Kristian Parker

Kristian is a Chicago-based freelance arts and culture journalist. She’s passionate about capturing authentic stories, analyzing various art forms, and examining how systems show up in everyday life.

Music

Summer Smash Brought the Heat. Chicago’s Still Feeling It.

Two months later, the festival’s energy, emotion, and performances still echo across Chicago’s hip-hop scene.

Pictured are dozens of residents, city officials, and community organizations, coming together to address extreme heat.

Environment

West, South Side Residents Question City's Latest Extreme Heat Plan

Chicago’s new Heat Vulnerability Index aims to pinpoint the neighborhoods most vulnerable to extreme heat, but residents in historically disinvested areas question whether data will lead to real help.