Wednesday, January 30
Annual Day of Service Brings Together Community Organizations And University Families
The University of Chicago recently hosted their Annual Day of Service event both on and off campus amid a winter snow storm. Thankfully, the heavy snow did not deter over 200 volunteers from taking part in community-based projects hosted near the University campus and meeting their on-site goal of assembling 35,000 rice meal bags for the Rise Against Hunger project.
Year Long Pop-Up Will Help Business Owners Reach South Side Consumers
The South Shore Chamber of Commerce has partnered with 37 Oaks to develop the Artisan Collective which will soon be opening at 1750 E. 71st St. and will serve as a year round pop-up shop in the community. The goal is to help small business owners expand their reach and grow their businesses while providing South Shore residents with the opportunity to shop locally.
Walmart Announces Driver Wage Investment in Illinois
Walmart recently announced a $14 million investment in driver wages. This investment represents Walmart’s commitment to maintaining its position as one of the best jobs in the transportation industry and the importance of attracting top talent and offering valuable driver benefits. The Walmart trucking fleet is expected to grow, with the addition of 900 drivers in 2019.
SOUTH SIDE NATIVE HONORED BY COOK COUNTY BOARD FOR ENTREPRENEURIAL ACHIEVEMENTS
Cook County Commissioner Stanley Moore along with Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, the entire Cook County Board of Commissioners, and community members recently gathered to recognize Maya French for her success as a young entrepreneur and her achievement of being named as one of Forbes 30 Under 30 for 2019.
Kat Von D Beauty Partners with Sephora for 2019 Beauty Insider Program
Kat Von D Beauty invites Sephora Beauty Insiders to celebrate their birthday with a complimentary mini-set of its award-winning, high performance vegan products.
Mayor Fischer celebrates decision to rename Louisville airport to honor Muhammad Ali
Mayor Greg Fischer said he is pleased and proud of a recent decision by the Louisville Regional Airport Authority Board to rename the city’s airport for its native son, Muhammad Ali. The new name is Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport. The airport’s three-letter International Air Transport Association Location Identifier – SDF – will not change.
The Area Continues To Host Screenings Around Chicago And Across The Country
A free screening was recently hosted by Southside Together Organizing for Power (STOP) at the Woodlawn Resource Center to allow community members to see and discuss The Area, a documentary film that portrays the five-year journey of a south side neighborhood where more than 400 African-American families were being displaced by a multi-billion dollar freight company.
James Brown's Complete, Expanded 'Motherlode' Rarities Collection Makes Vinyl Debut
James Brown's complete, expanded Motherlode rarities collection will make its vinyl release debut on March 8. The classic collection's new 2LP vinyl release (Polydor/UMe) also puts three vital tracks on wax for the first time ever: "I Got Ants In My Pants (And I Want To Dance) (Remix)," "You've Changed," and the epic 12-minute alternate mix of "Bodyheat.
NEIU Foundation Establishes 76 New Student Scholarships
Northeastern Illinois University has successfully completed the institution’s first comprehensive fundraising campaign. Transforming Lives: The Campaign for Northeastern Illinois University raised more than $12.87 million to support student scholarships, academic research and campus life.
Chicago 1919 Program Will Honor The 100-Year Anniversary Of Chicago’s Race Riot
The Newberry Library, a world-renowned independent research library in Chicago, and its project partners recently announced Chicago 1919: Confronting the Race Riots which is a year-long initiative that will honor the 100-year anniversary of the Chicago race riots. The year of programming will begin Saturday, Feb. 23, at the DuSable Museum of African American History.
All Marijuana Convictions set to be expunged
If Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx makes good on her plan to expunge all misdemeanor marijuana convictions, it means Robert Griffin could soon become a banker. Almost 15 years ago, Griffin, 42, said he plead guilty to a misdemeanor drug possession charge after Chicago police found a small amount of marijuana in his car during a traffic stop.
Thursday, January 24
Congresswoman Robin Kelly Appointed to the Oversight and Reform Committee
“I’m a good government person. I’m interested in the little details that could save billions in taxpayer dollars and I’m extremely proud of the record that I’ve established on this committee.
Wednesday, January 23
Andrea L. Brookins Receives Funeral Director of the Year Runner-Up
Andrea L. Brookins, chief executive officer and owner of Brookins Funeral Home, was a runner-up for Funeral Director of the Year 2018. Brookins Funeral Home has been part of Chicago’s 21st Ward community for over 40 years. The honor recognizes the valuable work she is doing as one of the few African-American women in the funeral service industry today.
Benefit for Sideshow Theatre Company & GirlForward Coming Up In February
Get your blood pumping just in time for Valentine’s Day as The Chicago League of Lady Arm Wrestlers (CLLAW) presents CLLAW Flirty-Two on Saturday, February 9, 2019 at Logan Square Auditorium, 2539 N. Kedzie Ave. in Chicago.
Walgreens Hosts Annual Expressions Challenge Awards
Walgreens recently hosted the annual Expressions Challenge Awards Ceremony and Reception at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago. Several Chicago students submitted artwork and at the event, first and second place prizes were given in the categories of creative writing, visual arts, and media arts.
Chicago Singer and Songwriter Creates Inspirational Music And Spreads Positive Vibes
Ramone Javon Griffith, known professionally as RJ Griffith, is an inspirational Chicago singer and songwriter who has been performing in one way or another since he was three years old. Today, Griffith has focused his energy solely on music and hopes to use his platform to spread positivity in Chicago and throughout the world.
Repairing The Harm And Breaking The Cycle, Using Best Practices In South African Apartheid Healing
On Monday, January 21, the Darren B. Easterling Center for Restorative Practices hosted its second Truth and Reconciliation Summit in the Skyline Conference Room of the Lawndale Christian Conference Center located on 3750 West Ogden Avenue in Chicago.
Two of Three Seventh Ward Alderman Candidates Participate In Community Forum
Two of the three candidates for Seventh Ward Alderman recently participated in a community forum at Christ Bible Church, 7877 S. Coles Ave., to discuss their ideas for the office and take questions from the community.
Illinois Department Of Public Health Lead Rules Approved
Rules proposed by the Illinois of Public Health (IDPH) that will increase the number of children identified with lead poisoning and trigger earlier intervention were approved by the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR) recently.
South Chicago Assembly Plant Will Continue Producing All-New 2020 Ford Explorer
Ford Motor Company recently announced a brand new model for their 2020 Explorer which will be produced at the Chicago Assembly Plant located on 12600 S. Torrence Ave. in Hegewisch.
REDESIGNED WHITNEY M. YOUNG JR. LIBRARY IS OPEN IN CHATHAM
Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Chicago Public Library Commissioner Brian Bannon, and Sixth Ward Alderman Roderick Sawyer recently gathered with community members to celebrate the grand re-opening of the newly renovated Whitney M. Young Jr. Branch Library, located on 415 E. 79th Street in Chatham.
South Suburban College Dean Anna Helwig receives Recognition Award from District 228
South Suburban College’s Anna Helwig, Ph.D., Dean of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) was presented with a Board Recognition Award from Bremen High School District 228 at their Students in Leadership Board Meeting recently.
South Suburban College Board Chairman Receives Service Award
At a recent Board of Trustees meeting for South Suburban College, special guest Mike Monaghan, executive director of the Illinois Community College Trustees Association, presented the Illinois Community College Trustees Association Service Award to Frank M. Zuccarelli for his accomplishments as board chairman for South Suburban College.
MY STATE OF MIND INITIATIVE IS BUILDING A MENTAL HEALTH GUIDE BOOK FOR COOK COUNTY
The My State of Mind initiative was recently launched by SocailWorks, a local nonprofit. Through the initiative, the organization is currently working to create a mental health guidebook that will provide a broad range of information about mental health services that are available in Cook County.
Friday, January 18
Dr. King honored by McDonald’s with free breakfast
A Chatham businesswoman recently sponsored a free breakfast at her South Side restaurant as a way to honor the legacy of civil rights leader Dr. Martin L. King Jr.
Wednesday, January 16
South Suburban Resident Leaves Six Figure Career To Become An Entrepreneur
After growing up in Chicago’s south suburbs, Ashley Kirkwood went on to graduate at the top of her class from Northwestern University’s School of Law. From there, she secured a position with one of Chicago’s top law firms and was making about $280,000 a year. She quickly learned that money isn’t everything and left her stable career to become a full-time entrepreneur. Kirkwood is now preparing to launch her very own podcast and anticipates to fully replace her former salary this year.
GREENCORPS CHICAGO IS NOW RECRUITING FOR 2019 CLASS
Greencorps Chicago, a green-industry job training program, is currently recruiting applicants for their 2019 class. Accepted applicants will have the opportunity to participate in nine months of paid training that will prepare them for careers in ecological restoration, green infrastructure, tree care, and landscaping.
SPOKESPERSON FOR THE FAMILY OF LAQUAN MCDONALD APPROVES OF RECENT PRECKWINKLE AD
A press conference was recently held at Grace Memorial Baptist Church, 1457 S. Kenneth Ave. by Pastor Marvin Hunter, great-uncle of Laquan McDonald, to discuss his thoughts on mayoral candidate Toni Preckwinkle’s first campaign ad concerning her role in helping to reveal Laquan McDonald’s autopsy report.
Shutdown Means No Paychecks for 800,000 Federal Employees
About 800,000 federal employees missed their first paycheck of the year starting on Jan. 11, as the partial government shutdown entered Day 21 by the Citizen’s press time. In response, American Federation of Government Employees National President J. David Cox Sr., said, “The federal workers who keep our country safe and deliver vital services to the American public deserve to be paid. But for 40 percent of the federal workforce, this administration has broken that promise by holding employees’ paychecks hostage over demands for a border wall.
Cook County Assessor Releases Senior Exemption Applications
Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi recently announced that his office has mailed Senior and Senior Freeze Exemption renewal applications for tax year 2018.
Kinzie/King Breakfast to Feature Chair of Black Chamber of Commerce
Frank Bass, the Chair of the Black Chamber of Commerce of Illinois will be the featured speaker for the 11th annual Joyce Kinzie/ Martin Luther King, Jr. Breakfast at Lincoln College, set for Monday, Jan. 21. Tickets are now available for the event, which will be held in the Davidson-Sheffer Gymnasium on the Lincoln College campus. The doors will open at 7 a.m. with the program beginning at 7:30 a.m.
iHeartMedia Names James Howard Senior Vice President of Programming for the Chicago Region and Program Director for 103.5 KISS FM
iHeartMedia recently announced that James Howard has been named Senior Vice President of Programming for the Chicago Region and Program Director for 103.5 KISS FM, Chicago’s #1 Hit Music Station, effective January 16.
COAL Hosts First Coalition Power Breakfast Of The Year
The Coalition of African American Leaders (COAL) recently hosted their first Coalition Power Breakfast of the new year at BJ’s Market, 8734 S. Stony Island Ave., and invited attorney James D. Montgomery, Sr. to be their honored guest. The monthly Coalition Power Breakfast is an event focused on examining issues and important areas of interest for the African American community.
Rush Highlights his Legislative Priorities on the Opening of the 116th Congress
U.S. Representative Bobby L. Rush (D-Ill.) was recently sworn into the 116th Congress. According to a press release from Rush’s office, the new House Democratic Majority will move swiftly to deliver on a promise of lower health care costs, bigger paychecks, and restoring integrity in government.
City Bureau Launches Documenters.org to Bridge Gap Between the Public and Public Meetings
Your city officials are making big decisions. Documenters.org makes is making it easy to keep tabs. Chicago’s government bodies hold hundreds of public meetings every month, but the vast majority receive no media coverage and produce minimal records. The new Documenters. org will scrape, standardize and share information on public meetings at the city and county-level in Chicago and Detroit—all in one central location.
Greater Englewood Toastmasters Helps To Develop Public Speaking And Leadership Skills
The Greater Englewood Toastmasters Club hosts meetings twice a month in the Seventh District Police Station, 1438 W. 63rd St., in the community room where members are given an opportunity to improve their public speaking, leadership, and listening skills.
Finding solutions for diabetes management
More than 1.3 million people in Illinois, or 12.5% of the adult population, have diabetes and an additional 37.5% have prediabetes - a condition of high blood glucose levels but not yet qualified as diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association (ADA). Diabetes, if not managed properly, can lead to serious complications including heart disease, stroke, amputation, kidney disease, even death.
University of Chicago Celebrates 50 Years Of Preparing Low-Income Students For College
The University of Chicago recently celebrated the 50th anniversary of their Office of Special Programs-College Prep (OSP) initiative and the 15th anniversary of the Collegiate Scholars Program. The event took place at the Chicago Theological Seminary building, 1407 E 60th St., and featured speeches from program leaders and alumni.
Wednesday, January 9
Village of Dolton Holds Truth and Taxation Public Hearing And Approves Tax Levy
Ordinance number 18-019 levying taxes for general and corporate purposes for the 2018 tax year for the Village of Dolton was approved by the board of trustees and will result in 3.33 percent increase in total property taxes to be levied for the 2018 tax year compared to the 2017 tax year.
Candy Bee Uses Accessories To Help Women Feel Bold
Just over a year ago, Candy Bee was working at a corporate job in Chicago and using whatever free time she had to build her fashion and accessories business by doing pop-up shops and in-home trunk shows. Life suddenly changed when her step-son was wounded by gunfire and Candy Bee had no choice but to leave her job and care for him during his rehabilitation. From this tragedy and the uncertainty of being unemployed, Bold Addictions was born.
Retail Thrive Zones exist in eight communities across the city including, South Shore, Chatham, Englewood, and West Pullman and applications are available now
“This is a win-win for the community. It’s a win for the businesses that need additional resources just to get over the hump and to assist them in bringing their dreams to life and then it’s a win for the community at large because now you have positive corridors and positive spaces that are being brought back to life,” said Eighth Ward Alderman, Michelle Harris.
Disruptive Design Looks For Design Ideas For Chicago’s Next Generation Of Affordable Housing
Participants should submit initial designs by the end of January, from there five finalists will be chosen and a series of community meetings will be held to receive feedback on the designs. From March to April the finalists will develop fully rendered plans for their homes and once again residents will be invited to provide feedback. In June, one finalist will be chosen as the winner, have their home constructed, and receive an additional $20,000 prize.
Obama Foundation and Chicago Public Schools Launch Award to Recognize Impactful Leadership in Civic Engagement
"There are no better role models for our next generation of leaders than Barack and Michelle Obama, and these awards will celebrate the Chicagoans who are following in their footsteps by giving back to our city," said Mayor Rahm Emanuel. "I am grateful to the Obama Foundation for partnering with Chicago's students, schools and communities to inspire and empower young leaders."
ArtCation Offers Once In A Lifetime Opportunity To Explore Ethiopian Art
The owners of Gallery Guichard recognize the importance of exploring African countries and have had their own personal experiences traveling to places like Senegal and the South African Eastern Cape. ArtCation will further expand on these opportunities, support their mission to expose patron to cross-cultural experiences, and allow friends and family to join them in the exploration of the rich art of the African Diaspora.
Newly Organized Resident Association of the Westside Will Empower Residents
“I was born and raised on the west side and then I left for about 15 years and then I moved back last year,” said Turner. “I learned how to ride my bike on this block and now I’m out on the block like what happened? What caused that break down in communication and just overall resident involvement to lead up to where we are now and how can we make it better?”
Tonika Lewis Johnson’s Folded Map Is Transformed Into A Stage Play
The well-known photography project, Folded Map, was created by Tonika Lewis Johnson as a way to connect Chicagoans with their cross-city map twin. Starting Jan. 18, the story of Folded Map and how it came to be will be performed live as a mid-length stage play at Collaboraction, 1579 N. Milwaukee Ave., 3rd Floor, in Chicago’s Wicker Park neighborhood.
Sneak Peak Chicago Sneaker Convention Hosted In South Suburbs
This particular sneaker convention was started by Micheal Garren, a Tinley Park resident and self-proclaimed sneaker-head, who noticed a gap in Chicago’s sneaker market and a lack of opportunities for collectors to buy, sell, and trade with each other
Roseland Medical District moving along slowly
In 2011, when the Roseland Medical District was created, elected officials from former Gov. Pat Quinn to Alderman Carrie Austin (34th), whose ward includes the 100-acre medical district, said upon its development, the area would see a spur in economic development.
National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day Set for February 7, 2019
National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NBHAAD) is February 7. Now in its 18th year, NBHAAD is a day to increase awareness about HIV among blacks/African Americans and encourage people to get involved in prevention efforts, get tested, and get treatment if they are living with HIV.
Friday, January 4
North Terminal Opening of the 95th Street Red Line Station Renovations Improves Accessibility, Capacity, and Safety for Community
F.H. Paschen celebrates the opening of the North Terminal and the 95th Street Pedestrian Bridge of the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) 95th Street Red Line Station Improvement Project alongside joint venture partner Milhouse Engineering & Construction. A skilled, diverse workforce of over 1200 executed this work, including residents from the local community who will enjoy access to the improved station regularly.
Wednesday, January 2
Jenny Craig Launches 2019 Campaign Featuring Successful Members
Jenny Craig, a leader in the weight loss industry, recently announced their 2019 ad campaign, which focuses on actual Jenny Craig members and weight loss experts, and their stories of finding health and wellness by using the program.
Timeline Theatre Company Purchases Uptown Property To Be Site for Its Future Home
TimeLine Theatre Company recently announced that it has completed the purchase of property located at 5033–5035 North Broadway Avenue in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood. The property, which encompasses a five-story, 45,120-square-foot warehouse building plus a vacant lot near the corner of Broadway and Argyle, is planned as the site of a renovated facility to house the theatre’s future operations and to support and expand its mission of presenting plays inspired by history that connect to today’s social and political issues.
LOOKING BACK ON 2018
Over the past year, the Citizen Newspaper has worked diligently to provide thought provoking news that uplifts the communities that we serve. As 2018 come to a close, we went through the archives to share some of this year's highlights.
BLACK ENTERPRISE Announces The 50 Best Companies For Diversity
BLACK ENTERPRISE, in partnership with The Executive Leadership Council, has released its listing of the "50 Best Companies for Diversity" as featured in the publication's November/December 2018 issue, which focuses on Diversity and Inclusion in corporate America.
National Calendar Fundraiser for Historically Black Colleges and Universities, (HBCUs) Features Prominent African Americans
You’ll never know where you’re going, unless you first know where you’ve been. With Black History month rapidly approaching, you can make 2019 an exploration of the richness of the African American community through, “Our History Today, An African American Journey.”
Coalition of African American Leaders (COAL) January Power Breakfast to Feature Iconic Criminal and Civil Attorney James D. Montgomery Sr.
The Coalition of African American Leaders (COAL) kicks off its 2019 Coalition Power Breakfast series by hosting attorney James D. Montgomery, Sr. The monthly breakfast will be held on Saturday, January 5, from 8:30AM until 11:00AM at BJ’s Market, 8734 S. Stony Island and is a platform to examine issues and important areas of focus relevant to business leaders and the African American community.