The recent editorial on Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton’s U.S. Senate candidacy was disappointing — not because the Tribune Editorial Board calls for a competitive primary, but because it fails to acknowledge the agency and leadership of a formidable public servant (“JB Pritzker should stop trying to make Juliana Stratton the inevitable successor to Dick Durbin,” May 6).
Like many Illinois voters, I’ve had the privilege of meeting Stratton on several occasions in community settings. No cameras, no press — just her, showing up for young people and families. She wasn’t there for show. She was there because she cares. That’s who she is: a leader defined by values, empathy and deep commitment to public service.
It is concerning and regrettably not uncommon to witness the qualifications and integrity of a Black woman overshadowed by political speculation. It is both reasonable and necessary to acknowledge that women of color possess the vision and experience required to lead with purpose and to earn the support of influential allies along the way.
Stratton is not a “coronation” candidate. She is a proven leader who has spent decades advocating for justice, working across Illinois, and governing with discipline and heart. Let’s not forget her own influence during the 2018 gubernatorial race, where she brought authenticity and community credibility to the ticket. Her presence didn’t just help validate JB Pritzker’s candidacy; it also energized voters across the state.
Her endorsements for U.S. Senate, including from U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth and high-profile donors, were not gifted. They were earned. They reflect the trust she has built through years of hard work in the General Assembly, the lieutenant governor’s office and communities across Illinois. Portraying her campaign as orchestrated by anyone other than her does a disservice to voters and diminishes the leadership she’s demonstrated.
Yes, Illinoisans deserves a robust primary. But let’s be clear: Stratton is not being gifted the Senate seat. She’s rising -— on her own merit, backed by her record and grounded in community.
Let’s not diminish that.
— Jose M. Muñoz, Chicago
A voters’ prerogative
Many people seem to have forgotten that our governor is a voter in our great state. He can endorse whomever he wants. Is there some law Gov. JB Pritzker is violating by endorsing a candidate for U.S. Senate?
No. Lighten up, people. Is everyone going to be perturbed if Mayor Brandon Johnson or Kirk Dillard makes an endorsement?
— Lee Berenbaum, Chicago
Why accuracy matters
Journalism icon Joseph Pulitzer noted that “what a newspaper needs in its news, in its headlines, and on its editorial page is terseness, humor, descriptive power, satire, originality, good literary style, clever condensation and accuracy, accuracy, accuracy.” Focusing on the accuracy part of the equation would have served the public interest in the Tribune’s headline for a story about President Donald Trump’s response as to whether he must follow the Constitution and court orders (“Trump vague on due process,” in print May 5).
To be clear, Trump was not vague. Asked directly if he is denying Kilmar Abrego Garcia due process — the ability to challenge the charges against him before suffering horrific consequences — by refusing to direct Garcia’s return from an El Salvadoran gulag, Trump deflected. He said that he could secure Garcia’s return — consistent with a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that he “facilitate” the return — but is not doing so because he is being “told” that he does not have to do so.
Trump took an oath to uphold the Constitution of the United States little more than 100 days ago but now can barely manage an “I don’t know” when asked if he has to follow that same Constitution. That should be a blaring headline — but that’s not what appeared in the Tribune.
It is less than astonishing given his repeated claims of being “the law” and suggesting that people must follow his edicts as law. Trump refuses to say that he will follow the rules of our Constitution and abide by a ruling from our nation’s highest court.
The American people deserve to understand what is happening — and not have it obfuscated by claims that the president is simply being “vague” in his language. Accuracy, even in headlines, still does matter.
— Edwin C. Yohnka, director of communications and public policy, American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois
Teaching youths dance
I grew up on the South Side of Chicago, surrounded by a community rich in arts and culture. My mother, a self-taught painter, spent her afternoons painting still lifes while music played from our record player — and I would dance. Her creative spirit shaped who I am.
I trained formally in dance here in Chicago before spending 17 years performing with the Dance Theatre of Harlem. Today, as director of community engagement at The Joffrey Ballet, I work to make dance accessible to young people across our city.
Recently, an important question appeared in Tribune Opinion: What is the state of Chicago’s youths?
Part of the answer lies in how we nurture youths’ creativity and value the arts in their education and development.
At the Joffrey, our community engagement programs serve about 1,000 students annually across 30 Chicago public schools. Through dance, students learn discipline, creative expression and collaboration. They develop problem-solving skills, build confidence and gain tools that serve them for any path they choose.
Research supports what we see in our classrooms and studios. Creativity flourishes when students are encouraged to explore and express their ideas. Critical thinking grows through analyzing movement and structure. Making art strengthens emotional intelligence, fine motor skills and academic focus. Exposure to diverse traditions builds cultural awareness.
The evidence is clear: The arts are a foundation for achievement, not a luxury to cut when budgets shrink. The arts equip young people to face challenges and imagine a future for themselves. In a city where many are forced to grow up too fast, the arts offer a way forward.
This year, we’re deepening our understanding of that impact. In partnership with the Kellogg School of Management’s Golub Capital Board Fellows Program, the Joffrey is working with the University of Chicago Crime Lab and Education Lab to measure the real-world effects of our dance programming. With access to 400 CPS schools, this study will collect data during the 2025-26 season on how arts engagement influences academic performance, emotional well-being, social development and cultural awareness. We’re committed to putting real numbers behind what we already know to be true.
Dance builds stronger, more confident and more resilient young people. With research and evidence, we aim to prove what we witness every day. A better Chicago means giving everyone the chance to be seen, heard and celebrated. And the arts make that possible.
If we want a stronger Chicago, we must lead with the arts. Our young people are worth it.
— Linda Swayze, director of community engagement, The Joffrey Ballet, Chicago
The pope in the news
What joy it has been to read the newspaper the last several days as the world has been focused on the outpouring of love seen in Rome toward the new pope instead of the negative antics of President Donald Trump. Try as he might, he could not reclaim the front page.
Whether Christian or not, everyone was celebrating the hope for a friendlier and more tolerant world. The lesson of last week is clear: We are one people, and life will be better for all if we just remember that we are our brothers’ keepers.
— Mary Ann Kehl, Wilmette
Bravo for the coverage
As daily subscribers to the Tribune, we have been so happy to read the paper’s excellent reporting and editorial work on the elevation of Robert Prevost to the papacy.
The Tribune’s thoroughness and willingness to examine this wonderful, hopeful story from many different angles is so appreciated. More than just “a local boy does good story,” Pope Leo XIV’s life reminds us that diligence and commitment are rewarded — and often in the most surprising and unanticipated ways.
— Bill O’Dea, Oak Lawn
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