NINTH WARD RECEIVES GRANTS FOR MURAL PAINTINGS

Four professional Chicago artists will be awarded $20,000 each to paint viaducts in the Pullman community through Alderman Anthony Beale’s Artist’s Mural Program, and the City of Chicago’s 2017 Individual Artist Program (IAP), according to Beale. “This is something (mural painting) that the community has been requesting for a long time, but we did not have the funds to do it. Mayor Rahm Emanuel assisted us with matching funds that came from federal funding to help with the project,” the 9th Ward Alderman said.

CSU STEM STUDENTS WIN INTERNATIONAL POSTER COMPETITIONS

Two Chicago State University students were scientific poster presentation winners at international conferences where they displayed and explained their undergraduate research projects.

Loola Cosmetics Launches Hybrid Beauty Line

Loola Cosmetics has launched its Hybrid beauty products line starting with its Hybrid Lip Sculptor.

JOHN W. ROGERS JR. GIVES $10.5 MILLION TO FUND STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS, CAREER PATHS

A $10.5 million gift from University Trustee John W. Rogers Jr., LAB’76, will support a scholarship fund for Laboratory Schools students at the University of Chicago. The gift will also establish a professional development program for under resourced college students to pursue careers in finance. This raises Rogers’ total giving to the University of Chicago and its affiliated Laboratory Schools to $15 million.

FORD HEIGHTS BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB GETS HELP WITH NEW EQUIPMENT

DOWNERS GROVE, Ill. – The Mainstreet Organization of REALTORS® (MORe) and Preferred Communication Systems are gave back to the community during holiday season with the gift of ten computers, a printer and two backup systems to the Ford Heights Boys and Girls Club.

ASPIRE TO PREMIER BAMA STATE STYLE

–ASPiRE (@tvASPiRE), the network that presents authentic portrayals of Black and urban culture, announced recently that they are the new television home of Bama State Style.

COMMUNITY LEADERS DISCUSS VIOLENCE PREVENTION

To get a handle on the increasing acts of violence that’s taking place in Chicago neighborhoods, Congressman Danny Davis recently spearheaded a Violence Prevention Summit at the Greater St. John Bible Church, 1256 N. Waller. “There will be a continuation of effort (to end gun violence). Many people are already connected here; so what we want to do is to coordinate the activities in which different people are engaged, so that we will become more of a collective as opposed to the individual activities in which we are involved,” Congressman Davis said.

A New Year’s Resolution to Drive Sober, Buckle Up

As 2016 comes to an end, the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), Illinois State Police (ISP) and nearly 200 law enforcement agencies across the state are making a final push to keep traffic fatalities down during the New Year’s holiday weekend. This collaborative effort will include statewide roadside safety checks, seat belt enforcement zones and other patrols focused on the late-night hours.

NBC’s ‘The Voice’ 2016 Finalist SA’RAYAH Talks about her future and more

Los Angeles, CA -- Sa’Rayah, NBC’s The Voice 2016 Finalist, sees a big future in the stars for herself. Megastars Alicia Keys and Miley Cyrus both lead the blooming artist throughout the six-time Emmy award winning reality show. Cyrus paired Sa’rayah with fellow voice contestant Aaron Gibson; the pairing proved to be a success.

Snapshots of 2016

The year started out with an unforgettable photo spread featuring America’s First Lady Michelle Obama who rocked on the Citizen’s fashion pages. The First Lady has graced the covers of other publications including appearances in Vogue and Better Homes and Gardens. Turning to local events, the Citizen brought readers news about the Barack Obama School of Leadership and STEM’s PTO which hosted a fundraiser, “Steppin’ For Success,” in Chicago Heights while the Black Ensemble Theater in 2016 presented “Don’t Make Me Over,” a play about Dionne’s Warwick’s success.

CELEBRATE KWANZAA AT THE DUSABLE MUSEUM

CELEBRATE KWANZAA AT THE DUSABLE MUSEUM Chicago, IL.- The DuSable Museum of African American History in collaboration with Bolozi Wazee / Shule Ya Watoto will present the 2016 Kwanzaa Celebration, on Tuesday, December 27, 2016 from 12:00 Noon until 2:30 PM. The event will take place at the Museum, located at 740 East 56th Place (57th Street and South Cottage Grove Avenue) in Chicago.

The 2016 Presidential Election and Mental Health

The end of the 2016 presidential election marked the conclusion of a period unlike any other in recent years. The contentious, bitter, and often hate filled rhetoric has created a level of anxiety, stress and even depression among many Americans that will likely have long-term consequences. The practice of civil discourse seemed all but lost in the theatrics. The emotional toll that this election has had on the human psyche cannot be underestimated.

AARP Foundation Draws Attention to Social Isolation with the Launch of Connect2Affect

WASHINGTON, DC - AARP Foundation recently announced the launch of Connect2Affect, a response to the growing epidemic of isolation affecting more than 8 million older adults. The goal of Connect2Affect is to create a network that not only builds awareness about social isolation and its impact, but also identifies solutions.

NNPA News Service and Trice Edney News Wire Establish Partnership to Empower the Black Press

WASHINGTON, DC) - Approaching the 190th anniversary of the 1827 founding of the Black Press, the News Wire Service of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), a national trade association of more than 211 Black owned newspapers, has become the chief subscriber of the 6-year-old Trice Edney News Wire in a partnership that aims to strengthen and empower Black newspapers across the country.

Teen Moms, Now Millionaire M.O.M.s, Celebrate the Launch of Their New Book

HOMEWOOD, IL - Twelve women came together recently to celebrate the launch of their new book Millionaire M.O.M.. In this book, all of the women share their how they overcame their teen motherhood experiences to become successful businesswomen, entrepreneurs, and community activists.

GARTH CONSTRUCTION RECEIVES HIGH HONOR

The Chicago ­Department of transportation has selected Garth Construction­ Services, Corp. as the Outstanding Minority Contractor of the Year for their work installing precast, granite and limestone elements as part of the the Chicago Riverwalk Project.

DCFS’ Home for the Holidays campaign reunites families and finds forever homes for 1,742 children in care

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Illinois Department of Children and Family Services Director George H. Sheldon today announced that the department found a forever home for 1,742 children in care, surpassing the goal of 1,000, as a part of the Home for the Holidays campaign.

5 Tips for Easy Holiday Shipping

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and holiday gift-giving and receiving is at the top of everyone’s to-do list. There are several simple steps you can take to make those deliveries a little easier. Here are five ways you can keep the holidays merry and bright, and experience the excitement of making (and receiving) special deliveries this holiday season.

STEVE HARVEY RETURNS TO THE APOLLO FOR ‘SHOWTIME’

Steve Harvey has a lot on his plate these days. The comedian, who is beloved by millions, was recently busy preparing for the reboot of the classic “Showtime at the Apollo” talent contest that aired on Fox December 5 at 8 p.m.

NEARLY 15,000 HOURS CODED IN FIRST THREE WEEKS OF CHICAGO’S INAUGURAL “CODE60+” CHALLENGE

Chicago students are yet again leading the pack in computer science and digital learning, with nearly 15,000 hours of coding completed by youth in just the last three weeks. As part of the City of Chicago’s Code 60+ Challenge, an unprecedented six-week campaign that builds on the global Hour of Code, the City of Chicago, Chicago Public Schools (CPS), and Chicago City of Learning (CCOL) have already connected 164 schools, and nearly 8,000 youth from communities across the city to a network of coding opportunities in classrooms, in communities, at home and online that will continue throughout the winter break and through January 13.