Community Focus
Project OneTen receives $150,000 from NewSchools Venture Fund
Dirrick Butler founded Project OneTen in 2018 with the goal of helping young men of color coming out of eighth grade transitioning into high school. Project OneTen received the $150,000 in unrestricted funding from the NewSchools Venture Fund as part of its Racial Equity investment area. NewSchools Venture Fund Racial Equity investment aims to offer “dream capital” to leaders who are working to address racial inequities in education.
Artist makes his mark with murals
The brightly colored murals that Rahmaan ‘Statik’ Barnes creates can be seen all over the city, from his mural at Garrett’s Popcorn off 87th and Cottage Grove to the mural of Farley “Jackmaster” Funk on 87th and Kimbark, to the series of murals he created for the city of Rosemont.
LYNWOOD BOASTS ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS FOR 2023
The Village of Lynwood, President Jada Curry was elected to office in 2021. Curry’s primary focus for the Village for 2023 is economic development. There are new businesses that are scheduled to break ground and are in different phases.
Proposed Bronzeville Trail moves forward
John Adams, Esq., was walking through Bronzeville and saw the abandoned Kenwood “L” Train Embankment and it sparked an idea for the Bronzeville Trail. The Bronzeville Trail is a proposed walking, running and biking trail, which would be located from 40th and Dearborn to 41st and Lake Park Avenue. Adams is the founder and project director of the Bronzeville Trail Task Force.
Pilar Audain is a leader in the trenches to heal traumatized communities
Pilar Audain believes a household is as strong as the woman who runs it. Audain is the Associate Director of Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation and the Founder of Wrap Your beYouty Movement. The work Audain does focuses on Black women, with an emphasis on communities and neighborhoods that have been traumatized and impacted by Anti-Blackness, racism and disparities that are happening on the South and West sides.
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.
