Esther Yoon-Ji Kang
Reporter, Race, Class and Communities
Previously, she was the communications manager for the University of Chicago Institute of Politics. Before her time at the IOP, Esther was an editor at Chicago magazine, where she reported, wrote, edited, photographed, designed and produced award-winning stories for the website and print magazine. Prior to Chicago magazine, she worked as a breaking news producer for the Tribune Company. Aside from her work on the web, Esther has covered the Chicago Public Schools and juvenile court beats and has written for various publications. She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Northwestern University and has taught undergraduate and graduate courses in the journalism school.
Born in South Korea, she grew up in Paraguay and the Washington, D.C., area. She lives in Chicago with her family.
Stories by Esther Yoon-Ji Kang
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Counting For The 2020 Census Ends This Week, But Will It Be Accurate?
Experts say the pandemic, a shortened timeline, quality control failures and politics could lead to a headcount that is not fit for use.
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Muslim Americans Are As Polarized On Politics As Everyone Else, Poll Finds
Muslim Americans are sharply divided along political and racial lines when it comes to their views on President Trump and hot-button issues.
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Chicago Census Workers Feel Pressured To Rush The Count As The Deadline Battle Continues
Officials plan to end the counting weeks before an Oct. 31 deadline. The rush worries some Chicago enumerators about the count’s accuracy.
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Groups Question Whether There’s Enough Money For Extended Census Outreach In Illinois
Some groups performing census outreach in Illinois are concerned if they will have the resources to continue their work until Oct. 31.
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Here’s Why Chicagoland’s Chinese Residents Are Anxious About The WeChat Ban
With the future of the popular messaging and social media app in limbo, Chinese residents hope they can continue using the platform.
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Illinois Sen. Durbin Says A Vote On The Next Supreme Court Justice Must Wait Until After The Election
Sen. Dick Durbin says Republicans should follow their own precedent for replacing justices. Meanwhile, Trump is said to be considering a Chicago federal judge to fill Ginsburg’s seat.
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From Repeat Visits To Tech Troubles, Chicago’s Census Count Faces Issues In Its Final Weeks
As the deadline looms, Chicago census workers are trying desperately to avoid an undercount — but it hasn’t been easy.
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Report: The Chicago Region Is At Risk For A Census Undercount
With less than a month to complete the census, the response in some Chicago-area communities lags far behind rates from the last census.
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Activists Call On Chicago Leaders To Defund Police In The City’s Next Budget
A coalition of groups is demanding that the Chicago City Council steer $1 billion in police funding toward services in underserved areas.
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A ‘Perfect Storm’: 50 Lives And 4 ZIP Codes Tell Chicago’s Story Of COVID-19 Inequality
WBEZ spoke with the relatives of 50 Chicago COVID-19 victims to understand the systemic conditions behind the pandemic’s disproportionate impact.
