IFBB Pro Bodybuilder, Suraqah Shabazz recently announced his signing with athlete management firm Mon Ethos Pro. Shabazz, a native of Chicago, Illinois and first responder firefighter with the Chicago Fire Department, competed recently at the McClellan Conference Center in McClellan Park, CA (Sacramento) at the 2019 NPC Northern California Championship
The City of Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) recently announced the full music lineup for the 39th Annual Taste of Chicago presented by DoorDash. The festival will present a diverse mix of chart-topping national and international acts at the Petrillo Music Shell, including Courtney Barnett, Bomba Estéreo, Cultura Profética, De La Soul, The Strumbellas, lovelytheband and India.Arie, with opening performances by Sunflower Bean, Taylor Bennett, Joywave, Meshell Ndegeocello and Bilal. The Goose Island Stage will feature five days of free programming with top local talent. Taste of Chicago will also feature arts and theatre performances, SummerDance, HUSHconcerts and more July 10–14 in Grant Park. Tickets for the seating area at the Petrillo Music Shell are on sale now at tasteofchicago.us.
Every summer, Living Grace Church in Lynwood opens its doors to the community during their free Jazz on the Grass event.This years free event will take place from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Aug. 4 on the Church grounds, 20100 Lakewood Ave., and feature local jazz, R&B, and gospel performers.
Originally located in Harper Court in Hyde Park, local barbecue restaurant Pork Chop has officially moved into the Red Fish Bleu Fish location at 5121 S. Harper Ave. which is also in Hyde Park. Both restaurants are owned by Jovanis Bouargoub and will continue to operate out of the one location creating a casual dining experience with a
variety of options.
Step into summer with a host of fun-filled outdoor activities in the Chicago region offered by the Frank Lloyd Wright Trust. Programs are held at Wright’s Home and Studio, located at 951 Chicago Avenue in Oak Park, and the Robie House, located at 5757 South Woodlawn Avenue in Chicago (Hyde Park).
Bronzeville resident and health coach, Stacy Hubert, will once again hosts Trifecta on the Beach at Pier 31, 3101 S. Lake Shore Dr. from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. on June 29. Trifecta on the Beach is a two-hour fitness workshop that combines boot camp style workouts with mindful meditation, nutrition education, and yoga on the shores of Lake Michigan.
A massive group of bike riders recently took to the streets of Englewood for an eight-mile ride through the neighborhood for Think Outside Da Block’s third annual Roll N Peace event. The purpose of the bike ride was to bring together neighbors, stakeholders, and 7th District police officers to tour the neighborhood and create a safer community.
South Suburban residents are yet again facing the closure of a community medical center. This time, it’s MetroSouth Medical Center, 12935 S. Gregory St., in Blue Island that has announced their facility will be closing by the end of the year if a new operator doesn’t step up and continue providing medical services at the MetroSouth Campus.
The Metro South Summit will provide elected officials, along with members of area first responder and medical communities, a collaborative opportunity to provide feedback about the effects of the impending closure, as well as participate in idea generation for the retention of local emergency, trauma, and surgical services so critical to Blue Island and neighboring communities
ABC 7’s HEART & SOUL, a series that taps into Chicago’s vibrant African American community, celebrates African American Music Appreciation Month and the Chicago Gospel Festival. HEART & SOUL, hosted by Cheryl Burton and Hosea Sanders, with Terrell Brown emceeing the gospel concert, and will air twice, Sunday, June 23 at 11:00 PM on ABC 7 and Sunday, July 7 at 1 PM.
Health and wellness media company aSweatLife has announced its seventh curated week of fitness events - #SweatworkingWeek. Events will be open to the public now through June 14 and will encourage an exploration of fitness concepts across Chicago as well as a national hiking kick-off in five markets.
The inaugural year of the ComEd HFS Scholars STEM Program and Energy Academy concluded recently with student project presentations and an awards ceremony recognizing the top three teams. Students from across a variety of high performing schools around the city were awarded the top prize of $2,000 for their innovative technology concept, Smart Pathways. Smart Pathways was designed to light pathways in a more energy efficient way through motion sensors and light dimming capabilities. The Smart Pathways prototype also included safety features such as movement tracking through its light sensors.
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot recently announced an entirely new school board. The seven people who Lightfoot has appointed
to lead the Chicago Public School (CPS) system have personal ties to CPS as parents, graduates, or former faculty.
A survey by Tork, an Essity brand and the maker of nearly half of the napkins used in the food service industry in the U.S., finds that Millennials – who are now the largest generation in the U.S. labor force – are nearly three times more likely than Baby Boomers to believe coworkers would judge them negatively if they took a regular lunch break.
There’s much more to touring Chicago than viewing downtown skyscrapers from a sightseeing boat or tour bus. Chicago is a city of 77 communities and approximately 180 distinct and diverse neighborhoods. You haven’t seen Chicago if you haven’t been to the neighborhoods.
The National Alliance on Mental Illinois (NAMI) Chicago recently led a community discussion on the westside at Hope Community Advent Christian Church, 5900 W. Iowa St., in Austin to talk about how the community deals with trauma that is caused by violence and what can be done better.
The inaugural class of six Paschen Engineering Scholars recently graduated from the program at the annual Hard Hat Ceremony. Six freshmen from George Westinghouse College Prep were announced as the latest class of scholars.
As Chicago welcomes its history making new mayor, Lori Lightfoot, many residents are hopeful for a brighter future. “I am very optimistic about the new mayor,” begins Community Activist Afrika Porter. “She has talked a lot about reducing violence, putting more education programs in schools, building more schools that fit to the needs of our children in our community…. I think she is going to do exactly what she said she is going to do.”