Chatham-Southeast Citizen 1-20-2021 by CITIZEN NEWSPAPERS

Y O U R S O U R C E F O R C O R O N AV I R U S N E W S

Citizen The Citizen: Serving The Black Community For 55 Years Week of Jan. 20, 2021

| Vol. 56 | No. 43 | www.citizennewspapergroup.com

CHATHAM SOUTHEAST

Dr. Anthony Fauci to Speak at U of C

COMMUNITY ACTIVIST USES INSTINCTS TO CREATE INITIATIVES

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New survey finds 70% of consumers improved home during COVID-19, more than half used smart devices

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Why a Tech Career Might Be Right for You Page 7

Jahmal Cole is founder and CEO of My Block My Hood, My City, a community organization that serves 150 students from 10 different schools throughout Chicago and looks to ensure residents and block clubs have necessary resources. Photo courtesy of Jahmal Cole

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NEWS briefly EDUCATION 500 PAGES OF PRESCHOOL WORKSHEETS GIFTED TO THE PUBLIC DOMAIN The website www.abbythepup.com, which was launched recently, provides free quality educational materials to teachers and parents to help educate their 3 and 4 year old children. All preschool printables and worksheets on the website have been placed under the Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication (CC0). The content is provided with no logins, no fees and no advertisements. Abby the Pup’s purpose is for social good, dedicated to improving the lives of children through education. According to a press release, there are hundreds of pages of preschool printables and worksheets in literature, math, general knowledge and skills and for the classroom. Users can download, print and distribute the materials freely. The contributors and supporters of the website believe that quality preschool educational materials should be freely available to all children. The website was created in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic when many young children could not go to school or were required to learn remotely from home. For more information, visit www.abbythepup.com.

HEALTH

FREE COVID-19 TESTING AVAILABLE AT STATE MOBILE TESTING SITES IN NORTHERN ILLINOIS The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has several mobile testing teams that are dispatched to various locations around the state each week to provide COVID-19 testing. Anyone can be tested, regardless of symptoms or immigration status. There is no cost to the individual for testing, but they should bring their insurance card if they have one. However, insurance is not required. Specimens will be collected using a simple nasal swab. Drive-through and walkup testing are both available at most locations. Site locations are subject to change. Please check the IDPH website for the most current mobile testing site location information at http://www.dph.illinois.gov/testing/mobiletesting-sites.

Community activist uses instincts to create initiatives Continued from page 1 BY TIA CAROL JONES

Jahmal Cole has been dedicated to making a difference in the community with his organization My Block, My Hood, My City. As founder and CEO, Cole is intrinsically motivated to improve the quality of life for the block clubs of Chicago. Cole said he wanted to be an activist since he was 4-years-old, admiring the likes of Malcolm X, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Stokely Carmichael and Robert Kennedy. “I wanted to be cool like them, I wanted to be important, I wanted people to yell for me like that,” he said. “Everybody was watching “Aladdin,” I was watching Malcolm X.” Cole said his father was always playing Malcom X’s speeches. When he graduated from college, Cole said he wanted to speak at the Whitney Young Library, in Chatham, every month. He said nobody would show up, but he persevered, publicizing his speaking engagements wherever there was space to post flyers. “Whatever was the issue of the month, I would talk about it every month. Slowly, one person would come, then three people would come, five people would come,” he said. Then, Cole said he started to volunteer at Cook County Jail. He realized the teens there had never been to downtown Chicago and their entire world view had been shaped by where they grew up. He

described it as “tragic.” He said he told them when they got out of jail, he would take them places because he wanted to change their world view. Cole said it took too long to wait for them to get out of jail, so he started taking teens from the barbershop to Sears Tower, now the Willis Tower, and to trading firms. “I just wanted to expand kids’ world view beyond their neighborhood and show them they can be different things than what they saw in their neighborhood,” he said. “If you show people better, they can do better. But, they also own the city. The world doesn’t end at the corner of our block. You deserve access to everywhere in the city.” Cole said travelling is transformative. He said if kids can see a Black person at Northern Trust Bank, or someone who looks like them that works at Facebook, it shows them it is possible. And, “if you can see it, you know you can do it.” Cole said from the time he was 9 until 12, he was homeless and lived in the back of a U-Haul truck. “I didn’t have a poverty of imagination, but I had a poverty of finance,” he said. My Block, My Hood, My City currently works with 150 students from 10 different schools in Chicago with their Explorer’s Program. Cole said while My Block, My Hood, My City doesn’t have programs, the organization’s best asset is its agility. “We respond to whatever is going on in the city,” he said. “We’re like that Red

Cross for the neighborhoods, we take care of people, no matter what.” During the COVID-19 pandemic, My Block, My Hood, My City created Youth-Senior Connect, where teens took classes at Rush University Medical Center to get certificates. Those teens made wellness calls to seniors, shipped Personal Protective Equipment, contract tracing, shipped food, and connected them with primary care physicians. “That wasn’t a program, I just had my ear to the streets and saw what was happening and I created an initiative based upon what’s going on in society,” he said. Cole said he uses his instincts and acts when his instincts kick in. And, they kick in a lot. During the looting, Cole started a small business relief fund, where he raised $1 million in 24 hours. He said he has a great team and volunteers that help him get things done. They get donations and they find people who need help, with the help of volunteers. “We’re a community group from Chatham, and I’m the leader of it, that means I move different ‘cause I’m in the streets. I know who I care about and what I want to get done,” he said. “As long as I’m the leader of My Block My Hood My City, we’re going to make sure we’re amplifying the voice of the lower class and making sure block clubs are taken care of.” For more information, visit www. formyblock.org.

LAW & POLITICS

NEW ABA BOOK TELLS STORY OF FIRST HISPANIC AMERICAN JUDGE ON U.S. TAX COURT The American Bar Association Section of Taxation has published “From the Texas Cotton Fields to the United States Tax Court: The Life Journey of Juan F. Vasquez,” a biography of the first Hispanic American to serve on the United States Tax Court. The book traces Juan F. Vasquez’s journey, which surmounted numerous challenges such as poverty, manual labor and discrimination. It explores his pursuit of education to build — with the support of family, friends and mentors — a professional career serving community, taxpayers and the tax system. Vasquez was appointed and confirmed to the United States Tax Court in 1995 and reappointed and reconfirmed in 2011. Written by Mary Theresa Vasquez and Anthony Head, the book is based on family records and interviews with family, friends and colleagues. Mary Theresa is Vasquez’s wife and the author of “Mi Mamacita Tiene Alzheimer’s.” Head is the author of “Spirit: The Life and Art of Jesse Trevino,” “Lucid: A Novel” and “Meatless in Cowtown.” Vasquez was born to a working-class family in San Antonio, Texas, and grew up learning the value of education and hard work, as well as an appreciation for justice. After graduation from San Antonio’s Fox Technical High School, he earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting from the University of Texas at Austin, a J.D. from the University of Houston Law Center, and a Master of Laws in taxation from New York University School of Law. During his career, he worked in private practice, at the Internal Revenue Service and in teaching. Book Price: $34 / $44 / $29 Place Orders: 800-285-2221 or shopaba.org

Dr. Anthony Fauci to Speak at University of Chicago on March 4 Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) at the National Institutes of Health will join the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy on March 4 for a conversation hosted by its dean, Katherine Baicker, who will award Dr. Fauci the 2020 Harris Dean’s Award. “We are delighted to welcome Dr. Fauci to the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy and have him share his perspectives with our students and others from across the campus community,” said Katherine Baicker, dean and Emmett Dedmon professor. “As one of the world’s preeminent infectious disease

experts and foremost voices for evidence-based policy in the fight against COVID-19, his illustrious career and enduring commitment to public service serve as powerful inspiration for the next generation of policy leaders.” As the United States has grappled with the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Fauci has taken a leading role in informing the American public about the science behind the virus and what precautions need to be taken to mitigate the harms of the disease. President-elect Joe Biden has announced that Dr. Fauci will take on an expanded role as Chief Medical Adviser on COVID-19 to the President during the Biden administration. The Dean’s Award is given

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annually to an exceptional leader who has championed analytically rigorous, evidence-based approaches to policy, and who is an example for the next generation of policy leaders and scholars. US Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg (19332020) was the 2019 recipient of the Dean’s Award. The virtual event will take place beginning at 5:30 p.m. central standard time, with registration information available on the school’s website beginning this month. Dr. Fauci was appointed director of NIAID in 1984 and has served under six presidents. He oversees an extensive portfolio of research to prevent, diagnose, and treat established and

emerging infectious diseases, including COVID-19. He has been a presidential advisor on HIV/AIDS and many other domestic and global health issues and was a principal architect of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), a program that has saved millions of lives. Baicker, who has served as dean of Harris Public Policy since August 2017, is a leading scholar in the economic analysis of health policy, with research focusing on the effects of health system reform on health spending, outcomes, and disparities. From 2005-2007, she served as a Senate-confirmed Member of the President’s Council of Economic Advisers.

CITIZEN | Chatham Southeast | Week of Jan. 20, 2021

NEWS

Pritzker issues marijuana pardons, State Police clear eligible arrest records ISP expunges over 490,000 state arrest records, local counties still working on clearing logs BY RAYMON TRONCOSO Capitol News Illinois rtroncoso@capitolnewsillinois.com

Donald Trump speaks at the “Save America” rally. Many of his supporters who attended the rally stormed the U.S. Capitol where a riot and violent attack against Congress took place.

Camille Cosby: Capitol Insurrection a Reminder that ‘Hatred is a Hellish Emotion’ BY STACY M. BROWN NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent @StacyBrownMedia

Dr. Camille Cosby has unleashed a scathing commentary in the aftermath of the deadly insurrection at the U.S. Capitol earlier this month. In a commentary sent to the Black Press accompanied by a 1999 opinion piece penned by Harvard Medical School Dean Dr. Alvin Poussaint, the wife of comedian Bill Cosby called hatred “a hellish emotion.” “And, in recent years, hatred has been spewed by well known, public, demonic people…and condoned, sensationalized and disseminated by varied forms of irresponsible, greedy media,” Dr. Cosby railed. “Racism is at the forefront of multiple types of hatred. Racism has been, and is steeped, in the foundation of America’s generational histories; ever since white people’s original settlements in this country.” Openly, specific white people committed brutal and murderous seizures of indigenous people’s homelands, Dr. Cosby added. “Savagely enslaved millions of Africans; and, afterward, legalized numerous years of apartheid within our nation’s medical, financial, corporate, law enforcement, judicial, governmental and educational institutions…all of which are still hugely, racially problematic,” Dr. Cosby continued. “Evidently, those particular white people delusively and dementedly felt and believed that their male and female whiteness gave them lifelong entitlements and supremacy,” she added while pointing out Dr. Poussaint’s “profound and timeless article, ‘They Hate. They Kill. Are They Insane?’ Dr. Poussaint was not then supported by his peers in the profession of psychiatry, probably because legions of psychiatrists have professional and personal histories of

Capitol Police officer Brian D. Sicknick died from injuries sustained in the riot where Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol.

racism, Dr. Cosby opined. “But each and every word in the article should resonate to clear-minded readers, in light of the recent in-your-face acts of racism that are sadly and grossly very familiar in the USA,” Dr. Cosby wrote. She concluded: “The convergence of crazed mobs of white people, hell-bent on destructions and murders in African-American communities, have been all too common occurrences in this country. “This is a country that has not cleaned up its act pertaining to racial hatred. “That should be a primary mandate amongst diverse white people, and they should not look to people of color to resolve that ongoing, sociological filth of injustice. “Is America a democracy? Not yet, nor has it ever been…maybe soon.”

Springfield – Gov. JB Pritzker issued 9,219 pardons for low-level marijuana convictions recently while announcing the Illinois State Police had expunged all eligible records at the state level for marijuana related arrests. Since the passage of the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act in 2019, Pritzker has issued pardons in 20,236 marijuana cases. Pritzker previously issued 11,017 pardons for low-level marijuana convictions on New Year’s Eve 2019. In a release distributed New Year’s Eve, Pritzker also announced that ISP had expunged 492,129 non-felony marijuana-related arrest records in the state database. These expungements will also be mirrored in local law enforcement agencies. Of the 102 counties in Illinois, only 10 – including DuPage, Kane and Peoria counties – have expunged their records for eligible arrests. The other counties were required to expunge records of arrests created between 2013 and 2019 by Jan. 1 and have until Jan. 1, 2025 to expunge all eligible arrest records. “Eleven states in the nation have legalized cannabis for recreational use, but no other state has done the important work we’re doing here in Illinois, where equity intentionality takes center stage,” Toi Hutchinson, Pritzker’s senior marijuana advisor, said in a statement. The legalization act created three groups of marijuana-related records eligible for some type of expungement. The first two groups are eligible for automatic expungement, meaning no action is required on behalf of the affected party, while the third group requires a court petition to start the expungement process. ISP’s completed arrest record expungement, and the corresponding record purge ongoing at the local level, is part of the first group. Eligible records for expungement in this category are arrests for possession under 30 grams or less that occurred before June 25, 2019. The arrest must not have resulted in charges, or if it did, those charges were dropped, dismissed, resulted in acquittal, or resulted in qualified probation that has been completed. This automatic expungement only occurs in law enforcement databases. To remove all mentions of the arrest from court records, a motion must be filed by the defendant in the court where the charges were brought. Arrests for minor marijuana offenses that were tied to a violent or sexual crime are also not eligible for expungement. Neither

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are arrests for delivery on school grounds, trafficking or possession of marijuana plants. Records available for automatic expungement in the second group go through a sixstep process that includes a pardon from the governor, such as the ones issued recently. These are convictions for low-level misdemeanors that occurred before June 25, 2019, such as possession of 30 grams or less, or the sale of marijuana up to 10 grams. Eligible convictions are first compiled by ISP and delivered to the Prisoner Review Board. If a conviction was for a class 4 felony, the state’s attorney for the jurisdiction in which that conviction took place can object to the case being eligible for expungement, which is then resolved in a hearing. The PRB will then recommend eligible convictions to the governor for a pardon. The governor then decides whether to accept or deny the recommendation. Pardons issued by the governor are given to the Illinois attorney general, in this case Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, who then files a request with the circuit clerk where the conviction occurred to expunge the record. The circuit clerk then expunges the record and sends an order to law enforcement to expunge records related to the conviction as well. According to PRB Chair Craig Findley, the board expects to review “thousands of additional felony and misdemeanor” marijuana offenses in 2021. The third and final group of records eligible for expungement are not subject to an automatic process, but require a court petition filed by the convicted party. These are for marijuana offenses that do not qualify for the previous two groups. As part of the legalization law, a portion of tax revenue from the legal sale of marijuana must be put towards the expungement process. For convictions in the third group that require a court petition, these funds go toward legal assistance through the New Leaf Illinois initiative that connects eligible Illinoisans seeking to remove convictions from their record with 20 nonprofit organizations that provide free legal representation and information on expungements. “Statewide, Illinoisans hold hundreds of thousands low-level cannabis-related records, a burden disproportionately shouldered by communities of color,” Pritzker said in a release. “We will never be able to fully remedy the depth of that damage. But we can govern with the courage to admit the mistakes of our past—and the decency to set a better path forward.” Illinoisans with an arrest or conviction for marijuana seeking legal aid can visit NewLeafIlliois.org or call the New Leaf Illinois hotline at 855-963-9532.

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BUSINESS STAY-AT-HOME ORDERS CHANGED THE VERY NOTION OF HOW PEOPLE INTERACT AND LIVE IN THEIR HOMES, DRIVING PEOPLE TO RECONFIGURE THEIR PHYSICAL SPACE TO MEET NEW FUNCTIONAL REQUIREMENTS, INCLUDING WORKING AND LEARNING AT HOME, CREATING AT-HOME GYMS, OR FINDING NEW WAYS TO RELAX AND ENJOY THEMSELVES.

New survey finds 70% of consumers improved home during COVID-19, more than half used smart devices A new study released recently by Xiaomi, a global leader in smart devices, found that since March 2020, 70% of consumers have reported making changes in their living environment due to spending more time at home during the pandemic, and more than half (51%) have reported purchasing at least one smart device during that period. Stay-at-home orders changed the very notion of how people interact and live in their homes, driving people to reconfigure their physical space to meet new functional requirements, including working and learning at home, creating at-home gyms, or finding new ways to relax and enjoy themselves. The survey found that 3 out of 5 respondents said that since their leisure and work environments have become one, it has become harder to carve out personal space to relax and find joy at home. Of those, 63% purchased smart home devices, 82% adapted a room for working from home during COVID, and 79% reconfigured at least one room. “Smart living has always been about reimagining and optimizing physical space to solve problems and adapt to new realities through the use of technology, and we’ve seen this adoption accelerate in 2020,” said Daniel Desjarlais, global product marketing manager at Xiaomi. “Connected homes, automated systems, and new technology are helping people create ecosystems within their homes to solve new challenges presented by increased time at home, whether it’s adapting or creating new uses for old spaces, such as office space or classrooms, or just creating a more streamlined home that is easier to manage and control.” Key survey findings include: * People had to adapt existing spaces to serve new purposes, particularly younger generations: Makeshift spacing

PRNewsfoto/Xiaomi

arrangements were widespread across all age groups, with nearly two-thirds (66%) of all respondents saying that they had to use makeshift spacing arrangements in response to staying home more during the pandemic. This was particularly pronounced among Gen Z and Millennials -- 91% of Gen Z consumers and 80% of Millennials indicated this was something they were forced to do. * Smart home device purchases were a solution: On average, consumers bought two new smart devices since March in response to being home more during the pandemic, with Gen Z consumers buying an average of three. Smart devices can help to streamline a space and provide solutions for problems generated by more time at home, such as the need to carve out specific work or study space.

Regardless of devices purchased, there is an overwhelming consensus among consumers (82%) that there are significant advantages to a home with smart devices. * For many, these makeshift solutions may end up being permanent. According to a press release, 60% of consumers say they plan to continue using their home for activities typically performed elsewhere, even after a COVID-19 vaccine is widely available. If stay-at-home orders go into effect again in 2021, nearly 2 in 5 (39%) of consumers have reported that they want to upgrade their devices and 41% will adapt a room. In 2021, the adoption and integration of smart home technology will be a prevailing trend in home improvement as consumers look to smart devices as part of their

long-term solutions. As of September 30, 2020, the number of users with five or more devices connected to Xiaomi’s AIoT platform reached 5.6 million. Much of Xiaomi’s growth is coming from overseas markets, including expansion into Western markets. The newest product to be readily available for U.S. consumers is Mi Air Purifier 3H, which went on sale on January 14, 2021. The Xiaomi Survey was conducted by Wakefield Research (www.wakefieldresearch.com) among 1,000 nationally representative U.S. adults ages 18+, between December 11th and December 16th, 2020, using an email invitation and an online survey. For more information on Xiaomi and their smart home ecosystem, visit mi.com.

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Six Workforce Trends to Watch in 2021 The Center for State and Local Government Excellence (SLGE) helps local and state governments become knowledgeable and competitive employers so they can attract and retain a talented and committed workforce. Recent research by SLGE reveals key challenges and opportunities facing states and localities in 2021. The research offers insights into what strategies and tactics to monitor as governments of all sizes strive to attract and retain talented state and local employees. SLGE offers the following six trends to watch in 2021: 1. Embracing a holistic approach to employee well-being: Public employers will embrace a holistic approach to employee well-being through expanded financial wellness programs, increasing their understanding of employee benefit preferences, and evaluating the impact of structural change to retirement benefits on retirement security. 2. Strengthening the post-COVID-19 workplace: The public sector will continue to work to address the impact of COVID-19 on employers and employees and identify a balance between remote work environments and more traditional approaches for a wider range of positions, while expanding the use of flexible work practices more generally. 3. Implementing innovative staffing practices and collaborative approaches: Budget challenges and increased service demands will incentivize state and local governments to assess current staffing levels, project future needs, expand the use of innovative staffing practices, and collaborate with other organizations. 4. Focusing on financial wellness: Given the impact the pandemic has had on individuals’ personal finances, employee financial education programs will be expanded to cover more topics, leveraging enhanced communications methods, while evolving to more specifically meet the needs of more employees. 5. Expanding workforce management tools: The comprehensiveness and fiscal sustainability of public retirement plans will continue to be a central focus for these workforce management tools, while new approaches for providing benefits, including retiree health care, will be explored. 6. Developing a diverse and inclusive workforce: As public sector employers work to attract and retain a talented workforce of the future, they will look to ensure that their workforce is diverse, inclusive, and more reflective of the populations they serve, taking into account the disproportionate health and economic impacts of COVID-19 on racial and ethnic groups. According to a press release, SLGE identifies leading practices and conducts research on public retirement plans, health care benefits, workforce demographics and skill set needs, and labor force development. SLGE brings state and local leaders together with respected researchers. You can access all SLGE publications and sign up for its newsletter at slge.org and follow @4govtexcellence on Twitter.

CITIZEN | Chatham Southeast | Week of Jan. 20, 2021

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FASHION

Black-Woman Owned Online Shoe Boutique Celebrates First Anniversary With All Items on Sale

Low Heel No Heel Owner, Shannon Ashmore-McMath

Shannon Ashmore-McMath founded Low Heel No Heel in 2019. Low Heel No Heel is a Black Woman-owned online shoe boutique that specializes in offering women’s shoes that are affordable, comfortable, and under 4 inches tall. The company offers free shipping on all orders over $50 and no monthly subscriptions and just celebrated their first full year in business.

To honor their first year in business, the entire site is on sale. “The goal was to provide women with stylish footwear options that can be worn for all occasions,” says Shannon who is from Grand Rapids, Michigan. She continues, “We just completed our first full year in business. Like many other small businesses, we were also affected by the pandemic;

however, we are grateful to still be in business due to the unwavering support of our customers and remain optimistic regarding our future. We are hoping to inspire other women and minority entrepreneurs to do the same as well.” To view their selection, please visit LowHeelNoHeel.com Follow the brand on social media and follow the Owner, Shannon on Instagram

HALSEY SET TO LAUNCH about-face Make-u(p) without rules Created by multimedia, awardwinning artist and bestselling author Halsey, about-face is a multidimensional color beauty brand which is set to launch direct-toconsumer via www.aboutface.com on January 25, 2021. Inspired by music, fashion and art, about-face honors inclusivity, acceptance, experimentation and the democratization of beauty for our multiple identities. About about-face is described as Make-u(p) without rules, made for the many versions of you. It’s a multidimensional makeup for everyone, everywhere created by Halsey and built on the truth that no one is just one thing and humans are weird, complex and imperfectly beautiful beings. Halsey, a self-taught makeup artist, has always taken ownership of what makes her feel most beautiful, creating and applying her own looks for performances, editorials and music videos. A true makeup junkie, she has an encyclopedic knowledge of brands, application methods, and best-in-class products from drugstore heroes to luxury leaders. Perfecting her craft, she was often blending, cocktailing and color-correcting to achieve levels of vibrancy, pigment intensity and shine. From this extensive base knowledge of beauty, she created a brand rooted in performance-driven formulations. “Makeup is an art and art is about happy accidents, not any one ideal of perfection,” said Halsey, founder and chief creative officer of about-face. “I always feel the most free when I am creating looks without following any rules. The beauty industry has norms,

Light Lock Highlighter Collection by about-face

but I want to encourage people to challenge those standards and allow things to be imperfect and fun.” The about-face launch collection embodies Halsey’s personal style and love of diverse beauty, initially with three distinct franchises - Light Lock, Matte, and Shadowstick. Light Lock, her signature face highlighter range with stratospheric shine, includes Stick, Powder, Fluid and Lip Gloss. The Matte range of velvety smooth, creaseless, high-intensity colors consists of Paint-It Matte Lip Colors, Matte Fix Lip Pencils and Matte Fluid Eye Paint, as well as a Set and Prime Spray with application sponge for face. Shadowsticks are precise, multi-tasking cream eyeshadow crayons that feature soft pearly pastels, as well as a high intensity matte velvet in white, teal blue and black for a range of looks for liner

and lids. The launch consists of 10 product categories (inclusive of beauty tools and limited edition cosmetic bags) across a total of 40 skus. All about-face products are formulated to be vegan, clean, and cruelty free. Prices range from $17.00 to $32.00. about-face will be sold direct-toconsumer in the US, Canada, UK and Europe on www.aboutface.com, as well as via an exclusive year-long partnership with Ipsy, featured in the newly launched and limited edition Glam Bag X on www.ipsy.com. The next about-face drop will be AntiValentine’s Day, a limited-edition matte lip range launching in early February 2021. About Halsey: GRAMMY® Awardnominated multi-platinum singer/ songwriter Halsey burst onto the scene in 2015 with her first studio www.citizennewspapergroup.com

Halsey for about-face

album, Badlands, which has been RIAA certified 2x platinum. Her second release, Hopeless Fountain Kingdom, claimed the #1 spot on the Billboard Top 200 chart upon its debut. Since then, Halsey has continued her success with her 7x Platinum “Without Me,” which made Halsey the first and only female artist to have at least three songs chart on the Billboard Hot 100 for 50 weeks each. Halsey continues to push creative boundaries, expanding her influence and impact beyond music. In 2019, she was awarded the Hal David Starlight Award, presented by the Songwriters Hall

of Fame, to honor her songwriting. In 2020, Halsey released her latest album, Manic, to rave reviews. The album has already attained RIAA Platinum status as did the single “Graveyard” from the album. Most recently, it was announced that she will executive produce and star in “The Players Table” alongside Sydney Sweeney and in November of 2020, she debuted her first original poetry book, I Would Leave Me If I Could, which made her a NY Times bestselling author. For more information please visit www.aboutface.com @aboutfacebeauty

CITIZEN | Chatham Southeast | Week of Jan. 20, 2021

NEWS

Why a Tech Career Might Be Right for You StatePoint - If you have an interest in innovation, a passion for helping people and the confidence to let your creativity shine, there are exciting and rewarding career opportunities available to you in technology in almost every industry. From supporting the development of critical vaccines; building the next generation of electric vehicles; creating new and engaging ways to deliver distance learning; keeping air, food and water safe and sustainable; or bringing efficiencies to the delivery of government services, there is a career in tech waiting for you. Even better, you don’t necessarily need to be a computer whiz or math genius to land one of these jobs, as technical skills can often be taught, but professional and personal skills are often more difficult to find. Those in the know say that a growing number of employers are more interested in creativity, organization, verbal and written communications skills and a willingness to be a team player and less in technical acumen. “That’s true for people joining the labor force for the first time, returning to the workforce, burned out or hitting a ceiling in their current job, or downsized out of a job through no fault of their own,” said Todd Thibodeaux, president and CEO of CompTIA, the Computing Technology Industry Association. It’s a field that offers a certain amount of job

Employers across the country continue to advertise job openings for tech workers – there were nearly 200,000 listings in November 2020.

security, too. The economic and employment disruptions brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic have had an impact on tech occupations, though not nearly to the degree that other industries have been affected. The unemployment rate for IT occupations in the U.S. stood at 2.4% in November 2020, below the national unemployment rate of 6.7%. Employers across the country continue to

advertise job openings for tech workers – there were nearly 200,000 listings in November 2020. These openings were spread across many industries outside the technology sector, including financial services, manufacturing, retail, government, healthcare and education. You’ll also find great variety in the types of positions companies need to fill. They include application and software developers; tech support professionals,

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whose roles are increasingly important as more people work and learn from home; network analysts, architects and engineers; cybersecurity pros responsible for securing our data, devices and networks; and project managers tasked with keeping mission-critical projects on track. There are a number of free resources available to help you learn more about tech careers: • The Future of Tech (futureoftech.org) is a free and growing library of resources to get you up to speed on what’s new and next in the world of technology. • Cyberstates (cyberstates.org) is the definitive guide to information on the U.S. technology industry and workforce. • If you’re interested in cybersecurity, CyberSeek (cyberseek.org) has detailed information on the U.S. job market, including guidance on career paths and professional certifications. • CompTIA (comptia.org) offers many tech career planning tools, including salary calculators and job search help. “There are career options available that allow you to combine an interest in technology with something you are passionate about,” Thibodeaux said. “With the right access, encouragement and opportunity, anyone can maximize their digital knowledge and skills so they can achieve their life’s ambitions.”

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CITIZEN On The Move

"Christmas In The Wards" in Collaboration with CFC Awarded $10,000.00 To Chicago Park District Recently

Pictured left to right are: Everett Rand, Board Member "Xmas in the Wards" and Co-Founder Chicago Football Classics; Elzie Higgenbottom, Alderwoman Carrie Austin, 34th Ward; Alderwoman Michelle Harris, 8th Ward; Larry Huggins, Founder, "Xmas in the Wards" and Co-Founder Chicago Football Classics; Tim LeFevour, General Manager, Soldier Field, ASM Global and Board Member "Xmas in the Wards".

Christmas in the Wards is a non-profit organization, founded by Larry Huggins, CEO of Riteway-Huggins Construction. CFC organizations gave away a laptop to a deserving student of the 34th ward. Alderman Carrie Austin personally congratulated the wards resident and made the presentation. (Photos by CREDD). www.citizennewspapergroup.com

CITIZEN | Chatham Southeast | Week of Jan. 20, 2021

10 | CITIZEN | Chatham Southeast | Week of Jan. 20, 2021

HOME

Tips to Improve Indoor Air Quality and Breathe Better at Home (StatePoint) With more of life centered at home due to cool weather and social distancing, it’s time to ensure the space where your family spends the majority of its time is healthy and safe. What many people don’t know is that concentrations of air pollutants can typically be up to five times higher inside one’s home than out, and sometimes far more, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. However, there are many simple actions you can take to breathe better in your home: • Monitor carbon monoxide: This potentially deadly gas can be emitted by a faulty gas-burning home appliance. Monitor for carbon monoxide using detectors placed in major areas of the home, especially the bedrooms. • Make the switch to VOC-free: Most paints and stains, along with aerosol sprays, air fresheners and other household products, contain Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), which emit gases that can result in respiratory problems, headaches and irritation to the eyes, nose and throat, among other health problems. Take a cue from forward-thinking institutions like the Getty Museum and Google and swap out conventional paints in your home interiors for an eco-friendly, non-toxic alternative such as ECOS Paints. The brand, which has a 35-year history of offering VOC- and odor-free paints and stains in virtually any color, uses sustainable ingredients and can deliver directly to a home or business. To learn more, visit ecospaints.net. “We want people to feel good about what they are bringing into their homes. This is why we are transparent about ingredients and VOC testing results,” says Julian Crawford, ECOS Paints CEO. • Keep airborne dust to a minimum: Dust carries a variety of contaminants, including bacteria and allergens. Mop and dust often using a wet mop and dust cloth. Vacuum often as well using a vacuum with a HEPA filter, which traps small particles. • Eliminate moisture from the air: Moisture promotes mold, which can cause serious health problems when left unabated. Reduce moisture by eliminating sources of water leaks, installing exhaust fans in kitchens, using air conditioning, and positioning dehumidifiers in high-moisture rooms such as bathrooms, laundry rooms and basements. • Reduce airborne particles: Install an air purifier to trap irritating particles, including mold, pollen and pet dander, which are particularly bad for people with respiratory problems like asthma. Brush pets often -- outdoors if possible -- and give pets regular baths. • Decrease dirty air: Replace HVAC filters regularly. While the optimal frequency that you perform this task depends on the type of filter, the number of pets at home and other factors, a good reference point is the manufacturer’s guidelines. When it comes to creating a healthy home sanctuary, taking steps to manage the most common indoor air pollutants should be a top priority.

PHOTO SOURCE: Interior by Lisa Tharp. Photo by Michael J. Lee.

PERSONAL FINANCE Need Mortgage Relief Due to COVID-19? Here's What to Know (StatePoint) As the pandemic continues to affect Americans across the country, many are facing financial hardship. For homeowners with a Freddie Mac loan, COVID-19 mortgage assistance is available in the form of “forbearance,” which temporarily suspends or reduces your mortgage payment without penalty so you can get back on your feet. Here is how forbearance works and what happens when it ends: How do I request forbearance? To request forbearance, you must contact your loan servicer (the company listed on your mortgage statement) who will help you understand your options. Forbearance is available for up to a year, though servicers will typically start you on a shorter forbearance plan and reassess to see if your financial situation has changed. What happens when forbearance ends? It’s important to remember mortgage forbearance is not the same as mortgage forgiveness and you will have to repay your missed payments. About 30 days before the forbearance plan is scheduled to end, you and your servicer will determine next steps. This could include additional forbearance or a workout option to make up the missed payments. Just remember, you are never required to pay back missed payments in a lump sum if your loan is owned by Freddie Mac. How does repayment work? Even though you must pay back payments that were missed during forbearance, you have several options for doing so. Additionally, you won’t accrue additional fees, penalties or interest beyond the amounts already scheduled or calculated based on the terms of your mortgage. For example, let’s say you enter into a www.citizennewspapergroup.com

forbearance agreement of three months. If your monthly mortgage payment is $1,000, you will owe about $3,000 in missed mortgage payments at the end of your forbearance term. Your servicer can help you determine the workout option that works best for you, including: • Full repayment, where you pay back the missed payments all at once. • Repayment plans, which allow you to catch up gradually while you are paying your regular monthly payment. • Payment deferral, which allows you to resume making your normal monthly payment. Your servicer can work with you to leverage alternative ways for you to pay back the missed payments from your forbearance period at a later date and in a manner that is affordable. • Modification of the loan, which changes the terms of your loan, usually to reduce your original monthly payment amount. Your servicer can help with a modification that might suit your new circumstances. Additional Information: To stay on track with paying down your loan balance and less interest over the life of the loan, it’s important that you resume your payments as soon as you’re financially able. Keep in mind that while you’re not charged “extra” interest, you won’t be paying down your principal, and the interest will continue to accrue on your unpaid mortgage balance. For information on forbearance and how to get help with your mortgage, visit My Home by Freddie Mac at myhome.freddiemac.com. Remember, contacting your servicer is the first step in getting help with your mortgage payments if you are facing financial hardship due to COVID-19 or for other reasons. They can explore available options with you and determine what works best for your circumstances.

Chatham Southeast | Week of Jan. 20, 2021 | 11 Bob, remove this tag before printing- this page is for southend andCITIZEN Chatham| only

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Social Media and Kids: What Parents Can Do to Ensure Safe Use (StatePoint) The negative effects of social media have been much discussed as of late, thanks to the recently released documentary on Netflix, “The Social Dilemma.” The documentary argues that while platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook have at times been used to facilitate social movements and meaningful change, they can also make

PHOTO SOURCE: (c) AntonioGuillem / iStock via Getty Images Plus users obsessed with them. As many parents know, children can be susceptible to the most common pitfalls of social media, but there are some key steps that they can take to help ensure that children’s usage remains balanced, healthy and safe: • Sorting fact from fiction: Information about the world is often delivered via social media tools. Unfortunately, much of that content is actually misinformation. Parents can help stem the tide of “fake news” by teaching kids how to sort fact from fiction and pointing them in the direction of trusted sources of information. • Privacy measures: An enormous amount of data is gathered by social media companies. Parents should teach kids to be wary of sharing private information and opinions online. They can also add privacy settings to children’s profiles to ensure they are connected only to their friends and family. • Social media and feelings: Social media usage can be an emotional roller coaster. Parents should consider having a conversation with children about the way social media makes them feel. As part of this discussion, parents can remind kids that while “likes” and nice comments may make them feel good, it’s important not to rely too heavily on social media for emotional validation or real connection with friends. Unfortunately, cyberbullies and online “trolls” are active social media users, too, making social media apps a sometimes unfriendly place. • Monitoring usage: New tools are helping parents seamlessly monitor social media usage and protect kids from unsafe content. In fact, over 1.2 million families use the screen time management solution, OurPact. The app, which allows parents to block or limit app access automatically, gives families the flexibility to set schedules for usage around recurring activities like school and bedtime, keeping access well-balanced. Parents can even view screenshots of kids’ digital activity. Available at the iOS App Store and Google Play Store, parents can also sign up for an account at www.ourpact.com. While the ever-evolving social media landscape can make it difficult for adults to keep up with the way their children are interacting with these platforms, parents can help protect their kids by communicating regularly and by using new tools.

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SUBURBAN TIMES WEEKLY Bloom Township, Chicago Heights, Flossmoor, Ford Heights, Glenwood, Homewood, Lansing ,Lynwood, Olympia Fileds, Park Forest, Sauk Village, South Chicago and Steger Citizen Newspaper Group Inc., (CNGI), Publisher of the Chatham-Southeast, South End, Chicago Weekend, South Suburban and Hyde Park Citizen and Citizen Suburban Times Weekly. Our weekly publications are published on Wednesday’s (publishing 52 issues annually). Written permission is required to reproduce contents in whole or in part from the publisher. Citizen Newspaper Group, Inc. does not assume the responsibility for nor are we able to return unsolicited materials, therefore they become property of the newspaper and can or will be discarded or used at the newspapers disgratation. Deadlines for advertising is every Friday at noon. Deadlines for press releases are Thursdays at 10 am prior to the next week’s edition. Please send information for the calendar at least three weeks prior to the event. Send to: editorial@citizennewspapergroup.com. For more information on subscriptions or advertising, call us at (773) 783-1251 or fax (872) 208-8793. Our offices are located at 8741 South Greenwood Suite# 107, Chicago, Illinois 60619.

12 | CITIZEN | Chatham Southeast | Week of Jan. 20, 2021

This shouldn’t be how we say hello...or goodbye.

It’s our reality right now. But it won’t be if we do what it takes to beat COVID-19. Vaccines are coming, but until enough of us are vaccinated, we all still need to wear our masks, stay at least six feet from others, and avoid indoor social gatherings. The more we slow the spread, the faster we’ll return to normal hellos … and fewer goodbyes. Learn more about vaccines and slowing the spread at cdc.gov/coronavirus Brought to you by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services