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John W. Fountain III

John W. Fountain, III is a licensed social worker with a graduate degree from Loyola University Chicago’s School of Social Work and an undergraduate degree in journalism from Columbia College Chicago. With the ability to investigate the implications of policy on human behavior, Fountain’s writings explore poverty, mental illness and the long lasting effects of trauma and race. Fountain received the prestigious Peter Lisagor Award in 2012 and also honored for best column by the Illinois Press Association in the same year. Fountain has experience in an inpatient psychiatric institution, psychiatric units of hospitals and served as a Dementia Unit Coordinator at a nursing home. It is Fountain’s belief that policy reform is the root solution of current social issues.

Opinion

Today’s television shows rush youth to grow up

By John W. Fountain III | March 10, 2014

Columnist John W. Fountain III longs for the day when families bonded around the TV set.

Opinion

Maybe the answer is so simple

By John W. Fountain III | January 30, 2014

The bitter cold will soon be gone, says columnist John W. Fountain III. But will the hopelessness and despair found in many parts of the city disappear as well?

Opinion

Who told you the struggle was over?

By John W. Fountain III | January 7, 2014

John W. Fountain III kicks of the new year with powerful commentary.

Opinion

A history merely repeating itself

By John W. Fountain III | July 16, 2013

The Trayvon Martin case doesn’t surprise, but it wounds, writes commentator John W. Fountain III.

Opinion

Being black in America and CNN documentary

By John W. Fountain III | December 26, 2012

John W. Fountain III. reflects on a television program about being African-American and writes about his own experiences.

Opinion

Mental illness is just one bone in black community’s closet

By John W. Fountain III | December 5, 2012

Columnist John Fountain III brings awareness to depression and suicide, which he said African-Americans often don’t discuss.

Opinion

Not making a choice is still choosing

By John W. Fountain III | November 19, 2012

Columnist John Fountain III. reflects on some of his own decisions and the situations he’s witnessed counseling adolescents and adults.

Opinion

Some advice for college students

By John W. Fountain III | September 4, 2012

Columnist John W. Fountain III, a non-traditional college student, shares his journey toward his last year in a master’s program at Loyola University Chicago.

Opinion

Because I said so

By John W. Fountain III | August 22, 2012

Columnist John W. Fountain III writes about dreaming and his desire to get more out of an adult world that can cultivate mediocrity and redundancy.

Opinion
John W. Fountain III.

An afternoon of nothing

By John W. Fountain III | August 14, 2012

Columnist John W. Fountain III shares why it’s OK to take a break, and put off til tomorrow what you can do today.

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News

  • Expungement, record sealing event helps West Siders get jobs after leaving prison

    Austin resident Anthony Jefferson has been working over the past six years to expunge his criminal record. With help from the Monroe Foundation, he's moving toward the clean slate he wants to achieve to secure employment.

  • Get free groceries, other help from these Austin groups

    On a recent Thursday, volunteers from What About Us Charitable Enterprises spent the morning filling dozens of grocery bags with fresh food and staples that soon filled the arms of West Side residents in need. Dorin “Pastor Mac” McIntyre, executive director and co-founder of What About Us Charitable Enterprises and pastor of Mount Olivet Missionary Baptist Church, is one of many helping Austin residents struggling with food insecurity.

  • 29th Ward residents invited to holiday events on Tuesday

  • 29th Ward residents invited to propose how to spend $450,000

    Austin residents are invited to participate in this year's participatory budgeting cycle. The annual process lets ward residents ages 14 and up decide how to spend a portion of the aldermanic menu money.

  • Forty Acres Fresh Market marks important moment this week in bringing store to Austin

    Austin moves one step closer this week to getting a new grocery store with the groundbreaking of Forty Acres Fresh Market in the heart of the Soul City Corridor. Another effort to expand food offerings on the West Side continues with the Austin Community Food Co-op, which held a virtual info session last week on its efforts to bring a grocery store to the area.

  • Healing in nature workshop set for Saturday

    The Westside Cultural Alliance continues its "See, Feel and Heal" nature series Saturday at Garfield Park Nature Area, 100 N. Central Park with a workshop on making memory boxes. The workshop sessions focus on art and nature as vehicles of healing through art therapy, which provides wholistic healing for the body, mind and spirit.

  • Illinois residents can apply for help with paying gas, electric bills

    Applications are now open for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) for qualified residential customers who are over the age of 60, have a disability or have children under the age of 6 to receive financial assistance to pay their energy bills. LIHEAP is a federally funded bill payment assistance program that helps low- and fixed-income families pay their utility during the winter heating season.

  • West Siders turn out for chili cook off in Austin’s Soul City

    Over a dozen local chefs competed in the second annual "It’s Getting Chili in Soul City" event on Saturday. A team of five who make up the Austin African American Business Networking Association board – Malcolm Crawford, Shirley Fields, Sharmine Rickett, Ronald Smith and Marshawn Felton – created the chili contest last year.

  • Chicago Marathon runner raises money for West Side girls

    Over the last 20 years, Ashley Graham has run 56 marathons - including the Chicago Marathon five times. Several of those marathons she raised money for charity - and this year was no different.

  • Stop by Austin farmers market this week

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