In the blistering heat of a late afternoon sun, the referee called the teens to center court and whistled the start of the 2020 Kids Off the Block basketball season. The kids in Roseland were eager to finally play. The tipoff Tuesday afternoon was far from certain. Longtime anti-violence advocate Diane Latiker, who founded the
Basketball has piqued our interest and captured our attention for decades. But, it’s more than just a sport. The world of basketball is full of diversity, progressive ideas, and leadership that inspires change far beyond the court. Last month, Wintrust hosted an enlightening panel discussion about the impact of the sport on our communities led
Every small business has a story. From the conception of an idea, to the struggle to find lending, to the joy of a first sale, the path for small business owners is rarely smooth. That’s why, to celebrate Small Business Saturday, we’re highlighting several of the thousands of small business owners in our communities who
Hermila Solano was ready to take the next step in her cosmetology career. After getting her cosmetology license and working for others, Solano decided to branch out and open her own cosmetology academy. She knew it wouldn’t be easy, but Solano couldn’t have anticipated just how difficult it would be Solano struggled with financing and
Verlissa Schrepfer has long been a part of the Wheaton community. Her association with Wheaton began nearly 15 years ago when, after working in retail for more than three decades, she switched careers and was about to earn a bachelor’s degree in interior design from Chicago’s Harrington College of Design. Needing on-the-job training to finish
Growing up, Sophie Evanoff’s love of pastries was about more than a simple sweet tooth. It was about spending time in the kitchen with her mother and grandmothers baking for family gatherings and church events. Those hours Evanoff spent in the kitchen created more than lifelong memories. They also represented the beginning of a successful