StreetWise is not just a magazine sold by the homeless on the streets of Chicago. It's much more than that, and the daily focus of Jim LoBianco, 38, a Chicago native who was named the executive director for the social services agency Jan. 1.
"The biggest misconception about StreetWise is that it's some glorified form of panhandling, but that couldn't be further from the truth," said LoBianco, who was born and raised in Chicago's Rogers Park neighborhood and has been back living locally for about 10 years. "For those clients who participate in the vendor program, selling StreetWise is not an easy endeavor by any stretch of the imagination. It's a lot easier to shake a cup [ and beg for donations ] ."
Still, the agency has about 200 clients, men and women, who make a concerted effort to budget their money, buy the magazine at its wholesale cost from the agency, and then go out onto the streets and attempt to re-sell it, LoBianco said. "There is nothing panhandling about that endeavor [ of selling StreetWise ] ; they all want to hang on to the dignity of employment."
LoBianco, who graduated from Quigley North High School and previously worked for Mayor Richard M. Daley, joined the social service agency last summer as a contract consultant with an eye toward taking over the executive director position.
"Even for me, I think the biggest surprise was the depth of social service that StreetWise provides," LoBianco said. "Even I was fairly uninformed before I came on as a consultant. The agency has a lot of areas of focus, including its social service division, work-force development, housing stability and financial literacy."
About 80 percent of its clients are housed, and those who are homeless when they come to the agency for help, they find housing outside of the shelter system within six months. "The agency has a really impressive success rate of moving people on, out of crisis, onto long-term stability," he said.
StreetWise, about three years ago, went public with its financial crisis—and Bruce Crane stepped into the role of executive director with the expectation that he would help get the business orders of the agency in line and then, once things had stabilized and the agency was back on a solid fiscal ground, he would be replaced by a long-term executive director.
Crane recruited LoBianco to consider StreetWise and, by the end of 2010, the marriage seemed perfect.
"After about four months [ as a consultant ] , everyone felt it was a good fit—and I was happy to accept the position," LoBianco said.
LoBianco is single, gay and back living in Rogers Park.
"As executive director of a non-profit organization, I'm basically the chief cook and bottle washer," he said, laughing. "My primary focus is on fund-raising and assuring a long-term stability of the agency. We're lucky … Bruce and the new board [ of directors ] have really done a great job stabilizing the agency. StreetWise has no debt; it has cash in the bank, which is a fantastic position to be in for a non-profit. It's my job now to continue to grow the agency, both financially and programmatically."
His role also includes marketing and public relations, among other aspects. Such as beating the stigma associated with StreetWise.
"Although StreetWise has been around for 20 years, people [ just ] know it as the magazine and many people know it as nothing more than the magazine when, in truth, the magazine is just a program within the agency," he said. "So, telling the entire story of StreetWise, so people can truly appreciate the full width and breath of what the agency does, is important. It's also important to highlight the programmatic oversight of the services that we deliver."
LoBianco started doing social work in Chicago about 20 years ago. He's been working with the poor and homeless since high school—when he helped at the soup kitchens in the Uptown neighborhood.
So, is selling StreetWise a challenge? LoBianco responded that, without question, it is. Then again, he said almost all fundraising in this economic climate is challenging.
LoBianco noted that the agency's clients are now, due to the economic woes many are facing, boasting higher levels of education. Over 70 percent of the agency's population has a high school degree or a GED, and 20 percent have a college degree or some college experience.
StreetWise is their resource while in crisis.
LoBianco has a three-year vision for the agency, but said he easily could work there much longer.
He said his sexual orientation has not been an issue at the agency, and he noted that one of its clients recently confessed to LoBianco that he, too, is gay. LoBianco has been out since he was 17.
LoBianco was the deputy chief of staff to Daley, and was asked to serve as the city's point person/coordinator for all of the city's involvement/activities with the 2006 Gay Games in Chicago. He worked closely with the Chicago organizing committee and the Federation of Gay Games for such major decisions as adjusting the length of the running "loops" of the marathon due to the heat and humidity ( to allow for more access to the water stations ) .
He is training to run the 2011 Bank of America Chicago Marathon in October, yet has not decided if he will participate in, or even attend, the 2014 Games in Cleveland.
LoBianco left the mayor's office to become the deputy commissioner of homeless services for the city, a post he held three and a half years. He was asked about the controversial circumstances surrounding his departure ( an alleged DUI ) ; however, he declined to comment.
"One of the things that I'm still lucky enough able to do, thanks to my background with the city is, I stay heavily involved in different social service issues and social justice issues beyond StreetWise," said LoBianco, who sits on a Chicago task force for homeless youth.
