Hyde Park Citizen 4-28-2021 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 April 28, 2021

| Vol. 32 | No. 23 | www.citizennewspapergroup.com

HYDE PARK

Kimberly Moore is the President and Founder of KDM Engineering, LLC. KDM Engineering, LLC, an engineering consulting firm, has benefitted from a partnership with ComEd and Exelon. Photos provided by Sofia Melgoza

Keisha Parker is the Director of Supplier Diversity at Exelon. Parker said Exelon is committed to ensuring the stakeholder, suppliers and vendors are representative of the communities it serves.

EXELON PARTNERS WITH DIVERSE BUSINESSES

IDOC Resumes In-Person Visitation for Incarcerated People and their Loved Ones

Wells Fargo Invests in Five Additional Black-Owned Banks

Redefining ‘Summer School’

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Serving The Black Community For Decades |

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NEWS briefly EDUCATION TWO HOPE FOR ADDICTION EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED TO STUDENTS BY RECOVERY CENTERS OF AMERICA Recovery Centers of America (“RCA”) has announced that two deserving students from diverse backgrounds have each been awarded a $1000 college scholarship for students recovering from addiction or affected by the addiction epidemic and who are pursuing a degree that will assist individuals and families struggling with addiction. Nearly 150 eligible students from all over the country applied for this year’s prestigious Recovery Centers of America Hope for Addiction Scholarships. The 2020-2021 RCA Hope for Addiction Scholarship winner is Danielle Caldwell, from Hillsboro, Oregon. Caldwell attends Purdue Global University and is majoring in Psychology with a focus on Addiction Studies. She is also taking classes to obtain licensure as a certified drug and alcohol counselor and hopes to earn a doctorate degree in clinical psychology when she enters graduate school. Caldwell battled addiction for decades and is now over five years into her recovery. The second Hope for Addiction Scholarship, the Recovery Centers of America/Mothers Against Prescription Drug Abuse Scholarship, was awarded to Pamela Launius from Bois D’ Arc, Missouri. Launius is pursuing an associate’s degree in Behavioral Health Support from Ozarks Technical Community College. She plans a career as a drug and alcohol counselor.

HEALTH

DR. GLORIA THOMAS ANDERSON BRINGS AWARENESS TO END-OF-LIFE DECISION MAKING DURING APRIL’S NATIONAL MINORITY HEALTH MONTH Advance Care Planning (ACP) expert and educator, Gloria Thomas Anderson, PhD, LMSW, is urging Black Americans to prepare advance healthcare documents in April—in recognition of National Minority Health Month (NMHM)—and shine light on the importance of formalized end-of-life healthcare decision-making. Many people aren’t aware of available end-of-life healthcare options until or unless presented with them in emergency situations when pressure is high and time is of the essence. Circumstances like this can create tension, leading to rush judgment calls and disagreements among family members and medical decisions being made without input from patients, who may be unable to speak for themselves. “We’d like to see more people having conversations about end-of-life care plans and emergency healthcare planning,” Dr. Anderson, who survived a sudden near-death experience just one year after writing her ACP resource book, stated. “It’s important to talk about it, and to get your paperwork in order while you can—before you have a need.”

LAW & POLITICS

IDOC RESUMES IN-PERSON VISITATION FOR INCARCERATED PEOPLE AND THEIR LOVED ONES The Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) is resuming in-person visitation at its correctional facilities, affording incarcerated people the opportunity to see their loved ones for the first time in more than a year. With most people in IDOC custody now vaccinated, the Department’s Office of Health Services and Operations Unit worked closely with the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) to develop a multi-phase plan for resuming in-person visits in the safest manner possible. To prevent the potential for COVID-19 infection spread, IDOC, after consultation with IDPH, suspended visitation on March 14, 2020. More information on the resumption of in-person visitation is available on the Department’s website at https:// www2.illinois.gov/idoc/facilities/Pages/VisitationRules.aspx

Exelon partners with diverse businesses Continued from page 1 BY TIA CAROL JONES

Kimberly Moore is the founder of KDM, an engineering and telecommunications firm in Streeterville. Moore has an electrical engineering degree and was employed with Exelon. The first thing KDM took on was Exelon work. Moore started off with Crown Castle supplying telecom work, and said it led to other telecom companies looking to do additional things. “We were really fortunate that we were able to establish a relationship with Crown Castle to start and that experience on our resume let other telecom companies know that, just like with Exelon, if you have Exelon on your resume, as being a prime, then other utilities and other companies are more apt to work with you, because they see you can handle that level of work,” Moore said. Moore, who is one example of how Exelon uses partnerships with local and diverse talent to help small businesses, credits the success of KDM to the mentor-

ship and opportunities she received from Exelon. At the head of this work is Keisha Parker, director of supplier diversity at Exelon. Parker said while Exelon is an energy provider in the nation, the company is also honored to be part of culturally rich communities in Philadelphia, Chicago, Baltimore and Washington, D.C. She added that year after year, Exelon has increased the percentage of products and services they receive from suppliers representing diverse businesses. “The reason we’ve seen that increase is because we’ve been consistently inclusive in how we are ensuring that when we have opportunities for contracting and bidding processes, that we’re really thoughtful on how we are bidding those and partnering with diverse businesses. And, not just diverse, but diverse businesses that are locally-based to the communities we serve is also a really important part of what we do,” she said. Parker said KDM, under Moore’s leadership, is an amazing partner for Exelon and ComEd. She said there’s a symbiotic

relationship between KDM and Exelon. “For us, it’s not just about finding a diverse partner, but we still want to make sure we’re maintaining the quality and safety we need for our customers. So, when you look at how KDM, fast forwarding to 2021, is still such a valuable partner for us, as an engineering firm that’s Chicago-based and diverse owned, it is really a testament to how not just ComEd and Exelon have grown over the years. We’ve grown as a company, KDM has grown as a company, we’re really viewed as a partnership because you have two companies who have grown together,” she said. Moore echoed Parker’s sentiments, adding that Exelon and ComEd have been a great partner for KDM. “They have definitely allowed us the room to grow and its very helpful because a lot of businesses don’t want to be your first client or your biggest client, but they looked a little bit beyond that and allowed us to continue working on their system and growing us, so that they weren’t our only big client and they weren’t [the] majority of our revenue,” she said.

COMMENTARY

D.C. Statehood is a Voting Rights Issue… and Racial Justice Issue BY BEN JEALOUS

Washington, D.C. has a higher percentage of Black residents than any state in the country, and they have no voting representation in Congress. This is systemic racism in action. It is long past time to give Washington’s 712,000 residents the representation they deserve by making D.C. our 51st state. It is shameful that people who live in the nation’s capital have no say in Congress. And it is unacceptable that local laws and budgets passed by D.C. elected officials can be overturned by members of Congress who decide to meddle in local decision-making. That explains why Washington, D.C.’s license plates include the slogan, “End taxation without representation,” a rallying cry by American colonists against the tyranny of British rule. The disenfranchisement of hundreds of thousands of D.C. residents is fundamentally un-American and there is no good reason to allow it to continue. There are bogus reasons to oppose statehood, and some Republicans in Congress have been trotting them out now that legislation to admit Washington, D.C. as a statehood bill is moving forward in Congress. Some claim that Washington, D.C. is too small to be a state. But D.C. has more residents than either Vermont or Wyoming. There are currently six states whose population is less than a million. D.C. pays more federal taxes than 21 states—and more federal taxes per person than any state. Some make the false claim that it would

require a constitutional amendment to make Washington, D.C. a state. Not true. The Constitution clearly gives Congress the authority to admit new states. That’s how every one of the 37 states that were not initially part of the U.S. have joined the country. The original District of Columbia was created out of land from Maryland and Virginia. In 1846, a good chunk of D.C. was returned to Virginia. No constitutional amendment was required then, and none is required now to admit Washington, D.C. as a new state. Some objections are so idiotic, frankly, that they must be a cover for pure partisanship or worse. In March, a Heritage Foundation legal fellow testifying before Congress said that D.C. residents shouldn’t get representation in Congress because they can already influence congressional debates by placing yard signs where members of Congress might see them on their way to work. One Republican congressman said (wrongly) that D.C. would be the only state without a car dealership. Another said that D.C. doesn’t have enough mining, agriculture, or manufacturing. Mitch McConnell said the plan to make D.C. a state was evidence of “full bore socialism on the march.” At least some Republicans are honest about their real reason for opposing statehood: they just don’t want to let D.C. voters elect Democratic officials who will support progressive policies supported by the majority of the American people. But that is not a principled position. None of the objections to D.C. statehood

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hold water, especially when weighed against the basic injustice of disenfranchising hundreds of thousands of people. Washingtonians have fought in every U.S. war. About 30,000 D.C. residents are veterans. But D.C.’s mayor does not even have the ability that governors have to mobilize its own National Guard—a fact that proved to be deadly during the Jan. 6 Capitol Insurrection. The bottom line in this: how can we hold ourselves out as a model of democracy when we are the only democratic country in the world that denies representation and self-governance to the people who live in its capital? We can’t. As the Biden administration recognized in announcing its support for D.C. statehood, it is long past time to correct this injustice. The House of Representatives voted on April 22, to admit Washington, D.C. as a state. Senate leaders must not allow filibuster rules or Republican resistance to prevent Congress from righting this wrong. 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.

CITIZEN | Hyde Park | Week of April 28, 2021

NEWS Man Who Set Fire to Chicago Police Vehicle During Civil Unrest Pleads Guilty In Federal Court

53 Years After MLK’s Assassination, Children of Civil Rights Icon Fight Voter Suppression BY STACY M. BROWN NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent @StacyBrownMedia

Fifty-three years after the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s death, the slain civil rights icon’s legacy is easily seen in how his daughter has continued to fight for many of the same causes. Bernice A. King joined the children of late civil rights champions the Rev. C.T. Vivian, and U.S. Rep. John Lewis, in blasting voter suppression laws that have cropped up since the 2020 election. In a letter, King, Al Vivian, and John-Miles Lewis took issue with corporate leaders who have done little or nothing to back up comments their businesses have made supporting racial equity. The trio said those corporations have “disrespected” their fathers. “Rather than sowing seeds to provide democracy the greatest chance to grow today and prevail tomorrow, legislators are attempting to transport us back to the shameful period of American history when mass voter suppression for communities of color was the law of the land,” King, Vivian, and Lewis, wrote. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, a Republican, signed into law legislation that imposes new ID requirements for mail-in voting and limits ballot drop box availability. The law also gives voters less time to request and return a mail-in ballot, and it prohibits anyone from giving food or water to those standing in line to cast their votes. The new law represents the state’s response to President Joe Biden’s victory in Georgia in November and Democratic Sens. Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff winning run-off elections in January. Coca-Cola, Delta Air Lines, Google, Apple, Microsoft, and others have either condemned the new voting restrictions or have issued social media statements expressing concern. Reportedly, when Delta Air Lines ended its association with the National Rifle Association, Republican lawmakers removed a tax break from their tax reform bill that would have saved the airline $40 million. But King said that should not frighten businesses from making the right choice. “Corporate leaders have the greatest influence in Washington and on our state legislators,” King told Forbes. “They pay lobbyists and invest in campaigns. They need to use their leverage—their lobbying leverage—on Capitol Hill and at the state level.” On the evening of April 4, 1968, an assassin’s bullet tore through

Bernice King, pictured in April 2007, has joined other children of late civil rights champions including the Rev. C.T. Vivian, and U.S. Rep. John Lewis, in blasting voter suppression laws that have cropped up since the 2020 election.

King while he stood on the balcony of his room at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee. King, who was 39, arrived in Memphis to support a sanitation workers’ strike. The civil rights leader had repeatedly expressed concern about economic inequality and went to Memphis because of how poorly the city treated African American sanitation workers. One night before he was killed, King delivered his final – some say prophetic – speech. “We’ve got some difficult days ahead,” the resolute King preached. “But it really doesn’t matter with me now, because I’ve been to the mountaintop … I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight that we, as a people, will get to the Promised Land.” The letter, authored, in part, by Bernice King, highlighted the icon’s statements about overcoming racism. “Evil cannot permanently organize. It bears within it seeds of its own destruction,” the letter states. The children of the three civil rights icons went on to state: “This belief undergirds our abiding faith in America, even as legislators in Georgia and 39 other states attempt to root our nation in the oppressive weeds of yesterday through a new generation of Jim Crow voting laws.”

A man recently admitted in federal court that he threw a lit firework into a Chicago Police vehicle during a period of civil unrest in downtown Chicago last May. Jacob Michael Fagundo, 23, of Chicago, pleaded guilty to one count of interfering with a law enforcement officer during the commission of a civil disorder. The charge is punishable by up to five years in federal prison. U.S. District Judge Robert W. Gettleman set sentencing for July 14, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. The guilty plea was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Kristen deTineo, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and David Brown, superintendent of the Chicago Police Department. The Chicago Fire Department provided valuable assistance. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney John D. Cooke. Fagundo admitted in a plea agreement that on the evening of May 30, 2020, he and other individuals approached the unoccupied CPD vehicle in a garage at 30 E. Kinzie St. in the city’s River North neighborhood. After Fagundo and the other individuals shattered the vehicle’s rear windshield, Fagundo lit a firework and threw it through the open window, the plea agreement states. The vehicle became engulfed in flames and the Chicago Fire Department was called to extinguish the blaze. CPD officers had parked the vehicle in the garage while engaged in their official duties during a period of civil disorder in the city. In addition to setting fire to the vehicle, Fagundo spray-painted another Chicago Police vehicle earlier in the day, the plea agreement states. Fagundo admitted that he bought the fireworks, lighter fluid, and other products a day earlier at a department store in Chicago so that he could bring them to the planned protests downtown.

$110 Million in Rebuild Illinois Funding for Public Ports Across Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) have announced $110 million in funding from the bipartisan Rebuild Illinois capital plan is available to improve public ports across the state of Illinois. The Department is seeking project proposals to improve public ports and help modernize and revitalize the state’s marine transportation system. Applications are due June 11 to be eligible for a total of $110 million in funding to be released later this year. All 19 public port districts in Illinois are eligible to apply. Appli-

cation information is available by visiting IDOT’s Illinois Long-Range Transportation Plan page. Awards are anticipated to be announced later this year. “Rebuild Illinois is about investing in the long-term economic success of our state – and our public ports are critical to ensuring Illinois remains an economic engine for the nation,” said Governor Pritzker. “Already, Illinois is a global hub for the nation’s commerce and transportation. This funding will allow the state’s ports to build on that status and further establish Illinois as a national hub for the shipping

and logistics industry while creating earning opportunities for local residents.” “Working together with our partners across the various modes of transportation leads to a stronger overall transportation system, creates jobs, improves quality of life and promotes economic opportunity,” said Acting Illinois Transportation Secretary Omer Osman. “Under Gov. Pritzker, IDOT is making smarter, more strategic decisions when planning and programming projects. These grants will serve as another smart investment in our communities.” www.citizennewspapergroup.com

The Port Facilities Capital Investment Grant Program coincides with the release of IDOT’s new Illinois Marine Transportation System Plan, which determined the state’s ports create $36 billion in economic activity annually and support 160,000 jobs. Grant proposals will be evaluated on their ability to advance the plan’s goals and objectives, which prioritize asset management performance-based decisions and projects that benefit disadvantaged or economically distressed areas. Passed in 2019, the historic and bipartisan Rebuild Illinois is investing

a total of $33.2 billion over six years into the state’s aging transportation system, creating jobs and promoting economic growth. Rebuild Illinois is not only the largest capital program in state history, but also the first one that touches all modes of transportation: roads and bridges, transit, waterways, freight and passenger rail, aviation, and bicycle and pedestrian accommodations. A total of $150 million is identified in Rebuild Illinois for the state’s ports, with $40 million already committed to a new inland port at the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio rivers in Cairo.

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BUSINESS

Leading Women’s Empowerment Brand BLACK GIRLS ROCK!® Joins Forces With Microsoft For A Multi-year Partnership Tech leader Microsoft and Beverly Bond, founder and CEO of the award-winning women’s empowerment, lifestyle, and philanthropic brand BLACK GIRLS ROCK!®, have announced a strategic partnership to build technology infrastructure and empower more Black girls to become leaders through access to culturally relevant programs, leadership development, and STEM skills. The goal of this alliance is to strengthen the transformative work of BLACK GIRLS ROCK!® with the technology and scale of the Microsoft’s ecosystem. “It’s remarkable to be championed by a towering institution like Microsoft to propel the work we’ve been doing at BLACK GIRLS ROCK!® to educate, empower and inspire the next generation,” said Beverly Bond. “This partnership gives BLACK GIRLS ROCK! the support necessary to expand our work to help more girls find their voices, define their truths, and forge the futures they envision.” BLACK GIRLS ROCK!® has been dedicated to inspiring, elevating and celebrating Black women and girls since 2006 through content, advocacy and events which elevate women’s voices and engage Black girls in critical conversations. The organization is committed to mentoring, enriching, and educating the next generation of young women leaders by giving girls the tools needed to develop leadership skills, refine critical thinking,

educate and inspire the next generation of innovators,” said Marcie Nymark, director of strategic partnerships for Microsoft. Microsoft continues to facilitate innovation and technology solutions with nonprofits and social entrepreneurs around the world, enabling them to drive greater impact for the causes and communities they serve. The company will bring a variety of resources, programs, and tech solutions to support three key initiatives:

BLACK GIRLS ROCK Book Club

and increase civic engagement. This new collaboration with Microsoft will enable the brand to scale and launch new programs designed to affirm Black girls and cultivate their leadership potential. “Microsoft shares BLACK GIRLS ROCK’s commitment to empowering women and girls. We also recognize the challenges facing women, especially Black women, are complex – no one organization can solve them all. That’s why we’re excited to partner with Beverly and BLACK GIRLS ROCK! to bring together our efforts to

BLACK GIRLS ROCK! Book Club The BGR! Book Club is a new initiative designed to promote community, empowerment, literacy and leadership. Each month, the book club will select an inspirational thought-provoking text to read and discuss. The author will participate in a live virtual interview conducted by a BLACK GIRLS ROCK!® alumna and powered by Microsoft Teams. Microsoft Store will host each book club event which will be followed by an interactive virtual workshop designed for students and inspired by the book’s core themes and motifs. BLACK GIRLS ROCK 15-year Anniversary Fundraising Gala - JUNE The BLACK GIRLS ROCK fundraising gala will be a core component of the 2021 BGRFEST! featuring a number of musical performances

including The Queen of Funk - Chaka Khan. Microsoft will be the presenting sponsor of the event and will be extending the fundraisers’ efforts through its Give with Bing program. BLACK GIRLS ROCK! will be featured through Give with Bing allowing fans and supporters to give to the nonprofit simply by searching. BLACK GIRLS LEAD Leadership Conference - JULY The BLACK GIRLS LEAD conference brings together teen girls to participate in workshops, panel discussions, and lectures led by world-class educators, artists, business moguls, scientists, entertainers and other influencers. Historically a weeklong, in-person event, demand for the BLACK GIRLS LEAD conference has always surpassed capacity. Powered by Microsoft Teams, the conference can scale exponentially, serving more girls and creating a connected community of youth leaders. The partnership officially kicked-off with the launch of the first BLACK GIRLS ROCK!® Book Club and workshop on April 14 and featured Bond’s book BLACK GIRLS ROCK! Owning Our Magic. Rocking Our Truth! It was facilitated by BLACK GIRLS ROCK alumna Kathie Duperval. For more information https://www.microsoft.com/inculture/black-girls-rock?ocid=AID3031648_QSG_524438

Wells Fargo Invests in Five Additional Black-Owned Banks Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) has announced equity investments in five African American Minority Depository Institutions, or MDIs, as part of its March 10, 2020, pledge to invest up to $50 million in Black-owned banks. As part of the equity capital investment, Wells Fargo is also offering access to a dedicated relationship team that can work with each MDI on financial, technological, and product development strategies to help each institution strengthen and grow. “The country’s MDIs are vital to minority communities, but over the last two decades, many have declined or have closed. The capital investment we are announcing is important, but it’s our relationship approach that will make the difference in their futures. We want to be a partner to these important institutions and, in turn, have a positive effect on local communities,” said William Daley, vice chairman of public affairs at Wells Fargo. The announcement includes investments in the following institutions: * Carver State Bank in Savannah, Georgia * Citizens Trust Bank in Atlanta, Georgia * First Independence Bank in Detroit, Michigan * Liberty Bank in New Orleans, Louisiana * Unity National Bank in Houston, Texas

These investments follow Wells Fargo’s Feb. 8, 2021, announcement regarding its investments in six African American MDIs and takes the company’s total investment to 11 MDIs to date. In addition, Wells Fargo will be making its nationwide ATM network available for customers of these 11 MDIs to use without incurring fees. “Guided by our founding principles to promote financial stability and equality for all communities, Citizens Trust Bank is proud to partner with Wells Fargo in expanding these efforts. The partnership enhances our ability to deploy more capital in our markets and beyond. We appreciate Wells Fargo for its commitment and alliance in providing solutions to the very important challenge of addressing inequalities that disproportionately impact communities of color,” said Cynthia N. Day, president and CEO of Citizens Trust Bank. Wells Fargo’s financial commitments are in the form of critical equity capital, which is foundational to the MDIs’ ability to expand lending and deposit-taking capacity in their communities. The investments, primarily non-voting positions, are designed to enable the banks to maintain their MDI status. Wells Fargo is also supporting each MDI’s development through a banking relationship in the form of a single touchpoint coverage model that will help them access Wells Fargo’s expertise and pursue strategic

priorities like entering new markets, expanding locations, designing new products, and hiring staff to support loan growth. External partners that assisted Wells Fargo include the National Bankers Association and Sullivan & Cromwell. External advisory committee members are Kim D. Saunders, president and CEO of NBA; Aron Betru, managing director of the Center for Financial Markets at Milken Institute; and John W. Rogers Jr., chairman, co-CEO, and CIO of Ariel Investments. Wells Fargo’s financial commitment complements additional initiatives that aim to serve all of its customers and communities: * On March 30, 2021, Wells Fargo closed on a $5 million patient capital loan to Hope Enterprise Corporation (HOPE), a 501(c)(3) and a certified Community Development Financial Institution that is dedicated to strengthening communities, building assets, and improving lives in the Delta and other economically distressed areas of the Deep South. HOPE plans to use the funds as secondary capital for its credit union, providing financial services to underserved markets and people in the Deep South. Based in Jackson, Mississippi, HOPE serves Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee * On March 25, 2021, Wells Fargo was one of several U.S. banks and payment technology companies named as investors in Greenwood, the digital www.citizennewspapergroup.com

banking platform for Black and Latino individuals and business owners, as part of Greenwood’s $40 million of Series A funding. Greenwood is partnering with FDIC-insured banks to give customers the ability to spend and save securely and will feature best-in-class online banking services, innovative ways to support minority-owned banks, and give-back programs focused on Black and Latino causes and businesses. * Wells Fargo was one of the first banks to sign the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency’s Project REACh MDI Pledge, which encourages banks to develop meaningful partnerships with MDIs to help them remain a vibrant part of the economic landscape and better promote fair, equal, and full access to financial products and services in their communities. * The company’s Open for Business Fund donates all gross processing fees it received from the Paycheck Protection Program in 2020 — approximately $420 million — to nonprofits helping small businesses navigate the pandemic, with an emphasis on small businesses owned by Black, African American, and other small business owners of color. * The Wells Fargo Diverse Community Capital program is a $175 million program with Community Development Financial Institutions, or CDFIs, to provide capital and technical assistance for diverse small business owners in the U.S. Approximately 75%

of awardees are led by leaders from underrepresented communities. The DCC program has enabled CDFIs to lend nearly $350 million to Black and African American small business owners across the country since the program launched in 2015, according to Opportunity Finance Network. * According to a press release, in the 10 years spanning 2009 to 2018, Wells Fargo was the No. 1 financier of home loans to African Americans and originated more mortgages to help Black home buyers purchase homes than the four other largest bank lenders combined. * In 2017, the company pledged to create 250,000 Black homeowners by 2027 through lending $60 billion for home purchases, increasing the diversity of the sales team, and supporting homebuyer education and counseling. In the first three years of the commitment, 60,527 African American homeowners have been created with $15.2 billion in financing. * Wells Fargo is donating $5.4 million in grants to 15 legal assistance organizations across the U.S. that work to keep people and families housed through services and advocacy efforts. This first-of-its-kind effort seeks to enable these nonprofit organizations to provide free or low-cost legal representation to people at risk of eviction. These organizations have track records of serving, on average, more than 60% people of color.

CITIZEN | Hyde Park | Week of April 28, 2021

Moving forward together

in Chicago

Over the past year, we’ve all been challenged in one way or another by this health crisis — physically, emotionally, financially. And while questions remain about what lies ahead, we know one thing for certain: The only way to move forward is together. To that end, Bank of America remains fully committed to supporting the health and economic recovery of our clients, communities and teammates. We know that small businesses, so critical to our local economy, have been greatly impacted. Through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), to date we’ve delivered 478,731* PPP loans — totaling nearly $34.5 billion* in funding — to help our clients continue to operate and pay their employees. Importantly, more than 99% of those loans went to companies with fewer than 100 employees. Partnering with local nonprofits, we’ve distributed more than 27 million masks for vulnerable populations as part of our ongoing efforts to address health-related disparities accelerated by the coronavirus. We’ve offered new and expanded benefits to help our employees balance family and work, including over 3.7 million days of back-up child and adult care. That’s an investment of more than $370 million in child and adult care reimbursement. I’m so proud of the way our community has come together to help those who need it most. And I’m certain that Chicago has the power to be stronger than ever as a result.

Helping Chicago move forward: • Delivered PPP funding to over 10,988 of our small business clients for more than $883 million in relief • Distributed 660,640 masks through our local partners including: – Alivio Medical Center – Children First Fund • Expanded benefits for our employees to include additional child and adult care services plus virtual medical and behavioral health consultations at no cost

Paul Lambert President, Bank of America Chicago

Go to bankofamerica.com/chicago to learn more about the work we are doing with our incredible partners.

6 | CITIZEN | Hyde Park | Week of April 28, 2021

NEWS

Art Institute of Chicago Announces Denise Gardner as Next Chairperson of Board of Trustees The Art Institute of Chicago recently announced the election of Denise Gardner as the organization’s new chairperson of the Board of Trustees. Gardner will succeed Robert M. Levy as the leader of the governing body of both the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) and the Art Institute of Chicago museum. Levy will remain on the board and Gardner will take over as chair when Levy’s term ends in November. “As we looked for a chair who could fit our needs in the coming years, Denise emerged as the clear leader,” said Art Institute of Chicago trustee Tom Pritzker, who led the nominating committee for the board. “Her vision for the Art Institute reflects our commitment to an inclusive understanding of human creativity.” With her professional background and a nearly 30-year relationship with the Art Institute as a volunteer and philanthropic leader, including 15 years as a trustee and five years in her current role as vice chair of the board, Gardner is uniquely positioned to advance the strategic vision of both

the museum and the school. Deeply invested in and knowledgeable about the Art Institute of Chicago, she has modeled support and advocacy for the museum and school by championing artists and the accessibility of art and art education for historically underrepresented audiences. She has built a personal collection of art that is internationally recognized and cultivated rich relationships with many artists and educators. “I am thrilled that Denise has agreed to take on this responsibility,” shared Levy. “Throughout my tenure as chair, she has been a thought partner and a valuable member of the executive committee. I look forward to supporting her vision as board chair.” Gardner built a career as a leader in her field: president of Insights & Opportunities, cofounder of Namaste Laboratories, and vice president of Soft Sheen Products. She has also been a civic leader, previously serving on the boards of The Chicago Community Trust, Chicago Public Library, and Chicago Humanities Festival and currently

holding positions on the boards of The Arts Club of Chicago and the Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation. “It’s an honor to accept this role,” said Gardner. “I am grateful to our current chair, Bob Levy, for his leadership, particularly as we navigated the uncertainty of the past year. I look forward to working with the institution’s leadership and staff to fully realize our aspiration of ensuring that people of all ages from throughout the Chicagoland area and beyond, particularly children, see the Art Institute of Chicago as a place where they are welcome and truly belong.” Gardner has experienced firsthand the benefits of making meaningful connections throughout the city. As a board member of The Chicago Community Trust, she served on its Strategic Planning Working Group and CEO Search Committee and chaired its Donor Relations and Civic Engagement Committee and African American Legacy Fund. She has rooted much of her philanthropic work in driving positive outcomes for

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Chicago youth, including expanding college access for Chicago students through the Denise and Gary Gardner Scholarship at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. “Denise is at the vanguard of making art and design education more inclusive,” said School of the Art Institute of Chicago President Elissa Tenny. “She is a transformational leader, drawing the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and museum closer to those we serve, while expanding who is in that audience. I’m looking forward to collaborating with her and the chair of SAIC’s board of governors, Anita Sinha, as we plan for the future.” Gardner has a longstanding commitment to access, diversity and equity in the arts. She has helped the museum craft impactful plans and programs to engage new audiences. She was the lead individual sponsor of the museum’s recent exhibition, Charles White: A Retrospective, and, over the years, she has funded numerous acquisitions for the Department of Prints and Drawings and the Depart-

ment of Modern and Contemporary Art. She has built a comprehensive collection predominantly composed of art by Black makers with a focus on women artists and encourages access and engagement by funding diverse exhibitions throughout the city and loaning works to shows throughout the U.S. She is a collector ambassador for SOUTH SOUTH, a global platform of galleries dedicated to promoting art from the Americas, South Asia, and Africa. As a member of the Black Trustees Alliance, Gardner is developing key relationships across institutions and playing a critical role in shaping the future of arts leadership throughout the country. “It has been my honor to partner with Denise for many years,” said James Rondeau, president and Eloise W. Martin director of the museum. “Denise’s multifaceted commitment to the arts and education combined with decades of corporate and civic leadership make her the ideal choice to lead the Art Institute forward.”

CITIZEN | Hyde Park | Week of April 28, 2021

NEWS Redefining ‘Summer School’: How Year-Round Learning Can Shape K-12 Education BY MEGAN O’REILLY PALEVICH, M.Ed.

(NAPSI)—Each day, as people across the country wake up and check their phones, turn on their morning news broadcast, or unfold their local papers, one clear message stares back at them: the COVID-19 pandemic is changing the trajectory of education. Fortunately, whether that change is for better or for worse can be decided by families and students themselves—and year-round learning is one trending approach that may be here to stay. Year-round learning is not a new concept in K-12 education and the benefits are noteworthy. Students who stay academically engaged over the summer can get ahead in challenging subject areas, explore or expand upon their interests and build the confidence that they need heading into a new school year. As the nation recovers from a global pandemic and the subsequent shockwaves it sent through the education system, these benefits are particularly compelling: many students need an opportunity to catch up, reengage or solidify critical skills that may have been jeopardized during the academic fallout of the COVID-19 crisis. Kelsey Lichtenstein, founder of Aspen Learning Lab in Los Angeles, Calif., has been serving families in Southern California and throughout the United States for nearly 20 years. Lichtenstein noticed widespread concerns about learning loss due to the pandemic but she is confident that summer learning opportunities can serve as one solution for many students and families.

“In some places students have not gone back to school in person yet,” Lichtenstein said. “As a result, many students need to catch up, or for younger students, get extra help building key foundational skills in reading and math.” Engaging students as they build those early skills in reading and math is paramount: they provide the foundation for the rest of a student’s academic career and shape them well into their adult lives. Lichtenstein says that the primary challenge for educators is generating that engagement in the first place, and finding a program with a wide variety of courses and engaging content is crucial to achieving that goal. “Engagement comes in many forms, and one of the ways we engage students is through content and connection. We have to ask ourselves, ‘How does this curriculum relate to real life? How does it connect?’,” Lichtenstein said. For students in middle school and high school, year-round learning can also help them overcome unique academic gaps. Angela Ling, 16, of Rockville, Md., is a junior at Laurel Springs School who enrolled in the school’s summer program because she had recently moved to the United States from Canada. The curricular differences between the two countries meant she was technically behind in the areas of science and math. “In Canada, science and math classes are taught generally, rather than by topics such as biology or calculus,” explained Ling. “As a result, in 10th grade, I was behind in a few courses in the U.S. curriculum. Thankfully, I had the ability to take

Honors Geometry and Honors Chemistry over the summer, and I caught up for 11th grade.” For other students, the opportunity to get ahead in their studies drew them to summer learning. Mia Hanflig, 16, of East Falmouth, Mass., is an emerging performing artist who aspires to become a professional dancer. Through her year-round approach to learning, Hanflig aims to graduate early. “I can work at my own pace and complete additional courses in the summer to get ahead before the next school year,” said Hanflig. “By taking summer classes, I have the potential to graduate early while still finishing all the mandatory credits. The extra time I have gained from being a student at Laurel Springs let me more easily attend prestigious intensives and competitions furthering my performance experiences in preparation for a career. ” Encouraging students like Hanflig to pursue their passions and interests is a cornerstone of Laurel Springs’ philosophy and another unique benefit of year-round learning as a whole: exploring new subject areas, especially through electives. “We are always trying to spark curiosity and foster discovery, which is a huge benefit of learning over the summer,” said Lichtenstein. “It provides students with opportunities to explore other subjects and interests that they might not be exposed to during the traditional school year, keeping things fresh in their minds, engaging them in their learning and encouraging discovery, which are all very important. It doesn’t necessarily have to be geometry or physical science: There are

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other ways to stay academically engaged and continue learning, and that’s what I’d like to inspire in students.” As year-round learning becomes a more common practice following the pandemic, students may also find it helps them foster self-advocacy and important social-emotional skills that will help them both in school and in their professional lives. Olivia Manson, 14, of Chicago, Ill., says: “Online school allowed me to grow more independent and responsible for my work ethic and the accelerated summer courses I took last year helped me with time management. By making my own decisions, I feel a great sense of achievement.” Incorporating summer courses into the larger picture of K-12 education should no longer be seen as a punishment or remediation effort but as an opportunity to stay academically engaged without sacrificing the rest, relaxation and recreation that normally accompanies the summer season. With a strong foothold in their coursework and ownership of their learning as they venture into the next grade level, students may find that learning beyond the traditional school year will let them adapt to, and advance in, a swiftly changing educational landscape. Megan O’Reilly Palevich, M.Ed., is head of school at Laurel Springs School. She is an award-winning educator, administrator, and thought leader with more than 25 years of experience in public and private PreK-12 education.

8 | CITIZEN | Hyde Park | Week of April 28, 2021

ENTERTAINMENT Terron Brooks Releases New Single “Tomorrow” Available May 7 Terron Brooks, two-time NAACP Award nominated singer-songwriter, actor and writer recently announced the release of his new inspirational single “Tomorrow,” available for download May 7. The beloved anthem from Annie, written by Charles Strouse and Martin Charnin, comes as the world heals and looks ahead. “Today we are on the verge of coming out of a dark, uncertain time. ‘Tomorrow’ is a song that epitomizes hope. Hopefully, listeners experience a fresh take on an iconic song, and they will journey with me as the sun

shines again,” Brooks says. “Tomorrow” is the first single from Brooks’ forthcoming album The Soul of Broadway from Mercia Records with distribution through SONY MUSIC/The Orchard Internationally. Due this fall, the album reimagines Broadway songs, taking them out of the theater and bringing them to new audiences for everyday life. The album’s title comes from the critically acclaimed concert production co-created by and starring Brooks. In addition to new music, on May 18, Brooks is launching

his podcast, Honest Answers, which he calls a “space for discovery and inspiration.” “I wanted to create a platform where my guests, who are creative forces in the world, could have an opportunity to reveal parts of their story they never shared before,” Brooks says. “I believe we are strongest when we are honest.” Throughout his career, Brooks has traveled all over the world, performing with Phil Collins, Matthew Morrison and national symphony orchestras. He is widely recognized for his critically acclaimed role as the

great Eddie Kendricks in the Emmy Award-winning NBC mini-series The Temptations. On stage, Brooks received an Ovation Award nomination for his role in Sweet Charity. He also delighted audiences on Broadway in Disney’s The Lion King and Hairspray. With the innate need to give back and motivate, he released his first book, Something GoOD on the Table: Practical Proverbs for the Soul in 2018. While Brooks celebrates and honors his past accomplishments, his focus is on creating new art and inspiration for “Tomorrow.”

HONEST ANSWERS WITH TERRON BROOKS Guests include: Rhona Bennett (En Vogue) Melinda Doolittle (American Idol) Stephanie J. Block (Tony Winner) Michael Swanson (Emmy Award Winning Studio Executive NBCUniversal) Shoshana Bean (Recording Artist/Broadway Star) LEON (TV’s The Temptations, The Five Heartbeats, Waiting to Exhale) Matt Cusson (Award Winning

“Tomorrow” Cover Art available for download everywhere on May 7th, 2021.

Singer/Songwriter) Crystal Lewis (3x Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter) TERRON BROOKS Instagram: terronbrooks Twitter: @terronbrooks terronbrooksofficial.com

COMMENTARY: Life After the Village: Tales from an Ex-Village People Cop What’s on Miles’ Mind? By Miles Jaye, For Texas Metro News & Garland Journal

Until you’ve reached the chapter called The End, there is always a next chapter to your life story. Many people get so caught up in the automation of their day-to-day existence as one thing or another, a schoolteacher, an accountant, a nurse, or physician, that they fail

to consider what may come next. It’s as though that vocation, career, or profession you chose in your twenties may last forever. Nothing could be further from the truth. Only a debilitating illness, accident or death itself can preclude a next chapter in your life story. That is why retirement comes with such a devastating blow, for so many of us. This is a tale of the chapters fol-

lowing my years with a group known as the Village People. I was the “Cop” and lead singer from 1982-1984. To be clear and accurate, I was the third Village People “Cop” after Victor Willis, the original and composer of many of the group’s biggest hits, and Ray Simpson, Victor’s replacement and younger brother of hit singer/ songwriter Valerie Simpson of Ashford and Simpson fame.

Red Line Extension Virtual Community Meetings: Wednesday, May 5 (2:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.) and Thursday, May 6 (6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.) The CTA is hosting two identical virtual meetings to get your feedback on the draft vision statements developed with guidance from the community for the areas around the new stations! The project team will share what we learned from the community at the four station area meetings earlier this year and community members are encouraged to provide their feedback. The meetings will also include a planning exercise to brainstorm different types of potential future development near each station. The same information will be presented at both meetings, so please attend the one that works best for you. For more information about the TSD Plan, please visit transitchicago.com/RLE/TSD. For questions about the RLE Project and/or the TSD Plan, please contact the project team at RedExtension@transitchicago.com.

Registration is required to attend meetings. Please register at: transitchicago.com/RLE/engage. Attendees will receive information to join via Zoom or telephone. If you require assistance to register, call us at 1-888-968-7282 at least three [3] days before the meeting you plan to attend. You can also watch live on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/CTARedExt. **Presentation audio available in Spanish if joining through Zoom only. Closed captioning and sign language interpretation are also available on Zoom for participants who are Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing.** After the meeting, the meeting recording and presentation will be posted online at transitchicago.com/RLE/TSD Do you require a reasonable accommodation? Sign language interpreters and captioning will be available during the virtual presentations via Zoom only. If you require other reasonable accommodations to participate, please contact Amy Serpe, ADA Compliance Programs Manager, by Tuesday, April 27 at 1-312-350-2301 or aserpe@transitchicago.com.

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I was a new kid on the block. It wasn’t long after a 5-year stint in the U.S. Air Force and a year or two of surfing the New York jazz club scene and Europe’s jazz festivals that a musician buddy of mine, Bashiri Johnson, Michael Jackson’s percussionist, turned me on to an audition for a group looking for a new lead singer. As much as I hated auditions… I was game. I had a wife, a young son, and a daughter on the way for motivation, so I went, not knowing it was for the Village People. I was the most unlikely candidate for the VP gig and, to this day, I don’t know if I would have even gone to the audition had I known what it was all about. I always thought of myself as a jazz guy. My father and brother were jazz men. They both played sax. I was a classically trained violinist, so I had a classical head, but a heart for jazz. I grew up listening to my brother’s Trane, Miles, Bird, and Monk albums. My sister’s love was R&B. She actually took me to my very first concert at the Apollo in Harlem. The show headlined an R&B icon named Billy Stewart, singing hits like “Summertime” and “Sitting in the Park.” R&B touched my soul. Growing up in the church, I heard more than my share of gospel music. To this day, it’s gospel music that speaks to my spirit. So, with a head for classical, a heart for jazz, R&B enriching my soul and gospel igniting my spirit, where did Village People music fit in? In short, it didn’t! Much like the John Phillip Sousa military music I played for five years in the U.S. Air Force Band, it served its purpose as a means to an end. If I had to choose, I would venture to say I had a greater appreciation for the Air Force Band music than the VP music. First of all, the AF Band played a surprisingly wide variety of music from the typical military marches to classical concert band

repertoire to the pop Top Ten list. I played flute and piccolo in the band. It’s when I was shipped out to the Philippines that I began my singing career, if you can call it that. What I will say about VP music is one — it is very well arranged and produced, and two — it was quite a challenge to a relatively new singer… me! More than sharing my personal experiences in that two year stretch with one of the most widely recognized names in music entertainment, singing some of the most popular songs of all times, including “YMCA,” “Macho Man,” and “In the Navy”, consider this — I have no idea how I ended up there. I would never have guessed it, and I’m sure that I wouldn’t have chosen it, but there I was on stages all over the world, singing to sold out crowds, at break-neck speeds in keys way too high for me, but somehow, I did it — I survived it. So, I survived Brooklyn, the Air Force, and the Village People, what could possibly be next? Teddy Pendergrass of course. Okay, you can’t make this stuff up. The point I’m making is that life is filled with unforeseeable twists and turns. I’m writing a book called “Life After the Village People – Tales From an Ex-Village People Cop.” In it, I share some of the uglier, more painful, make you wanna give up twists and turns. In times of doubt and despair, having lost all reason to care, among other things, I remembered the famous Winston Churchill quote, “Never give in — never, never, never, never, in nothing great or small, large or petty, never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense. Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.” He also said, “Success is not final, failure is not fatal, it’s the courage to continue that counts.” Smart guy! Website: www.milesjaye.net, Podcast: https://bit.ly/2zkhSRv

CITIZEN | Hyde Park | Week of April 28, 2021

10 | CITIZEN | Hyde Park | Week of April 28, 2021

HOME

Lighten up! 5 designer tips for transforming your home lighting (BPT) - When it comes to choosing beautiful, functional lighting, the selections can appear endless and may be leaving you with no idea where to start. If so, you're not alone. Many homeowners mistakenly believe any fixture will do the same job, when in fact effective lighting design is something of an art. The right lighting elements can make your home more relaxing or energizing, boost your sense of well-being and make daily tasks easier, all while reflecting your personal taste. According to Statista, the desire for such improvements motivated 63% of U.S. consumers to plan changes to their home lighting over 2020-2021. To assist such forward-thinking homeowners, Erin Hoover, director-design, Luxury Space for Kohler Co., offers the following suggestions on choosing ideal home lighting. Factor in function. Ask yourself what you'd like your lighting to accomplish in the room you're addressing. How is the room used? Do you need a main source of illumination for the space, or do you need to supplement that with decorative accents? Where do you need direct and indirect light? Consider existing architecture. Even if you like an eclectic look (Pinterest and Instagram can be inspiration), you'll want to at least partially align each fixture with the rest of your space in terms of form, line and/or color. In general, high ceilings work well with pendants, chandeliers and linear-style lighting and lower ceilings work better with flush or semi-flush fixtures and sconces. Your furniture layout may guide placement of chandeliers, linear style designs or pendants. Stay savvy in the kitchen. Since most kitchens feature multiple light sources, Hoover recommends designating one fixture as your statement or focal piece, then choosing other functional and decorative accent pieces that align. "The other

lighting doesn't have to match, but should be a little simpler," she says. "Make sure it's the correct scale for your space and ceiling height," Hutton continues. "Pendant or linear lighting is a good choice for kitchen islands and bars, and mixed metals are on trend with or without black or white accent finishes." For added design flexibility, she notes, choose lighting that can be raised or lowered to easily adjust the height above bar areas, counters and islands. KOHLER Lighting also exclusively offers finishes that perfectly color match Kohler and Kallista fixtures and faucets. Introduce style to your bathroom. Depending on your daily routines, you may want your bath to offer both bright, functional lighting (for grooming) and mood lighting (for relaxation). Popular layouts feature 7- to 9-inch sconces mounted on each side of a vanity mirror, or a larger single sconce placed on the wall overhead. In powder rooms where steam isn't an issue, Hoover likes decorative Kohler sconces that feature linen-look woven shades; she also recommends installing dimmer switches. "If you have the ceiling height, I love a chandelier in a bathroom," she adds. "A 20- to 24-inch chandelier may be better than a 30- to 36-inch one unless you have a very spacious bath with a ceiling height of more than nine feet. A larger pendant of 15 to 18 inches makes a statement over a freestanding tub if ceiling heights allow. Fit out your foyer. Hoover recommends considering the height and depth of these important, first-impression rooms before deciding on the pendant, pendant cluster or chandelier that will make the right statement. "A single pendant can look stunning in a foyer that's nine feet wide, whereas a 36- inch chandelier or two-tier chandelier is perfect in a grand foyer," she advises. Since your lighting design is so important to the www.citizennewspapergroup.com

beauty, functionality and overall mood of your home, it should never be an afterthought. Take time to choose from the wide variety of bright, beautiful styles available, then invest in the fixtures that will truly transform your living spaces. Find more information about KOHLER Lighting at us.Kohler.com.

CITIZEN | Hyde Park | Week of April 28, 2021

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REAL ESTATE HUD/BANK FORECLOSURES CITY & SUBURBS Call: FRED D. CLINK (773) 294-5870 REALTY SERVICES CONSORTIUM ____________________________________

REAL ESTATE 3+ Bedroom HOMES FOR SALE SELLER FINANCING Call: FRED D. CLINK (773) 294-5870 REALTY SERVICES CONSORTIUM ____________________________________ HP AC 4-20-2021 IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT CHANCERY DIVISION HSBC BANK USA, N.A., AS TRUSTEE ON BEHALF OF ACE SECURITIES CORP. HOME EQUITY LOAN TRUST AND FOR THE REGISTERED HOLDERS OF ACE SECURITIES CORP. HOME EQUITY LOAN TRUST, SERIES 2006 -HE3, ASSET BACKED PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES Plaintiff, -v.SARAH MONTGOMERY Defendants 2020CH01325 8217 S WOODLAWN AVE CHICAGO, IL 60619 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on March 10, 2021, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on May 25, 2021, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker Drive, CHICAGO, IL, 60606, sell at a public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 8217 S WOODLAWN AVE, CHICAGO, IL 60619 Property Index No. 20-35224-006 The real estate is improved with a single family residence. Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance, including the Judicial Sale fee for the Abandoned Residential Property Municipality Relief Fund, which is calculated on residential real estate at the rate of $1 for each $1,000 or fraction thereof of the amount paid by the purchaser not to exceed $300, in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. No fee shall be paid by the mortgagee acquiring the residential real estate pursuant to its credit bid at the sale or by any mortgagee, judgment creditor, or other lienor acquiring the residential real estate whose rights in and to the residential real estate arose prior to the sale. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in "AS IS" condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court. Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale. The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information. If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4). If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/18.5(g-1). IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW. You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver's license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales. For information, examine the court file, CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. Plaintiff's Attorneys, 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100, BURR RIDGE, IL, 60527 (630) 794-9876 THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236-SALE You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales. CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100BURR RIDGE IL, 60527 630-794-5300 E-Mail: pleadings@il.cslegal.com Attorney File No. 14-20-00374 Attorney ARDC No. 00468002 Attorney Code. 21762 Case Number: 2020CH01325 TJSC#: 41-588 NOTE: Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you are advised that Plaintiff's attorney is deemed to be a debt collector attempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose. Case # 2020CH01325 I3167653 ______________________________________

RENTERS INSURANCE Renters Insuance provides cash when you need it the most, in the event of a fire or thief you will received cash to replace your furniture, clothes, and food as well as cash for an emergency hotel stay and transportation and policies start at just $18.75 per month. For more information call Agent George Trent at (773) 640-8357. _______________________________________

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LEGAL NOTICE 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; Y21006572 on APRIL 8, 2021. Under the Assumed Business Name of UNITING FAMILIES TOGETHER with the business located at: 50 W 71st STREET APT 603, CHICAGO ILLINOIS 60621. The true and real full name (s) and residence address of the owner (s) /partner (s) is: Owner/Partner Full Name JERLENE WARD Complete Address: 50 W. 71ST STREET APT 603, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60621, USA _______________________________________

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12 | CITIZEN | Hyde Park | Week of April 28, 2021

. . . O T K C A B T E G S ’ LET

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G . I H C T A E N I C C A V R U ND YO

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