Conversations With The Citizen

Thaddeus Jones was the first African-American Alderman in Calumet City when he was elected in 1996. Now, he wants to be the first African-American Mayor of the city, which is in the South Suburbs. Jones, who was born and raised in Ford Heights, is also an Illinois State Representative of the 29th District. Jones said Calumet City is in a state of despair because people have walked away from Calumet City, much like people did in Ford Heights.

In the last few years, Kina Collins has been organizing around the movement for Black Lives. Collins, a native of the Austin neighborhood on the city’s West Side, was integral in helping organize around the killing of LaQuan McDonald. Most recently, Collins ran for the 7th District Congressional seat.

Beulah Brent uses her experience and knowledge of the healthcare system to bring awareness to Breast and Cervical Cancer in minority and underserved communities on the South and West side of Chicago. Brent is the CEO, of Sisters Working it Out. The non-profit has been in existence for 19 years. Its goal is to eliminate the disparities for breast cancer in the Chicago area. It facilitates programs which serve to educate women, as well as connect them to quality preventative health care services.

Early Walker, owner of W&W Towing. Walker is known for his community philanthropy work in across the city of Chicago. Walker has participated in recovery services for families across the nation hit by natural disasters. Walker is also the founder of "I'm Telling Don't Shoot". The organization I'm Telling Don't Shoot" provides reward monies for information as a way to solve crimes across the Chicagoland area. Walker has provided services from towing, housing, food and financial support in neighborhoods hit hard by violence. Early believes in paying it forward by blessing people.

Monica Gordon was recently appointed Director of Government and Community Relations at Chicago State University.

Tonika Lewis Johnson is the creator of the Folded Map Project, a visual investigation of the inequity and disparity of the North and South Sides. In that project, Johnson has the residents, who lived on the same streets with similar addresses on different sides of the city, meet each other and talk about race, the city and segregation. Essence McDowell is the associate director of the Social Justice Initiative at the University of Illinois Chicago. The Social Justice Initiative is a small arm of the University of Illinois Chicago and its aim is to bring the campus community with city-wide communities together to build a bridge between scholarship and activism. “Belonging” is the inaugural exhibit of the Social Justice Initiative’s Chicago Justice Gallery.

Ariel DeNey Rainey, CEO and founder of Hustle Mommies. Hustle Mommies is a nonprofit organization that helps urban and inner-city moms become leaders in their homes, as well as in their communities. With Rainey at the helm, the Hustle Mommies organization has received proclamations from elected officials in New York City, Compton, Calif., and has been featured by the Obama Foundation.

Ashley Munson is the Legislative Affairs Manager for the Illinois Network of Charter Schools. Ashley is a community activist and a voice that speaks for the improvement of public education for primarily Black and brown students throughout Illinois. Ashley Munson hosted the March for US 2020 - Million Man March in Chicago on Juneteenth. The march brought out 5,000 people to celebrate Black culture and to demand the City of Chicago and the State of Illinois for real change. From this, Munson is creating a non-profit that uplifts Black communities, assists in creating legislation to curb gun violence, end police brutality, and provides equity in education, healthcare, and resources.

During 2020 Covid-19 Season, Illinois State Representative Marcus Evans (33rd District), sits down with Conversations With The Citizen Host Tia Carol Jones to discuss how and when he became interested in becoming a politician.

Chakena is the new chairwoman of the Cook County Young Democrats and president of the Chicago Votes Action Fund Board of Directors. Chakena Sims has a vision for expanding access to voting rights in Chicago and engaging a new generation of political activists across Cook County. With a strong handshake and 26-years of life under her belt, Sims is ready to be an advocate and a leader as the 2020 election approaches.