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𝐀𝐫𝐭 𝐯𝐬 𝐕𝐢𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐠𝐨’𝐬 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐖𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞
West Garfield Park was recently dubbed the 'most violent neighborhood in Chicago' by the Chicago Sun-Times. This historic neighborhood has witnessed nearly 1,000 shootings in the last five years – approximately one shooting every other day. West Garfield Park, however, is fighting back. A resilient and progressive hope has birthed: The Sankofa School of the Arts. Sankofa is a new, dynamic and collaborative arts showcase supported by leading West Side institutions: New Mount Pilgrim Church-Chicago, the innovative men's group – the MAAFA Redemption Project, and the Chicago Blackhawks Foundation.
THE JOFFREY BALLET LAUNCHES INCLUSIVE NEW FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
he Joffrey Ballet announced the launch of The Joffrey Ballet Fellowship, designed to continue the Joffrey's longstanding commitment to Diversity, Equity, Access, and Inclusion, and expand opportunities for candidates pursuing a career in arts management. Beginning in January 2024, the robust program will start identifying a diverse group of candidates from throughout the City of Chicago and beyond to be considered for the inaugural Joffrey Fellowship, with the 2023 Joffrey Fellow expected to be announced in the spring of 2024. During the 9 to 12-month Fellowship, the Joffrey Fellow will gain hands-on experience with various departments across the Joffrey Ballet to learn what it takes to operate a world-renowned ballet company, enabling Fellows to learn and grow in their careers.
PEPSICO CHICAGO EMPLOYEES GIFT OVER $1 MILLION TO NONPROFITS DURING OCTOBER; COMPANY ANNOUNCES NEW GRANTS TO SUPPORT CHICAGOANS
Employees in PepsiCo’s downtown Chicago office at the Old Post Office showed that their commitment to giving back goes well beyond the holiday season. During October, they volunteered nearly 1,400 hours alongside neighbors as part of “PepsiCo Gives Back,” the company’s annual global giving and service campaign. Chicago-based employees who are part of local PepsiCo Beverages North America, Quaker Oats, Frito-Lay North America, Gatorade Performance and other teams also donated $1,225,008 toward nonprofits—gifts that were matched by the PepsiCo Foundation 2:1.
South Suburban School Gives Back with Free Holiday Haircuts for Students
During these challenging economic times for some families, Dr. Shernita Mays, principal of the Illinois School in Park Forest, knows that providing haircuts can be an extra expense for families whose budgets are already stretched.
The Chicago Scots Will Transform Elder Care with Huge $14 M Gift
The Chicago Scots, Illinois’ first and oldest non-profit organization, has received a foundational $14 million gift from The Negaunee Foundation to launch a program to meet the future unmet needs of Chicago’s senior population.
Florists Create Art With Exhibit At Driehaus Museum
Inside the rooms of a renovated mansion in the city’s River North neighborhood, floral designs created by florists of color are displayed as part of an exhibit that takes inspiration from tiffany glass and the rooms where the installations are located.
Dream Vault Opens at Blue Door
Dion’s Chicago Dream in partnership with the Blue Door Neighborhood Center Morgan Park and T. Castro Produce have developed a way for people to receive fresh produce with the hope it will benefit residents in the Morgan Park community.
Blackroots Alliance Looks At What Public Safety Could Look Like For Communties
Blackroots Alliance recently released a report on public safety, with the goal of improving the Black community in Chicago and surrounding communities.
Theater47 Brings Broadway-Style Shows to South Suburbs
John Ruffin has been writing plays for 36 years. Ruffin got his start writing and producing inspirational plays. Throughout the years, he moved into more edutainment where he wanted the audience to be entertained but also to learn something. The shows he produces now are more Broadway-style shows.
Accelerator Program Helps Business Owners Build Bankability
Kyra Hardwick founded the Kyra Company eight years ago because she wanted to help build businesses, build people and help them with their profitability. The Kyra Company has found a way to engage business owners around a holistic approach in building their business.
Christmas in the Wards celebrates its 27th year of Giving & Service to the Community with Events in the City, Southland, and Proviso!
Christmas in the Wards celebrated its 27th year of Giving & Service to the Community with multiple events this year. Starting off the holiday celebrations was the annual shopping with the Mayor December 11, 2023, at Walmart, 10900 S. Doty Avenue in Chicago. Larry Huggins, Founder of Christmas in the Wards, and Title Sponsors Metropolitan Pier & Exposition Authority (*MPEA), Walmart & Amazon; Presenting Sponsors, Walgreens & Grub Hub along with Platinum, Diamond, Gold Sponsors and Aldermen on the south side to shop for families.
Merry Christmas! Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas sending out $30.5 million in automatic refunds
Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas is sending more than $30.5 million in automatic refunds beginning this week to about 9,000 property owners who overpaid their First Installment taxes last year.
BLACK WOMEN THRIVING EAST OF THE RIVER LAUNCH CELEBRATION CITES ROLE OF COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT
A powerful organization, Black Women Thriving East of the River, celebrated its community launch on December 12. The event emphasized that strategies and interventions to improve cancer survival and opportunities for quality jobs were developed by women with community ties, diverse backgrounds, and lived experiences in healthcare, community service, education, workforce development, and various other specialties.
Remembering Our Past, Redefining Our Present, Reaffirming Our Future: “The Teaching Our Own History”
We have launched a statewide task force in conjunction with the Florida General Baptist Convention, Inc., Reverend Dr. Carl Johnson, president, to demand that the governor of Florida and the State Department of Education, teach Black history accurately, factually and forthrightly. In the spirit of Dr. King, in the State of Florida, we organized a task force labeled, "Teaching Our Own History."
