2021 was a year of uncertainty for the nation, the world shut down due to COVID-19 and American citizens were ordered to shelter in place until vaccines were available. Never in the history of America had such ever concurred, the Insurrection. As time would have it, we would see and experience traumatizing events one-after-another one. From the loss of prominent leaders to business closures, Job lost, school closures, from new discriminatory hairstyle choice legislation becoming law. There were ground breakings on monumental construction sites. Also, we watched with bided breath two guilty verdicts hand down in the George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery cases.
Uduimoh Umolu is the Chicagoan behind the tequila brand Jon Basil, which pays homage to his grandfather and the man who was instrumental in making Umolu’s
father dream is coming to the United States possible.
The site of the former YMCA, located at 3039 E. 91st St., has returned to being a community center after Claretian Associates and Preservation of Affordable Housing partnered on a renovation project. The Salud Center opened on Saturday, Dec. 18, and includes 101 affordable senior apartments.
Landmarks Illinois has awarded $35,000 to preservation projects in Illinois through its three grant programs. The grants, given to 14 preservation efforts in more than a dozen Illinois communities, were all awarded between August and November of this year through the Preservation Heritage Fund, the Barbara C. and Thomas E. Donnelley II Preservation Fund for Illinois and the Timuel D. Black Jr. Grant Fund for Chicago’s South Side.
Illinois State Senator Mattie Hunter represents the 3rd District, which includes some of the poorest and richest neighborhoods in the City of Chicago. Healthcare has been one of her number one priorities, and she has sponsored and co-sponsored bills, like Senate Bill 1846 and
House Bill 158.
Building on efforts to make Illinois a national leader in safeguarding reproductive rights, Governor JB Pritzker signed House Bill 370, repealing the harmful Parental Notification Act (PNA). Rescinding the PNA ensures that while a pregnant minor can choose to involve a family member or legal guardian in their decision to have or not have an abortion, vulnerable youth – such as victims of rape, incest, and domestic
abuse – are not compelled to do so under the law.
Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs announced the return of more than $90,000 to Shriners Hospitals for Children in Chicago. The proceeds were turned over to the Illinois Treasurer’s Unclaimed Property Program from the estate of Army veteran Ernest Ulrich, who named the non-profit as a beneficiary. Ulrich passed away in 1999.
U.S. Representative Bobby L. Rush (D-Ill.) announced that, with the final payment going out on December 15, the expanded monthly Child Tax Credit will have delivered a total of nearly $197 million in tax cuts to more than 79,000 families in Illinois’s 1st District in 2021. Rush voted for the expanded monthly Child Tax Credit (CTC) as part of the American Rescue Plan, which was signed into law by President Biden in March.
Amidst a global pandemic and ever-increasing worker inequality, the need to effectively organize and uplift worker voices towards better and safer working conditions has become imperative. Worker centers and labor unions have an opportunity to step up to create unique partnerships that support new forms of worker organizing that ultimately lead to greater and sustained
prosperity for workers.
Woman-owned online fashion retailer Shop Style Shark announces huge Christmas sale event. At Shop Style Shark, our goal is to help our customers find everything they need in one place. And there is no better time than now to stock up on your favorite hot and trending styles. From Christmas Day to Dec. 29th, Shop Style Shark is offering customers 20% off everything in their online store.
The Infinite Fit jean features innovative denim technology, allowing for one size to fit up to four waist sizes, making it a supple, adaptive jean that will fit every day.
United Theological Seminary Doctor of Ministry Program is offering a new Focus Group entitled, “A
Generational Approach for Today’s Urban Ministry in the Next Normal.
On Saturday, Warner Bros. sponsored a “Red Pill vs Blue Pill”, Matrix-themed, DJ Battle at Orlando’s Culture Fest in anticipation of the upcoming release of The Matrix Resurrections with thousands in attendance . The battle featured DJ Dr Doom (93.3 Th e Beat) and DJ D Strong of (104.5 The Beat) along with rappers Ayche (Tampa, FL) and Kevy Dat Deal (Tallahassee, FL). The
audience danced and sang to the music with a lighthearted happiness filling the air.Team Red Pill, DJ Dr. Doom and Kevy Dat Deal, were crowned as winners of the battle by the end of the night.
Chanay Walton created My Pay Circle in 2019. It is an app that allows its users to organize trips and payments for group travel. When the pandemic hit and people stopped traveling, she decided to pivot and retool the app, with a focus on how travel would change post pandemic. Now, she is ready to re-launch the app in 2022.