Monthly Archives: May 2016

Memorial Day created by former slaves

Posted on May 30, 2016 by jyourist

Though Memorial Day was first formally declared in 1868 by General Logan, in charge of the GAR—an organization of Civil War vets, in order to decorate the graves of those who died in the Civil War, there are many cities … Continue reading →

Posted in Civil War, democracy, equity, Holidays, justice, race | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Annotating To Kill a Mockingbird

Posted on May 26, 2016 by jyourist

My student’s amazing graphic annotation of To Kill a Mockingbird.

Posted in animation, creativity, school, students | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Emily Rose at Green Mill

Posted on May 25, 2016 by jyourist

Sunday night we went to the Green Mill for Emily Rose’s promotion of her new poetry book Mouthy. Her presentation was preceded by the weekly poetry slam. The Green Mill is over 100 years old and has an edgy history. … Continue reading →

Posted in performance, poetry, relationship | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

“Still Life with Gratitude” by Dean Rader

Posted on May 23, 2016 by jyourist

One day, the scientists tell us, every star in the universe will burn out, the galaxies gradually blackening until the last light flares and falls returning the all to darkness where it will remain until the end of what we … Continue reading →

Posted in death, poetry, relationship, stars | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Outside together in the sun

Posted on May 21, 2016 by jyourist

Yesterday my friend Michael came to my school. Because my advisory had raised money ($500.00) for the La Casa Norte fundraiser (see earlier post), he thought he would say “thank-you” by screening the film Alzheimers: A Love Story at school. … Continue reading →

Posted in LGBTQ, relationship, school, students | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Malcom X…

Posted on May 19, 2016 by jyourist

…would be 91 today.

Posted in civil rights, Islam, justice, race | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

More Than Ever

Posted on May 18, 2016 by jyourist

Today I attended a fund-raising luncheon for La Casa Norte, an organization dedicated to supporting youth and families who are homeless in Chicago. According to the program booklet produced for the luncheon, “Today La Casa Norte’s programs include emergency, transitional … Continue reading →

Posted in Alzheimers, videos | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

I replace cowboy man

Posted on May 17, 2016 by jyourist

I discovered this image, drawn in mud, outside on the school building today at 2:07pm. Couldn’t tell whether the cowboy had a bandana around his chin or just 5 o’clock shadow. The mud saber is awesome.

Posted in photography, school | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Patti Smith

Posted on May 16, 2016 by jyourist

I saw Patti Smith at the Old Town School of Folk Music Saturday night. How awesome to have seen her in such an intimate setting. The piano player, her daughter Jesse Smith, and the guitarist, her son Jackson Smith, accompanied … Continue reading →

Posted in music, performance | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Michael and Greg

Posted on May 15, 2016 by jyourist

The following article appeared in the Windy City Times, the premier Chicago LGBTQ weekly newspaper. Gretchen Rachel Hammond spent three hours interviewing my dearest friend Michael and put together this story of Michael and Greg’s remarkable love story, over 41 … Continue reading →

Posted in Alzheimers, LGBTQ, relationship | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment