On The South Side, Budget Cuts Affect Free Testing And Treatment For STDs — Page 3
Citizen Week of Nov. 20, 2019, 2019
| Vol. 55 | No. 34 | www.citizennewspapergroup.com
CHATHAM SOUTHEAST
The newly renovated Whitney M. Young Library branch, 415 E. 79th St., now has a toddler section as well as a music studio, community rooms, parking lot, and an outdoor patio. Photo credit: By Wendell Hutson
BUDGET PROPOSAL WOULD OPEN ALL PUBLIC LIBRARIES ON SUNDAYS If Mayor Lori Lightfoot has her way, the City Council will approve her proposed $11.65 billion budget for 2020 that includes funding to open all libraries on Sundays. PAGE 2
BUSINESS Amtrak ridership hits record highs on two Illinois lines PAGE 4
ENTERTAINMENT
NEWS
Underscore Theatre Company Presents PROXY
5 Pro Tips to Prep Homes for Winter PAGE 7
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2 | CITIZEN | Chatham Southeast | Week of Nov. 20, 2019
NEWS briefly EDUCATION
DISTRICT 148 PROMOTES 2020 CENSUS The upcoming Census is set to begin on April 1, 2020, and Dolton-Riverdale School District 148 is emphasizing the importance of residents’ participation, including a new district logo. Starting April 1, 2020, District 148 buildings will be available to assist members of the Dolton-Riverdale community in completing the census. Residents are encouraged to share any questions or concerns with District 148 staff, and to visit https://2020census.gov for more information. “To say the upcoming Census is important would be an understatement,” said District 148 Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kevin J. Nohelty. “The participation of parents and guardians helps ensure our schools and staff receive the resources needed to provide the best education and instruction for many school years to come.”
HEALTH
STUDY FINDS GLUTAMATES SUCH AS MSG CAN HELP REDUCE AMERICANS’ SODIUM INTAKE Promising results from a new study published in the journal Nutrients add to accumulating evidence that glutamates such as monosodium glutamate (MSG) can be used to reduce sodium in the food supply. The study analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), looking at what Americans eat and estimating the reduction in sodium if glutamates are used as a partial replacement for sodium in certain food categories. “Most of our sodium intake comes from restaurant meals and packaged foods,” says Dr. Taylor C. Wallace, an adjunct professor in the Department of Nutrition and Food Studies at George Mason University and lead researcher in the study. “MSG can be used to reduce sodium in these foods without a taste trade-off. MSG contains about 12 percent sodium, which is two-thirds less than that contained in table salt, and data shows a 25-40 percent reduction in sodium is possible in specific product categories when MSG is substituted for some salt. As Americans begin to understand that MSG is completely safe, I think we’ll see a shift toward using the ingredient as a replacement for some salt to improve health outcomes.”
LAW & POLITICS
PRITZKER ADMINISTRATION RELEASES $9.3 MILLION IN FUNDING FOR PURCHASE OF EMERGENCY VEHICLES ACROSS THE STATE Illinois State Fire Marshal Matt Perez and Illinois Finance Authority (IFA) Executive Director Christopher Meister recently issued over $9.3 million in no interest or low interest loans to emergency responders across the state. The loans are made available through the Fire Truck Revolving Loan Program and Ambulance Revolving Loan Program. “Fire departments throughout Illinois face financial stressors that can make it difficult to properly equip and train their firefighters. These no and low interest loans allow departments to obtain vehicles they may not otherwise have been able to afford. This new equipment will help them serve their communities in a safer, more efficient and effective way,” said State Fire Marshal Matt Perez. Under the FTRL program, fire departments, fire protection districts and township fire departments may apply for up to $350,000 in low interest or no interest loans for purchase of a fire truck or brush trucks. The loans must be repaid within 20 years.
Budget Proposal Would Open All Public Libraries on Sundays Continued from page 1 BY WENDELL HUTSON Contributing Writer
If Mayor Lori Lightfoot has her way, the City Council will approve her proposed $11.65 billion budget for 2020 that includes funding to open all libraries on Sundays. Currently, there are four regional libraries, Woodson, 9525 S. Halsted St.; Harold Washington, 400 S. State St; Legler, 115 S. Pulaski Road; and Sulzer, 4455 N. Lincoln Ave.; open from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays. But the other 77 branches located throughout Chicago neighborhoods are only open Monday through Saturday, said Patrick Molloy, director of government affairs for Chicago Public Library (CPL). “We are not in a position to open all 77 branches at once and we would need to roll out expanding library hours over time,” Molloy told the Chicago Citizen. “More hiring may be needed to meet this mandate but we will get it done.” Molloy added that there is a demand for
Sunday hours too. “The Chicago Public Library averages 10 million visitors a year from children, teenagers, young adults, and seniors,” he said. “And while many people see the Internet as a threat to libraries, we have seen a steady growth in visitors. Besides books, we offer computer use for those without one at home, computer training, and so many other resources.” The current budget for the CPL is $76.1 and the proposed 2020 budget is $84.5 million. But an increase of $5 million for additional personnel would be needed to open all branches on Sundays, according to Molloy, who added the increase would also cover any union, negotiated salaries for staff. Mayor Lightfoot, whose wife Amy Eshleman is a former assistant library commissioner for the city, said she plans to keep her campaign promise to find a way to open all libraries on Sundays. “We’re gonna provide more resources so that our libraries can continue to grow,”
said Lightfoot. “So that we can expand our hours because it’s important for us to be present and visible for our residents and the libraries are really ground zero for what’s good about Chicago.” Library Commissioner Andrea Telli was unavailable for comment. One branch that plans to open on Sundays beginning Dec. 15 is the Whitney M. Young Library branch, 415 E. 79th St., according to Mitchell Smith, branch manager. “Back in the old days, libraries were open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. so there was no need for Sunday hours then,” said Smith. “I can remember when children would come to the library after school and stay here until their parents got off work to pick them up.” The Whitney Young branch reopened in January after closing to complete a $12 million renovation, which added a music studio, community room, more study rooms, toddler section, parking lot, and an outdoor patio.
‘Pushout: The Criminalization of Black Girls in Schools’ BY STACY M. BROWN NNPA Newswire Correspondent @StacyBrownMedia
Black girls who have been subject to punitive school policies and practices are at an increased risk of coming into contact with the juvenile and criminal courts and leaving school altogether, ultimately impeding their ability to achieve future success and lead successful and healthy lives, according to a new documentary, “Pushout: The Criminalization of Black Girls in Schools.” The film presents a number of these stories in heartbreaking detail and further explores a topic that was originally presented in the 2016 book of the same name by Monique W. Morris. “Why not go to heaven now? I don’t want to be here,” Samaya, one of the girls featured in the film, says at one point. At 12, Samaya is now an honor student. It has taken years of therapy and a change of school for her to recover from the traumatic incident that led her to a bridge above a highway contemplating suicide at the age of 7. The event: One of her teachers, Mr. Rodriquez, gave
BLACK GIRLS, AND OTHER GIRLS OF COLOR, EXPERIENCE DISCRIMINATORY, DISPARATE, PUNITIVE, AND UNFAIR TREATMENT IN SCHOOL, INCLUDING SUSPENSIONS, EXPULSIONS, REFERRALS TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AND ARRESTS ON SCHOOL CAMPUSES, AT RATES THAT EXCEED THE PUBLIC SCHOOL POPULATION IN AGGREGATE — AND FAR EXCEED THOSE EXPERIENCED BY THEIR WHITE FEMALE PEERS. Samaya a warning after a minor disagreement with another child. Then, after Samaya accidentally knocked over a glass of water, Rodriguez punished Samaya by dragging her and her chair outdoors “in a fit of frightening rage.” The teacher pulled Samaya out of her classroom on a cold 46-degree December morning. She did not have on a coat or jacket. She was wearing only a pink and gray sweatshirt and blue jeans. Coping with the death of her beloved father, the destruction by fire of the only home she knew, and facing constant bullying, Ariana, another story shared by the filmmakers, found herself at a breaking point. “There is so much rage building in me,” the teen shares in the film.
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Now, 16, Ariana said she didn’t know how to deal with the adversity she faced at home and school. She was suspended multiple times as classmates would pick on her because “I don’t look the way they look or dress the way they dress.” Fortunately, a change in schools altered the trajectory of her life. Ariana, now a drummer in her school band at the Columbus City Preparatory School for Girls, has been able to turn her life around with the help of teachers, whom she credits with guiding her toward a positive response to the challenges she faces. Some Black girls, like Samaya and Ariana, face educational, judicial, and societal disparities. Black girls, and other girls of color, experience discriminatory, disparate, punitive,
and unfair treatment in school, including suspensions, expulsions, referrals to law enforcement and arrests on school campuses, at rates that exceed the public school population in aggregate — and far exceed those experienced by their White female peers. “This has to change. Our girls deserve more,” the filmmakers write on their website. According to the most recent U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights data, Black girls are seven times more likely to be suspended from school, and four times more likely to be arrested on a school campus than their White peers. Punitive practices and policies in schools fuel systemic inequities and result in negative outcomes based on race and gender. They have profound consequences for Black girls: rather than promote safety and well-being, these practices disproportionately push Black girls out of school and further into the margins. “Pushout,” is being screened in several cities. For more information, or to host a screening, visit www.pushoutfilm.com.
CITIZEN | Chatham Southeast | Week of Nov. 20, 2019
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NEWS
On The South Side, Budget Cuts Affect Free Testing And Treatment For STDs BY WENDELL HUTSON Contributing Writer
Budget cuts by the Chicago Department of Health have made it more difficult for low-income and unemployed residents to access free testing and treatment on the South Side for sexually transmitted diseases. After losing a $2.5 million federal grant in 2017, the city’s health department closed its longtime Englewood health clinic on Jan. 12, 2018, thus eliminating free testing and treatment for common STDs such as Chlamydia and Gonorrhea. The city’s health department received a $9.3 million federal grant from the Integrated HIV Surveillance and Prevention Program, and $1.2 million is used to operate its three STD clinics, said Elena Ivanova, a spokeswoman for the CDPH. In 2018, the University of Illinois’ Mile Square Health Center took over health services at the clinic, 641 W. 63rd St., which includes STD testing and treatment. Prior to taking over services from the city, the Mile Square Center was awarded a contract by the city in 2011 “to provide comprehensive primary care services at the Englewood clinic,” said Henry Taylor, chief executive officer of UI Health Mile Square Health Center. Since the Mile Square replaced the city’s health clinic in Englewood, more patients have visited the Mile Square Center. “In 2017, our Englewood location provided approximately 6,600 patient visits. [But Mile
After losing a $2.5 million federal grant, the Chicago Department of Public Health reduced hours at its Roseland health clinic, 200 E. 115th St., to two days a week from five days. Photo credit: By Wendell Hutson
Square is] providing more patient visits than the Englewood clinic did when it was operational,” said Ivanova. “In August 2019, [Mile Square] provided 635 patient visits, as compared to Englewood, which provided 557 visits monthly, on average. To that end and because of funding limitations, there are no plans to reopen a clinic in Englewood.” Further south though, the city reduced hours at its Roseland clinic, 200 E. 115th St., to two days a week from five days due to budget cuts, according to Ivanova. And unlike Englewood, there’s no Mile Square Center in Roseland to
pick up the ‘slack,’ but there are Mile Square Centers in South Shore, Back of the Yards, Humbodlt Park, Cicero, and the Near West Side. Also, the city operates one STD clinic in Lakeview and Austin that is open five days a week providing free testing and treatment, while the South Side clinic is only open on Mondays 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Thursdays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Funding only allows each clinic to see no more than 16 patients daily, which includes HIV and Syphilis testing. According to statistics, young adults could
benefit from free testing and treatment for common STDs where 18 and 30-years-olds are the leading group contracting sexually transmitted diseases, according to a 2018 HIV/STI Surveillance Report by the CDPH. The report showed adults between 20 and 29-years-old accounted for 16,410 of the 30,292 new Chlamydia cases reported in the Chicago area for 2017. Blacks accounted for the majority of Gonorrhea and Syphilis cases for the same year (2107), the last year data was available. Current neighborhoods with the highest STD rates, according to the report, are North Lawndale and Washington Park with Chlamydia; Uptown, Washington Park and North Lawndale with Gonorrhea; and Edgewater, Uptown and Lakeview with Syphilis. The second highest age group with Chlamydia in 2017 was adults 20 to 24-year-olds accounting for 10,206 cases with black women making up 60 percent, data showed. One difference between the Mile Square Center and the city’s STD clinics is cost. Patients without insurance are asked to pay a $20 service fee when visiting the Mile Square Health Center even though many patients may be low-income or unemployed. “During registration, patients without insurance are asked to pay a sliding fee, but we will treat anyone regardless if they cannot pay,” said Dr. Ashish Ansal, director of the Mile Square Clinic in Englewood. “For faster service, we ask everyone to call and make an appointment but walk-ins are accepted too,” she said.
Mailed self-sampling kits helped more women get screened for cervical cancer Signaling a potential major change in cervical cancer screening options for American women, a new study found that mailed self-sampling kits that test for HPV — the virus that can cause cervical cancer — helped significantly more women get screened for the cancer. The study involving nearly 20,000 women was conducted by researchers from the University of Washington and Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute and was published Nov. 6 in JAMA Network Open. In the study, women within the Kaiser Permanente Washington system who hadn’t been screened for cervical cancer in more than three years were randomized into two groups: Roughly half were mailed an HPV self-sampling kit that they could complete as an alternative to Pap screening, and the other half received only the standard care reminders to be screened in a clinical setting. Within the cohort of under-
screened women in the self-testing arm of the study, 26% were screened for cervical cancer versus 17% of underscreened women who received the standard reminders. Of those underscreened women who returned the kits, 88% tested negative for the virus, signaling low risk for cervical cancer. “Many studies have shown that an HPV test on a sample that a woman collects for herself performs as well as an HPV test done on a physician-collected sample,” said lead author Rachel Winer, professor of epidemiology at the UW School of Public Health and affiliate investigator at Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute. “Randomized trials in other countries have shown that offering home-based HPV testing increases screening participation, but this was the first U.S. trial to study the impact of mailed kits in a real-world health system setting.” Half of the 12,000 cervical cancers diagnosed annually occur in women
who have gone longer than three years without a screening, according to previous studies. That makes these women a high-priority population to get screened, the researchers said. “We found that mailing unsolicited self-collection kits for HPV testing increased cervical cancer screening by 50 percent in women who were underscreened for cervical cancer, and that’s a particularly hard population to reach,” said co-author Diana Buist, senior investigator and director of research and strategic partnerships at Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute. “So, it’s a good news story,” Buist said. “And now that HPV-only testing is a recognized screening strategy in the United States, it really opens up the possibility for home testing to be a widespread option for women.” Researchers also wanted to find out whether this high-priority population of women would perform the self-sampling and then, if the sample tested positive for HPV, go www.citizennewspapergroup.com
in for a follow-up test to determine the presence of precancerous cervical cells that could be treated to prevent cancer. Unfortunately, they noted, while the vast majority of women tested negative for the virus, not all of the participants who tested positive followed up. “It’s great that 88% of women who self-sample at home would not need to come into the clinic,” Winer said, “but there’s a key 12% in our trial that were identified to be at increased risk for cervical cancer — and yet only 70% of those women came in for follow-up testing.” Consequently, the researchers said, additional implementation efforts need to strategize how to increase use of the kit and in-clinic follow-up for positive results to maximize detection and treatment of pre-cancers in high-risk women. “The landscape of cervical cancer screening in the U.S. is changing, and there is a real opportunity to expand options and improve the screening
process for women,” Winer added. “I’m hopeful that a few years down the line, home-based screening will become routinely available.” Co-authors include John Lin, research study coordinator at the UW Department of Epidemiology in the School of Public Health; Jasmin Tiro, associate professor at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center; Diana Miglioretti, senior investigator at Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute and professor at University of California, Davis; Tara Beatty, project manager at Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute; Hongyuan Gao, programmer at Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute; Kilian Kimbel, research specialist at Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute; and Chris Thayer, chief medical information officer at Kaiser Permanente Washington. This research was funded by the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health.
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BUSINESS Illinois to Seek Disaster Declaration from Small Business Administration to Aid 1.4M Illinois Residents The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recently denied the state’s appeal for federal assistance to help residents in 22 counties recover from 2019’s severe storms and historic flooding along the Illinois and Mississippi rivers. In light of these new developments, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency will seek a disaster declaration from the U.S. Small Business Administration. If approved, an SBA disaster declaration would enable residents and business owners in the approved counties, and its contiguous counties, to apply for grants as well as lowinterest, long-term loans. To date, the federal government has approved public assistance funding for 28 counties in Illinois. The federal public assistance program provides grants to assist state and local governments, nonprofits and houses of worship with the response and recovery costs associated with the declared disaster. Under the guidelines of the PA program, local jurisdictions can be reimbursed for up to 75 percent of eligible costs. Based on the $61M in
losses identified during the joint preliminary damage assessment, Illinois stands to receive an estimated $45.7M. Of that, FEMA has already obligated $1.3M to launch the public assistance program in Illinois. “While we are extremely disappointed that Illinois did not qualify for Individual Assistance funding, we will not give up fighting to provide resources to the citizens of Illinois,” said Alicia Tate-Nadeau, acting IEMA director. “We are committed to working with our federal delegation to encourage FEMA to change the eligibility requirements of the Individual Assistance program that hurts states like Illinois, and in the meantime, we will work with our state and federal partners to identify any other available resources.” The state will work with the federal delegation to encourage changes to FEMA’s rules for determining Individual Assistance grants. These rules outline six factors for funding consideration: uninsured home and personal property loss; disaster impacted population profile; impact to
community infrastructure; fatalities; disaster unemployment and the state’s fiscal capacity to recover from this devastating event. However, the practical effect of these rules is that state’s with large urban population centers struggle to reach FEMA thresholds, particularly when disasters are confined to rural or sparsely populated areas of the state. Public assistance is available in the following counties: Adams, Alexander, Bureau, Calhoun, Carroll, Cass, Fulton, Greene, Hancock, Henderson, Henry, Jackson, Jersey, Knox, Lee, Madison, Mercer, Monroe, Morgan, Pike, Randolph, Rock Island, Schuyler, Scott, St. Clair, Stephenson, Union and Whiteside. For individuals and homeowners who still need immediate assistance in the wake of these devastating floods, the State of Illinois has a comprehensive flood recovery website dedicated to assisting flood survivors. From mortgage assistance, emergency housing and debris removal, available resources can be found online at www.illinois. gov/2019floods.
Amtrak ridership hits record highs on two Illinois lines BY PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com
Springfield – Amtrak routes that connect Chicago to St. Louis and Milwaukee saw record numbers of riders in the federal fiscal year that ended Sept. 30 while the national passenger rail system turned in its best financial performance in several years. Amtrak reported recently that the Chicago-St. Louis corridor recorded 756,062 riders during the fiscal year, up 5.5 percent from the previous year, and 24 percent higher than fiscal year 2011. That corridor includes the “Lincoln Service” route that makes four daily trips between the two urban hubs, as well as the “Texas Eagle,” which makes one daily round trip. Both of those services are partially funded by the Illinois Department of Transportation. The Amtrak “Hiawatha Service” between Chicago and Milwaukee gained nearly 38,000 passengers over the year, growing to 882,189, a 4.5 percent increase over 2018. That route is operated under contract with both the Illinois and Wisconsin
NATIONWIDE, AMTRAK SET A COMPANY RECORD WITH 32.5 MILLION CUSTOMER TRIPS, A YEAR-OVERYEAR INCREASE OF ABOUT 800,000 PASSENGERS. transportation agencies, is Amtrak’s most-travelled corridor in the Midwest. Nationwide, Amtrak set a company record with 32.5 million customer trips, a year-over-year increase of about 800,000 passengers. Amtrak also reported its best financial performance in many years, taking in $3.3 billion in operating revenue, 3.6 percent better than 2018. That resulted in a net operating loss of $29.8 million, the closest the company has come to breaking even in its history. Amtrak was founded in 1971 and operates passenger rail service in the 48 contiguous states and portions of Canada. Although it receives state and federal subsidies, it is managed as a for-profit corporation.
Redfin Report: New Home Sales Up 5.6% in the Third Quarter New-home sale prices dropped 1.5 percent year over year to a median of $370,300 in the third quarter, according to a new report from Redfin (www.redfin.com). This marks the biggest decline since at least 2012 and the third consecutive quarter of declines. Meanwhile, new-home sales rose 5.6 percent, marking the second consecutive quarter of increases. New-home supply decreased 7.9 percent year over year, the biggest inventory drop since at least 2012, and the second straight quarter of declines. Existing-home prices rose 4.2 percent year over year, while sales increased 2.1 percent and inventory fell 6.9 percent. The price decline for new homes is partly a reflection of builders responding to buyer demand for affordability, which strengthened sales. The surge in sales, along with a www.citizennewspapergroup.com
nearly 10 percent year-over-year increase in residential building permits—the biggest in two-and-ahalf years—signals the beginning of a moderate recovery for the newhome market. “Buyers are returning to the new-home market thanks to low mortgage rates and relatively low prices,” said Redfin chief economist Daryl Fairweather. “And builders, also taking advantage of low interest rates to fund projects, are paying attention to preferences for affordability, which has led to more sales. Residential construction was a bright spot in the economy in the third quarter, a sign that builders are working to fill an inventory gap. As we head into the new year, I expect more new-home listings to hit the market, which should help sustain the relatively high level of sales.” To read the full report, please visit: https://www.redfin.com/blog/ new-construction-q3-2019.
CITIZEN | Chatham Southeast | Week of Nov. 20, 2019
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NEWS National Portrait Gallery Announces Winners of the 2019 Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition and Opening of “The Outwin 2019: American Portraiture Today” The Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery has announced artist Hugo Crosthwaite as the first-prize winner of the fifth triennial Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition. Crosthwaite is the first Latinx artist to receive this prestigious award since the national competition was founded in 2006. His prize-winning stop-motion drawing animation, “A Portrait of Berenice Sarmiento Chávez” (2018), recounts a woman’s journey from Tijuana, Mexico, to the United States in pursuit of the American dream. It is on view in the exhibition “The Outwin 2019: American Portraiture Today,” which features nearly 50 portraits by the finalists of the 2019 Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition. The triennial competition encourages artists living and working in the U.S. to submit works that challenge the definition of portraiture. This year’s competition received more than 2,600 submissions from 14 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico. Selected by a blind jury based on artistic merit, the featured works reflect the state of contemporary portraiture in the U.S. and is on view in Washington, D.C., now through Aug. 30, 2020, before traveling to up to four venues across the U.S. As winner of the first prize, Crosthwaite, a San Diego resident, will receive $25,000 and a commission to create a portrait of a living individual for the museum’s permanent collection. Second prize was awarded to Sam Comen of Los Angeles, for his photograph “Jesus Sera, Dishwasher” (2018). Third prize was awarded to both Richard Greene of Los Angeles for his photograph “Monroe, LA” (2016) and Wayde McIntosh of Brooklyn, New York, for his painting “Legacy” (2017). Commended artists are Natalia García Clark of Los Angeles and Mexico City for her video “Self-Portrait” (2017); Lauren Hare of Portland, Oregon, for her photograph “Secrets” (2017); and Adrian Octavius Walker of Oakland, California, for his photograph “Black Virgin Mary” (2018). One exhibiting artist will also win the People’s Choice Award, to be announced in May 2020. Visitors to the exhibition, both at the museum and online, will be able to cast a vote for their favorite finalists. “The Outwin 2019” is co-curated by the Portrait Gallery’s Dorothy Moss, curator of painting and sculpture and performance art, and Taína Caragol, curator of paint-
Credit: “A Portrait of Berenice Sarmiento Chávez” by Hugo Crosthwaite, stop-motion drawing animation, (3:12 min.), 2018. Collection of the artist, courtesy of Luis De Jesus Los Angeles
ing and sculpture and Latinx art and history. This year’s exhibition addresses themes of socio-political relevance, including immigration, Black Lives Matter, urban youth, the status of American workers, gun violence and LGBTQ+ rights. The work spans a variety of media and includes performance art for the first time with Sheldon Scott’s “Portrait, number 1 man (day clean ta sun down)” (2019). The 2019 Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition is directed by Moss. Jurors for the 2019 Competition include Harry Gamboa Jr., artist, writer and co-director of the program in photography and media at the California Institute of the Arts; Lauren Haynes, curator of contemporary art at the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art; Byron Kim, artist and senior critic at the Yale School of Art; and Jefferson Pinder, artist and professor of sculpture and contemporary practices at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. The Portrait Gallery’s curators Caragol, Moss and Chief Curator Brandon Brame Fortune also served on the committee. The Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition is made possible by the Virginia Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition Endowment, established by Virginia Outwin Boochever and continued by her children. For more information on the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery visit npg.si.edu.
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6 | CITIZEN | Chatham Southeast | Week of Nov. 20, 2019
CITIZEN | Chatham Southeast | Week of Nov. 20, 2019
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NEWS
5 Pro Tips to Prep Homes for Winter Family Features - Before blustery winter days arrive, there are plenty of home improvement projects contractors can tackle for homeowners. Many cooler weather projects focus on cost efficiency and sustainability, making the improvements all around smart investments. Winter is the perfect time to implement upgrades that boost energy efficiency and lower heating bills, helping to manage household costs while improving comfort and enjoyment of the home. Consider these practical upgrade ideas. Add insulation. Depending on the age of the home, improving the quality or increasing the volume of insulation can make a difference in the home’s energy efficiency. An expert can determine whether old insulation needs to be removed or new insulation should simply be added. A contractor can examine the home to determine where there may be gaps, as well as provide recommendations on the type and amount of insulation needed. Seal air leaks. Air leaks can cause chilly drafts, contribute to frozen pipes and lead to energy loss. Eliminating leaks is an important aspect of winterizing any home, but not all leaks are easily identified. A skilled contractor can scour the home, checking unknown areas like basement through-wall penetrations, sill
Photo courtesy of Getty Images
plates and the tops of concrete walls. Interior features like light receptacles and outlets are also common sources of air leakage. The caulking around windows and doors is another common culprit to be examined by an expert. For most leaks, a solution like Great Stuff Pro™ Polyurethane Foam Sealant can seal gaps and cracks to help block air, moisture and pests from entering the home. In some cases,
blocking drafty vents with cut pieces of foam board insulation or replacing seals will suffice to address leaks. Install a programable thermostat. A programmable thermostat helps to regulate temperatures based on daily routines, so homeowners aren’t heating homes while no one is there to appreciate it. Experts can ensure electrical installation is done safely and provide
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guidance selecting a model that is appropriate for managing a home’s heating and cooling needs. Replace weather stripping and seal trim. Over time and with frequent use, weather stripping breaks down and loses its shape, even becoming brittle. Cracked trim around doors and windows leads to air leaks, and sometimes homeowners think the only solution is replacing windows and doors, but they still end up with drafts. Contractors can periodically replace trim using foam sealant to help eliminate inevitable drafts and save homeowners money in the long run – a more cost-effective approach than paying for new windows and doors. Prevent ice dams. Snow-covered roofs and freezing weather can lead to ice dams – thick ridges of solid ice that build up in gutters and along eaves. Dams can damage gutters and shingles and cause water to back up, which could force the water inside where it can peel paint, warp floors and lead to stained or sagging ceilings. To prevent damming, have a professional clear your gutters of leaves and debris ahead of the first snow and consider installing gutter guards to help prevent melting snow from refreezing in gutters. For more tips and ideas on how to prepare homes for winter, visit GreatStuff.com.
8 | CITIZEN | Chatham Southeast | Week of Nov. 20, 2019
ENTERTAINMENT
Underscore Theatre Company Presents PROXY PROXY, by Alexander Sage Oyen, Rachel Franco and Austin Regan, is a story of journalistic and personal integrity set to a punk rock score. Now playing at Underscore Theatre Company’s newly-remodeled, permanent home, The Understudy, 4609 N. Clark St. in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood, the play is directed by Stephanie Rohr with music direction by T.J. Anderson.. The cast includes Tessa Dettman, Carisa Gonzalez, Kyle Kite, Michael Mejia and Jenny Rudnick. Swings: Matt Tatone and Sinclair Willman. Fifteen years ago, when she was a kid, Vanessa was almost murdered by her best friend. Now, she is an investigative journalist in a bind and she decides to do what anyone would do – exploit her personal story by disguising herself and interviewing her childhood best friend and attempted murderer. Vanessa must navigate her estranged family and confront her trauma in the age of going viral. Who has the right to tell our story? When we have been traumatized, how do we pass that pain onto others – and can we ever really heal? Regular run: Sunday, November 24, 2019 Curtain Times: Friday and Saturday at 7:30 pm; Sunday at 4 pm. Tickets: Previews: $10. Regular run: $25. Tickets are currently available at underscoretheatre.org.
Pictured (left to right) Kyle Kite, Tessa Dettman, Carisa Gonzalez, Michael Mejia and Jenny Rudnick in Underscore Theatre Company’s production of PROXY. Photo by Michael Brosilow
Agent-CEO Tiauna Jackson opens doors to Black writers The Jackson Agency recently announced a new partnership with the Writers Guild of America – West. The Jackson Agency has been the home for underrepresented artists of color since its founding in 2014. Now, as a WGA Signatory, this partnership will create more opportunities for writers of color, allowing for historically underrepresented writers to have Agency representation. Even amidst the diversity push by the industry, many people of color have lamented the slow transition and challenged industry norms on social media via the widely used #showusyourroom hash tag. “This is historic. To the best of my knowledge, The Jackson Agency is the first African-American owned agency to become a WGA-West Signatory,” Jaia Thomas, Esq., sports and entertainment and intellectual property attorney and founder of Diverse Representation. Brandon Miree, writer and producer states, “Bringing about a diverse change in Hollywood will take bold and fearless people like Tiauna
The Jackson Agency was founded by Tiauna Jackson (pictured) in 2014 after seeing a need for underrepresented artists to be given a voice through proper representation. The agency exists for those who have been denied opportunities based on an aversion to diversity.
who’s working behind the scenes and willing to have those uncomfortable conversations.” “I’m excited to play a part in bringing these deliberately ignored artists to the mainstream.
Championing Diversity has been the heart and soul of this agency,” said Tiauna Jackson, founder of Jackson Agency. “As a female writer of color, the barrier to entry into Hollywood can feel much higher than for others but having representation like Tiauna increases the odds of getting in front of the right people to allow my work to speak for itself,” says Danielle Motley, screenwriter. “This agency is legit and honest in an industry that needs it. People of color need an agency founded by a person of color that understands their needs and how to navigate the industry,” Jeffery Thompson, Jr., filmmaker/ CEO of Epoch Media. “TJA is on the forefront of introducing the world to the works of writers of color,” M. LaVora Perry, author, “TANEESHA NEVER DISPARAGING.” The benefits of this new partnership include: l Writers of color will have an opportunity to submit their materials for consideration. l Showrunners and Producers now have
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the ability to find writers of color for their staffing needs. l All artists of color have a highly visible champion of diversity in their corner. l Making history, Tiauna is currently the only known Black Literary Agent who owns a boutique agency. About Jackson Agency: Founded in 2014 after seeing a need for underrepresented artists to be given a voice through proper representation, The Jackson Agency exists for those who have been denied opportunities based on an aversion to diversity. The Jackson Agency works tirelessly to combat that by focusing on representing artists of color. About Tiauna Jackson: CEO and Agent, Tiauna was profiled by the New York Times along side ICM agents Lorrie Barlett and Andrea Nelson-Meigs. As the only boutique agent profiled, Jackson spoke truth to what it is like for lesser-known actors in entertainment. For more about The Jackson Agency: http:// tja.agency
CITIZEN | Chatham Southeast | Week of Nov. 20, 2019
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CITIZEN | Chatham Southeast | Week of Nov. 20, 2019
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OWNER: City of Chicago BID DATE: December 6 th , 2019 at 4:00 PM (CST) BID ITEMS: Earthwork/Excavation; Asphalt Paving; Site Security; Traffic Control; Office Maintenance; Materials Testing; Rebar Furnish & Install; Concrete Ready-Mix; Concrete Pipe; Preconstruction & Post-Construction Surveys; Environmental Consulting; Tunnel & amp; Site Survey; Geotechnical Instrumentation and Monitoring; Erosion & Sediment Control; Site Restoration; Muck Disposal; Reservoir Wall Support; Geotechnical Instrumentation & Monitoring; Water Pumping/Pipeline; Electrical; Mechanical; Plumbing; HVAC; Trucking & Disposal; Hazardous Material Handling; Tunnel & Shaft Construction Safety; Equipment Rental; Heavy Equipment Mechanics; and Steel Fabrication for the Tunnel Liner.
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PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS: Contact Rivers Topping – Barnard Construction at PH: (406) 5861995 or email: rivers.topping@Barnard-Inc.com for information on obtaining plans and specifications. ASSISTANCE AND QUESTIONS: BSB will provide technical assistance as needed through- out the bidding process. We will work with subs and suppliers to develop a delivery schedule that accommodates the needs of subs and suppliers on non-critical work items. When economically feasible, we will divide total contract requirements into small portions to permit maximum qualified Minority Business Enterprises (MBE) and Women Business Enterprises (WBE) participation. Upon request, we will assist interested businesses in obtaining bonds, lines of credit and/or required insurance. Questions regarding assistance and bids should be directed to Rivers Topping at (406) 586-1995. Questions regarding obtaining bonds should be directed to Austin Neff at (760) 8222184, or Austin.Neff@TheBondExchange. com. All bids should be faxed to (406) 586-3530 or emailed to BWBids@Barnard-Inc.com.
Rohsaan Kwame Alexander Bey C/O General Delivery 433 West Harrison Street Chicago Illinois [IL 60699-9998 US]
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CITY OF CHICAGO or COOK COUNTY MBE/WBE CERTIFICATION FORM DUE BEFORE: November 6 th , 2019 SCHEDULE C AND SCOPE DUE BEFORE: November 20 th , 2019 BID DUE BEFORE: November 27 th , 2019 _________________________________________
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