Blues Renaissance Man creates camp for children
Fernando Jones describes himself as a Bluesman and a Renaissance man. He started playing the guitar in 1968 and plays other instruments. He knows what it is like to play music with other kids, so he started a program called Blues Camp International in 2010.
30th Anniversary Bounce Trumpet Awards to air Jan. 17 Show
Bounce, the nation’s popular entertainment television network serving African Americans, will present the 30th Anniversary Bounce Trumpet Awards -- a night of inspiration, history and crowd-rousing performances celebrating African American achievements and contributions -- on Martin Luther King Day, Jan. 17, at 8 p.m. ET.
Four Local Organizations received a share of $175,000 from PepsiCo
PepsiCo distributed $175,000 to four organizations as part of its recently launched Pathways to Readiness and Empowerment Program. Teamwork Englewood and Girls in the Game are two of the organizations that received the money.
The Bronzeville Children’s Museum Hosted its Annual Kwanzaa Celebration Following COVID Mandates
The king entered the room and greeted everyone with “Habari Gani” to which people responded Kujichagulia. Bronzeville Children’s Museum, located at 9301 S. Stony Island Ave., hosted a Kwanzaa celebration on Monday, Dec. 27. The museum was founded by Peggy Montes, who also serves as its president. It has been located on Stony Island since 2008.
Rush Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Allow SNAP to Cover Hot and Prepared Foods
U.S. Representatives Bobby L. Rush (D-Ill.), Grace Meng (D-N.Y.), and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), announced their introduction of the bipartisan SNAP PLUS Act of 2021 (H.R. 6338), legislation that would allow Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to be used to purchase hot foods and certain prepared foods, which are currently not covered by SNAP. 40.8 million Americans rely on SNAP benefits, according to the most recent public data.
Keisha Taylor Starr Appointed New Chief Marketing Officer for Scripps Networks
Keisha Taylor Starr has been hired as chief marketing officer for Scripps Networks, effective Jan. 3, 2022.
Dove and Matthew A. Cherry Team Up to Inspire Hair Love in Kids
Dove and Academy Award-winning filmmaker and CROWN Act advocate Matthew A. Cherry announce an official partnership to ensure the next generation of Black kids develop a positive relationship with beauty. The partnership will kick off with a new collection of hair care products designed for kids with curls, coils, and waves, inspired by Matthew’s Academy Award-winning animated short film, Hair Love.
Author Dr. Cindy Trimm Releases New Book
Internationally acclaimed, bestselling author Dr. Cindy Trimm is set to release a new book, “Unstoppable: Compete With Your Best Self and Win!” Fresh off of her “End Your Year Strong” conference, Dr. Trimm shares tips on shifting your mindset from one of competition with those around you to focusing on the competition with yourself as the key to success.
Year in Review 2021
2021 was a year of uncertainty for the nation, the world shut down due to COVID-19 and American citizens were ordered to shelter in place until vaccines were available. Never in the history of America had such ever concurred, the Insurrection. As time would have it, we would see and experience traumatizing events one-after-another one. From the loss of prominent leaders to business closures, Job lost, school closures, from new discriminatory hairstyle choice legislation becoming law. There were ground breakings on monumental construction sites. Also, we watched with bided breath two guilty verdicts hand down in the George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery cases.
BLACK OWNED TEQUILA BRAND HAS LOCAL ROOTS
Uduimoh Umolu is the Chicagoan behind the tequila brand Jon Basil, which pays homage to his grandfather and the man who was instrumental in making Umolu’s father dream is coming to the United States possible.
SALUD CENTER OPEN IN SOUTH CHICAGO
The site of the former YMCA, located at 3039 E. 91st St., has returned to being a community center after Claretian Associates and Preservation of Affordable Housing partnered on a renovation project. The Salud Center opened on Saturday, Dec. 18, and includes 101 affordable senior apartments.
Landmarks Illinois Awards Grant Funding To 14 Preservation Projects
Landmarks Illinois has awarded $35,000 to preservation projects in Illinois through its three grant programs. The grants, given to 14 preservation efforts in more than a dozen Illinois communities, were all awarded between August and November of this year through the Preservation Heritage Fund, the Barbara C. and Thomas E. Donnelley II Preservation Fund for Illinois and the Timuel D. Black Jr. Grant Fund for Chicago’s South Side.
SENATOR HUNTER REFLECTS ON HER CAREER AND LOOKS AHEAD TO 2022 IN A Q&A WITH THE CITIZEN
Illinois State Senator Mattie Hunter represents the 3rd District, which includes some of the poorest and richest neighborhoods in the City of Chicago. Healthcare has been one of her number one priorities, and she has sponsored and co-sponsored bills, like Senate Bill 1846 and House Bill 158.
Gov. Pritzker Signs Legislation to Further Protect Reproductive Rights
Building on efforts to make Illinois a national leader in safeguarding reproductive rights, Governor JB Pritzker signed House Bill 370, repealing the harmful Parental Notification Act (PNA). Rescinding the PNA ensures that while a pregnant minor can choose to involve a family member or legal guardian in their decision to have or not have an abortion, vulnerable youth – such as victims of rape, incest, and domestic abuse – are not compelled to do so under the law.
Treasurer Frerichs Returns $90,000 to Shriners Hospitals for Children
Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs announced the return of more than $90,000 to Shriners Hospitals for Children in Chicago. The proceeds were turned over to the Illinois Treasurer’s Unclaimed Property Program from the estate of Army veteran Ernest Ulrich, who named the non-profit as a beneficiary. Ulrich passed away in 1999.
Nearly $197 Million Delivered in Tax Cuts to 79,000 Families in 1st District in 2021
U.S. Representative Bobby L. Rush (D-Ill.) announced that, with the final payment going out on December 15, the expanded monthly Child Tax Credit will have delivered a total of nearly $197 million in tax cuts to more than 79,000 families in Illinois’s 1st District in 2021. Rush voted for the expanded monthly Child Tax Credit (CTC) as part of the American Rescue Plan, which was signed into law by President Biden in March.
Jennifer Epps to take helm of major fund
Amidst a global pandemic and ever-increasing worker inequality, the need to effectively organize and uplift worker voices towards better and safer working conditions has become imperative. Worker centers and labor unions have an opportunity to step up to create unique partnerships that support new forms of worker organizing that ultimately lead to greater and sustained prosperity for workers.
A “DREAMER” WHO REFUSES TO QUIT
Greg “Olskool Ice Gre” Lewis describes himself as a dreamer and he knows there are more dreamers like himself out there.
CPS Distributes Approximately 150,000 Take-Home COVID Test Kits
Chicago Public Schools (CPS) distributed approximately 150,000 take-home COVID test kits to more than 300 schools in communities that have been highly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
