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Exciting news for Young, Black & Lit! The organization, which works to increase access to children's books that center, reflect, and affirm the experiences of Black children, just moved into a new office space in Evanston at 1626 Darrow Ave. The YBL team is currently accepting donations for office supplies. If you are interested in making a in-kind donation, email them here. Their current office wish list includes: Wireless Printer Floor Scale Small Desk Desk Chairs (2) Conference Chairs (8) Sofa Microwave Computer Monitor (2) Read our recent interview with YBL co-founder Krenice Ramsey here.

Yesterday, the City of Evanston announced its selection to a nationally-funded initiative for small and midsize cities to develop innovative, equitable local housing solutions. The Housing Solutions Lab Peer Cities Network will advance evidence-based solutions that address pressing housing challenges, with a specific focus on racial and health equity. Led by an interdisciplinary team from the New York University Furman Center with funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the Network will support City leaders as they design policy to tackle issues including housing insecurity and homelessness, affordable housing production and preservation, and fair housing and neighborhood investment. While large coastal cities often receive the majority of policy attention for their housing challenges, the Peer Cities Network is exclusively for cities with fewer than 500,000 residents. “I am tremendously grateful to the Housing Solutions Lab for providing their support and expertise as we work to address Evanston’s most pressing housing challenges,” said Mayor Daniel Biss. “This invaluable partnership will help City and community partners develop innovative, evidence-based housing policies and goals to advance health and equity in Evanston.” Members of Evanston’s housing team include Mayor Daniel Biss, 7th Ward Councilmember Eleanor Revelle, Housing Authority of Cook County Executive Director Richard Monocchio, Community Partners for Affordable Housing President Rob Anthony, and City of Evanston Housing and Grants Manager Sarah Flax. With support from the Housing Solutions Lab, Evanston’s team will work to develop strategies to meet the city’s housing needs, including expanding homeownership to first-time homebuyers and low-income families, increasing and integrating affordable housing throughout the city, and developing local revenue sources to support housing goals. Evanston was selected to participate in the second cohort of cities, which also includes Cedar Rapids, IA; Des Moines, IA; Missoula, MT; Pasco, WA; Pawtucket/Central Falls, RI; Portland, ME; Rochester, NY; and San Marcos, TX. "Our goal is to meet cities where they’re at— and offer a range of supports that can be customized to meet their unique housing needs," said Martha Galvez, Executive Director of the Housing Solutions Lab. “In joining the Peer Cities Network, Evanston’s leaders will gain access to a national community of experts, practitioners, and researchers to help them plan and launch strategies that leverage housing to expand opportunity.” The Housing Solutions Lab provides the following services to cities: · Peer networking and support: Network participants will join a national community of peers in small and midsize cities, and an ongoing forum for shared learning, support, and policy innovation. · Timely policy resources: Participants will receive timely, actionable policy updates and access to case studies, research, and other resources to inform small and midsize city leaders’ housing-related efforts. · Local housing data: Participants will have access to data describing local housing conditions, trends, and challenges. · Technical assistance and research support: Participants will have access to technical assistance and research expertise to help design, implement, and evaluate local housing policy strategies and solutions. Through access to the expertise of leading practitioners and researchers, Evanston will be an active participant in the conversation about what housing policies work, how to effectively implement them, ways to make cross-sector connections, and strategies to center resident voice and priorities in advancing equitable housing policies.

Dear Evanston, Tune in to WBEZ 91.5FM at 10 a.m. today to hear Evanston resident and esteemed physician and food-justice activist Geeta Maker-Clark talk about Nutrition 101. She'll be speaking about the basics of health and nutrition on the show 1A, on an hour-long episode of "In Case You Missed It" -- a cool series covering all the topics you didn't get in school! Go Geeta! UPDATE, 7 p.m. — the episode has just been uploaded and you can hear it here!

There is a stunning lack of representation in children’s literature. In fact, in 2018, only 10 percent of all children’s books published that year featured Black characters. Thankfully, the local non-profit Young, Black & Lit. is providing local children the opportunity to see themselves reflected in the books that they read. The organization promotes self-confidence, empathy, and validation among Black children, one book at a time. Since 2018, YBL has donated over 30,000 books with diverse characters to children and local schools around Evanston and the Chicagoland area. DE's Melissa Perry recently talked to Krenice Ramsey, a civil rights attorney and co-founder of Young, Black, & Lit. to learn more about YBL’s mission and how we can all help. DE: How would you describe the mission of Young, Black, and Lit, and what inspired it? KR: So the mission is pretty simple. We really want to increase access to children's books that center Black children and Black stories. It started out of my own frustration. I was looking to find books for my niece’s birthday. I was looking for books specifically featuring little Black girls. I went into one of the big bookstores and thought I could quickly go in and out and find a few picture books for her, but it was not easy to find children's books reflecting her experience. I left feeling really frustrated. So my initial thought was, I'm just going to purchase 50 books that feature Black characters and donate them locally in the community, which I did. I was talking to my then-boyfriend [now-husband] (YBL co-founder Derrick Ramsey) about what I was interested in doing and he's like, “You should do it again.” The first set of books featured little Black girls. So he said, “Well, next time do 50 books featuring little Black boys.” At that time I posted an Amazon wish list, had people purchase the books, and I donated them. People really responded to it. Parents were like “Wow! Where are you finding these books?” So Derrick was like, “This seems like it could be something more than just these one-off donations.” DE: How has Young, Black, and Lit grown since then? KR: We initially started by giving 50 books per month in May of 2018, and now we're up to giving 1,000 books per month. We've given away over 30,000 books since 2018. So we're super excited about that growth and we're hoping to grow the communities that we reach. We started with Evanston because I'm from Evanston, but then we expanded beyond that to the Chicagoland area. And now we've gotten to the point that our monthly signups are nationwide. One thing we learned from the experience of COVID-19 is how to effectively ship, so we've been able to expand our reach across the nation to schools and organizations serving youth by shipping books monthly. Ninety percent of donations we receive goes towards purchasing new children's books that we've sourced from publishers we’ve built relationships with. We are really dependent upon and excited about the growth of our supporters and donors. DE: On your website, I noticed the statistic that only 10 percent of books published in 2018 featured Black characters. Can you speak to the difference that these books are making for the children who see themselves represented in them? KR: I was an avid reader as a child. I distinctly remember the books I read as a child that had diverse characters–Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters, Tar Beach, for example because they were so few and far between. So we think it is really important that every child has an opportunity to see themselves in the stories that they read. When you see yourself reflected, you feel valued. Our favorite part of what we do, which has been kind of limited due to COVID-19, is going out into the community and having our free books out on the table for children to come and browse and take. We get to see the kids who come up and they're like, “Hey, that girl looks like me,” and it could just be a little girl on the cover with two little puffs in her hair. DE: How can children who are not Black benefit from reading books with diverse characters and representation? KR: We believe that it is critically important that children of all races have access to books featuring diverse characters. Many education scholars agree that when books serve as mirrors, allowing children to see themselves, their families, and their communities reflected, children feel valued. When those same books serve as windows, allowing children to see the similarities and differences they have with other cultures, children feel connected. DE: What goes into picking new books each month? KR: A lot of it is reading and reviewing on our own, and we try to make sure we are getting new, high quality books that reflect the varied experience of Black people and Black culture. We definitely like to hear from the kids who receive our books about which ones they're enjoying. They give us the recommendations. We met with some students last night and one student asked about what books we have that deal with intersectionality. So Black children who are queer,Black children who have disabilities. We were super excited to have that conversation because that's where we love to expand our book bank. DE: Can visitors to the Young, Black and Lit website purchase books there? KR: Absolutely. That came about as a response to parents who were like, “Hey, my kid doesn't need a free book. You make sure you get those books to the children who may need them most, but we still want to have these books.” So we started the online bookstore and all proceeds from the bookstore go to support the mission—to give away more books for free. DE: What’s next for Young, Black, and Lit? KR: Our primary goal is to increase our reach. We want to reach as many children as possible. We're working on getting a bookmobile so that we can make sure we're meeting children where they are. Then we can find them and make the books even more accessible. But I think the ultimate goal is for us to become more ingrained in the schools, so that they have a consistent pipeline of these types of books. We've been building those partnerships in Evanston and CPS schools, so that there's never an absence of these books in classrooms and libraries where children spend a lot of their time. DE: How can people help? KR: Spread the word. If you know teachers or individuals involved in the community that deal directly with children and who are interested in books, let them know to sign up on our website for our free monthly giveaways. Spread the words to partners, people who are doing similar work that is aligned with our mission who can connect with us. Hopefully, when we are further past COVID-19 and we start doing more community events, we can have more volunteers come out and help distribute books and pack books. We're hoping to have more opportunities for that in the future. Check out YBL’s website at to learn more, purchase books, and donate.

From the age of 14, two years after moving with her family to Evanston from Haiti in 1972, Mary Toussaint worked for fashion stores around Chicago. In 2013, she opened Minouchic Boutique, her own resale-new-and-specialty shop at 1900 Asbury. “You name it, I’ve worked it,” says Mary, a soft-spoken, impeccably dressed Evanston Township High School grad who received her fashion-design degree from Ray-Vogue College of Design (now the Illinois Institute of Art – Chicago). “I just decided it was time to be my own boss.” We’re chatting during one of my recent visits to the boutique, so-called because it’s a play on Mary’s nickname, ‘Minouche.’ Mary’s 94-year-old mom rests on a chair behind the jewelry-laden sales counter. Lynn, Mary’s sister, balances atop a ladder, rearranging artwork. A public defender by day who insists she doesn’t have a fashion bone in her body, Lynn helps Mary with the operations side of the business. The two have worked relentlessly to realize Mary’s dream. Emigrating to the US as a 12-year-old was challenging for Mary. She says kids at school called her the N-word and teased her about her limited English. They insisted she came from Jamaica, pulled her hair, and otherwise bullied her. “I got into a lot of fights,” she remembers. A lighter memory was the first time Mary experienced snow. “I carried an umbrella so it wouldn’t mess up my hair,” she says. Years later, it’s snowy and cold outside today, but the shop is cozy: we’re surrounded by colorful African clothing; shelves bursting with purses–vintage and new; jam-packed racks of designer consignment outfits (think Chanel, Ferragamo); and new and gently used items–dressy and casual–from shoes and boots to jeans, shirts, and sweaters. Scarves of cashmere, wool, and silk spill from baskets; statement and every-day jewelry sparkles in glass cabinets. Minouchic is a family affair, but for Mary and Lynn the ties that bind extend to the broader community and across the Caribbean. The lively paintings Lynn is hanging, by Haitian artist Herold Alveres, are also for sale. Born without arms, Alvares paints with his mouth and feet. Lynn, who loves Haitian street art, met Alveres 10 years ago on one of her frequent visits to Haiti. When a painting sells, Mary sends him the profits. Mary always knew just the kind of boutique she’d own: it would focus on resale and offer new items too, and she’d find a storefront near 1917 Dodge, her childhood home in Evanston’s historically Black 5th ward (created as a result of racist red-lining). “I grew up around Foster and Simpson,” Mary says. “I knew that residents here could use better pricing, high quality things in great condition that they could afford. I wanted to serve the community.” And, she adds, fashion “flips” every 15 years. “Old becomes new again, so selling and buying resale is good for the environment. There’s less waste.” Robin Rue Simmons, former 5th ward councilmember whose office is next door to Minouchic, is a frequent shopper. She happens to stop by. “There’s usually something in the window that I ask Mary to wrap up,” she laughs. For years after Minouchic opened, business was good. Customers came from around the corner and as far as Highland Park for deals on high-end merchandise, unique thrift finds, and brand-new items … or just to browse and chat. “Mary has been a fashionista since her teen years, so I trust her advice,” says Lisa Laude, host of Lift Up Your Life Radio, whose family, also Evanstonians from Haiti, has been friends with the Toussaint family for 30 years. “And she’s so warm and friendly, you always have a great conversation when you stop by.” As much as she focuses on fashion, Mary relishes her connections with customers and the Evanston community. “I hear different stories and I learn something new every day,” she says. “I often feel like I’m a therapist. Customers talk about their lives, their families, happy and sad. Sometimes we both end up crying.” And she’s generous. Mary has clothed financially strapped families for funerals and provided coats to others. Sometimes a passerby comes in looking for money for food. “I just give them my lunch,” she shrugs. Each year, she takes on the hardest-to-place teens from the Mayor’s Youth Summer Employment Program and trains them in retail. “They always come to me with the difficult ones because they know I’ll pay attention to them and train them. And I like doing it,” she says. In addition to promoting Alveres’ art, the Toussaints host fundraisers at Minouchic for the nonprofit Haitian Congress to Fortify Haiti, which works toward the health and stability of Haiti and Haitians (Lynn chairs the organization). And four times a year, Mary sends barrels of clothes, toiletries, and food to Bainet, the Haitian village where she and her nine siblings were born. But the last few years have been rough. It began about three years ago, Mary says, when road restructuring reduced parking spaces near the store from about eight to two. Then in March 2020, Covid-19 hit. Like most retailers, Mary’s business ground to a halt. With no government assistance, paying the rent became a challenge. Bills mounted. As summer–and the vaccine–neared, Mary hoped. But in July 2021, the virus struck home: Mary, her elderly mom, and her older sister Nancy, who’d lived together for years, got Covid. Mary cries talking about it. The least ill of the three, she cared for her mom and for Nancy, who was diabetic and had a lifelong mental illness. Again, they closed the shop. Tragically, Nancy died at home unexpectedly one morning, devastating the family. Still mourning, Mary was determined to reopen the boutique. She held a couple of holiday shopping events. Rachel Hershinow, owner of Stella Boutique on Central Street attended a recent one. “I was so happy to finally stop into this store,” she says. “It was chock full of goodies! Men’s and women’s clothing, accessories, art. I always love a good treasure hunt, and Mary’s warmth and passion for her store were displayed throughout.” But business has been sluggish, days go by without a customer, and now it’s the Toussaints who need support. Lisa Laude hopes that proves to be true for this family. “The Toussaints are a beacon of light in our community,” she says. “I hope the community will help take care of them.” Rue Simmons hopes Minouchic reemerges. “I love the store, I love the owner, I love the family,” she says. “As an environmentalist, I love resale. And I love small businesses. Black businesses. Women-owned businesses. Minouchic is a neighborhood place. And then--well, I just love fashion.” Mary believes the strength of Evanston is in its people. “Evanstonians go out of their way to help those in need,” she says. “You always find a helping hand.” Lisa Laude hopes that proves to be true for this family. “The Toussaints are a beacon of light in our community,” she says. “I hope the community will help take care of them.” Support Minouchic Boutique: go and meet Mary and check out the merchandise, and if you can, contribute to the GoFundMe.

February is Black History Month.

Each week in February, Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre will broadcast a narrated profile of an influential Black woman who made a valuable contribution to the building of America. This series is hosted by "Twilight: Los Angeles,1992" star, Jazzma Pryor. Tune in every Tuesday at NOON for the next episode of "Black Women of American History". Visit FJT's YouTube page to view!

This morning, my friend Joyce Hill reached out to me to ask why Whoopi Goldberg's comment on CBS' The View -- that the Holocaust was "not about race" -- was incorrect and offensive to Jews. I so appreciated her question and the way in which she asked it: "In an effort to gain knowledge and stay relevant," she wrote, "can you please explain to me in your most humble opinion, what was wrong with the statement [Whoopi] made when she said "race was not a factor in the Holocaust." Here's how I answered, and then I found and sent her this excellent explanation from the US Holocaust Memorial Museum, which lays out the Nazi ideology of race. Thank you so much for asking! The short answer to your question is that the whole murder of 6 million Jews was based on the Nazi belief that Jews were a race. That Aryans (white Germans) were a race. That Blacks were a race. Jews were considered by Nazis not as a religion or culture--but as a specific race, and as "vermin." That was the whole premise for the Holocaust: to destroy the Jewish RACE. I'm trying to find a good article about it for you. I think what Whoopi said was a bit misguided--she misspoke. I don't think she meant to offend -- Jews aren't, in fact, a race, but Hitler's Nazis and today's white nationalists and others still see us as a race. Should Goldberg have been suspended? Personally, I think it would be much more powerful and less divisive to have had her learn more about Nazi ideology and the Holocaust, apologize for her offense, and then encourage discussion on The View and elsewhere about antisemitism and how it's intrinsically connected to racism.

We were so saddened to hear about the passing of Georgia Peachy Martin on Saturday. Georgia was an Evanston community "cheerleader," who loved the people of the city and who, in turn, was loved by many. I knew Georgia from The Officer and Gentlemen Academy, a program founded in 2017 by Evanston Police Department Officer Adam Howard that mentors young Black men in Evanston to help improve their quality of life and minimize the education opportunity gap and high rates of incarceration. Officer Howard mourned Georgia's loss on his Facebook page Saturday. "We began as a program, but you entered our lives and made us a family," he wrote. "You treated every young man like your own son. You served with joy and your impact in the community will never be forgotten." Tre Wright, an OGA graduate who was a student in the program's first cohort says, "Ms. Georgia was literally like the mother of OGA. She made sure we had food and she helped put together fun events. She was a big part of the program because all of the kind stuff she did for us. She truly just wanted to help out whenever she could. Ms Georgia’s kindness in OGA will be forever missed." Tawana Sudduth Ross, parent liaison for the OGA, says that Georgia was simply a fairy godmother. "That’s just who Georgia was," Tawana told me this evening. "Not just to the young men of OGA, but to all of us in the organization. No matter what we needed she was there with a smile and kind words. She was that favorite auntie to all the boys. There are not enough words in the dictionary to describe the love and support Georgia gave us. We will truly miss her." Funeral service will be this Friday at 11 a.m., with visitation prior at 10 a.m. at First Church of God Christian Life Center, 1524 Simpson Street. Burial right after at Memorial Park Cemetery 9900 Gross Point Road, Skokie. For anyone who'd like to support Georgia's family in their time of mourning, you can participate in the meal train that's been organized by Brittani Fields. Sign up to provide a meal to the family here. Our hearts and deepest condolences go out to Georgia's family and many friends. Click here to learn more about OGA.

Below is a list of current employment opportunities at the City of Evanston for this week. Visit the City's website to apply for a position.

This afternoon, Mayor Biss announced the timeline he will follow to fill the seat for 9th ward City Council member as Cicely Fleming prepares to leave Council on February 15. "I have greatly appreciated Councilmember Fleming’s insight, her tireless advocacy for 9th Ward residents, and her unwavering commitment to improving the lives of all Evanston residents," said Mayor Biss. Here is the timeline he plans to follow: Today, Feb. 1, 2022 - Applications open for 9th Ward Councilmember seat (Apply here!) Monday, February 14 - Applications are due Tuesday, February 15 - Councilmember Fleming’s resignation is effective Thursday, February 17 (tentative) - Public meeting where candidates will make presentations (additional details to be announced) Tuesday, February 22 - Announcement of appointment Monday, February 28 - Confirmation of mayoral appointment comes before City Council Under state law, the candidate appointed by the mayor and approved by City Council to fill this vacancy will serve until the municipal election in 2023. Those interested in representing the 9th ward must complete the application by February 14. To date, six 9th ward residents have announced their intent to apply for the position. They are: Shawn Jones, an attorney who ran against Fleming in 2017; Kathy Hayes, who was born and raised in Evanston and is a retired case manager, social worker and analyst; Sebastian Nalls, a Purdue University student who ran for mayor last year; Dan Coyne, who ran for 9th ward councilmember in 2015. He's a social worker at Lincoln Elementary and Oakton Elementary; Juan Geracaris, who has lived and worked in Evasnton for 30 years. He’s on the board of Evanston Latinos and Next Steps Evanston, an antiracism group; Ric Goodwill, who has been involved with the Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence and the Alliance for the Great Lakes. Will others step forward to be considered? Read more in the Evanston RoundTable about the candidates here.

Below is a list of current employment opportunities at the City of Evanston for the week of January 25, 2022. Visit the City's website at to apply for a position.