Community Focus

COMMUNITY DEVELOPERS AND RESIDENTS COME TOGETHER TO DEDICATE A NEW PUBLIC SCULPTURE

Woodlawn residents recently gathered at the corner of E. 61st Street and S. Cottage Grove Avenue, right in front of the new Jewel-Osco store, to participate in a dedication ceremony for the new 17-foot sculpture known as the Wonder of Woodlawn.

Gift of Hope Will Open Community Partnership Center On The South Side

Gift of Hope Organ and Tissue Donor Network recently acquired a 48,000 square-foot three-story-building at 7936 S. Cottage Grove Ave. in the Chatham neighborhood that will soon be transformed into a Community Partnership Center. The building will be home to a healthcare training facility, several allied health care operations, a community development incubator, and the organization’s new Chicago office.

CITY COLLEGES OF CHICAGO UNVEILS NEW TRANSPORTATION, DISTRIBUTION, AND LOGISTICS CENTER

A ribbon cutting ceremony was recently held at Olive-Harvey College, 10001 S. Woodlawn Ave., to celebrate the completion of the school’s new Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics (TDL) Center. The facility will prepare students for the many TDL jobs and careers that are expected to come to Chicago and the surrounding area over the next 10 years.

Major Athletic Brand Partners With South Side Business To Talk About Probation Reform

Global sportswear company, Puma, recently released the Clyde Court #Reform sneakers which are more than just a basketball shoe, they are part of a movement. The new sneakers made their debut in Chicago at The Alpha Space, 2014 S. Michigan Ave., where Puma was able to collaborate with Dave Jeff, owner and founder of Chicago’s own PHLI brand, to host a Forum on Probation and Parole Reform.

Lori Lightfoot Wins 2019 Mayoral Election, Community Leaders React

For the first time in the city’s history, Chicago will be led by an African American woman. Lori Lightfoot was elected to be the next Mayor of Chicago in yesterday’s historical election that saw two female African American candidates go into the final runoff. Both candidates fought hard by participating in multiple mayoral forums, running advertisements, visiting neighborhoods, and executing massive fundraising efforts.

South Side Principal Brings School From The Verge Of Closing To A Level 1+ Rating

At one point, Esmond Elementary in the Morgan Park neighborhood was under-performing and on the verge of being closed permanently. Where many educators would have looked at Esmond as a lost cause, Dr. Angela Tucker saw the school as an exciting and challenging opportunity when she signed the contract to take over as Principal in 2005.

New entertainment complex coming to South Shore

The resurrection of South Shore continues with new developments from a full-service grocery store set to open later this year to an upcoming project that will include a movie theatre.

8th Ward Alderman Shares Information About Responsibilities and Challenges

Michelle Harris is Alderman of Chicago’s 8th Ward which includes parts of South Shore, Chatham, Calumet Heights, Pullman, Avalon Park, Burnside and South Chicago with about 51,000 residents living in the ward, according to Alderman Harris’s website.

Local Couple Presents Natural Hair Care Line To Investors On Shark Tank

Kim and Tim Lewis are high school sweethearts, parents and co-founders of CurlMix, a clean beauty brand for curly hair. The pair recently had an opportunity to pitch CurlMix to a panel of big name investors on the mid-season premiere of ABC’s Shark Tank.

South Shore gets a full-service grocery store

A full-service grocery store is set to open this fall in South Shore and that means residents no longer have to live in the middle of a food dessert.

Ald. Leslie Hairston Announces Long Awaited Grocery Store

Stakeholders in Chicago’s 5th Ward who’ve been waiting on a grocery store to replace the vacant Dominick’s in the Jeffery Plaza shopping center stood with Ald. Leslie Hairston at an announcement of the site opening under new ownership recently.

Keith Ovid Tate, A Shining Star in the Greater Chatham Community

Luke 12:48 discusses that we have been entrusted with certain God-given treasures, and faithfulness requires that we manage those treasures wisely and unselfishly. If we are blessed with talents, wealth, knowledge, time, and the like, it is expected that we use these well to glorify God and to benefit others. To whom much is given, much is required. The life of Keith Ovid Tate embodied this scripture to the fullest. Keith Tate was born the eldest of three children on April 14, 1949 to the union of Elwin Tate and Ola M Dixon.

Comcast honors civil rights activists with new exhibit

Comcast Corporation honored six, local civil rights activists with a new exhibit recently unveiled at the DuSable Museum of African American History on Chicago’s South Side. The exhibit, “Voices of the Civil Rights Movement,” is available online and features interviews from all six honorees discussing how they got involved with the civil rights movement, what contributions they made to help improve equality for blacks and the status of the black community as they see it today.

SOUTH SIDE NATIVE HONORED BY COOK COUNTY BOARD FOR ENTREPRENEURIAL ACHIEVEMENTS

Cook County Commissioner Stanley Moore along with Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, the entire Cook County Board of Commissioners, and community members recently gathered to recognize Maya French for her success as a young entrepreneur and her achievement of being named as one of Forbes 30 Under 30 for 2019.

REDESIGNED WHITNEY M. YOUNG JR. LIBRARY IS OPEN IN CHATHAM

Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Chicago Public Library Commissioner Brian Bannon, and Sixth Ward Alderman Roderick Sawyer recently gathered with community members to celebrate the grand re-opening of the newly renovated Whitney M. Young Jr. Branch Library, located on 415 E. 79th Street in Chatham.