The Brotherhood Sister Sol (BroSis), the Harlem-based youth development and social justice organization, today announced the return of its signature Voices gala. Returning for its 18th iteration on Thursday, May 11th, Voices serves as the organization's annual benefit that celebrates its youth members and enriching programming. Taking place at New York City's Ziegfeld Ballroom, this year's event will honor special guest Dapper Dan to recognize his legendary work within fashion, music and culture timed with the 50th anniversary of Hip Hop.
Tracie D. Hall, Executive Director of the American Library Association, has been named in the TIME Most Influential List. Hall had no idea that she was being considered for the list. She called it a humbling experience to be named on the list, which features some very notable and well-known people. People on the TIME 100 List are chosen by TIME editors. She believes she was chosen because libraries are on the front lines of conversations about Democracy, the right to read and free expression.
Red Clay Dance Company will close out its 14th Season with the world premiere of its newest work, “Rest.Rise.Move.Nourish.Heal.,” which audiences will have the opportunity to experience on June 8-10, 2023. Rest. Rise.Move.Nourish.Heal is a site-responsive dance ritual created by Founder and Artistic Director Vershawn Sanders-Ward and Company in collaboration with composer avery r. young, filmmaker Jovan Landry, Kelley KFLEYE Moseley and Evelyn Danner.
Cantu Beauty, an award-winning textured hair care brand, once again joins Women Empowering Nations (WEN) to host the 2023 Girls Leading Our World (GLOW) Global Cohort: an immersive, high impact leadership coaching experience beginning this month through July 2023 for women of color across the globe. This year's cohort builds on the 2022 program and received applications from more than 2,500 young women from seven countries — the United States, United Kingdom, South Africa, France, Germany, Ghana and Nigeria. This year's investment will eclipse $1 million in total by Cantu toward community efforts across programs and partners including Women Empowering Nations.
Wysonia Payton has reinvested herself a lot over the course of her life. After working as a hair stylist for 25 years, she decided she wanted to go into catering with Decadent Flavors. Decadent Flavors has been around for eight years, and Payton calls it her “new baby.” When she was younger, she loved cooking and even thought about going to culinary school while, she continued to work as a hair stylist.
After School Matters’ summer session application is open, offering thousands of Chicago teens the opportunity to apply to hundreds of programs in the arts, communications and leadership, sports, and STEM. Programs begin June 26, run for six weeks, and will take place in-person at locations across the city like libraries, parks, After School Matters facilities, and community-based organizations as well as some select remote options. Teens interested in applying can visit afterschoolmatters.org.
Live Nation Entertainment (NYSE: LYV) announced the election of Rich Paul to its Board of Directors. Paul is the Founder and CEO of KLUTCH Sports Group, as well as Head of Sports at United Talent Agency (UTA) where he also serves on the board. Paul represents some of the world's top athletes, helping them make strategic decisions about professional playing careers as well as develop successful brand and business ventures.
A mural that depicts the life and legacy of Mayor Harold Washington now sits at the college that bears his name. On Thursday, April 13th, the mural, created by Judith Mayer, was unveiled at Harold Washington College, located at 30 E. Lake St. The unveiling was a celebration of the mural and an opportunity for people to reflect on the lasting legacy of Washington, who was Chicago’s first Black Mayor.
The library’s largest collections grant ever received to support the Renaissance Project which enhances the library's special collections and archival materials of rich Black cultural and historical resources.
April is Financial Literacy Month – a perfect time to start building a foundation for a healthy financial future. Good financial health is the foundation on which strong and resilient households, communities and economies are built, but the reality is, many struggle to manage their financial daily lives.
“The Black Experience on Xfinity has been a strong supporter and promoter of emerging Black content creators. Filmmaker grants are one of the many ways we can leverage our platforms to amplify authentic stories and voices that need to be heard,” said Keesha Boyd, Vice President, Entertainment Emerging Products. “We are thrilled to shine a spotlight on these 10 talented filmmakers, as we continue to invest in and distribute original programming from emerging Black content creators and talent.”
Yellow Banana, the owner and operator of eight Save A Lot locations in the Chicagoland area, today announced the March 31, 2023 closing of a $26.5 million investment into grocery stores on the South and West Sides of Chicago. This transaction marks the next step in Yellow Banana’s ongoing commitment to underserved communities throughout the City of Chicago and the U.S. The investment combines a $13.5 million Community Development Grant that the City previously awarded to Yellow Banana in July 2022 with New Markets Tax Credits, third-party financing and funding from Yellow Banana.
Early Walker-CEO of I’m Telling, Don’t Shoot- will be join by CPD Director Glen Brooks, other leaders of the Chicago Police Department, Community organizations, Community Leaders, and Clergy leaders to announce a new initiative in response to the recent “Teen Takeover” in Chicago.
In a new book, Emma’s Postcard Album, Black Lives in the Early Twentieth Century, author Faith Mitchell tells her family story through her grandmother’s 1906 to 1910 postcard collection, providing an authentic narrative of African American culture in an overtly racist society, where lynchings, segregation, and discrimination were all commonplace. The setting is Southeastern Pennsylvania, where teenager Emma Crawford received postcards from family, friends, and admirers that chronicle the world they lived in.
Cedric Richmond, former Congressman (LA-2), former chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, former senior advisor to President Joe Biden, and director of the White House Office of Public Engagement, has become the latest voice of Black America to appeal to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for racial diversity in media ownership.
In the Black: Changing the Dominant Narrative in the Commercial Real Estate Industry by T. Dallas Smith is now available. The book is published with Forbes Books, the exclusive business book publishing imprint of Forbes, and is available on Amazon today. This release is posted on behalf of Forbes Books (operated by Advantage Media Group under license).
ART on THE MART, an innovative digital art project that transforms a Chicago architectural landmark into a larger-than-life canvas, will start its 2023 programming with a new commission by internationally renowned artist Derrick Adams and the return of the popular projection of new work by local Chicago Public Schools (CPS) seniors. Adams’ projection will be on view nightly at 8.30 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. to July 5, 2023. The CPS projection will be on show from April 27 to May 14, 2023, immediately following Adams’.
Six Chicago Public Schools (CPS) teachers have been selected to participate in a national program to strengthen teaching in public schools. Recently recognized as Yale National Fellows, these educators will participate in a series of intensive seminars to develop their leadership and curriculum development skills through the Yale National Initiative. The six CPS educators selected to participate in this professional development initiative are among a select group of only 44 public school teachers from 14 school districts nationwide who will participate in the program.
The City of Chicago and NASCAR officials shared a traffic plan for the NASCAR Chicago Street Race, which takes place July 1–2, 2023. The plan provides an outline for street closures, parking restrictions, and pedestrian routes in and around Grant Park. As Chicago hosts the first-ever cup series street race in NASCAR’s 75-year history, residents and visitors are encouraged to be mindful of the traffic impacts, as well as safety measures in place.
Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity (DCEO) joined legislators and leaders in the tourism industry to award $22.5 million in grant funding for 89 projects across Illinois through the Tourism Attractions and Festivals Grant program. Designed to support local festivals and attractions and drive tourism across the state, Illinois increased the funding available from $15 million to $22.5 million in order to support additional attractions. The additional $7.5 million was secured during the Illinois General Assembly legislative session in early January 2023 and the program is funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).