At the age of 22, I moved to Germany. This wasn’t an impulsive choice; it was driven by love. I had met my boyfriend in South Africa when I was just 20. After two years of long-distance relationship, I decided…
I wrote these lines on my flight back home after an amazing week in Amman, reflecting back at the inspiring group of people I spent the last couple of days with, the activists, artists, bloggers, editors, journalist, visual tools and…
I was born in the United Sates to an American mother and Jordanian father. My parents had a plan to eventually move to Jordan for good. English was my first language, and my parents knew that if I were ever…
This blog is the second part of a two-part series analyzing the 2025 Farmland Values Report published by the Illinois Society of Professional Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers (ISPFMRA). The report highlights the value of farmland sold in 2024, expectations…
This post is the second in a two-part series analyzing a United States Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service (USDA-ERS) report on the state of farms and ranches across the United States. Part One began by discussing the way farms…
Isabel Ibañez is a graphic designer and illustrator whose debut novel Woven in Moonlight is a “rollicking political fantasy inspired by Bolivian history and filled with irrepressible heroines, opulent settings, twisty court intrigue, bloody revolutions, and mouthwatering feasts” (Kirkus Reviews).…
Each week, the My America blog series introduces you to one of the writers featured in our special exhibit My America: Immigrant and Refugee Writers Today. The exhibit is designed to elicit thoughtful dialogue on a wide array of issues…
At first, José Olivarez wanted to be a rapper. That was his dream. But, as he says, “I was really terrible at rapping. So luckily for all of us I quit that and became a poet.” His poems still have…
ByAshley A few months ago, when Dave mentioned he had a business trip to Chicago coming up, I knew I wanted to tag along, and I’m so glad I did. I’ve always wanted to visit Chicago, and I came away…
My uncle lived near Chicago and had always talked about the beautiful city and its incredible food when I was growing up. I believe I was about 8 years old when I first felt the deep desire to go to…
