Conversations With The Citizen

Chicago's Jazz Musician Ernest Dawkins joined us in the studio to talk about how he acquired his love for the Music Genre of Jazz. He had a gift for recognizing music talents in younger musicians. Dawkins even teaching musical lessons in the City free to the residence. Dawkins encourage people to make donations to the Arts and Musical Cultural. He see's a coalition between the absence of music and arts in schools which he feels impact individual choices and creates increase crime. In other words the youth lacks alternatives. You can visit Dawkins organization's website at:https://www.livethespiritresidency.org/

Margaret Murphy-Webb joined "Conversation With The Citizen" today to talk about her organizations plans to bring back a normalcy to Live Entertainment goers. Murphy- Webb is hopeful that Jazzin on the Steps and other Live shows will show up in your community this Spring and Summer. Margaret Murphy-Webb is a singer and arts agitator who is the co-founder and executive director of the South Side Jazz Coalition.

LaTanya Johnson founder of LaTanya Jonhson and the youth of Englewood joined us for "Conversations With The Citizen. LaTanya, established her organization on June 19, 2013. The organization has been established to work with youth ages 5-13 to provide after school activities including education, recreation communication skill building, social opportunities, advocacy and support. Most importantly this program provides strong relationships with capable, caring, and positive adults, a key component of helping children succeed in a dangerous and violent environment like the Englewood neighborhood in Chicago. “It takes a village to raise a kid. We lost that. I want to bring that back,” Johnson said. “If I can target 100s of kids, we can make this community, our city, a better place,” stated by Founder, LaTanya Johnson.

Greater Chatham Initiative's Mrs. Sims-Spears and Ms. Hardy joined us to discuss their latest projects and how they were able to help business in their corridor pivoted during COVID. They were excited to share what they are doing on the 9, (79th Street).

Quilen Blackwell is the President and founder of the Chicago Eco House, whose mission is to train inner-city youth in sustainable social enterprises to alleviate poverty. Quilen discussed with "Conversations with the Citizen", the organizations two signature programs, the Flower Farm and its 3D Printing youth social enterprises.

"Conversations With The Citizen, welcomes Nikkita Randle, owner of "Twisted Egg Roll". Twisted Egg Roll, founded in January 2015, out of the love for food and a passion for cooking. Nikkita tells us why she decided to go into business and the story behind Twisted Egg Roll. If you love an Asian staple but with an American flare you would love what she has to offer. Visit her website: twistedeggroll.com to get and idea of what's available for purchase or to place a catering order.

Joining us today for an episode of "Conversations With The Citizen", is Ahmand Smith. Ahmand is an entrepreneur and author of "Kodi Blackman The Eclipse," a book about a young Black man who discovers that he is a superhero. It is the first in a series of books. The book is available on Amazon and other places where books are sold.

Conversations with the Citizen Welcomes Vernard Alsberry to today's episode. Mayor Alsberry is the president of the Village of Hazel Crest. He is running for the 5th District Cook County Commissioner seat. Alsberry looks to fill the vacant seat of Commissioner Deborah Sims. Petitions for candidates began on Thursday, Jan. 13, and continue through Monday, March 14.

Fernando Jones, the Blues man, visited "Conversations with the Citizen" as our guest to close of the holiday season of 2021. Fernando is the founder of Blues Camp International. Jones founded the free blues camp in 2010 and hosts it locally on the campus of Columbia College Chicago, where he is an adjunct professor in the music department.

"Conversations with the Citizen", Welcomes Greg "Olskool Ice-Gre" Lewis today for a conversation. Lewis is in concert today at the Promontory. Greg Lewis, known as Olskool Ice-Gre, one half of the Adult Hip Hop group Abstract Mindstate. He talks about Hip Hop, how he met his partner EP Da Hellcat, working with Kanye West and his book, "I Refuse to Quit: The Autobiography of a Dreamer."