Local News
Preservation of Aff ordable Housing Acquires Island Terrace Apartments near Obama Center
Continuing its 12-year mission to preserve affordable housing opportunities in the changing Woodlawn community, Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH) announced it has finalized the acquisition of Island Terrace Apartments from PNC Bank. Located at 6430 South Stony Island, across from the planned Obama Presidential Center, Island Terrace has 240 apartments for a broad range of incomes and household sizes.
VIOLIFE® Teams up with RZA to Launch Grant Program to Promote Plant-Based Eating
Upfield US announced a new grant program, Plant Grants, aimed at promoting plant-based eating through charitable funding, education, and mentorship. This first year is being sponsored by Violife®, an Upfield brand and portfolio of 100 percent vegan cheeses and spreads, in collaboration with legendary hip-hop artist and long-time vegan, RZA. The 2021 Plant Grants program will focus on helping community-based Black-owned restaurants recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic recognizing that these businesses are often the economic and cultural centers of their communities. The program will provide funding to support re-investment in the business, an introduction to plant-based ingredients, and coaching on menu development from two plant-based chef pioneers, Lemel Durrah and Laricia Chandle to inspire Black-owned restaurants to add more plant-based dishes to their menus or convert well-loved recipes to plant-based.
HUD, HHS-HRSA, Rainbow Push Coalition, Family Christian Health Center, Illinois Baptist Disaster Relief And Capital Realty Group Collaborate To Increase Access To COVID-19 Vaccination Among HUD Assist
Federal officials from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) alongside Family Christian Health Center; Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr., Rainbow PUSH Coalition; and, Illinois Baptist Disaster Relief were at Concordia Place Apartments, a HUD-assisted multifamily housing complex owned and operated by Capital Realty Group, to provide COVID-19 vaccinations and other resources as a part of a joint agency effort to increase access to COVID-19 vaccinations among disproportionately impacted communities, including HUD-assisted households. Concordia Place Apartments has over 720 HUD-assisted residents of which nearly half are under the age of 18.
FOUNDER WANTS TO NORMALIZE MENTORING
Kelly Fair, founder and executive director of Polished Pebbles, has been in education for more than 20 years. She is a trained speech pathologist and worked with the college prep programs at Christ Universal Temple.
Deeply Rooted’s Summer Dance Intensive Concludes With In-Person Performances July 16–17 At Sheraton Grand Hotel
Deeply Rooted Dance Theater’s Summer Dance Intensive (SDI), which takes place in a hybrid format combining in-person and virtual instruction this year, culminates with in-person performances of new works at 7p.m. Friday-Saturday, July 16-17, at the Sheraton Grand Hotel, 301 E. North Water St.
NEW MAYOR OF ROBBINS READY TO ORGANIZE
Darren Bryant was sworn in as Mayor of Robbins in May and already has big plans for the Village. At 29, Bryant is the youngest African American Mayor to hold office in the entire state of Illinois. But Bryant has been a public servant since he was 23, when he served as Park District Commissioner.
The Atlanta Voice publisher elected for second term as NNPA’s First Vice Chair
The National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) announced that the organization elected Janis L. Ware to serve as its First Vice Chair for a second term.
CONGRESSMAN DAVIS CELEBRATES EXPANDED CHILD TAX CREDIT
Monday, June 21, was designated Child Tax Credit Day. Congressman Danny Davis, D. Dist. 7, joined community stakeholders to talk about the importance of an expanded child tax credit. The Child Tax Credit was part of the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan signed by President Joe Biden in March. The expanded tax credit would give $250 per month, per child, between the ages of 6 to 17, and $300 per month, per child, younger than 6. Families who make less than $75,000 annually are eligible for these payments, which are set to begin, July 15.
Rep. Kelly Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Help 9-1-1 Operators
“Our nation’s 9-1-1 call takers and emergency dispatchers take calls from people experiencing some of the most distressing and desperate moments of their lives,” said Rep. Kelly.
SEAWAY BANK REOPENS TO THE PUBLIC
Seaway Bank, which has been a part of the Chatham community since the 1960s, is a division of the Self Help Federal Credit Union.
CDC Approves Return To Cruising
Tom Joyner’s Ultimate Party with a Purpose® supporting students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) sets sail in November.
Redfin Reports Pending Sales Continue to Slow--Still Up 29% from 2020
The breakneck pace of the housing market is beginning to slow heading into June, according to a new report from Redfin (redfin.com), the technology-powered real estate brokerage.
IIT PARTNERS WITH NEW ESPORTS ARENA
Esports and gaming have been gaining popularity, with gamers becoming celebrities and making money from esports. A new Esports arena, Surge by Smash Interactive, is set to open in Bronzeville and the Illinois Institute of Technology will leverage its esports and digital arts program to partner with the arena.
SBA Announces Funding Competition to Organizations Providing Federal Procurement Training to Veteran Entrepreneurs
The U.S. Small Business Administration recently announced that non-profit organizations and private sector firms are now eligible to compete for funding of up to $500,000 to deliver federal procurement training to veteran and service-disabled veteran entrepreneurs. The application period runs through July 12, 2021.
