Wednesday, June 27
City of Chicago Department of Procurement Services to host 2018 Vendor Fair
This year’s Vendor Fair will include new resources for the vendor community. We will provide businesses the opportunity to learn about contracting opportunities with the City of Chicago, its Sister Agencies, Cook County Agencies, and State and Federal agencies
Professional Golf Tournament Incorporates Free Youth Wellness Program
The Advocates Professional Golf Association (APGA) Tournament returned to Chicago’s Harborside International Golf Center, 11001 S. Doty Ave., over the weekend to not only host a diverse professional golf tournament but also to provide free workshops for young people.
Soulful Chicago Book Fair Showcases Black Authors
The Soulful Chicago Book Fair is returning for a third year on July 15 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on 61st St. between S. Cottage Grove Ave. and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. in Woodlawn. The event showcases African American authors and provides live entertainment and great food options.
Annual Rally and Peace March Unites Students from Across The City
Saint Sabina Church recently hosted their annual End of the School Year Rally and Peace March. The event was led by Father Micheal Pfleger who offered his platform to young people from all over Chicago and students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School to be able to speak out about the violence they have experienced.
Women’s Recovery Home Prepares For Big Move
Sister House, a women recovery home in Chicago’s Austin community, is moving to a new location after 36 years in their current facility. The organization is currently hosting a fundraising campaign to raise $5,000 to assist with moving expenses as they prepare for their Sept. 1 move-in date.
South Suburban Resident Performs On America’s Got Talent
Season 13 of NBC’s America’s got talent recently premiered and episode three featured an audition from Village of Dolton resident Kathryn Granberry, known on the show as Ms. Trysh. The 57-year-old singer received a yes from all four judges after performing her rendition of If I Were Your Woman by Gladys Knight.
Call Me Queen Mentorship Program Teaches Critical Life Skills to Girls at Barbara A. Sizemore Academy
Through Call Me Queen, participants are afforded afterschool programs, conferences, workshops and discussion groups. The three pillars of the program are community service (teaching the value of giving back to the community), college and career readiness (workshops designed to encourage girls to strive for higher education), and personal development (promoting the belief that self-care goes hand-in-hand with building self-esteem in young girls).
Two Chicago Musician Reflect On The Evolution Of Hip Hop
“At its root, hip-hop is the voice and it’s an insight into what’s going on in an artist’s neighborhood or city. I think the commercialization of rap changed the culture so now there is a lot of need for instant gratification now. With platforms like Sound Cloud, it creates instant fame and people aren’t concerned with the voice anymore,” said Price
New Book Traces the Journey from the ‘Margins’ to Inspiring Respectful Workforce Development
Citizens “living on the margins, living on the sidelines” must be treated with dignity and be seen as “Candidates” for opportunities, not as clients, not as numbers, and not as a forgotten population by overworked, uninspired bureaucrats, according to Carla Harris, in her new book FaithWorks: An Innovative Approach to Workforce Development.
Goodyear Announces Retirement of Chief Financial Officer
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company (NASDAQ: GT) recently announced that Laura K. Thompson, executive vice president and chief financial officer has informed the company of her intention to retire in the first quarter of 2019 after 35 years of dedicated and distinguished service.
Wesley Snipes and Ray Norman Published an Original Work of Fiction: TALON OF GOD, A Novel about the Battle to Prevent Hell on Earth
The publication of a work of fiction, a supernatural thriller, by international film and television action star Wesley Snipes, along with co-author Ray Norman, entitled Talon of God, is a non-stop contemporary fantasy adventure that’s sure to please readers with its suspense and compelling drama. The novel’s leading role, Lauryn Jefferson, is a beautiful young doctor dragged into an apocalyptic battle between Heaven and Hell – and at her right hand is Talon Hunter, a spirit warrior and legendary man of God.
North Carolina’s Coalesce Beauty Brings Solutions to Student Debt While Offering Alternative Work Experiences to the Typical 9 to 5
Coalesce Beauty founder and CEO, Theresa Watson, its principals and shareholders recently announced their newly created Student Ambassador Program, designed to give students at Historical Black Colleges & Universities (HBCU’s) an opportunity to “earn while they learn.” Matriculating students at HBCU’s can now earn commissions at a rate of 16% for every dollar sold of Coalesce Beauty products while developing valuable sales skill sets via the company’s high-tech sales training platform which will be delivered via video.
Chicago Public Library Invites Teens to Imagine Doing More! This Summer
Chicago Public Library invites teens to participate in the 2018 Teen Summer Challenge, Imagine Doing More!, available now through September 1. CPL challenges teens to make a positive impact in their local environment, individually, in pairs or groups. Teens choose one environment to investigate and change (natural, neighborhood or social-emotional), and one of four possible actions (volunteering, creating campaigns, developing projects or coordinating programs). Learn more atchipublib.org/ImagineAtCPL.
CHATHAM COMMUNITY IS HOME TO TWO VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR SMALL BUSINESSES
The Chatham community is home to two unique options for small businesses in the neighborhood. Boombox and the BopBiz Center both provide affordable options for small business owners to elevate their brand while getting to know the neighborhood’s consumers.
Reassessment Notices Mailed to Hyde Park Township Taxpayers
Residential assessments decrease by median of -0.325% (less than 1%). Improvements in residential assessment model are used in all of the City of Chicago 2018 Triennial Reassessment
African Americans and the increasing rates of suicide
The recent suicides of Kate Spade, iconic fashion designer, and Anthony Bourdain, celebrity chef and television personality, have sparked a national discussion, especially in the African American community.
Chicago Southland Named Favorite Destination For Sporting Events
The Chicago Southland Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) was recently named a favorite destination for community engagement and a favorite destination for accessibility through the Sports Destination Management 2018 readers choices awards.
Organization makes an impact in the summer and all year long
By The Hand Club is an after school program that serves children from dangerous and under-resourced neighborhoods in Chicago. The organization is continuing its programming for kids this year at various locations for 5-6 weeks during the summer months.
Rush Amendment to Provide Treatment for Crack Addiction Unanimously Passes the House
The Rush Amendment expands the bill to include those individuals suffering from cocaine use disorder and explicitly clarifies the inclusion of cocaine base — more commonly known as crack cocaine — which, along with opioids, have wrecked communities across the nation.
Thursday, June 21
ComEd Receives National Recognition for Emergency Restoration on the East Coast and in Puerto Rico
ComEd received an “Emergency Assistance Award” for providing support during the nor’easter, along with other Exelon companies Atlantic City Electric, BGE, PECO and Pepco, who were recognized with the “Emergency Recovery Award.” ComEd, and the rest of the Exelon utilities, including Delmarva Power, were also recognized for their work in Puerto Rico. The awards were presented at EEI’s Annual Convention held on June 6.
In the early 70's network advertising finally got soul
In 1960, Tom Burrell broke Chicago advertising’s color barrier by becoming the first black person to land a job at one of the city’s top advertising firms…in the mailroom. Soon became a copywriter helping solve some of the agencies creative problems. In 1966 there was a protest march in Mississippi. Out of that march came a voice that shouted, “Black Power!!!” The “Black Power” movement highlighted the fact that black people had a fundamentally unique perspective on the “American” experience
Wednesday, June 20
Great Lakes Coca-Cola Bottling Launches Dear Future Chicago, a $30,000 Challenge to Chicagoans to Improve Workforce Development
On June 11, Great Lakes Coca-Cola Bottling will introduce “Dear Future Chicago,” an ambitious challenge to young adults to come up with new, innovative ideas to improve workforce development in the greater Chicago area. Dear Future Chicago is a part of the national “Dear Future Challenge,” an initiative by The Coca-Cola Company to encourage people to join in locally based efforts to renew and strengthen communities across America.
ComEd Honors Seven Local Diverse Suppliers at Annual Awards Celebration
even local companies owned and led by people of color and women were recognized for excellence in construction and professional services, environmental stewardship, community building, job creation, and more at ComEd’s third-annual Diverse Supplier Awards ceremony held recently.
National HIV Testing Day Brings Free Screenings to Several Chicago Walgreens
Once again Walgreens and Greater Than AIDS, a leading national public information response to the domestic HIV/AIDS epidemic, have teamed up to take action on National HIV Testing Day. On June 27th from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Walgreens locations all over the country will offer free HIV testing and information including two locations in Chatham.
Fifth Third Bank and Employees Provide More Than 1.7 Million Meals to Fight Hunger Across 10 states
Fifth Third Bank’s annual “Feeding Our Communities” initiative provided more than 1.7 meals this past May to fight hunger, surpassing the Bank’s goal for the second straight year. The month-long effort included more than 4,000 hours volunteered by employees to support individuals and communities across the Bank’s 10-state footprint.
Goya Gives Initial Donation of Three Tons of Food to Victims of the Volcano in Guatemala
Goya Foods, America’s largest Hispanic-owned food company, has made an initial donation of three tons of Goya products, including canned beans, meat, and vegetables to victims of the volcano in Guatemala.
The Hyde Park Farmers Market Opens For The Season
The Downtown Hyde Park Farmers market is officially open and operating from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Thursday at 5235 S. Harper Court Ave. from now until October. The market serves as a way to highlight area businesses, bring attention to Downtown Hyde Park, and build a thriving Hyde Park community.
Micro Pantry Installed in Matteson
Prairie State College recently installed a Micro Pantry at their Matteson Area Center, 4821 Southwick Dr., as a new resource for students and resident who may be struggling to access food. The micro pantry is accessible any time of any day and relies on the honor system to ensure that people are taking what they need and leaving what they don’t.
Cease Fire Event Offers Free Haircuts in Exchange for Peace in Ogden Park
The third annual Brotherhood of Barbers Cease Fire Event will take place in Englewood at Ogden Park, 6400 S. Racine Ave., from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on June 24th. The event will bring together over 100 barbers to provide free haircuts to young people, ages 7 to 17, and senior citizens.
Parent Empowerment Program Wants Parents to Become Child’s First Teacher
Bloom Township Youth and Family Services is offering a free Parent Empowerment Program for Chicago’s south suburban families who might be in need of a little extra support. The program is presented by Child Serv and led by local parent educators that are available to assist families who are currently pregnant or have children under 3 years old.
Community Movement Encourages Westside Residents to be Good Neighbors
The Good Neighbor Campaign, a community initiative in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood, is working to organize residents to come together and share with each other and support one another. All community members are invited to attend Good Neighbor Campaign meetings held at 5437 W. Division St. on the second Tuesday of every month.
Northlight Theatre Announces Casting for 44th Season
Northlight Theatre, under the direction of Artistic Director BJ Jones and Executive Director Timothy J. Evans, announces its 44th season, opening with Curve of Departure by Rachel Bonds and directed by BJ Jones.
Wednesday, June 13
Language Learning Center Provides Foreign Language Classes to Underserved Communities
After offering traveling Spanish language enrichment classes for several years, FAYO Bilingual Training Institute (FBTI) finally opened a brick and mortar language learning center in Feb. in Chicago’s South Shore neighborhood. FBTI still offers traveling language programs along with stationary language classes in their new location and the organization is currently preparing to host the inaugural five-week FBTI Summer Language Camp for kids.
Illinois Lottery Reveals 2018 Red Ribbon Cash Ticket
The Illinois Lottery along with the Illinois Department of Public Health recently announced the 11 Illinois agencies that will be receiving grants to fund HIV/AIDS research, treatment and prevention programs across the state. The grants range from $50,000 to $75,000 and are made possible from Illinois Lottery’s Red Ribbon Cash instant ticket.
One of Chicago’s Top Cardiologists Works at Trinity Hospital
A special edition of Top Doctors was recently released by Chicago Magazine and named 138 top cardiologists working in the Chicagoland area. Among those named, 45 currently work for the Advocate Health Care’s Heart Institute. Cardiologist Pierrot Abi Mansour, M.D. sees patients at Advocate Trinity Hospital and was named one of Chicago’s Top Doctors specializing in Cardiac Electrophysiology.
WALKING TOUR EXPLORES PUBLIC ART ON UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO CAMPUS
The Smart Museum of Art’s upcoming From Spaces to Places Walking Tour will take place on July 5 and is free and open to the public. The walking tour takes participants on a one-hour exploration of public art installations around the University of Chicago’s campus in Hyde Park.
Chicago Southland Dragon Boat Festival Takes Advantage of Blue Island’s Waterfront
The third annual Chicago Southland Dragon Boat Festival recently took place at the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Waterfall Park at Chatham and Fulton streets along the Calumet-Saganashkee (Cal-Sag) Channel in Blue Island. The event was hosted by the Blue Island Park District and served as acommunity building and team building event for almost 200 people who participated in this year’s Dragon Boat Race.
PROFILING KRISTOPHER STEWARD: 100 BLACK MEN RECEIVES $5000 GRANT THANKS TO VOLUNTEER’S COMMITMENT
At a recent awards ceremony Kristopher Steward, a ComEd employee from Flossmoor, received the Exelon Energy for the Community Employee Volunteer Award and was able to present a $5,000 check to 100 Black Men of Chicago, an organization that Steward has been volunteering for since 2014.
ENGINEERING COMPETITION BRING TOGETHER STUDENTS FROM ALL OVER CHICAGO
Project SYNCERE recently hosted it’s inaugural ENpowered Games annual event that brought together students from 16 schools on Chicago’s south and west sides to participate in a one-day engineering competition at the Museum of Science and Industry.
For Father’s Day This Year, Let a Personal Stylist Come to Dad
It’s a no brainer that the retail market has been going through drastic changes over the past 10 years. Stores are competing with the continuous growth in online sales. One of the biggest factors contributing to this market shift is the convenience that online shopping brings to its consumers.
13th Annual Lake Meadows Art Fair Scheduled for Father’s Day Weekend, Saturday and Sunday, June 16 and 17, 2018
Talented Local & National Artists and Artisans to Showcase at Bronzeville Art Fair
“The Lake Meadows Art Fair continues to celebrate the richness of the African-American and African heritage and culture. Through the beauty of paintings, sculptures, ceramics, photography, wearable art clothing, and handmade jewelry, the talented artists are given the opportunity to share and sell their work to an appreciative audience,” said Helen Y. West, curator and executive producer of the Lake Meadows Art Fair. “Holding the Lake Meadows Art Fair during the Father’s Day weekend is our way of honoring fatherhood and inviting families to join us for a fun and creative weekend outdoors,” she added.
So Fresh Saturday Returns To Take Over Englewood’s Parks For A Sixth Year
In Chicago’s Englewood community, So Fresh Saturdays are in full swing and the next installment will be held on June 16 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Moran Park, 5727 S. Racine. The community event is open to the public and offers free food, live music, information from community resource providers, giveaways, and fun for all ages.
HR Essentials for Supervisors and Managers
We live in a litigious society and businesses are not immune. Protecting your company involves ensuring your managers and supervisors are trained on important HR laws and best practices. Whether you’ve been recently promoted, are a veteran supervisor or are working a non-HR job with HR responsibilities, this workshop is worth the investment.
Nonprofit Utopia Launches on Mighty Networks to Develop the Next Generation of Ethical Leaders
“Baby Boomers are retiring, and Millennials now make up the largest segment of the workforce”, said Valerie F. Leonard, the Founder of Nonprofit Utopia, LLC. There’s still a lot of work to be done in our communities, and we can’t afford to have a leadership void in the nonprofit sector”
Action Thriller Movie is Reimagined! “Superfly” Hits the Big Screen June 13th
Superfly - the film that helped define a genre in its characters, look, sound, and feel - is reimagined with Director X, director of legendary music videos (Drake, Rihanna), introducing it to a new generation. The screenplay is by Alex Tse.
Wednesday, June 6
Flowers Communications Group Celebrates 27 Years of Multicultural Expertise
Award-winning agency continues connecting brands to consumers through authentic and culturally relevant work
“At FCG, we don’t just “do” multicultural, we live it and breathe it,” says Michelle Flowers Welch, the agency’s founder and CEO. “We are the culture, and it’s been reflected in our work for the past 27 years.”
History Making Gubernatorial Candidate, Stacey Abrams, to Keynote Rainbow PUSH Coalition International Women’s Luncheon
Stacey Abrams, who made history last month by becoming the first black woman to be a major party nominee for governor in the United States, will keynote the Women’s Leadership Luncheon at the Rainbow PUSH Coalition Citizenship Education Fund 47th Annual International Convention
ART INSTALLATION IN BROWN MEMORIAL PARK HONORS FIRST RESPONDERS
A temporary art installation, We Honor You, was recently on display in Brown Memorial Park to honor 200 first responders who live or serve in the Greater Chatham community. We Honor You was a collaborative effort between the Greater Chatham Initiative (GCI), the Greater Chatham Alliance, and the Brown Memorial Park Advisory Board.
Real Men Cook’s Annual Father’s Day Celebration Incorporates Healthy Eating, Promotes Nutrition and Wellness
Father’s Day Celebration Incorporates Healthy Eating, Promotes Nutrition and Wellness Real Men Cook’s Father’s Day Celebration will continue its long tradition of serving healthy foods and promoting nutrition when it holds its annual event on Father’s Day, Sunday, June 17 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Six Week Southside Summer Camp Is Enrolling Now
The Gary Comer Youth Center is currently enrolling students in their six-week summer camp for rising third-grade to eighth-grade students. The camp runs eight hours a day, five days a week from June 25 through Aug. 3 and will engage young people in academic and creative programming along with weekly field trips and biweekly special events.
Victoria’s Secret Hosts Villa Victoria
Victoria’s Secret recently hosted a weeklong styling suite at a private home in Los Angeles. The styling suite featured summer essentials from newly launched bra, lingerie and beauty collections including the new Cotton T-Shirt Bra Collection, Sexy Illusions, Dream Angels, Sexy and Casual Sleepwear, Bombshell Body Collection and Bombshell Summer Fragrance and Victoria Sport where editors and stylists were able to stop by to pull products for all their styling needs.
Hyde Park School Of Dance Celebrates 25 Years with New Story Ballet
The Hyde Park School of Dance is celebrating their 25th anniversary by presenting an original, never before seen, story ballet, Amira: A Chicago Cinderella Story. The show will run June 15-17 with one performance on Friday, two on Saturday, and one on Sunday.
DuSable Museum Opens New Exhibit About Illinois Fighting Eighth
The DuSable Museum of African American History recently opened a new exhibit, Clearing a Path For Democracy: Citizen Soldiers of the Fighting Eighth in World War I. The exhibit tells the story of the 8th Infantry Illinois National Guard (the Fighting Eighth) from 1895 to 1941.
Out for Undergrad (O4U) Names Goldman Sachs as Host of LGBTQ Undergrad Leadership Business Conference for the Fourth Consecutive Year
We are very excited and honored to again welcome Goldman Sachs as the host sponsor of our Business Conference. We connect deeply with their values about fostering inclusion as a priority by ‘sustaining a work environment where people feel comfortable bringing their full selves to work and are empowered to reach their full potential. Students tell us that these weekend immersions change their lives, inspiring them to live authentically, bring their full and best selves to the workplace and pursue challenging, ambitious and purposeful careers.’”
TOUR DE CHICAGO GIVES HOME BUYERS A TOUR OF AUBURN GRESHAM’S HIDDEN GEM
The Greater Auburn Gresham Development Corporation is preparing to host the Tour De Chicago on June 9th. The event will take place from 10 a.m. or 1 p.m. and include brunch along with a tour of several historic homes along Winneconna Parkway, a hidden gem in Auburn Gresham, to encourage potential home buyers to consider purchasing in the community.
SAUK VILLAGE VOTES TO INCREASE AVAILABLE LIQUOR LICENSES
At a recent meeting of the Sauk Village Board of Trustees, a motion was introduced to approve an ordinance amending chapter six, alcoholic beverage establishments, section 30, number of licenses, of the Sauk Village Municipal Code. The ordinance, which passed with a 4-2 vote, will increase the number of class R-3 Liquor Licenses allowed in Sauk Village to seven.
FIRST FUNDRAISING EVENT FOR BLUE ISLAND FIRE MUSEUM
This weekend, the first fundraising event for the Blue Island Fire Museum and Education Center will take place at Fire Station #1, 2450 Vermont St., in Blue Island. An all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast will be held on Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon and admission is $6 per person, children under 4 years old eat for free.
Renowned Humanitarian Will Serve a Three-Year Term with the Nonprofit
“I have long respected Heifer’s commitment to fighting global hunger and am honored to join the Board,” Cousin said. “I am excited to lend my expertise to further maximize their new and innovative initiatives to help farmers feed their children, while securing their livelihoods and the caring for the planet.”
Most Americans Say Trump’s Election Has Led to Worse Race Relations in the U.S.
Once again, racism has reared its ugly head. Earlier in May, the tv sit-com “Roseanne” was abruptly canceled by ABC after the show’s star and co-creator Roseanne Barr posted a racist tweet. The tweet was directed at former President Barack Obama’s Senior Adviser Valerie Jarrett, an African American woman who served throughout Obama’s presidency.
New Book Discusses Policing, Prison, and Punishment in Chicago
A recent panel discussion held at Adler University brought together three community activists to discuss War on Neighborhoods, a book that was released in April and explores policing, prison, and punishment in Chicago.