MAKING HISTORY FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMAN LEADS MATTESON

Sheila Chalmers-Currin has been elected as the first female African American Village President in Matteson, Illinois. Chalmers-Currin filed for the position on December 19, 2016 because she felt there were necessary changes needed to be implemented in Matteson, according to patch.com.

Chicago’s Evolving Neighborhoods

Have you ever wondered about the history of the neighborhood you live in or why it may have changed over the years? Neighborhood experts say reasons behind changes in communities are often related to a loss of industrial jobs, racial changes and issues associated with immigration and gentrification.

THE BLACK PRESS SHOWS RESILIENCE OF THE BLACK COMMUNITY

“You can see it in the spirit of the process that we have [developed] in documenting our history—we are marvelously resilient by nature, we are street fighters, guerilla fighters and resilience defines us,” said NNPA Foundation Board Chairman Al McFarland.

AfricanAncestry.com Traces the Roots of Leading Black Fashion Influencers

Ever wonder why you navigate towards certain colors, shapes or textures? Do you have a flair for unique, unexpected fashion pairings? Well, guess what? It might just be in your DNA.

Hair Care Brand Celebrates African American Hair

Pantene has helped to define “Beautiful Hair” for 40 years through powerful images of strong, healthy hair; however, while diversity and inclusion continue to improve in society, there is still a level of inequality in how African American hair is represented in popular culture and in mainstream hair care advertising. Mass brands, like Pantene, have inadvertently been a part of this pervasive hair bias with a history of advertising showcasing a limited representation of African American hair styles and textures and promoting long, shiny, smooth hair as the pinnacle of hair health and beauty. Pantene has set out to change this perception and empower all women to embrace their strong and unique hair, because all strong hair is beautiful hair.

COULD NEW YORK WORKER-OWNED GREEN BUSINESS MODEL BE A SOLUTION FOR IMPROVING ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS FOR BLACKS NATIONWIDE?

Top Black Environmentalists “Nikki Silvestri, who is the Executive Director of Green For All, Denzel Thompson, who is the Co-Founder of Philadelphia Urban Creators, Tanya Fields, founder of The BLK Projek, Norris McDonald, founder of the African-American Environmentalist Association, Urban Farmer Karen Washington and Award-winning Environmental Justice Coordinator Karl Fulton. Others include Green Worker Cooperatives Founder Omar Friella, Lisa Jackson, who was the first African American administrator with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), John Francis, who is nicknamed as the “Planet Walker,” New York Times Best- Selling Author Anthony K. Van Jones, Professor Robert Bullard, the “father of the environmental justice movement”, Award Winning Environmentalist Activist Majora Carter, Meteorologist Dr. Warren M. Washington, CEO of Growing Power Inc., Will Allen, Shelton Johnson, a Yosemite National Park ranger and Award Winning Environmentalist, Justice Advocate and Scholar Dr. Beverly Wright,” Source: BET.com.

52 years and still going strong, the Citizen celebrates 52 years of service

The Chicago Citizen Newspaper Group Inc. (CCNG) has been in existence for 52 years and celebrates its anniversary each year on April 19. Under the leadership of the papers’ past chief executive officer, president and publisher William Garth, Sr., the Citizen has flourished and is now the largest black-owned chain of community newspapers in the Midwest. After the death of Garth in 2016, his son, Durrell, became chief executive officer, president and publisher where he and his wife Janice manage the daily operations of the papers.

American Honda Motor Co., Inc.: Oakwood University Crowned Champion at 28th Annual Honda Campus All-Star Challenge

After twenty rounds of intense competition, Oakwood University was crowned the 28th annual Honda Campus All-Star Challenge (HCASC) National Championship Tournament (NCT) champion on Monday, April 10, 2017.

REMEMBER THE CHIBOK GIRLS

Three years ago, Boko Haram terrorists burst into dormitory rooms at the Government Secondary School in the northern Nigerian town of Chibok and kidnapped nearly 300 girls simply because they dared to get an education. In the days leading up to anniversary of their kidnapping, there were plenty of headlines devoted to the “Chibok girls,” as these now young women are famously known. On April 14, 2017, we reached another sad milestone. Some of us paused to remember the anniversary of this horrific, ongoing tragedy. Soon the news reports will fade and the story of the still missing Chibok girls will slip once more to the backburner.

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC DOCUMENTARY FILMS MARK THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE LOS ANGELES RIOTS

Ferguson. Baltimore. Sanford. The Los Angeles riots may have taken place a quarter century ago but the nation continues to find itself in a cycle of heated discussion over racial oppression, police brutality and socioeconomic inequality.

KEITH SWEAT RETURNS TO LIMITED ENGAGEMENT AT FLAMINGO LAS VEGAS

Keith Sweat announced he will return for an additional run of his limited engagement, “Keith Sweat: Last Forever,” in the Donny & Marie Showroom at Flamingo Las Vegas from July 5 through July 22, 2017.

VOLUNTEERS BRING EASTER CELEBRATION TO HOMEBOUND ELDERS

What’s better than an Easter basket filled with treats to remind Chicago’s lonely and isolated seniors they are not forgotten?

David & Tamela Mann Star in Popular Comedy

David Mann, Tamela Mann and company bring a new assortment of hysterical family situations and laughs in the third season of their hit Bounce comedy series Mann & Wife.

New Entrepreneur Seminar for Students at Dyett High School

Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), will keynote the Phenomenal Woman Awards Dinner on Thursday, April 6, paying tribute to ten outstanding Chicago area women whose excellence in a variety of fields commands recognition. The event is the kickoff• to The Black Women’s Expo (BWE), one of Chicago’s most anticipated annual experiential events, and will be held at the Hyatt Regency Chicago, 151 E. Wacker Dr., Crystal Ballroom beginning at 6:00 p.m.

While the Obama Presidential Library promises to benefit the community, groups call for a written agreement

A local community coalition is calling for a community benefits agreement for the Obama Presidential Library. The Obama Library Community Benefits Agreement Coalition said they feel a Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) is necessary due to Black residents being displaced by changes in communities such as the transformation plan of the Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) and the fall out of school closings, according to an Obama Library Community Benefits Agreement Coalition press release.

REAL MEN COOK ON FATHER’S DAY

Real Men Cook -- Chicago’s premiere urban Father’s Day charity event - will build on the success of the 2016 multiple-location format by hosting the event at the same citywide and suburban sites this year and by adding more venues. These individual celebrations are hosted by agencies and entities committed to the Real Men Charities, Inc. mission, to build healthy families and communities. Now in its 28th year, Real Men Cook will be held on Father’s Day, Sunday, June 18 from 3PM to 6PM.

HUNDREDS RALLY TO HONOR DR. KING’S LEGACY

Drawing on the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King. Jr., who was killed 49 years ago, thousands of workers, racial justice activists, elected officials and clergy waged marches, rallies, teach-ins and vigils Tuesday as two of the nation’s most powerful social movements united in a “Fight Racism, Raise Pay” protest that echoed across two-dozen cities.

AHC HOSTS ‘FACES OF HOPE’ GALA

High school isn’t the same journey for everyone and not everyone reaches graduation the same way. Association House High School, located at 1116 N. Kedzie Ave., works with Chicago youth who have been left behind by traditional public schools and develops them around themes of power and social justice.

ORGANIZATION’S PLAN TO BUILD YOUTH CENTER OFFERS HOPE TO MILLENNIALS

Urban L.O.V.E. Community Development Corp. is a non-profit organization that focuses on empowering underserved youth through love and the gift of giving.

ComEd doubles jobs, boosts economy and improves customer satisfaction with Smart Grid

In 2011, ComEd proposed legislation that allowed the company to spend money to modernize its Smart Grid, which currently uses technology to help create more efficiency in the way ComEd operates and manages their distribution system.