ABC OWNED TELEVISION STATIONS CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY MONTH WITH ‘ON THE RED CARPET STORYTELLERS SPOTLIGHT’ FEATURING BLACK STORYTELLERS, A MULTIPLATFORM SLATE OF STORIES CELEBRATING BLACK CULTURE AND
ABC Owned Television Stations announced recently, the multiplatform slate of its Black History Month content with news stories, placing a focal point on voting rights and election reform while celebrating Black cultures, heritage, and communities. Led by the Race and Culture Content team embedded at all eight stations, the journalists will shine a light on current circumstances that are making it increasingly difficult to vote. Most Black History Month stories, news coverage and premium content are available on ABC Owned Television Stations’ newly launched 24/7 streaming channels, in addition to airing across linear in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Houston, Raleigh-Durham and Fresno, and its connected TV apps on Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV and Roku.
Sourcebooks Partners with EBONY Publishing
Sourcebooks, an innovative and entrepreneurial Midwest-based publisher and the largest woman- owned book publisher in America, is partnering with EBONY Publishing, the publishing arm of the iconic Ebony brand, a leading and trusted voice in areas of social justice, entertainment, and African American culture.
MAYOR LORI E. LIGHTFOOT, CHICAGO FIRE FOOTBALL CLUB, CHICAGO HOUSING AUTHORITY BEGIN TALKS FOR NEW NEAR WEST SIDE TRAINING FACILITY
Sports performance center and training fields proposed for vacant land in the Roosevelt Square neighborhood on the Near West Side; community meetings begin in March.
ESSENCE CELEBRATES THE POWER OF BLACK LOVE AND BUSINESS
ESSENCE’s January/February 2022 Black History Month issue champions the power of Black love and business by featuring power couple Pinky Cole, CEO and Founder of popular vegan fast food chain Slutty Vegan, and Derrick Hayes, CEO and Owner of Big Dave’s Cheesesteaks. In the cover story, Hot in the Kitchen, ESSENCE talks to the business owners about everything from food, community, their love for each other, second chances and how they turned their multimillion-dollar businesses into a family affair.
Tivity Health Appoints Stephanie Davis Michelman to Board of Directors
Tivity Health, Inc. (Nasdaq: TVTY), a leading provider of health improvement solutions, announced the appointment of Stephanie Davis Michelman as an independent director to its Board of Directors. Michelman, most recently Vice President/General Manager, of Bobbi Brown Cosmetics (Estée Lauder Companies), has over 15 years’ experience driving growth and profitability in public and private companies, working to expand several of the most well-known consumer brands.
A Local Author Capitalizes On A Photo Being Worth A Thousand Words
It all started with a photo of Ahmand Smith dressed as a character that would lead to him creating Kodi Blackman and, writing the book, “Kodi Blackman The Eclipse.”
Art exhibit highlights Black joy and the path to it
Artist Adeshola Makinde was watching “Summer of Soul,” a documentary about the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival, and he heard Nina Simone singing, “Young, Gifted and Black.”
Sound Voyage takes music lovers on a journey
Erik L. Jones grew up in a household with a love for music. He became an avid jazz fan. He has a deep love of music that is more global but also knows the importance of highlighting local artists, which he does through his work with Kusanya Café and The Blue Sapphire Experience.
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.”
