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State Selects Project Manager to Proceed with Sale of the Thompson Center
Governor JB Pritzker recently announced that the State of Illinois has taken an important step forward in selling the James R. Thompson Center. After a competitive RFP process to select a project manager, the State will enter into exclusive negotiations with Ernst & Young Infrastructure Advisors, LLC (EY) to provide an array of project management and technical expertise to generate the best value from the sale for taxpayers.
Chicago Bar Association Announces Partnership With “Lawyers In The Classroom” Program
The Chicago Bar Association has partnered with a longstanding civic education program that brings lawyers directly into the classrooms of Chicago‐area elementary schools to teach the U.S. Constitution and promote the principles of democracy.
SUBURBAN BLUES GROUP TO REPRESENT CHICAGO YOUTH AT INTERNATIONAL BLUES CHALLENGE
Three south suburban youth, who call themselves MudCity Blue, will attend the 2020 International Blues Challenge in Memphis next month as the only Chicago-area youth blues group. The trio, Kendall Carter, Stacy Norris and Peyton McDowell, met while students at Homewood-Flossmoor High School (HF) where their passion for blues music enriched. Carter is the group’s guitarist and vocalist; McDowell is on bass and Norris is on drums.
Board Approves McDonald’s Settlements
AFTER NEARLY THREE YEARS OF PROCEEDINGS, THE GENERAL COUNSEL AND MCDONALD’S USA, LLC PRESENTED A SERIES OF INFORMAL SETTLEMENT AGREEMENTS RESOLVING ALL THE ALLEGED UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICES.
West Side Native Striving to Make a Difference at North Lawndale College Prep
In Chicago, it’s rare that a high school alumnus returns as principal shortly after graduating but that’s exactly what 29-year-old Arriel Janae Williams did this year.
BIG CHANGES UNDERWAY FOR BJ’S MARKET & BAKERY
BJ’s Market & Bakery is making changes to its business strategy that includes relocating to a South Side shopping center, opening more locations and focusing more on carry out orders. According to Hank Meyer, who co-owns BJ’s Market & Bakery at 8734 S. Stony Island Ave. with his brother John Meyer, the longtime black-owned restaurant is moving to the Stony Island Plaza, 9501 S. Stony Island Ave., this month.
Sonia Manzano Best Known as “Maria” on “Sesame Street Gives MLK Commemorative Address
Tickets are now available to hear Sonia Manzano deliver the Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Address on Tuesday, Jan. 14, at 6 p.m. at Elon University in North Carolina. The event will take place at McCrary Theatre and Manzano’s talk is titled, “Multi-Racial Latinos & the Civil Rights Movement.”
Powerful Book For Young Black Boys Celebrates 25 Years With a Pledge to Get 1 Million New Readers
Jerald LeVon Hoover became the published author of a Young Adult (YA) title, one of a few books targeted toward young Black and Brown boys ages 12 and up, My Friend, My Hero. This novella has become a staple, as recommended reading in elementary through high schools across the country and around the world. That is a distinct honor Hoover shares with a short list of African-American male YA authors including: Walter Dean Myers, Kevin Powell, Kwame Alexander, and Ralph Burgess.
Public invited to take IDOT traveler survey
Th e Illinois Department of Transportation is seeking feedback on the state’s transportation system through its annual Illinois Traveler Opinion Survey, available now through Dec. 31. Th e survey is available online by visiting idot.illinois.gov.
Leo Burnett Chicago Names Aki Spicer Chief Strategy Officer
Leo Burnett Chicago recently named Aki Spicer to the role of chief strategy officer. Elevated from the role of EVP and Global Strategy Lead, Spicer will report to Andrew Swinand, Leo Burnett Group CEO.
FILM REVIEW: In Fabric
She thought she was simply buying a sexy red dress, off the rack. But when that frock came home with her, so did the supernatural. Writer/director Peter Strickland had a wicked vision in mind when he created this campy horror film, which has a style that is reminiscent of the 1977 cult classic Suspiria, by famed 1970s/80s Italian horror director Dario Argento. Argento gained notoriety for his arty mixture of thriller, mystery, psychological and erotic elements versus unbridled gore.
BLACK NEWS CHANNEL IN ‘THE RED ZONE’ READY FOR LAUNCH
As the historic launch on January 6, 2020, of the Black News Channel (BNC) approaches, officials can count members of Congress among those eagerly anticipating the new platform. Congresswoman Karen Bass (D-Calif.), the chair of the Congressional Black Caucus and Congresswoman Yvette Clarke, the chair of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, joined a gathering of BNC officials, anchors, and other guests at a reception on December 3 in Washington, D.C., to toast the launch of the network.
Howard University Awards Six Students with the 2019-20 Patricia Roberts Harris Public Affairs Fellowship
Howard University recently announced the selection of six students who will receive the Patricia Roberts Harris Public Affairs Fellowship (PRH). Administered by the Ralph J. Bunche International Affairs Center at Howard University, the fellowship seeks to prepare Howard University students for careers in public affairs in an increasingly global world. To date, more than 200 Howard University alumni have been Patricia Roberts Harris fellows.
NEW GROCERY STORE KICKS OFF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLANS FOR SOUTH SHORE
The latest sign that economic development is on the horizon in South Shore came last week with the grand opening of Local Market, a full-service grocery store, which anchors the Jeffery Plaza Shopping Center. But there are other plans for the area beyond a new grocery store, something not seen in South Shore since Dominick’s closed its store in December 2013.
