I feel that growing up apart from, yet aware of Chicago, in Rockford, Illinois, has given me a unique perspective on the urban environment. My ideas about the ideal city come from comparing the two cities. There are several things Chicago can offer that a smaller town can not. The accessible public transportaion is one aspect that I find invaluable. The U-Pass is my key to the city, allowing me to explore it's many facets. In my hometown a car is necessary to do anything. It is habit to not even walk a few feet to the next store, but to drive. Sidewalks are minimal in Rockford, generally found only in residential subdivisions. Near shopping centers it is rare to see anyone walking from store to store. I often drive to a park to go for a walk. Therefore, I say public transportaion is an important aspect of the ideal city.
Public transportaion, however, is only as good as the places it can take you. Having accesible, affordable, and interesting activies and locations throughout the city is also important. In Rockford, only a handful of business are open after 10 pm, leaving alot of young people with out anything of interest to do.
Aesthetics is also important to my ideal city. The hardest adjustment I have when coming to the city is the intense change in atmopshere. What I miss most about Rockford is the parks, trees, streams, grass, and a quiet that is always acessible. It is a difficult task to acomplish, but my ideal city would combine the beauty of the rural with the variety of the city.


My intial response to the agency project is good. It looks a little drier than last semester's project, however, I think it also has several exciting qualities. Last semester we were asked to explore certain neighborhoods. I found this enjoyable because I often do that anyway. Granted, I would probably not have gone to those particular areas. I think being a part of a larger project with a tangible goal such as creating a park for the city will be exciting my group and me. I also have full faith that we will all put alot of effort into this project.

One reading I found interesting was the The souls of Black Folk, Chapter 5, by Dubois. I found this piece interesting because of its historical context and its message of hope. Dubois talked about how proper education was the key for young black people to free themselves from the bonds of society. This learning was not important simply as a means to gain wealth or power, or to join the ranks of the educated white, but to "teach the workers to work and the thinkers to think," the final goal not being simply a person capable of doing a job, "but a man," with ideals, hope, and a brighter vision for tommrow.

I find this concept imporant even today. As the world becomes an increasingly uncertain place, I find that my peers come to two conclusions on the subject of education. Some find it rigid and suffocating, deem it unnecessary, and leave academia. Or, they work to get enough credits to gain a degree, instead of an education. I believe it is possible to be a well educated person without the institution of a school, however, I feel that many in my generation take for granted the opportunites before them. To me that is disrespectful to those like Dubois whose life was spent making those opportunities available.

Another good point of this article Dubois argument that a larger number of schools did not make up for their mediocrity. The idea of making enough schools to teach the masses meant nothing to him, without the promise of a good education for those masses.
Dubois says,
"The function of the university is not simply to teach bread- winning, or to furnish teachers for the public schools or to be a centre of polite society; it is, above all, to be the organ of that fine adjustment between real life and the growing knowl- edge of life, an adjustment which forms the secret of civilization."

This idea has implications of UIC, as well. UIC is an important institution in the city of Chicago. Thousands of people have been educated here. However, I think it lacks the forward movement to match its potential. This university has an unimaginable amount of resources, yet they remain unknown and hidden by barriers of bad service, paper work, and a mediocre image. I cannot speak for professional circles, but among my peers UIC is generally regarded as ugly and dangerous. The student body is generally fractered and disinterested. I imagine a UIC that is proud of its heritage, advertises its assets, and utilizes all its resources. In my ideal world there is no room for mediocrity in education.

websites i like:
http://tripsweb.rtachicago.com/ ---helps me plan all my outings

http://centerstagechicago.com/ --- helps me find all the secret spots
http://metromix.chicagotribune.com/

http://www.chicagoreader.com/ ---keeps me up on the goings ons

http://www.weather.com ----helps me stay prepared