The Conversation

A report compiled by City staff working on a comprehensive program to serve the City's youth was presented to the Human Services Committee last week. Interviews with a diverse group of more than 100 Evanston youth aged 14-23 showed that they felt there was a "persistent racial divide” in this community.

The response from Fifth Ward Alderman Delores Holmes was that it is time this community has a dialogue about race. She pointed out that the youth of the community are aware of the division and upset about it and said it is time for that conversation to take place.

Ms. Holmes and other civic leaders have said this before. We think they are right and that the conversation should include members of majority and minority groups in Evanston.

There are a lot of reasons to hold this conversation: the failure to understand each other's perspectives; the achievement gap between white and minority students; the gentrification of some parts of Evanston; the disengagement of many of Evanston's youth and young adults; and the social chaos, unease and resentment that can result from these things and that has done so in parts of the community.

The "why” may be simple; the "how” is much more difficult.

Evanston is changing. High property values and property taxes are freezing out many low-income and middle-class families. The new high rises and high prices in housing reverberate economically in the modest single-family dwellings here. The newly bustling downtown makes this City a destination as well as a hometown.

Evanston has been accused of having "drive-by” diversity, and that charge can be upheld on many levels. Yet we believe there is more to this community. People keep moving here - because of the lake and the convenient transportation, yes, but also because they want to live in a heterogeneous and culturally rich community.

They stay here because they believe that harmony can be forged from differences.

To have a dialogue about race is a great challenge, because people will have to understand each other's perspectives, to see past old wrongs, and, to the extent they still exist, people will have to find a way to keep them from being perpetuated or repeated. It is a great challenge because people will have to recognize the racial and cultural differences they see as shortcomings and try to respect those differences.

We do not have an answer as to how to structure a dialogue on race and cannot predict what will come of such a conversation. But the results of honest dialogue have the potential to move us forward as a diverse and vital community

Honestly…

By Charles Wilkinson

II used to think I knew the meaning of the word honest, that it was a quality at the core of my being. But I have learned in recent years that I have used honesty in ways that came up far short of its meanings and demands. Perhaps that is why in these early moments of the new year I am asking some hard questions about the concept and, ultimately, about my self.

I have learned that on a global scale honesty can be found more easily in philosophies than anywhere else. If that sounds cynical, so be it. But world leaders of all kinds - political, industrial, even religious, as well as media moguls - have vested interests beyond comprehension that can put a dizzying spin on truth. On a personal level, however, the pressures and enticements of today's world can challenge even the saints among us to stay within the truth of self, which is essential to healthy living.

I am thinking more about attitude than act. Lies are dishonest, as are cheating and stealing, diminishing those who do so. Honesty as an attitude may seem more subtle but it is just as tangible in one's character.

If, as they say, humility is truth, than honesty is a synonym for both. It is a virtue I look for and expect in others, especially those I love - family and friends. I need their truths to help me find my own, and their love and caring to hold me accountable to it. But why do I sometimes neglect to remember that they need the same from me?

Perhaps goes back to a moment when, as a young priest, I was challenged by a therapist who said, "It must be hell to have to be perfect all the time.” I almost answered, "You're right,” but said instead, "Who is perfect?” even though, back then, I felt I was getting close!

"Human” is a condition that keeps us far from being perfect. It is also where the truth of everyone, even the best among us, abides. The challenge of honesty is to name and embrace one's humanness, to be comfortable in its skin and to be straight with others, as much as one can, about the truth of one's self.

When friends jerk friends around because of some unnamed fear of coming up short of their expectations, or when others lead those who love them to believe they are more than what they really are, relationships are put at risk and sometimes break beyond repair.

Life, when honest, is never better or simpler despite the inevitable hurtings of truth. The most human among us know that even the ugliest truth heals and that truth of self is the only place where one finds inner peace. Honestly.

Mother Nature in A Petticoat

By Peggy Tarr

Mother Nature was tired and irritable. Nothing she did seemed to turn out right. She sat down, hoping that she could relax by doing some knitting. The gray article on which she worked fell from her lap, spread out and blocked the sun from parts of the world. Mother Nature made no effort to pick it up. "One cloud is enough to eclipse the sun.” "Not all clouds bring rain.” She drew in a deep breath, sucking up some of the warmth from the world, then let out a heavy sigh, the force of which uprooted trees, blew roofs off of buildings, and made the ocean waves crash onto the shore.

Maybe a cup of tea will help, Mother Nature thought. She knocked over a barrel on her way to the sink and heard it thunder down the steps. She ignored it. She filled her pot with water but sloshed a lot of it out of the pot as she carried it to the stove. Oh well. A little rain wouldn't hurt.

Mother Nature struck several matches before she could light her stove, and the sudden flashes of light were seen for miles. She rocked back and forth as she waited for the water to boil, making parts of the world quake beneath her feet. When the water boiled, she poured some into a cup. The steam from the water flowed out and fogged in some of the world. Oh, well. That couldn't be helped.

She poured some sugar into the cup, spilling some of it as she did. Could that be snow? Finally, Mother Nature sat down and took a sip of her tea. This was what she needed. She smiled, the warmth of which produced a summer's day.

"You can drive out nature with a pitchfork, but she keeps on coming back.” -Proverb

Over the past weeks, the mythical catch-all Mother Nature has been headlined in many conversations and as usual, blamed for the good, the bad, and the ugly phenomena occurring in the natural world - unseasonable (unreasonable?) warmth in many parts of the world, fog, blizzards in Colorado, earthquakes, etc. Let's be fair to Mother Nature and consider all that humans have done (do) to take the reins away from her.

Mother = woman; term of respect for older woman; source of nurture of something
Nature = sum total of all things in the physical universe

Petticoat = an underskirt; woman or girl; of, pertaining to, or controlled by women

Letters

Amen to Praise of Washington School
Dear Editor:

I’d like to second the praise of Washington School that Dina Berne expressed in a letter in December. This August, our son was offered a place in King Lab, and due to the negative rumors we had heard about Washington School, we considered accepting despite our inclination towards a neighborhood option.

Not a day goes by that we don’t thank our lucky stars that we decided to stay at Washington. Our son’s teachers are great, his classmates are wonderful, and he’s learning by leaps and bounds – and we get  to stay in the neighborhood. But we almost could have missed this.

After moving from Chicago to Evanston last year, in large part because we wanted our son to enter kindergarten here, we started to hear rumbles about  the school’s poverty, stresses, tensions, and failures.

Most of these comments came from parents whose kids didn’t attend Washington but who attended school board meetings and traded news on the playground.

Articles and letters in the RoundTable contributed to or supported many of their dire assessments. Frankly, my husband and I were scared. Had we made a mistake by moving to this area? Were the neighbors with children happily ensconced at Washington deluded, or were they lying?

Well, now we’ve had a chance to put their opinions to the test. These neighbors are indeed as reasonable, involved, and supportive as we could hope, and as so many Washington parents are.

The contrast between the ominous public impression of the school and our family’s daily reality is almost comical.

With only one young child at Washington, I know there are complexities that I’m not fully aware of. I realize that the school has experienced a great deal of principal turnover, and that the presence of new and impressive principal Ms. Lewis must mean that the school’s situation looks better this year than it did last.

But it seems to me that if Washington has exceptional problems, they originate not with the school’s teachers, staff, strands, students, and community, but with outside forces. If there are other parents in the Washington area who are nervous about their child entering kindergarten there next year, I’d advise them to visit the school and stick around for 3:20 dismissal. Check out how the kids interact, and how the parents and teachers do. I think these factors are much more indicative of the kind of school Washington is than comments made at School Board meetings or by well-meaning people without first-hand experience.

I know that we’re very happy with our son’s first experience in public school.
-- Zoe Zolbrod

 

Thanks to Police and Friends for Donations
Editor:

For 21 years, department employees have donated to the Evanston Police Department charity fund and, each December, sponsor a Holiday Food Basket giveaway for Evanston's needy families. This year, our employees' personal contributions enabled us to feed 131 senior citizens and families.

Recipients are referred by the Evanston Police Department's Senior Services Program, the four senior buildings at Ebenezer Primm Tower, Jacob Blake Manor, 1900 Sherman Ave. and 2300 Noyes St., the Department's Social Services Bureau and Evanston/Skokie Valley Senior Services.

This year's food basket, received by 144 people, included ham or chicken, vegetables, sausage, fresh fruit, bread, applesauce, soups, candy, coffee, cookies and Belgian chocolate.

Once again, Sam's Club, Becharas Wholesale Food Company, Leon's Sausage, Piron Belgian Chocolatier, Highland Baking Company, Starbuck's on Dempster Street, Ferrara Pan Candy Company and Dominick's on Green Bay Road were our partners in this inspiring community effort. Their generous donations of food and time are the holiday spirit personified, and we are indebted to them for the many years they have joined with us on this project.

We at the Evanston Police Department believe in partnering with our community all year long. The Holiday Food Basket program is but one example of this partnership in action. We also wish to thank Evanston Citizen Police Academy alumni volunteers and the amazing Evanston Township High School students for their hard work assembling the baskets and assisting department personnel with the deliveries.

Our best wishes to the Evanston community for a safe and Happy New Year.
--Dennis L. Nilsson, Interim Chief of Police, Evanston Police Department

Froots ThanksYouth Job Center
Editor:

I am writing to tell you about a great organization in Evanston - the Youth Job Center.

I opened my business, Froots in Evanston, at Main Street and Chicago Avenue, in June. When I needed to hire a staff, I went to the Outpost, which is operated by the Youth Job Center at Evanston Township High School. I was looking to establish a partnership with my staff - to hire people who would care about my business, make a commitment to see it run well and get involved with it.

I was very happy with the young people who were referred to me by the Outpost. I hired four teens for the summer and a few have stayed on to work after school and on weekends during the school year.

The young workers were pre-screened, qualified and trained by the Job Center to enter the workplace and interact well with the public. They have been very reliable, they work hard, and they're helpful, responsible and efficient. All of the employees sent to me by the Outpost have excellent customer-service skills.

I would like to tell all business owners to consider the Youth Job Center and the Outpost as assets for the business community in Evanston and Chicago. The YJC can help find a staff that is well prepared and eager to work. They have been taught a work ethic and they are ready to arrive on time and work hard for you.

When I need to increase my staff as next summer approaches, I'll go back to the Outpost and use its services again.

In addition to helping yourself as an employer, you are also helping youth when you hire workers from the Youth Job Center and the Outpost. The staff memberswork with teenagers and young adults who are looking for experience and eager for a chance.

By giving them a job, you are teaching them about work - and that's a way you can change lives for the better.

The Youth Job Center is located at 1114 Church St.; the phone number is 847-864-5627. The Outpost is in Room 124 North at ETHS; the phone number is 847-424-7873. Stop by if you need to hire staff or just to get acquainted. It's a great place!
--Roy Toribio