NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC PODCAST GOES ‘INTO THE DEPTHS’
Tara Roberts loves the water and the ocean, but she had never really thought about diving. Not until she visited the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, DC, and saw a picture of a group of Black women in wetsuits on a boat.
Foot Locker, Inc and LISC announce funding for 16 organizations
Foot Locker, Inc., through the Foot Locker Foundation, and the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) have announced grant funding for nonprofit community organizations that empower youth in Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) communities.
Obsidian Collection Offers Newly Minted NFTs of Rare Photos of Dr. Martin Luther King
The Obsidian Collection is evolving its consumer- facing digital photo portal, Obsidian Images, to offer NFTs of rare photographs of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during his historic visit to Chicago in 1966. Captured by the legendary John Tweedle, the first African American photographer hired by a major metropolitan newspaper, the NFTs chronicle King challenging Chicago’s slumlords, institutional racism, and Mayor Richard J. Daley himself, as well as King speaking to a crowd at Soldier Field and a fundraiser for the movement at Chicago’s iconic International Amphitheatre that drew locals and celebrities alike, including Sidney Poitier, Harry Belafonte and Mahalia Jackson.
ILLINOIS TOLLWAY AWARDS $7.7 MILLION IN CONTRACTS FOR CONSTRUCTION IN JANUARY
The Illinois Tollway Board of Directors today approved two construction contracts totaling $7.7 million at its January Board meeting for work included in the Tollway’s $1.49 billion capital spending commitment for 2022. “Despite the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, our agency is continuing on track in our delivery of the Move Illinois capital program as we begin 2022,” said Illinois Tollway Executive Director José Alvarez. “The Tollway remains in a strong position to continue to deliver critical investments into our regional infrastructure and economy.”
Assessor’s Office Refunds $15 Million To Cook County Neighborhoods
In figures released today, Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi announced the collection of more than $15 million dollars over the past three years from people receiving tax exemptions for which they were not eligible. The office collected the funds from taxpayers who did not meet the state eligibility requirements and from estates of those who were recently deceased. Of the $5.1 million collected in 2021, $3.5 million was refunded back to communities in Cook County to pay for services such as schools, parks, libraries, and first responders.
Clinician wants to make therapy more accessible and inclusive
Sharonda Brown, also known as Nya B, grew up on the South side of Chicago in what she described as a chaotic home. There was substance abuse issues and alcohol issues. As a result of that, one of her behaviors was anger and she would get into fights. She ended up becoming a mother at 16 years of age.
GEM OF THE OCEAN BY AUGUST WILSON, DIRECTED IN A MAJOR REVIVAL BY CHUCK SMITH, BEGINS THIS SATURDAY, JANUARY 22
Goodman Theatre kicks off the new year with a major revival of August Wilson’s Gem of the Ocean—nearly two decades after the play premiered on the same stage. Resident Director Chuck Smith, who served as the original production’s dramaturg, directs a cast of seven—featuring Sharif Atkins (Citizen Barlow), Sydney Charles (Black Mary), Lisa Gaye Dixon (Aunt Ester), Gary Houston (Rutherford Selig), Kelvin Roston, Jr. (Caesar), A.C. Smith (Eli) and James A. Williams (Solly Two Kings). Originally directed by the late Marion McClinton at the Goodman in 2003, Gem of the Ocean is the play that chronically launches Wilson’s famed “American Century Cycle”—10 plays, each set in a different decade of the 20th century, that together chronicle 100 years of the African-American experience.
The Village of Hazel Crest President is running for Cook County 5th District Commissioner seat
Vernard Alsberry, Jr., has been the President of the Village of Hazel Crest for almost nine years. Now, he is seeking a new position, as the Cook County Commissioner representing the 5th District. In October 2021, the 5th District Cook County Commissioner Deborah Sims announced that after 27 years in the position she would not seek re-election.
Gyrls in the H.O.O.D. seeks to expand the H.O.O.D. House
Gyrls in the H.O.O.D. wants to expand their vision to have a home for young women in need. It wants to buy a building or a home to house more young women. Currently, Gyrls in the H.O.O.D. has an apartment where young women, ages 18 and older, are able to live rent free for one year and receive wraparound services. The goal of the H.O.O. D. House is to provide a safe space for young women to live, receive resources and improve their circumstances.
Tamra Moore Joins King & Spalding’s Healthcare Team as Partner
King & Spalding announced that Tamra Moore has joined the firm as a partner on the Healthcare team in the Washington, D.C., office.
Illinois native returns to Chicago stage
Morgan Siobhan Green’s first memory of being on stage was performing “Macbeth” in the fourth grade. She remembers feeling bigger than herself. Being on stage, a person gets to live bigger than one would in their actual life. Now, she is playing Eurydice in “Hadestown.”
A Traveling Exhibit highlights art used during Anti-Black Violence Movement
Janet Dees had the seed for “A Sight of Struggle: American Art against Anti-Black Violence” six years ago when she began her position as the curator of Northwestern University’s Block Museum of Art. Steven and Lisa Munster Tananbaum, the Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art at the Block Museum.
UGG TEAMS UP WITH SESAME WORKSHOP ON A LIMITEDEDITION COLLABORATION
Southern California-based global lifestyle brand UGG® (a division of Deckers Brands [NYSE: DECK]) announces a collaboration with Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit educational organization behind Sesame Street. The UGG x Sesame Street collection features cozy kids’ icons like the UGG® Neumel, Bixbee, and Fluff Yeah, adding fun design updates inspired by beloved characters. Available in sizes for infants, toddlers and kids, this collection will be available exclusively through UGG.com and Kids Foot Locker in North America
LINSEY DAVIS TO RELEASE NEW CHILDREN’S BOOK ‘HOW HIGH IS HEAVEN?’
New York – Emmy award-winning ABC News Correspondent, ABC News Live Prime Anchor, World News Tonight weekend anchor and best-selling author Linsey Davis, is announcing the release of her new children’s book How High is Heaven?, hitting shelves and online retailers on Tuesday, Feb. 15. The new release will be her fourth children’s book, following previous best-selling titles The World Is Awake, One Big Heart: A Celebration of Being More Alike than Different, and Stay This Way Forever
Rep. Kelly Announces $1.4 million Housing Grant for City of Kankakee
Congresswoman Robin L. Kelly (IL-02) announced that the City of Kankakee has been awarded a $1,426,306 grant to help improve housing through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Healthy Homes Production Grant Program.
MAYOR LIGHTFOOT ANNOUNCES 7 WINNERS OF CHICAGO WORKS COMMUNITY CHALLENGE
Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot announced more than $10 million in infrastructure improvements selected through the Chicago Works Community Challenge. These projects will reinforce the roles of seven public facilities as neighborhood anchors throughout the city.
SCHOLASTIC ANNOUNCES PICTURE BOOK “I AM RUBY BRIDGES”
Scholastic is proud to announce the publication of I Am Ruby Bridges, a beautiful and momentous new picture book written by Civil Rights icon Ruby Bridges and illustrated by #1 New York Times bestselling artist Nikkolas Smith. On sale September 6, 2022, this must-have poetic reflection marks the first time that Bridges shares her powerful and trailblazing story from the perspective of her six-year-old self – providing a personal and intimate look through a child’s lens at an experience that changed the face of history and the trajectory of the Civil Rights movement.
