South Shore Cultural Center Hosts African American Business Expo
City of Chicago Small Business Center's on the Road series held an African-American Small Business Expo
Over the weekend, the City of Chicago Small Business Center's on the Road series held an African-American Small Business Expo at the South Shore Cultural Center, 7059 S. South Shore Dr., that featured keynote speaker, Desiree Rogers, CEO of Johnson Publishing Company and former White House Social Secretary. This year marks the second year of the series, the first African-American Small Business Expo, and the third of five scheduled expos for this year.
DuSable Museum’s 40th Annual Arts and Crafts Festival
Festival, was created by the museum's founder, the late Dr. Margaret Burroughs in 1974
The DuSable Museum of African American History, 740 E. 56th Pl., held its 40th Annual Arts and Crafts Festival this past weekend. The Festival, was created by the museum's founder, the late Dr. Margaret Burroughs in 1974, and celebrates her legacy.
Student Loan Debt Discussed at 43rd Annual PUSH Coalition Conference
A group of young adults convened Monday as part of Rainbow PUSH Coalition’s (RPC) 43rd Annual International Convention held at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers, 301 E. N. Waters St. to discuss, student loan debt and its impact on their lives and educational pursuits.
Cook County’s Summer Repair Schedule Adds More Roads & Bridge Projects
Cook County Department of Transportation and Highways (CCDTH) has announced an updated list of construction projects slated for 2014 that will include street resurfacing and rehabilitation, and bridge repairs throughout various areas of the County.
Walgreen to Hold Free HIV-AIDS Testing in Honor of National HIV Testing Day
In recognition of National HIV Testing Day (NHTD), June 27, Walgreens is collaborating with the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation’s Greater Than AIDS (GTA) campaign to help offer free no appointment HIV testing to the public at 27 Walgreens stores in the Chicagoland area. NHTD was launched in 1995 by the National Association of People with AIDS (NAPA) in response to the growing number of HIV infections in communities of color.
The Chicago Sky Celebrates WNBA’s LGBT Pride Campaign
On Sunday, the Chicago Sky hosted the Tulsa Shock at the Allstate Arena, 6920 N. Mannheim Rd., Rosemont, IL, and held a post-game networking event and panel discussion about LGBT (Lesbian Gay Bi-Sexual Transgender) athletes and their fight for equality in both professional and amateur sports. The reception was in honor of the WNBA’s (Women’s National Basketball Association) Pride campaign, a new national platform celebrating inclusion and equality, while combating anti-LGBT bias which is sponsored by COVERGIRL.
Community Coalition Fight for Dyett HS, Calls Out 4th Ward Alderman Will Burns
The Coalition to Revitalize Dyett High School, which is comprised of local community grassroots and higher education organizations, recently staged an overnight sit-in protest in front of 4th Ward Chicago alderman Will Burns’ office building, 435 E. 35th St., and demanded vocal and demonstrative action to protect Walter H. Dyett High School, 555 E. 51st St., from becoming a “turnaround” school.
CBA Hosts Summer Mix ‘N Mingle at the Southern Shore Yacht Club
The Chatham Business Association (CBA) hosted its quarterly Mix ‘N Mingle at the Southern Shore Yacht Club, 6401 S. Richard Dr., last Thursday evening. The gathering was sponsored by CBA members, President’s Lounge night club, Lifesavers Portable Toilets and Special Service Area #51.
Ombudsman Chicago Hosts First Ever Graduation Ceremony
Recently, Ombudsman Chicago, 2401 W. Congress Pkwy, celebrated its first ever graduation ceremony at Holy Trinity High School, 1433 West Division St. Ombudsman Chicago is a dropout recovery school that offers an alternative option for students seeking a Chicago Public Schools (CPS) accredited diploma.
Law Signed Banning Police Officer Ticket Quotas
Illinois Governor Pat Quinn signed Senate Bill (SB3411) on Sunday which prohibits municipalities from requiring police officers to meet ticket quotas. The new law also prevents quotas from being used to evaluate an officer’s performance.
CBA Hosts Digital Security Specialist at Monthly Meeting
The Chatham Business Association (CBA) hosted guest speaker, Lisa Thompson-Bennett, Community Relations Liaison, Housing Government & Community Relations for the Office of the Illinois Attorney General, at its monthly meeting yesterday held at the QBG Building, 806 E. 78th St. Thompson-Bennett discussed the importance of businesses securing against digital identity theft.
South Holland Welcomes Unique Family Business to the Community
The Village of South Holland held a ribbon cutting ceremony to welcome Xtreme Kustoms Wheels & Electronics, 518 East 162nd St, South Holland, IL, to the community last week. Xtreme Kustoms Wheels & Electronics is an African American family-owned and operated business that provides custom vehicle wheels and tire, alarm integration, remote starting systems, stereo installation, among other automotive customizing services.
Burnside Elementary Commemorates 1962 Sit-In with Mural
In recognition of 17 mothers and 27 students that staged a sit-in at Burnside Scholastic Academy (BSA), 650 E. 91st Pl., on January 2, 1962, a 300 sq. ft. tile mural was unveiled at the school last week. The Burnside sit-in was one of the first acts that led to end segregation within the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) system and helped ignite Chicago's Civil Rights movement.
Real Men Cook Host Seminar in Preparation for its 25th Annual Father's Day Event
Real Men Cook, Charities, Inc. and Real Men Cook, Inc. (RMC) partnered with the Safe Dining Association (SDA) last week to host a Summer Festival Food Service Sanitation seminar at the Give Me Some Sugah bakery, 2234 E. 71st St., that educated RMC Father’s Day cookout event participants on how to provide safe food samples to the public. The RMC cookout event was launched in 1990, is presented annually on Father's Day and is a food tasting family celebration featuring men volunteering to cook for and serve the community. This year, RMC is celebrating its 25th consecutive Father’s Day cookout event in Chicago.
Chicago Aldermen Present City Council with Increased Minimum Wage Ordinance
Last week, Chicago aldermen were joined at City Hall, 121 N. LaSalle St., by Raise Chicago, a grassroots coalition working to ensure that major corporations who make over $50 million in profits pay a living wage of $15/hr., to announce the introduction of a $15 an hour minimum wage ordinance, sponsored by Alderman Roderick Sawyer (6th), Alderman John Arena (45th), and Alderman Joe Moreno (1st).
Gresham Elementary Deals with "Turnaround"
Last week, faculty at Walter Q. Gresham Elementary School, 8524 S. Green St., celebrated the opening of its new library by establishing a “Literacy Day program,” designed to allow students more time in the library and to encourage them to read more.
Chicago’s Department of Procurement Services (DPS) recently unveiled its Vendor Compliance Resource Guide which explains contract compliance issues for vendors while reinforcing the City’s priorities
Chicago’s Department of Procurement Services (DPS) recently unveiled its Vendor Compliance Resource Guide which explains contract compliance issues for vendors while reinforcing the City’s priorities of transparency and diversity contracting. The unveiling took place last week at the 2014 Vendor Fair held at the UIC Forum, 725 W. Roosevelt Rd. Hosted by DPS in partnership with Cook County, the fair was an outreach event attended by more than 1,000 small and large businesses owners.
30th Annual Matteson Family Days Festival Announced
The 30th Annual Matteson Family Days festival, an event staple for the Village of Matteson, is taking place on Friday, June 27 through Saturday, June 28, at the Matteson Village Hall, 4900 Village Commons. This year’s festival is headlined by multi-platinum selling R&B group, En Vogue, on Friday night and Grammy award winning artist, Peabo Bryson, on Saturday night.
National Prevention Week Recognized in Illinois
The state of Illinois recognized National Prevention Week last week, May 18-24. Sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA), National Prevention Week is designed to raise awareness about the dangers of alcohol and drug use, especially among adolescents, and mobilize communities to address these issues through prevention strategies including education and law enforcement.
Mayor Emanuel Joins the Community for Chicago’s "Summer of Faith & Action"
Last Friday, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel joined Bishop Byron T. Brazier, Pastor Cory Brooks, and several community members at South Vernon Ave & East 63rd Street on the city's south side for a positive loitering event kicking off the city’s Summer of Faith & Action, a citywide solidarity movement against violence. The Summer of Faith & Action campaign was comprised of over 50 positive community based events held in neighborhoods throughout the city on Friday evening, from 6-9 pm.
Harvey Teacher Wins Golden Apple Award
Harvey native, Roosevelt Griffin, has been selected as one of ten recipients to receive the 2014 Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching. Griffin currently teaches at Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School, 14741 Wallace St., Harvey, Il, where he was once a student. “To win was very overwhelming, very emotional, because at that point I was able to reflect on what the actual Golden Apple meant to me as Roosevelt Griffin but also to me being a kid growing up in Harvey, born in Harvey, and what it meant to all of those kids growing up in Harvey,” said Griffin.
Behind the Scenes of the South Shore Drill Team
For 34 years, young energetic members of the South Shore Drill Team (SSDT) have electrified audiences worldwide with thrilling performances, while behind the scenes, SSDT officials are just as charged up, as they inspire the SSDT team to excel in the classroom and in life.
"Companies That Care" Help High School Students Attend College
Companies That Care (CTC), a national not-profit organization, last Thursday held a 5K (equivalent to 3.1 miles) marathon fundraiser in Grant Park, 337 E. Randolph St., to benefit its programs that help Chicago Public School (CPS) students attend college.
Red Line Station at Harrison is under Construction
The entire CTA Harrison Red Line station was temporarily closed for the second of five upcoming weekend-only closures, because of repairs being made to the stop. The next temporary weekend closure of the station is scheduled to begin at 10 p.m. Friday, May 16 and end at 4 a.m. Monday, May 19.
African American Laborers Want Jobs on University of Chicago Construction Projects
The Black Economic Legal Team (BELT) is in conversations with the University of Chicago (U of C), 5801 S. Ellis Ave., about a perceived lack of African Americans laborers working on the school's construction projects. BELT is also encouraging residents in communities near the University to petitions for the hiring of more African Americans on construction projects there.
Quinn Supports Ban of “Puppy Mill” Sales in Illinois
As part of his agenda to improve animal welfare in Illinois and protect pets and their owners, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn officially lent his support last week to House Bill 4056 (HB 4056) which would end “puppy mill” sales at pet stores in Illinois. “This proposal will help end inhumane puppy mills, protect pet owners and help shelter animals find loving homes,” Quinn said. “Cook County will soon offer this humane protection and together we can build on that momentum for families across Illinois.”
Chicago United Hoops Classic Goes Beyond Basketball
In an effort to help combat Chicago's violence, The 4th Annual Chicago United Hoops Classic (CUHC) High School Seniors All-Star Game was held this past Saturday at The Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center, 1250 W. 119th St. The game allows for the best high school basketball players from the South and West sides to compete against one another which potentially fosters respect amongst the players and therefore potentially curtails violence. The CUHC's motto, “the full court press to silence the violence” was a sentiment shared by the organizers of the game.
The University of Chicago Responds to National Sexual Assault Investigation
The United States Department of Education recently released a list of 55 public and private universities and colleges across the country that are under federal investigation for the manner in which they handle student sexual assault allegations. The University of Chicago (UC) is on that list.
Blue Cross Blue Shield Invest $12.5 Million into Divvy bikes
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL) has committed to a $12.5 million, five-year sponsorship investment to support the Divvy bike share program. “Our partnership with Blue Cross helps us to expand the bike share system, improve and maintain bike lanes and encourage cycling in all neighborhoods across Chicago,” Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel said. “This investment from Blue Cross will help us continue to encourage Chicagoans to get around this great city in more active ways.”
National Rebuilding Day Comes to Riverdale, Assists Homeowners
In honor of National Rebuilding Day on April 26, representatives from Rebuilding Together Metro Chicago, a non-profit whose mission is to improve the homes and neighborhoods of elderly, disabled and low-income residents so that they may continue to live in warmth, safety and comfort, joined Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, Village of Riverdale Mayor Lawrence Jackson, and a volunteer construction team at a press conference at 14533 S. Lowe Ave., about an collaborative effort to make much needed repairs to several homes in Riverdale.
Gresham Elementary School One of Three CPS Designated for Turnarounds
Last week, Chicago Public Schools’ (CPS) Board of Education voted in favor of “turning around” Walter Q. Gresham Elementary, Dvorak Technology Academy, and Ronald E. McNair Elementary for School Year 2014–2015 (SY 14-15).
Illinois Agencies Support Construction Zone Safety Week
National Work Zone Awareness week, April 7-11, was recognized by the Illinois State Police (ISP), Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), and the Illinois Tollway among many agencies to encourage motorists to drive safely and slowly on Illinois roadways, particularly in work zones.
Thornton Township and South Suburban College Partner for Job Fair
To better prepare local residents for its upcoming annual free on-campus job fair (to be held May 20 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.), South Suburban College (SSC), 15800 State St, South Holland, will host a workshop entitled Adult Brown Bag Seminar that will equip job seekers with techniques and information proven helpful in landing successful job interviews.
GOP Senate Blocks Equal Pay Legislation
The Paycheck Fairness Act was blocked by Republican U.S. Senators last week, a move that prohibits wage gender equality legislation from progressing.
Common, Rhymefest Collaborate to Help Create Jobs for Chicago’s Youth
Rap artists Common and Rhymefest, founders of the Common Ground Foundation and Kanye West’s Donda’s House, respectively, announced the launch of their latest collaborative project, The Chicago Youth Jobs Collaborative, a coalition of public, private and nonprofit agencies that advocate for the creation of youth employment. The announcement was held during a press conference at the Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E. Chicago Ave last week.
Teena’s Legacy Hosts First Ever Walk for Peace Fundraiser
“I am PEACE,” “I am COURAGEOUS,” “I am TEACHABLE,” read the signs worn by participants of the Teena’s Legacy’s 5K Walk for Peace this past Saturday at Ogden Park, 6500 S. Racine. Walkers made their way along the trail that circles Ogden Park to complete the 5K – equivalent to 3.1 miles.
Amnesty International: Gun Violence Is a Human Rights Issue
At its annual Human Rights Conference, themed “Bringing Human Rights Home,” held at the JW Marriott hotel, 151 W. Adams St. in Chicago, Amnesty International USA (AIUSA) representatives last week, described gun violence as a human rights issue that affects the lives of everyone that it touches.
Red Pump Project Combines Unique Elements to Create HIV & AIDS Awareness
The Red Pump Project, a 501 (c)3 non-profit organization, that educates women and girls about HIV/AIDS, recently held its annual fundraiser and fashion extravaganza, Rock the Red Fashion Show, at Alhambra Palace, 1240 W. Randolph, where Chicago based clothing designers were featured.
Black Women’s Expo Celebrates 20 Years
An estimated 30,000 patrons visited the 20th Annual Black Women’s Expo this past weekend. The popular expo, which ran from Friday to Sunday, at McCormick Place, 2301 S. Lake Shore Dr., boasted dynamic speakers, riveting entertainment, and most importantly, dozens and dozens of exhibitors--who all happened to be entrepreneurial women. Notably, Good Morning America’s (GMA) anchor Robin Roberts served as the event's keynote speaker.
Property Tax Incentive Workshop Held for South Suburban Mayors and Managers
The Chicago Southland Economic Development Corporation (CSEDC) conducted a workshop on how to successfully apply for property tax incentives last week, to the South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association (SSMMA), 1904 W. 174th St., East Hazel Crest, IL.
UNCF's "Empower Me Tour" Finishes Strong at Chicago State University
Last week, the United Negro College Fund, Inc. (UNCF) hosted the conclusion of its 6th annual Empower Me Tour (EMT) at Chicago State University's (CSU) Jones Convocation Center, 9501 S. Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr.
Wendell Phillips' "Behind the Paws" Program Gives Students Unique Voice
A spotlight is shining brightly on Wendell Phillip Academy High School (WPAHS) 244 E. Pershing, via its new television production class, affectionately known as “Behind the Paws.” The popular class provides students with a platform to learn the basics of television production and broadcasting and how to effectively use social media networks to influence the news and film industries.
CBA Hosts Community Enrichment Meeting for Northern Ireland Group
The Chatham Business Association (CBA) hosted the Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action (NICVA) at the QBG building, 806 E. 78th St., last week for a special meeting constructed around NICVA’s desire to learn more about CBA’s community, economic development and youth engagement programs.
Village of Hazel Crest Appoints New Manager
The Village of Hazel Crest’s Board of Trustees recently voted to appoint the village’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Marlo Kemp, to the position of Village Manager after the retirement of Kemps’ predecessor, James Whigham, Sr., who served the village for two years, until he officially stepped down on February 28.
State Senator Hunter Hosts Unemployment Workshop
Illinois State Senator Mattie Hunter (D-3) assembled state employment agencies at Kennedy King College, 6301 S. Halsted, last week for a workshop designed to educate residents within her district about jobs available at the State of Illinois. The event also featured a small job fair for the unemployed and under-employed.
Circle Foundation‘s 5th Annual Gala Benefits "Second Chance" Students
Circle Foundation is holding its 5th Annual Awards Gala fundraiser on Sunday, March 23 at the Alhambra Palace Restaurant, 1240 W. Randolph St., to benefit "second chance" high school students earning a high school diploma.
Voters Turn Out for Candidates for Judge Town Hall Meeting
With the March 18 Gubernatorial Primary Election just days away, voters turned out last Saturday morning for the Chicago Citizen Newspaper’s, Candidates for Judge - Town Hall Meeting held at the newspaper’s Chatham headquarters, 806 E. 78th St.
CPS' First Ever Student Advisory Council
Last week, Chicago Public Schools’ (CPS) Board of Education presented its first ever student advisory council (SAC) at its monthly board meeting at 125 S. Clark St. The 19 member council is the realization of an initiative proposed by Chicago Public Schools CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett who called for the creation of the council in early November.
Wendell Phillips Academy High School Presented Black History Month Anthology
Wendell Phillips Academy High School, 244 E. Pershing Rd., wrapped up Black History Month last week with its “A Black History Month Anthology” program.
South Shore Chamber Presents ComEd's "Smart Ideas for Your Business" Program
The South Shore Chamber, Inc. presented ComEd’s Smart Ideas for Your Business program during its monthly meeting last month, to inform area business owners about reducing their energy consumption through the use of modern technology.