Community Focus

CHICAGO SCHOLARS WANTS TO INCREASE COLLEGE ACCESS WITH YOUNG MEN OF COLOR INITIATIVE

Chicago Scholars has launched the Young Men of Color Initiative, with the aim to increase the number of young men served by the college access program, while exploring ways to engage young men of color where they are and provide what they need to thrive.

ACTOR TALKS ABOUT ROLE IN ‘DEAR EVAN HANSEN’

Jeffrey Cornelius started taking piano lessons when he was seven years old. That’s when his love of music began. He discovered theater when he was really young. His grandparents took him to a show. He saw his first show and he was hooked.

GOOD GREEN AWARDS ORGANIZATIONS WITH GRANT MONEY

Good Green, which is the cannabis flower brand owned by Green Thumb Industries, Inc., launched in 2021. The aim of the brand is to reinvest cannabis money back into communities that have been disproportionately affected by the War on Drugs. The Good Green Grant Program is one of the ways it works with a non-profit organization whose focus includes Good Green’s four pillars which include expungement, employment and education.

8TH WARD ALDERMAN BRINGING TRANSFORMATIVE PROJECTS TO WARD

Alderman Michelle Harris has represented the 8th Ward for 16 years. Harris started off working in the 8th Ward office, where her aunt Lorraine Dixon, was the Alderman. She eventually became Dixon’s South Side Chief of Staff.

BLACK & LATINO EXCELLENCE INVESTMENT SUMMIT 2023 OPEN TO APPLICANTS

To be eligible for the Black & Latino Excellence Investment Summit, the business must operate in the retail, light manufacturing and/or professional services industries; have more than $250,000 in annual revenue; be in business for a minimum of three years and identify a clear growth and development opportunity that requires capital investment; and those business are on the South or West sides, or a are interested in locating a business on the South or West sides.

CHICAGO AREA NATIVE AWARDED PRIZE FOR GUN SAFETY DEVICE

Kayla Austin came up with the idea for My Gun’s Been Moved when she was 12 years old. Seven years later, Austin has been awarded a cash prize for the gun safety device by Pharrell William’s Black Ambition.

NATION’S INFLATION CRISIS IS CRIPPLING POPULAR TOY DRIVE’S ABILITY TO FULFILL ITS MISSION OF DISTRIBUTING 25,000 TOYS

PASTOR TO APPEAL TO PUBLIC TO DONATE TOYS TO ENSURE THAT NONE OF THE EXPECTED 4000 CHILDREN ARE LEFT BEHIND WITHOUT A TOY FOR CHRISTMAS DONATIONS ARE GREATLY NEEDED THIS YEAR DUE TO ECONOMIC INFLATION OPERATION COVER CHICAGO” IN JEOPARDY OF NOT HOSTING IT’S ANNUAL TOY GIVEAWAY FOR THE 10TH YEAR IN A ROW Thursday, December 8th, @ 10:00 AM (PRESS CONFERENCE) Another Chance Church, 9550 S. Harvard, Chicago, Illinois

UHCHI CELEBRATES GRADUATES OF THE CULINARY APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM

During the pandemic, Geri Bleavings was on Facebook and found out about UNITE HERE Chicago Hospitality Institute (UHCHI). The restaurant that she was running was closed because of the pandemic and she was doing some catering out of her house. She signed up and was drawn to the Culinary Apprenticeship Program’s professional structure. It sparked a passion in her.

MBK Alliance hosts summit for boys and young men of color

Jackson Bishop, a senior at Lindblom Math and Science Academy, has been part of My Brother’s Keeper for a year and a half. He was drawn to the organization because of the Brotherhood. He has his sights set on attending Morehouse College in Atlanta. He visited the school and he saw how the students and faculty were like a family, they all knew each other and deeply cared for each other.

Forty local organizations awarded Chicago’s Cultural Treasures Grant

The Red Clay Dance Company has been a cultural institution for 14 years. Vershawn Sanders-Ward is the Artistic Director and CEO of the Red Clay Dance Company. She was very excited when she heard about Chicago’s Cultural Treasures, because she heard about the National grant that the Ford Foundation launched from her mentor at the Ballet Hispanico.

HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL POURS INTO STUDENTS, STAFF AND PARENTS

Dr. Kyla Mathews has been the Principal of Epic Academy High School since the beginning of the 2022-2023 school year. Dr. Mathews is able to pour into people because she was poured into.

ROSELAND MEDICAL DISTRICT MASTER PLAN GOES TO NEXT STAGE

The Master Plan for the Roseland Medical District has gone to the next steps in the process. The plan was released by the Department of Planning and Development for public comment until Monday, Nov. 7th After November 7th, no additional public comments could be made.

DION’S CHICAGO DREAM TALKS ABOUT PROVIDING FRESH PRODUCE TO RESIDENTS IN A Q & A WITH THE CITIZEN

Dion Dawson, founder of Dion’s Chicago Dream, started the organization because he was not seeing any variety, change or evolution in the philanthropic and nonprofit sector.

BOOK DETAILS BLACK WOMEN’S EXPERIENCES WITH THEIR HAIR

Lyzette Wanzer was infuriated by the murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. She had to do something and as a writer, the one weapon Wanzer knew she could wield was her pen.

NEW CHEF-IN- RESIDENCE AT RETREAT AT THE CURRENCY EXCHANGE CAFÉ

Chef Ariya Taylor uses influences from her great grandmother, who is from Mississippi, and her great grandfather, who was from Louisiana. She also has her great grandmother’s recipe book. She started cooking when she was 8-years-old. Those styles of cooking really played a part in how she cooks.