calendar, bring a neighbor, and show the Zoning Board this community isn’t going anywhere.

Drop a 📍 in the comments if you’re pulling up in August — then tag 3 neighbors who need to see this.

SouthSideChicago CommunityOverProfit ChicagoCivicEngagement StopTheStation KeepShowingUp

INVITATION ONLY
IYIP Career Pathway Program Open House
Saturday, July 25, 2026 | 9:30 AM

The Kindness Campaign
703 E. 75th Street
Chicago, IL 60619

Interested in Paid Career Training & Employment Opportunities?

The Illinois Youth Investment Program (IYIP) helps young adults prepare for long-term employment through career coaching, industry-recognized credentials, paid work experience, and job placement opportunities.

Open House attendance is by invitation only.

To Be Considered for an Invitation
Step 1: Complete the IYIP Interest Form

Complete the online Interest Form and upload:

✔ Government-issued Photo ID

✔ Proof of U.S. Work Authorization

Interest Form
https://thekindnesscampaign.jotform.com/261835262647968

Eligibility Requirements

You must:

• Be 18–24 years old

• Be authorized to work in the United States

• Reside in one of the following eligible communities:

Auburn Gresham
Burnside
Englewood
West Englewood
Washington Park
Roseland
West Pullman
North Lawndale
East Garfield Park
West Garfield Park
Humboldt Park

Not sure if your address qualifies?

Verify your community using:

https://igchicago.org/information-portal/data-dashboards/city-services-by-address/

What Happens Next?

After you submit your Interest Form and required documents, The Kindness Campaign will review your information to determine eligibility.

If you meet the initial eligibility requirements, a member of our team will contact you within 48 hours with the next steps, including information about the Invitation-Only Open House.

Career Pathways May Include

• Information Technology (IT)

• Unarmed Security

• Food Service & Hospitality

• Career Readiness & Employment Support

Questions?
[email protected]

Top College Majors by Race & S*x (2022–2023) | What America’s College Graduates Are Studying

What majors are America’s college graduates earning degrees in?

This series examines the top bachelor’s degree fields by race and s*x during the 2022–2023 academic year, using data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). Rather than looking only at overall college attainment, these graphics show which fields of study students actually completed, including separate breakdowns for Black men, Black women, White men, and White women.

This series also includes comparisons showing:
• The top 10 majors by race and s*x
• The share of bachelor’s degrees earned by men and women across racial and ethnic groups
• Education degrees awarded by race and s*x
• National gender differences in bachelor’s degree completion

Important: These statistics reflect bachelor’s degrees awarded during the 2022–2023 academic year only. They are not lifetime educational attainment figures and should not be interpreted as the percentage of adults who hold a college degree.

Understanding what people study provides additional context beyond simply knowing whether they earned a degree and can help inform discussions about career pathways, workforce trends, and educational outcomes.

Source

* National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
* Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), Completions Survey
* Bachelor’s Degrees Awarded, Academic Year 2022–2023
* U.S. Department of Education

Education Pays: Why More Education Means More Money for Men (BLS 2025)

One of the most common arguments I hear is, “Black men don’t go to college because they’re all in the skilled trades.” The data does not support that claim.

Black men are represented in the skilled trades, but they are not the largest group in those occupations. White men make up the largest share of the skilled-trade workforce, followed by Hispanic men. Black men rank third, accounting for approximately 13% of men working in skilled trades.

More importantly, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics consistently shows that men’s median earnings increase as educational attainment increases. In 2025, men with a bachelor’s degree earned a median of $1,811 per week, compared with $1,073 per week for men whose highest education was a high school diploma. Men with advanced degrees earned $2,215 per week.

This does not mean skilled trades are bad careers. Many trades provide excellent incomes and rewarding work. However, using skilled trades as a blanket explanation for lower college attendance among Black men ignores two facts: (1) Black men are not the dominant group in skilled trades, and (2) on average, men with higher levels of education earn substantially more over their careers.

The data is clear: education remains one of the strongest predictors of higher earnings.

Sources:

* U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Median Weekly Earnings of Full-Time Wage and Salary Workers Age 25+ by S*x and Educational Attainment, 2025 Annual Averages (Table A-3).
* U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Occupational Outlook Handbook & Employment Projections Program (Construction, Transportation, Production, Installation, Maintenance, Repair, and Related Occupations).

In this episode of Our House Podcast, our host Crystal Palmer sits down with Steven Field, CHA’s Manager, Housing Choice Voucher Policy & Accountability to talk about how CHA’s Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program works.

🎤 Hear them break down all the details and clarify the difference between the Project Base Voucher (PBV) program and Housing Choice Voucher, program eligibility and more!

👂 Listen here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4q2spIJG6mAGdq7tEAi11o

We're hiring: HUD Certified Housing Counselor 🏡

Housing & Financial Empowerment Center

Guide Chicago families through homeownership, foreclosure prevention, and financial coaching. Bilingual (Spanish) required.

💰 $55K–$65K
🕒 Full-time | Home + Office

Benefits include:
✔️ Medical, dental & vision
✔️ Flexible time off
✔️ 401K — 3% match
✔️ 6 wks paid parental leave

Apply with cover letter + resume: [email protected]