Week of January 11, 2017 Vol 47• No 52 • www.thechicagocitizen.com
PRESIDENT OBAMA BIDS AMERICA FAREWELL IN CHICAGO +P2
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SPECIAL MLK COMMEMORATIVE EDITION
MLK:
MILITANT OF THE 21ST CENTURY
By Lee A. Daniels
Rosa Parks with King, 1955. Photograph of White House.
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r. Martin Luther King, Jr. hasn’t been this alive since 1968. He’s no longer that visually distant, two-dimensional figure, limited to speaking a single sentence taken out of context and shorn of its true meaning. Instead, the honest scholarship and media commentary considering what King faced and what he did have broken through the obscuring fog of conservative, and yes, centrist, propaganda. In part, that’s because, today the confrontation between the forces of progress and the racist reaction to that progress is sharper than any time since the 1960s. Today, as in the 1960s, American society is grappling with elevating new groups of Americans to full citizenship. Today, as in the 1960s, it’s being forced to confront the meaning of its widespread poverty and joblessness, and its diminished educational opportunity. Today, as in the 1960s, Black Americans’ right to vote is under siege from conservatives, as are women’s reproductive rights. And today, as in the 1960s, the country is debating the extent of government’s responsibility to protect individuals’ access to opportunity. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s words and actions seem relevant again because they’ve always presented a challenge to the status quo and always urged individuals to live up to humanity’s best possibilities. That command has become particularly compelling again because of the remarkable juxtaposition of present-day developments. Speaking in the early 1990s, when the conservative political ascendancy was at its height, Rev. Hosea Williams, one of King’s lieutenants during the civil rights struggles, explained that “There is a definite effort on the part of America to change Martin Luther King, Jr. from what he was really about – to make him the Uncle Tom of the century. “ Williams insisted, “In my mind, he was > SEE MORE PAGE 3
Lyndon B. Johnson and Robert F. Kennedy with Civil Rights leaders, June 22, 1963.
Police mug shots of King following his arrest for protesting the treatment of blacks in Birmingham (Birmingham AL police department).
CALENDAR
NEWS
CELEBRATE MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.'S DAY OF SERVICE. MORE INSIDE MLK CALENDAR OF EVENTS +P8 +P2
JEMISON DELIVERS KEYNOTE ADDRESS CELEBRATING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF DR. KING +P2
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March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.
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1 Obama Bids America Farewell
Briefly A CONVERSATION ABOUT RACE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE WITH SYBRINA FULTON AND TRACY MARTIN, PARENTS OF TRAYVON MARTIN This February, the Chicago Humanities Festival, DuSable Museum of African American History, and the Chicago Urban League will present Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin, the mother and father of Trayvon Martin, for an intimate two-night discussion about the life of their son, the process of grieving in the national spotlight, their efforts to see justice served, and how they coped when justice was denied. “The Chicago Humanities Festival is pleased to welcome Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin for a discussion about the life of their son and what he has come to mean for so many people here in Chicago and across the country,” says Phillip Bahar, Executive Director of the Chicago Humanities Festival. “They have handled the tragedy of their son’s death with grace and we appreciate their willingness to share their unique wisdom.” Five years after Trayvon’s tragic death, his parents are touring the country with their memoir, Rest In Power: The Enduring Life of Trayvon Martin, a reflection on the personal tragedy behind their son’s death and the political transformations he — and they — inspired. One conversation will be held in the Loop at First United Methodist Church and another will be held at the DuSable Museum of African American History in Washington Park. A TalkBack and book signing will follow each program. Tickets are on sale now. For more information about the program and for tickets, visit dusablemuseum.org/events or call (773) 947-0600.
By Monique Smith
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he 44th and first African American president of the United States, Barack Hussein Obama gave his farewell speech to a maximum capacity crowd last night at the Hyatt McCormick Place, 2223 S. King Dr., in Chicago. The president’s legacy is one of mixed reviews but he began to remind the audience just what those real accomplishments were. “If I would have told you eight years ago that America would reverse the great recession, reboot our auto industry and unleash the longest stretch of job creation in our history, if I had told you that we would open up a new chapter with the Cuban people, shutdown Iran’s Nuclear weapons program without firing a single shot and take out the mastermind of 911, if I had told you we would win marriage equality and secure healthcare for another 20 million of our fellow citizens, you might have said we’ve set our sights a little too high, but that’s what we did. That what you did.” The president also talked about creating DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals), the legislative compromise to the immigration issue facing children who have been raised in this country but were brought here illegally and are undocumented. The crowd soon erupted and began chanting ‘four more years, four more years’, to which the president simply replied, “I can’t do that.” As the president spoke about the coming
Tuesday night Americans and many Chicagoans experienced the end of an era as the first black president of the United States said thank you and bid Americans farewell during his speech at the McCormick Place. Whitehouse.gov
days when the peaceful transition of power will take place and president-elect Donald Trump becomes the 45th President of the United States, President Obama said to the anti-Trump crowd, “Democracy does require a basic sense of solidarity but Democracy works only if our politics reflects the decency of our people.” President Obama spoke on the notion that his election meant we were living in a post-racial society. “Such a vision however well-intentioned was never realistic.”
The president encouraged both white and black Americans to understand the circumstances that form our different points of view with the understanding that the grievances on both sides have merit. He went on to speak about the unfair treatment of other minority groups by people who were once themselves were the victims of such biases. As he began to close his speech he took the time to acknowledge and thank his wife of 25 years, First Lady of the United States Michelle Obama. With a look of love and admiration on his face, near tears the president said, “You have made me proud and you have made the country proud.” He concluded by demanding that the people become more involved in the political process, be the change. “I’m asking you to not just believe in my ability to make change but yours”. In pointing out the many challenges Americans face, he said, “Our democracy is threatened when we take it for granted... all of us should work to rebuild our democratic institutions...we should be making it easier, not harder to vote. When trust in our institutions is low, we should insist on transparency....our constitution is a remarkable, beautiful gift, but it has no power on its own. We the people give it power with the choices we make.” “It falls on us to be jealous guardians of our democracy, he said, adding, “for all of our differences we share the same title – citizen, citizen...that’s what democracy demands. It demands you,” he said.
Jemison delivers keynote address celebrating the life and legacy of Dr. King By Safiyyah Muhammad Dr. Mae Jemison, astronaut, physician and science and technology advocate, will be the keynote speaker at Northwestern University’s 2017 commemoration of the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. Jemison will speak on both the Chicago and Evanston campuses. Dr. Jemison will deliver the keynote address at the University-wide MLK commemoration at 6 p.m. Monday, Jan. 23, at Pick-Staiger Concert Hall, 50 Arts Circle Dr. in Evanston. The annual program will include music and performances from Northwestern student groups. Jemison’s Chicago campus talk will take place at 12 p.m. Monday, Jan. 23, at Hughes Auditorium, 303 E. Superior St., during a program sponsored by Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and Northwestern Pritzker School of Law. Both events are free and open to the public. Born and raised on the South Side of Chicago where she attended Morgan Park High School, Mae Jemison broke barriers as the first woman of color in the world to go into space, serving six years as a NASA astronaut. She flew aboard the space shuttle Endeavour, STS-47 Spacelab J(apan) mission in September 1992
Mae C. Jemison at the Kennedy Space Center in January 1992. An astronaut, physician and science and technology advocate, Jemison will be the keynote speaker at Northwestern University’s 2017 commemoration of the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Photo by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
and was NASA’s first science mission specialist performing experiments in material science, life science and human adaptation to weightlessness.
Her consulting firm, The Jemison Group, integrates socio-cultural issues into the design and implementation of technology projects, such as the use of satellite technology for health care delivery in West Africa and solar dish engines for electricity generation in developing countries. A general practice doctor in Los Angeles, she earned bachelor’s degrees in chemical engineering and African- and Afro-American studies at Stanford University and earned her M.D. from Cornell University. Earlier in her career she worked as a Peace Corps medical officer with Cambodian refugees and with the Flying Doctors of East Africa. An advocate for science literacy, Jemison founded the nonprofits The Earth We Share, an international science camp for students aged 12 to 16, and TEWSSpace Race, a program to improve science achievement for Los Angeles-area students underserved and underrepresented in the sciences. She is the author of “Find Where the Wind Goes: Moments from My Life,” about growing up on the South Side of Chicago, her career aspirations and her history-making journey into space. Jemison currently leads 100 Year Starship,
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SPECIAL MLK COMMEMORATIVE EDITION
An astronaut, physician and science and technology advocate, Dr. Mae C. Jemison will be the keynote speaker at Northwestern University’s 2017 commemoration of the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Jemison delivers keynote address celebrating the life and legacy of Dr. King Continued from page 2
an initiative seed funded by the U.S. Department of Defense’s Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to assure the capability for human interstellar space travel to another star is possible within the next 100 years. She is also a member of the National Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Medicine, an inductee of the National Women’s Hall of Fame, the National Medical Association Hall of Fame and the Texas Science Hall of Fame. Among many honors, awards and honorary degrees, Jemison received the National Organization for Women’s Intrepid Award and the Kilby Science Award, according to a press release. "Dr. Jemison’s speech will revolve around her history and her background as a pioneer as the first African-American female to go into space. She will speak on her background in medicine and engineering, and talk about all of her accomplishments in the context of civil rights, social justice, and racial justice,” said Teresa Bratanch, Manager, Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion at Northwestern University. "We have a Martin Luther King (MLK) committee which selects our speakers each year. The committee thought that Dr. Jemison would be a wonderful speaker because of her history. She is an accomplished speaker, where she can speak to students, faculty, and staff on a variety of topics,” Bratanch said. "We see her as a pioneer, a visionary and just an extraordinary human being," said Bratanch commenting on Jemison. "She's not leaving aeronautics sciences in the background. She’s making sure that there are still advances and also ensuring that our youth become involved in aeronautic science," added Bratanch, commenting on Jemison's work revolving around the 100 Year Starship. Doors open 45 minutes before the start of the event. For more information about this and other MLK events at Northwestern University, please visit http://www.northwestern.edu/mlk/ evanston-program/speakers.html.
Dr. King
President Johnson signs the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Among the guests behind him is Martin Luther King.
King and Malcolm X, March 26
MLK: MILITANT OF THE 21ST CENTURY
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the militant of the century.” Williams was right, and King’s importance – his militancy – is still not completely understood today. He didn’t “make” the Civil Rights Movement. He wasn’t its operational leader or its major tactician. But he was its national and international spokesman – the man who, speaking in that rich baritone, could turn words into emotions that were otherwise inexpressible and into word-pictures that represented the entire tapestry of the centuries-long Black freedom struggle. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s 13year life on the national stage brilliantly represented the courage it took in those decades to challenge the seemingly overwhelming power of the South’s racist power structure. Far less acknowledged is the courage it took for King – after the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and his being awarded the 1964 Nobel Peace Prize – to resist the temptations of partial success and his own fame. Instead, King kept moving leftward, to confront the racial and economic injustice that had created and maintained the Black ghettos of the North, and the national hubris that had led America into the quagmire of war in Southeast Asia. For this he was pilloried by President Lyndon B. Johnson and much of the White liberal establishment, and a good portion of the civil rights and Black political establishment, too. His insistence that nonviolence was still a viable means of social change was ridiculed, as were his plans to stage a multiracial Poor Peoples March on Washington and involve himself in the bitter sanitation worker’s strike in Memphis, Tenn. But those difficult years were actually King’s finest hours. At the moment of his assassination, he was standing where he had begun his public life: with ordinary Black people who were being unjustly denied their human rights. King’s refusal to submit offers
a lesson to take to heart at this moment when conservative politicians and theorists are trying to restore inequality of opportunity as the law of the land. It tells us we should adopt King as The Militant of the 21st Century, too.
The civil rights march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, in 1965.
President Lyndon B. Johnson meets with King in the White House Cabinet Room, 1966.
The Lorraine Motel, where King was assassinated, is now the site of the National Civil Rights Museum.
Banner at the 2012 Republican National Convention depicts Martin Luther King, Jr., and the quotation: "Today Capitalism has outlived its usefulness." Photo by Liz Mc
Martin Luther King and Coretta Scott King's sarcophagus, Martin Luther King Jr. statue over located on the grounds of the Martin Luther King Jr. the west entrance of Westminster National Historic Site in Atlanta, Georgia. Abbey, installed in 1998.
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Dexter Avenue Baptist Church, where King ministered, was renamed Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church in 1978.
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Bringing our readers vital news on local and national business issues that impact the communities we serve. William Garth, Sr, CEO of the CItizen Newspaper Group, INC
FAIR LENDING TO BE CFPB’S
TOP PRIORITY IN 2017
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7 Vital Things You Need to Know about Facebook Advertising Founder of BusinessNET and leading Facebook advertising expert, Ben Simkin, knows a thing or two about making the most of the social media platform’s advertising service. In an article for Inc.com, Simkin gives entrepreneur and investor, John Rampton, his top 7 pieces of advice for budding Facebook advertisers looking to grow their businesses. Rampton’s Inc. article, titled ‘7 Things You Need to Know Before You Launch Facebook Ads’, draws heavily on Simkin’s expertise. He encourages business owners to: Trust that Facebook ads will work for your business. “It’s a misconception people tend to have [that Facebook ads won’t work] because they don’t realize the same people who are CEOs, housewives, blue and white collar workers, and consumers in general are all on Facebook,” says Simkin. Have a goal in mind. You need to have a clear understanding of the goals you hope to accomplish with your Facebook ads - the more specific you are with your goals, the more you can tailor your ads to help you reach your goals, and the more you can track your progress to make necessary tweaks to your ads. Take advantage of Facebook’s promotional tools. Use Facebooks tools like boosting your post, promoting your page, or sending people to your website – to make the most of your advertising budget. Know your KPIs. Once you know your Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) you can focus on your actual net profits. “You don’t want to get caught up
trying to drive down your cost per click to 10 cents if that means you are going to make less sales, or lower profit sales. So we keep metrics on our marketing on Facebook and we can often turn $1 into $20 once we have a campaign dialed in. For instance, just before Christmas in 2015 we ran a campaign, where we spent $15,491 on Facebook Advertising and generated $360,000 in sales,” says Simkin. Create a small target of potential customers. Do some research, look for individual publications and blogs your ideal customer will likely follow, and use this insight to focus in on what pages your customers likely follow. This is one of the most effective ways to ensure your ads are getting to the right people. Create rotating ads. Make sure you make at least three ads with the same targeted interests and the same goals. Rotate these ads within your given campaign. If you do this, it allows you to gather individual information on each ad you create. Make sure your split tests are statistically significant. Anytime you’re testing an ad or landing page, you should look for at least 1,000 unique experiences or impressions before jumping to conclusions about whether the page works or not. Simkin always emphasizes the importance of these tests. “When running a split test in your marketing,” he says, “you never want to act too quickly, as that will often mean you’ll never find a winning campaign. It’s always better to wait longer and spend that extra $50 to $100 to know for sure if you need to change your campaign than to cut it too early.
Cincinnati. An opposite outcome occurred in early December when 10 lawsuits filed by a group of Black businesses in Michigan were dismissed. As reported, the plaintiffs alleged that Mercantile Bank violated the Equal Credit Opportunity Act with practices and loan terms that resulted in diminished commercial lending. According to U.S. Judge Robert Homes Bell, the charges that alleged violations occurred from 2007 to 2009 were beyond the statutory limitation. The lawsuits were filed in 2013. “Three demographic factors affect your wealth: your race or ethnicity, how much education you have, and when you were born,” noted Lowell Ricketts, a senior analyst with the Center for Household Financial Stability, a program of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. “Wealth is distributed unequally across all three demographic categories.” Ricketts found that between 2004 and 2013, the median wealth of Black families fell by 55 percent. In 2013, the median Black family owned 8 cents for every dollar that the median white family owned. Another analysis, this one by the Economic Policy Institute, found that in 2015, Black workers were paid 26.2 percent less than their White peers. This column has and will continue to share consumer victories that diminish these and other disparities that consumers of color continue to face. But as Vanita Gupta, the head of the U.S. Justice Department recently noted, “success stories alone cannot erase systemic injustices. They cannot eradicate profound inequities.” “But they do give me faith in America’s capacity for progress,” she continued, “ – the notion that we can march forward, imperfectly but unyieldingly, to build a more inclusive, more just and more free union. And they give me hope that together we can advance the cause of justice.” Here’s hoping that in 2017 our nation’s public policies will continue the journey towards financial justice. Charlene Crowell is the deputy communications director with the Center for Responsible Lending. She can be reached at Charlene.crowell@responsiblelending.org.
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These enforcement actions have affected a wide range of lending areas from mortgages to student loans, auto finance and more. his year, fair lending will be the priority for the nation’s The cumulative clout of CFPB enforcements has also attracted consumer financial cop on the beat. Mortgage and united support among national civil rights groups. On December student loan servicing along with redlining and small 21, the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, business lending will be a triple-focus in 2017 for the NAACP, National Council of La Raza and the National Urban Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). League released a joint statement in support of the Bureau. “While the Bureau has taken important strides in our efforts “If the 2008 financial crisis showed us anything, it’s that to protect consumers from credit discrimination and broaden consumers need a strong and independent regulator to look after access to credit, we continue to identify new and emerging fair the interests of consumers. The civil rights community stands lending risks and we will monitor institutions for compliance,” said behind Director [Richard] Cordray as he continues to lead the Patrice Ficklin, CFPB’s associate CFPB in the fourth year of his fivedirector for fair lending. year tenure,” wrote the leaders. Specifically, CFPB will evaluate “Any effort to weaken the agency whether lenders have practiced one or undermine its leadership would risk or more of the following: severe impacts on our communities • Intentionally avoided lending – including communities of color and in minority neighborhoods; low-income families who are most • Whether racial or ethnic vulnerable to financial abuse,” the concerns affect how loan servicers leaders continued. work with borrowers who are Unfortunately, many behind on either a mortgage or communities of color that were student loan; and hardest hit financially during the • Whether discriminatory Great Recession are also targeted for practices affected access to credit Charlene Crowell says that CFPB has recovered more than discriminatory and predatory lending. for minority and women-owned Racial disparities in earnings and $11 billion for 27 million consumers who were harmed by businesses. illegal financial ploys. income are worsened by business For all consumers, CFPB’s practices and decisions that deny 2017 priorities are an encouraging consumers a chance to get ahead sign. But for Black, Latino and other consumers of color, financially. Hence, no one should be surprised to learn that many heightened fair lending enforcement could signal less predatory consumers of color struggle to attain financial stability. and discriminatory lending that robs people of their hard-earned For example, on December 28, the Department of Justice livings. With heightened monitoring and related enforcement announced a $9 million settlement to end a lawsuit alleging actions, lenders and creditors who violate fair lending laws will pay that Union Savings Bank and Guardian Savings Bank redlined a price, and consumers will hold on to more of their own money. predominantly Black neighborhoods in Indianapolis and three To date, CFPB has recovered more than $11 billion for 27 Ohio cities – Cincinnati, Columbus and Dayton. The two banks million consumers who were harmed by illegal financial ploys. share ownership and management from their joint base in
By Charlene Crowell (NNPA Newswire Columnist)
MONEY MATTERS Reverse Mortgages Can Be a Valuable Retirement Tool Today’s reverse mortgage has more uses than you may realize. In fact, many financial advisors are now recommending this loan to their older clients. Why? A reverse mortgage allows you to access a portion of your home equity and use the funds to pay off your current mortgage.* Any remaining money can be used for anything. The program has a variety of products to meet specific goals. The fixed rate loan allows you to receive a lump sum or monthly distributions. The purchase loan product allows you to purchase a home without a required monthly mortgage payment as long as you live there.* However, according to One Reverse Mortgage, a leading lender in the reverse mortgage industry since 2007, the most popular and beneficial loan option is the line of credit, which has the potential to grow in value over time. It’s a fact that people today are living longer; and studies show that many are not financially prepared for retirement. According to an article from Time Magazine, one in three Americans does not have any money saved for retirement.** The reverse mortgage line of credit addresses these concerns. It isn’t just for people who have an immediate need. It is even more beneficial as a retirement tool because the line of credit product can actually extend the life of your retirement savings and give you access to more money later. Another smart way to utilize it is to live off the proceeds to delay using other benefits to give them time to increase in value. The greatest feature of the reverse mortgage line of credit is that the available funds increase in value over time when left untouched. It can be a perfect safety net for future expenses - both planned and unexpected. For more information, visit www.onereversemortgage.com. NewsUSA
Be King. A new generation now holds the torch ignited by his dream. Comcast NBCUniversal celebrates Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day by saluting him and all of those who work together to love and serve one another and the world.
Personality rights and copyrights of Dr. King are used with the permission of The Estate of Martin Luther King, Jr., Inc. Represented by Greenlight. © 2017 Comcast. All rights reserved.
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How to Talk to Aging Parents about the Future
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revisited. However, both need to be updated (StatePoint) Parents care for and guide periodically, especially when major life children into adulthood. But as parents age, changes take place, like marriage, death or sometimes the roles are reversed. divorce. Establishing a plan will help everyone feel Ensure your parents have a will that’s more at ease about the years ahead. Here are been updated in the past five years. If not, four common concerns you may face with aging it should be revised to reflect their current parents and tips to manage each conversation. wishes. Establish who will be in charge of Plan Living Arrangements executing the details, and determine where Multi-level homes and complicated floor documents will be stored. plans can make everyday living difficult and Any updates to wills need to be reflected dangerous for seniors. However, convincing in life insurance policies, since beneficiaries parents to move into a more manageable home take precedence over whatever the will or assisted living may be tough. Suggest the specifies. Consider working with a trusted transition early, while parents are still active to advisor who offers both life insurance and help them ease into the idea. If they insist on retirement planning, such as an Erie Family staying put, consider homecare and installing Life insurance agent, to ensure parents and assistive equipment, like handrails. family members are covered for the future Focus on the Road every step of the way. Driving can be a sensitive topic because for Gather Financials many, it’s a key part of remaining independent. Finances need to be discussed -- from Take 90-year-old Vivian Cash who started driving in 1949. While always priding herself retirement planning, debt consolidation and on her safe driving -- in fact, she’s never had an payment to logistics like where important accident -- she recently pulled into her driveway documents are placed (digital and hard copies). and stopped too close to a telephone pole, Even if parents don’t want to divulge all their ultimately needing help moving her car. That was information, getting a general sense of the when she decided it was time to stop driving. situation will make things easier when decisions Establishing a plan with seniors will help everyone feel more at ease when discussing future “If I’m driving and I had a problem, I could need to be made. plans. Photo credit: Monkey Business Images - Getty. hurt someone or myself. It just isn’t worth it,” Help your parents create a list of bank, explained Cash. benefits, pension and other accounts, as well as Of course, not everyone will be willing to usernames and passwords. Keep this information When it is time for parents to stop driving, help them hang up their keys, so approach the topic before noticeable in a safe place, such as a fire-resistant safe. Know where items map out ways to get to all their activities. problems surface, such as with vision or dexterity, and agree like tax files, car titles and the key to the safe are kept. Update Important Documents to certain warning signs that might indicate it’s time to Aging isn’t easy. Address everything now to leave your Most people don’t like discussing wills and life rethink transportation. family at ease for the changes ahead. insurance. As a result, they’re often written and not
Tips to Curb Muscle Loss as You Age (StatePoint) As the population of Americans over age 55 soars toward 70 million over the next decade, more Americans are searching beyond avoiding wrinkles and fine lines for tips, foods and products that will help them live the lives they desire well into their advanced years -- and this includes muscle maintenance. As people age past 30, they can lose up to eight percent of their muscle mass each decade. Finding a way to maintain muscle through the years has been one of the more elusive parts of the healthy aging quest. “Muscle loss can really take its toll. Even simple movements like opening a jar of pickles or gardening, become more difficult,” said medical director of NYU Langone’s Preston Robert Tisch Center for Men’s Health, Dr. Steven Lamm. “When you have less muscle mass, the muscles you have must work harder. It can be exhausting.” Per Dr. Lamm, there are a few easy steps that can keep your muscles healthy as you age -- and new research shows there may even finally be a way to curb muscle loss associated with aging.
Be Active
One of the most effective ways to keep muscles in tip-top shape is to be active. Even quick exercises done regularly can make a huge difference in your muscle health. “Try the long route when you’re taking the dog for a walk or take the stairs
instead of the escalator. Staying active can also maintain joint health,” said Dr. Lamm.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day The First National Holiday Honoring an African American
Feed Your Muscles
Most people know that protein is a building block for muscle, yet don’t get enough of it. Sleep also feeds muscle growth and recovery. “I tell my patients to aim for a regular sleep schedule of eight or nine hours each night to promote optimal muscle mass, heart health and brain health,” said Dr. Lamm.
On this day, we too embody the Real Possibilities of making the world
Try a Supplement
You cannot halt aging, but new research shows you may be able to curb the muscle loss that comes with getting older. A new clinical study showed that daily supplementation with the super antioxidant, Pycnogenol (pic-noj-en-all), improved muscle function and endurance and reduced some of the symptoms accompanying muscle loss. “I’ve recommended Pycnogenol to my patients for years as a natural extract for healthy aging, and as an important building block of wellness. This research builds on those findings,” says Dr. Lamm. Pycnogenol is one of the most researched ingredients on the market, and decades of research demonstrate the benefits of this natural extract for cognitive support, joint health, and skin health that all contribute to an overall healthier self as we age. It’s available in more than 700 dietary supplements, multi-vitamins and health products worldwide. For more
a better place for us all. At AARP,® we are committed to uplifting and empowering future generations. Visit aarp.org/blackcommunity
Use simple steps that can keep your muscles healthy as you age. Photo Credit: Rido - Fotolia.com.
information, visit pycnogenol.com. Muscle maintenance is a key to healthy aging. Luckily, there are many steps you can take to prevent muscle loss and stay strong through the years.
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MLK Calendar of Events Events at the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change in Atlanta The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change in Atlanta will kick-off several upcoming events to commemorate the 2017 MLK holiday, according to the Center’s website. On Friday, Jan. 13, 2017, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. the King Center will host an intimate conversation and book signing with Dr. Bernice A. King and Rev. Dr. Barbara Reynolds for Coretta Scott King’s Memoir –My Life, My Love, My Legacy. The Center presents a black tie affair titled, “Salute to Greatness Awards Dinner 2017” at the Hyatt Regency, Saturday, January 14th 2017, beginning at 7:00 pm. On MLK Day, (January 16th) the King Center, Georgia Tech Center and others will discuss “Clearing the Path for Our Future,” (Sidewalk clean-up site located in unincorporated Clarkston Jolly Avenue Garden). The Annual MLK Commemorative Services will be held at Ebenezer Baptist Church, 101 Jackson St. NE, Monday, Jan. 16, 2017 at 10:00 am. Special guests: Father Michael L. Pfleger, and Senator Bernie Sanders. The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change in Atlanta will kick-off several upcoming events to commemorate the 2017 MLK holiday, according to the Center’s website. On Friday, Jan. 13, 2017, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. the King Center will host an intimate conversation and book signing with Dr. Bernice A. King and Rev. Dr. Barbara Reynolds for Coretta Scott King’s Memoir –My Life, My Love, My Legacy. The Center presents a black tie affair titled, “Salute to Greatness Awards Dinner 2017” at the Hyatt Regency, Saturday, January 14th 2017, beginning at 7:00 pm. On MLK Day, (January 16th) the King Center, Georgia Tech Center and others will discuss “Clearing the Path for Our Future,” (Sidewalk clean-up site located in unincorporated Clarkston Jolly Avenue Garden). The Annual MLK Commemorative Services will be held at Ebenezer Baptist Church, 101 Jackson St. NE, Monday, Jan. 16, 2017 at 10:00 am. Special guests: Father Michael L. Pfleger, and Senator Bernie Sanders.
LOCAL MLK EVENTS ANNUAL MLK DAY PRODUCTION INTRODUCES CHILDREN TO THE LESSONS LEARNED
Register Your Own MLK Event After a long struggle, legislation was signed in 1983 creating a federal holiday marking the birthday of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. In 1994, Congress designated the Martin Luther King Jr. Federal Holiday as a national day of service and charged the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) with leading this effort, according to CNCS’s website. Taking place each year on the third Monday in January, the MLK Day of Service is the only federal holiday observed as a national day of service – a “day on, not a day off.” The MLK Day of Service is a part of United We Serve, the President’s national call to service initiative. It calls for Americans from all walks of life to work together to provide solutions to society’s most pressing national problems. The MLK Day of Service empowers individuals, strengthens communities, bridges barriers, creates solutions to social problems, and moves society closer to Dr. King’s vision of a “Beloved Community.” Register your MLK event, find a volunteer opportunity or learn more by visiting https://www. nationalservice.gov/mlkday.
FROM THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT The Chicago Children’s Museum (CCM) will present four performances of ‘What Does It Mean, Dr. King?’ on Martin Luther King Day, Monday, January 16, 2017. This original production presents the history of the Civil Rights Movement and the complex issues of prejudice and equality in a way that children from preschool through elementary school will be able to comprehend. “Talking about the Civil Rights Movement, prejudice, and exclusion is an important family conversation,” said CCM President and CEO Jennifer Farrington. “Our production opens the door to manageable conversations for children to digest very grown-up topics like diversity, inclusion, and community.” Written by museum staff, ‘What Does It Mean, Dr. King?’ introduces the Civil Rights Movement to young visitors in an ageappropriate context. The play touches upon several key historical moments, including the
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SA’RAYAH To Appear at the DuSable Museum Theater Chicago, IL – Chicago Native, Sa’Rayah, NBC’s The Voice 2016 Finalist, performs a Homecoming Concert “A Dream Come True” on January 12th @ 8 PM at the DuSable Museum Theater, 740 E. 56th Place, Chicago, IL 60637 presented by The Current Production Company. Fellow contestants of NBC’s The Voice, Aaron Gibson and Jason Warrior are among other confirmed notables who will be in attendance of this amazing event. Aaron and Sa’Rayah will take the stage again to perform their #1 iTunes charted single by Joe Bonamassa and Beth Hart entitled “I’ll Take Care of You.” Chicago Native, Jason Warrior, also a season 11 contestant will be featured as an opening act for the show.
Megastars Alicia Keys and Miley Cyrus both lead the blooming artist throughout the six-time Emmy award winning reality show. Cyrus paired Sa’rayah with fellow voice contestant Aaron Gibson; the pairing proved to be a success. Their striking performance of Joe Bonamossa and Beth Hart’s, “I’ll Take Care Of You” landed them #1 on the iTunes Blues chart where they remained for weeks until Sa’rayah outdid herself. Under the direction of 14 time GRAMMY award winning artist Alicia Keys, Sa’rayah debuted her breathtaking rendition of Etta James’ “I’d Rather Go Blind” which immediately took over the number #1 slot, leaving both the duo and the legend herself Etta James beneath her on the blues charts.
Chicago Native, Sa’Rayah, NBC’s The Voice 2016 Finalist, performs a Homecoming Concert “A Dream Come True” on January 12th @ 8 PM at the DuSable Museum Theater.
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Montgomery bus boycott, the integration of a New Orleans elementary school, and the March on Washington. Children and adults are invited to identify with key figures of the Civil Rights Movement, like six-year-old Ruby Bridges and young Dr. King to understand the personal consequences of prejudice and exclusion. Following the performance, children are encouraged to write letters to Dr. King. Last year, young audience members wrote: “Thank you for leaving behind a better world for me.” “Thank you for inspiring people of all colors to hold hands.” “Thank you fighting for our rights peacefully.” “Thank you for being brave. I’ll keep this image of you in my mind always.” The performances are at 11 am, 1pm, 2pm, and 3pm with a run time of approximately 20 minutes. The seating is on a first come, first served basis. Tickets are included in museum admission ($14 for adults and children, $13 for seniors) and membership. For more information, contact 312-527-1000.
University of Chicago MLK Celebration Join the University of Chicago in honoring the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and reflect on the world’s collective responsibility to work towards a more equitable society. The event will take place on Monday, January 9, 2017 at 6 p.m. at the Rockefeller Memorial Chapel, 5850 South Woodlawn Avenue, Chicago, IL 60637. Bryan Stevenson, Executive Director of the Equal Justice Initiative and author of Just Mercy, will offer the keynote address. The program also features performances by the Chicago Children’s Choir. Free and open to the public. Doors open at 5:00pm, and the program starts at 6:00pm. American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation will be available. A community reception will be held in Ida Noyes Hall immediately following the celebration.
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Oakland Park, FL - When setting out to build the world’s first, affordable electric BMX in the USA, James Aversa had obstacles to overcome. The first was the making his innovative new bike affordable, the second was how the BMX community would react. In order to avoid the hefty price tags associated with the high-end electric bike market, Aversa turned to ProdecoTech®, the USA’s premier builder of electric bikes. “As part of our OEM program,” stated Robert Provost, CEO of ProdecoTech, “We’re building the electric BMX for Life EV™ and leveraging our vendor relationships to ensure the lowest possible prices.” While testing the electric BMX with pro riders at the 5050 Skate Park in NY, Mr. Aversa received positive feedback. For pro rider Dom Simoncini, it was love at first ride. “It feels really cool when you don’t even have to pedal and you’re just cruising, like ripping airs,” Simoncini said. “It’s fun. I like it. I think it’s pretty sick.” Pro Rider and YouTuber, Alex Whistance, AKA Big Boy, put the eBMX through some
really hard testing. “…I like the idea of it if you are a commuter, someone trying to get from work, especially in the city where we are,” Whistance said. BMX pro and vlogger Austin Augie considers it a great transportation option for the streets of Manhattan. “… it is insanely fun and you can get savage on it for sure,” said Augie. Some of the comments from BMXers on the LIFE EV Facebook page suggest that an electric bike makes riding too easy. However, Aversa is quick to point out that the bike is intended for commuting, travel and entertainment, not necessarily racing or BMX competitions. Recently, Aversa received an encouraging letter from a teenager who lost a leg to cancer and is anxiously awaiting the electric BMX. For the teenager, this ebike is a game changer because it looks exactly like a regular BMX bicycle and he can ride it alongside his friends without having to pedal or use it in a way that calls attention to his disability. Aversa plans to send one of the first electric BMX bikes off the production line to the young survivor without charge.
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irst Baptist Greenville has a storied history dating back to its 1831 founding by William Bullein Johnson who went on to become the first president of the Southern Baptist Convention. From humble beginnings, First Baptist emerged as the birthplace of institutions shaping theology, education, and politics in the region. The strength of the church led to the formation of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, one of the largest Christian seminaries in the world. Furman University, one of the oldest and most selective universities in the country, was also born under the church’s wing. First Baptist Greenville has quickly grown to a community of approximately 2,100. This is largely attributed to its progressive spirit - last year, the church made headlines by officially embracing LGBT equality, including ordination and marriage. The church continues to fortify its long history in the city with
membership that includes many of the professional, business, educational and civic leaders from the Greenville community. While worship services are traditional, the church realized there was a need to find creative ways to integrate technology in order to improve engagement with the increasingly tech-savvy congregation. Digital signage was an easy choice for the historic church. It’s a dynamic and eyecatching channel that does an excellent job of creating sustainable experiences that build engagement and unify the church. “Digital signage allows us to build a visual network within the church campus that engages our congregation, improves the efficiency with which we communicate and reduces operating costs,” said Bootie Cothran, the Media & Technology Manager. “We’re also able to reinforce the brand and our core message.” First Baptist Greenville had clearly defined objectives for the new digital
THEME: PATIENCE
Psalms 37:7-9 - Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.
If you have a calendar item or news event that you would like to include in the Citizen’s church news section, please submit your information to editorial@thechicagocitizen.com. You can also mail your information to: The Chicago Citizen Newspaper Inc., 8741 S. Greenwood Ave., Chicago,Illinois 60619, Attn: Church News
signage network. They needed a solution that would deliver dynamic and timely information throughout the facility. This would include announcements/ news, church events such as service times and mid-week opportunities, community events, new member photos and member milestones such as birthdays, anniversaries, and childbirth. They also needed a solution that would serve and add appeal to a growing and busy environment. This meant that the solution would need to handle highquality content and have features that simplify management. These include intuitive smart playlists, comprehensive scheduling, multi-user management and reporting. The solution also needed to be easily accessible, flexible and scalable. Most important, they needed a solution that would fit the available budget.
Each of these requirements was fulfilled by Mvix’s digital signage solution. “Mvix’s solution is very user-friendly. The rich content apps & widgets and the ability to manage communications from one flexible platform, which is web-based and can be accessed from anywhere, appealed to us a lot,” added
Bootie. The church signage displays are placed in common areas with high traffic, as well as the gym and rec center for health tips and motivational messaging. “ First Baptist Greenville is a pioneer institution that challenges churches to rethink how they worship and engage with their congregation,” said Mike Kilian, the Mvix Director of Business Development. “We’re very honored to provide a solution that empowers them to provide their members with the right information where, when and how they need it.”
CHARLES BEATTY SR. PUBLISHES NEW BOOK Published by New York Citybased Page Publishing, Charles Beatty, exercising the faith of Abraham, takes the reader on a journey to hear and to obey the Gospel of the Kingdom resulting in eternal salvation in his new book, “We All Got Off The Boat Together.” Readers can purchase a copy at bookstores everywhere or online at Apple iTunes store, Amazon Google Play or Barnes and Noble. Page Publishing is a traditional New York based fullservice publishing house that handles all of the intricacies involved in publishing its authors books, including distribution in the world’s largest retail outlets and royalty generation. For more information visit, www. pagepublishing.com
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Room for rent with full bath central air kitchen use laundry facility $400 per month Park Manor Grand Crossing area if interested please contact Ms Sibley at 312 208 8870 __________________________________
REAL ESTATE Available Commercial Warehouse and Furnish Office Space, located on the Southeast side 7738214000 __________________________________
LEGAL NOTICE North Carolina, Durham County. File No. 16CVD977 In the General Court of Justice, District Court Division Crystal Midgette Battle, Plaintiff, vs. Lorenza Battle Jr, Defendant. Notice of Service of Process by Publication. To: Lorenza Battle Jr. Take Note: That a pleading seeking relief against you has been filed in the General Court of Justice, District Court Division, by the plaintiff herein, the nature of which is as follows: Absolute divorce based upon one year's separation. You are required by law to make defense to such pleading within forty (40) days from the date of the first publication of this Notice. If you fail to do so, the plaintiff will seek the relief sought herein. __________________________________
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5 rooms 2 Bedrooms references is required + credit check heat is furnish $750. per month 1141 W. 106th. Call 708 7692585. __________________________________
WANTED Freon R12 WANTED: Certified buyer will pickup and pay CASH for cylinders of R12 freon. 3122919169 __________________________________ TRAINING/EDUCATION AIRLINE CAREERS FOR NEW YEAR BECOME AN AVIATION MAINTENANCE TECH. FAA APPROVED TRAINING. FINANCIAL AID IF QUALIFIED JOB PLACEMENT ASSISTANCE. CALL AIM 8004818312. __________________________________
Park Manor: Nr 71st King, 1 bdrm (4 rms), dec,, heat inc, $550 + 1 mth sec, cr check and ref required 7734885093 __________________________________ 7134 S Normal nice 2bdrm/1bth apt 1st floor carpet, appliances and hot water included,$665.mo. 3126835174 __________________________________ 7 room apartment w/4 bedrooms (not large bedrooms). 4 East 107th Street, $800. mo. + 1 mo. security, credit check and reference required. Contact: Gene 7734688624 Wednesday thru Saturday. __________________________________
AUCTION State of Illinois Surplus Property Online Auction Equipment, watches, boats, vehicles, knives, jewelry and much more iBid.illinois.gov __________________________________
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“I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: ‘We hold these truths to be selfevident: that all men are created equal.’ I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood. I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice. I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today.
Martin Luther King Jr. statue over the west entrance of Westminster Abbey, installed in 1998.
I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of interposition and nullification; one day right there in Alabama, little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers. I have a dream today.”