Tonika Lewis Johnson is the creator of the Folded Map Project, a visual investigation of the inequity and disparity of the North and South Sides. In that project, Johnson has the residents, who lived on the same streets with similar addresses on different sides of the city, meet each other and talk about race, the city and segregation.
Walsh Construction, one of the largest contractors in the City of Chicago and across the United States, has completed the historic rehabilitation of the 104-year-old Cook County Hospital building, converting the building into a dual branded Hyatt Place and Hyatt House hotel, accompanied by the new Dr. Murphy’s Food Hall.
During a 30-minute interview with BlackPressUSA that was streamed live over Facebook, YouTube, and www.BlackPressUSA.com, Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, spoke of the importance of convincing African Americans to participate in clinical trials. He also said that school re-openings should depend mainly upon the location and the infection rate in a given area.
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) recently announced that it will begin issuing charge closure documents that were suspended because of the COVID-19 pandemic. On March 21, 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the EEOC temporarily suspended the issuance of charge closure documents unless a charging party requested them.
Khristian Leslie and Ronnie Ray have been involved in sketch comedy for more than 30 years and now they’ve decided the best way to help the next generation of African American and minority performers is to start a non-profit, community-based theater company that can help give performers a safe space to cultivate their creativity.
The United States Postal Service has filed notice with the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) of a temporary price change to take effect on Oct. 18, 2020.
The Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) recently announced three new mental health programs designed to provide additional support for Illinois residents.
Sony/ATV Music Publishing recently announced it has signed a worldwide publishing administration agreement with Grammy award-winning songwriter and recording artist Jozzy.
Congresswoman Robin Kelly has introduced the State Attorneys General Empowerment Act (H.R. 7536) to expand the power of state Attorneys General to investigate and resolve unconstitutional patterns and practices by law enforcement agencies within their states. Congressman Danny Davis is a co-sponsor of the legislation.
A federal grand jury in Chicago, Illinois, has returned a superseding indictment charging the owner of a tax preparation business with filing tax returns for herself and clients, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division.
Local Initiatives Support Corporation Chicago partnered with Mars Wrigley Foundation to award community organizations with placemaking grants. Quad Communities Development Corporation in Bronzeville was one of the recipients of the $25,000 grant, which they will use to help restart the neighborhood’s local economy
Larry Huggins and Everett Rand created the Chicago Football Classic more than 20 years ago with the goal of exposing young people in Chicago to the Black college experience through football games, band battles and college fairs.
In Sage Smith’s first solo art exhibit, “The Barriers That Create Us,” she explores the act of mindfulness that comes from the repetitive motions and line work in pattern making.
Mayvenn, the largest and only Black-owned, venture backed tech company and empowerment network in the hair and beauty industry, has donated $1.25 million to 2,500 hairstylists across the country who struggled to make ends meet as their salons were shuttered during the COVID-19 pandemic. The company launched its #SavetheSalon in May with a ten-to-one match of every dollar donated by the community, backed by a slate of prestigious donors.
Khristian Leslie took his years of experience in business and sales to create “The World’s FIRST Sales Dictionary.” The book includes techniques, terms and tools that Leslie believes are essential for sales professionals.
RallyThe National Pan-Hellenic Council of Chicago hosted a Virtual Census 2020 Rally themed “We Count Too!” on Saturday, August 1, 2020 from 1:00pm to 3:00 pm. This special event was taped live from the 7th Ward Alderman Office Greg Mitchell’s (Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.) located at 2249 E. 95th Street in Chicago, IL 60617. This event featured Congresswoman Robin Kelly (Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.), Alderwoman Stephanie Coleman (Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.), Commissioner Dennis Deer (Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.), Alderman Walter Burnett (Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.), 400 bags of Census promotional giveaways; music by DJ Sean Legend and the participants of the restaurant, school, business and church promo contest winners were announced!
As long as Phaidra Knight can remember, she has been into sports. As she grew older, she started to run into challenges because she had a less traditional build physically, and she developed a more muscular build, which meant having clothes custom-made to fit her look. This all led to Knight creating PSK Collective, a street and activewear line for athletically built women, girls and individuals alike, catered to all shapes and sizes.
A two-year effort by the University of Illinois at Chicago Library to chronicle the tenure of Chicago’s longest-serving mayor through videotaped interviews with former presidents, city officials and others has been completed.
Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) recently announced that $270 million in funding is available to assist child care providers across the state with reopening in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and now, licensed child care providers that meet the eligibility criteria may apply for Child Care Restoration Grants, reserved as part of the $636 Business Interruption Grants (BIG) program.
Ashley Munson is the Legislative Affairs Manager for the Illinois Network of Charter Schools. Munson is a community activist and a voice that speaks for the improvement of public education for primarily Black and brown students throughout Illinois. Munson was the lead organizer for the March for Us 2020, Million Man March on Juneteenth.