Vee L. Harrison

1 month ago | reelchicago.com | Vee L. Harrison |Barbara Roche

Growing up, Richard Gallion always ditched his theater class, not knowing his future would be in acting, writing and producing stage plays. Chicago’s streets were filled with many choices, and Gallion chose his life. He knew that if basketball wasn’t going to be his future, he still wanted success, despite what his inner city environment might have dictated.

Mar 19, 2024 | blockclubchicago.org | Vee L. Harrison

WEST LOOP — A popular international cannabis brand with locations in San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles and Toronto opened its first Chicago weed dispensary over the weekend. Cookies opened Saturday in the West Loop at 215 N. Clinton St. The grand opening saw Clinton Street lined with rotating food trucks, a standstill “sesh bus” for smokers and numerous various vendors. San Francisco rapper, Berner, launched Cookies in 2015, building it into a worldwide cannabis, lifestyle and culture brand.

Feb 20, 2024 | blockclubchicago.org | Vee L. Harrison

ROSCOE VILLAGE — The creators behind a one-act play to teach students how to navigate racial differences are pitching the production throughout Black History Month in hopes more Chicago schools will stage it in February and beyond. “Lift Every Voice,” a nod to the Black national anthem, was created in 2021 by Gary Mills, a playwright and Emmy-Award winning filmmaker, and Willie Rounds, a playwright, songwriter, hip-hop artist, actor and community activist from North Lawndale.

Jan 19, 2024 | blockclubchicago.org | Vee L. Harrison

THE LOOP — Chicago-based drummer MaKaya McCraven will be center stage at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra on Friday, his first performance there since before the pandemic. McCraven will perform his latest studio album, “In These Times,” live with Grammy-award-winning artist Meshell Ndegeocello. The show starts 8 p.m. Friday at the Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave. Tickets are still available online.

Oct 6, 2023 | globalsistersreport.org | Rhina Guidos |Vee L. Harrison

On Sept. 28, the U.S. Catholic Sisters Against Human Trafficking modified the name to their organization, this time with a purpose that truly defined their mission. The organization is now called Alliance to End Human Trafficking. "It's best to stand for something, rather than to be against something," said the organization's executive director, Katie Boller Gosewisch, during a three-day conference in Skokie, Illinois.