Wednesday, March 28
Greater Chatham Initiative Sees Art As the Soul of The Community
“We have over 4500 businesses and those businesses employ over 51,000 people, 20 percent of whom live in Greater Chatham, and they generate well in excess of a billion dollars in sales. That’s the good news,” said Fears.
Influential lawyer and Politico Stephanie Mickle To Release Memoir “Follow the Leader” This Summer
After serving in both the private and public sectors in the legal field, she founded Mickle Public Affairs Agency. With a client list that ranges from former US ambassadors, high-ranking officials, influential attorneys, and small businesses on the cusp of widespread success, Mickle has brought her unique talents in strategic communications, political consultancy, and crisis management to successfully manage the careers of the Washington’s elite.
South Side Home Movies Give A Better Understanding of History
“I think it’s just important as a way to document the history of the south side to show how diverse and amazing this neighborhood is,” said Ming. “I think home movies have the capacity to open up our views of what we think of as rigid historical events and also to show different aspects of the South Side.
Honey, We Shrunk the Family!
This isn’t some science nerd’s sit-and-watch slide show preaching the wonders of scale. An Epic Tale of Scale introduces an all-new way for kids and parents to enjoy live theater, with an all-out audience immersion environment that lets everyone experience the science behind scale.
New Hotel Enlists Hyde Park Students To Beautify Construction Site
The mural project was facilitated by Alica Garcia-Abner, president of Trinal Inc. Trinal is a diversity and inclusion consulting company which has been working on the SOPHY Hotel Hyde Park project, according to a press release from SOPHY Hotel.
Johnson College Prep Hosts Second Annual Women’s Empowerment Brunch
Johnson College Prep, the Englewood campus of the Noble Network of Charter Schools, hosted their second annual Women’s Empowerment Brunch recently. The event connects female students with professional women and aims to inspire and encourage students while helping them build their self-esteem and professional networks.
UPCOMING MANUFACTURING HIRING EVENT IN SOUTH SUBURBS
“What I’ve observed is that there are many manufacturing jobs available and many companies seeking workers, unfortunately, in many cases, the general public is unaware of these available opportunities and that is the reason this is so important to me,” said Rogers.
South Side Dance Company Gives Annual Performance
Praise Productions is a non-profit organization with a focus on performing arts. Davis leads three platforms within the organization, the performing art academy where youth and adults can take dance lessons, an outreach program that takes performing art education into schools that don’t have it, and two professional dance companies, one for youth and another for adults.
5 Ways to Reduce Everyday Stress
Deadlines, responsibilities, bills -- there are so many causes of stress in our lives. Unfortunately, stress can take a negative toll on one’s health and wellness, particularly if it goes unaddressed for too long. Indeed, common effects of stress include headaches, stomach upset, anxiety, sleep problems and more, according to the Mayo Clinic. This April, which is Stress Awareness Month, consider these strategies for relieving stress.
ComEd Expands Job Training Program to Increase Minority Employment Opportunities
CONSTRUCT program welcomes largest training class to date; expands region's job opportunities in construction, engineering, solar power, and energy efficiency
ComEd has brought together 38 construction industry companies, two local utilities, and eight social service agencies for the sixth year of CONSTRUCT, a jobs training program that increases employment opportunities for minorities in Chicago and northern Illinois neighborhoods. A record 108 students will go through the nine-week program and receive training and information needed to compete for entry-level jobs in construction-related fields.
Wednesday, March 21
Chicago Film Maker Previews New Series About Independent Soul Artists
The over-arching goal of the docu-series is to inspire viewers by showing them that everyone, even well regarded musical artists, face struggles.
ComEd Approved To Build Bronzeville Microgrid
The Illinois Commerce Commission recently approved ComEd’s plan to create a microgrid in the Bronzeville neighborhood. The initiative will serve as an opportunity to study how microgrids can integrate renewable energy sources into the main electrical grid and provide flowing electricity to the area if the main electrical grid were ever damaged.
Carlos by Carlos Santana Shoes for Men and Zappos Partner to Benefit Charities with New Men’s Shoe Line
Zappos.com, a leading online retailer famous for its customer service, announces it is the first online retailer to sell Anthony Veer - Carlos by Carlos Santana Shoes for Men. The two organizations will also come together with future initiatives to support the Milagro Foundation and Zappos’ philanthropic arm Zappos for Good.
Fruit Orchard Will Add To Selection At West Side Neighborhood Market
The Eco Orchard will begin producing fruit in the spring of 2019, according to Taylor. There is still a lot of planning and coordinating that needs to be done to make sure that the orchard is the perfect place to grow healthy fruits.
Legendary Litigator Attorney James Montgomery Sr. to Discuss New Book Full Circle: Race, Law & Justice – Inside My Life As Part of TWPF/IPE Nation Studies
The legal giant and strategic genius is a top-tier civil rights attorney. He served as first Corporation Council for Chicago’s first Black mayor, Harold Washington, and was the principal and licensee for Johnny Cochran’s national law firm. Many remember him winning the civil trial for the family of slain Black Panther member Fred Hampton.
PepsiCo Builds A Pathway To Employment With City Colleges Of Chicago
City Colleges of Chicago and PepsiCo recently announced their new partnership to offer students a pathway to careers as merchandisers, warehouse personnel, commercial truck drivers and machine maintenance technicians and mechanics.
Gotham Greens Will Double Their Growing Capacity With New Greenhouse
Gotham Greens recently broke ground on a new 140,000 square-foot indoor farm in Pullman. Once completed the state-of-theart facility will be the largest greenhouse in Chicago and provide several new jobs for the community.
Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival and the Poetry Foundation partner to remount Manual Cinema’s No Blue Memories: The Life of Gwendolyn Brooks
The Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival and the Poetry Foundation are partnering to present Manual Cinema’s No Blue Memories: The Life of Gwendolyn Brooks, one-weekend-only, March 30 and 31 at Chicago’s historic Studebaker Theater, 410 S. Michigan Avenue, in Chicago’s Fine Arts Building.
Blue Island Council Votes Down Proposed Approprations
The City of Blue Island recently held a City Council meeting to discuss the details of the city’s proposed appropriation of funds for the year. The appropriations as proposed were denied when eight City Council members voted against the budget plan and only five voted to approve it.
First Black Female Astronaut, One Of Many Who Inspire Chicago Youth
On Sept. 12, 1992, Jemison became the first African American woman in the world to enter outer space. On an eight-day mission on the Endeavor Jemison served as the science mission specialist and logged 190 hours, 30 minutes, and 23 seconds in space, according to NASA.
South Suburban High School Students Unveil New Mural
Students at Bloom Trail High School recently unveiled their new mural inside the school. The mural was a collaborative effort between Chicago artist, Sam Kirk, Tiffany Insalaco, art teacher at Bloom Trail High School, and the AP studio art and drawing and painting students at Bloom Trail High School.
Park Whiz Appoints Yona Shtern as New CEO
Shtern is an entrepreneur with an expertise in building and managing successful global brands in e-commerce, telecommunications and fashion retail. He was co-founder and CEO of Beyond the Rack, a well-known e-commerce marketplace which connected 15 million consumers with over 5,000 fashion and lifestyle brands. Shtern has served as the ParkWhiz Chairman for the past year.
Friday, March 16
8TH WARD ALDERMAN MICHELLE A HARRIS ANNOUNCES NEW SENIOR RESIDENCE
For clarification, this is not a CHA development, nor CHA housing. The project is subsidized by CHA to assist independent seniors through the Property Rental Assistance (PRA) program. PRA is a multi-year commitment for a given number of units to assist Chicago citizens to obtain housing stability. The 2017 published maximum income for a single-person household is $44,250. Households that benefit from PRA pay 30% of their income towards their rental expense.
Wednesday, March 14
No Time to Visit a Derm? Care for Your Skin Like the Experts this Season
I recommend the Dove Beauty Bar as it gently but effectively cleanses, leaving soft, smooth skin. It won’t strip away skin’s moisture like soap can or leave behind that dry, tight feeling that ordinary soaps do, which can be a sign of dry skin damage. It’s also gentle enough to be used as facial cleanser!
Thornton Township Honors Women Who Improve Their Communities
“We do this as part of Women's History Month and to just acknowledge some of the wonderful work that these women do throughout the year that really helps people improve their quality of life,” said Ernst Lamothe Jr., community relations manager for Thornton Township.
BIRKENSTOCK Receives Award as Brand of the Year and Wins Category for Excellence in Design Sandals
“We are proud to be recognized with not one, but two Plus Awards – especially Brand of the Year. To be recognized by the industry for what we are accomplishing is very satisfying. In the year ahead, we will take Birkenstock to an even higher level as we focus on serving our retail partners and our consumers with more innovative product and great service,” said David Kahan, BIRKENSTOCK Americas CEO.
Norma Kamali To Host New Weekly Lifestyle Show Exclusively on SiriusXM
“My job has always been to empower women through style, fitness, health, beauty, as well as mentoring female entrepreneurs,” said Norma Kamali. “I believe an empowered woman who reaches her potential is truly invincible! Seriously will really allow me to get into the conversations that I’m most passionate about.”
New Grocery Store Adds To Recent South Side Developments
Community leaders recently broke ground on a new Jewel-Osco coming to the northwest corner of 61st St. and S. Cottage Grove Ave. in Woodlawn. The 48,000 square foot store will provide quality food options to the neighborhood as well as a 24-hour pharmacy.
DuSable Museum Founder Wanted Black People To Understand Africa
In 1961 Dr. Margaret Burroughs and her husband founded the Ebony Museum for Negro History on the first floor of their home. The museum eventually grew out of their home at 3806 S. Michigan Ave. and in 1973 they moved their collection to Washington Park and became the DuSable Museum of African American History.
Upcoming Food Drive Restocks South Suburban Food Pantries
April Food Day began in 2013 when a United Way of Metro Chicago noticed that food pantries needed help restocking their shelves after the holidays. Since then, it has been a compounding event, getting bigger every year and drawing in participation from schools, villages, and private businesses across the South Suburbs, according to Maya Hardy, chief professional officer and partner engagement for the South-Southwest Suburban Region of United Way of Metro Chicago.
Afrocentric History Lesson Performed By Students At Betty Shabazz Academy
Students at Betty Shabazz Academy recently participated in the third annual Living Wax Museum at the school. Students were tasked with choosing a historical black figure to research and portray at the event. The entire school participated in the Living Wax Museum, organized by Lisa Manuel, a teacher at Betty Shabazz Academy. The assignment is school-wide and modified by grade level, according to Manuel.
TOP KEYBOARDIST DARRELL SMITH TO RELEASE TIME + SPACE
Darrell Smith, one of the top keyboardists on the touring and recording circuit will release his debut album TIME + SPACE on April 15, 2018. With a list of credits that includes working with a diverse group of artists such as Stevie Nicks, Jay-Z, Elton John, Janet Jackson, Cher, k.d. Lang, Vanessa Carlton, Dave Stewart, Anita Baker, Lady Antebelum and Darlene Love (amongst many others), the album is sure to spark interest with fans and musicians alike.
Billionaire Mark Cuban Visits Whitney M. Young Magnet High School
Growing up in Pittsburgh, Cuban told the students, there was nothing special about him. He wasn’t a great athlete or the smartest kid in his class. He told a story about being 12-years-old and asking his dad for a new pair of shoes, his father told him to get a job if he wanted new shoes. At that point, with the help of a family friend, Cuban began selling garbage bags door-to-door and had his first business experience.
MWRD to share stormwater management tips, showcase exceptional quality compost during Chicago Flower & Garden Show at Navy Pier Now Through March 18
As part of its Strategic Business Plan, the MWRD’s Resource Recovery Program is focusing on reclaiming, processing, and reusing solids, water, and discarded materials like yard and food waste. The MWRD is transforming these materials into environmentally friendly products like compost; there will be samples of compost on display.
Ninth Annual Woodlawn Community Summit Revolves Around Change
The keynote speaker for the summit was Melody Spann-Cooper, chairman of Midway Broadcasting Corporation. She talked about her pride in being a lifelong Chicago resident and gave an encouraging message to the Woodlawn community about the changes and new development coming to the area.
Military BOOTS Program Connects Youth With Military Opportunities
Military BOOTS (Beyond, Objectives, Obstacles, Training Science) is being offered, by CAPs, at no cost to the student and prepares participants to pass the U.S. Military Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) entrance exam. Students receive a minimum of 80 hours of intensive training to prepare for the ASVAB test and guidance on how to thrive in military life, according to a media release from CAPs.
Wednesday, March 7
Congresswoman Kelly Bringing Housing Expo to Prairie State College
“I’m excited to once again offer my constituents information on a wide-range of housing issues, from refinancing and first-time homebuyer incentives to property tax reassessments and the impact of the new GOP tax bill on Illinois homeowners. This event is an important opportunity for me to connect the people who I serve with real resources to improve their lives,” said Congresswoman Kelly.
South Suburban Students Honored For Quick Thinking In Dangerous Situation
The City of Harvey along with Harvey-Dixmoor School District 147 honored the six students from Rosa Parks Middle School at a recent city council meeting. The students were honored for their courage and bravery when they found a loaded gun near the school and acted quickly to notify the principal. Photo Credit: Willie Buie
New Housing Development Combines Old And New In Historic Chicago Neighborhood
This is a rare project because it includes the construction of a new building on an empty lot and the restoration of two historic buildings on either side of the lot, according to the Pullman Artspace winter update on the project.
Fourth Ward Gives Advice On Preventing Carjackings
There has been an increase in motor vehicle theft in the second police district compared to last year, according to CPD’s week eight CompStat report for District two. The CompStat report shows that for the month of February motor vehicle theft is up seven percent from February of last year even though crime overall is down 15 percent for the month of February, compared to last year.
Collective of Black Female Artists Opens Exhibit at South Side Community Art Center
The South Side Community Art Center (SSCAC) recently opened an exhibit from Sapphire and Crystals titled Looking Forward With Love: Lessons Learned From Our Past. The exhibit showcases a variety of art pieces created by African American women.
Actors Danny Glover and Delroy Lindo Join Inaugural From the Fire Summer Leadership Academy for Young Men of Color at Princeton University
The Program Chair is the actor and director Delroy Lindo. He has provided memorable performances on films such as The Cider House Rules, Heist, Clockers, Crooklyn, Malcolm X, and Ransom. Lindo’s passion for the plight of minority boys is leading the actor to take an active role in the program’s development.
LeZazzu.shop opens in the U.S.
LeZazzu.shop keeps its highly curated collections and philanthropic mission at the forefront. “When you shop here, you discover unique pieces that are typically not found in the U.S., while also supporting emerging visionaries,” Anush said. “A share of our profit goes directly to developing new talent by contributing to their initial funding.”
Ten CPS High Schools Added To Engineering Futures Program
“There is a shortage of people who can handle STEM [Science Technology Engineering and Math] careers right now so there is a huge demand for it,” said Boehm. “My students are developing an interest in something that probably most of them don’t have much exposure to.
Malcolm X College Received LEED Gold Certification
Malcolm X College recently received LEED Gold Certification from the U. S. Green Building Council for its successful efforts to make the new building, opened in Jan. of 2016, a sustainable addition to the community.
Top Ladies of Distinction, Inc. - Chicago Chapter to Host the 42nd Annual Area III Conference
Since 1975, the Area III Leadership Conference takes place annually in a Midwest City. There will be numerous workshops and activities for registrants that support the conference’s theme, “Investing in the Future through Exceptional Leadership and Service”
My Brother’s Keeper Alliance Announces Upcoming Competition
My Brother’s Keeper Alliance, an initiative of the Obama Foundation, recently announced it will issue a formal Request for Proposals (RFP) to community-based organizations located in the nearly 250 communities that accepted President Obama’s 2014 My Brother’s Keeper Community Challenge. The RFP highlights MBK Alliance’s commitment to investing in communities and organizations making steady progress that also have the potential to be proof points for what it takes to substantially improve life outcomes for boys and young men of color, particularly as it relates to reducing youth violence and growing the pipeline of mentors working in impactful programs. The RFP will be released in March.
Chicago Author’s Book Selected As Clever Creativity Item For Gift Bag On Hollywood’s Biggest Night
Writing a creativity book is one of Chicagoan Randi Brill’s big milestones and she just reached another. Her new book, 99 Creative WOWs— Words of Wisdom for Business, was selected to be part of the “Everyone Wins” Nominee Gift Bags honoring the best and brightest Oscar® nominees in the top five major acting and directing categories (Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Director).
LUCKY PLUSH BRINGS SIGNATURE DANCE, THEATER, HUMOR TO THE HARRIS WITH TAB SHOW
Lucky Plush Productions returns to Chicago’s Harris Theater in Millennium Park Thursday and Friday, April 26 and 27, with Tab Show, featuring two works - Rink Life and Curb Candy - that highlight the company’s signature blend of layered choreography, witty dialogue, and socially relevant storytelling.