Chatham-Southeast Citizen 9-14-2022

COURT OPENS TO PUBLIC

The Mahalia Jackson Court, located at 1 E. 79th St., is officially open. To celebrate the occasion there was a ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday, Sept. 2nd . Mahalia Jackson, a native of New Orleans, called Chicago home from 1927 until 1972. During that time, she won Grammy Awards and sang at the March on Washington.

Mahalia Jackson Court, located at 1 E. 79th St., opened to the public on Friday, Sept. 2. It is part of the Department of Planning and Development’s Public Outdoor Plaza (POP!) program.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY GREATER CHATHAM INITIATIVE.

Mahalia Jackson Court is operated by the Greater Chatham Initiative. The 8,500 square foot POP! Plaza includes an area for vendors to provide food and retail, as well as a Playscape.

PHOTO

PROVIDED BY GREATER CHATHAM INITIATIVE.

FLOWERS FOR THE LIVING FOUNDATION SEEKS HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO DEVELOP “STREETS OF BRONZEVILLE” WALKING TOUR

The Experience Will Include Mentorship, Exposure to Unique Cultural Experiences and a $2,500 Stipend for Students

CHICAGO—Local artistic collective Flowers for the Living Foundation, a group that supports local youth with programs in the arts, sports and more, today announced that it is seeking local high school students to develop an innovative walking tour of Bronzeville designed to offer a multi-faceted adventure that showcases the unique beauty and history of the historic neighborhood. Students will receive mentorship, exposure to cultural experiences and a $2,500 stipend to develop “Streets of Bronzeville,” an eyes-up audio-walking tour throughout the South Side neighborhood.

Formed around a cohort of high school students, the tour will showcase the rich history and present day of Bronzeville through the lens, voice and sonic scope of Chicago youth. The inaugural class of this experience will use creative writing, narration, music and sound effects to create an app that will guide listeners through Bronzeville.

The program will include mentorship by professional museum and creative professionals, museum trips and more. Because the Foundation believes artists should be compensated for their work, the one-time $2,500 stipend is a key feature of the four-month program. The app and experience will be released in the Fall.

The program currently has two spots available on the music production team. Applications are being accepted now through September 23. The program will begin in October

Teens can apply at https://www.fftlfounda tion.org/streetsofbronzevillewalkingtour.

DELTA DENTAL OF ILLINOIS FOUNDATION SEEKS APPLICATIONS FOR COMMUNITY GRANTS

Illinois organizations that improve chil dren’s oral health may apply by Oct. 1

NAPERVILLE, Ill. – Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation is now accepting applica tions for its annual Community Grants Program, which has awarded 167 grants totaling more than $1.6 million since 2014 to Illinois organi zations dedicated to improving children’s oral health.

The Community Grants Program focuses on improving the health of Illinois children by supporting organizations that provide access to dental education and care.

Applications for the 2022 Community Grants Program will close on Oct. 1. Applica tions can be found online at Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation’s website, deltadentalil.com/ community-grants.

Non-profit organizations with a physical presence in Illinois can apply for a one-year grant of up to $20,000. To qualify, organiza tions must do work benefiting Illinois children as a public or governmental entity, such as a public school or health department, or a public charity exempt from federal income taxes. The 2022 Community Grants will be officially awarded in November.

Last year, 18 nonprofit and community organizations received grants totaling more than $245,000. The 2021 grants helped ensure children in the foster care system get access to dental care, expanded patient outreach to serve more individuals in need of quality care, provid ed care and education to children in after-school programs and more.

Mahalia Jackson Court opens to public

from page 1

BY TIA CAROL JONES

She was known as the Queen of Gospel Music and the World’s Greatest Gospel Singer. She was a resident of the Chatham neighborhood.

Mahalia Jackson Court is operated by the Greater Cha tham Initiative, and the land is owned by the nearby Carter Tem ple CME Church, located at 7841 S. Wabash. It is Greater Chatham Initiative’s second placemaking project. The Artists on the 9 is the organization’s first placemaking project.

Mahalia Jackson Court is part of the Department of Planning and Development’s Public Outdoor Plaza (POP!) program. It was one of two finalists from the winter RFP and was constructed during the Spring. The Greater Chatham Initiative received $500,000 from the Department of Planning and Development for construction of the POP! Plaza and the Depart ment of Cultural Affairs and Spe cial Events provided an additional $50,000 for construction of the Mahalia Jackson Memorial.

The 8,500 square foot court includes an area for vendors to provide food and retail, as well as a Playscape, and leverages transit-oriented development, because of its proximity to the 79th Street Red Line Station.

Illinois State Representative Nicholas Smith, D. Dist. 34, said the opening of the Mahalia Jackson Court was a long time coming.

“We get to honor one of our pioneers of Gospel Music, Mahalia Jackson, who actually lived in this community. It’s a great opportunity to honor her, as well as repurpose this vacant lot into a usable space that is open to the community, young people, as well as old,” Smith said.

Smith hopes this development brings people together for

CHICAGO DANCERS UNITED RAISES

Chicago Dancers United (CDU), which supports the health and wellness of Chicago’s professional dance community, welcomed more than 1,700 people to the 31st annual Dance for Life, its primary fundraiser, Saturday, Aug. 13, at the Auditorium Theatre, followed by an after party at Venue SIX10. From a combination of ticket sales, contributions, and sponsorships, Dance for Life raised $300,000—exceed ing its fundraising goal—to support The Dancers’ Fund, which provides Chicago dance industry professionals with financial support for preventative health care and critical medical needs.

The complete lineup of performing companies includ ed Chicago Dance Crash, Deeply Rooted Dance Theater, Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theater, Giordano Dance Chicago, The Joffrey Ballet, NAJWA Dance Corps, and Trinity Irish Dance Company.

Randy Duncan choreographed a world premiere finale, Never Enough, with music by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul and additional music by Andy Mitran, featuring dancers from throughout the Chicago area.

“We were so pleased to be back at the Auditorium this

positive engagements, with local artists coming to the space, to perform, showcase their art, gather, and perform poetry. With more positive engagements in the space, the hope is that it will cancel out any negative engagements in the surrounding community.

Illinois State Senator Elgie Sims, D. Dist. 17th, want ed to attend the event because it was a community driven project that benefitted the community.

“It’s such a great day for our community. It brings everybody together. It shows the beauty of our community. It shows how dynamic this community is, it’s all about the people, the history, the families who live here. I’m so proud of this community. I’m proud of us being able to make a positive impact in this community,” said Sims, who is also a member of Carter Temple.

Nedra Simms Fears, Exec utive Director of Greater Cha tham Initiative, talked about the open doors and opportunity that exists in Chicago.

“Mahalia Jackson Court is one of the doors that has just swung open for everyone in the community,” Simms Fears said.

Mayor Lori Lightfoot called the site hallowed ground. Lightfoot talked about the Invest South/West and Chicago Recovery Plan and how those programs help communities.

“The Mahalia Jackson POP! [Public Outdoor Plaza] is one of 12 new public plazas that will create spaces for recre ation, performances and pop-up shops, gardening and other neighborhood activities and amenities,” Lightfoot said.

For more information about the Mahalia Jackson Court, visit mahaliajacksoncourt.com. For more information about the Greater Chatham Initiative, visit greaterchathaminitia tive.org.

AT 31ST ANNUAL DANCE FOR LIFE

year with so many dance fans and supporters who love this annual event,” said CDU Board President Michael Anderson. “Although the pandemic has produced some degree of caution, we were grateful for the outpouring of support for the health and wellbeing of our vibrant dance community.”

During the event, Anderson shared important news: “We are thrilled to announce our newly formed partnership with Howard Brown Health, which will provide an organized approach to health care for those in our dance community who need primary healthcare or pathways to services, such as dental care and mental health.”

Beginning September 1, Howard Brown Health will refer Chicago dance community members to primary care physicians, dentists, mental health professionals, and more at its clinics for little to no cost. “This partnership will be a game changer in how we support our dance community, offering this additional level of important resources from Howard Brown Health.”

Co-chairs for Dance for Life 2022 were Jennifer Edgcomb, Ted Grady, and Ross Slotten. Presenting Sponsor was Fred Eycha ner. Lead Sponsors were Tim and Paula Friedman, Barbara Levy Kipper, and the Auditorium Theatre.

For more information, visit chicagodancersunited.org.

Artist Gerald Griffin is the creator of the bronze Mahalia Jackson Statue at Mahalia Jackson Court. Photo provided by Greater Chatham Initiative.

Education Department Approves $1.5

billion in Debt Relief for 79,000 Borrowers Who Attended Westwood College

Approval assisted by significant evidence from Colorado and Illinois attorneys general

The U.S. Department of Education (Department) announced that it will dis charge all remaining federal student loans for borrowers who enrolled in any location of Westwood College (including enrollment in Westwood’s online program) between January 1, 2002 through November 17, 2015 when it stopped enrolling new borrowers in advance of its 2016 closure. The Depart ment has analyzed the evidence related to Westwood and concluded that the school engaged in widespread misrepresentations about the value of its credentials for attend ees’ and graduates’ employment prospects such that all borrowers who attended during the period described above are entitled to a full loan discharge. This finding is based on extensive internal records, evidence from Westwood employees and administrators, and testimony recounting borrowers’ firsthand experiences.

This action will result in $1.5 billion in discharges for 79,000 borrowers, regardless of whether they have applied for a borrower defense discharge. Relief will be grant ed without any additional actions by the borrowers.

“Westwood College’s exploitation of students and abuse of federal financial aid place it in the same circle of infamy occu pied by Corinthian Colleges and ITT Techni cal Institute,” said Under Secretary James Kvaal. “Westwood operated on a culture of false promises, lies, and manipulation in order to profit off student debt that burdened borrowers long after Westwood closed. The Biden-Harris Administration will continue ramping up oversight and accountability to protect students and taxpayers from abuse and ensure that executives who commit such harm never work at institutions that receive federal financial aid again.”

to enroll at Westwood, but the Department found no evidence that the school ever followed through on that promise.

Westwood’s criminal justice programs at its Illinois campuses highlight the lengths the school went to in its practice of misleading students. Westwood promised students in that program that they could expect jobs with law enforcement in Illinois, including the Chicago Police Department or the Illinois State Police Department, and even included those false claims in statewide television ads. However, Westwood never had the regional accredita tion necessary to meet the state employment requirements during the time Westwood was open or for city positions from 2004 to 2010. As a result, it was impossible for Westwood students to achieve those employment goals.

These Westwood findings are based upon Department review of important evidence provided by the attorneys general of Colorado and Illinois, including sworn statements from former students and employ ees, admissions call recordings, multi-media advertising, and Westwood’s internal commu nications, policies, and trainings.

Westwood College was owned by Alta College, Inc. (Alta), which was located in Colorado. In 2002, Alta was acquired by Housatonic Partners, a private equity firm lo cated in California and Massachusetts. Major executives at Alta included co-founder Kirk Riedinger and George Burnett. Earlier this year, Burnett was named the president of the University of Phoenix but left that position after the Department raised questions about his involvement at Westwood.

POLITICAL AFFAIRS

STATE SENATOR MATTIE HUNTER HELPED SECURED NEEDED FINANCIAL RESOURCES FOR THE NEW WENDELL PHILLIPS ACADEMY NEW GYM

Thanks to years of support from State Senator Mattie Hunter, Wendell Phillips Academy High School unveiled a new athletic center Wednesday afternoon. In collaboration with Alderman Pat Dowell and the City of Chicago, a total of $17 million was secured to build the new facility.

“This project is very special to us all, and the community at large, as this is a one-of-a-kind investment in a community that has been historically underserved,” said Hunter (D-Chicago). “Phillips Academy was named as one of the best high schools in our state for athletics, and this newly-built facility will more adequately fit the needs of its students and staff.”

The new two-story athletic annex is linked to the existing school building, with training and locker rooms, a concession and ticket office, and a hall of fame.

Wendell Phillips is the oldest African American school in Chicago, and has produced a number of nota ble alumni, including Nat “King” Cole, Sam Cooke, and George E. Johnson, Sr., founder of Johnson Products, and Gwendolyn Brooks, the first African-American to win the Pulitzer Prize.

In addition, Phillips has as an impressive athletic history. Since the 1920s, Phillips has built a reputation as an athletic powerhouse, winning several basketball tour naments. Out of Phillips emerged athletes that played for the Harlem Globetrotters under the banner of the South Side’s Giles Post of the American Legion.

“I cannot put in words what this will do for the students of Wendell Phillips. In a predominately Black school that has been historically underfunded, this investment is monumental,” Hunter said. “It is inspiring and will reinvigorate the learning environment. This project will show students and staff that the work they do is valued, and they are not being overlooked.”

Most recently, Phillips became the first Chicago public league team to win a state championship in football, winning the IHSA State Football Championship in 2015 and again in 2017.

CHATHAM-SOUTHEAST

Chatham, Avalon Park, Park Manor,GreaterGrand Crossing, Burnside,Chesterfield, West Chersterfield, South Shore,and Calumet Heitghts.

SOUTH END Washington Heights,Roseland,Rosemoor, Englewood,West Englewood, Auburn-Gresham, Morgan Park, Maple Park, Mt. Vernon, Fernwood, Bellevue, Beverly, Pullman, West Pullman, West Pullman,Riverdale, Jeffrey Manor and Hegewisch.

SOUTH SUBURBAN

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HYDE PARK Lake Meadows, Oakland, Prairie Shores,Douglas, Grand Boulevard, Kenwood, Woodland,South Shore and Hyde Park.

CHICAGO WEEKEND Chicago Westside Communities, Austin and Garfield Park

SUBURBAN TIMES WEEKLY BloomTownship, Chicago Heights, Flossmoor,FordHeights, Glenwood, Homewood, Lansing ,Lynwood, Olympia Fileds, Park Forest,Sauk Village,South Chicago

Citizen

The announcement is based upon several findings reached by the Department in the last two years about Westwood’s conduct, which had previously resulted in the approval of $130 million in borrower defense discharges for approximately 4,000 borrowers. These findings include that West wood routinely misled prospective students by grossly misrepresenting that its creden tials would benefit their career prospects and earning potential—specifically by promising prospective students that they would be employed in their field within six months after graduation and that a Westwood degree would make them “employable for the rest of [their lives].” In fact, Westwood’s marketing materials inflated the salary out comes of its graduates and misrepresented national earnings data of college graduates as if they were data for Westwood graduates. Westwood also presented grossly inflated job placement rates. And the institution gave students a false “employment pledge” guaranteeing students that it would help pay their bills if they could not find a job within six months of graduating. Not only was that empty guarantee a key feature of a scheme to mislead students into taking out loans

Further, the Department has already taken action to strengthen institutional accountability so that students are not left with mountains of debt and little payoff, particularly from fraudulent institutions. The Department has re-established the office of enforcement within Federal Student Aid that conducts investigations into institutions of higher education. The Department is also holding responsible the accreditation agencies that oversee aca demic quality at institutions. On August 19, Deputy Secretary Cindy Marten reaffirmed a decision to terminate federal recognition of the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS). As a result, colleges currently accredited by the ACICS will now be required to fulfill additional operating conditions for continued partici pation in the federal student aid programs. ACICS had accredited Westwood, ITT Technical Institute, and many branches of Corinthian Colleges prior to their closure.

The Department will also propose future rules to hold career programs ac countable for leaving their graduates with mountains of unaffordable debt and poor job prospects—a rule the last Administra tion rolled back. In the coming months, the Department will announce new actions to hold accountable institutions that have con tributed to the student debt crisis including publishing lists of the worst actors.

SENATOR HARRIS BRINGS EQUITY TO HIS CHILDHOOD STREET

State Senator Napoleon Harris III is proud to announce the rehabilitation of Wood Street in the South Suburbs through the state’s multi-year infrastructure plan.

“It is a bittersweet feeling to be one of the reasons why a street I grew up on is going to be restored,” said Harris (D-Harvey). “I lived right on Wood Street, and I am proud to see that our infrastructure plan is rebuilding communities and creating an equitable transportation system for all.”

Improvements to Wood Street will consist of roadway development, replacement of existing traffic signals, railroad crossings upgrades, modern storm sewer system, up-to-date roadway lighting and new landscaping.

This project is part of IDOT’s multi-year plan, a $34.6 billion investment in construction projects for the next six fiscal years.

The $34.6 billion will go to highway reconstruc tion and preservation, bridge improvements, strategic expansion, system support such as engineering and land acquisition, and safety and system modernizations. Over six years, the funding will be dispersed to improve more than 2,500 miles of roads and nearly 10 million square feet of bridges.

“Whether it’s paving our streets, improving light ing, building sidewalks or just improving road safety, our multi-year infrastructure plan helps our communities move forward while building an equitable transportation system for all,” said Harris. “All of our streets are a crucial link in our neighborhood, especially Wood Street, which is why we are enhancing its safety for all of our families in Harvey, Dixmoor, Riverdale and surrounding communities.”

Boomi Appoints Larry Quinlan to Board of Directors (Graphic: Business Wire)

CHESTERBROOK, Pa. -- (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Boomi™, the intelligent connec tivity and automation leader, announced the appointment of former Deloitte CIO Larry Quinlan as an independent, non-executive member of its Board of Directors.

“We’re thrilled to have Larry as part of our board and strategic counsel, where he will bring his proven expertise to help us navigate through our next phase as a com pany,” said David Meredith, CEO at Boomi. “Boomi’s recent launch as a standalone orga nization – coupled with our category-leading technology and rapid customer growth – pro vides us the opportunity to continue to build an unparalleled leadership team.”

As the former Global Chief Information Officer (CIO) for Deloitte, Quinlan held responsibility for the $45B professional services firm’s technology strategy and operations, overseeing more than 10,000 infor mation tech nology (IT) professionals in 175 countries. Sought-after for his understanding of strategic impacts of emerging technologies, he brings over 35 years of experience advising Fortune 500 boards and CEOs. Quinlan currently sits on numerous boards, including those of two public companies: ServiceNow (NYSE: NOW), a leader in cloud digital workflow, and Jones Lang LaSalle (NYSE: JLL), a world leader in real estate services, as well as UBS Americas Holding LLC where he chairs the Technology and Cyber Forum of the Board.

“All businesses must transform for to day’s world, and intelligent connectivity and automation are crucial for success in that en deavor,” said Quinlan. “Boomi’s continued leadership, coupled with its award-winning platform and culture, make this company a force to be reckoned with. I’m honored to serve the Boomi team during this exciting time.”

Quinlan’s appointment comes after Boomi’s recent independence backed by premier private equity firms, Francisco Partners and TPG, in a $4 billion transaction. As a category-leading, global software as a service (SaaS) company with the largest customer base among integration platform vendors, Boomi touts a growing user com munity of over 100,000 members, and one of the largest arrays of global systems integra tors (GSIs) in the integration platform as a service (iPaaS) space. The company boasts a worldwide network of approximately 800 partners, including Accenture, Deloitte, SAP, and Snowflake; and partners with the largest hyperscaler cloud service providers, including Amazon Web Services, Google, and Microsoft, among others.

Boomi has been positioned as a Leader in the Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Enterprise Integration Platform as a Service (EiPaaS) for eight consecutive years.

Second Generation Black Women-Led PR Firm Leverette Weekes Nationally Certified as Women’s Business Enterprise

MINNEAPOLIS, PRNewswire -- LEVERETTE WEEKES, a public relations agency, is pleased to announce that it has been nationally certified as a Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE) by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC). Leverette Weekes is led by president and CEO Meredith Moore.

“As an agency primarily made up of Black women, we are thrilled to be recognized by WBENC for the breadth of communica tions services that we offer, as well as for our commitment to helping companies leverage diverse talent,” said Meredith Moore. “We were assisted in the application process,” she added, “by another woman-owned organiza tion, Certified Access. They mentored us and guided us on how to leverage our new status.”

The WBENC standard of certification implemented by the Women’s Business Development Center-Midwest is a meticulous process including an in-depth review of the business and a site inspection to confirm that the entity is at least 51% women owned and operated. This is important as corporations and government agencies seek to partner with companies that foster diversity, equity and inclusion.

Meredith Moore is the second-generation of the Moore family to run the company. In 1973 attorney Cornell Leverette Moore was frustrated with discrimination in the workplace and the lack of opportunity despite having a law degree from Howard

University.

Joining forces with his wife, Wenda Weekes Moore, the two settled in Minneapolis-St. Paul, where they established a business that drew clients from the Moores’ extensive network of diverse professional athletes, executives and entrepreneurs. For much of the ‘80s, the company supported the emerging pipeline of talent across the Twin Cities.

In 2016, the company was revitalized and rebranded as a leadership development and communications agency by Meredith, the youngest of the Moore’s children, following her successful career in communications and DEI at McDonald’s corporation, 3M, and Comcast.

Leverette Weekes helps executives inside and outside of corporate America create a positive, lasting impact within their organizations and throughout the world. The company offers:

Ghostwriting, Speechwriting, and Executive Communications

Public Relations and Media Relations Consulting Leadership Development and Coaching

To learn more about LEVERETTE WEEKES, please visit leveretteweekes.com

To learn more about Certified Access, please visit certifiedac cess.co

Georgia-based Natural Skincare Brand Ranks among the Inc. 500

ATLANTA, PRNewswire -Inc. magazine recently revealed that Herb’N Eden, an all-natural skincare company, is ranked No. 125 on its annual Inc. 5000 list, the most prestigious ranking of the fastest-growing private companies in America. The list represents a look at the most successful companies within the economy’s independent businesses. Facebook, Under Armour, Microsoft, and many other well-known names gained their first national exposure as honorees on the Inc. 5000.

In addition to the national ranking, Herb’N Eden ranked No. 10 in Georgia and No. 12 in Consumer Products. “It has been nothing short of amazing to see the hard work we put in manifest into this type of recognition,” says Terran Lewis, Co-Founder of Herb’N Eden. “We celebrate the growth we have been able to see in such a short amount of time, and we thank those who have supported us through their purchases, endorsements, likes and follows.”

Quinton and Terran Lewis founded Herb’N Eden in 2015 to bring natural skincare products to the forefront of the market. Earlier this year, the husband and wife duo announced receiving a $1.2M investment to help grow and scale their business. Mercantile Venture Capital led the investment with participation

from The Core Venture Studio, both stating that they were impressed with the Lewis’ ability to sustain growth beyond the pandemic year while remaining risk-averse and prioritizing customer communications.

“The accomplishment of building one of the fast est-growing companies in the U.S., in light of recent economic roadblocks, cannot be overstated,” says Scott Omelianuk, editor-in-chief of Inc. “Inc. is thrilled to honor the companies that have es tablished themselves through innovation, hard work, and rising to the challenges of today.”

“We recognize how big of a feat it is to not only run a business amidst financial hardship but to grow as well. We’re looking forward to continuing to reach new heights that will help pave a way for other Black entrepreneurs to to do the same,” added Quinton Lewis.

Herb’N Eden’s mission is to create holistic bath and body products that help maintain skin health. With prod ucts made from botanical ingredients and essential oils, Herb’N Eden strives to empower others with an alternative to the harsh chemicals found in today’s market. For more information on Herb’N Eden, visit http://herbneden.com.

Meredith Moore is president and CEO of Leverette Weekes public relations agency. PRNEWSFOTO.

Herb’n Eden Owners Quinton and Terran Lewis. PRNewsFoto.

DSW Partners with Rising Athletes

C.J. Stroud and Jaxon Smith-Njigba for Its Men’s Fall Season

NEW YORK, NY – DSW, leading branded footwear and accessories retailer, announces its fall NIL partnership with college athletes C.J. Stroud and Jaxon Smith-Njigba as style authori ties for men’s footwear.

The player-retailer partnership is aimed to attract a new generation of young consumers reaching for the latest menswear trends in foot wear and the best-performing styles in athletics.

College Quarterback C.J. Stroud, and Wide Receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, are athletes who are watched closely for their stellar performances on the field, but also are earning serious respect for their personal style off the field. These gen tleman athletes take the DSW style playbook to the next level reaching for shoes with the freshest trends, unrivaled style and best-in-class perfor mance.

DSW has been leaning into athletics for the past several years recognizing consumers’ need for comfortable, current styles and shoes with the ability to perform. Collaborating with influencers like Stroud and Smith-Njigba provides DSW the ability to drive awareness and earn credibility in men’s fashion and athleisure products—part of its long-term strategy for growth.

“DSW men’s is growing as we continue to acquire and engage new male customers. As part of this growth, we are investing in partnerships for DSW to build awareness of our incredible men’s assortment,” says DSW Chief Marketing Officer, Julie Roy. “Leveraging the style author ity of young athletes like C.J. and Jaxon speaks to current and new customers in relevant and inspiring ways.”

Through its breadth of assortment of top sneaker brands and classic menswear styles, DSW continues to position itself as the ultimate destination for anyone who loves fashion and the excitement of finding the perfect shoe.

The Stroud and Smith-Njigba partnership official ly launched on Sept. 2nd at DSW.com and all 500 store locations. The styles selected and worn by C.J. Stroud and Jaxon Smith-Njigba include top brands like Adi das, New Balance, Crown Vintage, and Vince Camuto.

LOS ANGELES, PRNewswire -- Limitless X Inc., (OTCQB: VYBE) (“the Company”), a creative and empowering lifestyle agency and brand house, announced that recent International Boxing Hall of Famer, Floyd Mayweather Jr. arrived wearing a “Limitless X” sports cap and “VYBE” t-shirt at a press conference in Hawaii, promoting his latest exhibition fight against Japanese star and two-weight MMA champion Mikuru Asakura.

Mayweather is a long-time friend and associate of Limitless X’s CEO, Jas Mathur, a successful entrepreneur, and venture capitalist, and has been an avid supporter of the Limitless X brand. The Company recently effected a new ticker change, “VYBE” which stands for Visualize Yourself Better Everyday and plans to launch VYBE.com as an e-commerce plat form selling consumer lifestyle and wellness products, which is expected to go live in September 2022.

“We are grateful for the long-standing partnership and support from Mayweather. We look forward to the upcoming exhibition fight, which comes at an opportune time as we have recently successfully changed our ticker to ‘VYBE’,” Jas Mathur, CEO of Limitless X, commented.

Floyd Mayweather will be facing off his opponent Asakura in Japan for another boxing exhibition under the Rizin banner in September 2022.

Jas Mathur is an investor and entrepreneur who has developed multi ple brands in the marketing, health and wellness spaces generating tens to hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue each year. The digital marketing and branding firm he founded, Limitless X, has launched numerous in dustry-leading products in the dietary and CBD supplement sectors. He is a trendsetter with more than 7 million Instagram followers and frequently collaborates with leaders in the sports and entertainment industries.

Jas’ passion is helping accelerate the achievement of people’s health, wellness and business goals, inspired by his personal transformation story of losing over 250lbs in his twenties. Now a sought-after expert in devel oping fitness and training programs, he’s helped many high-profile figures embark on their own health journeys and seeks to do the same for today’s youth. Suitably, he partnered with Dr. Oz’s nonprofit, Healthcorps, to jumpstart health and wellness programs targeted at teens and young adults.

As Jas transformed his life and body, he applied his newfound pas sion for health and wellness to launch Limitless X. Prospective services he is blueprinting for the company include personality development, life coaching and educational platforms, in addition to the brand portfolio.

Limitless X is a creative and empowering lifestyle agency specializ ing in the full spectrum of digital advertising and marketing. The Compa ny has a global eco-system with three verticals and a series of unique prod uct and service-oriented businesses within each, focused on the Health & Wellness, Beauty & Skincare, and CBD Industries.

JANIE AND JACK DEBUTS ‘PAJAMAS FOR GOOD’ PROGRAM WITH ROOM TO READ PARTNERSHIP IN SUPPORT OF WORLD LITERACY DAY

SAN FRANCISCO, PRNewswire -- Children’s fashion brand Janie and Jack® debuted their PJs for Good program, an ongoing initiative focused on partnering with organizations that do good in their communities. The program has launched with Room to Read, a leading global nonprofit for children’s literacy and education, coinciding with the Fall 2022 launch of the brand’s Good Night by Janie and Jack pajama collec tion. For the month of September, which is National Literacy Month and includes World Literacy Day on September 8th, Janie and Jack will donate one book for every pajama sold. They also invite customers to donate directly in stores or online at checkout.

“As a purpose-driven brand that tells stories through our collections and believes in inspiring every child, we’re excited to announce our partnership with Room to Read,” said Linda Heasley, President and Chief Executive Officer, Janie and Jack. “We’re proud to support a nonprofit organization that encourages a new generation of young readers through educa tion and are thrilled to kick off the first PJs for Good.”

Janie and Jack has an ongoing commitment to teach children about kindness, unity, and love while instilling a passion for reading. Through their GoodBooks series, which

can be viewed on the brand’s Instagram @janieandjack, they feature celebrity and influencer parents and kids reading books that correspond with a curated library collection available on their website. In celebration of World Literacy Day, Shan non Hesel, Associate Director at Room to Read, will be featured, reading a book and inviting customers to purchase paja mas and support the organization.

“Through this partnership, we will translate the love of reading that exists within Janie and Jack’s com munity into an impactful investment in literacy. Together, we will ensure that every child is able to develop the habit of reading and pursue lifelong learning,” said Dr. Geetha Murali, Room to Read’s CEO.

The Good Night by Janie and Jack Collection features a variety of pajama silhouettes in one-of-akind, colorful prints that are perfect for special family

moments. From leopard print styles to seasonal Halloween and Christmas prints, the Good Night by Janie and Jack Collection is made with soft, 100% cotton for a good night’s sleep. The collec tion, sized 0-3M to 12 years and priced from $44-$48, is available for purchase in select Janie and Jack stores and online at www. JanieandJack.com.

Janie and Jack is a design house with every kid at its heart — because individual style starts early. Each season, collections feature modern twists on classic fashion. Janie and Jack is known for family moments, thoughtful details and memorable gifts. Visit Janie and Jack stores nationwide for kids’ clothing from newborn to size 6 and www.janieandjack.com for up to size 18.

Learn more at www.roomtoread.org.

DSW

PRNewsfoto/Janie and Jack

Recently inducted into International Boxing Hall of Fame, Mayweather will continue The Floyd Mayweather exhibition tour under the Rizin Fighting Federation against Mikuru Asakura

UNION LEAGUE BOYS & GIRLS

CHICAGO, Ill. — As the 2022-23 aca demic year begins, 57 current and recent high school graduates hailing from Chicago’s South and West sides have received $210,600 (total) in financial scholarships granted by Union League Boys & Girls Clubs, it was announced today. Twenty-two (22) recent high school graduates, in addition to 35 currently enrolled students at Northwestern University, Uni versity of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, and University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, among others, are on the road to success thanks in part to the financial and developmental support pro vided by the students’ involvement in Union League Boys & Girls Clubs serving the Pilsen, West Town, Humboldt Park, South Lawndale and Englewood communities, among others.

“We are so proud of our Union League Boys & Girls Clubs high school graduates beginning their higher education journeys and our Club alumni currently enrolled,” said Union League Boys & Girls Clubs President & CEO Mary Ann Mahon Huels. “We are sincerely thankful to everyone who supports our scholarship program which enables us to continue to serve our youth beyond their time as a Club member. We look forward to learning of their future achievements.”

As unequivocally expressed by the stu dents, of equal value to the financial assistance (in the form of individual scholarships ranging from $2700-$4800) is the academic, moral, and emotional support provided by their experience at the Union League Boys & Girls Clubs. The 2022 high school graduates hail from Roberto Clemente Community Acade my, William H. Wells Community Academy and Chicago High School for the Arts, among others. They credit the academic tutoring and guidance on college applications, along with the skills gained from the Clubs’ after- school arts activities, sports teams and STEM pro gramming, with providing them the encour agement to pursue advance education, in some cases, as the first in their family to do so. And in addition to the graduating seniors, former Club members who are currently enrolled in college were able to apply for financial support

from Union League Boys & Girls Clubs to assist with tuition and housing expenses.

In the students’ own words:

· “The Clemente Club gave me a safe space to learn and grow in. In Chicago, there aren’t too many places to go where you can play and learn without being in danger. The Club helped me develop social, sport, and academic skills every day and I am truly grateful for the experience.” (James S, Roberto Clemente Club, sophomore enrolled at Loras College)

· “The main thing the Club made me realize about myself is that I am able to accomplish anything no matter how difficult it may seem - as long as I put forth the effort and just try. When I joined the Club, I realized that trying new things and maybe not being good at them is a part of life and we learn from those experiences. The hardest thing you can ever do to yourself is not to try.” (Omayra S, Roberto Clemente Club, sophomore enrolled at Domini can University)

· “If it weren’t for the Club, I wouldn’t be where I am now. Establishing a healthy relationship with staff, such as the Club Director and mentors, has helped tremendously and they became connections for post-graduation plans. Due to this, I was hired as a Youth Development Professional and can now make an impact on other youth.” (Sofia M, Club Two at Wells Community Academy, sophomore at Malcolm X)

· “The experiences I had while going to the Club really shaped me as a person. I know if I ever need any help with anything I am going through I can rely on some of the staff I built a relationship with to help me. I believe every kid should experience going to the Club; it is amazing.” (Stephanie C, Club One, sophomore at Lincoln Memorial University)

Since its founding on December 26, 1919, as a foundation of the Union League Club of Chicago, Union League Boys & Girls Clubs have been serving youth in neighborhoods with the highest hardship index in Chicago; provid ing quality programming centered on academic success, good character and citizenship, and

healthy lifestyles. Today, Union League Boys & Girls Clubs serve over 15,000 youth members at 21 well-equipped and professionally staffed inner-city Clubs, that bring effective after-school programming to youth in the Humboldt Park, Pilsen, Englewood, West Town, South Lawn dale, West Garfield Park, Back of the Yards,

Archer Heights, Homan Square and Little Village communities as well as to youth in the Juvenile Detention Center and at an overnight camp in Kenosha County Wisconsin. For more information on Union League Boys & Girls Clubs and its ongoing support of Chicago’s youth, visit www.ulbgc.org.

THE MOST SPECTACULARLY LAMENTABLE TRIAL OF MIZ MARTHA WASHINGTON

THROUGH OCTOBER

By James Ijames

Directed by Whitney White Featuring ensemble member Celeste M. Cooper

The recently widowed “Mother of America” lies alone in her Mount Vernon bed, ravaged by illness and attended to by the enslaved people who will be free the moment she dies. This uproarious form-shifting fever dream takes us deep into the ramifications of one of America’s original sins. Dizzying and fantastical, this Chicago premiere from Pulitzer winner James Ijames boldly remixes this country’s dark history with a delicate balance of truth and humor.

Great Lakes Credit Union Supports Chicago Area Students with Donation of 14,000+ Needed School Supplies

BANNOCKBURN, Ill. – As part of its strong social responsibility, Great Lakes Credit Union (GLCU) held its an nual school supply drive this summer to help support students in its communities prepare for a successful year ahead. The drive collected much-needed classroom items for 14 local schools, a number of which have a predominantly low-income student base. From June 1 to July 23, GLCU employees and members do nated over 14,000 school supply items to aid these students in their academic journeys, including 500 notebooks, 612 folders, and 2,936 pencils.

Donated items ranged from back packs to binders to pencils and erasers. GLCU members and employees could contribute to the school supply drive either by donating items in person at any one of GLCU’s 13 branch locations, at its headquarters, or electronically. For digital donations, GLCU branch visitors could simply scan the displayed flyers’ QR code to find an Amazon wish list of needed school materials. Any items purchased in this way were shipped di rectly to the respective branch, allowing the GLCU team to track collected items before dropping them off at neighboring schools.

School supplies collected at GLCU HQ GLCU Community Development Specialist Brooke Wallace and District 75

Lead Parent Coordinator Jorge Moncada pose with donated items

Area schools that received the donations include Hillcrest Elementa ry, Pioneer Elementary School, John T. McCutcheon Elementary School, Washington Elementary School, Mae Jemison School, Hussmann Elemen tary School, Viking Middle School, Adler School, Naper Elementary, North Chicago CUSD 187, Round Lake Beach Elementary, McCall Elementary School, Dean Street Elementary School, and Zion Elementary School.

At Washington Elementary, the do nated supplies were used to create 188 school supply resource bags for low-in come students and Ukraine refugees in Mundelein.

Promoting and supporting educa tion is a top priority for GLCU, with the not-for-profit organization regularly providing its members with scholarship opportunities, book banks, and other academically focused opportunities.

“At GLCU, we believe that ed ucation paves the way for empower

ment when it comes to a person’s and community’s future. A single pack of pencils and paper could mark the start of a bright and promising career, and it’s crucial to make sure the leaders of tomorrow are prepared for that future today in our schools. Doing so is key to promoting prosperity for the next generation,” said Steve Bugg, GLCU CEO & President.

GLCU is pleased to report how enthusiastically its team and members supported this year’s school supply drive. The initiative saw an 82% in crease in donations from the organiza tion’s drive in 2021. The GLCU team is already looking forward to boosting this number in 2023 to provide even greater aid to its communities’ future leaders.

Founded in 1938 and headquar tered in Northern Illinois, GLCU is committed to financial empowerment for you. As a not-for-profit financial cooperative with over $1 billion in assets, GLCU is proud to serve more than 80,000 members in the Chicago land and surrounding areas. Learn more about GLCU’s accounts, educational initiatives and community development programs at glcu.org

Chicago Public Schools Announces First Day Attendance Rates for the 2022-23 School Year

CHICAGO – Chicago Public Schools (CPS) announced that more than 93 percent of students attended the first day of classes on Monday, August 22, up from 91 percent on day one last year. The uptick follows the District’s strategic effort to offer robust summer programming, from academic recovery classes to those aimed at helping students accelerate, as well as enrichment courses, career exploration and grade-level transition camps.

“Every day in school matters and we are thrilled to see a higher percent age of students were in class as we started the new year,” said CPS CEO Pedro Martinez. “I am grateful to our amazing CPS families for allowing us to work with more than 91,000 students over the summer and to all our faculty and staff who provided great learning experiences. Now we must continue to keep students in school where they can continue to learn, grow, and succeed with their classmates.”

Historical Comparison First Day of School Attendance Rate:

2022-23 School Year: 93.4 percent (Earliest first day in recent history)

2021-22 School Year: 91.2 percent (First day of school before Labor Day)

2020-21 School Year: 84.2 percent (Remote Learning)

2019-20 School Year: 94.2 percent

2018-19 School Year: 94.5 percent

2017-18 School Year: 94.7 percent

2016-17 School Year: 93.9 percent

*2013-2014 School Year: 93.5 percent (last time CPS began classes before Labor Day)

The District opened school doors one week earlier than the prior year, as the new calendar aligns its schedule to be closer to its suburban school district and college calendars. Under this new calendar, the first semester ends prior to winter break, offering students and staff a more defined session for uninterrupt ed teaching and learning.

The school year began under new and more relaxed COVID-19 health guidance that promises to support in-person and continuous instruction. The District continues to strongly encourage masking and is offering weekly screening and making vaccine events available through mobile clinics, the District’s 22 school-based health centers and four regional clinics.

District officials hope that the momentum made through participation in summer activities and programming will encourage school year attendance. More than 12,400 priority students were enrolled in some form of summer programming.

CPS Strategies to engage or re-engage students

In addition to robust summer programming, CPS continues to provide a variety of engagement and re-engagement programming and services for students and families. These include:

Districtwide Back-to-School Bashes: Between July 15 and Aug. 11, CEO Martinez and top District leaders greeted more than 17,000 families at the District’s 10 Back-to-School Bashes across the city. Students and families con nected with their school communities, received backpacks filled with school supplies, and many took advantage of access to free COVID-19 vaccines and health-related information.

School-level Welcome Back Parties: Schools were allotted funds to host their own school-based events to welcome students back to school.

Choose to Change: The District’s evidence-based mentoring program is set to engage with 1000 teens who are heavily impacted by violence and trauma. The program helps students stay or get back to school so they can graduate, stay out of the criminal justice system, and pave their way to a more secure future.

Back to our Future: This new collaborative program with the Illinois Department of Health (IDHS) and community partner organizations addresses the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on youth and aims to reduce firearm violence, building upon the success of the Choose to Change program.

Student Outreach and Re-Engagement (SOAR) Centers: This collabo rative effort with community-based organizations and the City Colleges of Chicago supports students with one-on-one mentoring, workshops, transcript evaluations, and graduation planning.

Targeted Summer Program Recruitment: Schools designed local pro grams and conducted targeted recruitment of students with a history of chronic absence.

The CPS first-day attendance rate reflects the proportion of students who were enrolled for the first day of school and engaged with school on the first day. A high proportion of students who do not attend on the first day often come back to school within the first week or two of their own accord or through some of them previously-cited strategies and programming. When they re-enroll, their existing information is still available in their profile. CPS will outline official enrollment data later this fall, following the 20th day milestone.

ANGIE THOMAS MAKES HER MIDDLE GRADE DEBUT WITH THE FIRST IN A CONTEMPORARY FANTASY TRILOGY

NEW YORK, PRNewswire -- Harp erCollins Children’s Books/Balzer + Bray announced the highly anticipated middle grade debut from Angie Thomas, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Hate U Give, On the Come Up, and Concrete Rose. Publishing April 4, 2023, Nic Blake and the Remarkables: The Man ifestor Prophecy is the first in a contemporary fantasy trilogy inspired by African American history and folklore.

Donna Bray bought USCPOM rights from Molly Ker Hawn at the Bent Agency.

With a literal Underground Railroad, haints, vampires, ghosts, a dragon, and tons of magic, Nic Blake and the Remarkables takes readers on a wild ride through a world that looks like, but isn’t quite, our own, making for an inventive, suspenseful (and funny!) ride in this new trilogy.

Angie Thomas said: “I think I can speak for a lot of us when I say that over the past two years, I’ve desperately needed an escape. While I’m known for writing young adult fiction that hits on hard topics, whenever I want to read for enjoyment, I usually turn to middle grade fantasy novels. It only felt right to finally give the genre and category a go myself. Nic Blake is a character younger Angie longed for—a young Black girl with magical powers who gets to go on adventures,

not as a sidekick, but as the center of the story.”

Donna Bray, Vice President, Co-Publisher, Balzer + Bray, said: “It’s no surprise that Angie Thom as’s prodigious storytelling gifts—rich world-building, sharp plotting, nuanced characterization, crackling dialogue, complex family dynamics—translate per fectly to middle grade fan tasy. But we’ve never seen Angie in the fantasy realm, weaving her own original magic systems with African American history and legend. The result is truly dazzling. We’re thrilled to be publishing Nic Blake and the Remarkables: The Manifestor Prophecy and can’t wait to introduce Angie to a whole new readership.”

Since her debut in 2017, Angie has established herself as a global literary star. All her novels have debuted at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list: The Hate U Give (249 weeks and counting in both hardcover and paperback), On the Come Up, and Concrete Rose. The Hate U Give hit theaters in 2018, in an adaptation starring Amandla Stenberg, Issa Rae, and Regina Hall. The film adaptation of On the Come Up will release on Paramount+ on September 23 starring Jamila C. Gray, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Lil Yachty, Method Man, and more. Angie has earned a total of twenty starred reviews for her three novels and has garnered numerous awards and honors, including a 2022 Printz Honor for Concrete Rose.

SECRET WALLS BRINGS THEIR LEGENDARY LIVE ART COMPETITIONS TO CHICAGO

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Los Angeles-based live arts entertainment brand Secret Walls is proud to announce the first-ever Support Your Local Artist North America Tour (SYLA Tour). The tour kicked off in mid-August in South ern California, bringing Secret Walls’ high-energy physical illustration and design battles to cities across North America. Each stop will shine a spotlight on local talent, delivering an unforgettable battle event as the next generation of superstar artists compete for Secret Walls glory. The SYLA Tour heads to the Subterranean in Chicago on Wednesday, September 21, and will feature local street muralist Sentrock, street artist Lauren Asta, multi-media artist Emmy Star Brown, visual artist EDO and more to be announced.

“We started Secret Walls in 2006 with a mission to support local artists. Over the years we’ve produced over 2,000 battles in more than 50 countries and thanks to our supporters, Secret Walls has grown to become the world’s premier live paint and pixel battle platform,” says Terry Guy, Founder of Secret Walls. “Working with great partners, we’re extremely excited to present the SYLA Tour providing artists a unique platform - for themselves and their communities - to gather, celebrate, and be inspired.”

By building a community and high energy around the “Art of Competition,” the concept of a Secret Walls battle is specif ic and distinctive. The artists are divided randomly into teams

and equipped with markers, paint brushes, spray paint, and paint rollers. Nothing is revealed to the artists prior to the start of the competition. The artists will have exactly 90 minutes on the clock to ideate and create their artwork. A select team of judges and a decibel meter measuring the audience’s cheers determine the winner of each battle.

Tickets for the Secret Walls Support Your Local Artist Tour are on sale now. General Admission tickets are $25 with limited VIP Admission available for $99, which includes early entry, limited-edition merchandise, artist meet and greet and more. For tickets and more details, please visit www.secret walls.world and follow Secret Walls on Instagram and Twitter.

Founded in London in 2006, Secret Walls is the world’s premier live arts entertainment brand, where artists take a stage to show off their talent and compete to win. We exist to entertain fans, support local, develop artists and showcase the best creativity on the planet. We operate across the realms of physical and digital art - IRL + URL - and we are always expanding our universe in exciting new ways.

SECRET WALLS SYLA TOUR CHICAGO

17+ Standing Room Only Event Subterranean 2011 West North Ave. Doors 6:30 PM Show 7:30 PM

HEBRU BRANTLEY OPENS DARK FICTION: FLOWERS & FROGS

NEW YORK, PRNewswire -- Interna tionally recognized artist Hebru Brantley has a new show, Dark Fiction: Flowers & Frogs, at Richard Beavers Gallery at 14 Wooster Street, New York, NY.

This exhibition explores the perception of the Black body – how it is presented, seen, and how it survives. In this work, Brantley finds a correlation between the beauty of flowers and the Black body. “There is a beauty within us and within our culture,” says Brantley. “This beauty is precious and vulner able, and oftentimes commoditized, the same way flowers are clipped for decoration for the instant gratification of humans, promptly causing them to wither and die once removed from their soil.”

“Flowers are also personal to me as I recollect my mother in the garden,” continues Brantley. “As a child I have memories of helping her tend the garden and learning the delicate and precious nature of the various plants she was cultivating. A correlation is also drawn between a tended garden and a community or household in the same context of the black body, embodying both themes of nature and nurture, together.”

Brantley’s Dark Fiction body of work is a departure from his well-known Flyboy uni verse, featuring iconic characters “Flyboy and Lil Mama.” But throughout, his work is often seen challenging the traditional view of the hero or protagonist. The context, development and expressions of his youthful troupe, which are sometimes in autobiographical form, summon the audience to reimagine childhood and the American cultural experience in Brantley’s created context of dark fiction.

Dark Fiction: Flowers & Frogs by Hebru Brantley will run through Oct. 22. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Saturday, noon –6:00 p.m. Richard Beavers Gallery SoHo is located at 14 Wooster Street, New York, NY 10013.

Recognized internationally, HEBRU BRANTLEY has exhibited in Chicago, Tokyo, Hong Kong, London, San Francisco, Atlanta, Miami, Seattle, Los Angeles, and New York including Art Basel Switzerland, Art Basel Miami, Art Basel Hong Kong, and Frieze London. Brantley has been recognized in publications including CNN, the Chi cago Tribune, Forbes, WWD, HypeBeast, Complex Magazine, the Chicago Sun-Times, and the New York Post. Collectors of his work include LeBron James, Jay-Z and Beyonce, Lenny Kravitz, George Lucas, and Rahm Emanuel, among others. Brantley has collaborated with brands like Nike, Hublot, and Adidas.

RICHARD BEAVERS GALLERY, established in 2007, is a contemporary fine art gallery. Our collection primarily consists of artists whose work depicts various aspects of life in an urban environment through a multi tude of genres. The artwork is inspired by the culture of these communities and addresses the many social and political issues on the forefront of society. RB Gallery aims to edu cate, inspire, and stir consciousness – whether you are a seasoned collector, art appreciator, or merely have an interest in art.

Angie Thomas (Photo credit: Imani Khayyam)

Nic Blake and the Remarkables: The Manifestor Prophecy by Angie Thomas (on sale April 4, 2023)

Argonne Puts Climate Impact in Cities Under the Microscope with New Collaborative Study

CHICAGO -- The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded DOE’s Argonne National Laboratory and a team of academic and community leaders, including City Colleges of Chicago, $25 million over five years to advance urban climate science by studying climate change effects at local and regional scales. The results of this new research will inform communities to build resilience to future effects of climate change.

Argonne and partners will establish an Urban Integrated Field Laboratory called Community Research on Climate and Urban Science (CROCUS) focusing on the Chicago region. CROCUS will use community input to identify questions and specific areas of urban climate change to study, ensuring that research results directly benefit local residents. CROCUS re searchers will also work with organizations and students to collect on-the-ground data and develop climate models.

Like other U.S. cities, Chicago is already experiencing disruption from climate change in the form of extreme weather, flooding, drought and heat waves. Unfortunately, the neigh borhoods that are most at risk for climate-related disasters have historically been understudied and unable to access the resources or services they need. That’s why CROCUS has strong represen tation from local organizations to develop its research goals.

Researchers will measure Chicago’s temperature, precip itation, and soil conditions. They will explore how trees, open spaces, buildings, expressways and Lake Michigan are shaping the city’s climate, as well as how the Chicago area influences cli mate regionally. And because no two communities are alike, the study will create more detailed climate models than ever before to reveal the effects of climate change on individual neighborhoods Instead of looking at the climate of the entire region or city as a whole, researchers will be able to predict how climate will evolve at a much smaller scale--even down to street level. This will help communities identify and vet solutions that will make their neigh

borhoods resilient against the effects of a changing climate.

“The Chicagoland area provides a rich environment for study and we are excited to work with such a diverse group of community, research and educational partners,” said Cristina Negri, director of Argonne’s Environmental Sciences Division and CROCUS lead. “The climate here is noticeably changing. Through CROCUS, we can all join forces to understand the un derlying processes and provide science-based information. This will help local planners enact solutions leading to an equitable and effective transition to a resilient and carbon-efficient future for all communities.”

Collaboration is central to CROCUS’s work in Chicago. Argonne is partnering with local, regional and national colleges and universities who will recruit and train the next generation of climate and environmental researchers. To address the underrep resentation of people of color in this field of study, the CROCUS collaborative includes minority-serving institutions and historical ly black colleges and universities. CROCUS academic partners include:

Chicago State University

City Colleges of Chicago

Discovery Partners Institute

North Carolina A&T State University

Northeastern Illinois University

Northwestern University

University of Chicago

University of Illinois at Chicago

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

University of Notre Dame

University of Wisconsin-Madison University of Texas-Austin Washington University-St. Louis

“Partnering with Argonne National Laboratory and DPI on

climate change research and education is critical to the commu nities we serve, the ones often left out of the conversation,” said City Colleges of Chicago Chancellor, Juan Salgado. “What we do today in educating the next generations on how to combat cli mate change will advance urban climate science as well as help low-income communities adapt to changes. We are confident that the results of this intentional collaboration will inform our communities and help them remain resilient against climate change.”

This study focuses on climate change at the neighborhood level, so the research team includes community-based orga nizations on Chicago’s South and West Sides. This unique collaboration will empower community members to share their needs and concerns, ensuring that researchers deliver informa tion critical to neighborhoods as they transition to clean energy and green infrastructure. Community partners include:

Blacks in Green (Woodlawn)

Greater Chatham Initiative (Chatham)

Puerto Rican Agenda (Humboldt Park)

Metropolitan Mayors Caucus (Chicago metropolitan area)

While Chicago is the center of this study, the new insights and lessons learned will help researchers create a blueprint to assist other cities across the country and around the world as they work to become climate change resilient.

“If we understand how climate and urban systems interact at increasingly detailed scales, we can address the challenge in a fair, equitable and sustainable way,” Negri said. “By advanc ing the science, we can help neighborhoods, governments and communities envision a climate-ready future. We’re all in this together.”

CROCUS is funded by the Biological and Environmental Research program in the DOE’s Office of Science. Learn more at anl.gov/crocus.

Photos by L.M. Warbington

Chicago’s Little Monsters Can Join The Newest Fall Family Event With Exclusive 4D LEGO® Halloween Movie & More

LEGOLAND® Discovery Center Chicago’s New Brick-OrTreat: Monster Party Event Begins on September 23rd

Schaumburg, Illinois’ newest Halloween party built for kids is creating a BOOtastic way to play with LEGO® bricks and features the all new LEGO 4D Movie: The Great Monster Chase! From September 23rd – October 31st LEGO LAND® Discovery Center Chicago’s new Brick-orTreat: Monster Party will bring little monsters from all around to enjoy family fun this Halloween season at the ultimate indoor LEGO playground.

Families can enjoy many activities including:

• All-New LEGO® 4D Halloween Movie: The Great Monster Chase featuring exciting 4D effects throughout and is exclusive to LEGO LAND® Discovery Centers and LEGOLAND® Parks.

• A Hauntingly Fun MINILAND: LEGOLAND® Discovery Cen ter’s MINILAND transforms into a hauntingly fun area where you can try to spot all the extra Halloween scenes. Dare find them all!

• Miniland Monster Hunt: Find all the monsters that have hidden in Miniland and bring the Monster Band back to together for a reward!

• Search for LEGO® pumpkins hidden throughout LEGOLAND® Discovery Center Chicago!

For more Brick-or-Treat: Monster Party event information, attraction hours and ticket prices, visit Top Kids Attraction | LEGOLAND Discov ery Center Chicago

Visuals: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ss0w_sc1ftKzVmII HVrYFTbIgEOuYtut?usp=sharing

Illinois’ Leading Latinx-serving Organizations Unite with Elected Officials and Advocates to Highlight Need for More Violence Prevention Funding

Illinois Latino Agenda convenes summit to address the underfunding Latinx-serving violence prevention organizations have faced and what they need to make communities safer

Recently the, Latino/a/x violence prevention organizations and leaders came together to discuss the underinvestment in public safety in Latino/a/x communities throughout Illinois and advocate for sustainable funding and resources that close the gap and are commensurate with the need.

Violence prevention organizations need adequate long-term funding to prevent and mitigate harm, support victims, and advocate for trans formational policy that heals communities, yet the Latino/a/x-serving violence organizations doing this work only received 6% of violence prevention funds from the cannabis tax revenue in 2022 when we know that the Latino and Black communities in Illinois are 26% more likely than their white counterparts to be victims of violence.

“Historically there has been a discrepancy between the violence ex perienced in Latino/a/x communities and the amount of funding allocated to address the root causes of community violence,” said state Sen. Cristina Pacione-Zayas (D-Chicago), at a press conference during the summit highlighting the need to provide adequate funding to Latin/o/a/x serving violence prevention organizations. “As the state doubles down on investing in comprehensive violence prevention programs and services, we are committed to ensuring that Latino/a/x organizations dedicated to improving public safety do not experience barriers to accessing resources.”

Latino/a/x serving violence prevention organizations and advocates from throughout Illinois shared their community-based and targeted approaches to preventing violence and discussed the obstacles they have faced when trying to access local, state and federal funding.

“This summit highlights that there are Latino/a/x-led organizations and people dedicated to violence prevention in Latino/a/x commu nities,” said state Sen. Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago). “Making our communities safer starts with increasing funding for violence prevention and improving public policy.”

Presenting the

Community Health Talk

Sunday, September 18, 2022 | 12:30 – 2:00 PM

HEAR WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT KIDNEY DISEASE

The National Kidney Foundation of Illinois has launched a focused campaign to educate people of color on kidney disease and promote healthy kidney nutrition and lifestyle practices. Kidney disease often has no symptoms in its initial stages and can go undetected until the advanced stages.

JOIN US! Saint Sabina Catholic Church 1210 W 78th Pl, Chicago, IL 60620

Refreshments will be served.

voices.uchicago.edu/s3f/

Public Notice/ Legal Notice

STATE OF ILLINOIS CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY. PUBLICATION NOTICE OF COURT DATE FOR REQUEST FOR NAME CHANGE (ADULT) Request of DWYNE FELTON Case Number 22M6007021.There will be a court date on my Request to change my name from: DWYNE FELTON to the new name of DWAYNE JULIUS COLLINS. The court date will be held: OCT. 31, 2022 AT 9:00 a.m. at 16501 S. KEDZIE, MARKHAM , ILLINOIS COOK COUNTY in Courtroom# 207. I ask the court to enter an order to change my name, and I state:

1. My current name is: DWYNE FELTON

2. I wish my name to be change to: DWAYNE JULIUS COLLINS

3. My address is listed at the end of the Request.

4. I have lived continuosly in Illinois for at least 6 months beginning: 11-27-1963.

5. My birth date is: 11-27-1963

6. My place of birth is: CHICAGO, COOK, ILLINOIS USA

7. I have not been adjudicated or convicted or a felony or misdemeanor in Illinis or any other state for which a pardon has not be granted.

8. I do not have an arrest for which charges have not been filed.

9. I do not have pending felony or m isdemeanor charge.

10

. I have not been convicted or or placed on probation for a crime

11. I have not been convicted or or ploaced on probation for identity theift or aggravated identity theft in Illinois or an other state.

12

. I have not been convicted or placed on probation for a felony in Illinois or any other state.

I certify that everything in the Request for Name Changes (Adult) is thrue and correct. I understand that making a false statement on this form is perjury and has penalties provided by law under 735ILCS 5/1-109. /s/ Dwayne Julius Collins, 2655 E. 92nd Street, Chicago, Illinois 60617, 217-597-9093. VERIFICATION BY WITNESS: PHILLIP L. SMITH Certify that what is stated above and on the Reuest for Name Change (Adult) is true and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief.I understand that making a false statement on this form is perjury and has penalties provided by law under 735ILCS 5/1-109. 6154 S. Campbell, chicago, illinois 60629, 773-993-3318.

SENIOR LIVING

How Technology Can Help You Age in Place

(StatePoint) By 2030, almost a quarter of the American population will be over the age of 65, up from 16% in 2020, creating a situation that’s going to drive greater demand and greater pressure on the care industry. In addition to a larger workforce and more financial resources, new technologies also have the potential to help solve the problems created by this seismic demograph ic shift.

According to experts, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are already among the key components of new technologies providing improved quality of life for those who want to continue living independently at home.

“While AI and ML have transformed other industries, adaptation has been slow in the care industry, but we’re working to change that,” explains Chia-Lin Simmons, chief executive officer of LogicMark, (NASDAQ: LGMK), which man ufactures personal emergency response systems (PERS), health communications devices and remote care and activity monitoring technologies to create a Connected Care Platform, and recently incorporated two-way voice communication technology into its medical alert pendant.

To help you live safely and comfortably in your

home in the years to come, Simmons offers a few strategies for using the newest technology to your advantage:

• PERS, also known as Medical Emergency Response Systems, allow you to call for help in an emergency by pushing a button. Wearable pendants – along with water-resistant wall-mounted devices and mobile solutions – can keep you protected in every room of your home by helping you instantly connect with loved ones and emergency personnel. Those offered by LogicMark use AI and ML for pattern recognition and fall detection, for an added layer of security. To learn more, visit logicmark.com.

• Automatic pill dispensers can help ensure you never miss a dose or take too much medication. Depending on your needs, you may need to look for a solution offering both visual and audio notifications, or one suited for those with limited dexterity.

• Motion-sensing lighting can make nocturnal trips to the bathroom – common in one’s golden years – much safer, helping to reduce the risk of dangerous trips and falls. Many lighting options plug directly into outlets, while others are battery-operated and can be installed anywhere. Be sure to include these fixtures in bedrooms, hallways and bathrooms.

“True independence must be accompanied by peace of mind for you, your family and your caregivers,” says Simmons. “By adopting new technologies, you can help create a virtual safety net, enabling you to stay at home while living in a safe environment and providing piece of mind to your loved ones.”