2017 YEar in review

From politics, to community, to news about entertainment, fashion and other current events, here’s a roundup of the people, places and things that made news in 2017.

2017 Year in review

From politics, to community, to news about entertainment, fashion and other current events, here’s a roundup of the people, places and things that made news in 2017.

In January, the Citizen celebrated the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in a feature entitled MLK: MILITANT OF THE 21ST CENTURY where Lee A. Daniels discussed Dr. King’s command for individuals to live up to humanity’s best possibilities and how that command has become particularly compelling again because of

the remarkable juxtaposition of present day developments. Daniels’ article included a timeline outlining important developments during King’s lifetime and the milestones which made this iconic civil rights leader great.

Turning its attention to Black History Month in February, the Citizen

recognized the achievements of African Americans in agriculture, business, medicine, science and other fields.

Calvin Flowers, an inventor who created Tel-Loc, a company that

produced his Security Jack products was highlighted. The invention locks touch tone phones and internet services. Flowers’ business sold more than $1 million worth of products to Walgreens.

Also during Black History Month, award-winning author Art Burton,

a retired South Suburban African American History Professor, hosted

a Black History Month lecture where he shared unknown African American history facts at the Kindig Performing Center. Burton said a number of African American pioneers who people may not

know include Jim Beckwourth, a famous African American mountain man.

Beckwourth, played a significant role in the early settlement in the western region in America and was the only African American pioneer to write a novel on his travels ‘from the everglades of Florida

to the Pacific Ocean and from southern Canada to northern Mexico.

During the month of March, the Far South Community Action Council (FSCAC), local parents and Illinois State Representatives held a press conference at Corliss Early Stem High School to show their concern over a lack of funding in Chicago Public Schools.

As the FSCAC fought for quality education for local students, three-time Grammy Winner Chance the Rapper, announced the winners of the 2017 Bud Billiken Royal Court on Mar. 25, 2017 after a private movie screening at the newly remodeled Studio Movie Grill (“SMG”) theatre, 210 W. 87th St.

In April, during the celebration of its 52nd anniversary, the Citizen

looked back on the history of some of the neighborhoods it covers. The conversation turned to a discussion about the migration of blacks from the south to the north with North Central College History Professor Ann Keating pointing out that by 1970, African Americans constituted 33 percent of Chicago’s population.

Former President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama hosted a community event on May 3, 2017 at the South Shore Cultural Center, where the Obama Foundation released the conceptual vision and site map for the Obama Presidential Center.

As local entrepreneurs joined in on the race for Illinois Governor, U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush endorsed Chris Kennedy as the next governor of Illinois in June 2017, saying Kennedy would bring “radical change” to state government with a focus on helping the middle class and poor families who have been neglected under Governor Bruce Rauner.

In July, lawmakers in Illinois passed a new state budget after overriding Governor Bruce Rauner’s veto.

The crisis took a toll on social service organizations, including Lutheran Social Services of Illinois (LSSI), one of the largest statewide nonprofit social service organizations. LSSI still paid a price for Illinois’ budget crisis by having to make program and staff cuts mainly affecting senior home-care programs.

In August the Citizen launched a new paper called the Citizen Suburban Times. The cover story for the first issues was a profile on Dr. Stacie J. Stephenson and Mr. Richard J Stephenson.

Dr. Stephenson, DC, CNS, DABAAHP, FAARM, is a recognized physician and lecturer focused on regenerative, lifestyle, functional and innovative natural medicine.

Mr. Richard J Stephenson is the founder and Chairman of

Cancer Treatment Centers of America® and Gateway for Cancer

Research.

Also in August, a coalition of public and private sector partners

held a field dedication ceremony to unveil the first youth baseball field

in the Village of Ford Heights.

The baseball field was produced through a collaborative effort by the Cook County Sheriff’s Office, Cubs Charities, the Baseball Tomorrow Fund, James McHugh Construction Co, the Ford Heights

Park District and other partners seeking to improve after-school

activities in one of the country’s lowest-income suburbs.

In September, The Shedd Aquarium unveiled 10 new giant sea

life sculptures that were made entirely from plastic marine debris. The

sculptures show how plastic pollution has become one of the largest

threats to ocean and freshwater animals.

In October, as summer finally turned to fall, Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Chicago Public Library (CPL) Commissioner Brian Bannon and Alderman Roderick Sawyer of the sixth ward announced a $12

million renovation of the Whitney M. Young Junior Library.

Also in October, a coalition of more than 20 community

organizations held the No Cop Academy press conference at City Hall

to protest against Mayor Emmanuel’s plan to spend $95 million on a

new police and fire training academy in West Garfield Park.

Debbie Southorn, a representative of the People’s Response Team, said the press conference was an action to say “no” to additional

resources being put into the Chicago Police Department.

In November the law in Illinois on teaching cursive was settled

under House Bill 2977. Next school year, public elementary schools must provide a unit of cursive handwriting instruction to all students by the time they reach 5th grade. Assistant Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford (D-Maywood) led the initiative.

During the week leading up to Thanksgiving, the Citizen became aware that The Village of Glenwood board member, Trustee Adam Winston, filed a Request for Review with the Public Access Bureau arguing that the Open Meeting Act (OMA) was violated during a special meeting on Sept. 14.

Winston claimed that the required 48-hours public notice was not given before having the special meeting.

The Public Access Bureau concluded that the Village of Glenwood Board of Trustees violated the OMA by failing to provide a full 48-hours notice for the special meeting.

A pep rally was held the first week of December for Wendell

Phillips Academy High School in Bronzeville after the football

team defeated Dunlap Highschool 33-7, earning them the title

of state champions in the 5A Class Division.

And just in time for Christmas, Elvis Slaughter, a resident of Lansing IL, published a new book “Preschool to Prison” where he discusses the risk factors and problem behaviors in children and teenagers.

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