The Chicago Football Classic’s mission is to inspire African-American high school and college students through their support of programs, initiatives and events that will increase the awareness of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) and the opportunities HBCUs provide African-American students in their efforts to achieve educational excellence.
“This is an age where children are still trying to find themselves and identify who they are,” James said. “So, it would be in our best interest to try to cultivate children at the 10 through 12 age range so we can produce world changers.”
Booker stated the United States Federal Prison population has gone up 800 percent and has had a 500 percent increase in incarceration of poor and people of color, the mentally ill,
addicted people and veterans since the 1980’s.
A grassroots coalition of Illinois women will host a panel discussion to hear viewpoints and policy ideas from Democratic candidates for governor. The panel discussion will take plan on October 26.
New this year, Thornton Township will feature a one-day basketball tournament where police officers and teens compete
together on the same team for the pride of their town. Ten police departments within Thornton Township will compete in the
single-day tournament. The purpose is to create an event where the community can come together and support each other. It
is an extension of Thornton Township Supervisor Frank M. Zuccarelli's Faith, Dignity & Respect Initiative.
“We realized that selling a house isn’t just about the location of where a house is on a block,” Nelson said. “But it’s how the block is a part of the neighborhood and how the neighborhood is a part of the community.”
“Someone told me ‘people are being shot in the morning in broad daylight and it’s not even curfew hours.’ But I said there are a lot of young people being shot after curfew, he said, adding, “someone’s child is actually pulling that trigger…someone’s child is involved in the violence that’s occurring in our streets. Maybe that particular child is seeking love that he didn’t get from his home so if we tell our children we love them, then that might help keep them out of the system.”
Africa International House will host their Annual Gala, held as a precursor to the 28th Annual African Festival of the Arts (AFA), at the DuSable Museum on Friday, August 18 from 7 p.m. - 11p.m. The event will feature a special performance by singer, songwriter Regina Belle , The Gala is a wonderful sampling of African culture, that features all the elements of the Festival including food, displays of art and artifacts, African fashion, and of course music.
Chicagoans can register now for the Fall 2017 semester at City Colleges of Chicago (CCC). CCC is the largest community college system in Illinois. The registration deadline for the 16-week Fall term is Monday, August 21, 2017, with classes beginning Monday, August 28.
The time for students to return to school is approaching and Black businesses around the world have creative back-to-school supplies, backpacks, clothing and more for students’ upcoming school year. The Citizen created a list of seven Black owned businesses where parents or guardians can shop online for school items.
Caroline Sibley Elementary School, located in Calumet City, will welcome its students when the new school year begins on August 21 with a newly landscaped green space where its north wing
stood only a few weeks ago.
Alderman Edward M. Burke (14th) presided over a ceremony dedicating an entire block along South Clark Street between Madison and Monroe Streets in honor of the late Chicago City Comptroller Clark Burrus.
According to the following statistics, the economic condition of America’s Black community is in dire straits: A recent study by Harvard University found that homeownership in the Black community stands at only 42.2 percent in the nation’s largest metro areas. That’s below the Latino-American community, which is at 46 percent and well below the White-American community, which is at 72 percent.
Barbara Gonzaque Boutte, who was renowned for her involvement in a host of social service and civil rights organizations died at her home in Markham, Illinois on July 17. She was 86. Boutte succumbed after a long battle with Multiple Myeloma, a form of blood cancer. She was the widow of the late Alvin J. Boutte, CEO of Indecorp and President of Independence Bank of Chicago.