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Everyone who contributes to 15 West

Keila Gallardo

Keila Gallardo

Keila Gallardo (she/he/they) is a freelance editor, translator (ENG/ESP), and sometimes writer.

48 posts
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Los votantes de Chicago piensan sobre imponer impuestos a los millonarios para las escuelas. Cómo se divide el dinero también importa.
Un votante revisa la pregunta para el público del Condado de Cook que pregunta si es que Illinois debería imponer un suplemento de 3% a los ingresos que pasen $1 millón y dividir el dinero entre un relevo a los impuesto a la propiedad y a la educación pública. | NaBeela Washington/15 West

Los votantes de Chicago piensan sobre imponer impuestos a los millonarios para las escuelas. Cómo se divide el dinero también importa.

Dos preguntas en las boletas de Chicago preguntan si es que Illinois debería imponer impuestos a los millonarios para apoyar la educación. Los defensores y expertos dicen que juntar dinero es solo parte de la solución. A donde va el dinero puede determinar los huecos existentes en la financiación.
By Keila Gallardo • 10 min read
Vió a Su Madre Defender la Edicación Especial en las CPS. Ahora, Él Votará por el Cambio
El graduado de secundaria de primera generación Forylan Suarez y su familia enfrentaron numerosas barreras sistemáticas para navegar el sistema de educación pública. | Max Herman/Borderless Magazine

Vió a Su Madre Defender la Edicación Especial en las CPS. Ahora, Él Votará por el Cambio

Mientras los residentes de Chicago se preparan para elegir a su junta escolar, el exalumno de la primera generación de las Escuelas Públicas de Chicago Froylan Suarez votará por más recursos bilingües para familias como la suya.
By Keila Gallardo • 5 min read
NaBeela Washington

NaBeela Washington

NaBeela is a Greater Chicago-based photographer and journalist writing about what's possible. She's a fierce advocate of the arts and brings people together around social change and accessible education. Read more: nabeelawashington.com

22 posts
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Chicago voters will weigh in on taxing millionaires for schools. How the money is divided matters too.
A voter reviews the Cook County public question asking whether Illinois should impose a 3% surcharge on income above $1 million and divide the revenue between property-tax relief and public education. | NaBeela Washington/15 West

Chicago voters will weigh in on taxing millionaires for schools. How the money is divided matters too.

Two advisory questions on Chicago ballots ask voters whether Illinois should tax millionaires to support public education. Advocates and policy experts say raising more money is only part of the solution. Where that money goes could determine whether it closes existing school funding gaps.
By NaBeela Washington • 9 min read
Liana Ordoñez

Liana Ordoñez

Liana Ordoñez is an aspiring bilingual journalist whose work nationally and internationally has an emphasis on social justice. She continues to grow her experience highlighting the stories and voices of the marginalized.

9 posts
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Blaise or Hargrove? What to Know About the District 5B School Board Race
District 5B school board candidates Anthony Hargrove [LEFT], and Michilla “Kyla” Blaise participate in a Sept. 17 candidate forum hosted at Collins Academy STEAM High School. | NaBeela Washington/15 West

Blaise or Hargrove? What to Know About the District 5B School Board Race

Two candidates are running to represent District 5B on the Chicago Board of Education. Here’s what Blaise and Hargrove say the district needs, what the seat can actually do, and how to vote.
By Liana Ordoñez • 8 min read
Georgia Rau

Georgia Rau

Georgia Rau is a freelance writer and journalist based in Evanston, Ill. focused on local news and politics. She is a junior at Northwestern University studying journalism and political science.

7 posts
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Natalia Madrigal

Natalia Madrigal

Natalia Madrigal (she/her/hers) is a graduate student at Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism, specializing in video & broadcast with a focus on audio production.

5 posts
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Nel Afenya

Nel Afenya

Nel is a editor and emerging journalist studying at DePaul University.

3 posts
Kristian Parker

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.

3 posts
Alondra Carmona

Alondra Carmona

Alondra Carmona is a resident of Little Village and an emerging writer.

2 posts
Nasser N Adams Jr

Nasser N Adams Jr

Nasser is a Louisiana-born musician, artist, and emerging journalist.

2 posts
Alexa Bermudez

Alexa Bermudez

Alexa Bermudez is a Communication and Media major at DePaul University, originally from Chicago, Illinois. She has a deep passion for storytelling, entertainment media, and Black media culture.

2 posts
Nathan Borja

Nathan Borja

Nathan Borja is an emerging photojournalist and student at Northeastern Illinois University.

2 posts
Zoë Takaki

Zoë Takaki

Zoë Takaki is a multi-media journalist based in Chicago whose work emphasizes hyper-local journalism and politics. Takaki graduated from Columbia College Chicago in 2023 with a degree in journalism and has written for publications across Chicago.

2 posts
Araceli Ramirez

Araceli Ramirez

A multimedia journalist with a heart for the people. She's centers connection, transparency and empathy in every story.

2 posts
Lauren Neher

Lauren Neher

Lauren Neher is an aspiring writer and journalist with an interest exploring community issues in and around Chicago, queer history, and culture.

2 posts
Gemma Mueller

Gemma Mueller

An aspiring environmental journalist who is passionate on reporting about the changing world around us. I take pride in being multi-faceted, and aim to continue growing my skills throughout school.

2 posts
Genesis Falls

Genesis Falls

Genesis Falls, known as "Geno", is a film photographer in Chicago whose work explores the raw essence of humanity through black-and-white film.

2 posts
Sumaiyya Siddiqi

Sumaiyya Siddiqi

Sumaiyya is a senior at Northeastern Illinois University, where she is majoring in English and minoring in Media. She is passionate about writing and photography, and hopes to use her skills to serve the Muslim community.

1 post
Caroline Keane

Caroline Keane

Caroline Keane studied Political Science and Political Economics in their undergraduate studies and went on to obtain a Master’s Degree in Journalism. Their areas of interest include the environment, mass incarceration, community, arts and culture.

1 post
15 West

15 West

Publishing news for everyone.

1 post
Aïcha Camara

Aïcha Camara

Aïcha Camara is a Chicago-based data journalist. They lead Surveilling Sex Work, an investigative project exploring the surveillance systems, AI tech, and policies contributing to the criminalization of sex workers. Read more: aichacamara.me/ssw/

1 post
Khadija Mujahid

Khadija Mujahid

Student at DePaul University. Assistant News Editor of the DePaulia.

1 post
Iris Jing

Iris Jing

Iris Jing is a fine arts artist and writer.

1 post
Arturo Fernandez

Arturo Fernandez

I’m a bilingual newsroom leader, award-winning visual journalist with 20+ years of experience delivering impactful storytelling across digital platforms. I specialize in leading visual teams, leading teams in digital strategy and audience growth.

1 post
Maya Swan-Sullivan

Maya Swan-Sullivan

Maya Swan-Sullivan is a senior journalism major, with a minor in creative writing. She covers Columbia classes and Chicago festivals and events. Swan-Sullivan joined The Chronicle in June 2023.

1 post
Samantha Monje

Samantha Monje

Samantha Monje is a Northwestern University journalism student and Pathways intern for Borderless Magazine. Contact Samantha at samantha@borderlessmag.org

1 post
Yassine Bhl

Yassine Bhl

1 post
كيف تبني مؤسسة Ojala ما افتقده مجتمع المسلمين اللاتينيين في شيكاغو
أفراد من المجتمع يتناوبون على ضرب الـبينيّاتا خلال احتفال Ojala بعيد الفطر. | الصورة مقدمة من جوردان إسبارزا-كيلي

كيف تبني مؤسسة Ojala ما افتقده مجتمع المسلمين اللاتينيين في شيكاغو

ماذا يحدث عندما يقرر مجتمع من المسلمين اللاتينيين أن يبني لنفسه بيتا، ويترك بابه مفتوحا للآخرين في الوقت ذاته؟
By Yassine Bhl • 1 min read
Mina Gregory

Mina Gregory

Mina Gregory is an aspiring videographer and a Video Producer for 15 West.

1 post