Chance the Rapper is quickly vying for the title of “People’s Champ.” The 24-year-old emcee has already shaken up the music world, taking home a Grammy earlier this year for Best New Artist despite giving away his music for free and releasing a streaming-only album. Chance, born Chancelor Bennett, is an astute businessman, inking deals with Apple and Kit Kat, while eschewing a major record label and remaining independent. While many have come to respect his hustle, Chance’s passion for public education is what makes him really stand out.
After pledging to donate $1 million to Chicago Public Schools back in March, Chance’s nonprofit, SocialWorks, raised $2.2 million for his hometown’s schools. His contributions didn’t stop there, however. The rapper has been outspoken about how Illinois’ budget woes have affected Chicago’s public schools, and he even met with Gov. Bruce Rauner to discuss funding. Recently, Chance showed up at a city council meeting to register his opposition to Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s plan to spend $95 million on a new police training facility.
During the hearing, Chance questioned the judgment of allocating nearly $100 million on the facility when the city doesn’t have enough funds for other social services.
“What is y’all doing?” the rapper asked the council.
“Financially, this proposed plan doesn’t make sense. We don’t have $95 million,” Chance said. “There’s a lot of different services that need to be funded.”
According to Reuters, Chicago is projected to have a budget deficit of $114.2 million in 2018. While Emanuel’s proposed spending plan aims to pay down the city’s debt, it also includes a proposal to spend heavily on hiring 500 new police officers and building the new training facility. Chicago’s homicide rate (which is not the highest in the nation) has become a political football over the years, but community activists, including Chance, think it could be lowered by investing in the city’s young people, not its law enforcement efforts.
“Obviously schooling is my big thing, but there are a lot of ways to transform the city that don’t have anything to do with police training,” Chance said during the meeting. “I’ve been asking for money for over a year now to fund these classrooms and, on 4th of July weekend, they announced in like a cool financing way that ... they’re proposing to build a $95-million cop academy.”
Despite Chance’s plea to the council to consider investing in Chicago in other ways, the city’s aldermen approved moving forward on the project by a margin of 48 to 1. Still, Chance has vowed to keep fighting.
Parents of young children get more time with them if they work from home.Photo credit: Canva
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Giphy from The Blacklist.
We could start a rumor.
Grieving couple comforting each other
This response to someone grieving a friend might be the best internet comment ever
When someone is hit with the sudden loss of a friend or loved one, words rarely feel like enough. Yet, more than a decade ago, a wise Redditor named GSnow shared thoughts so profound they still bring comfort to grieving hearts today.
Originally posted around 2011, the now-famous reply was rediscovered when Upvoted, an official Reddit publication, featured it again to remind everyone of its enduring truth. It began as a simple plea for help: “My friend just died. I don't know what to do.”
What followed was a piece of writing that many consider one of the internet’s best comments of all time. It remains shared across social media, grief forums, and personal messages to this day because its honesty and metaphor speak to the raw reality of loss and the slow, irregular path toward healing.
Below is GSnow’s full reply, unchanged, in all its gentle, wave-crashing beauty:
Why this advice still matters
Mental health professionals and grief counselors often describe bereavement in stages or phases, but GSnow’s “wave theory” gives an image more relatable for many. Rather than a linear process, grief surges and retreats—sometimes triggered by a song, a place, or a simple morning cup of coffee.
In recent years, this metaphor has found renewed relevance. Communities on Reddit, TikTok, and grief support groups frequently reshare it to help explain the unpredictable nature of mourning.
Many readers say this analogy helps them feel less alone, giving them permission to ride each wave of grief rather than fight it.
Finding comfort in shared wisdom
Since this comment first surfaced, countless people have posted their own stories underneath it, thanking GSnow and passing the words to others facing fresh heartbreak. It’s proof that sometimes, the internet can feel like a global support group—strangers linked by shared loss and hope.
For those searching for more support today, organizations like The Dougy Center, GriefShare, and local bereavement groups offer compassionate resources. If you or someone you know is struggling with intense grief, please reach out to mental health professionals who can help navigate these deep waters.
When grief comes crashing like the ocean, remember these words—and hang on. There is life between the waves.
This article originally appeared four years ago.