Let's see, that would be . . . 215,000 words

It's an old adage because it's true: a good photo is worth even more than a thousand words because it can deliver emotions and color that writers just can't manage. So I'm thrilled that we were able to implement a photo-centric approach to covering the Spring Into Sports events last week. We wrote some decent stories, too, but it's the work of photographers Alex Fledderjohn, Juan Francisco Hernandez and Eric Young Smith that conveys the sweat and glory of the youthful activities, which incidentally engaged 1,500 youth throughout the Chicago Public School spring break.

We uploaded 215 of the best photos to Flickr in 15 different sets and then embedded the slideshows in stories on the Neighborhood Sports Chicago web site. Here's one set below, from Saturday's finals, by Eric Young Smith. Find the rest at the sports site or on LISC/Chicago's Flickr page.

One-Minute Video Packs a Lot of Punch

If it's looking like "all sports, all the time" on this blog lately that's only because I've been contributing to a flat-out effort by LISC/Chicago and its neighborhood partners to attract youth to Spring Into Sports activities at four high schools.

And it's working.

More than 1,270 students have registered and they're filling the gyms and hallways every day. What's startling about it is how much they're getting into the various sports on offer, including some they've probably never participated in, such as archery, table tennis and rowing. Read all about it at Neighborhood Sports Chicago.

Or take a minute to view this new piece by Sarahmaria Gomez and Alex Fledderjohn at TuMultimedia.


Spring Into Sports Spring Break Chicago from Tu Multimedia on Vimeo.