Filmmaker Steve James’s work—including the Oscar-nominated Hoop Dreams and Abacus—has won him critical acclaim galore and goodwill in the town where he lives, Oak Park.

But when he set out to create his 10-part documentary series America to Me—about Oak Park, its historic commitment to integration and its high school’s challenges in living up to a reputation for inclusiveness—he had his doubts.

Hear all about that—and catch up with two of the students spotlighted by this celebrated Starz series—in a Chicago Public Square Podcast. Listen here or on Amazon’s Alexa-powered speakers*, iTunes, Spotify (new!) or your favorite podcast player. (Photo: Wednesday Journal / Alexa Rogals.)



If you enjoy this, check out other podcasts in the series.

And if you’re new to these parts, please sign up for the free daily Square news update here.

* Even if you don’t have an Alexa smart speaker, you can turn iOS and Android phones into Alexa devices for free—a low-impact way to experiment with the technology.