Could Flint happen in Chicago? :: June 16

WBEZ reporter Monica Eng will lead a conversation about the water, what happened in Flint and what Chicago is doing to address concerns about our own water safety at Rotary International's headquarters on Thursday, June 16.

Joining her to discuss--aside from you, should you come--are community leaders representing Michigan, Illinois and the Great Lakes region including:

Dr. Lawrence Reynolds: Flint pediatrician and member of the Governor’s Water Advisory Task Force
Jamie Gaskin: CEO, United Way of Genesee County, MI
Joel Brammeier: President/CEO, Alliance for the Great Lakes
Dave Stoneback, Director of the Evanston Public Works Agency
Amy Krug: President, Rotary Club of Flint

When: 6 - 8 p.m., Thursday, June 16, 2015

Where: 1560 Sherman Ave, Evanston, IL 60201

Cost: FREE to you, but do get a ticket.

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A few news outlets' and social media's reports on the Flint’s water crisis…

Here's how Flint's water crisis happened - CNN video

10 things...by Michael Moore

How Flint’s water crisis unfolded - Detroit Free Press

#JusticeforFlint videos

Flint water crisis - Wikipedia

It's ironic a city in the Great Lakes State would supply its residents with unsafe drinking water, huh? - Unworthy

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Follow-up: June 22, 2016

Really interesting conversation and not as dry or as anger-inspiring as one might expect. It was gratifying to hear how many entities worldwide have already helped Flint and how many communities are taking action in light of Flint's disaster to ensure safe water quality for their residents.

The panel came from diverse backgrounds and agencies charged with addressing fixing Flint and delivering healthy water in the future. Numerous elements contributed to Flint's big fail. Two thing were made clear: A) The solutions will be more expensive and complex than steps to prevent this disaster would have been. B) Those people with the least capacity and resources are most effected by this disaster.

The audience asked some good questions. Letting your tap run for about 8 or more minutes in the morning before ingesting any of it is one simple prevention suggested. It allows you to get to the water that has not been sitting in your pipes overnight, possibly letting lead leach into it. (I'm paraphrasing Dave Stoneback, so I'm possibly not expressing that as precisely has he would.) 

The Evanston Water Treatment Plant supplies water to the residents of Evanston, Skokie, Arlington Heights, Buffalo Grove, Palatine and Wheeling.

To learn more about lead and how our water is delivered, see http://www.cityofevanston.org/utilities/water-division/lead-in-drinking-water/.

Nice to see so many of my Rotary friends there, plus some other friends, neighbors and colleagues.

Dave Stoneback takes a turn at the mic. He was join by Joel Brammeier, Monica Eng,
Jamie Gaskin, Dr. Lawrence Reynolds and Amy Krug at Rotary International
headquarters auditorium in Evanston on Thursday, June 16, 2016.
[Photo by Karen Kring]

Megan Oteri and the spirit of Evanston women

From Wyoming, now living outside of Raleigh, NC, my new/old friend Megan Oteri said to me that Evanston feels like home to her as we ate sweets on Monday. Maybe it is because ‪#‎Evanston‬ is where her grandmother and other of her women folk lived, worked and volunteered. Maybe their spirits are alive here and keeping her company. 

Yes, we took a selfie in front of Frances Willard's house, but this one is in front of Patisserie Coralie, at 600 Davis St., where the community kitchen those women folk created and worked in was.

Megan is working on some articles, and eventually a book, about this slice of women's and Evanston's history. And of course, the Woman's Club of Evanston plays prominent in that story.

Who wants to join me next time she's in town and take her our for coffee or margaritas? 

Megan and I met via our Twitter accounts. She's at @MemoMuse1 and @600DavisSt. I'm still at @EvanstonLive.

On The Table 2016 dinner May 10 in Evanston

Updated May 6, 2016

THIS I BELIEVE: When we come together, as a community, to listen and learn, we have the power to enhance neighborhoods and lives. I also believe that all of us--I say ALL OF US--have stories and perspectives to share that others would benefit hearing about. Can I get an AMEN?!

What do you believe? I'd like to know.

Think you'd enjoy sharing a meal with a handful of friends, neighbors, strangers and family members and discussing our "ideal community”, what a “united Chicago” might look like, and how we might get closer to achieving that?

I'm hosting an On The Table dinner which will be all about that.

When: Tuesday, May 10, 6:30 p.m.

Where: Peckish Pig
623 Howard St., Evanston
Cost: $33/person*

RSVP: HERE
Get in touch soon.
Seating is limited.

Questions: KarenKring8@gmail.com

This On The Table dinner will be one of many happening on May 10 throughout the Chicago area. Now in its third year, this Chicago Community Trust initiative includes participants from every ZIP code in the region. Last year more than 20,000 folks gathered to swap stories and perspectives over a meal one evening in May.

The Trust is again organizing this massive happening, because its leaders look forward to hearing the new ideas and feedback that will arise. For participants, it is a chance to connect with new and old friends over a good meal and hopefully gain fresh insights.

I work in media. One of the questions I'd like to get some feedback on is how you are informed about what is going on in your geographic community and what kinds of information or sharing you think we need more of.

I picked Peckish Pig for our gathering, because their food is yummy, the vibe is encouraging, Chef Deb is fun and because it's on the border of Chicago and Evanston, says a map. What does that line on a map mean?

I hope you'll come and leave feeling inspired, enlightened, maybe more connected. If next steps/action items come from the conversation, lovely. If not, that's just fine. But if we do, we could possibly get $1000 to pull off something via the Acting Up Award.

If you can't make it to one of the many dinners happening on May 10, you can follow the action via #onthetable2016 on Twitter and elsewhere online.

*Cost will cover a three-course meal which will probably include Goat Cheese & Honeycomb with Toast Points, Charcuterie, Roasted Chicken with Butternut Squash Crème, Roasted Vegetables Skewers with Cilantro Lime Butter, and for dessert, Mini Brownies with Salted Carmel Drizzle and Fresh Fruit with Balsalmic Reduction and Crème Fraîche served family style. Menu will be firmed up after May 1. Tax and tip for the meal is included. Not included are drinks, so unless you are fine with water served in Peckish Pig's signature blue mason jars, you'll want to bring extra dinero with you.


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Other #OnTheTable2016 dinners

My dinner will not be free, but WTTW and WFMT will be picking up the tab on the dinners they are hosting. You can sign up now for their dinners at http://interactive.wttw.com/events/on-the-table .

The City of Evanston is organizing some dinners, too. Beth Emet's Andrea London is hosting a pot luck.

Loyola University is sponsoring two gatherings in Rogers Park.

Want to hang out with some teenagers? Teens will lead a discussion about violence, justice, peace and community at IMPACT Family Center.

Equal Pay Day Chicago will offer Girl Scout cookies at their lunch in downtown Chicago.

Center for Changing Lives is hosting a gathering at St. Augustine College in Chicago.

The Executive Service Corps of Chicago is hosting a lunch in Chicago's Loop.

The African American Legacy Initiative is hosting a breakfast in The Walnut Room at Field's, oh, I mean Macy's.

Chicago Park District's Humboldt Park Advisory Council is hosting a gathering at Humboldt Park.

Halle Levy and Healthcare Alternative Systems are hosting a discussion in Chicago's Logan Square about youth violence in school.

Operation Warm Chicago is hosting their gathering mid-day in downtown Chicago.

Amanda Neely and Overflow Coffee Bar in Chicago's South Loop is hosting a conversation, as well.

May is Mental Health month. Kennedy Forum Illinois is putting mental health and addiction on the table. If you'd like in on one of open-to-the-public dinners to discuss that, contact James Burns at james@thekennedyforum.org or 312-479-2636 . You can follow what they are talking about online via #BreakTheSilence.

The City Club of Chicago is hosting a breakfast. Sounds nice.

South Austin Neighborhood Association is hosting a gathering with Alderman Chris Taliaferro at MacArther's Resturant starting at 6 p.m.

Compa is hosting a 4:30 p.m. and a 6 p.m. gathering at BeSpeak Studio in Chicago's Lincoln Park.

Michael Carpanzano is hosting an evening gathering in Bollingbrook.

Destiny Watson is hosting a gathering in the Homewood-Flossmoor neighborhood. 

On May 8, Alison Stanton is hosting a potluck at the Blue 1647 Tech Innovation Center: Building The Diversity in Tech Chicago Community Agenda.

Who wants to bowl? People's Resource Center is hosting their gathering on Wednesday, May 11 at Pinstrips in Oakbrook.

Thanking and Thinking

I invite you to embrace two ideas in your mind at the same time:
There's lots that sucks right now. 
There's lots that is very good right now.

We humans are designed to quickly recognize what sucks, what is wrong, what is dangerous--and then react to that. That's how we've been able to survive over millennia.

To thrive, we're challenged to recognize what is going right, what is working, what is worthy of your time...and who lights us up.

Now is the time to recognize all of the above. I invite you to think about it and actively engage it.

People LOVE to be acknowledged for their wonderfulness and positive contributions. Start there. Write a note, send an email, make a call, send flowers, whatever. If you're concerned about seeming to be sappy, risk it. Dare to use some flowery words. Dare to use some words you don't use commonly.
Live it up.
Carpe Diem, baby.
Let it all hang out.

Hmm. What to do about suckiness? How does one actively acknowledge or engage that in a thoughtful, worthwhile way?

If Mahatma Gandhi were here, he might suggest being the change you wish to see.
That's good.

I suggest starting where you're at with whatever you've got. What you've got is your energy, savvy, compassion and surely more. I also suggest if you don't know enough about the particular suckiness you're focused on, find a way to learn more and dive in in some way that works for you. This might take you out of your comfort zone, but what I suspect is that you'll find it less scary than you thought it would be. I also suspect you'll learn something and gain new perspective.
Don't worry about "making a difference". You will.

I invite your thoughts about this.

~ * ~

In case the weather and other suckiness is getting on your nerves, here's Peggy Lee singing a song she wrote, It's a Good Day, which I dedicate to my sister-in-law Pam...and here's Darlene Love singing It's a Marshmellow World, for you.

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I published a version of this piece previously elsewhere.

Summer on Evanston's West Side, 1952.

It will be warm again in Evanston, like it was in 1952.

Rose Eichberger with her granddaughter, then Gladys Swarthout.

First Snow of Winter 2015-2016

This in from Evanstonian Chris Walker...

Posted by Chris Walker on Friday, November 20, 2015

Q & A: Nutritionist Michelle Gillespie discusses eating better to feel better

Updated July 2016

Michelle Gillespie co-founded Health Hacks with me in 2015. It is a healthy eating workshop series offering participants science-based information about food and ideas about small steps that can be taken to feel better. Led by Michelle, Health Hack's first six-week series was held in fall 2015. The 2016 series is in development.



K: You've said that cutting out junk food from one's eating routine can be hard, but it doesn’t have to be. How can one resist the cravings and the call of the cookies and chips without being physically restrained?



M: Focus more on what you can eat instead of what you can't eat. Try thinking about why you're craving the cookies or chips. Cravings are usually an indication of imbalance, so bringing the body into balance helps resist cravings. Are you bored or looking for emotional fulfillment? Call a friend instead! Are you tired and looking for an energy boost? Get a glass of water and take a short walk. That would be much better for your energy than cookies. Or maybe you're hungry because you missed a meal. If that's the case, eat some non-junk food before the cookies. Consider them dessert and don't eat them alone as a snack.

Also, if you learn to eat in sync with your unique metabolism, you will be truly satisfied after your meals and are much less likely to find yourself scavenging for junk food or sugar an hour after eating or throughout the day. There is not one right way of eating that works for everyone, so finding the balance that is right for you is very helpful. Balanced blood sugar and staying ahead of your hunger are key for keeping on track. If you let yourself get "hangry" you're more likely to reach for junk food or whatever you can get your hands on, and unless you're in Whole Foods when the craving hits, you'll most likely be surrounded with quick fixes that will spike your blood sugar like baked goods, soda and sweets, setting you up for even more cravings. 

K: You used to enjoy chili cheese burritos, donuts and candy bars. What inspired your shift?



M: I went to a nutritionist and he opened my eyes to food quality issues I hadn't considered before and I just chose right then and there to eat as healthy as I could for a month or so. It was just a decision, like choosing what clothes to wear in the morning. More of an experiment actually. I just decided to try it. I didn't think about how hard it was or what I would be missing out on or that it would be too time consuming or expensive. I just decided to see what would happen if I tried eating a different way for a month.  And then did it.  I realize that kind of cold turkey approach isn't right for everyone, but it certainly did work for me. That's the way I usually end up making changes for myself -- just jumping right in.  

After I cut those foods out of my diet for about a month, I simply didn't want them anymore. They are no longer hard to resist, because I literally have no desire for them. I tried a Taco Bell Chili Cheese Burrito after a month or so of eating totally healthy and I found I didn't like it. I thought something was wrong with the burrito so I tried one again a week or so later at a different Taco Bell location. Nope! The burrito hadn't changed, I changed! I re-educated my taste buds with real food! If one can get through a 30-day challenge or some set amount of time eating REALLY clean, they often become more sensitive to the tastes of sugar and chemical laden foods. Soda would literally taste bad now if I tried to drink it!  



K: When you deviate from your usual eating routine, what does that look like? 



M: I don't want to deprive myself of foods that look delicious, even if they don't quite measure up to my usual standards of health. I'll try a bite or two if something really catches my eye and more often than not, I don't end up eating very much because it's not as good as it looks. If I do eat a significant amount, I pay attention to how it makes me feel later, without judgement. If I notice I feel bloated and crummy after eating kimchi cheese fries, I'm probably not going to even want them next time, because I'll remember feeling poorly and associate that with the food. My favorite deviations are chocolate peanut butter flavored things or pizza.

K: What misconceptions about food and nutrition do you find most common in our society?



M: For a variety of reasons, "fat" is equated with "bad" when in reality we all need fat in our diets to varying degrees. So many people think low fat diets are the healthiest choice, as well as, low fat milk and yogurt are better than full fat milk and yogurt. It's simply not true. This one size fits all mentality simply doesn't work. Some think meat is bad and vegetarian equals healthy. Meat is not bad, especially when it's from a healthy, naturally raised animal, and vegetarianism may work better for some than others.  I for one feel a lot stronger and healthier when consuming a rather substantial amount of meat, and my blood work is proof that it's working for me as it keeps looking better and better as I eat this way.

Other misconceptions include salt is bad, vegetable oil is good, eating a lot of whole grains is healthy, and diet soda is a reasonable beverage choice. I usually stay away from generalized good or bad statements, but diet soda (with artificial sweeteners) and vegetable oil are pretty much a train wreck and I recommend staying away from them.  



K: What's up next for Health Hacks?



M: You and I have a few things in the works. After our series ends on November 11, we'll be looking for feedback from recent workshop participants before we fine tune our plans for the next series. We're hoping to start again between late January and mid February. We plan to stay anchored in Evanston, but aim to offer workshops in Skokie, Rogers Park and the North Shore too. It's great to have been working with Whole Foods Market on Green Bay Road and Cooked during this first series. Because our mission includes connecting workshop participants with healthy food purveyors, additional sponsors will be invited to get involved soon.



K: You also coach people one-on-one. What does that look like?

M: It can look like all sorts of things. Different people need different approaches. Some people prefer minimal help -- just a diet plan and meal suggestions. Others like education about food quality and what food is doing for their body, including looking at their blood work to see how what they're doing is working for them. I can also provide more hands-on support like grocery shopping tours, pantry makeovers, or weekly phone calls offering ongoing support and accountability to help someone get through the initial phase of making lifestyle change. 



K: What keeps you doing what you do…as a nutritionist?



M: Seeing and hearing about positive results from my clients is the best. I love getting an email telling me about how someone avoided having to go on diabetes meds or asking their doctor to lower their dosage. It's gratifying to hear about clients losing weight, feeling great, and pleased to having permission to eat the (real) foods they love that they may have previously thought were unhealthy.

K: And when you're not coaching what are you doing? What do you do for fun?

M: My favorite thing to do for fun is dance tango. I used to think I didn't like dancing at all until I found tango. It is the best dance ever in the history of the world. At least for me :). Other than that I like to stay active, enjoy the outdoors, hike, flip and drag around large tractor tires for exercise, and travel.

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Michelle is on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.
Health Hacks is on Facebook and Twitter, too.