WTTW Journal; What's Out There for J.R.?

WTTW (Television station : Chicago, Ill.) · May 13, 1991

This is "What's Out There for J.R.'" which is an episode of "WTTW Journal." Joe Mantegna hosts the episode, which asks "What can we do as a community to help the growing number of children who are leaving their homes unprepared to lead independent and productive lives'" It profiles 11-year-old "J.R." as a case study to illustrate the problems faced by young people. J.R. lives part of the time with his family and part of the time with Rev. Larry Craig at Assumption Church. The program looks at J.R., his family, especially his mother, Nelly, and the Humboldt Park community in which they live. Includes footage of the area and J.R. with his family. Includes interviews with gang crimes officer Tony Martinez; area resident Oscar Bosch; "Gitano," a gang member; YMCA gang outreach worker Julio Matias; Joan Costello of Chapin Hall Center for Children; 14th district youth officer Kim Anderson; associate librarian Francisco Arroyo; John Casey, president of the Chicago Metro YMCA; Ray Vazquez of the Logan Square YMCA; Humboldt Park parent Adela Molina; former gang member/current YMCA employee Izzy Garcia; Rosemary Bidne from Lutheran Day Nursery; Larry Arshansky from the Chopin School; Margaret Demopoulos, a teacher from Clemente High School; Jerry Stermer, president of Illinois Voices for Children; Madeline Garcia, DFCS caseworker; volunteer basketball coach Dr. Jack Raba, who is also medical director of the Cook County Jail; law student Carl Harrington; John Weber of the Chicago Public Art Group; 14th district commissioner Esmagde Cristia; and volunteer boxing coach Alfonso Ortiz. Emphasizes the need each child has for an adult who believes in them and will fight for them. "CHICAGO MATTERS, a three-year-long project exploring issues of concern to the community, focused on children in 1991. A unique mixture of programming examines some of the [problems] facing children today and offered viable solutions. "Included in this series are PROTECT YOURSELF: TEACHING YOUR CHILDREN ABOUT AIDS, which addresses one of the leading threats to our youth and promotes prevention through education; WHAT'S OUT THERE FOR J.R', which explores the state of the social service networks that provide help to youths in crisis; the CHICAGO MATTERS TOWN MEETING examines the community support systems available to children, bringing together city officials, park district representatives, parents, children and child development experts in a live 'town meeting' setting."--1991 Peabody Awards entry form.