Working Heroes
On Labor Day, the Chicago Tribune featured strong stories about two people who contribute greatly to their workplaces in different ways. "An Exceptional Worker" by Barbara Rose profiles Desmond Wallace, a bagger at a Chicago grocery store who shows exceptional dedication to his customers. During the course of this sweet story, she gradually reveals why Wallace's job means so much to him. I appreciate how Rose takes time to shine a spotlight on someone who most people would probably overlook. www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-all.mon.acbiz1-1sep03,0,4798017.story
In "The Toughest Assignment," reporter Stephanie Banchero and photographer Heather Stone document a year's worth of ups and downs for an eighth-grade teacher in one of Chicago's toughest schools. Their three-part profile of the wonderfully gifted and caring Montie Apostolos shows what it's like on the frontlines of the educational reform movement. Christopher Booker's video interviews of Apostolos and her students supplement the main story well. www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-schools-html,1,4173741.htmlstory?coll=chi_tab01_layout