Another Chicago Documenter Covers 100 Public Meetings
By Grace Del Vecchio
Completing 100 assignments is a right of passage very few Documenters can claim – three, to be exact.
Ebony Ellis began documenting public meetings in October 2018 and is the newest member of the “Docs 100 Club.”
A Chicago native, Ebony is a live reporting whiz with a passion for topics like education, mental health, and violence prevention. In 2021, she covered the People’s Budget, a project that engaged Chicagoans in a participatory budget process. Ebony currently works as a note taker at the City Colleges of Chicago Access Center, where students with disabilities can receive accommodations. Beyond note taking, she also serves as a resource for students, reading documents aloud, assisting during exams, and offering support as needed.
After seven years and 100 assignments with the Documenters Program, one of Ebony’s biggest takeaways is that being a good neighbor means staying informed and engaged with the people around you. Ebony believes that if you care about Chicago, becoming a Documenter is a natural first step.
We talked to Ebony about her journey as a Chicago Documenter. Here are a few highlights, edited for length and clarity.
What’s your Chicago Documenters origin story?
City Bureau was actually a partner organization with another nonprofit media organization, Free Spirit Media, which I used to write with. They introduced the Documenters program and held a training for anyone who wanted to participate. I believe it was at the Douglas Branch Library. I just went and they explained what the Documenters program was. They went through the training and I became very interested, so I just went with it. Plus, a little extra money doesn't hurt.
What has been the most memorable event or public comment you’ve witnessed at a meeting you were documenting?
There's a man. His name is George Blakemore. I mean, he’s not always wrong…Sometimes it just comes off as pure entertainment. He’s just coming at people in a very direct way and, since he's an older guy, he doesn't care. He truly does not care what people think. And I aspire to that level of carefreeness. So you know, not all heroes wear capes.
What tips or advice would you give to other Documenters?
Attend the trainings. I think the trainings are super helpful. I also think outside of Documenters, reading up on the blog posts that City Bureau publishes is very helpful. Think about what it is that you're most interested in covering, and also look at the work that various nonprofits, mutual aid groups, and grassroots organizations are doing. Whether it's following their social media, browsing their websites, or signing up for their newsletters, those small steps can give you valuable context and help you show up better prepared to document a meeting.
Also, definitely read the feedback you receive. The feedback has definitely made me a stronger Documenter. Pay close attention to the feedback.
Do you think being a Documenter prepared you for your current role?
I do. Being involved in both roles has really helped me become more aware of what people's needs are, because we're always thinking about things from an equity lens, which is very important. But there are some marginalized groups–like people who have various disabilities–that are often forgotten. It's pretty cool to be in a role like this where I not only get to help people, but also learn alongside them. I get to sit in the classes with them and learn things that I didn't know about before.
With Documenters, you see that there are many different agencies that are covering issues where these questions intersect: Black and brown communities and Black and brown folks who have various disabilities. These problems are ongoing. These are real people who are being affected, and real change needs to happen.
Why should someone get involved with Documenters?
Someone should get involved with Documenters because it's a learning experience. It's a chance to learn about Chicago – what makes Chicago, Chicago. You get to travel to different neighborhoods, cover different topics, and explore issues that you care about. Even if you’re assigned a topic that you don't care about strongly, you’ll still learn something new. For me, this was helpful during my time in college studying journalism, but it's still helpful now. It keeps me alert and aware of what's going on in the city I call home.
If you're someone who cares about Chicago, if this is the place that you call home, if you want to continue calling this place home, being aware and being engaged is super important. The Documenters Program is a great way to do that.
From September 15-22, Chicago Documenters are coming together for Documenters on Duty–a weeklong fundraising campaign to support the people-powered reporting that keeps local government transparent and communities informed. With the help of NewsMatch, every donation will be matched dollar-for-dollar, up to $5,000! Keep our Documenters on duty and give today.