Esther Yoon-Ji Kang
Reporter, Race, Class and Communities
Prior to arriving at WBEZ, she was a breaking news producer at the Tribune Company and an editor at Chicago magazine. Esther has also covered education and juvenile court, and did a stint in communications at the Institute of Politics at the University of Chicago before returning to journalism.
Esther graduated from Northwestern University and has taught undergraduate and graduate courses at the journalism school. She has won numerous national and local awards, including a Sigma Delta Chi award from the Society of Professional Journalists and an Edward R. Murrow Award. Her work has also been recognized by the Asian American Journalists Association and the National Association of Black Journalists.
Born in South Korea, Esther grew up in Paraguay and the Washington, D.C., area. She lives in Chicago with her family.
Stories by Esther Yoon-Ji Kang
![]()
Nicole Lee and Anthony Ciaravino face off in Chicago’s first Asian-majority ward
Chicago Chinatown leaders fought for representation in City Council but two candidates face off in the 11th Ward runoff — one Asian and one white.
![]()
United Center concessions workers on brink of strike
Workers at concessions stands at United Center have voted to authorize a strike but negotiations haven’t ended.
![]()
Study on Arab Americans in Chicago calls on not using ‘white’ as racial category
A new study from UIC documents inequities Arab Americans face in the Chicago area.
![]()
A Mount Prospect woman is home for good after three-year deportation
Julita Bartolome was deported in 2019 to the Philippines during a wave of immigration crackdowns by the Trump administration.
![]()
Heartland Alliance workers fight for higher wages
“It just seems incongruous … I’m having to fight for the basics of life when this organization wants to help people rise out of poverty,” said one employee.
![]()
How the Kroger-Albertson’s merger could affect its workers
Labor researcher Alison Dickson dives into how the Kroger-Albertsons merger could hurt local grocery store workers.
![]()
Chicago voters who need language help at the polls will have less of it on Election Day
A new state law that reduced the number of voting precincts means fewer bilingual ballots and election judges across six languages.
![]()
Formerly incarcerated people in Illinois would get help finding jobs if a proposed bill passes
The national unemployment rate for this population stands at about 27%. State lawmakers want to help — and say small businesses and communities would benefit, too.
Psychologists work to combat racism in their field
A team of professionals in the field has created a training model to combat racism.
![]()
Chicago-area hospital workers call for more staff and higher wages
SEIU Healthcare Illinois workers “marched on the boss” at eight hospitals, where they say overworked, underpaid staff are fleeing.
