Fight to Fame Brings on Roy Jones Jr. as an Ambassador
Fight to Fame, an entertainment platform with the aim to create new movie stars from the fighting industry recently announced that Roy Jones Jr. has joined fellow world class fighters Chris Van Heerden, Rigan Machado, and Prince Badi Ajamu as one of Fight to Fame’s ambassadors. The ambassadors are expected to guide the new blockchain technology company in the right direction while drumming up support from upcoming fighters.
EIGHT SOUTH SUBURBAN HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS PASS ADVANCED PLACEMENT ART & DESIGN EXAM
Eight students from Hillcrest High School in Country Club Hills recently found out that they passed the Advanced Placement (AP) Art & Design exam. The exam scores students from one to five with five being the highest score and three being the minimum for passing. One student, Jennifer Soto, became the first student in Hillcrest High School history to receive a five on the exam. “I’ve been teaching AP Art & Design for the past nine years and the AP Art & Design exam is part of the College Board college entrance exams that high school students can take. If they pass the AP Art & Design exam with a score of three to five, then they’re able to earn college credit,” said Jamilah Adebesin-Mason, fine arts teacher at Hillcrest High School. “Basically, they are being tested on college-level material that they are being taught in the classroom and it gets the students ready for college-level work.”
State Legislators Push for Funding To Reopen Closed South Suburban Medical Center
During a recent Appropriations-Human Services Committee hearing, members of the committee discussed new legislation that would provide funding to reopen the building that was home to MetroSouth Medical Center, 12935 S. Gregory St., in Blue Island and turn it into a free-standing emergency center.
Job Seekers Hired On-the-Spot at Congresswoman Kelly’s 7th Annual Hiring Event
In October, several job seekers were surprised to walk away with jobs at Congresswoman Robin L. Kelly’s annual hiring event at the Lan-Oak Park District in Lansing, IL.
Pappas asks: Military members and veterans, are you getting the property tax relief you deserve?
Members of the military can defer Cook County property taxes interest-free while on active duty, one way to ease the financial sacrifice of service to our country, Treasurer Maria Pappas said today.
ALDI Debuts Fresh Design of Remodeled Matteson Store
ALDI welcomed shoppers back to its renovated Matteson store recently. The store, at 20713 S. Cicero Ave., is part of a $1.9 billion initiative to remodel and expand more than 1,300 ALDI stores nationwide by the end of 2020. Locally, ALDI is investing $180 million to update more than 130 stores in Chicago and the Chicagoland area by the end of 2020.
Odyssey Impact Partners with Filmmaker Rudy Valdez on Social Impact Campaign for EMMY® Award-winning Documentary The Sentence
Odyssey Impact recently announced its partnership with filmmaker Rudy Valdez to execute a social impact campaign for the award-winning documentary The Sentence. The film showcases firsthand the devastating consequences of mandatory minimum drug sentencing through Valdez’s storytelling of his older sister Cindy and their family’s experience over 10 years.
New president has big plans for Olive-Harvey College
For more than a year, Kimberly Hollingsworth, an amateur weightlifter, has been at the helm leading Olive-Harvey College into a new era of leadership. After first being installed interim president in July 2018 and being named permanent president a year later, the Hyde Park resident is aiming high with five-year goals, such as boosting enrollment at the school, establishing greater relationships with the community and improving the student life cycle.
The Embrace Girls Foundation presents Africa Umoja from February 25 – March 8, 2020
As the Lion King and yes, Black Panther continue to break box office records, another story that celebrates the African continent and its unbreakable spirit is set to arrive in South Florida. AFRICA UMOJA, The Spirit of Togetherness, sponsored by Aetna and benefiting The Embrace Girls Foundation, Inc., will premiere for a two-week celebration during Black History Month. Opening Tuesday, February 25, 2020, the production will run at the Miramar Cultural Arts Center until March 8, 2020.
SEVERAL SOUTH SUBURBAN FIRE DEPARTMENTS RECEIVE FEDERAL GRANTS TO SUPPORT HIRING
Congresswoman Robin Kelly recently announced that several south suburban fire departments would be receiving major federal grants through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant program. Included in the recently announced grant recipients are the Homewood, Calumet City, and South Chicago Heights Fire Departments.
South Suburban Village Celebrates Opening Of New Municipal Center
The Village of Hazel Crest recently hosted a grand opening ceremony for its new Vernard L. Alsberry Jr. Municipal Center located on 3601 183rd St. The new municipal center, which is named after the current Village President, provides office space for village services, meeting rooms and event space for the community to utilize, and is outfitted with state-of-the-art technology.
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA RETURNS TO CHICAGO FOR OBAMA FOUNDATION SUMMIT
The Obama Foundation recently hosted its third Summit in Chicago at the Illinois Institute of Technology in Bronzeville. President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle Obama, were both in attendance and spoke to attendees about their vision for the Obama Presidential Center and how it will impact Chicago.
Treasurer Frerichs Announces Third Gold Rating for Bright Start College Savings Plan
Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs recently announced that Illinois’ 529 College Savings Plans, Bright Start and Bright Directions, again have earned top rankings from Morningstar, placing both plans among the best in the nation.
SOUTH SIDE ORGANIZATION TO CREATE PHOTO MURAL PROJECT CELEBRATING COMMUNITY HISTORY
In anticipation of a major construction project coming to the neighborhood, South Shore Works recently began collecting photos from community members which will be turned into a mural that tells the larger story of the history of South Shore, Jackson Park, and the south side of Chicago.
Pigment International closes out inaugural Black Fine Art Month with discussion about the future of Black fine art
Pigment International, the Black Art Collective closed out the inaugural Black Fine Art Month with a discussion of the “Future of Black Fine Art,” at the DuSable Museum of African American History on this past Wednesday. The panel discussion featured Faheem Majeed, artist, builder and co-founder of the Floating Museum; Ciera Mckissick, founder of AMFM, a creative arts brand and Dr. Yaounde' Olu, a leading proponent of Afro-futurism, award winning editorial cartoonist, illustrator, educator, and indie comic and graphic novel publisher. The panel was introduced by Pigment artist Blake “BLen” Lenoir and moderated by Angel Idowu of WTTW.
Alderman Gives Update on Major Development Project Planned For Former Hospital Site
After hearing from the community that they were against the idea of a casino being developed on the site of the former Michael Reese Hospital, 4th Ward Alderman Sophia King and the project development team re-envisioned the plan. King recently held a meeting at the Carruthers Center, 700 E. Oakwood Blvd., to give community residents an update on what will be going into the project as of now.
Gentle exercise program improves outcomes among older home care clients
A study published in Innovation in Aging, a journal of the Gerontological Society of America, shows that a gentle exercise program delivered by home care aides improved client health, especially among participants whose caregivers are not family members.
Meeting Held To Share Details of 75th Street Corridor Improvement Project
The Illinois Department of Transportation recently held a public open house at Freedom Temple Church of God in Christ, 1459 W. 74th St., to give community members an update on the 75th Street Corridor Improvement Project and to allow them to view exhibits and speak with the project team to learn about the status, design, and construction timelines for the project.
The Toy Insider Experts Reveal Top Holiday Toy Trends of 2019
The Toy Insider recently revealed the top eight trending toy themes of 2019, giving consumers an inside look at the hottest categories and hand-picked favorites that are sure to be bestsellers this holiday season, according to a press release.
