South End Citizen 11-14-18 by CITIZEN NEWSPAPERS

Young Chicagoan Represents The United States At Human Rights Defenders World Summit — Page 3

Citizen Week of Nov. 14, 2018

| Vol. 51 | No. 40 | www.thechicagocitizen.com

SOUTH END

More than 300 members of the Pullman and Roseland community celebrated the grand opening of the new $20 million Pullman Community Center at 10355 S. Woodlawn Ave. Photo Credit: Provided by the Pullman Community Center

REGION’S LARGEST MULTI-SPORT AND EDUCATION CENTER OPENS ON FAR SOUTH SIDE OF CHICAGO

BUSINESS

FASHION

NEWS

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Social media … you can’t get away from it, so do it the right way

Fashion Designer Mieka Joi Celebrates Rich Girl Candy Clothing Five Year Anniversary Fusing EDM and Hip Hop Culture |

Chicago Activists Aims To Replace Guns With Hammers To Reduce Gun Violence |

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2 | CITIZEN | South End | Week of Nov. 14, 2018

NEWS briefly EDUCATION

CPS STUDENTS COOK UP CHANGE Students from Chicago Public High Schools are Cooking up Change today at Skyline Lofts at the Bridgeport Art Center located on 1200 W. 35th Street. The event is part of Healthy Schools Campaign’s annual healthy cooking contest and fundraiser. Cooking up Change is a culinary competition founded by Healthy Schools Campaign that challenges student chefs to create healthy and delicious school meals that their peers will enjoy, while meeting strict nutritional standards and a tight budget, about $1.40 per meal —constraints schools deal with every day. The winning team’s dishes will be served at Chicago Public Schools next semester. The students will also win scholarships to a culinary school.

HEALTH

WHERE WILL THE NEXT BIG IDEA IN HEALTHCARE COME FROM? JOHNSON & JOHNSON IS COUNTING ON NURSES Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) recently launched a new campaign that does more than just recognize nurses as critical partners on the front lines of health care – it empowers them as innovators. Through the “Nurses Innovate QuickFire Challenge,” Johnson & Johnson is inviting the more than 3.2 million nurses1 in the United States to submit ideas for new devices, health technologies, protocols or treatment approaches. The company has committed up to $100,000 in grants and access to mentoring and coaching via Johnson & Johnson Innovation, JLABS. To learn more about Johnson & Johnson’s 120 years of commitment to nursing and how to apply for the Johnson & Johnson Nurses Innovate QuickFire Challenge, visit nursing.jnj. com/home.

LAW & POLITICS

ABA RELEASES HOLOCAUST-ERA BOOK ON NAZI PURGE OF JEWISH LAWYERS IN BERLIN The American Bar Association has released a historical, rule-of-law book that details how one government – Nazi Germany – systematically undermined fair and just law through humiliation, degradation and legislation leading to expulsion of Jewish lawyers and jurists from the legal profession. As the rule of law comes under attack today in both developed and Third World countries, “Lawyers Without Rights: The Fate of Jewish Lawyers in Berlin after 1933” tragically details what can happen when the just rule of law disappears — and is replaced by an arbitrary rule by law that sweeps aside the rights and dignity of selected populations. First published in German two decades ago and updated in 2007, the book includes three significant additions — forewords from Justice Stephen G. Breyer of the U.S. Supreme Court; Benjamin B. Ferencz, at 99 years old the sole-surviving prosecutor from the Nuremberg trials; and Ronald D. Abramson, a Jewish lawyer and philanthropist whose family foundation, the Anne and Ronald Abramson Family Foundation, provided underwriting for this book. The price of the book is $39.95 and can be purchased by calling 800-285-2221 or by visiting shopaba.

Region’s Largest Multi-Sport and Education Center Opens On Far South Side of Chicago Continued from page 1 BY KATHERINE NEWMAN

A grand opening ceremony was recently held for the new Pullman Community Center located on 10355 S. Woodlawn Ave. The 135,000 square-foot complex features three indoor turf playing fields for baseball, soccer, football and lacrosse, three hardwood courts for volleyball and basketball, batting cages, and classrooms where free tutoring will be offered for student-athletes. “I am forever grateful to everyone for their part in making this a reality in my community. You are looking at a $20 million facility that right now has only a $2.5 million mortgage. That means that we have raised $17 million for this project and what that will do for us is make sure that the community can use this facility without digging into their pockets,” said Anthony Beale, 9th Ward Alderman. Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) residents will have the first priority for 10% of all programming and team roster slots and will have all associated fees waived. The

Pullman Community Center will also provide transportation to and from the Altgeld/ Murray, Trumbull and Lowden Homes at no cost to its residents. On the Far South Side, there are about 6,600 young people between the ages of 5 and 17 who are living in CHA housing that will now have access to the Community Center, according to a press release announcing the grand opening. “More importantly, with building a facility like this, is the fact that anyone that is enrolled in this facility can receive free tutoring and ACT and SAT prep across the board. What we want to do here today is make sure that we understand that we are going to produce smart athletes in this facility,” said Beale. The Pullman Community Center has the capacity to host up to 1,200 teams and 50,000 participants and visitors annually, according to a press release announcing the grand opening. Some of the sports programs that will be offered at the Pullman Community Center include sports skills training and coaching, league and tournament sports, 3-point

shooting contests. The education programs that will be offered include, technology training, reading, writing and math skills tutoring, ACT exam prep, work-readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy, mentoring and personal development, and sports facility management certifications. Additional programming will be offered during school holidays and vacations. “I’m glad to be here today and to have played a small role in helping to bring this together and I’ll be coming back often. I won’t be kicking a soccer ball, but I’ll be walking through here taking a look around and knowing that this is what builds a community, what builds a neighborhood, and what gives you a vision for the future,” said U.S. Senator Dick Durbin. The Community Center will employ as many as 100 full-time, part-time, and seasonal employees, coaches, instructors, and management annually. To register for a program or for a schedule of all available programs and additional Pullman Community Center information, please visit www.pccindoorsports.com.

Millennials discuss voting with mayoral candidate Dorothy Brown BY WENDELL HUTSON CONTRIBUTING WRITER

There are more than 15 mayoral candidates running in next year’s election, including Dorothy Brown, who currently serves as clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County. Recently, she met with millennials who told her what they are looking for in the next mayor. They also shared stories as to why some millennials don’t vote. “I have never voted in my life and that’s because I feel politicians never do anything for our [black] community so what’s the point,” explained Johnny Jones, 24. “After years of oppression we [blacks] still don’t have any resources in our community. That’s why millennials don’t vote.” However, the Austin resident added that he plans to vote in the mayoral election in 2019 “because something has got to change and if I want to see changes in my community I have got to start doing my part and vote,” he said. In actuality, data from the Chicago Board of Elections showed 42 percent of the 139,138 registered voters between 18 and 24-years-old went to the polls and voted during the Nov. 6 election. And 49 percent of the 352,583 registered voters between 25 and 34-years-old voted. The biggest voting group was those between the ages of 55 to 64 where 65 percent of the 228,211 registered voters cast their votes. And when it came to the most registered voters, that age group included 65-year olds and up, which recorded 56 percent of the 1.5

Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County Dorothy Brown (from left) met with young voters at a Nov. 12, 2018 town hall meeting in Bronzeville that was moderated by Chicago journalist Portia King. Photo credit: Wendell Hutson

million registered voters going to the polls. The last time there was a surge in voting by millennials in Chicago was in 2007 when Barack Obama ran for president of the United States. Brown cited another reason why she thinks millennials don’t always vote. “I think a lot of millennials do not vote because there’s a lack of trust with elected officials and I want to change that,” she said. “The only way change will come about is for everyone to vote.” Chicago journalist Portia King, who reminded her fellow millennials that people

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died so blacks could have the right to vote, moderated the town hall meeting. “When you vote, you honor the sacrifices made on your behalf,” added King, 27. If elected, Brown, an attorney and certified public accountant, said she would focus on three areas. “Education, crime and the use of tax increment financing are three main areas I plan to focus on once I am elected,” said Brown, who previously ran for mayor in 2007. “As far as new revenue for the city, I would like to create a city lottery much like the Illinois lottery,” she said.

CITIZEN | South End | Week of Nov. 14, 2018

NEWS Young Chicagoan Represents The United States At Human Rights Defenders World Summit BY KATHERINE NEWMAN

A young activist, Eva Lewis, who grew up on the south side of Chicago recently traveled to Paris to participate in the Human Rights Defenders World Summit 2018. Lewis spoke on the Americas panel, alongside activists from Latin America, and discussed youth-led movements in the United States as well as the state of black and brown people in the country. The Human Rights Defenders World Summit 2018 was organized by eight international human rights organizations and was attended by several highly recognized international leaders, including officials from the United Nations. “What the Summit aims to do is bring together representatives from each country to talk about the state of human rights defenders and to brainstorm ways that we can elevate our fight for human rights and create a direct action plan that can be implemented to protect human rights defenders internationally,” said Lewis. Lewis was one representative in a diverse group of 150 human rights defenders from around the world that came to Paris for the three-day Summit. She participated in meetings, panel discussions, networking activities, and workshops that all revolved around protecting human rights across the globe. “I was on the Americas panel and I was the only US representative and also the youngest delegate at the Summit and I was the only English speaker on my panel. Everyone on

the panel talked about their own fight for human rights and how it pertains to their country and the people that they were there to represent,” said Lewis. During the Americas panel, Lewis not only spoke about human rights in the United States, but she also chose to specifically address the human rights of black and brown people in the country she was there to represent. “I set my self up to fulfill a specific agenda which was to bring human rights of black and brown folks in the U.S. to an international platform because we don’t talk about human rights violations against black and brown people in the US as a human rights issue. This was the first time anyone had that conversation at the Summit and I was happy to be able to be the one to present that conversation.” Nineteen-year-old Lewis is an award-winning student, activist, and artist. She is also known for founding The I Project, a non-profit organization aiming to create equitable communities in Chicago. “I really liked hearing about how people structure their organizations so what I think I gained the most from the Summit is good information about how to make the infrastructure of my own organization more sustainable. The I Project is relatively new and we’ve only had a fiscal sponsorship for about a year and we are not sustainable at all and I’m comfortable admitting that because the journey is important and part of the process,” said Lewis.

Eva Lewis (pictured), founder of the I Project, was invited to participate in the Americas panel at the Human Rights Defenders World Summit 2018 where she discussed human rights in the U.S. and specifically the human rights of black and brown people in the country. Photo Credit: Provided by Eva Lewis

19-year-old Chicago Activist, Eva Lewis (pictured) recently had the opportunity to travel to Paris to participate in the Human Rights Defenders World Summit 2018. Photo Credit: Provided by Eva Lewis

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4 | CITIZEN | South End | Week of Nov. 14, 2018

BUSINESS

Social media … you can’t get away from it, so do it the right way BY RONA BORRE

Our current digital landscape provides a wealth of opportunities for networking that may not have existed pre-social media. With this increase in “connectedness,” however, comes an even bigger increase in risk. We are now open to the critique of hiring managers before we set foot in the door for a job interview. Rona Borre, the CEO and Founder of Chicago-based staffing agency Instant Alliance AKA The Chicago Tech Connector provides her “do’s and don’ts” when it comes to maintaining a professional social media presence: DO: l Get recommendations from previous coworkers and managers. These recommendations will build the credibility of your LinkedIn profile and provide fodder for your claimed skillset. I recommend asking for recommendations soon after you transition out of the position, so your strengths and skills are top-of-mind for the people who will be writing about you. l Engage with and share articles or news relevant to your industry. Hiring managers want someone who is smart and capable, but most

Rona Borre, the CEO and Founder of Chicago-based staffing agency Instant Alliance AKA The Chicago Tech Connector provides her “do’s and don’ts” when it comes to maintaining a professional social media presence.

importantly they want someone who is passionate about their industry. Showing that you are aware of what is going on in your industry will give you a leg up on others applying for the same job. This can be as simple as sharing an article; you don’t need to

be writing your own blog posts. l Remove old photos. No potential employer wants to Google you and find that photo of you funneling beer at a tailgate in college. It may have been cool then, but it is definitely not cool now. A single photo like this

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could cost you the job before you even get an interview, and you may never even understand why. DON’T: l Badmouth brands or previous employers. This is one of my biggest

pet peeves. I don’t care if your flight was delayed or your boss was a jerk. You never know how people and brands are connected. That airline may be the largest corporate sponsor of the nonprofit you’re applying to. And if you’re venting in a public forum about a manager, it makes me question your professionalism, judgement and composure. l Connect with everyone who sends you a LinkedIn request. Obviously, it’s great to build and maintain a large online network, but I’ve gotten some pretty sketchy requests (even on LinkedIn). Once you connect with someone, they are a reflection of you. Anything they do or say online can have an impact on your presence. I recommend only accepting requests from people you know or who were referred to you by someone you know. Get political. Look, we live in a complicated political climate these days. Everyone has opinions and feels the need to express them, but you never know who your hiring manager will be. If you feel the need to express yourself on Facebook or Twitter, please change your privacy settings accordingly.

For Fourth Consecutive Year, Unity Hospice Named Winner of the Chicago Area 2018 Top Workplaces Award Unity Hospice has been awarded a 2018 Top Workplaces honor by the Chicago Tribune. This is the fourth consecutive year Unity Hospice has received the award (2018,’17,’16,’15). The list is based solely on employee feedback gathered through a third-party survey administered by research partner Energage, LLC (formerly WorkplaceDynamics), a leading provider of technology-based employee engagement tools. The anonymous survey measures several aspects of workplace culture, including alignment, execution, and connection, just to name a few. “Top Workplaces is more than just recognition,” said Doug Claffey, CEO of Energage. “Our research shows organizations that earn the award attract better talent, experience lower turnover, and are better equipped to deliver bottomline results. Their leaders prioritize and carefully craft a healthy

workplace culture that supports employee engagement.” “Our employees are the biggest differentiator for Unity Hospice,” said President and CEO Michael Klein, founder of Unity Hospice. “For more than 26 years, they have provided the most compassionate care to our patients and families. Their caring nature is shown towards each other, too, making Unity Hospice a great place to work.” Unity Hospice is the only hospice in the greater Chicago area to receive a Top Workplace award four consecutive years. In all, more than 2,600 organizations were invited to submit, with 150 emerging as 2018 Top Workplaces. “Becoming a Top Workplace isn’t something organizations can buy,” Claffey said. “It’s an achievement organizations have worked for and a distinction that gives them a competitive advantage. It’s a big deal.”

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CITIZEN | South End | Week of Nov. 14, 2018

FASHION

PRNewsfoto/KISS

KISS Teams Up With alice + olivia For New Limited Edition imPRESS Press-On Manicure Designer Collection There's BIG news in nails, as KISS unveils the alice + olivia x imPRESS Press-On Manicure Collection, which launched recently. The exclusive designs are available for a limited time on imPRESSManicure.com and in select alice + olivia retail locations nationwide. Designed by Stacey Bendet for alice + olivia, the fashion-forward collection features six striking nail designs. "Like alice + olivia, imPRESS is not afraid of bold patterns or vibrant colors. They were the perfect partner to bring my nail art visions to life," says Bendet. Nail designs are trending as the ultimate fashion accessory, and the alice + olivia x imPRESS Press-On Manicure collaboration brings fashion right to your fingertips, with looks from cool casual to total glam. Nails are now the ultimate fashion accessory, and with imPRESS Press-On Manicure, you have the ability to switch up your look in just minutes. "We initially partnered with the illustrious Stacey Bendet for New York Fashion Week, creating one-of-a-kind nails for her 'Passport to Wonderland' themed SS19 presentation," says Annette DeVita-Goldstein, Senior Vice President of Global Marketing for KISS Products, Inc. "The collaboration grew into an exclusive nail collection because we strongly believe Bendet's creative vision and empowering designs are a perfect match for the innovative imPRESS brand." imPRESS Press-On Manicure achieves a one-step gel manicure in minutes with patented SuperHold Dual-Layer Adhesive for optimal wear. imPRESS requires no glue, won't damage nails and offers hassle free removal. imPRESS Press-On Manicure redefines the press-on nail experience! For more information, imPRESSManicure.com Facebook/Twitter/Instagram: @imPRESSManicure @aliceandolivia #AOxIMPRESS

Mieka Joi's Rich Girl Candy fashion line celebrates five years of fashion fun with an abundance of colorful creativity meshing the cultures of electronic dance music and hip hop!

Fashion Designer Mieka Joi Celebrates Rich Girl Candy Clothing Five Year Anniversary Fusing EDM and Hip Hop Culture When clothing designer Mieka Joi introduced her Rich Girl Candy concept in 2013, fashionistas knew she was unveiling an imaginative new concept. Fusing the psychedelic exuberance of the electronic dance music (EDM) lifestyle with the street savvy of hip hop culture, Mieka's Rich Girl Candy exploded on the fashion scene with an abundance of colorful creativity. She captured the hearts of women who wanted to feel as electric as the music that sound tracked their lives. Five years later, her line has expanded beyond an activewear brand comprised of just unique hoodies, hats and t-shirts. With new additions that include her wildly popular rainbow inspired Rich Girl Candy hair extensions, shimmering Rich Girl Candy jewelry, eclectic Rich Girl Fox Fur slides, and a fun assortment of festival gear and accessories, Mieka Joi has assembled a treasure chest of opulence for luxurious shopping adventures. Actress and media personality LaLa Anthony, recording artist Monica, performing artist Teyana Taylor and rapper Trina are just a sampling of the celebrity factor who now rock and roll with Rich Girl Candy glam. Juggling entrepreneurship with motherhood, fashion and the limelight run in the family for Mieka Joi. A Chicago native, Mieka Joi is the former longtime girlfriend of NBA player Derrick Rose. Their young son, six-year-old Derrick Rose Jr., has already grabbed his own headlines as a celebrity child model and accompanies his mom on many of her business ventures. Though Rich Girl Candy is celebrating a successful five years, Mieka Joi is no newcomer to fashion. In fact, she will tell you that she was born into it! "My mom has always been into fashion, so I was her dress-up doll as a child. Even after www.thechicagocitizen.com

delivering me, my mom and dad brought me home in a Gucci GG signature fabric bassinet and baby blanket! As a child, department stores were always my preference over playgrounds! My mother's good friend was well renowned fashion designer Barbara Bates. I remember going to Barbara's shop when I was six years old. We would design purses and clothes for my dolls, and then she would help me sew and make them." Mieka Joi initially launched her career as a stylist. She attended Clark University for mass media arts, majoring in public relations, marketing and advertising and began an internship at Roc-a-Wear during her sophomore year, assisting the district buyer for the brand in Atlanta. Her first business, "Socialite Styling," offered fashion, makeup, and hair consulting to everyone as well as celebrities that included tennis champion Serena Williams, reality TV star, Malaysia Pargo and athletes Derrick Rose and Carlos Boozer. Mieka Joi has special plans closing out the year in celebration of her five-year milestone. December will see her hosting a "pop up fashion museum" for rap star Trina in Miami as well as the release of her unicorn influenced holiday line. Mieka is also planning to open her first stand-alone boutique in Chicago, to support her burgeoning online business. While Rich Girl Candy's theme channels the essence of mythical creatures like unicorns and mermaids, Mieka continues to emerge as her own mythical figure, by providing fashion seekers Rich Girl Candy in all its many delightful flavors. Visit her rainbow collection at www.RichGirlCandy. com. Follow Rich Girl Candy on Instagram at @ richgirlcandy; on Facebook at @Rich Girl Candy; on Twitter at @RichGirlCandy and on Pinterest at Rich Girl Candy.

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NEWS

Chicago Activist Aims To Replace Guns With Hammers To Reduce Gun Violence BY KATHERINE NEWMAN

A local activist, Demetrius Nash, recently founded the nonprofit organization Replace Guns With Hammers as a way to reduce violence in Chicago’s most underserved communities. The goal of the organization is to give young men an opportunity to work on a building renovation as an alternative to committing violence. “Replace Guns With Hammers came out of my grassroots knowledge of once being part of the problem and now I’m one of the faces of the solution,” said Nash. “I was at a community meeting and heard a lot of people saying that we needed to get the guns out of these kids hands and I literally stood up and said that I was not going to ask these young men to put down their guns and then have nothing to replace them with.” From this seemingly small community conversation, the idea for Replace Guns With Hammers was born. “It’s literally replacing a gun with a construction hammer in these young

men’s hands. Regardless of what anyone says, in our community these guns represents protection, food, shelter, money, and clothing. Guns represent a lot of things to these young men and until we raise the quality of life in these communities they are not going to put down their guns,” said Nash. Through this organization, Nash hopes to be able to engage young men, ages 18-24, who are at the highest risk of perpetrating gun violence and being victims of gun violence. The young men will serve as the workforce for vacant building renovations and as a result, they will have a positive outlet for their energy and an opportunity to learn new skills that can help them to provide for their families. “Replace Guns With Hammers is really about targeting young men that are currently in the streets and I’m talking about the shooters, not the kids that are gonna be alright. I’m talking about the kids that aren’t in school and they haven’t had any structure in their life for a while. I want to get those men into the buildings,” said

Nash. Working on vacant buildings in their own communities and on their own blocks will create a greater sense of pride and a source of hope for these young men, according to Nash. “Taking an abandoned building in their community and then making it beautiful and actually being part of that and working with their hands to build up the community will give them an incredible sense of accomplishment and achievement. It’s going to change their mindset and get them really thinking about the possibilities of what could be and what should be and how it should look in their own community,” said Nash. Currently, Replace Guns With Hammers is just getting off the ground. Nash said he is in the process of securing the first building to be renovated and he is looking to connect with experienced renovators and is accepting donations to help buy construction materials. To connect with Nash you can send him a direct message on facebook

Demetrius Nash (pictured) recently founded Replace Guns With Hammers, a nonprofit organization that aims to reduce violence in Chicago by giving young men an opportunity to work on a building renovation. Photo Credit: Provided by Demetrius Nash

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CITIZEN | South End | Week of Nov. 14, 2018

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CITIZEN | South End | Week of Nov. 14, 2018

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CITIZEN | South End | Week of Nov. 14, 2018

CLASSIFIEDS SERVICE

SERVICE

theft by keeping their Federal Student Aid ID confidential, and reporting any suspected fraudulent account activity immediately. • Sync up. Using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool can expedite the process by automatically syncing and populating tax return information into the FAFSA. Note: the IRS Data Retrieval Tool is currently only available for those completing the FAFSA at fafsa.gov. • File every fall. Complete the FAFSA as a high school senior, and every year in college and graduate school. Filing a new FAFSA each year is the only way to remain eligible for federal student aid, and the amount of aid can vary year-over-year. Learn more by accessing free online resources, tips, tools, videos and more, available at salliemae.com/fafsa. “For high school seniors and returning college students, the time to start thinking about next year is now,” says Martha Holler, senior vice president, Sallie Mae. “The simple act of completing the FAFSA can translate into thousands of dollars to pay for college, but it’s critical to start the process early so you don’t miss out.” ________________________________________

Wait, What? Scholarships Are Taxable? (StatePoint) Everyone knows about scholarships. They’re no-strings-attached money to help students pay for their higher education. Right? Usually, but not always. In some cases, there are significant strings attached -- including situations in which scholarships are treated as taxable income. While unusual, it’s important for students, their families and scholarship providers to understand all the implications. Tax Status The tax status of scholarships first codified in 1954 was simple: for students pursuing a degree, all scholarships, fellowships and grants were taxfree. But later legislation specified portions of a scholarship could be taxed if it is considered “fees for services,” or if it’s used for living, travel or research expenses. What’s more, scholarships for non-degree-candidates are also taxable. As professional certifications and certificate programs become vital to certain industries, experts say these laws put non-traditional students at risk of a heavy tax burden. The Impact

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EDUCATION

Get a Jump Start on College Financial Aid (StatePoint) With the changing leaves and autumn chill come a few staples students can count on: fresh notebooks, fall festivals, and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Students heading to college next year, returning college students, and grad students can already get started on the FAFSA for academic year 2019-20, which opened for applications on Oct. 1, 2018. Completing the FAFSA is the most important step to qualify for $150 billion available in financial aid including grants, work-study, and federal student loans. What’s more, completing the FAFSA early is critical because some aid is awarded first come, first served. In addition, schools use it to assemble financial aid packages, states use it to determine eligibility for state aid, and it’s required for many scholarship applications. To help your family prepare to complete the FAFSA, Sallie Mae, the nation’s saving, planning and paying for college company, is offering the following tips: • Be first in line. The earlier families fill out the FAFSA, the better their chances of being in line for aid. Also, those who complete and submit the FAFSA early will receive their Student Aid Report sooner and may receive financial aid award letters from schools earlier. • Bring the basics. Before beginning the application, expedite the process by getting prepared. Both parents and students should create a username and password -- a Federal Student Aid ID -and gather Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers, bank statements, tax returns and W-2 forms. • Get connected. New this year, students and families can complete the FAFSA using the myStudentAid app on any Android or Apple device. Regardless of what device you use, remember that it’s always free, so watch out for sites that charge fees or make promises that sound too good to be true. Students can reduce the risk of identity

Some experts say taxing scholarships comes at a cost for students and scholarship providers and even the federal government. “For students, it can harm their ability to pay for their education,” says Robert C. Ballard, president and CEO of Scholarship America, the nation’s largest nonprofit scholarship and education support organization. “For providers wanting to make the biggest charitable impact, it can make providing scholarships less attractive than alternative philanthropic efforts.” With most federal financial aid calculations based on the pre-tax value of the scholarship, students risk a shortfall in aid. All of this has a disproportionate impact on low-income students. Those from the bottom income quartile spend the largest percentage of family income on higher education; almost half of that money is spent on the nontuition costs for which scholarship awards are taxable. “Taxing scholarship funds may increase government revenue in the short term, but it’s shortsighted,” says financial aid expert Mark Kantrowitz. “The federal government benefits financially longterm when students graduate and have the potential to earn more taxable income.” Should They Be Taxed? Kantrowitz, along with Scholarship America’s Despina Costopoulos Emerson, say restoring scholarships’ tax-free status will help certificateand degree-seeking students, and those who must work out of necessity, pursue their education without undue financial burdens. To learn more about taxing of scholarships visit blog.scholarshipamerica.org. “Scholarship America and our partners are in ongoing talks with members of Congress, and we hope to see some progress on initiatives that will ensure qualified scholarships are available to students to pay the full cost of education and allow scholarships to be used, tax-fee, to pay for room and board, transportation and other college-related expenses,” says Ballard. “In the meantime, students and their families should research the specifics of all grants, scholarships, fellowships and tuition waivers they are offered in order to understand the true value of their financial aid package after taxes and plan accordingly.”

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