Hyde Park Citizen 3-17-2021 by CITIZEN NEWSPAPERS

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

Citizen Week of March 17, 2021

| Vol. 32 | No. 17 | www.citizennewspapergroup.com

HYDE PARK

Will the Rise of Remote Work Become a Permanent Pandemic Legacy? Page 4

Business owner uses fashion jewelry and brutal honesty to help heal emotional pain Page 5

Chicago Restaurant Week Returns In 2021 Page 7

Lola Omalola’s Female IN Facebook Group is meant to be a safe space for women from the Nigerian Diaspora to share their experiences with other women and create a sense of community and kindness. Photo provided by Lola Omalola

WOMAN CREATES GROUP TO ENGAGE WOMEN IN NIGERIAN DIASPORA Lola Omalola decided to create a Facebook group for women in the Nigerian Diaspora after young girls were kidnapped by armed guards in Chibok, Nigeria in 2015. PAGE 3

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2 | CITIZEN | Hyde Park | Week of March 17, 2021

NEWS briefly EDUCATION SNYDER APPLAUDS US CITIZENSHIP ACT OF 2021 The Association of American Universities President Barbara R. Snyder, recently applauded lawmakers for the US Citizenship Act of 2021, stating the Act “would provide long overdue, and desperately needed, reform of our nation’s immigration system. “We applaud Sen. Menendez and Rep. Sanchez for their leadership on this legislation and look forward to working with them as the legislation moves forward. The bill includes sweeping reforms such as an expedited pathway to citizenship for millions of undocumented immigrants, including Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients. The measure also contains provisions to: help clear employment-based visa backlogs; recapture unused visas; reduce visa wait times; provide green card access to doctoral STEM graduates; and allow qualified students to declare intent to stay in the United States after graduation. These protections and pathways help ensure that we retain the talent we train and are vital to ensuring that our nation stays at the forefront of global innovation and protecting our national security,” Snyder stated.

HEALTH

NO MAGIC PILLS: FOR NATIONAL NUTRITION MONTH® 2021, ACADEMY RECOMMENDS NUTRIENT-RICH FOODS FOR VITAMINS, MINERALS The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics recommends focusing on food to get the vitamins and minerals your body needs to stay healthy. In March, the Academy focuses attention on healthful eating through National Nutrition Month®. The Academy recommends obtaining nutrients primarily through food, because multivitamin and mineral supplements are not scientifically proven to prevent disease. They can benefit those who are unable to meet vitamin and mineral requirements through food or have been diagnosed with a deficiency, according to the Academy’s 2018 position paper “Micronutrient Supplementation.”

LAW & POLITICS

CHICAGO DEMS URGE USDA TO ADD CHICAGO AND COOK COUNTY TO URBAN AGRICULTURE PROGRAM U.S. Representative Bobby L. Rush (D-Ill.) and U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), along with U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) and U.S. Representatives Danny K. Davis (D-Ill.), Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), Mike Quigley (D-Ill.), Bill Foster (D-Ill.), Robin Kelly (D-Ill.), Brad Schneider (D-Ill.), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.), Sean Casten (D-Ill.), Jesús G. “Chuy” García (D-Ill.), and Maire Newman (D-Ill.), recently urged the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to increase the number of pilot Farm Service Agency (FSA)’s County Committees for its Urban Agriculture program in order to add Chicago and Cook County. The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 included dedicated resources and programs for urban agriculture and instructed the FSA to create a pilot of County Committees for Urban Agriculture in order to address long-term and ongoing inequities. Chicago and Cook County were not included in the first tranche of grants from the program. “We are proud that Chicago is home to a robust community of urban and peri-urban food producers, an ecosystem of partnering organizations, and supportive government officials committed to growing our urban agriculture economy. However, in order to maximize the potential of the growing industry, larger scale investment is needed,” the members wrote in a letter to Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. “Consequently, we urge you to increase the number of pilot FSA County Committees for Urban Agriculture in order to add Chicago and Cook County to the pilot areas. Chicagoland’s urban agriculture community — with its large number of producers, strong community partnerships, and supportive government officials — would provide a wealth of knowledge, resources, and ideas to the FSA and the USDA as they continue to build urban agriculture programs.”

New Alzheimer’s Association Report Examines Racial and Ethnic Attitudes on Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care Findings from two national surveys appearing in the Alzheimer’s Association 2021 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures report reveal that discrimination is a barrier to Alzheimer’s and dementia care. More than one-third of Black Americans (36%), and nearly one-fifth of Hispanic Americans (18%) and Asian Americans (19%), believes discrimination would be a barrier to receiving Alzheimer’s care. In addition, half or more of non-White caregivers say they have experienced discrimination when navigating health care settings for their care recipient. The 2021 Facts and Figures report provides an in-depth look at the latest national statistics on Alzheimer’s prevalence, incidence, mortality, costs of care and impact on caregivers. For the first time, the accompanying special report, “Race, Ethnicity and Alzheimer’s” examines perspectives and experiences of Asian, Black, Hispanic, Native and White Americans in regard to Alzheimer’s and dementia care. Findings in the report, reveal that non-White racial/ethnic populations expect and experience more barriers when accessing dementia care, have less trust in medical research and are less confident that they have access to health professionals who understand their ethnic and racial background and experiences. Among the findings: Two-thirds of Black Americans (66%) believe it is harder for them to get excellent care for Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias. Likewise, 2 in 5 Native Americans (40%) and Hispanic Americans (39%) believe their own race or ethnicity makes it harder to get care, as do onethird of Asian Americans (34%). Nearly two-thirds of Black Americans (62%) believe that medical research is biased against people of color — a view shared by substantial numbers of Asian Americans (45%), Native Americans (40%) and Hispanic Americans (36%) as well. Only half of Black Americans (53%) trust a future cure for Alzheimer’s will be shared equally regardless of race, color or ethnicity. Fewer than half of Black (48%) and Native Americans (47%) feel confident they have access to providers who understand their ethnic or racial background and experiences, and only about 3 in 5 Asian Americans (63%) and Hispanics (59%) likewise feel confident. “Despite ongoing efforts to address health and health care disparities in Alzheimer’s and dementia care, survey results show there is still a lot of work to be done,” said Carl V. Hill, Ph.D., MPH. chief diversity, equity and inclu-

sion officer, Alzheimer’s Association. “Clearly, discrimination, lack of diversity among health care professionals and mistrust in medical research create significant barriers to care and demand the country’s full attention.” Episodes of discrimination, however, extend beyond Alzheimer’s and dementia care, the Alzheimer’s Association surveys found that many non-White Americans say they have experienced discrimination in the broader health care system. Specifically: Half of Black Americans (50%) report they’ve experienced discrimination when seeking health care; more than 4 in 10 Native Americans (42%) and one-third of Asian Americans (34%) and Hispanic Americans (33%) likewise report having experienced health care discrimination. The experiences and views of discrimination expressed by respondents in both surveys are also reflected in their views on clinical trial participation. Black Americans have less interest in clinical research trials to prevent or slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. White Americans are most likely to express interest (82%), followed by Native Americans (81%), Hispanic Americans (78%), Asian Americans (73%) and lastly, Black Americans (67%). The most common reason cited for not participating in clinical trials among all racial/ethnic groups is not wanting to be a “guinea pig.” This sentiment was especially strong among Black Americans (69%). In addition almost half of Black Americans (45%) worry that treatments might cause sickness. They are also twice as likely as other groups to say they “don’t trust medical research.” And they are more than twice as likely as other racial or ethnic groups to say they “might not be treated fairly.” As noted in the 2021 Facts and Figures report, health and socioeconomic disparities and systemic racism contribute to increased Alzheimer’s and dementia risk in communities of color. According to the report, older Blacks and Hispanics are also disproportionately more likely to have Alzheimer’s and other dementias. In addition, both groups are more likely to have missed diagnoses than older Whites. “We must continue to accelerate efforts to engage more people from underrepresented populations in Alzheimer’s disease research and clinical trials,’ said Maria Carrillo, Ph.D., chief science officer, Alzheimer’s Association. “If trials do not include diverse participants, it is impossible to get a complete understanding of how racial and ethnic differences may affect the benefit and safety of potential treatments. Future

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clinical trial structures and recruitment efforts must lead to a better representation of the entire population, so everyone benefits from advances in Alzheimer’s and dementia research.” Impact of COVID-19 The report also examines the devastating impact the COVID-19 pandemic is having on people living with Alzheimer’s. According to the report, there were at least 42,000 more deaths from Alzheimer’s and other dementias in 2020 compared with averages over the previous five years — a 16% increase. The report highlights preliminary and anecdotal data indicating the COVID-19 pandemic is also having adverse effects on many family caregivers. It notes that pandemic-related caregiving challenges, including the shutdown of adult day care centers and the inability of families to visit or communicate with relatives in long-term care settings have caused “emotional distress and other negative outcomes among caregivers.” The Alzheimer’s Association and representatives from more than 30 countries have formed an international consortium to study the short- and long-term consequences of COVID-19 on the brain and nervous system in people at different ages, and from different genetic backgrounds. 2021 ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE FACTS AND FIGURES: AT A GLANCE Prevalence, Incidence and Mortality An estimated 6.2 million Americans age 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s dementia in 2021. More than 1 in 9 people (11.3%) age 65 and older has Alzheimer’s dementia. Two-thirds of Americans over age 65 with Alzheimer’s dementia (3.8 million) are women. Deaths due to Alzheimer’s between 2000 and 2019, has more than doubled, increasing 145%. 1 in 3 seniors dies with Alzheimer’s or another dementia. Caregiving In 2020, more than 11 million caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s or other dementias provided an estimated 15.3 billion hours of unpaid care, a contribution to the nation valued at $257 billion. Nearly half of all caregivers (48%) who provide help to older adults do so for someone with Alzheimer’s or another dementia. Approximately two-thirds of caregivers are women, and one-third of dementia caregivers are daughters. Forty-one percent of caregivers Continued on page 3

CITIZEN | Hyde Park | Week of March 17, 2021

NEWS

Woman creates group to engage women in Nigerian Diaspora Continued from page 1 BY TIA CAROL JONES

Lola Omalola decided to create a Facebook group for women in the Nigerian Diaspora after young girls were kidnapped by armed guards in Chibok, Nigeria in 2015. She said she realized something every time she watched the story on the news - that there was nothing being mentioned about the girls who were at the center of the event. “Not even the name of a single one of the girls was mentioned. I just couldn’t find anyone putting any character, placing a face, placing a story, of even one of close to 300 girls,” she said. “In a bigger story about terrorism, the girls had become a footnote. It was like they didn’t exist as humans, there was no life to them.” Omalola said it was easy for people to be upset the young women and girls were taken and to just forget about it. She said it directly led her to create the

group, Female IN. She said she wanted to find women who felt what she was feeling, that something was not right. Omalola said she went to Facebook, because everybody is on the social media platform. She said she was not expecting it to grow as much as it has grown in the last five years. It started out as a secret group, where you had to be a member to participate. She said, she added women who were passionate about issues related to women in Nigeria and the Diaspora. “I wanted to only find women who were close to me and see if they could add other women who were close to them,” she said. Omalola added that she had no expectation that the group would ever grow beyond including more than 1,000 members. “If we had only gotten 1,000 women in the group, I would’ve felt like I was extremely successful,” she said. “That would have been 1,000 women who were haunted by the same thing

I was haunted by because those girls could’ve been my daughters. Those girls could’ve been me, I was born in Lagos, Nigeria.” Omalola said she wasn’t expecting for the group to resonate with so many other women in the past five years, but the group has grown to more than 1.8 million members in more than 100 countries around the world. And, those women would have a story to tell, so the Female IN group provided a safe space for these women to tell their stories, she said. “It was the beginning of a movement where a lot of women were coming together to establish their existence in the world. If the news or new media or anyone was not telling our story, it was because we were not telling our own stories,” she said, adding, that it was how they were raised to not tell their stories. “From a very young age, whenever a girl shows any sign of self-aware-

ness – you want to talk, you have an opinion about something -- someone pinches and shushes you.” Omalola said she is not the only one creating a safe space for the women. She said it is something they are all doing together in the community. She said it is the only place a lot of them have had, in their entire lives, where someone will listen and someone will care. The women in the Female IN are called FINsters and they have a connection. And, there are FIN connect events that take place around the world. Omalola said there is a strong sense of connection, a strong sense of social consciousness. Omalola said she had an understanding that she had to create the right atmosphere and the right conditions for women to speak up. She said she created a culture of kindness, that she described as a “wave of kindness.” She said members notice it right

away. There are also rules, paramount above them is: do not judge. And, there is a clarity of purpose. Omalola has to remind the members why the community was created. She said she is constantly refining the message. “I’m always like, ‘hey guys, this is why we created this communitybecause we don’t have anywhere to tell our stories and when we don’t tell our stories, it’s like we don’t exist. And, look what happened to our sisters who got abducted’ … nobody was talking about them, even in global news about their lives,” she said. “We want to be better. We want to tell our stories, we want to be able to shape the world, to shape our families with our experiences.” Omalola said everyone who is able to, should create a community that has compassion and kindness at the center of it. She said she is very compassionate about community building, as it is our saving grace.

New Alzheimer’s Association Report Continued from page 2 have a household income of $50,000 or less.

groups say that caregiving is stressful, but nearly all (92%) say caregiving is rewarding as well.

Cost of Care In 2021, total payments for all individuals with Alzheimer’s or other dementias are estimated at $355 billion (not including unpaid caregiving). Medicare and Medicaid are expected to cover $239 billion or 67% of the total health care and long-term care payments for people with Alzheimer’s or other dementias. Out-of-pocket spending is expected to be $76 billion. Total payments for health care, long-term care and hospice care for people with Alzheimer’s and other dementias are projected to increase to more than $1.1 trillion in 2050. The total lifetime cost of care for someone with dementia is estimated at $373,527. Additional data from the report is included below. Full text of the 2021 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures report, including the accompanying special report, “Race, Ethnicity and Alzheimer’s in America,” can be viewed at alz.org/facts. Other Key Findings from “Race, Ethnicity and Alzheimer’s in America:” Concern about developing Alzheimer’s is lower among Native Americans (25%), Blacks (35%) and Hispanics (41%), especially when compared with Whites (48%). More than one-third of Native Americans (35%) and nearly 3 in 10 Hispanics (28%) do not believe they will live long enough to develop Alzheimer’s or another dementia. More than half of non-White Americans believe significant loss of memory or cognitive abilities is “a normal part of aging.” Hispanic, Black and Native Americans are twice as likely as Whites to say they would not see a doctor if experiencing thinking or memory problems. One in 5 Black (21%) and Hispanic Americans (20%) say they would feel insulted if a doctor suggested a cognitive assessment. Nearly 2 in 3 caregivers (64%) across all

Updated Alzheimer’s Statistics The Alzheimer’s Association Facts and Figures report also provides an annual look at the latest national statistics and information on Alzheimer’s prevalence, incidence, mortality and morbidity, costs of care and caregiving, both nationally and state-by-state. About 2021 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures The Alzheimer’s Association 2021 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures report is a comprehensive compilation of national statistics and information on Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. The report conveys the impact of Alzheimer’s on individuals, families, government and the nation’s health care system. Since its 2007 inaugural release, the report has become the preeminent source covering the broad spectrum of Alzheimer’s issues. The Facts and Figures report is an official publication of the Alzheimer’s Association. About the Survey Versta Research conducted two surveys on behalf of the Alzheimer’s Association: (1) U.S. adults and (2) current or recent caregivers of adults age 50 or older with cognitive issues. Respondents were asked about access to care and support services, trust in providers and the health care system, participation in clinical trials and research, and caregiver experiences. Surveys were conducted October 26 - November 11, 2020. Data was collected by NORC at the University of Chicago via the AmeriSpeak® panel. AmeriSpeak is a probability-based panel of all U.S. households. The survey included 945 White respondents. Oversamples of Hispanic (n=541), Black (n=515) and Asian Americans (n=412) were weighted back to their true population proportions for statistical analysis and reporting. For full inclusion of Native Americans, the same sur-

PRNewsfoto/Alzheimer’s Association

vey was administered to an additional sample of 406 Native Americans recruited through online (non-probability) panels with sampling stratified and data weighted on gender, age, income and

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education to match U.S. Census Bureau data. The surveys were offered in both English and Spanish. For complete details regarding survey methodology, see page 73 of the report.

4 | CITIZEN | Hyde Park | Week of March 17, 2021

BUSINESS

Companies’ Post-COVID Dilemma: Will the Rise of Remote Work Become a Permanent Pandemic Legacy? When COVID-19 suddenly forced millions of Americans to work from home (WFH), employees and employers alike feared confusion, dislocation, and lost productivity. Instead, remote work proved to be one of the rare pandemic experiments that nearly all agree has gone better than expected. A year on, as vaccines finally put a return to the office within sight, companies are rushing to decide where WFH fits as a permanent part of their postpandemic strategy. It’s a decision with immense ramifications, argues a new report from The Conference Board. COVID-19’s Biggest Legacy: Remote Work and Its Implications for the Postpandemic Labor Market in the US confirms the sea change in thinking that has taken place over the past year.

Before the pandemic, roughly 8% of workers with office jobs worked primarily from home. Conventional wisdom in most industries still held that workers would be less productive outside the office. Those fears failed to materialize, even as WFH rates soared. Companies, meanwhile, saw the longterm promise of remote work—from reduced spending on office space to massively expanding the talent pool available to hire from. But extrapolating these lessons to a postpandemic world requires caution. “Remote work worked in 2020, with workers and employers reporting increased productivity on recent surveys,” said Gad Levanon, vice president, labor markets at The Conference Board. “But 2020 was also a year like no other, full of stressors likely to drive employees to work

harder and longer. Whether remote work can be as effective in normal economic conditions remains to be seen. Leaders need to be armed with trusted in-house performance analytics—and a clear-eyed view on collaboration and culture—as they seek the optimal balance of remote work in the months and years ahead.” “Beyond its impact on individual organizations, the rise of remote work has the potential to transform the US economy and society as a whole,” said Dana Peterson, chief economist at The Conference Board. “If WFH trends hold, millions of workers may relocate over the next decade in search of lower living expenses and higher quality of life. As employees disperse beyond commuter zones, companies may find it increasingly difficult to reverse a decision to embrace remote work.”

WOMEN IN BUSINESS Working Daughters Deserve Support

NAPSI — For the approximate 23 million women who balance caring for an aging parent with going to work, and often raising children of their own, there is little recognition and not enough support. These women themselves often don’t think of what they do as caregiving; they just consider themselves dutiful daughters. Yet they average 24.4 hours of unpaid care a week, from buying groceries, to managing medication, helping with household chores, assisting their parents with bathing and dressing, and driving to appointments. Many are even providing complex medical tasks, with little or no training, such as administering injections, monitoring vital signs, caring for wounds or cleaning feeding tubes. Collectively, they provide $470 billion in unpaid care, according to the AARP. Often, these women provide this care at great cost to their careers. Working daughters, much like working mothers, may need to switch to a less demanding job, take time off or quit work altogether. They lose wages and job-related benefits costing them, on av-

When businesses support working daughters, it’s good for these women, their parents and the companies themselves.

WORKING DAUGHTERS NEED FLEXIBILITY, PAID FAMILY LEAVE POLICIES AND EXPANDING ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS. erage, $304,000 in lost wages and benefits while spending nearly 20 percent of their own income on caregiving. To give these unsung heroes recognition and much needed support, it’s important

to make the care they give compatible with their careers. With 10,000 people turning 65 every day in the United States, the caregiving workforce is only going to grow. Smart businesses must ex-

amine policies and corporate cultures to create environments where caregivers can thrive. Working daughters need flexibility, paid family leave policies and expanding eligibility requirements. They need affordable, quality eldercare options. Learn more at www. workingdaughter.com.

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GOBankingRates has all the answers for the most common tax questions to the most complex in their 2021 comprehensive tax guide.

GOBankingRates Launches Extensive Tax Guide to Aid Americans with Their 2020 Tax Season Believe it or not, the 2020 tax season is already upon us and GOBankingRates has answers for the most common tax questions to the most complex in their 2021 comprehensive tax guide. In addition, GOBankingRates has included a calculator that can help estimate your 2020 tax refund to give you an idea of how much money could be expected once 2021 tax returns are filed. Each April, Americans are required to file their tax returns for the previous year. 2020, which was a year unlike any other included not only a pandemic, but with a tumultuous election added into the mix. According to a press release, each of these historic occurrences had some sort of direct impact on your tax returns, so it’s now more important than ever to stay on top of any tax deductions and credits so you don’t miss out on opportunities for valuable tax refunds from the IRS and your state. According to a press release, it’s never a great idea to procrastinate when it comes to filing taxes, but this year, it’s especially important to get a head start as your tax situation may be more complicated than usual. Stimulus payments and unemployment compensation are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the potential complications to filing 2020 tax returns, but GOBankingRates’ tax guide is here to help readers file sooner rather than later. “Navigating through paying your taxes is always complicated, but the 2020 tax year took the difficulty to a new level. Many Americans lost jobs, changed jobs, received stimulus checks and/or went on unemployment for the first time. With so many people facing difficult circumstances with their finances and income, GOBankingRates has built a comprehensive tax guide to help Americans navigate all the various complexities of filing your taxes,” said Don Sena, vice president of content for GOBankingRates.com. “From legal ways to protect your money to the best tax apps and tax breaks for retirees and more, the GOBankingRates’ Tax Resource Center has all the information you need to navigate your taxes this year.”

CITIZEN | Hyde Park | Week of March 17, 2021

FASHION

Best Vitamins For Black Hair Vitamins are a great source of nutrients for Black hair. The strength, look and feel of “healthy hair” can define your overall look. It can also determine how you feel. While there are literally thousands of products that market to “healthy black hair” there are only a handful that have the proper ingredients to keep your hair healthy. And just like vitamins help your body, there are certain vitamins that specifically help your hair. Here is a shortlist of eight vitamins that you need to look for in your hair products: 1. Amino Acids These are the building blocks of protein and your hair follicles require a constant stream of amino acids for optimum hair growth. Eight amino acids are essential for humans, as the body cannot produce them by themselves, and they have to be supplied externally. These are isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan and valine. 2. Biotin: Biotin is a crucial vitamin for hair growth. In laboratory studies, people who were low

in Biotin experienced slower-than-normal hair and nail growth. Biotin is also water-soluble and supports healthy skin as well. 3. Inositol: This nutrient actually helps strengthen hair by ensuring that your hair follicles retain moisture. 4. Choline Your body actually makes choline in very small amounts, but you need more for hair growth. Choline works together with inositol to encourage hair growth. 5. Zinc An essential mineral for proper health and hair growth. It’s quite common for American women to suffer from low mineral levels of zinc. 6. Copper Another essential mineral, copper, aids in the production of collagen and elastin, which are crucial for healthy nails, skin and hair. 7. MSM MSM is a naturally occurring form of sulfur, which helps the body form keratin – a tough protein that strengthens hair and nails against harmful chemicals.

The strength, look and feel of “healthy hair” can define your overall look and determine how you feel.

8. Overall Diet Goes Beyond Vitamins for Your Hair While it’s not a vitamin per se, a healthy diet plays an important role in how healthy (or not) your hair is. Any product that you use topically on the skin and the scalp won’t achieve its best results unless you put good nutrition in your body.

Your body is one big organism, and your body’s system works together as an organism. So, remember whatever you put on your skin and in your hair isn’t going to work unless you can put it in your body too. The main reason anyone would not see ample results combining topical treatments and good nutrition is if they had other medical issues.

Business owner uses fashion jewelry and brutal honesty to help heal emotional pain

Kia Waters (pictured with The Glam Van) created EarringEverything.com to help women regain their confidence through fashionable finery that inspires women’s empowerment. Kia offers encouragement, inspiration, and support to those healing from emotional pain through her beauty and fashion brands.

What do earrings, eye lash extensions, and emotional growth all have in common? Emotional Support Advocate, Kia Waters, correlates the latest fashion trends with her weekly Web Series: Healing, Wine, & Storytime, a pillar of her EarringEverything brand. EarringEverything.com is an effervescent fashion jewelry brand in Atlanta, Georgia, created by military veteran, black-owned business owner, and Registered Nurse Kia Waters. Waters created the sparkling brand to help women regain their confidence through fashionable finery that inspires women’s empowerment. Besides the affordable pricing and Lifetime Warranty on her prismatic accessories, Waters aspirations pledge deeper than styling her shoppers. “Kia” as she prefers to be called, achieves this by offering an immersive experience into her life through her weekly web series “WATCH LIVE: Healing, Wine, & Storytime” streamed live on Instagram & Facebook. Her casual delivery and animated storytelling is creating major buzz, with both shoppers, fans, and the emotional support community. She reveals destructive stories about her life experiences, living through, and growing from personal tragedies designed to encourage, inspire, and uplift those healing from emotional pain. Following her confessionals, Kia reveals tips that she used to heal her psyche following turmoil and www.citizennewspapergroup.com

Kia Waters’ Glam Van Atlanta. On Instagram as @eeglamvan.

hopelessness. It is her raw emotional transparency that keeps her audience watching, relating, and using her tips to heal from their own emotional pain. Waters’ take-away with each show is “I was destroyed, now I’m an asteroid.” Making light of her rise from depression, and that now she is stronger than a fireball. Waters has created a “text family” where she personally releases inspirational voice notes throughout the week, via text, to uplift and support subscribers. This is also a two-way platform to speak directly with her via text. She also offers One-on-One Confidential Inspiration Sessions, where she listens, offers support and practical tips toward emotional healing and growth using specific actions. Recently, she has teamed up with August Snow, owner of Eminent 8

Hair Salon, to create StyL•I•Nfection. StyL•I•Nfection is an Atlanta-based, beauty sect, that consists of industry-leading professionals providing services during organized events. The stylists use The Glam Van of Atlanta (Waters’ state of the art Mobile Beauty Salon) to offer beauty services in outdoor settings. The beauty faction promotes self-care, self-esteem, and total wellness through beauty enhancement services. Their number one goal is to uplift, inspire, and increase the self-confidence of their clients. Connect with Waters at InfiniteWaters360.com to shop EarringEverything.com, to learn more about and to collaborate with her, and to watch Waters’ web series “WATCH LIVE: Healing, Wine, Storytime” Friday nights at 9pm. For booking, call 808.900.4151 or email Kia@infinitewaters360.com.

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Page:

NOT TO BE USED FOR COLOR APPROVAL ACD: A. Del Valle

CD: G. Apfelbach

CW: A. Walentin

P: C. Capola

AM: L. Mitchell

BM: E. Schmidt

CITIZEN | Hyde Park | Week of March 17, 2021

NEWS FOR 17 CONSECUTIVE, DININGPACKED DAYS, PARTICIPATING DINING ESTABLISHMENTS SHOWCASE SPECIALLY CURATED PRIX-FIXE MENUS WITH PRICES SET AT $25 FOR BRUNCH AND LUNCH, AND $39 AND/OR $55 FOR DINNER (EXCLUDING BEVERAGES, TAX AND GRATUITY).

Chicago Restaurant Week Returns In 2021 Choose Chicago recently announced the return of the highly anticipated, 14th annual Chicago Restaurant Week from Friday, March 19 to Sunday, April 4, 2021. Chicago Restaurant Week offers local food enthusiasts an opportunity to experience some of the city’s most highly sought restaurants. For 17 consecutive, dining-packed days, participating dining establishments showcase specially curated prix-fixe menus with prices set at $25 for brunch and lunch, and $39 and/or $55 for dinner (excluding beverages, tax and gratuity). Lending an ideal reason to explore Chicago’s nationally lauded culinary scene, diners can experience new, show-stopping restaurants and familiar favorites alike throughout the city’s vibrant communities. Accounting for the impact of COVID-19 on small businesses – and with support of the restaurant industry at heart – Choose Chicago has adjusted its program dates in 2021 and expanded its purview to accommodate both dine-in menus for restaurants with limited indoor and al fresco service as well as delivery and carry-out menus. This magnified program increases opportunities for restaurants to participate regardless of the availability of dine-in operations. Prices have also been slightly adjusted to augment revenue generation for restaurants during these challenging times.

TOGETHER, WE CAN POWER THROUGH ANYTHING.

In 2020, Chicago Restaurant Week featured a record-breaking number of restaurants, including more than 50 in the suburbs and over 80 first-time participants. Chicago Restaurant Week 2021 is sponsored by 100.3, 101.9, OpenTable, Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits, and Yelp. In an effort to support an industry in need, Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits is encouraging restaurants to offer wine and spirits beverage pairings on their prix fix menus. A special campaign from SGWS in partnership with the Illinois Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (IRAEF) Restaurant Employee Relief Fund, will help provide additional dollars for their one-time, cash grants to hospitality workers facing unforeseen financial strife as a result of the pandemic. Fans are encouraged to follow @ChooseChicago on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and tag #ChicagoRestaurantWeek. About Choose Chicago Choose Chicago is the official sales and marketing organization responsible for promoting Chicago as a global visitor and meetings destination, leveraging the city’s unmatched assets to ensure the economic vitality of the city and its member business community. Follow @ChooseChicago on Twitter and on Instagram @choosechicago. Like them on Facebook. For more, visit www. choosechicago.com. #ChicagoHome | #Only1Chicago

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A brighter future

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104581_QEXL1092000_V1 Leo Burnett

8 | CITIZEN | Hyde Park | Week of March 17, 2021

NEWS

March is National Ladder Safety Month The Illinois Department of Labor’s Illinois OSHA division joins safety officials across the country in promoting March as National Ladder Safety Month. Ladder safety is important both on the job site and at home as each year, approximately 500,000 people are injured and 300 people die in ladder-related injuries, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. “From the smallest step ladder to the tallest extension ladder, it is important to follow safety precautions to avoid being injured or worse,” said Director Michael Kleinik of the Illinois Department of Labor. The goal of the fifth annual Ladder Safety Month, which is sponsored by the American Ladder Institute, is to decrease the number of injuries and deaths caused by the misuse of ladders. With that goal in mind, the American Ladder Institute is offering a variety of training opportunities to help increase safety awareness and the proper choice and use of ladders. Each week of March will feature a different

LADDER SAFETY IS IMPORTANT BOTH ON THE JOB SITE AND AT HOME AS EACH YEAR APPROXIMATELY 500,000 PEOPLE ARE INJURED AND 300 PEOPLE DIE IN LADDER-RELATED INJURIES, emphasis on ladder training. • Week one: Choosing Your Ladder • Week two: Safety Before the First Step (Inspection and Set Up) • Week three: Safety While Climbing • Week four: Safety at the Top • Week five: Ladder Safety Misconceptions Free weekly Webinars on each, by industry, safety experts are being provided now. You can register here: https://www.laddersafetymonth.com/Participate/ Scheduled-Events Additional training is also available through the American Ladder Institute as well as the ability to earn a safety certificate after completing the training and a ladder safety test.

VIRTUAL

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The goal of the fifth annual Ladder Safety Month, which is sponsored by the American Ladder Institute, is to decrease the number of injuries and deaths caused by the misuse of ladders.

You can access the free training here: https:// www.laddersafetytraining.org/ For more information on IDOL’s Illinois

OSHA division, please visit their website at https://www2.illinois.gov/idol/Laws-Rules/ safety/Pages/default.aspx

Strive FOR EXCELLENCE

Virtual, In Person or Hybrid... your child’s success depends on you. As a parent, you have to be involved in your child’s education to make sure he or she has everything they need to succeed.

LEARN MORE AT WWW.NNPA.ORG/EDUCATION

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CITIZEN | Hyde Park | Week of March 17, 2021

NEWS

Africa Is Calling Her Children Home

The inspiring story of Africa and her children around the world, yesterday, today and tomorrow.

Her Excellency, Ambassador Arikana Chihombori-Quao, MD. FAAFP has released her debut book: “Africa 101: The Wake Up Call,” telling the story of Africa yesterday, today, and tomorrow… Africa 101: The Wake Up Call is an interactive book about the “hunters” and the “hunted.” The hunters are Africa’s exploiters, slavers, colonizers, and neo-colonizers, and the hunted are the African people who survived against severe odds. In this book, former African Union Ambassador to the United States Her Excellency, Ambassador Arikana Chihombori-Quao, MD. FAAFP tells the story of Africa combining a traditional oral style with her in-your-face approach. Although she served as a diplo-

mat, she says that being diplomatic about the real issues facing Africa will do us no good. She warns in this book that the hunt is still ongoing and calls on Africans and people of African descent all over the world to rise up in defense of our beloved continent. Using personal stories, her father’s accounts from the village of Chivu in Zimbabwe, and solid historical references, Her Excellency, Ambassador Arikana Chihombori-Quao, MD. FAAFP educates, motivates, and challenges the status quo with regard to western countries’ abuse of Africa. Africa 101 is not only an in-depth read about the history, struggles and background of colonialism in Africa, but it is also a hopeful, mind-altering business-centered recipe for mining,

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cultivating and retooling Africa’s greatest commodity - her people. This book is a treatise on changing the mindset of those who would continue on the road to destruction at Africa’s expense and re-educating those towards a new paradigm, one which is full of an abundant life for all by approaching the motherland on her own terms, with respect. Africa is now positioned to rise above the ashes, break the mental shackles of post-colonialism to emerge as a world leader in raw/natural resources of land and mind. See the Africa 101: The Wake Up Call Video at https://youtu.be/ CaijUix6cfc, the book is available at www.africa101.org, or in eBook through Amazon at https://amzn. to/38xzozj.

10 | CITIZEN | Hyde Park | Week of March 17, 2021

NEWS

PRNewsfoto/Operation HOPE

Delta Air Lines Teams Up With Operation HOPE to Support Employees Managing Their Financial Health Operation HOPE, an Atlanta-based national nonprofit focused on financial literacy and economic self-sufficiency, recently announced that Delta Air Lines is expanding its partnership with a commitment to serve their workforce in Delta hubs across the U.S. This expanded partnership will give employees resources that promote financial empowerment and inclusion. Operation HOPE’s Hope Inside the Workplace program specializes in credit and money management

and will bring a number of workshops to Delta people, as well as one-on-one debt counseling and financial coaching opportunities. Operation HOPE’s virtual coaching services will be available to the entire Delta workforce of 80,000 employees in key hub cities starting with the largest base – Atlanta. “We are excited that with this innovative collaboration, Delta will become our first-ever, national HOPE Inside the Workplace partner, offering comprehensive financial coaching as a standard

workplace wellbeing practice,” said Operation HOPE Founder, Chairman and CEO John Hope Bryant. “We commend Delta as it demonstrates its commitment to all the men and women who work for the airline. Helping its workforce plan ahead in good times and deal with bad ones is in all stakeholders’ interests, as Delta continues to invest in its employees.” “Operation HOPE is all about financial inclusion and empowerment,” said Delta’s E.V.P. and Chief People Officer, Joanne Smith.

“This new partnership follows a year of economic downturn caused by the global pandemic, as well as historic disparities and injustice. Delta is committed to taking care of and investing in financial health resources for our people.” Delta tested Operation HOPE’s services with a small group of employees in 2020, and participants saw an average credit score improvement of 30 points and average reduction in debt of more than $1,500. In December, Delta CEO Ed

Bastian hosted John Hope Bryant, founder, chairman, and CEO of Operation HOPE, in an employee town hall to share how his organization equips people with financial tools through programming and coaching. Delta is also partnering with Operation HOPE to support its One Million Black Business and Entrepreneur Initiative (1MBB) program, to support the development of 1 million new Black business owners and entrepreneurs by 2030.

COMMUNITY ENERGY CENTER

Prioritizing innovations, smart policies and pandemic recovery... that’s energy leadership! To learn more about how energy helps your community, visit CommunityEnergyCenter.org

The Community Energy Center, a cooperative with the National Newspaper Publishers Association and National Association of Hispanic Publications Media, will provide information and perspectives on the integral role of the energy sector in daily life for American families in a wide range of communities.

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CITIZEN | Hyde Park | Week of March 17, 2021

NEWS

Money Management for Kids Pays Off in Adulthood NewsUSA - When thinking about a gift for your children, think about a gift that lasts a lifetime -- financial literacy. The benefits of understanding finances at a young age will contribute to children’s economic success at all stages of life, so it is never too early to start teaching them about smart money management. “By providing our children with firsthand experience in earning, saving, and spending money, they are more likely to develop a savvy sensibility and the framework necessary to manage their personal finances as adults,” says Marguerita Cheng, CFP®, a certified financial planner professional and mom of three. The CFP Board, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting professional standards in personal financial planning, offers four important tips to help you teach kids about money: - Make money management a family affair. Get the whole family involved in financial planning. Talk to your kids about how they think

The benefits of understanding finances at a young age will contribute to children’s economic success at all stages of life.

money should be spent, such as saving for college, taking vacations, or dining out, and how to balance short-term indulgences and longterm financial planning goals.

- Model smart spending. Let your kids know how you spend and save on a daily basis. Take them to the grocery store and explain saving money with coupons and

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sales, and how monthly expenses such as Internet and phone bills, as well as water and electricity, are part of a household budget. Explain how turning off lights saves money,

as does making turkey soup for dinner with leftovers after Thanksgiving. - Let kids earn money. While not all parents approve of allowances, consider giving your child the opportunity to handle his or her own money, whether it is a regular allowance, small stipend, or money gifts from relatives for a birthday or special occasion. - Establish a savings plan. Open a savings account for children. Show them statements and explain how money grows. Older children can have access to accounts to make deposits and withdrawals for food, clothes, games, and activities with friends. Kids may make some mistakes, but avoid the urge to rescue them. One experience with an overdraft charge on an account can be a valuable lesson for a lifetime of smart money management. Visit letsmakeaplan.org today for more financial planning tips and guidance for your children or yourself, and to locate a certified financial planner in your area.

12 | CITIZEN | Hyde Park | Week of March 17, 2021

HOME

3 Hacks to Make Spring Cleaning a Breeze (StatePoint) Time for your annual spring clean? Make sure you’re equipped with the right tools and strategies. Here are a few cleaning hacks to help ensure a smooth and easy process. De-Clutter First Reducing clutter in your home means fewer objects to launder, dust and wipe down, and should be the first step of your spring clean. Start with dressers and closets. As the seasons change, you’ll likely be reorganizing them anyway in order to stow winter items away while making spring and summer garments readily accessible. As you do your seasonal swap, have bags and labels on-hand to sort items by what you are keeping, what you plan to donate, and what needs to be recycled or discarded. Use the same organizational method to pare down knickknacks, books and other odds and ends as you tackle pantries, shelving and more. Take this opportunity to wipe down shelving, particularly surface areas with food, dust and other residue build-up. Streamline Your Clean These days, disinfecting high-traffic areas of the home should be top of mind. However, it doesn’t have to be complicated. Streamline the task by selecting cleaning products that are safe for use on a wide variety of household surfaces, and can be used around kids and pets. Consider stocking your cleaning arsenal with an easy-to-use product such as ARM & HAMMER

Essentials Disinfecting Wipes, which kills cold and flu viruses, along with MRSA, strep, staph, E. coli, salmonella and kleb. Available in Lemon Orchard and Renewing Rain scents, these wipes provide citrus-based disinfection that clean without harsh chemicals, and are safe for use on stainless steel, sealed granite, finished hardwood, tubs, shower walls, toilet exteriors and hard nonporous surfaces of car interiors. To learn more, visit armandhammercleans.com. Use Household Items A true deep clean is not just about what meets the eye, it’s also about what meets the nose. Unfortunately, certain nooks and crannies of the home have a sneaky habit of odor build-up. Squash problem areas with a versatile, essential item you probably already have on hand -- baking soda. Place an opened box in your fridge to absorb unwanted odors, swapping it out every month or so. Do the same in pantries where food items like onions and garlic are stored in order to neutralize their strong smells. You might also try using ARM & HAMMER Garbage Disposal Cleaner, which are capsules containing baking soda. Leaving behind a citrus scent, they are a useful tool in combatting kitchen sink odors. A few essentials and some smart cleaning strategies is all you need to give your home some TLC this spring.

Affordable Tips for Spring Decorations and Celebrations

PHOTO SOURCE: (c) Svetlana-Cherruty / iStock via Getty Images Plus

(StatePoint) The arrival of spring brings with it warming temperatures, blooming flowers and endless springtime celebrations. It is also an opportunity to try something new, whether it is in the garden, kitchen or around the home. To help find the fun this season, the experts at Dollar General are offering some affordable spring tips and tricks for celebrating and decorating.

Decorations to Spring into the Season Celebrate spring holidays with extra flair around the home. From adding a colorful vase of flowers to the coffee table, a new wreath on the front door or new pastel-colored pillows for the couch, seasonal decorative touches can help provide a fresh look and pops of color to any home. Consider adding festive holiday-themed decorations too, like a centerpiece filled with plastic eggs on the dining room table. The Season of New Beginnings As they say, April showers bring May flowers. To celebrate the season of new beginnings, set some time aside to plan out thisseason’s garden with fresh flowers, as well as fruits and vegetables to enjoy all summer long. Spruce up your home’s outdoor spaces by painting flowerpots bright new colors and by adding new outdoor or solar lights. With longer days approaching, having the perfect outdoor oasis may invite everyone to spend more time outside. Try out a Seasonal Spring Recipe Spring can also be the perfect time to try out a new recipe, whether it is a new side, main dish or a sweet seasonal dessert. Get some inspiration from DG Easy Meals, which provides meal ideas that anyone in the family can try out, including “Better For You” recipes that offer healthier food choices using ingredients readily found at DG stores. Featured recipes include a BBQ chicken salad perfect for a spring cookout, an apple slaw with honey mustard vinaigrette to complement any weeknight dinner and pink bunny cupcakes that can be assembled as a tasty activity for kids. By freshening up home decor, creating a dreamy outdoor space or trying out the latest spring recipes, everyone can affordably find something to be excited for this spring. www.citizennewspapergroup.com

CITIZEN | Hyde Park | Week of March 17, 2021

CITIZEN On The Move

Stratford Christian Center Connect To The Community With A Pop Up Food Drive Photos by L.M. Warbington

Doing Good Deeds In The Neighborhood! Stratford Christian Center is located at 9152 S. Ashland Ave., Chicago, Illinois 60620

14 | CITIZEN | Hyde Park | Week of March 17, 2021

OP-ED

Fight For Women of Color Who Fight For Us By Ben Jealous President Joe Biden has nominated extraordinary women of color to high-level jobs in the Biden-Harris administration. Many of them are being attacked and smeared by the far right. That’s why People For the American Way has launched the #HerFightOurFight campaign. We cannot let far-right forces silence and smear these trailblazing women who are eager to advance the progressive values that Americans voted for when we put Joe Biden and Kamala Harris in the White House. Our first ad tells the story of Vanita Gupta, who has been nominated for associate attorney general. Gupta was a young civil rights lawyer in her first job after law school when she heard about a gross injustice in the small town of Tulia, Texas. Almost 40 people—nearly all of them Black— had been wrongly arrested, convicted by all-white juries, and jailed on bogus drug charges. It was a big percentage of the Black community in that town. It was devastating to the individuals and their families. And they saw little chance to get justice. But then Gupta, who was working for the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, took up their cause. She exposed the injustice and won their freedom. She even got them pardons from a Republican governor. Gupta has been fighting for equal justice ever since. She led the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division for part of the

Obama administration. And for the last few years she has led the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights. But right-wing groups are running a more than million-dollar ad campaign to smear her. And unprincipled politicians like Ted Cruz are attacking her over her civil rights work in the Obama administration. Our #HerFightOurFight ad is narrated by Shirley Sherrod, a former government official who lived through a dishonest smear campaign that twisted and distorted her words to try to destroy her career. She sees the same thing happening to Gupta and other brilliant women of color, and she’s speaking out. It is important to defend women like Vanita Gupta who are being unfairly attacked. But this campaign is about more than these specific women. It is about all of us. These women are ready to make change happen—the change we voted for. They represent the kind of inclusive multiracial and multiethnic society we are building together—and the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to building one of the most diverse governing teams in our nation’s history. I am sad to say it is not surprising that many of Biden’s nominees are being attacked by people who see that vision of our future as a threat. It is not surprising that the descendants of the Jim Crow south whose power is threatened by people of color turning out to vote are passing new laws to try to stop us. It is not surprising to see racism and sexism used as a political weapon. We know that progress is often met with backlash. Our long

march toward justice has sometimes been beaten back temporarily—on the blood-stained Edmund Pettus Bridge, in courtrooms where whiteness trumped justice, in state legislatures where the Constitution’s promise of equal justice was repeatedly betrayed, and in the U.S. Senate, where the filibuster was used to delay passage of civil rights laws. Time and again, we have overcome, often led by courageous Black women and other women of color whose leadership was frequently overlooked and overshadowed. Today, we fight for Vanita Gupta and Kristen Clarke, a brilliant Black woman nominated to head the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, and other brilliant women who are ready to help President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris fight for a country that comes closer to meeting our ideals of freedom, equality, justice, and opportunity for all. #HerFightOurFight. Ben Jealous serves as president of People For the American Way and People For the American Way Foundation. Jealous has decades of experience as a leader, coalition builder, campaigner for social justice and seasoned nonprofit executive. In 2008, he was chosen as the youngest-ever president and CEO of the NAACP. He is a graduate of Columbia University and Oxford, where he was a Rhodes Scholar, and he has taught at Princeton and the University of Pennsylvania.

NATIONAL NEWS

Nursing Homes Release Reform Agenda To Address Systemic Issues Facing Long Term Care Sector, Learn From On-Going Crisis Care For Our Seniors Act Aims To Improve Nursing Homes By Learning From Tragedy & Implementing Bold Solutions For The Future The American Health Care Association representing more than 14,000 nursing homes and other long term care facilities across the country that provide care to approximately five million people each year and LeadingAge, the association of more than 5,000 missiondriven aging services providers including nursing homes, today released a reform agenda, the Care For Our Seniors Act, to address long-standing challenges affecting the quality of care provided in America’s nursing homes. The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed and exacerbated systemic issues impacting the nursing home sector, such as workforce shortages, aging physical plants, and underfunded government reimbursements for care. Many of these issues were raised by AHCA, LeadingAge and other stakeholders for years prior to COVID but were never fully addressed by policymakers. Through the Care For Our Seniors Act, AHCA and LeadingAge are calling on lawmakers once again to help resolve systemic challenges, as well as reflecting on ways nursing home providers themselves can improve. “The pandemic has been an unprecedented tragedy with long term care facilities being at the epicenter of the crisis,” said Debbie Meade, chair of the board of directors of AHCA. “We have seen long-standing challenges exacerbated among our facilities

and without serious reform, we risk more • Structural: Modernize nursing homes crises in the future. The Care For Our Seniors by conducting a national study on how to shift Act pinpoints the biggest issues facing our to more private rooms, which promote resident industry and provides bold, transformative and privacy, autonomy and dignity, as well as meaningful solutions that can ensure support infection control best practices. something like the COVID-19 pandemic never AHCA and LeadingAge say reform will be happens again.” costly, but long overdue. The nursing home “The long term care system that serves our sector has been facing a financial crisis for years elderly has been too-long ignored in this due to low Medicaid reimbursements, the country. That is untenable and does not reflect primary coverage for nursing home residents. who we are as Americans. Now is an With providers dedicating extensive resources opportunity to fund what our country values,” in response to COVID and a significant drop in said Carol Silver Elliott, chair LeadingAge’s new residents moving in, the financial shortfalls board of directors, and president and CEO of have only worsened. Each policy proposal in Jewish Home Family. “Quality care that honors the Care for Our Seniors Act must include the dignity of each of us must be our top government resources, and AHCA and priority; ensuring consistent access and LeadingAge propose several interrelated delivery in safe environments must be our investment strategies to help reinvest in shared goal.” America’s nursing homes to ensure quality The Care For Our Seniors Act has four care, including: main reform principles with policy proposals 1. Enhanced Federal Medical Assistance in each of the key areas: Percentages (EFMAP): Increased federal • Clinical: Enhance the quality of care Medicaid funds are provided to states to pay for in nursing homes by developing clearer the mandatory nursing facility benefit, with standards for infection preventionists, requirements that additional federal funds be requiring that each nursing home have a used for nursing facility rates. registered nurse on-staff, 24 hours per day, and 2. Federal Framework for “Allowable requiring a minimum 30-day supply of Cost” or “Reasonable Cost”: Establish federal personal protective equipment in all nursing guidelines for state allowable cost definitions. homes. 3. Medicaid Rate Adequacy • Workforce: Strengthen and support Requirement: Medicaid rates are brought up to our frontline caregivers by implementing www.citizennewspapergroup.com

equal the cost of care and subsequently updated regularly to keep pace with increases in costs of care. 4. State Nursing Facility Value-Based Purchasing (VBP) Committee & Required Design Report: The state will be required to form and maintain a state health plan and nursing facility VBP committee with specific guidelines and deadlines to submit reports. This offers the potential for additional resources. “Congress should immediately enact these solutions to deliver the change our long term care systems needs right away,” said Katie Smith Sloan, president and CEO, LeadingAge. “To effect these changes, we need to professionalize the direct care workforce to attract more people to the field. The long-term care workforce is our most valuable asset and our most critical challenge.” “With a growing elderly population soon needing our services, the moment is now. We must pay tribute to all those who lost their lives to this vicious virus and resolve to bring forth a brighter future,” concluded Mark Parkinson, president and CEO of AHCA. “We have already seen what progress can be made when policymakers come together to make long term care residents a priority and through these reforms, we can significantly improve the quality of care for our current residents and generations to come.” To learn more about the Care For Our Seniors Act, please visit www.ahcancal.org/ solutions.

CITIZEN | Hyde Park | Week of March 17, 2021

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PRIVATE FOUNDATION ANNUAL NOTICE The annual report of the BENJAMIN F. & ERNESTINE BURTON FOUNDATION Is available at the address noted below, for inspection during normal business hours, by any Citizen who so requests within 180 days after the publication of this notice of its availability BENJI F. & ERNESTINE BURTON 15754 Chimney Rock Tr. Woodbridge, VA. 22193 Alice S. Walker, Pres. 708-363-4945. ____________________________________

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LEGAL NOTICE

4 Tips for Reducing Your Plastic Footprint at Home

(StatePoint) Plastic contributes to climate change and is a major pollutant, harming wildlife and people. With Earth Day around the corner, here are a few tips for reducing your plastic footprint at home that will also contribute to a healthier planet. Start a Garden From cartons of berries and tomatoes to individually-wrapped cucumbers, it can be difficult to avoid plastic in the produce aisle of your supermarket. By growing your favorite fruits, vegetables and herbs at home, you may avoid some of this waste and reduce your carbon footprint at the same time, as foods found in the store are often shipped from distant places. Keep Your Produce Green When you do have to grab a staple that’s not in your garden, bring some reusable produce bags with you. Check out this cute set from Food52’s shop: food52.com. Then, stick to the loose fruits and veggies not already wrapped in plastic. Green Your Hydration In the pursuit of having a constant source of great-tasting, healthy water at home, you may be stocking your fridge with bottled water. However, bottled water contains microplastics and is a significant part of the global plastic waste problem. To stay hydrated healthfully and sustainably, use a water filter pitcher. One great option is the LifeStraw Home Glass Water Filter Pitcher, which protects against over 30 contaminants, including bacteria, parasites, microplastics, lead, mercury and chemicals, including PFAS and chlorine. To shop or learn more, visit LifeStraw.com, Target.com, or CrateandBarrel.com. Rethink Garbage Collection Plastic garbage bags may seem necessary, but there are reusable alternatives available today that can help to drastically reduce your plastic waste. For example, Bagito makes durable, washable, water-resistant garbage can liners from 100 percent post-consumer recycled plastics. They are available in three sizes that are ideal for bathroom wastebaskets, kitchen-sized trash cans and outdoor yard debris bins. By doing your part to find sustainable alternatives to single-use plastic, you can reduce your contribution to a global environmental crisis right at home. ____________________________________

Notice is hereby given, pursuant to “An Act in relation to the use of an Assumed Business Name in the conduct or transaction of Business in the State,” as amended, that a certification was registered by the undersigned with the County Clerk of Cook County. Registration Number: Y21006079 on FEBRUARY 24, 2021. Under the Assumed Business Name of MAURESHPRECISECUTS INTERPRISES with the business located at: 7143 EAST END, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 6069. The true and real full names (s) and residence address of the owner (s) / partners (s) is: Owner/Partner Full Name Complete Address OMAR AKHIR BEY 7143 S. EAST END, CHICAGO, IL 60649, USA _______________________________________ NOTICE OF MECHANIC’S LIEN We are giving you notice of upcoming mechanic’s lien sale for a 2012 Buick Regal Vin 2G44N5EC9199439 owned by Lynnette Austin 19221 Elm Drive County Club Hills, Illinois 60478. Lien holder Nationwide CAC LLC 10255 W. Higgins Road, Suite 300, Rosemont Illinois 60018. And a 2016 Nissan Altima Vin# 1N4AL3AP6GC224462 owned by Kaneshia Morris 1640 W. 125th Street, Apt# 9, Calumet Park, Il 60827,Lien holder Prestige Financial SVCS P.O. BOX 26707, Salt Lake City Utah 84126. 2017 Ford Econoline Cutaway 1FDXE4FSXHDC16485 owned by Amber LLC Green, 5700 Carol Avenue, Morton Grove, Illinois 60053. Lien holder Ford Motor Credit Co. POB 105704 Atlanta GA 30345. This is an attempt to collect a debt of $5000.00 each owed on both cars and $7,000.00 for the truck for repairs and storage at Lightning Fast Inc. 17140 S. Cicero Ave. Sale WIll take Place Sat 4/10/2021 from 12 noon to 2:00 p.m. at Lightning Fast Inc. To avoid this sale please pay the balance owed. Contact Derek Banks at 708-227-4164. _______________________________________

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PUBLIC NOTICE

COMMUNITY How the USO Serves Our Military and Their Families (StatePoint) Since its founding in 1941, the USO has provided generations of service members and their families with crucial support. During that 80-year history, the world, the military and the needs of service members changed. The USO also adapted, adjusting and expanding its operations to help boost their morale and keep them connected to home. USO Centers USO centers have provided service members with a home away from home since World War II. Initially housed in churches, stores and other community centers across the U.S., the organization’s network of locations soon extended overseas, with centers popping up in Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Europe as military engagements shifted. USO airport lounges were added in the 1990s to give troops a place to relax during long travels, while Mobile USOs have brought support services to disaster sites and U.S. communities without a brick-and-mortar center since 2016. Entertainment It was during World War II that the USO created and established its legacy of entertainment through USO Camp Shows. Since then, the USO has teamed up with hundreds of movie and TV stars, comedians and professional athletes to produce concerts, meet-and-greets and other interactive events for service members. Many of these events are now offered online through the recently launched USO Military Virtual Programming to accommodate new health and safety measures. Staying Connected to Home Evolving modes of communication have also changed the way the USO helps service members connect with loved ones. Today’s USO centers are outfitted with phone rooms, computers and free Wi-Fi. Many also have cated video gaming spaces where service members can play with their spouses and children. New USO programs continue to focus on keeping families connected. The Bob Hope Legacy Reading Program, for example, allows service members to record themselves reading a bedtime story to their child and have that recording, as well as the book, shipped back home. Support for Military Families Over the past 20 years, the USO has added more entertainment and support programs for military spouses and children. USO Coffee Connections, for example, help military

spouses build personal and professional networks. The USO Special Delivery program provides both military spouses and service members with free baby showers. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the USO hosted more virtual and socially distant programs for the military community, ranging from drive-thru high school graduation ceremonies to virtual baking classes. Transitions to Civilian Life The USO has also launched support for service members and military spouses as they assimilate into their civilian communities after their military career. The USO Pathfinder Transition Program creates a customized action plan for each participant, assisting in everything from education to financial readiness to career advice. Visit USO.org to learn more about the organization’s evolution and how it supports today’s military. “The sacrifice of service members and their families requires that we rise to the challenge as we have done for the past 80 years and will continue to do for years to come,” says J.D. Crouch II, CEO and president of the USO. _______________________________________

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CHICAGO WEEKEND

Chicago Westside Communities, Austin and Garfield Park

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

16 | CITIZEN | Hyde Park | Week of March 17, 2021