In Memoriam – 1943-2009

The Neighborhood Writing Alliance asked their authors to respond to the question “How does money affect you, and how does it affect the choices you make about your life and work?” Responses from: pj humphries, Jacob Ferguson, Sheila Foules, Donna Pecore, Jeanne Mayer, Betsy Benefield, Terry Dixon, Mayi D. Ojisua, Charlie Clements, John J. Quirk, Marian I. Jones, Christelle Evans, K Frances, Doris Arrington, Mildred King, Malvin Jeffries, Bruce Allen, & Larry Jackson.

Free Street Theater recently produced a play about the mortage meltdown and its impact on a family’s emotional state. Patrick Dunn uses that play as a lens through which to view capitalism’s crisis

An interview with two day laborers associated with ARISE and San Lucas Workers Center about money, life and work

A timeline of labor strikes in Chicago over the last 30 years

A retelling of the events that led to the factory occupation of Republic Windows and Doors by workers in December 2008

How is the current economic moment impacting day labor organizing and what can we learn from it?

This historically important strike by UNITE HERE has recently taken a shift in strategy, learn about it here

These authors discuss their relationship with local activist nuns and imagine what we can learn from them about money, life and work

It’s hard to juggle making money and doing political work. Here is one reflection on a balance that works: erotic massage

Special Insert

In AREA #5 we learned about this organization for the first time. Now get an update about what they have been up to and what they have learned

Learn about theater made by and for prisoners and the formerly incarcerated at this maximum security correctional facility in Joliet, Illinois

For over 10 years this local arts group have made work about, without, and around the subject of money and sharing resources

An interview with a popular local marching band with 30 members about how their internal finances are organized

This text includes interviews with local musicians and concert organizers about how the current economic crisis is impacting their music scene

With responses from: Ed and Rachael Marszewski; Amanda Guiterrez; Mike Bancroft; Nance Klehm; Anne Elizabeth Moore; Coya Paz; Shannon Stratton; Edra Soto; Deborah Stratman; Dan Peterman; Marianne Fairbanks; Nicole Garneau; Amy Partridge; Sara Black; Elvia Rodriguez-Ochoa; Salome Chasnoff

Two of the co-owners of Backstory Cafe discuss their decision to start this new business at the Experimental Station which is committed to neighborhood participation and relationship building

Interviews with Florence Johnson, Kristen Cox and Rodrigo Paredes about raising money for non-profit neighborhood based organizations

There are three chapters of this international all-volunteer network operating in Chicago, finding free food surplus and serving it to whomever wants it once a week

A founder of the newly launched southwest side hub for collecting and redistributing used building materials outlines their organizational history and aspirations

Never before published research on local immigrant organizations and how they coordinate their philanthropy locally and in their countries of origin

How are organizations like Insight Arts reorganizing themselves ?in times of economic crisis?

Staff members of the Crossroads Fund tell the story of their history and how it relates to contemporary debates about philanthropy and social justice

Comic by Amanda Du and concept by CPS Students from Boone School in Rogers Park working with Wade Tillett

A new reading group researching the history of capitalism writes reflections on all of the content in this issue of AREA