Reporter Impact: Nov-Dec 2007

Subprime mortgages

The Reporter’s online exclusive drew widespread media attention and praise from Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan. The Illinois Legislative Black Caucus cited findings from our work, which showed the Chicago region led the nation in subprime mortgages, in urging Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich to sign a bill that tackles predatory lending.

National award

The Association for Women in Communications selected Kelly’s story, “Sold in the U.S.A.” [May/June 2006] for its Clarion Award in the magazine features category. The competition, which drew over 600 entries, symbolizes “excellence in clear, concise communications.” The story on domestic human trafficking focused on Argentinian Ricardo Veisaga, a restaurant worker. The piece chronicled his six-year-old case, which led to him receiving a temporary visa allowing him to work legally.

Community reacts

Workers of all races must have open dialogue to preserve their rights, according to Ari Glazer of the San Lucas Workers Center, which assists some of the region’s 300,000 African-American and Latino day laborers. The comments were part of an August 15 forum co-sponsored by Mujeres Latinas en Acción on the Reporter’s investigation of employment issues affecting the two communities [“Shifting Gears” May/June 2007]. Activists and workers discussed a $1.5 million fund for injured workers whose employers lack insurance at a Sept. 6 forum cosponsored by Access Living. The Reporter’s investigation of undocumented immigrants injured on the job [“Broken Workers, Broken Promises” July/Aug 2007] revealed little progress on enforcing state laws to compensate them.

Both of these investigations were part of the Chicago Matters: Beyond Borders series, a public affairs series initiated and funded by The Chicago Community Trust.