Conversations With The Citizen

Chicago native Michelamonè Henderson is an author, a life coach, a motivational speaker, and the founder and chief executive officer of The Core Woman Academy. Most recently, she released a book titled Rejection Saved My Life which is a self-help memoir that tells the story of her struggles with rejection and self-reflection and provides readers with 15 transformational keys on how to use rejection as FUEL.

I would begin with public schools. We have to have great public schools in all of our communities and where we are now is that you can pretty much tell the success and performance levels of a school by the zip code that it’s in just as you can predict life expectancies on the basis of zip codes.

Immediately we have to make sure that we have a healing process where we bring people to City Hall to say that City Hall is open to the people of Chicago, we have to make sure that we bring people back to government. We want to send a strong message that this administration, the Ford administration, is going to be powered by people.

After hearing concerns from community members, the Chicago City Council recently voted in favor of creating a Public Mental Health Clinic Service Expansion Task Force to explore how the city might be able to improve it’s mental health services.

Maya French, a successful young entrepreneur from Chicago, was recently added to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list for 2019. French was also recently recognized by Cook County Commissioner Stanley Moore along with the entire Cook County Board of Commissioners for her entrepreneurial accomplishments.

Ramone Javon Griffith, known professionally as RJ Griffith, is an inspirational Chicago singer and songwriter who has been performing in one way or another since he was three years old. Today, Griffith has focused his energy solely on music and hopes to use his platform to spread positivity in Chicago and throughout the world.

The Greater Englewood Toastmasters Club hosts meetings twice a month in the Seventh District Police Station, 1438 W. 63rd St., in the community room where members are given an opportunity to improve their public speaking, leadership, and listening skills.

Candy Bee is the owner of Bold Addictions, an online fashion boutique that she launched after her son was shot. In order to be able to provide 24-hour care for her son while he was recovering from the tragic event, Candy Bee was forced to leave her job and rather than feel discouraged she decided to seize the opportunity to honor her lifelong passion for fashion.

Dr. Eirc Whitaker, a self-proclaimed South Sider by birth and by choice. Dr. Whitaker is Chairman of the CPASS Foundation which recently launched an online database that will help Illinoisans connect with STEM opportunities in their communities

For years, the president of the Bronzeville Culinary Kitchen, Shelby Parchman, has been involved in economic development and business planning in Chicago and through his work, he came to realize that there was a lack of opportunities for chefs and restaurant owners on the south side to incubate and test their ideas before moving into a brick and mortar location.