Conversations With The Citizen

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.

The Greater Chatham Initiative recently hosted their inaugural fundraising gala, Greater Chatham Strong, at Stony Island Arts Bank.

Eunice Smith, director of operations for Contexture Media Network recently sat down with Conversations With The Citizen to discuss their upcoming event to be held in Chatham.

A local activist, Demetrius Nash, recently founded the nonprofit organization Replace Guns WIth Hammers as a way to reduce violence in Chicago's most underserved communities. The goal of the organization is to give young men an opportunity to work on a building renovation as an alternative to committing violence.

Local author D. A. Rhodes recently released her newest novel The Day Hate Stood Still. The much-anticipated sequel to her first published novel, Why?, is set in 1980’s Chicago, a time when Harold Washington was becoming the city’s first African American mayor and there was a new hope for black communities and residents. While excitement is in the air for the city as a whole, the Boxx family is once again dealing with a tragedy that will change the course of their family’s future forever.

Nearly a dozen residents from several of the communities surrounding Jackson Park recently came together to organize Southside Neighbors For Hope (SSN4H), an advocacy group in favor of the Obama Presidential Center (OPC) coming to the park. Erin Adams, co-founder and chair of the new organization, visited the Citizen to have a conversation about their newly established goals and their vision for the area.

Afenya Montgomery, the founder of the iCAN Collective, will hosts the 2018 #GoalGetHer Conference on Nov. 16 to 17 at The Connection, 4321 S. Cottage Grove, in Bronzeville. The annual conference celebrates diversity and inclusion in entrepreneurship and features inspirational speakers, panel discussions, and interactive workshops.