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News from the Community Renewal Society

The Chicago Reporter – City’s Foremost, Most Trusted Publication on Race and Poverty Issues – Commemorates 40th Anniversary

 Award-Winning Magazine, Training Ground for Young Journalists Marks Four-Decade Milestone with “Wait, Wait…Don’t Tell Me!” Gala in June

Chicago, Ill.— In 1972, veteran civil rights activist John A. McDermott imagined a monthly publication that would investigate and analyze racial issues. Founding Publisher McDermott recruited Lillian Calhoun, a veteran of the Chicago Sun-Times, as his co-editor. They met to plot the first issue, Calhoun recalled years later. “To save money, we decided on a newsletter, printed in good, clean Helvetica,” she said. “We chose extra-thin paper for inexpensive postage. Folded to letter size, it could fit in a busy executive’s pocket or purse.” Read more »

Rev. Al Sharp named Acting Executive Director of CRS

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We have some great news to share with you!

CRS is pleased to announce that Rev. Alexander Sharp has been named the Acting Executive Director of Community Renewal Society (CRS) while we continue our national search for a permanent Executive Director. Rev. Sharp comes to CRS with a long and distinguished history of work with faith-based progressive organizations.  He is best known for  serving as the founding Executive Director of Protestants for the Common Good (PCG) from May 1996 through June 2012.  Protestants for the Common Good  is an Illinois faith-based education and advocacy organization that is in the final stages of merging with CRS. Rev. Sharp was instrumental in bringing together the well regarded policy work of Protestants for the Common Good with the organizing and publication strengths of Community Renewal Society.

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Laura Washington to Lead Publisher Search, Oversee Management at The Chicago Reporter

As we announced last week, Kimbriell Kelly will be leaving the Reporter to join The Washington Post. But we are excited to share with you a transition plan to ensure that the good work of the Reporter continues without interruption, including plans for the 40th anniversary, website re-launch and the editor search.

We are happy to announce that former Chicago Reporter Publisher Laura Washington will rejoin the Reporter to lead the search for a new publisher. She will serve as interim publisher and work with staff to oversee the work of the publication. Read more »

Editor & Publisher Kelly leaving The Chicago Reporter for the Washington Post

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Kimbriell Kelly, editor and publisher of the Chicago Reporter, is leaving nonprofit investigative news organization after eight years to join the Washington Post’s investigative team.

“I'm very sad to leave the Chicago Reporter, where I started at the ground floor as a [McCormick Tribune] fellow and worked my way all the way up to the top. So it's a little bittersweet. The Reporter will always be in my heart, and I know it has a very strong and successful future. I’m excited about joining the ranks of the former publishers who've made the magazine great.”

An interim publisher will be appointed next week while a search proceeds for Kelly’s successor. Now in its 40th year under the Community Renewal Society, the Reporter investigates race and poverty issues through its website, blog and bimonthly magazine.

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