Facing hyde park february 22 2017

Week of February 22, 2017 Vol 28 • No 13 • www.thechicagocitizen.com

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BUSINESS

PRESIDENT TRUMP NEEDS TO TWEET ABOUT THE SOLAR PANEL INDUSTRY

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FOCUSON BLACKHISTORY

Celebrating Black History

‘Harambee’ style > SEE MORE PAGE 3 Unidentified dancers and musicians rejoice in song and movement as they honor Black History Month at Northwestern University. Photo courtesy of Northwestern University Student Affairs Marketing Team.

FASHION: TOYOTA DONATES WINTER BOOTS, SOCKS > P6 ENTERTAINMENT: BALDWIN DOCUMENTARY “I AM NOT YOUR NEGRO” RECEIVES OSCAR NOD > P10 www.thechicagocitizen.com • 51 years of serving the Black community

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black history month 1

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FOCUSON BLACKHISTORY

Celebrating Black History

‘Harambee’ style Michael Steele, an MSNBC political analyst, who also served as the first African-American chairperson of the Republican National Committee from January 2009 until January 2011 is one of the many Fellows who has participated in the University of Chicago’s “Institute of Politics” (IOP) Fellows Program. Photo by The University of Chicago Institute of Politics.

The University of Chicago created, “Institute of Politics” (IOP) Fellows Program in January of 2013, where political leaders around the world come together to use strategies to help serve Chicago in multiple ways. Photo by The University of Chicago Institute of Politics.

Students, community benefit from Fellows program at U of C

I

By Christopher Shuttlesworth

n 2013, the University of Chicago created the “Institute of Politics” (IOP) Fellows Program. Since it’s creation, political leaders from around the globe have come together to use political strategies to help serve Chicago in multiple

ways.

Participants have included political leaders like RNC Chairman Michael Steele, who served as the first African-American chairperson of the Republican National Committee from January 2009 until January 2011.

Other participants have included Jon Favreau, former Pakistani Ambassador to the U.S. and former New York City Deputy Mayor Howard Wolfson, according to the University of Chicago.

“The IOP’s Fellows Program gives students and community members the opportunity to meet with some of the [most] leading political and public policy practitioners in the world,” Director of Communications at the University Of Chicago Institute of Politics Matthew Jaffe

said. “From off the record seminars to weekly student office hours, the University of Chicago community can engage meaningfully with the Fellows to gain a unique perspective about the political arena from practitioners drawing on their firsthand experiences.”

According to the University of Chicago, “Fellows independently lead non-credit seminars on timely and relevant issues of national importance. The weekly, 75-minute discussions, on a topic of each Fellow’s choosing, takes place at the IOP House and are open to all University students, faculty, staff and community members. Seminars are built to best leverage the expertise of the fellow and vary from lectures to informal discussion groups to panel discussions and guest lectures.”

Jaffe said many Fellows use their residency at the University of Chicago to start new projects, learn about various communities in Chicago, network with other Fellows and faculty on campus, and become mentors to students in the process.

“While in residence, Fellows keep weekly office hours, which are available to all students at the University. These office

hours are an incredible opportunity for Fellows to engage with students and for students to have direct access to speak with the Fellows about anything ranging from an interesting topic in the news, an aspect of the Fellow’s career, questions on a class project, or thoughts about the student’s journey in politics, public and social service, and journalism,” according to the University of Chicago.

“Fellows tend to come away most impressed with the University of Chicago students,” Jaffe said. “[Fellows love] the [students’] knowledge, dedication, curiosity and ambition – as well as the campus and city environment.”

IOP is planning to make the Fellows program timelier and more engaging with their stellar group of Spring Quarter Fellows that will be coming to the University of Chicago campus in April, Jaffe said.

“Fellows are selected via the university’s IOP online application process and through targeted recruitment. The University is no longer accepting 2017 Spring applications, but applications for Fall will be due next Spring,” according to the University of Chicago.

www.thechicagocitizen.com • 51 years of serving the Black community

An unidentified dancer captures the crowd as she moves to the beat at Northwestern University’s Black History Month celebration held at Norris University Center. Photo courtesy of Northwestern University Student Affairs Marketing Team.

Northwestern University’s Student Affairs Marketing Organization kicked off Black History Month by celebrating the African tradition called “Harambee”. Photo courtesy of Northwestern University Student Affairs Marketing Team.

By Christopher Shuttlesworth

N

orthwestern University (NU) recently honored Black History Month with an African celebration entitled “Harambee.”

The celebration was just one of many programs the Multicultural Student Affairs Department at NU presented to the public this month.

Northwestern University’s Assistant Director of Multicultural Student Affairs Heather Browning, said the event not only increased awareness about African culture and black people, it also brought together Northwestern students, staff, faculty and alumni who are a part of the African Diaspora. \“It’s important for students at [Northwestern University] to see themselves at these [type of ] celebrations, which included [Northwestern] black students [with] identities that intersected with “blackness,” or black identities that [represented] the [African] Diaspora during the [Harambee gathering],”

Browning said.

The African Diaspora, Harambee and Black History Month are all inter-related. The African Diaspora refers to the communities throughout the world that have resulted by descent from the movement in historic times of peoples from Africa, predominantly to the Americas and among other areas around the globe.

The term “Harambee” is described in Swahili as to ‘pull together,’ and is well-known as a traditional rallying cry where people throughout communities in Kenya gather for special events and to collect necessity resources, according to northwesternuniversity.edu.

Browning said the Harambee is significant to students at NU because it continues to help them to learn about the shared history of African culture and the intersections of black communities in the United States.

“We utilize Harambee as this gathering piece to create an increase of belonging, connection and understanding of the Africa Diaspora at Northwestern University,” Browning said. “[Harambee] offers that moment to celebrate

black identities and connect with our black communities and recognize and share the strength and resources we embody because celebration of black people is important,” she said, adding that black people learn more about themselves when they celebrate their culture.

“For the past 10 years, Northwestern University has started Black History Month with their Harambee tradition kickoff, Browning said.

“Through the Harambee itself, [Northwestern] created a visibility to broaden the understanding of black communities on Northwestern’s campus and nationwide.” She added her main desire was for everyone to leave the Harambee with more knowledge on why they truly belong to the black culture.

“I hope that people who attended the event whether students, staff, faculty or community members left with an increased [sense] of belonging and understanding of the [African] Diaspora itself,” she said. “I think the [gathering] of the Harambee offers that moment [to acknowledge] and celebrate our larger blackness as a community.”

www.thechicagocitizen.com • 51 years of serving the Black community

CITIZEN / Hyde Park / Week of February 22, 2017 / 5 4 / CITIZEN / Hyde Park / Week of February 22, 2017

business

MONEY MATTERS

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Deciding What to Do With Your Old 401(k) Fidelity Investments. “That’s NEWSUSA- Just started a new money you won’t have for job with an employer who thinks you’re retirement.” as visionary as Steve Jobs? Or maybe Yes, the government you’re between gigs and “exploring other must have its cut. Specifically, opportunities.” Either way, you need to 20 percent in federal income decide what to do with your old 401(k). taxes, 10 percent in an “earlyIt’s been estimated that there are withdrawal penalty” for those about 15 million such accounts left under age 59?, and -- wait, behind by former employees, mainly we’re not done yet -- whatever because of either inertia or plain additional percentage your confusion over strict rules for moving the individual state may or may money. And since the IRS doesn’t allow not assess. procrastinating on a key decision -- if you Translating that into withdraw even a dime, you’ve got just 60 real money, Fidelity’s website days to reallocate into a different tax(fidelity.com) uses the advantaged account -- here’s a rundown hypothetical example of a of your options to avoid what could be a costly mistake: The wrong move could prove costly for those with 36-year-old who decides to cash out the $16,000 balance * Option No. 1: Cash Out accounts left behind at their former jobs. in her account. After deducting Unless you’re in dire financial straits just the federal taxes and penalties, she’d be left with only and really, really need the bucks to live off, the consensus is $11,200. this is a bad idea.

Feel free to imagine how much you’d be out if your “Cashing out comes with an immediate price, both in account is fatter. terms of giving up potential future gains in your portfolio * Option No. 2: Move the Money to Your New and in the IRS taxes the company handling your 401(k) Employer’s Plan for your former employer is legally obliged to withhold,” Doing what’s called a “rollover” is an easy way to keep explains Nupur Bahal, vice president for retirement at

your 401(k) savings together and growing tax-deferred.

But bear in mind: Investment options vary from plan to plan -- as do fees. (And not all employers even accept rollovers.)

Which means you might want to do some comparison shopping before committing. * Option No. 3: Move the Money Into an IRA As with the previous rollover, you get to avoid the tax bite of cashing out. The difference here, though -; and these could be major plusses -- is that not only do IRAs offer more investment choices than the typical 401(k), but you’re also able to make penalty-free withdrawals for qualified education expenses or up to $10,000 for a first-time home purchase.

“Especially if you already have other, non-401(k) accounts elsewhere, it may be simpler and more effective to consolidate everything under one roof,” says Bahal. * Option No. 4: Leave It With Your Ex-Employer Penalty-free withdrawals are allowed for those who leave their jobs at age 55 or older -- as opposed to 59? for IRAs -- and unique investment options might warrant just letting things ride. But some people forget the account exists with the passage of time -- no, really -- and further contributions are verboten.

Whatever you decide, remember the clock is definitely ticking for you to contact your old 401(k) administrator should you choose to withdraw even that one dime.

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COMMENTARY

PRESIDENT TRUMP NEEDS TO TWEET ABOUT THE SOLAR PANEL INDUSTRY

By Julianne Malveaux (NNPA Newswire Columnist)

A

s a progressive who worked hard to help get Secretary Hillary Clinton elected, it is challenging for me to accept Donald Trump as President. But, he won. At least for now, I have to make the best of a bad situation. Which means progressives like me will have to both resist the Trump administration’s odious policies, and also pressure — and even cooperate with — the administration to implement policies that reflect our worldview.

This is why I was interested to see a recent letter sent to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) by three Democratic members of Congress. Signed by Congressmen Henry Cuellar of Texas, Emmanuel Cleaver of Missouri and Bennie Thompson of Mississippi, the letter urged the CFPB to look into bad actors operating in the rooftop solar industry.

What we are talking about here are those salespeople that go door-to-door or bombard consumers with telemarketing calls, urging them to put solar panels on their rooftops. Now, for some people, rooftop solar makes both environmental and financial sense. This is why I generally support the industry.

What concerns me, and those three Democratic Congressmen, are the shady operators that mislead potential customers about the cost saving benefits of installing those panels. The letter outlined three major concerns.

First, that new customers may be unaware that the panels can cost upwards of $15,000 and that they will have to pay that money back. This purchase can generate an additional lean against their home making it harder to sell their house, which also decreases its value. For those Americans, who are barely getting by and counting on every dollar of equity in their house, this is problematic. This is especially true, if they hope to sell

their home to fund their retirement.

Second, salespeople sometimes tell customers that they will save a lot of money on their utility bill, because the price of electricity from utility companies is going up. That simply is not accurate. In reality, electric bills are coming down, stabilizing or increasing only slightly. This is because of cheap and abundant natural gas used to produce electricity. Solar panel customers don’t see any savings on their electric bills, but have to pay back the cost of buying or leasing the panels. Every month, people are out of pocket more money, not less.

Third, the letter to the CFPB points out that many of these solar panel sales pitches include promises of “no money down” and other high-pressure sales tactics. Anyone who has ever dealt with a shady salesperson, whether for solar panels or a used car, knows that these tactics are not the tools of an honest broker.

Plus, as the Wall Street Journal exposed this January, we know many solar panel salespeople are pitching so-called government loans that can be used to help make homes more energy efficient. In reality, these Property Assessed Clean Energy, or PACE loans, are a type of loan which gives creditors top priority on securing repayment – even priority over a

mortgage. No wonder, according to the Journal, that PACE loans are likely “the fastest-growing type of financing in the U.S.” The title of the article should make us all fearful: “America’s Fastest-Growing Loan Category Has Eerie Echoes of Subprime Crisis.”

While there have been rumblings that the Trump Administration would curtail the CFPB, the letter from Congressmen Cleaver, Cuellar and Thompson illustrates why this regulatory agency is important. Action against these shady rooftop solar companies, who seem to target communities of color, is one way that this administration could showcase its commitment to the working people who supported it. Indeed, as President Trump hosted a “listening session” with some Black Republicans “in honor” of Black History Month, he made no specific policy commitments. It would have been fantastic had he taken this small issue on, signaling that he understands the exploitation that some communities experience, because of this solar chicanery.

The solar industry generates more than 200,000 jobs across the nation. While Donald Trump might not be concerned about producing clean energy, he says he cares about protecting American workers. That is why I am urging his administration, and the CFPB, to take steps to eliminate the bad actors in rooftop solar. Unless we do, people will catch on, and walk away from solar. That will hurt our economy and our fight to beat climate change. Hopefully, one out of two of those concerns is enough for the new Administration to take action to protect consumers.

Julianne Malveaux is an author, economist and Founder of Economic Education. Her latest book “Are We Better Off? Race, Obama and Public Policy” is available to order at www. juliannemalveaux.com at Amazon.com. Follow Dr. Malveaux on Twitter @drjlastword.

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fashion

GOLDMAN SACHS’ SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAM ALUMNI CREATE JOBS, INCREASE REVENUE

Toyota Donates Winter Boots, Socks BALTIMORE - PRNewswire/ -- As temperatures fluctuate this winter across the country, one thing for sure is snowy, icy and even cold rainy days are here through March and warm winter boots and socks are still a “must have” in Baltimore. To protect families from the cold and rain, on Saturday, February 4, 2017, Toyota Motor North America through its “Toyota Walk In My Boots”community outreach project held in conjunction with the Motor Trend International Auto Show-Baltimore activities, stepped in to help Baltimore families by providing new insulated boots and socks to more than 200 participants of The Salvation Army (TSA) Booth House Shelter, a homeless shelter for women, men and families with children; and TSA Boys and Girls Club’s of Franklin Square and Middle River.

“With the need greater than ever because of the often cold winter days, we are blessed to have support from good corporate citizens like Toyota, who are ‘Doing the Most Good’ by raising awareness of our mission to feed, shelter and clothe those who are less fortunate,” said Major Gene A. Hogg, area commander, The Salvation Army of Central Maryland.

Toyota also donated $15,000 to The Salvation Army of Central Maryland enabling them to continue to provide refuge for children and families in times of crisis. They also treated the families to a “Thanksgiving-style” buffet luncheon catered

by JD’s Catering. Baltimore Native MESHELLE, the IndieMom of Comedy, gave the families some encouraging words as she grew up in Baltimore and understands the many struggles that families are facing right now.

On Feb. 4, more than 200 low-income and homeless residents of greater Baltimore received new boots and socks from Toyota Financial Services. The event took place at The Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club at Middle River. Right Side from Front to Back: John Ridgeway of Toyota Financial Services, Jade Merrick of Toyota Financial Services, Tim Hale of Toyota Financial Services, the comedian.

Young Entrepreneur Breaking New Ground With Custom-Designed, Gold-Trimmed, Multi-User Mobile Phone (Tallahassee, Florida)- At age 9, Freddie Figgers took a part an old IBM personal computer five times that his father bought at a local Goodwill Store.

On the sixth time, he got it working. He was thrilled – and has never looked back.

Now, the 27-year-old is founder and owner of Figgers Communication, one of the nation’s fastest growing AfricanAmerican-owned telecommunications companies.

Figgers’ privately held company provides cellular, mobile broadband, home phone, and international calling services. He owns four patents with an additional two others pending. He has developed a custom-designed phone the Figger1 phone that has gold trim, highdef display, dual SIMM capability, multiuser capability, automatic anti-texting functionality and super-fast charging.

“I’ve had a pretty good life,” said Figgers who was raised by his adoptive parents in Quincy, Florida, a small community just outside of Tallahassee.

“My parents really supported me. … I want to continue to be innovative.”

Figgers is a computer programmer, engineer, and inventor. At age 13, he started working for the city of Quincy as a computer technician and network administrator in its NetQuincy department, setting up the city’s network and helping residents. At age 16, Figgers started Figgers Computers, repairing computers and installing wireless area networks. By age 17, he created a cloudbased hosting network. By age 18, he had created his own computer operating system.

Drawing off his success and the lure of the $420 billion mobile phone industry, Figgers started Figgers Communication, which led him to design and manufacture the “Figgers F1” mobile phone in the USA for its 4G Voice over LTE Network.

“I’m using all of my capital to learn and develop new ideas,” Figgers said. “I’m reinvesting in this business.”

3rd Annual Black Fashion Week USA Returns CHICAGO, - Black Fashion Week USA continues with the vision of highlighting designers of color; promoting and exposing their brand aesthetics to the general public for the third straight year. Black Fashion Week USA events take place Feb. 19-26 and help foster the brand development and economic growth of AfricanAmerican fashion designers and professionals in the United States and abroad by serving as a platform for the Black fashion industry. Events include 3 unique fashion shows, a youth scholarship competition, a public shopping event, a “Black Fashion Matters” workshop and Business of Fashion panel discussion, in addition to a movie screening.

For more information, please visit http://blackfashionweekusa.com

www.thechicagocitizen.com • 51 years of serving the Black community

By Stacy M. Brown (NNPA Newswire Contributor)

LOS ANGELES — Eight hundred Southern California businesses have joined thousands of entrepreneurs across the country in an initiative to create jobs.

The business owners are participants in Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses, a scholarship-based program that convenes them to learn critical business skills and create growth plans for their companies.

Just one of these local entrepreneurs is Patricia Watts, of FCI Management.

“I’m a year out of the program and we’ve added about three employees,” said Watts, who in 1998 established FCI, a Long Beachheadquartered company that develops and implements energy and water efficiency solutions for corporate, residential, commercial and industrial clients as well as for public and private schools, universities, and government and municipal agencies.

“We also had about a 15 to 16 percent growth in revenue,” Watts said.

Watt’s story is not unique.

The Goldman Sachs “10,000 Small Businesses” curriculum is designed by Babson College, the leading business school for entrepreneurship. Just six months after their graduation, 69 percent of alumni see revenue growth. Approximately 48 percent of the alumni create new jobs within that same timeframe. As a

comparison, 23 percent of U.S. small businesses added new jobs in 2015.

Community colleges across the country run the program in partnership with Babson College faculty, creating a direct connection between business experts and urban communities.

Southern California is the only region in the country where two community colleges jointly run the program. Los Angeles City College and Long Beach City College partner together in the region, creating a scale of impact that is unique nationally.

“We have reached 800 business owners and we have a graduation rate of 99 percent,” said Vivian Shimoyama, the regional executive director for the Southern California Region for “10,000 Small Businesses.”

“Eighty-five percent of the business owners who participate collaborate with the other owners and they are growing their businesses together,” Shimoyama said. She added that “the program has had a great impact on not only increasing revenue, but on creating jobs.”

The Goldman Sachs “10,000 Small Businesses” program offers practical business management education for entrepreneurs. Those accepted into the program experience access to the education, business support services, and peer-to-peer networking that helps grow their companies, Shimoyama said.

For Watts, the program was a key step to understanding growth opportunities for her

business.

“The year before I started the program, I ended up at the end of the year in the red with a loss,” Watts said. “However, this year, one year later, we ended up with a profit that was significant, because it was almost a $1.5 million swing from loss to profit,” she said.

While participants in “10,000 Small Businesses” hail from a wide array of industries, they engage in the program from their shared experience as entrepreneurs. Southern California alumni include businesses focused on marketing and design, health and fitness, food service, staffing, education, manufacturing, and other industries.

Through the peer-to-peer learning environment, the participants focus on overcoming universal business challenges such as human resources, access to finance, and leadership.

With an eye to the future, Watts is ready to keep growing her business.

“I’m looking forward to continued growth as a national company. I have an office in New York and an office in Atlanta and I’m looking to grow the company nationally and I’m looking at growing our business in the federal sector,” Watts said, adding that, “I’m always optimistic, the most optimistic person you’ll ever meet and my motto is ‘failure is not an option.’ I don’t accept it and I’m not having it.”

Learn more at: http://www.10ksbapply.com.

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MINORITY LEADERS FEEL MUSLIMS ARE UNFAIRLY TARGETED

Irving Mayor Beth Van Duyne (center) speaks at the summit entitled, “Defending Against Radical Islamic Terrorism in Texas” in Austin, Texas. (David Wilfong/North Dallas Gazette)

By Audrey A. Lundy (North Dallas Gazette/NNPA Member)

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Muslims have lived in Texas since 1854. They have established mosques, schools and other institutions that serve the greater community. Like most residents, they are proud Texans and Americans, according to Omar Suleiman, who serves as the Resident Scholar of the Valley Ranch Islamic Center in Irving, Texas.

“In the over 150 years that this community has been here, never has there been a problem with the Muslim community trying to overthrow the system,” he said.

“Not once has there been a Muslim promoting anything unconstitutional that infringes on the rights of our friends and neighbors. These aren’t alternate facts; they’re just facts.”

Recently, Suleiman with a group of interfaith and civil rights leaders held a press conference at Irving City Hall to oppose a summit spearheaded by Texas State Representative Kyle Biedermann and supported by Irving Mayor Beth Van Duyne.

The summit entitled, “Defending Against Radical Islamic Terrorism in Texas” took place at the state capitol last week. Community leaders in attendance at the press conference believe the summit unfairly targeted Muslims.

However, Rep. Biedermann disagrees with the community leaders. The North Dallas Gazette sent Rep. Biedermann’s office questions related to this story. Even though staffers at Biedermann’s office acknowledged receipt of the questions, they went unanswered; staffers instead sent a press release about the summit.

“With the rise of radical Islamic terrorism throughout the world, our homeland security must be our top priority. When I took office, I assembled a Law Enforcement and Homeland Security Advisory Council,” Rep. Biedermann stated in the press release. “We have a responsibility as Texans to secure our border and to protect against the serious, and growing, threats of terrorism.”

Community leaders said Rep. Biedermann should spend more time building relationships with the Muslim community and speaking out against racists and xenophobes.

“Texas strength is in its diversity.

This is one of the most diverse states in the country and that is what makes us strong,” said Sahar Aziz, a board member of the ACLU of Texas during last week’s press conference.

“If he truly cares about Texas, then he should be defending the religious freedom rights of all Texans of all faiths.”

From Left: Toni Braxton, Lonnie Bunch, Lauren Seroyer, Larry Tripplett, Donovan Smith, Charles Tillman, Wendy Raquel Robinson ©2017 McDonald’s

Hispanic activist Carlos Quintanilla said Mayor Van Duyne should also stop the rhetoric and support the large Hispanic and Muslim communities in Irving.

“We need to send a message to Mayor Beth Van Duyne that the City of Irving constituents will not tolerate hatred,” said Quintanilla, the leader of Accion America.

“We have never seen any radical Islamic behavior in Irving and we need to share that type of awareness with the community. Irving has a large minority community that includes Muslims and hate mongering is not acceptable.”

The North Dallas Gazette also sent Mayor Van Duyne’s office a series of questions for this article, but her staffers also declined to offer a response for this story.

Suleiman said Muslims welcome government officials to visit mosques to get to know them in the spirit of friendship and not suspicion. He said that reject a privately funded poll sent out to Muslim groups earlier this month by Rep. Biedermann requesting their response.

“The representative didn’t reach out to us through one of the many mosques in Texas. Some [mosques are] in his own district,” Suleiman said during the press conference last week. “Instead, he decided to put us through a litmus test that is grounded in intimidation. These loyalty tests are not new in America, and they essentially imply a secondclass citizenship on the part of those who receive them. We reject that status and characterization. By sending us these letters dictated by Xenophobes and hate groups not even based in our state, he is negating decade of interfaith dialogue, multi-faith cooperation and civic engagement here in Texas.”

Dr. Michael W. Waters, who also attended the press conference, said he is concerned about the growing acceptance of racism and xenophobia sweeping across the country.

“I believe there is an assault on our civil liberties that were secured for us, in blood, by generations of soldiers and generations of activists,” said Waters, a pastor of Joy Tabernacle A.M.E. Church in South Dallas. “I believe Muslims are being targeted.”

Shayan Elahi, an American Muslim who is the chair of the civil rights committee of the Dallas County Democratic Party added, “Political intimidation will not work just as it has not worked against other minorities.”

North Dallas Gazette is a member publication of the National Newspaper Publishers Association.

Learn more about becoming a member at www.nnpa.org.

COMCAST PROMOTES DANIEL C. MURDOCK TO SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, CHIEF ACCOUNTING OFFICER, AND CONTROLLER Comcast Corporation announced recently it has promoted Daniel C. Murdock to Senior Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer, and Controller, effective March 1, 2017. In this role, he will lead the company’s external financial reporting, corporate accounting, and corporate internal controls functions. He will report to Mike Cavanagh, Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Comcast Corporation. Mr. Murdock succeeds Lawrence J. Salva, who is retiring as the company’s Chief Accounting Officer after 17 years in that role. Mr. Salva will serve as a Senior Advisor to Mr. Cavanagh through June 2018.

“Dan is an impressive leader with significant accounting and reporting experience in both the private and public sectors,” said Mr. Cavanagh. “He is highly deserving of this promotion, and I’m thrilled he will be assuming this extremely important role at our company.”

Since joining Comcast in 2015, Mr.

Murdock has served as Vice President and Corporate Controller where he oversees accounting policies and procedures, reporting controls, and Sarbanes-Oxley compliance. Prior to Comcast, he was with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission where he served as the Deputy Chief Accountant in the agency’s Office of the Chief Accountant since 2013.

Before that, he was Deloitte & Touche’s Audit/Industry Professional Practice Director for media and entertainment.

Mr. Murdock earned a BS in accounting from the University of South Florida. He is a certified public accountant and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

Mr. Cavanagh also commented on Mr. Salva, and said, “Larry has been an outstanding leader of our corporate accounting function for nearly two decades, and we wish him the very best. He has had a terrific career as a senior executive, and we thank him for all he has done for our company.”

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LEGAL NOTICE

BALDWIN DOCUMENTARY “I AM NOT YOUR NEGRO” RECEIVES OSCAR NOD

By Lauren Victoria Burke (NNPA Newswire Contributor)

On February 1, the first day of Black History Month, the National Museum of African American History and Culture premiered the Oscar-nominated documentary “I Am Not Your Negro,” which features commentary by James Baldwin. The film is a tribute to the staggering contribution of one of America’s greatest men of letters.

Director Raoul Peck spent ten years completing the film. The documentary was inspired by one of Baldwin’s unfinished manuscripts regarding his

“I Am Not Your Negro,” features commentary by James Baldwin and is a tribute to the staggering contribution of one of America’s greatest men of letters.

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friendships and views on three of his friends: Medgar Evers, Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. None of the three would live to see their 40th birthday. Medgar Evers was assassinated in 1963 in Jackson, Miss.; Malcolm X was assassinated in 1965 in New York City; King was assassinated in 1968 in Memphis, Tenn.

At the heart of the film, the jarring documentary provides Baldwin’s sociopolitical observations and showcases the writer’s eloquence and directness as a communicator.

Peck credits Baldwin with changing his life after he read “The Fire Next Time” when he was a teenager.

“The starting point of the movie are the words of a person, a great author, James Baldwin,” Peck said at the The Hollywood Reporter’s Documentary Oscar Roundtable. “My job was to put myself in the background. I knew those words since I was 15 years old.

“If I can summarize the

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essential part of Baldwin, it is the ability and obligation to always question whatever truth is put in front of you.

Beginning with images, beginning with stories, beginning with cinema.

This is something that I learned very early on,” Peck told a reporter last week.

“And Baldwin gave me the words and the instruments to do that, to be able to deconstruct whatever was put in front of me—ideology, stories, narrative—very concretely.”

Baldwin was an American social critic, novelist, essayist, playwright and poet. His essays, as collected in “Notes of a Native Son” (1955), explore issues of race and class differences in a poignant, sometimes provocative way.

His books include “The Fire Next Time” (1963), “Giovanni’s Room” (1965), “No Name in the Street” (1972), and “The Devil Finds Work” (1976).

There hasn’t been anyone who has been able to duplicate the power of Baldwin since his death at 63 in France in 1987.

Baldwin confronted the “moral monsters” of racism in the United States and dealt with the complex social and psychological pressures confronting Black people in America. Baldwin often challenged White Americans on the question of racism.

“It does matter any longer what you do to me,” Baldwin said in an interview in 1965. “The problem now is how are you going to save yourselves?”

Lauren Victoria Burke is a political analyst who speaks on politics and African American leadership. She is also a frequent contributor to the NNPA Newswire and BlackPressUSA.com.

Connect with Lauren by email at LBurke007@ gmail.com and on Twitter at @LVBurke.

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Notice is hereby given, pursuant to “An Act in relation to the use of an Assumed Business Name in the conduct or trans­ action of Business in the State,” as amended, that a certification was regis­ tered by the undersigned with the County Clerk of Cook County.

Registration Number: D17149595 on February 8, 2017 Under the Assumed Business Name of STEFANIE CINADR PHOTOGRAPHY with the business located at: 4011 WHISPERING TRAILS COURT, HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL 60192 The true and real full name and resi­ dence address of the owner is: STE­ FANIE CINADR 4011 WHISPERING TRAILS COURT HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL 60192, USA __________________________________ Common Law Copyright Notice 103149­03/CLC Common Law Notice: All rights reserved re: common­law copyright of trade name/trademark, EUGENE CLARKE JR© as well as any and all derivatives and variations in the spelling of said trade­names/trademarks ­ Copyright 1949 October­31st 1949, by Eugene Clarke Jr. Said trade­names/trade­ marks.©. May neither be used, nor reproduced, neither in whole nor part, nor in any manner whatsoever, without the prior, express, written consent and acknowledgment of Eugene Clarke Jr. as signified by only the blue­ink signa­ ture of Eugene Clarke, hereafter 'Secured Party.' With the intent of being contractually bond, any Juristic Person, As well as the agent of said Juristic Person, consents and agrees by this Copyright Notice that neither said Juristic Person, nor the agent of said Juristic Person, shall display, nor other­ wise use in any manner, the trade­ name/trademark, nor common­law copy­ right described herein, nor any deriva­ tive of, nor any variation in the spelling of, said name without prior, express, written consent and acknowledgment of Secured Party, as signified by Secured

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Party's signature in blue ink. Secured Party neither grants, nor implies, nor otherwise gives consent for any unau­ thorized use of EUGENE CLARKE JR©, and all such unauthorized use is strictly prohibited. Secured Party is not now, nor has Secured Party ever been, an accommodation party, nor a surety, for the purported debtor, i.e. "EUGENE CLARKE JR©," nor for any derivative of, nor for any variation in the spelling of, said name, nor for any other juristic per­ son, and is so­indemnified and held harmless by Debtor, i.e. " EUGENE CLARKE JR©," in Hold­harmless and Indemnity Agreement No. 103140­04 dated the 15th Day of the 2nd Month in the Year of Lord Twenty and Seventeen against any and all claims, legal actions, orders, warrants, judgments, demands, liabilities, losses, depositions, sum­ monses, lawsuits, cost, fines, liens, levies, penalties, damages, interests, and expenses whatsoever, both absolute and contingent, as are due and as might become due, now existing and as might hereafter arise, and might be suffered by, imposed on, and incurred

by Debtor for any and every reason, pur­ pose, and cause whatsoever. Self­exe­ cuting Contract/Security Agreement in Event of Unauthorized Use: By this Copyright Notice, both Juristic Person and the agent of said Juristic Person, hereafter jointly and severally "User," consent and agree that any use of "EUGENE CLARKE JR©", other than authorized use as set forth above; con­ stitutes unauthorized use of Secured Party's copyrighted property and con­ tractually binds User. This Notice by Declaration becomes a Security Agreement wherein User is a debtor and "Upper and Lower Case Name Here' is Secured Party, signifies that User: (1) grants Secured Party a security interest in all of User's property in the sum cer­ tain amount of $500,000.00 per each trade name/trademark use, per each occurrence of use (violation/infringe­ ment), plus triple damages, plus cost for each such use, as well as for each and every use of any and all derivatives of, and variations in the spelling of, "EUGENE CLARKE JR©,"; (2) authenti­ cates This Security Agreement wherein User is debtor and Eugene Clarke Jr. is Secured Party, and wherein User pledges all of User's property, i.e. all consumer goods, farm products, inven­ tory, equipment, money, investment property, commercial tort claims, letters of credit, letter­of­credit rights, chattel paper, instruments, deposit accounts, accounts, documents and general intan­ gibles, and all User's interest in all such foregoing property, now owned and hereafter acquired, now existing and hereafter arising, and wherever located, as collateral for securing User contrac­ tual obligation in favor of Secured Party for User's unauthorized use of Secured Party's copyrighted property; (3) con­ sents and agrees with Secured Party's filing of a UCC Financing Statement wherein User is debtor and Eugene Clarke Jr. is Secured Party; ( 4) consents and agrees that said UCC Financing Statement described above in paragraph "(3)" is a continuing financing state­ ment, and further consents and agrees with Secured Party's filing of any contin­ uation statement necessary for main­ taining Secured Party's perfected secu­ rity interest in all of User's property and interest in property pledged as collateral in Security Agreement described above in paragraph "(2)" until User's contractu­ al obligation theretofore incurred has been fully satisfied; (5) authorized Secured Party's filing of any UCC Financing Statement, as described above in paragraph "(3)," as well as in paragraph " ( 4 )," and the filing of any Security Agreement, as described above in paragraph "(2)," in the UCC filing office; (6) consents and agree that any and all such filings described in para­ graph "( 4)," and "(5)" above are not, and may not be considered, bogus, and that User will not claim that any such filing is bogus; (7) waives all defenses; and (8) appoints Secured Party as Authorized Representative for User; effective upon User's default re User's contractual obli­ gations in favor of Secured Party as set forth below under "payment Terms" and "default Terms,' with full authorization and power granted Secured Party for engaging in any and all actions on behalf of User including, but not limited by, authentication of a record on behalf of User, as Secured Party, in Secured Party's sole discretion, deems appropri­ ate, and User further consents and agrees that this appointment of Secured Party as Authorized Representative for User, effective upon User's default, is irrevocable and coupled with a security interest. User further consents and agrees with all of the following additional terms of Self executing

Contract/Security Agreement in Event of Unauthorized Use. Payment Terms: In accordance with fees unauthorized use of "EUGENE CLARKE JR©," as set forth above, User hereby consents and agrees that User shall pay Secured Party all unauthorized­use fees in full within ten (10) days of date Secured Party's invoice, hereinafter "Invoice," itemizing said fees, is sent and received. Secured Party for engaging in any and all actions on behalf of User including, but not lim­ ited by, authentication of a record on behalf of User, as Secured Party, in Secured Party's sole discretion, deems appropriate, and User further consents and agrees that this appointment of Secured Party as Authorized Representative for User, effective upon User's default, is irrevocable and cou­ pled with a security interest. User fur­ ther consents and agrees with all of the following additional terms of Self executing Contract/Security Agreement in Event of Unauthorized Use. Payment Terms: In accordance with fees unauthorized use of "EUGENE CLARKE JR©," as set forth above, User hereby consents and agrees that User shall pay Secured Party all unautho­ rized­use fees in full within ten (10) days of date Secured Party's invoice, here­ inafter "Invoice," itemizing said fees, is sent and received. Party, which is not in the possession of, nor otherwise dis­ posed of by, Secured Party upon expira­ tion of said twenty (20) day strict fore­ closure period. Ownership subject to common­law copyright and UCC Financing Statement and Security Agreement filed with the UCC filing office. Record Owner: Eugene Clarke Jr., Autograph Common Law Copyright 1949. Record owner: Secured Party / creditor name autograph common­law copyright. Copyright Date: February 7, 2017.

Without Prejudice/ Without Recourse EUGENE CLARKE JR Secured Party ACKNOWLEDGMENT __________________________________

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Celebrating

Women's HISTORY MONTH “Representing The Best Me, I Am A Mother, I Am A Teacher, I Am A Wife And I Am A Leader…”

“I Am Every Women”

For decades, women across the world have struggled to be counted equally and to prove their self worth. Through their struggles, they have gone on to become CEOS, mayors, entrepreneurs, heads of states, moms, senators, daughter's, wives, activists and so much more!

In March during Women's History Month, the contributions of women are celebrated. Coming up next week, the Citizen will kick-off Women's History Month on March 1, with a special focus on 'Herstory.'

Join us as we celebrate the specialness of women who are making a statement with their stories.

Take part in the celebration by reserving your advertising space today.

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