The Black Church and the NAACP Work Together Against HIV/AIDS
The Nation Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) South Side and West Side presented The Black Church & HIV: The Social Justice Imperative (BCH) at US Bank, 815 W. 63rd, on October 10. The BCH presentation called upon several leaders of the black clergy throughout Chicagoland to engage, learn and speak about their personal experiences dealing with HIV and other taboo topics with their congregations and their personal lives.
New Carson’s Clearance Location Opens in Lansing
A 21,000 square-foot Carson’s Clearance Store officially opened last Saturday in the Village of Lansing within the Landings Shopping Center at 16753 Torrence Ave. The new location is the only Carson’s Clearance Store in the Chicagoland area.
ComEd’s “Stay in School” Initiative Good for High School Graduation Rates
ComEd, Exelon and United Way of Metropolitan have once again collaborated on the Stay in School Initiative mentoring program where the main event is when students, parents and well-wishers gather at the Museum of Science and Industry to unveil and display the student’s report cards.
Seaway Bank & Trust Co. Teaches Community about Land Trusts
All month, Seaway Bank & Trust Company (SBTC) has been providing free seminars on land trusts at its various branches including one held last week at its Bronzeville location, 3501 S. King Dr., and presented by Senior Trust Officer, Lois Jenkins, who also manages the bank’s trust department.
Coalition of Black Clergy Support Same Sex Marriage in Illinois
Several African American clergy members in Chicago and its’ suburbs came together to voice their support for the passage of same sex marriage legislation in Illinois. The clergy members stated last week at a press conference at the Chicago Temple, 77 W. Washington St., that they were speaking on behalf of their congregations.
The Village of Dolton's New Crime Deterrent App
The Village of Dolton has approved the implementation of a new smartphone app that which allows local residents to help deter crime by capturing questionable and illegal activity on their smartphones and then sending it to the Dolton Police Department (DPD) anonymously. The app, I Alert U, is the first ever smartphone app of its kind to be used by a municipality or its’ law enforcement. I Alert U operates only within Dolton’s city limits as its servers are distinctly designated for Dolton residents and law enforcement.
ComEd’s Energy Force Ambassadors Program Expands
Entering its’ second year, ComEd’s Energy Force Program (EFP), which trains individuals with developmental disabilities on how to educate ComEd customers on how to conserve energy, is expanding.
Illinois Senior Olympics' First Superstar
The Illinois Senior Olympics is providing opportunities for seasoned athletes to compete once a year at the state’s capitol, Springfield, for the chance to continue a lifelong pursuit of athletic and competitive excellence for its’ participants.
Chicago State University Offers Small Business Workshops
The Illinois Small Business Development Center located on Chicago State University’s campus, 9501 S. King Dr., hosted a free monthly workshop last Friday entitled “Starting a Business in Illinois” for small business owners.
Historymakers Visits South Side High School
Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County Dorothy Brown and Cook County Department of Health Chief Operating Officer Dr. Terry Mason both go visit Chicago Vocational Career Academy (CVS) High School where they participated in the 4th Annual Back to School with the History Makers Program. Clerk Brown and Dr. Mason are both former selections as History Makers; Dr. Mason is proud to be an alum of CVS.
Richton Park VFW Receives community service award
The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Illinois Post 311 has a shiny new sign acknowledging its outstanding year of service (2012-2013) to the Village of Richton Park. Drivers can see the sign while driving eastbound into Richton Park.
Prairie State College: As Green as they Come
Prairie State College (PSC) has become one of four community colleges in the state of Illinois to participate in the Behavior Change for Energy Efficiency Pilot Program. The program reduces energy usage by monitoring the amount of energy used and changing the behavior of its participants.
Magic Johnson & Friends Rally Behind Option School
At the North Lawndale Magic Johnson Bridgescape location at 3210 W. Roosevelt Rd., former NBA star Earvin “Magic” Johnson joined by several of his notable friends including recording artist Common, and current Bridgescape students announced the formation of his non-profit organization “Friends of Magic” that would work to assist at-risk students and dropouts earn their high school diplomas.
UniverSoul Circus Revisits Washington Park
Presented by the Black McDonald’s Operators Association of Chicagoland and the Northwest Indiana (BMOA), the UniverSoul Circus is in Washington Park at 51st and Cottage Grove Ave. from Wednesday, Sept. 18 through Sunday, Oct. 6 and then will move on to Union Park at 1501 W. Randolph St.
Richton Park Offers Water Line Protection Program
The Village of Richton Park has officially partnered with Service Line Warranties of America (SLWA) to offer the National League of Cities (NLC) Service Line Warranty Program to residents there. The program offers voluntary warranty protection at an affordable price for water lines in the event of a failure or malfunction.
The Chicago Football Classic
The 16th Annual Chicago Football Classic (CFC) presented by BMO Harris Bank and Sherman Dodge will once again exhibit on Saturday, September 21 at Soldier Field, 1410 Museum Campus Dr. Touting a high quality football game between historically black colleges and universities (HBCU), spirited pre kick-off events and a dedication to provide Chicagoland high school students with opportunities to pursue a higher education, CFC has become a great tradition for the city. The CFC is one of over fifty traditional football game and weeklong celebrations held between HBCUs across the nation. Since its’ inception in 1997, the CFC has invited several HBCUs to play in the game.
Law Passed to Expunge Class 3 & 4 Felonies
Ill. State Rep. LaShawn Ford (Dist-8th) hosted the “A Second Chance Summit” this past Saturday at the UIC Forum, 725 W. Roosevelt Rd., to discuss House Bill 3016 which helps former convicts expunge or seal certain new Class 3 and Class 4 crimes from their arrest record.
Illinois Highways I-294 and I-57 to be Connected
In a conjoined effort, the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and the Illinois Tollway has begun construction on creating connections and on-ramps between the Illinois Tollway operated I-294 highway and the IDOT operated I-57 highway. The construction is set to begin between I-294 and I-57 and at 147th Street.
Ombudsman Schools Open Classroom Facilities in Chicago
Ombudsman Chicago, an alternative school designed to allow students 14-20 to earn a high school diploma, in partnership with Chicago Public Schools (CPS), has officially opened a new location at 7500 N. Harlem Ave. Their South Side location at 3214 W. 63rd St. and West Side location are currently in development.
Whole Foods Comes to Englewood
A new 18,000 square-foot Whole Foods Market store is being constructed at South Halsted and West 63rd Street in the Englewood neighborhood and should be completed by 2016. The grocery store will be located across from Kennedy King College and over 2,648 Englewood residents will be within a mile of it.
Chatham Business Association Hosts Metra Officials
The Chatham Business Association (CBA) welcomed high ranking officials from Metra to its monthly general membership meeting at the South Central Community Services Building at 1021 E. 83rd Street. Metra’s Donald A. Orseno, Interim Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Janice R. Thomas, Director from the U.S. Office of Business Diversity & Civil Rights Technology discussed the railroad line’s commitment to Chicagolands’s business community.
Lincoln Mall Faces Numerous Safety and Fire Code Violations
Lincoln Mall, located at 208 Lincoln Mall Dr., adjacent to Lincoln Highway in the Village of Matteson, is still open for the time-being despite early speculation that the mall will close due to numerous building, safety and fire code violations unaddressed by the mall’s owner, Michael Kohan. Kohan, a New York real estate investor, has a history of purchasing decaying malls and then leaving them in worst condition when he sells them to a new owner.
Former County Official Convicted of Fraud
Carla Oglesby, the former deputy chief of staff to former Cook County President Todd Stroger, has been convicted of theft of government property (Class X felony), theft of government property by deception (Class X felony), unlawful stringing of bids (Class 4 felony), and money laundering (Class 1 felony), is facing a possible sentence of up to 30 years in prison. Oglesby’s activity accounts for more than $300,000 of Cook County tax payer funds that have been lost.
March on Chicago Public Schools
On the 50th Anniversary of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s March on Washington, several local community organizations staged a day long boycott of Chicago Public Schools (CPS) schools; held a rally in front of CPS’s downtown office at 125 S. Clark; and then led a march to Chicago’s city hall at 121 N LaSalle St. in coordination with 25 other U.S. cities holding similar public demonstrations.
McDonald’s Plays Active Role in Chicagoland Communities
The Black McDonald’s Operators Association of Chicagoland (BMOA) is serving Chicago’s communities in and outside of their restaurants. According to its’ website, the Chicagoland BMOA is made up of 15 Chicago and northwest Indiana McDonald’s owners who take pride in providing leadership while creating and nurturing their African-American communities while providing education and health-focused initiatives.
The Rev. Jesse Jackson March on Washington: Then and Now
On August 28, 1963, the Rev. Jesse Jackson, participated in the March on Washington as a member of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Then, a very young Rev. Jackson was fighting for voting rights, public accommodation equality, jobs, and to stem the tide of uncontested violence against African Americans and their supporters. And in nearly 50 years since that historic day, Rev. Jackson has tirelessly continued to fight and advocate for civil rights for all Americans.
Dixmoor Moves Forward After Police Department Hiccups
The Village of Dixmoor’s Mayor recently fired former Police Chief Robert Fox after he called the Cook County Sherriff Tom Dart’s office for assistance in response to a supposed lack of police personnel on the night of Sunday, August 4, 2013.
Governor Quinn Signs Bill into Law
Aids Minority, Women Owned Businesses
Ill. Gov. Pat Quinn has signed House Bill 3267 (HB3267) into law that will create the Disadvantaged Business Revolving Loan Program (DBRLP) which now allows smaller minority and women owned to apply for loans for state construction projects. For many smalls businesses, trying to secure start-up costs involving, insurance premiums, equipment capital, etc. prevented them from submitting timely bids for state approved sub-contracts.
Garrett Popcorn Shops Unveils New Mural at Chatham Location
Garrett Popcorn Shops unveiled a mural created by Rahmaan “Statik” Barnes and students from Kenwood Academy and Simeon Career Academy High Schools at its 737 E. 87th Street location in Chatham in partnership with After School Matters and The Chicago Trolley and Double Decker Co.
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