Warning and Watch lists for Poverty in Illinois

Well since I haven't been out anywhere since Blandinsville, I should just start up research again to answer a few questions before I head out again. I heard about a poverty warning list for the state of Illinois in an article by John Pulliam.

The article was from 2006 so I wanted to find an updated version. Well according to the heartland Alliance , poverty rose in 74 of Illinois' 102 counties. Obviously more severe in certain counties but that's 72.5% of all counties in the state.

Anyways, back to the warning list. Well according to the 2008 report on Illinois Poverty, on page 34 is the following:

"Four key indicators of well-being are assessed in each of Illinois’ 102 counties — high school graduation rates, unemployment rates, teen birth rates, and poverty rates. Counties in Illinois are evaluated using a point system, with the higher number of points indicating a worse score.

A point is given to a county if its rate is higher than the state average and/or if they have worsened since the previous year. For each indicator a total of 2 points is possible and overall a total of 8 points is possible. Counties that score 4 or 5 points are placed on a Watch List and counties that score 6, 7, or 8 points are placed on a Warning List. Using this methodology, 66 Illinois counties have been placed on either the Poverty Watch or Poverty Warning lists."

So of those 66 counties, 44 of them are on the watch list while the other 22 are on the warning list. As for McDonough County, we're on the watch list. Being the county with the 5th highest poverty rate, I thought this was a little unusual. Since the factors include high school graduation rates, maybe students at Macomb do better with a University in town as well as the University library.

Also, I'd imagine the University employ's a significant amount of people in the community so that might help as well.

I'm still trying to figure out if the University has any role in keeping us off the warning list but I guess I'll find out later.

For Macomb, I'll need to get out to the Salvation Army. Been in a few times but not as a journalist. I'll try to think up a few questions and ask the owners.

Churches are another place. Being a person who isn't that familiar with the church setting, I'm not quite sure who I'd talk to (the pastor?) but whatever, I'll just ask questions and hopefully someone can help.

The Western Illinois Regional Council seems like a good choice too.

========

As much as I like getting all my research done and being knowledgeable on the subject, I really want to start shooting and talking to people. Number one person to e-mail right now is the professor from Northwestern University. I'll need to look up his name again but hopefully he can give me a few pointers and things to look out for.

Also, until I start putting faces with these numbers, they're just numbers to me. The Superbowl is tomorrow and we've got production at the paper at noon so I can't do anything then but I'll need to start Monday morning and make some calls.

Well it's past 10pm on a Saturday so I'm going to call it a night.

2. Fieldwork Day 1

NOTE: These are just my notes. I'll try to get pictures and something worth reading in the future. For now, still getting organized.



Found out my Media Law teacher was ill so no 12:30 class. Had some free time and decided to drive out to Blandinsville (population. 800). Before today, I always thought it was called Blandsville like it was bland but got corrected today. Would've been a weird name for a town anyways.

------

{I chose Blandinsvile because about a year ago, I had an assignment for the paper, not to take a picture but just to pick one up from a guy. Turns out he donated some big money to the University and we were doing a story on him.

After leaving halfway though my stress testing class (my teacher knew I didn't care about exercise science by that point in the semester, he was cool) I headed over but got there a lot earlier than I expected. I ended up just driving around, killing time before the guy who's pic I was getting got back to where I was going to meet him.

Maybe I just wasn't used to being in a small town but the whole place looked empty. No one in windows, no cars driving down the street, no one on the sidewalk. I went by a diner and saw the place packed. I guess the whole town shuts down for lunch.}

------

Going back again, it looked the same. This time, I went just after lunchtime. Found this small diner who's name I can't remember. I walked in just as a family was getting ready to leave. A few booths lined the wall with a dining table in the front that the family was sitting at. I looked around and grabbed a stool at the bar.

Now here's the problem. How do I present myself? Do I tell everyone I'm a journalist or just lay low? I already left all my camera gear in my car and didn't even bring a voice recorder or notebook. I decided to just not say anything and order some food. Got a cheeseburger, fries and a Mountain Dew.

I didn't ask any questions. Just sat, ate my food, and looked around. After the family left when I got in, I was the only customer. On the wall, there's a bulletin board near the entrance. A few local businesses had fliers and a over-sized calender from HAMILTON, IL with a cowboy, was in the center.

The food was good. The cheeseburger was a lot better than McDonald's. Waitress was friendly as was everyone in the diner.

Going into any small town, I always assume I'll be the only minority around. For the most part, I'm right. That leaves me wondering how people react to me. No matter how hard I try, I'll definitely stand out. Partly because I was raised in the suburbs and second because, well, my skin is a lot darker than most people I talk to. I haven't had to deal with many assholes but like any town you go into, there's bound to be some, big or small. Overall impression of small town people, very friendly. Granted I usually go in announcing I'm a journalist but still, they seem genuine.

Back to the diner, I couldn't think of any questions when i was sitting there eating my burger. I just looked around, tried to take whatever I could in. I paid my bill and gave a larger tip than normal. Last thing I need is to get started on the wrong foot.

Nothing major happened. It was the first time out for some research and wanted to keep it simple, just a starting point.

NOTE: Keep a voice recorder on me at all times. Lot's of ideas go through my head when I'm driving.

Now, just need to start e-mailing social workers and government officials in their respective communities and let them know what I'm trying to do. Plus I really need to start taking pics. It's mostly the reason I'm doing all this.

============================

After today, I'm pretty sure I'm just gonna announce that I'm a journalist. I've got so many questions and they're not getting answered unless I ask. From here on out, I'll try to talk to as many people as possible. I need to figure out if I want to cover communities as a whole or just individuals within them to make up the whole story.

Main thing is I need access. Need to find people willing to allow a journalist in their homes and lives. This is going to be tricky and I have a feeling I'm gonna be spending a lot more than 3 hours a week on this.

It's 3:15 and I'm in the office for production night so I need something to teach the photographers for today's meeting at 6. Might be getting some new people and I swear to God, news better have photo assignments ready before my meeting.

-adios