Community Focus
Peace, Unity & Love Tour inspires young people
Doctors, crime prevention practitioners and community organizations are coming together to implement strategies to stop gun violence and help those young people who are most at risk. To recognize Youth Violence Prevention Week; Project Outreach & Prevention, along with Positive Approach to Teen Health, Friendly Temple COGIC and the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency, hosted the Peace, Unity & Love Tour.
Gift of Hope dedicates building to Jack Lynch
Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network hosted a ceremony to dedicate the building, located at 7936 S. Cottage Grove, to longtime civic leader Jack Lynch. The site was previously Independence Bank and Urban Partnership Bank. Lynch is retiring from Gift of Hope after 35 years of service. He led the effort to develop the Gift of Hope facility that now bears his name. The 48,000 square foot building was purchased by Gift of Hope in 2019.
Mural Unveiled at Blue Island Health Center
When Lorelei Pement set out to create the mural that greets visitors at the Blue Island Health Center, she wanted to make sure the community felt seen, as well as to tell the history of the building and its place within the community.
CHICAGO STATE UNIVERSITY TEACHERS ON STRIKE
Chants of “Equity and Justice at CSU” sounded out on the corner of 95th and King Drive. As trucks passed, they honked their horns in solidarity with the CSU strikers, who were carrying green and white signs and wearing green and white t shirts.
Young people talk about giving back to their communities
Eighth grader Randi Thomas is really passionate about police reform. Thomas, who is a student at Village Leadership Academy, worked on a project that looked at police brutality and how it affects each country. She presented her project to other students at the school and from there will meet with people from the Chicago Torture Justice Center.
Strive Health opens Chatham location
Strive Health recently hosted an event to celebrate the opening of its Chatham/South Chicago location at 8741 S. Greenwood. Strive Health, which is headquartered in Denver, Colo., has three locations in the Chicagoland area, including Mount Prospect, Lombard and its Chatham/South Chicago location. It bills itself as complete care for people with kidney disease.
Community organizer serving on new Police District Councils
Joseph Williams, Executive Director and Founder of Mr. Dad’s Father’s Club, was born and raised on the South Side of Chicago. He is a husband, and father to six children. He was recently elected to the 7th District for the Police District Councils. Williams was also a member of the Local School Council, starting when he was 21-years old. He is transitioning into different roles to continue his engagement in the community.
Architects design homes for infill spaces
The Chicago Architecture Center, Department of Planning and Development and Department of Housing tasked architects locally and from across the country with coming up with designs for infill housing for six communities that are part of the INVEST South/West program.
PRESIDENT AND CEO OF CHICAGO FOUNDATION FOR WOMEN WANTS TO TRANSFORM PEOPLE'S LIVES
Felicia Davis Blakley has spent the bulk of her career in the public sector, helping people. Her mother raised her with a very strong sense of community and responsibility and giving back.
Mahogany Browne talks ‘Chlorine Sky’
Mahogany Browne is the author of “Chlorine Sky,” which is currently running at the Steppenwolf Theatre. Brown was nice enough to take the time to answer some questions about turning her poetry and prose into a stage play for “Chlorine Sky.”
DOLPHLAND POPS UP IN CHICAGO
There’s a new Pop-Up Coming to the space that once housed the Woman-Ish immersive experience. The Dolphland Museum is coming to Chicago Friday through Sunday, March 3rd thru. 5th, at 114 S. State St.
COOK COUNTY LAND BANK HOLDS DEED TRANSFER CEREMONY FOR VACANT LOT GIVEAWAY RECIPIENTS IN ENGLEWOOD
The Cook County Land Bank Authority (CCLBA) completed the handover of deeds to 12 vacant lots to the nine recipients of last year’s Juneteenth land giveaway. Held in partnership with the Resident Association of Greater Englewood (R.A.G.E.), the giveaway of vacant side lots and today’s deed ceremony will lead to the development of these lots for valuable community uses. CCLBA also donated three lots to local nonprofit Inner-City Muslim Action Network (IMAN). The deed event was held at Go Green Community Fresh Market, a grocery store in the neighborhood across the street from lots donated to IMAN.
Local Black Photographer talks about his career
Jerome Simmons has had a storied career as a photographer. He started his career as a photographer at Johnson Publishing Company. He also had the pleasure of working with Don Cornelius of Soul Train, taking photographs.
Regal Mile Studios Breaks Ground on South Chicago Avenue
The Regal Mile Studios Campus 1, a 380,000 square foot, seven-acre media campus and soundstage, is set for South Chicago Avenue, west of Stony Island. On Monday, Feb. 6th, there was a groundbreaking for Regal Mile Studios. The project is sponsored by Loop Capital Real Estate Partners and includes a $100 million investment for the privately funded project.
