South Suburban Citizen 10-26-2022

CHICAGO — Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot and the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities (MOPD) announced the opening of the MOPD Career Center, dedicated to serving job seekers with disabilities and providing career readiness. The Career Center is located at the Central West Community Center, located at 2102 W. Ogden in the Tri-Taylor neighborhood. The Center is staffed by Career Placement Counselors who specialize in assisting job seekers with disabilities to access em ployment and accessibility, including an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter on staff along with computer stations equipped with adaptive technolo gy to reduce barriers to digital access.

Under Mayor Lightfoot’s leadership, the City of Chicago is making a $1.2 million investment toward increasing disability employment, an import ant contribution to making the City of Chicago one of the most accessible cities in the nation.

The career center not only leverages the pan demic, which created a surplus of job opportunities available along with a labor shortage but also pro vides much-needed services to support people with disabilities seeking employment opportunities.

The event also celebrated the unveiling of a new mural at the Central West Community Center, created by local and internationally renowned artist Sam Kirk. The mural was a collaborative initiative by MOPD, the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE), and the Department of Family and Support Services (DFSS).

MOPD, DFSS, DCASE, and Mayor Light foot also announced the selection of an inaugural Artist-in-Residence at the Central West Community Center, Ariella Granados.

Services at the Central West Community Center are available to people with disabilities who reside in the City of Chicago, are at least age 16, identify as a person with a disability, and want to get a job. City Colleges of Chicago students with disabilities are also eligible for services. This career center is one of the many investments Mayor Lightfoot has created to ensure job seekers have the resources and opportunities to access good-quality and sustainable jobs.

BLICK ART MATERIALS CELEBRATES OPENING OF CHICAGO RANDOLPH ST. STORE

CHICAGO — Blick Art Materials is pleased to announce the opening of its newest retail store at 16 W. Randolph St. in downtown Chicago Situated in the heart of the city’s theater district, the new store is housed inside an historic Chicago building with a distinct architectural style.

Originally the site of the Old Heidelberg Restaurant, the building boasts an elegant façade de signed by the same architecture firm responsible for the Merchandise Mart and Civic Opera Building.

The new space features two stories and a media-spanning selection of over 18,000 products. Highlights include an enhanced selection of Utrecht Artists’ Paints, as well as trending craft items, stationery, and unique gifts. In addition to serving professional artists and hobbyists, the store will cater to students and educators from the nearby School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Columbia College Chicago, and The American Academy of Art College.

Blick has long supported arts education and community organizations throughout Chicago and nationwide and is intentional about inviting local artists to enhance its stores.

Blick Art Materials’ new Randolph St. store is accessible via the Lake station on the CTA Red Line and the Washington station on the CTA Blue Line.

Chef brings food experience to everyone, even vegans

Continued from page 1

BY TIA CAROL JONES

Chef Joanne Thomas has loved cooking for as long as she can remember. She always did it as a side job, while she worked for different corporations. The COVID-19 pandemic was the extra push she needed to dedicate time to be a full-time entrepreneur.

Thomas learned to cook and bake in her mother’s kitchen and liked creating sauces and spices. She is a Marine Veteran and launched her catering business parttime in 2006, under the name Serenity Catering by Chef Joanne. At that time, she was doing it more as a hobby because she loved entertaining people and feeding them. She attended and graduated from culinary school and was working as a sous chef, cook, chef, executive chef at oth er places. Thomas has degrees and certificates in Culinary Arts, Pastry Arts and Restaurant Management.

Thomas found that a lot of times, she was the only one who had a degree, or had a higher degree, but she was making less money than her counterparts, who might not have had the same education she did.

Knowing the experience and education she had, she shifted her focus to her own company. She rebranded and relaunched her business, under the name Chef Joanne Thomas. She began with gourmet compound butters in 2008. The first butter was a honey butter called Butter Me Honey. The next butter was the garlic butter, called OMGarlic.

An injury put her on bed rest and she took that

time to write a cookbook, her first. It took her two days to write. She self-edited and self-published it. While everyone was in their homes during the pandemic, Thomas started to hold virtual cooking classes.

Thomas has added more gourmet compound butters to her products, as well as a whole spice collection. She also has written a second cookbook, which took her one week to write. The recipes for the cookbooks are dishes she cooks for her family and friends, and dishes she cooks for her cli ents. The second cookbook is all about cooking with spirits, wine and liquor.

Thomas’ spice blend is something she has been using for a long time. One morning she woke up and decided to package it. The blend includes salt and pepper, as well as other spices. She also has vegan butters. She wanted to make sure she satisfies everyone’s palate. People at vendor events she attended would ask if she had vegan items, she didn’t at the time, but decided to create a vegan butter called Butter me Sweetie and a vegan version of OMGarlic. Thomas’ favorite dish to eat is risotto and a “good, juicy steak.”

Thomas offers private chef dinners where people can hire her to come into their home and cook a three-course meal.

She also offers catering and teaches private cooking classes. She teaches the private cooking class once a month in Huntley. People can book her to teach a private cooking class in their homes.

For more information about Chef Joanne Thomas, visit chefjoannethomas.com.

Illinois Humanities Awards Relief and Recovery Grants to 46 Humanities Organizations around the State

CHICAGO – Illinois Humanities has awarded $230,000 to 46 humanities-based organizations across Illinois to support their continued recovery from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The 46 grantees are located across 20 Illinois counties, with 50% of the organizations based outside of Cook County.

“These organizations take the form of libraries, cultural hubs, history and community archives, and museums. Together, they form a breathtaking constellation of programs and services that are helping communities heal, re flect, and respond to these incredibly dynamic times,” said Gabrielle Lyon, executive director of Illinois Humanities.

The grants are funded through the State of Illinois American Rescue Plan Act and are intended to help mitigate financial and audience losses experienced during the pandemic. Orga nizations will use funds to revitalize program ming and produce public events.

“We hope that people will get to know this new cohort of grantee organizations and the im portant cultural work they do,” said Mark Hal lett, Illinois Humanities director of grants pro grams. “These groups are champions of the humanities – of history, of cultural activity and identity, or lifelong learning – serving diverse communities across the state. We’re proud to support their work.”

Grantee Sophia’s Choice, aka Asian PopUp Cinema, is a recipient of the grant, and will

use the funds to continue producing a Chica go-based bi-annual film festival that aims to “foster an understanding for and appreciation of diverse Asian cultures.”

Like many groups, Asian Pop-Up Cinema felt the sharp economic impact of the pandem ic, including an 80% decrease in ticket revenue. “We are committed to showing the common hu manity experienced by all people regardless of national or cultural background,” said Sophia Wong Boccio, executive director. “Fulfilling our mission takes on a greater sense of urgency and purpose during these times.” The group re cently announced a lineup of more than 30 film screenings for their 15th season.

The grants are the third round of emergen cy relief distributed by Illinois Humanities after awarding $700,000 in 2020 and $1.4 million in 2021 with funding from the State of Illinois, the National Endowment for the Humanities through the American Rescue Plan Act, and private donations.

The organization closely evaluated the impact of these relief initiatives and shared its findings in the 2020 report, On Wisdom and Vision: Humanities Organizations in Illinois During COVID-19. The needs identified in the report informed the organization’s funding pri orities for the latest awards, such as the need to prioritize funding organizations based outside of Cook County.

View the complete list of grantees on Illi nois Humanities’ website.

MAYOR LIGHTFOOT AND THE MAYOR’S OFFICE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES CUT THE RIBBON ON CAREER CENTER

Support will bolster pandemic recovery at humanities organizations statewide.

Illinois’ Poison Center Offers Safety ‘Tricks’ to Prevent Poisoning This Halloween

CHICAGO – Parents and caregivers need to beware of more than just ghosts and goblins this Halloween. According to the Illinois Poison Center (IPC), accidental poisonings from Halloween candy is rare, but IPC manages cases each year involving dry ice, glow sticks, and more.

“It is very rare to get poisoned from Halloween candy, but parents should still check their child’s candy as a safety precaution, especially with the recent increase in the use of candy-like products that contain THC or fentanyl,” said IPC Medical Director, Michael Wahl, MD. “While IPC doesn’t typically see poison incidents involving candy during this time of year, we do get calls about glow sticks, dry ice, and other potentially harmful items children eat.”

Make sure Halloween is scary for the right reasons by following these safety tips from the IPC.

Candy:

CHATHAM-SOUTHEAST

Chatham, Avalon Park, Park Manor,GreaterGrand Crossing, Burnside,Chesterfield, West Chersterfield, South Shore,and Calumet Heitghts.

SOUTH END

Washington Heights,Roseland,Rosemoor, Englewood,West Englewood, Auburn-Gresham, Morgan Park, Maple Park, Mt. Vernon, Fernwood, Bellevue, Beverly, Pullman, West Pullman, West Pullman,Riverdale, Jeffrey Manor and Hegewisch.

SOUTH SUBURBAN

Serves communities in Harvey, Markham, Phoenix, Robbins, Dixmoor, Calumet Park, Blue Island,SouthHolland,and Dolton.

HYDE PARK

Lake Meadows, Oakland, Prairie Shores,Douglas, Grand Boulevard, Kenwood, Woodland,South Shore and Hyde Park.

CHICAGO WEEKEND

Chicago Westside Communities, Austin and Garfield Park

SUBURBAN TIMES WEEKLY

BloomTownship, Chicago Heights, Flossmoor,FordHeights, Glenwood, Homewood, Lansing ,Lynwood, Olympia Fileds, Park Forest,Sauk Village,South Chicago

Steger

Citizen Newspaper Group Inc., (CNGII), Publisher of the ChathamSoutheast,South End, ChicagoWeekend,South

Inspect your child’s candy after trickor-treating.

Discard candy with torn packages, holes, or opened wrapping.

Discard expired items or anything that might seem questionable.

Check candy labels to ensure your child isn’t allergic to any of the ingredi ents.

Do not allow the child to eat any home-baked goods he or she may have received.

For small children, remove any chok ing hazards such as gum, peanuts, hard candies, or small toys.

Celebrations:

Remind children not to chew on or break open glow sticks or any other glowin-the-dark products.

If a glow stick substance comes into contact with the skin or the mouth, wash it off immediately.

If a glow stick substance gets into the eye, or if more than mild skin/oral irritation occurs, call the IPC right away for treatment recommendations.

Keep alcohol away from children, and make sure opened containers and unfinished beverages stay out of reach.

Dry Ice:

Make sure to wear protective cloth ing, such as appropriate gloves when han dling dry ice, as skin exposure can cause significant damage, as can ingestion.

Since dry ice can cause burns simi lar to frostbite, do not place any directly in a punch bowl or drinking cups.

Call the IPC for help if a skin burn from dry ice is suspected.

Do not use dry ice in an unventilated area, as carbon dioxide gas is produced. Be sure to store it in an insulated con tainer, not in the freezer.

Costumes and cosmetics:

Use face paint or makeup labelled as non-toxic, and avoid products that contain talc or hydrocarbons, which can be dangerous if accidentally ingested by young children.

Test makeup on a small area of skin first, preferably the arm, to check for sensitivity to any ingredients before applying it to the face.

Remove makeup before bedtime to prevent skin and eye irritation.

Throw out any makeup that has expired or has a bad smell, as this could be a sign of bacterial contamination.

Do not use products on the face or body that aren’t intended for skin.

Chicago’s Power Construction receives ‘Star’ level designation

CHICAGO – Employing inter active online reporting tools, virtual job planning sites and new employee orientations with a commitment to safety are some of the hallmarks of the Power Construction Co.’s inno vative safety and health program.

In recognition of its efforts, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occu pational Safety and Health Admin istration has designated the Chica go-based company as a Star Mobile Workforce Voluntary Protection Program, the highest safety achieve ment earned in OSHA’s Voluntary Protection Programs.

Power Construction’s safety and health management system has helped the company maintain injury and illness rates below the Bureau of Labor Statistics averages in their in dustry. ¬The company employs 642 workers and more than 900 subcon tractors in the Chicago area.

“Power Construction has several innovative safety and health pro grams, including partnering with the OSHA Training Institute and using Power Safety E-Form, an online platform that allows management to monitor project status and safety data,” said OSHA Regional Admin

istrator Bill Donovan in Chicago. “Power Constructions’ level of man agement commitment and employee engagement are areas of excellence that members of the VPP evaluation team noted.”

To ensure immediate emergency response if needed, Power Construc tion works closely with the City of Chicago’s police, fire and building departments to protect workers on projects in the city as part of its jobsite partnership program. The company also uses third-party safety consultants on many large jobs. Ad ditionally, Power Construction has a program that provides mentoring and safety training to its tradesmen, who then act as site safety coordinators. Employees on site are represented by several local unions.

The VPP promotes effective worksite-based safety and health. The program commits management, employees and OSHA representa tives to enacted a comprehensive safety and health management system. VPP designation is OSHA’s official recognition of outstanding efforts by employers and employees to ensure occupational safety and health.

JOYCE APPLAUDS PROGRAM TO IMPROVE COVID-19 HEALTH EQUITY STRATEGIES

The COVID-19 pandemic further exacerbated the health inequities facing communities throughout Illinois. Five organizations in portions of Kankakee and Will Counties represented by State Senator Patrick Joyce have been award ed funding to implement health equity strategies, he announced Thursday.

“The pandemic showed us firsthand the inequity and inequality in our health care system,” said Joyce (D-Essex).

“This program will help combat the health equity gaps taking place in all corners of our state.”

Activating Relationships in Illinois for Systemic Equity (ARISE) is a joint initiative of the Illinois Department of Public Health’s Center for Minority Health Services and The Center for Rural Health, in collaboration with Well-Being and Equity (WE) in the World.

Between Joyce’s district in Kanka kee and Will counties, five organiza tions will receive funding to address systemic health disparities highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic: Kankakee County Health Department, Coordinat ed Care Alliance in Kankakee and Will counties, Will County Health Depart ment and Junior Medic LLC.

Funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, ARISE intends to support socio-economically disad vantaged and historically marginalized communities outside of Cook County that have been disproportionately im pacted by COVID-19. Further, organi zations will be able to address enduring health inequities in their communities that have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The selected ARISE Community Equity Zone communities will engage in a rigorous “learning-and-doing” capac ity building program to advance health equity in the short, medium and long term. The community coalitions will address inequities in mental, physical and social well-being in communities that are experiencing the brunt of these disparities by connecting people to vaccinations, food, and other well-being needs. They will also address underly ing community needs such as humane housing, reliable transportation, and the root causes of these inequities, includ ing racism and poverty.

“This initiative is targeting disadvantaged communities that are struggling to bounce back,” said Joyce. “Through these grant opportunities and community efforts, the state is seeing strides in healing post-pandemic.”

To learn more about the ARISE initiative, people can visit www.wein theworld.org/arise-project

“LIZZIE G” ELIE

Tips on saving for the unexpected

Finances are different for everyone, and so are the life events we all go through. An emergen cy fund is your financial line of defense against life’s lemons. Although there are many financial rules of thumb, there is no “normal” way to han dle your emergency fund.

The bottom line: saving money is the first line of defense to financial wellness, especially when the unexpected happens. While nobody can predict the future, everyone can prepare for it.

What is the reason for my emergency fund?

Your emergency fund is a safety net that can help you avoid getting into a difficult financial situation due to a loss of income or unexpected, one-time expenses. Having one in place can reduce stress, anxiety, and other emotions that could make han dling the non-financial aspects of an emergency much more difficult.

It may seem a little obvious that an emergency fund is for emergencies. However, one of the challenging aspects of an emergency fund is knowing what expenses qualify as an emergency. This fund’s sole purpose is to prepare you for costs that you cannot or would not typically plan out. For example, oil changes and new tires are predictable vehicle expenses you should plan for in your regular savings. However, you wouldn’t typically plan for costs that you could incur on the off chance that you need to make emergency home repairs or pay for emergency medical expenses. You would cover these from your emergency fund.

How much do I need?

How much would a new furnace cost? If you could not work, how much would you need to cover essential expenses until you could? Asking yourself these kinds of questions will help you set a goal amount for your emergency fund.

The general rule of thumb is three to six months of essential expenses. However, you can always start with a goal you find achievable. Say, $1,000. Once you reach that goal, aim for three months of rent, then three months of essential expenses, and so on.

Tracking your spending can help you estimate monthly expenses. Completing this exercise can also help you figure out how much you can afford to save toward your emergency fund each month.

How do I save that much?

Start small: If you haven’t started, consider putting $25 from every paycheck into a savings account. Even a few dollars can make a big impact in the long run. Check your budget or spending plan to see how much you can save after you’ve paid essential expenses and before budgeting for discretionary spending.

Keep it separate: Open a separate savings account to

help you resist the temptation to dip into it. Remember, this account is for emergencies, so keep it away from your daily spending accounts and separate it from vaca tion and holiday savings. This method will help you stay organized, visualize your progress, and provide peace of mind.

Automate your savings: One way to automate is via direct deposit. You may be able to instruct your employer to deposit a portion of your paycheck directly into your emergency savings account every pay period. Alterna tively, you can set up an automatic transfer from your primary checking account to your emergency savings ac count on payday. Both methods save you from adding a manual transfer to your to-do list that may be overlooked if things get busy!

Will I ever need to change the amount?

As your life changes, the amount you need in your emergency fund will change as well. It’s a good idea to revisit your emergency fund plan every six months or any time you experience a life event that impacts your income. Marriage, starting or adding to your family, buying a home, and divorce are just a few examples of when you may need to increase your emergency fund. A good savings plan can roll with the punches right alongside you!

How do I prioritize emergency savings against debt and other goals?

Deciding whether you should pay down debt, save for other goals, or grow your emergency fund is all about the big picture. Everyone has different financials, so that picture will vary person-to-person. What will impact you the most financially? Paying down debt and saving mon ey long term or having a plan B that allows you to keep making minimum payments if you lose income? There is no right or wrong answer.

Your emergency fund is there to help you expense the unexpected. So, make a plan and be ready for what ever comes your way!

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Obatala Sciences Closes $3 Million Series A Funding Round Co-led by être Venture Capital and Ochsner Health

-Funding accelerates commercialization of researchenabling solutions to speed up therapies for obesity, diabetes, and cancer across diverse populations

NEW ORLEANS -- (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Obatala Sciences, a New Orleans biotechnology company recognized for speeding up therapies for obesity, diabetes, and cancer across diverse populations, today announced the closing of a $3 million Series A finance round coled by être Venture Capital and Ochsner Lafayette General Healthcare Innovation Fund II and joined by Benson Capital Partners, Elevate Capital Fund, and The Hackett-Robertson-Tobe Group.

The funding will be used to further the commercialization of its first-of-kind research-enabling products and platform for drug discovery and development. These solutions, provided to pharmaceu tical companies, government labs, and researchers, are designed to accelerate the study and prevention of diseases in the fields of obesity, diabetes, cancer, and regenerative medicines.

“Recently the FDA has signaled the need to improve predictivity by reducing the use of animal-derived tissues, while the NIH has been calling for greater diversity in testing. Obatala Sciences’ diverse human-derived products are the exact solution designed for these market directions,” said Jennifer Kuan, partner at être Venture Capital. “Obatala’s solutions enable their custom ers to significantly reduce failure rates, reduce the time to market, and thereby reduce costs. Combine that with Obatala’s extensive intellec tual property portfolio, manufacturing strength, and rapidly growing customer base, and you can see why Obatala is positioned to be a leader in the 3D culture market.”

“We are thrilled to have the support of our investment partners. Their belief in us, and their commitment to support minority-led compa nies and communities, like New Orleans, is changing the landscape for biotech companies like Obatala Sciences,” said Obatala Sciences CEO Trivia Frazier, Ph.D., MBA. “This funding will accelerate the commer cialization of our pipeline products as we work towards our milestones, which include the build-out of our lab at The Beach at UNO, a Research Park District located near the University of New Orleans campus, obtaining our ISO certifications, expanding our North American and international distribution network, and deepening our sales, marketing, and customer support teams to support our growing global customer base.”

Acadia Pharmaceuticals Appoints Adora Ndu, Pharm.D., J.D. to its Board of Directors

SAN DIEGO -- (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq: ACAD) has announced the appointment of Adora Ndu, Pharm.D., J.D. to its Board of Directors. Dr. Ndu is a biopharma executive with more than 15 years of experience in regulatory affairs and clinical development.

“We are pleased to welcome Dr. Ndu to Acadia’s Board,” said Stephen R. Biggar, M.D., Ph.D., Chairman of Acadia’s Board of Directors. “Dr. Ndu’s significant regulatory and clinical development experience, combined with her extensive background in rare disease nicely complements the skill sets of our current membership. Her expertise will be invaluable as we continue to pursue our strategic initiatives in disorders affecting the central nervous system, particularly as the company prepares to launch its second commercial product, trofinetide, for the treatment of Rett syndrome.”

“I am honored to join Acadia’s Board of Directors. I look forward to collaborating with its members alongside

Acadia’s talented management team as they develop and commercialize innovative new therapies addressing high unmet needs in the field of CNS,” said Dr. Ndu.

Since 2022, Dr. Ndu has served as the Chief Regulatory Affairs Officer of BridgeBio. Previously, she was the Group Vice President, Head of Worldwide Research and Develop ment Strategy, Scientific Collaborations and Policy at BioM arin Pharmaceutical. She brings over 15 years of complemen tary experience in drug development and regulatory affairs. Dr. Ndu has spent eight years in various leadership roles in the biopharmaceutical sector. Her expertise includes regulatory strategy, patient engagement, prescription drug promotion, and policy for U.S. and international markets. Additionally, Dr. Ndu spent eight years at the U.S. Food and Drug Admin istration, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, where she progressed in leadership serving most recently as Director for the Division of Medical Policy Development and Command er in the U.S. Public Health Service. She has been involved

in the registrations of multiple products globally and is a re spected thought leader in regulatory science, having played a significant role in developing and evaluating guidance, as well as shaping regulatory policy. Dr. Ndu currently serves on the board of DBV Technologies. Dr. Ndu received her doctorate in pharmacy from Howard University’s College of Pharmacy and a law degree from the University of Maryland.

Acadia is advancing breakthroughs in neuroscience to elevate life. For more than 25 years we have been working at the forefront of healthcare to bring vital solutions to people who need them most. We developed and commercialized the first and only approved therapy for hallucinations and delusions associated with Parkinson’s disease psychosis. Our clinical-stage development efforts are focused on treating the negative symptoms of schizophrenia, Rett syndrome and neu ropsychiatric symptoms in central nervous system disorders. For more information, visit us at www.acadia.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Trivia Frazier, PhD, MBA. Co-Founder, President, & CEO of Obatala Sciences, Inc.

(Photo: Business Wire)a

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T.J.Maxx and “Find Your Maxx” Partner and Mentor Yvonne Orji Launch Interactive Workshop Series for Women Everywhere

FRAMINGHAM, Mass., PRNewswire -- As part of its mission to provide women with essential tools that empower them to ditch the fear of failure and put themselves first, T.J. Maxx is launching its Find Your Maxx workshop series this weekend. Find Your Maxx is part of The Maxx You Project, T.J. Maxx’s ongoing initiative to support women with tools and resources as they navigate the process of becoming their most authentic, unapologetic selves.

Earlier this year, T.J. Maxx and Emmy-nominated actress, comedian, and writer, Yvonne Orji partnered to launch Find Your Maxx, offering one lucky grand prize winner the mentorship of a lifetime and $50,000 in starter funds to help propel them toward their Maxx self. Now, Yvonne will kick off an interactive virtual workshop series with the ‘Maxx Your Mindset’ session, co-hosted by seasoned life coach Sophia Casey. The first workshop took place on Instagram Live via @ tjmaxx on Oct. 15. Following Orji’s workshop, five additional workshop installments will follow, each hosted by two influen tial women, throughout October and November via Instagram Live and TikTok Live and will provide viewers with support and resources they need to break down the barriers of self-pri oritization and maintain a confident mindset.

“Over the years, I’ve learned that it’s not always easy to Maxx Your Mindset – sometimes we just need a little help get ting started! During my virtual workshop, I’ll be hosting a dis

cussion on how I tap into my Maxx self, and I’ll share tools to help you become your best, most confident self,” said Yvonne Orji. “I’m also excited to introduce the Find Your Maxx grand prize winner as we kick start her journey. Be sure to tune in on @tjmaxx’s Instagram Live and ask questions – I can’t wait to pass along what I’ve learned from my mentors and inspire women everywhere to be their most unapologetic selves.”

The workshop series is designed to provide women with actionable tools to become their most authentic self and includes themes like ‘Maxx Your Mentors’ and ‘Maxx Your Confidence.’ T.J. Maxx will also collaborate with global non-profit organization Dress for Success – an ongoing partner – on the ‘Maxx Your Career’ virtual workshop to support its mission of empowering women to transform their lives and re-envision their futures.

“The Maxx You Project community has grown tremen dously since it began in 2017, and we’re proud to provide women with tools and resources that empower them,” said Robyn Arvedon, Assistant Vice President of Marketing, T.J. Maxx. “We look forward to kicking off the Find Your Maxx workshop series and continuing this impactful movement we’ve started.”

For more information on The Maxx You Project, as well as tools and resources to use during the Find Your Maxx work shops, visit maxxyouproject.com.

Saks Fifth Avenue Foundation Celebrates Commitment to Mental Health Support

NEW YORK, PRNewswire -- On Tues day, Oct. 11, the Saks Fifth Avenue Foundation celebrated its ongoing commitment to support mental health with a cocktail fundraiser hosted by Executive Chairman of Saks and President of the Saks Fifth Avenue Foundation Richard Baker and Saks CEO Marc Metrick at L’Ave nue at Saks in New York City. The event raised $1.8 million to help strengthen the Founda tion’s mission to make mental health a priority in every community by increasing awareness and education, improving access to care, and promoting the tools and skills that build posi tive mental health for those who need it most.

“There is no doubt that the last two and a half years have challenged people around the world in unforeseen ways,” said Richard Bak er, Executive Chairman of Saks and President of the Saks Fifth Avenue Foundation. “The need for mental health support has never been more urgent, and we are grateful to our many partners who make our efforts possible through their generous donations. With this latest fund ing, we are able to continue supporting our nonprofit partners in delivering crucial mental health support to those in need.”

Since the Foundation’s founding in 2017, Saks Fifth Avenue and the Saks Fifth Avenue Foundation have donated more than $5.8 million for U.S. mental health initiatives and reached over 6.6 million individuals through programs that promote positive mental health, with a focus on allocating resources to under served communities. This year, the Foundation launched a $250,000 fund that will support grassroots, community-based organizations whose local efforts are critical in offering support to the health and wellbeing of those they serve.

“Five years ago, the Saks Fifth Avenue

Foundation embarked on a journey to make an impact on mental health, and today, we feel just as passionate about supporting this increasingly important cause,” noted Marc Metrick, CEO of Saks and Saks Fifth Avenue Foundation Board Member. “We are proud of the incredible work our nonprofit partners are doing to ensure that underserved communities and populations disproportionately affected by mental health issues receive critical access to care. We appreciate our many partners who make this work possible through their continued dedication to the Saks Fifth Avenue Foundation’s efforts.”

Guests at the fundraiser enjoyed a special performance by six-time GRAMMY Award-winning artist and pop culture icon, Dionne Warwick, who sang three of her top hits including “What The World Needs Now Is Love,” “That’s What Friends Are For,” and “If I Want To.” Dionne joins an impressive roster of legendary artists who have performed at the Foundation’s annual Fall Fundraiser, includ ing Patti LaBelle, Cyndi Lauper and Rufus Wainwright.

“There’s something that can be done about mental illness and it takes all of us to do that,” noted Ms. Warwick. “All we have to do is care, truly care, and always try to make peo ple smile. In the fight against mental illness, we need to be of service to our neighbors, our children, our friends and to our enemies too. Most importantly, just remember that we all can make a difference.”

The Saks Fifth Avenue Foundation thanks and recognizes key partners for their significant contributions, including American Express, Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP, Cap ital One, Kering, Simon Property Group and Wendy & Steven Langman.

La Roche-Posay and the Women’s Dermatologic Society Partner for Diversity in Dermatology Fellowship

NEW YORK, PRNewswire -- La Roche-Posay is proud to partner with the Women’s Dermatologic Society (WDS) to sponsor a Fellowship in the Department of Dermatology at Howard University’s College of Medicine for UIM medical students. The fellowship was created to support UIM candidates who are seeking additional clinical or research experi ence in dermatology prior to applying to residency.

Dermatology is one of the most com petitive medical specialties. It is also one of the least diverse, only second to ortho pedic surgery, where only 3% of derma tologists are Black. Medical students must match with a program to move forward into residency. This Fellowship hopes to increase representation in Dermatology by providing an opportunity to support those students whose application may need to be strengthened. A fellowship of this nature can be a step in securing a spot in derma tology residency programs.

During this year-long fellowship, the fellow will conduct translational and clin ical research in addition to participating in Howard University’s dermatology clinics and community outreach events.

About Fellowships:

Many Dermatology Fellowship programs are unfunded, which limits the number of people that can participate in them. Even if the candidate has the grades, talent and drive to become a fellow, they may not have the financial means to sup port themselves.

The Diversity in Dermatology Fellowship was designed by a committee from the Women’s Dermatologic Society, La Roche-Posay and Howard University to include the following:

A livable salary that includes a sti pend for health insurance

A grant for the fellow to conduct research in dermatology

Funding for Howard University’s dermatology professors to support the fellow’s learning

A travel stipend for the Fellow to attend match interviews as well as two family visits during the fellowship

This year’s Diversity in Dermatology fellow is Chidubem Okeke. Ms. Okeke is a 3rd year medical student at How ard University College of Medicine and Co-President of its Student Dermatology Society. She graduated from Cornell Uni versity with a B.S. in Nutritional Sciences and a Minor in Inequality Studies. She is primarily interested in understanding skin diseases that disproportionately affect skin of color patients to help reduce health disparities. Additional research interests include contact dermatitis, hidradenitis suppurativa, and diversity and inclusion in medical education. She is co-chair of the Scarring Alopecia Foundation’s Journey to Acceptance medical student working group, which offers support resources for those affected by scarring hair loss. As the WDS-La Roche-Posay Dermatology fellow, she is excited to continue pursuing her passions for dermatology research as well as patient education and outreach.

The partnership with WDS and La Roche-Posay, a leader in dermatolo gist-recommended skincare, with Howard University, a historically Black research university, brings together three separate institutions in the industries of academia and organized medicine for a visionary and first-of-its-kind collaboration.

Photo Credit: Erik Carter

PUBLICIST AND MEDIA CONSULTANT HONORED BY THE COOK COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS FOR HIS 30 PLUS YEARS OF SERVICE

(Chicago, Ill)- Deborah Sims- Cook County Commis sioner of the 5th District- along with Board President Toni Preckwinkle and the full Cook County Board of Commis sioners passed a resolution honoring the career of longtime Chicago area Publicist and Communications Consultant Sean Howard.

‘Sean has been a pillar of strength for so many of us in the Southland. Many have forgotten that Sean was once the television Spokesman for Cook County, Even as I set to now retire, I felt compelled to ensure that Sean would receive this honor by my colleagues. He is my friend for life “says Commissioner Deborah Sims.

Co-Sponsor of the resolution, Com missioner Dennis Deer added, “Sean is a class act that is always willing to assist, He has the best relationships with the media and is most careful in how he address es every reporter. I applaud him on this achievement.”

Finance Chairman John Daley contin ued, “I have known Sean for many years. He is well deserving of this honor. He has served well in his capacity including the government of Cook County. I wish him all the best in his future endeavors.”

Sean Howard has been the voice of many elected officials, municipalities, and entertainers for over two decades. He has been nicknamed by many through his pro fessional title, “The Spokesman.” Howard served as Assistant to Mayor Daley in the 90s and moved onto become the Chief Spokesman to the government of Cook County, Sean has also worked, served under, and represented many notables both locally and nationally. They include Mega Church clergyman Bishop Larry D. Trotter, popular comedian and actor Damon Williams, Movie Director Tyler Perry, basketball hall of famer Tim Hardaway, and so many more.

“Sean has served the Southland well and continues to help people from all walks of life. He has been such a source of strength for those to which he has assisted. I send

congratulations to he and his family.” says Commissioner Donna Miller

Commissioner Bill Lowry adds, “Sean not only has not only made an impact in the South Suburbs, but he has been on the front line for many issues in the City of Chicago as well. I concur with my colleagues in hon oring him in this fashion.

Sean is the CEO of STHMEDIA LTD. He serves as the lead contracted commu nications consultant and/or Spokesman for the governments of Calumet City, Lyn wood, the Village of Robbins, and the Vil lage of Matteson. He also is the contracted publicist/Spokesman for Illinois State Representative Debbie Meyers-Martin, Illinois State Representative Robert Rita and Rich Township Democratic Commit teeman and Supervisor Calvin Jordan. In addition, he is also contracted with various civic organizations, general businesses, and advocacy groups.

“To be recognized by the government body in which I once served as Spokes man, is an honor in which I will never forget. I am grateful to Commissioner Sims for her friendship and loyalty for over two decades. But also, for the other Commissioners that spoke so positively of my career.” says Sean Howard.

Howard adds, “I must thank the late former Senator William Shaw and the late Commissioner Robert Shaw for giving me the opportunity to launch my career by serving as their spokesperson. But that also led to former Harvey Mayor Eric Kellogg and eventu ally former Cook County Board President Todd H. Stroger. I have been blessed to have my career supported by strong African American men and women leaders who only wanted to see me succeed.”

Howard Concludes, “God has blessed me in spite of me. He has given me the best wife and children on earth flanked by five remarkable grandchildren. Without Tonya and our children, (Sean II, Joi Leah, Jazmyn, Chanel, Chyna, and Sean II) I would be empty.” says Howard.

THE HONORABLE DEBORAH SIMS, COOK COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

HONORING THE CAREER OF SEAN HOWARD

WHEREAS, Sean Howard is President & CEO of Howard & Associates Public Relations Firm. He has served as Spokesman for countless individuals, villages, municipalities, and counties for more than 25 years; and

WHEREAS, Having gained national prominence, Howard is the calm, trusted, familiar, and distinctive voice heard over radio waves, television, and throughout the internet. Using skillful com munication, he addresses some of the most challenging civic, social, and communal issues with tact and ease; and

WHEREAS, Additionally, he is the conduit for and among citizens, advocacy groups, and policymakers. As a philanthropist, he has contributed countless hours, resources, and finances to tackle and address issues including poverty, violence, and natural disasters; and

WHEREAS, Sean has several notable philanthropic achieve ments. He managed successful political campaigns throughout Cook County and helped establish legislation to address illegal adoption

practices; and

WHEREAS, He has delivered thousands of gallons of drinking water to Haiti, and the cities of Dallas, Houston, and Memphis. Sean Howard established racial injustice &; police brutality protests, alongside organizing efforts to assist families of gun violence victims. With a heart of gold, he also funds annual Christmas sprees for underprivileged families.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that I, Deborah Sims, Cook County Commissioner of the 5th Dis trict, along with Toni Preckwinkle, President, and the Cook County Board of Commissioners do hereby stand, and salute the wonderful career of Sean Howard; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a suitable copy of this Resolution be spread upon the official proceedings of this Honorable Body and that an official copy of the same be tendered to Sean Howard.

ROBBINS IS EXPECTED TO REPLACE 450 LEAD LINES FOR DRINKING WATER, WASTE

(Robbins, IL) The Vil lage of Robbins is proud to announce that they’re set to receive $4 million in funding to replace lead service lines with in the community. The funding is provided through the Illinois EPA’s State Revolving Fund. The State Resolving Fund pro vides low-interest loan funding for drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater projects. The Village of Robbins will receive 100 percent principal forgive ness for this loan. The Village of Robbins plans to replace ap proximately 450 lead services lines at various locations within the Village. Replacement will include complete water service replacement from the water main to the residential meter. This will be Phase One of a multi-phased project.

“It’s a beautiful time for The Village of Robbins to receive efforts that are greatly needed to advance the quality of life for our residents. We’re immensely grateful that we will be able to replace hundreds of lead lines for essential drinking water. The new lead lines will greatly help in the efforts for our new stormwater project, and we are excited. It’s a great time to be us,” says Mayor Darren Bryant.

The service lines that will be replaced are small pipes that carry drinking water from water mains into homes. Many older homes built before 1990 may have lead service lines or lead-containing plumb ing fixtures or faucets. Toxic metal can accumulate in the body over time and can enter drinking water when pipes or fixtures experience significant corrosion. Eliminating faulty lead service lines in homes will help to reduce lead exposure for residents. For more resourc es on lead service lines in your home, visit: https://www2. illinois.gov/epa/general_infor mation/in-your-home/Pages/ Resources-on-Lead.aspx.

THE VILLAGE OF ROBBINS IS SET TO RECEIVE $4,000,000 IN FUNDING TO REPLACE LEAD SERVICE LINES

COOK COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSION ERS HONORS SEAN HOWARD

THETA OMEGA CHAPTER TO CELEBRATE 100 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY

The Theta Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated will host a double celebration to commemorate its Centennial and to celebrate the payoff of its 30-year mortgage on its multimillion-dollar AKARAMA Foundation Community Service Center in 15 years. The Center is under the umbrella of the AKARAMA Foundation, the charitable arm of Theta Omega chapter.

The Chapter will honor these milestones with a Reception on Saturday, November 5 from 2-5 PM at the Center, 6220 S. Ingleside. The theme of the celebration is “100 Years of Sister hood and Service: Strengthening Our Community.” Founded on November 5, 1922, the chapter is hailed as one of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority’s premiere chapters. Theta Omega Chapter was the first Graduate Chapter in Chicago and boasts an illustrious history.

During the reception, members will reflect on the past 100 years and will make projections for the future. Several organizations such as Legal Aid Chicago, DLA Piper Law Firm, University of Chicago Office of Civic Engagement will be recognized and will receive expressions of appreciation for being sustained supporters through the years.

In making the announcement, Kimberley Egonmwan, Esq. President of the AKArama Foundation and Theta Omega chapter declared that the reception will hail the chapter’s Centennial milestone. Egonmwan also asserted: “Retiring the mortgage is a triumph and a reflection of the Foundation’s love and devotion to serving the community.”

Located in the heart of the Woodlawn community, the Center is heralded as a beacon of light. Under its roof is a service haven where programs are planned and hosted by mem bers who reach out to the community and provide information, tools and resources.

Egonmwan declared that the payoff of the Center rep resents the culmination of a dream by the Foundation members. “In illustrating their financial might, members pooled their

resources, combined their talents, crafted a plan, harnessed their strengths and executed their mission: to own, manage and control the Foundation’s direction and destiny. It is a powerful show of Black economic empowerment by African-American women.”

The President revealed that the early payoff was because aggressive fundraising efforts were mounted. Additionally, with extra-generous donations from members and substantial amounts bequeathed to the chapter, the mortgage was paid off in half the time.

During the event on Saturday November 5, members will host a symbolic “Burning of the Mortgage.”

The AKArama Community Service Center stands as a brick-and-mortar extension of the Foundation members’ passion, resolve and commitment to service. Under its roof, the Foundation has served millions, awarded over $1 million in scholarships and, overall, earned its designation as a citadel of service.

The acquisition and ownership of the Community Service Center is a major part of the arc of history of Theta Omega and the AKARAMA Foundation. In the 1990s, members began craving for a bigger space. These constant laments represented the tipping point that led to the eventual building of the Center. Audrey Cooper-Stanton, chapter president in 1999, led the charge. She put in motion a plan, assembled a team, and did the preliminary work that achieved results.

To seek support, Cooper-Stanton met with State Senator Emil Jones, Jr., who was also president of the State Senate.

Impressed with the community service focus, Jones directed Cooper-Stanton to prepare a plan capturing the vision. She crafted and submitted a proposal. Within a month, Coo per-Stanton received a commitment that the Foundation was awarded $500,000 from the Illinois First Fund. Additionally, the City sold the chapter eight parcels of land valued at $450,000 for a total of $1 per parcel. Reflecting on the significance of

these two developments Stanton-Cooper remarked: “With these two events, the Center went from a dream to a reality.”

The contractors charged with the overall project were Black-owned firms: The architect was Raymond Broady of RBA Architects; construction management was entrusted to UBM, Inc., whose president is Paul J. King, Jr.

In 2007, five years after the groundbreaking, the AKAra ma Foundation Community Service Center opened its doors to much fanfare and excitement.

Spotlighted among the attendees was State Senator Emil Jones, Jr. who was hailed for his role in giving life to the Center. Jones is invited to attend and will be applauded at the reception on November 5.

With pride, Egonmwan declared, “The AKArama Com munity Center is emblematic of the 100 years of service that defines the Foundation and the chapter. The Center has emerged as a service haven where programs are planned and hosted by members who reach out to the community and provide infor mation, tools and resources. We invite the public to participate in the many activities that take place at the Center.

The reception will be the first of three events to com memorate Theta Omega’s Centennial. Following are the other high-profile events and the dates:

• On Saturday November 12 the chapter will host a gala formal at the Marriott Hotel, 540 N. Michigan Avenue begin ning at 6:00 P.M. Members will reflect on 100 years of service through testimonials and anecdotes.

•On Sunday, November 13.the Centennial Celebration will culminate with a brunch, also at the Marriott, beginning at 11: A.M. Members will offer final words of praise and gratitude while looking forward to the second century.

To purchase tickets to the Centennial events and for more information, log on to https://www.eventbrite.com/e/celebrat ing-100-years-of-sisterhood-service-a-centennial-ball-tick ets-412891378227.

Improving Health Outcomes through Equity and Access

Betteraccess to healthcare equals better health outcomes. Biogen strives to increase access and address the barriers that patient populations face. Oftentimes, health outcomes depend on factors beyond the control of patients and their doctors. Dis parities across age, gender, race, ethnicity and socio economic level are some examples. One of the key parts to Biogen’s approach involves researching and understanding these issues as well as their compound ing factors, such as, inadequate representation in clin ical trials and limitations to accessing care. Overall, the goal is clear: improve health outcomes for Black, African American, Hispanic, Latino and other under served communities in Biogen’s main disease areas.

Research and Collaboration

Issues of culture awareness and mistrust remain prev alent alongside a host of other considerations prior to enrollment in a clinical trial. To address these issues, Biogen uses a multi-channeled health equity strate gy which includes incorporating diverse community perspectives and insights into our drug development and engaging with the community by partnering with organizations to educate, build awareness, establish trust, and drive health equity.

In partnership with the Center for Information and Study on Clinical Research Participation (CISCRP), Biogen formed a Community Advisory Board (CAB) of patient advocates from underserved and underrepre sented communities who co-develop honest and trans parent educational assets for patients, HCPs and clin ical trial sites to discuss the importance of diversity in clinical trials. The CAB has also advised on various program and study designs as well as the develop ment of Biogen Trial Link, a publicly facing website to learn more about and find clinical trials.

In collaboration with the National Minority Quality Forum (NMQF), Biogen launched the Clinical Trial Index and Clinical Trial Learning Community (CTLC) which uses U.S. heat maps of Medicare/Medicaid ben eficiary data by patient demographics and maps them against clinical trial site locations. This information seeks to identify the right sites in the right locations to meet patient needs. The CTLC launched as a vir tual space for local stakeholders and subject matter experts to integrate routines in local care networks to increase underrepresented and underserved popula tion participation in clinical trials.

Clinical Recruitment and Specific Disease Areas

As the clinical study recruitment begins, Biogen teams track and report their progress toward the study tar gets that represent the epidemiology of their respec tive disease. Given this commitment, 2021 had 100% of Phase 1–4 studies in the U.S. including a plan to recruit participants from underrepresented commu nities to ensure the study population is representa tive of the intended treatment population. They also launched an Internal Participant Demographic Dis tribution Dashboard to track and measure the demo graphic distribution of participants across programs and studies, and to compare directly to epidemiology targets. Within certain disease areas, Biogen has built community and faith-based outreach and education programs for disease awareness and general clinical trial education with trusted organizations such as HEAL Collaborative and Proximity Health Solutions.

In Alzheimer’s specifically, they have sponsored the Bright Focus Foundation’s Virtual Community Out reach Series, bringing sustained Alzheimer’s disease and clinical trial education and access to communities with an underrepresented focus. Additionally, Biogen co-developed a paper with the NMQF titled “A Road map for Real-World Evidence Generation in Alzhei mer’s Disease.” It highlights how real-world evidence can include larger patient populations that are his torically underrepresented in randomized controlled trials.

In Lupus, Biogen collaborated with Saira Z. Sheikh, M.D., Director of University of North Carolina (UNC) Rheumatology Lupus Clinic and Director of the Clin ical Trials Program at UNC’s Thurston Arthritis Re search Center, to gather insights on barriers to clini cal trial enrollment among underrepresented groups. These insights are being used to inform Biogen’s clin ical development programs in lupus and address eq uity in study participation. For the Phase 3 studies in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), Biogen set enrollment targets that reflect the prevalence of SLE in Black or African American and Hispanic and/or Latino communities to achieve appropriate represen tation. Through partnerships with community-based Proximity Health Solutions and faith-based HEAL Collaborative, along with expert panels of commu nity leaders, HCPs and patient advocates, they par

ticipated in seven events across the U.S. in 2021 to educate communities about lupus and clinical trial research.

A Holistic Approach to Inclusion and Equity

Beyond this commitment to the patients and their specific needs, Biogen also focuses on the workers in volved in clinical trials. In 2021, they joined the Asso ciation of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP) as part of ACRP Partners in Workforce Advancement™, which works to expand the diversity of the clinical re search workforce and to set and support standards for workforce competence.

Additionally, Biogen has fostered employee collabo ration to increase awareness of health equity needs cross-functionally. In 2021, they introduced a Health Equity Ideas Cafe Series to deepen organization-wide understanding of Biogen’s commitment, including representation in our clinical trials and equitable ac cess. The three-part series engaged internal and ex ternal guest speakers on themes of lupus awareness, patient voices and community partnerships, and equi table access to healthcare. In addition, Biogen hosted an event with John Sawyer, Ph.D., ABPP-CN and a board-certified clinical neuropsychologist of the Ochs ner Neuroscience Institute; and Donnie Batie, M.D., on successful approaches to caring for underrepre sented patients.

From their research into healthcare disparities and patients’ needs, Biogen’s approach to health equity is guided by the motivation to help those who have his torically been underserved. Concretely, this commit ment to health equity looks like: clinical trial diver sity, empowering underrepresented groups, engaging employees, and launching new tools to improve acces sibility.

Visit Biogen Trial Link to learn more about clinical trials and how you can support equity and access ef forts such as these.

Dave East and droppLabs Offer Fans the Opportunity to Executive Produce His Next EP

NEW YORK -- (BUSINESS WIRE) -- droppLabs, a lead ing subsidiary of dropp group (“Dropp”), a future-forward Web3 enabler, and Dave East, commercially and critically acclaimed music artist and actor in Wu-Tang: An American Saga, today announced the launch of the flagship program “Dave East Total Access.” The program allows 5,000 members to collaborate with Dave East’s team, become credited executive producers for his upcoming EP, and receive exclusive benefits.

“We are thrilled to work with Dave East on this Web3-en abled music experience that will turn fans and aspiring music industry professionals into credited executive producers on his next project,” said Gurps Rai, CEO and co-founder of drop pLabs. “This is the first experience of its kind that offers fans and those interested in the music industry real-world production experience and access to one of their favorite signed artists. As the digital age transforms how music is produced and con sumed, there is vast potential for creating new access to histori cally gated knowledge and experiences.”

As part of the program, Dave East Total Access Members will have exclusive access to a six-module interactive course with 21 hours of instructional content. The course will be taught by some of the biggest names in the business, including Dave and his cohorts, such as multi-platinum producer Buda Da Future, who has worked with some of rap’s biggest superstars, Gunna, Juice WRLD, Rick Ross, and many more. The immer sive program will prepare members to build & develop a career in the music industry.

The program will also utilize peer-to-peer learning with members working collaboratively with Dave East and his team. Members will also have the opportunity to be involved in various aspects of the EP production. The offering is designed to create a digitally democratized system of access to working in the music industry which was previously blocked. The Dave East Total Access program highlights the tangible utility of tokenized digital assets and immersive Web3 experiences that reimagine the relationship between artists and their fans.

“I’m excited to use Web3 technology to give my fans and aspiring music producers across the globe the chance to be a real part of one of my projects,” said Dave East. “This is the only project that lets members learn Web3 technology and build a valuable community while doing what we love most – making great music.”

Members will also receive a unique and tradeable Dave East NFT created by one of the industry’s most creative young artists, Marly McFly. “This is an innovative project combining the best of music, technology, art and education. I am thrilled to join Dave East and droppLabs to provide fans a truly unique experience,” said Marly McFly.

Memberships for the Dave East Total Access and additional details are now available at www.daveeasttotalaccess.com.

For more info, please visit www.dropplabs.io.

Clubhouse Media Group, Inc. Closes Promo Deal With Klay Thompson, Four-Time NBA Champion

LOS ANGELES, PRNews wire -- Clubhouse Media Group, Inc. (OTCMKTS: CMGR) (“CMGR”), an influencer-based social media firm and digital talent management agency, announced that they have finalized a brand promotional deal with four-time NBA champion and five-time NBA All-Star, Klay Thompson. Thompson was drafted by the Golden State Warriors in 2011. He holds the NBA regular season records for most points scored in a quarter and most three-pointers made in a game. Off the court, Thompson has become active on social media, boasting 13.4M followers on Instagram alone.

“It was a pleasure to work with James Barry, and Klay’s broad er team at Wasserman” said Alden Reiman, President

of The Reiman Agency. “They are best in class and a key partner which has allowed us to bolster our services to top brands.”

“The agency has been closing deals with brands and talent of the highest stature” said Amir Ben-Yo hanan, CEO of CMGR. “As we continue to grow our sales team, we can extend our reach and make a lasting impression in the digital advertising space.”

CMGR offers management, production, and deal-making services to its handpicked influ encers, a management division for individual influencer clients, and an investment arm for joint ventures and acquisitions for companies in the social media influencer space.

Follow CMGR on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ClubhouseCMGR

Passage to Host “Knostalgia” Hip-Hop/Martial Arts Festival in the Metaverse

WINCHESTER, Va., PRNewswire -- Passage, a platform for creating and connecting metaverse experiences, announced Knostalgia, a hip-hop / martial arts festival in partnership with rapper Philippe Prosper (better known as “Rap Is A Martial Art”).

Hosted in Passage with 3D video chat and spatial ized audio, the virtual event will feature the exclusive release and performance of Rap Is A Martial Art’s new project “Knostalgia” on Feb. 25.

The Knostalgia lineup will feature performances, talks, and appearances by prominent hip-hop and martial artists, including:

RZA of the WuTang Clan Martial Club, the fight choreographers from Everything Ev erywhere All At Once Cory Gunz

Mickey Factz

Additional per formers and speakers to be announced

“It’s been a long-time dream of mine to merge the worlds of hip-hop and martial arts in one event,” said Rap Is A Martial Art. “The Passage team shares my disruptive, out-of-the-box DNA. With top-notch 3D aesthetics and an unparalleled vision, they were the ideal partner and right hand to bring this experience to life. Hosting Knostalgia in the Passage metaverse is allowing us to create a one-of-a kind event with global reach, while maintaining a personal touch and delivering high artistic value.”

The brainchild of rapper and former Internation al Kung Fu Grand Champion Rap Is A Martial Art, Knostalgia is a first-of-its-kind event merging the worlds

of hip-hop and martial arts in an immersive virtual environment.

Fans interested in attending the festival can join the waitlist for tickets at RIAMAFest.com.

“As Martial Club, we have long prided ourselves in being on the cutting edge of martial arts in cinema,” said Daniel Mah, co-founder of Martial Club. “We are excited to work with Passage and Rap Is A Martial Art to contribute to a future where martial arts and hip-hop can be expe rienced on a whole new level in a virtual space. Innovation is key to the survival and evolution of our art form, and we believe the metaverse is the platform on which we can elevate it to the highest level.”

Knostalgia is hosted exclusively in Passage, a platform for building and connecting virtual and physical experiences. Attendees can join the festival via their internet browser on any device thanks to Passage’s in-browser streaming and 3D communication infrastructure. Passage is built with Unreal Engine 5, enabling high-end, real-time 3D graphics and immersive visuals.

This news follows the recent appointment of Passage CEO Caleb Applegate, a web3 and enter tainment industry veteran who is currently leading a $9.2M private sale of the project’s native PASG token. To date, the team behind Passage has worked with leading brands like Capitol Records, Amazon Studios, and American Girl to host custom experiences using Passage technology.

PRNewsfoto/Clubhouse Media Group, Inc

droppLabs and Dave East announce the launch of “Dave East Total Access.”

(Graphic: Business Wire)

cookcountyclerkil gov

OFFICIAL NOTICE OF ELECTION, SPECIMEN BALLOTS, REFERENDA/QUESTIONS OF PUBLIC POLICY & POLLING PLACES

Aviso oficial de elección, balota de muestra, referéndums/preguntas de política pública y lugares de votación

OFFICIAL NOTICE: IS HERBY GIVEN, by Karen A. Yarbrough, Cook County Clerk

that the General Election will be held in Suburban Cook County on: que la elección general se llevará acabo en los suburbios de Cook County en:

Tuesday, November 8, 2022

Martes, 8 de Noviembre 2022

The General Election will be held in election precincts under the jurisdiction of the Election Division of the Cook County Clerk's Office.

La eleccion general tomara acabo en precintos de eleccion bajo la jurisdicción de la división de eleccion del Cook County Clerk's Office

The Polls for said General Election will be open from 6 a m to 7 p.m. Locations are subject to change as necessity requires. Las urnas para tal eleccion general estarán abiertas de las 6 a m hasta las 7 p m Localidades están sujetas a cambio por necesidad

At the General Election the voters will vote on the following contests and referenda questions. Referenda/Questions of Public Policy will be voted upon in those precincts of Cook County under the jurisdiction of the Cook County Clerk in which a Unit of Local Government has requested the County Clerk’s Office to place said referenda/questions of public policy on the ballot.

En la eleccion general los votantes votaran por los siguientes puestos y cuestiones de referendo Referendos/Cuestiones de Política Pública serán votadas en aquellos precintos de Cook County bajo la jurisdicción del Cook County Clerk en la cual una unidad de gobierno local le ha pedido a la oficina del County Clerk que provea dicho referendo/cuestión de política pública en la boleta

TOWNSHIP OF THORNTON

OFFICIAL NOTICE OF REFERENDA/QUESTIONS OF PUBLIC POLICY

OFFICIAL NOTICE OF POLLING PLACES

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THORNTON 660 MANISTEE AVE CALUMET CITY 60409 Y 9500036 MART N LUTHER KING SCHOOL THORNTON 14535 SEELEY AVE D XMOOR 60426 Y 9500037 THORNTON TOWNSH P HALL THORNTON 333 E 162ND ST SOUTH HOLLAND 60473 Y 9500038 SCHOOL D STRICT 157 THORNTON 1255 SUPERIOR AVE CALUMET CITY 60409 Y 9500039 HAWK NS MULTI CENTER THORNTON 650 E PHOEN X CENTER DR PHOENIX 60426 Y 9500040 DIEKMAN SCHOOL THORNTON 15121 DORCHESTER AVE DOLTON 60419 Y 9500041 HAWK NS MULTI CENTER THORNTON 650 E PHOEN X CENTER DR PHOENIX 60426 Y 9500042 THORNTON TOWNSH P HALL THORNTON 333 E 162ND ST SOUTH HOLLAND 60473 Y 9500043 FIRST CHURCH PCA THORNTON 3134 R DGE RD LANSING 60438 Y 9500044 WASH NGTON SCHOOL THORNTON 13900 SCHOOL ST R VERDALE 60827 Y 9500045 LINCOLN SCHOOL THORNTON 14151 LINCOLN AVE DOLTON 60419 Y 9500046 PARK SCHOOL THORNTON 14200 WENTWORTH AVE R VERDALE 60827 Y 9500047 FIRST CHURCH PCA THORNTON 3134 R DGE RD LANSING 60438 Y 9500048 DOWNEY PARK THORNTON 300 JEFFREY AVE CALUMET CITY 60409 Y 9500049 MART N LUTHER KING SCHOOL THORNTON 14535 SEELEY AVE D XMOOR 60426 Y 9500050 OAK GLEN SCHOOL THORNTON 2101 182ND ST LANSING 60438 Y 9500051 CALVIN COOLIDGE SCHOOL THORNTON 17845 HENRY ST LANSING 60438 Y 9500052 RIVERDALE SCHOOL THORNTON 325 W 142ND ST R VERDALE 60827 Y 9500054 MC KINLEY SCHOOL THORNTON 850 E 170TH ST SOUTH HOLLAND 60473 Y 9500055 E SENHOWER SCHOOL THORNTON 16001 M NERVA AVE SOUTH HOLLAND 60473 Y 9500056 CALVIN COOLIDGE SCHOOL THORNTON 17845 HENRY ST LANSING 60438 Y 9500058 AMERICAN LEGION POST 330 THORNTON 950 LEGION DR CALUMET CITY 60409 Y 9500059 JESSE WH TE LEARN NG ACADEMY THORNTON 16910 WESTERN AVE HAZEL CREST 60429 Y 9500060 RILEY SCHOOL THORNTON 16001 LINCOLN AVE HARVEY 60426 Y 9500062 BURNHAM PATRIC A SENIOR CENTER THORNTON 13925 ENTRE AVE BURNHAM 60633 Y 9500063 THORNTON FRACT ONAL NORTH HIGH SCHOOL THORNTON 755 PULASKI RD CALUMET CITY 60409 Y 9500064 EVERETT DIRKSEN MIDDLE SCHOOL THORNTON 1650 PULASK RD CALUMET CITY 60409 Y 9500065 CALVIN COOLIDGE SCHOOL THORNTON 17845 HENRY ST LANSING 60438 Y 9500066 CHRIST COMMUN TY CHURCH THORNTON 1151 E 170TH ST SOUTH HOLLAND 60473 Y 9500067 DISTRICT 153 OFFICE THORNTON 18205 ABERDEEN ST HOMEWOOD 60430 Y 9500068 LANS NG PUBLIC LIBRARY THORNTON 2750 INDIANA AVE LANSING 60438 Y 9500069 BARACK H OBAMA LEARNING ACADEMY THORNTON 16448 S PARK AVE MARKHAM 60428 Y 9500070 RIVERDALE PARK DISTRICT THORNTON 14401 S STEWART AVE R VERDALE 60827 Y 9500072 LINCOLN SCHOOL THORNTON 14151 LINCOLN AVE DOLTON 60419 Y 9500073 MADISON SCHOOL THORNTON 15700 ORCHID DR SOUTH HOLLAND 60473 Y 9500074 SANDRIDGE F TNESS CENTER THORNTON 600 OGLESBY AVE CALUMET CITY 60409 Y 9500075 NEW LIFE CELEBRATION THORNTON 14243 DANTE AVE DOLTON 60419 Y 9500076 THORNTON TOWNSH P HALL THORNTON 333 E 162ND ST SOUTH HOLLAND 60473 Y 9500077 LESTER L LONG F ELDHOUSE THORNTON 14700 EVERS ST DOLTON 60419 Y 9500078 S BLEY SCHOOL THORNTON 1550 SIBLEY BLVD CALUMET CITY 60409 Y 9500079 OUR LADY OF KNOCK THORNTON 497 163RD ST CALUMET CITY 60409 Y 9500080 GLENWOOD F RE DEPARTMENT STATION 2 THORNTON 900 ARQU LLA DR GLENWOOD 60425 Y 9500081 E SENHOWER SCHOOL THORNTON 16001 M NERVA AVE SOUTH HOLLAND 60473 Y 9500082 THORNTON RECREAT ON CENTER THORNTON 701 HIGHLAND AVE THORNTON 60476 Y 9500083 BERGER VANDERBERG SCHOOL THORNTON 14833 AVALON AVE DOLTON 60419 Y 9500084 FAITH UNITED METHODIST CHURCH THORNTON 15015 GRANT ST DOLTON 60419 Y 9500085 BURNHAM COMMUNITY CENTER THORNTON 14020 TORRENCE AVE BURNHAM 60633 Y 9500086 FAITH UNITED METHODIST CHURCH THORNTON 15015 GRANT ST DOLTON 60419 Y 9500087 DOWNEY PARK THORNTON 300 JEFFREY AVE CALUMET CITY 60409 Y 9500089 E SENHOWER SCHOOL THORNTON 16001 M NERVA AVE SOUTH HOLLAND 60473 Y 9500090 SOUTH HOLLAND COMMUNITY CENTER THORNTON 501 E 170TH ST SOUTH HOLLAND 60473 Y 9500091 GREENWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL THORNTON 16801 GREENWOOD AVE SOUTH HOLLAND 60473 Y 9500092 V LLAGE OF SOUTH HOLLAND THORNTON 16226 WAUSAU AVE SOUTH HOLLAND 60473 Y 9500094 S BLEY SCHOOL THORNTON 1550 SIBLEY BLVD CALUMET CITY 60409 Y 9500096 RIVERDALE SCHOOL THORNTON 325 W 142ND ST R VERDALE 60827 Y 9500098 TRANSFORMAT ON COMMUN TY UN TED METHOD ST CHURCH THORNTON 15446 LEXINGTON AVE HARVEY 60426 Y 9500101 BRYANT SCHOOL THORNTON 14730 MAIN ST HARVEY 60426 Y 9500102 MAYA ANGELOU ELEMENTARY SCHOOL THORNTON 15748 PAGE AVE HARVEY 60426 Y 9500103 BRYANT SCHOOL THORNTON 14730 MAIN ST HARVEY 60426 Y 9500107 THORN CREEK REFORMED CHURCH THORNTON 1875 E 170TH ST SOUTH HOLLAND 60473 Y 9500108 THORNTON TOWNSH P H GH SCHOOL THORNTON 15041 MORGAN ST HARVEY 60426 Y 9500109 HOLMES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL THORNTON 16000 CARSE AVE HARVEY 60426 Y 9500110 K CH SCHOOL THORNTON 191 W 155TH PL HARVEY 60426 Y 9500111 WH TTIER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL THORNTON 71 E 152ND ST HARVEY 60426 Y 9500112 TAFT SCHOOL THORNTON 393 E 163RD ST HARVEY 60426 Y 9500113 K CH SCHOOL THORNTON 191 W 155TH PL HARVEY 60426 Y 9500115 MADISON SCHOOL THORNTON 15700 ORCHID DR SOUTH HOLLAND 60473 Y 9500116 TAFT SCHOOL THORNTON 393 E 163RD ST HARVEY 60426 Y 9500117 OAK GLEN SCHOOL THORNTON 2101 182ND ST LANSING 60438 Y 9500118 FREEDOM VILLAGE THORNTON 935 MAPLE AVE HOMEWOOD 60430 Y 9500120 EVERETT DIRKSEN MIDDLE SCHOOL THORNTON 1650 PULASK RD CALUMET CITY 60409 Y 9500121 BERGER VANDERBERG SCHOOL THORNTON 14833 AVALON AVE DOLTON 60419 Y 9500122 SOUTH HOLLAND COMMUNITY CENTER THORNTON 501 E 170TH ST SOUTH HOLLAND 60473 Y

DOLTON 60419

9500009 EVERETT DIRKSEN MIDDLE SCHOOL THORNTON 1650 PULASK RD CALUMET CITY 60409

9500011 AMERICAN LEGION POST 330 THORNTON 950 LEGION DR CALUMET CITY 60409

9500012 EHINGER BROTHERS VFW POST 8141 THORNTON 664 HIRSCH AVE CALUMET CITY 60409

9500013 W C REAV S SCHOOL THORNTON 17121 ROY ST LANS NG 60438

9500015 LESTER L LONG FIELDHOUSE THORNTON 14700 EVERS ST DOLTON 60419

9500016 CALVIN COOLIDGE SCHOOL THORNTON 17845 HENRY ST LANS NG 60438

9500017 LANS NG POLICE DEPARTMENT THORNTON 2710 170TH ST LANS NG 60438

9500018 LANS NG PUBL C LIBRARY THORNTON 2750 INDIANA AVE LANS NG 60438

9500019 OAK GLEN SCHOOL THORNTON 2101 182ND ST LANS NG 60438

9500020 THORNTON VILLAGE HALL THORNTON 115 E MARGARET ST THORNTON 60476

9500021 GREENWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL THORNTON 16801 GREENWOOD AVE SOUTH HOLLAND 60473

Dated

A. Yarbrough

County Clerk

MONEY

How to Get a Handle on Overdraft Fees

(StatePoint) When your bank account balance is low, life can be stressful. For example, when it’s time to pay large expenses that can’t wait, like car loan payments or monthly rent, it’s all too easy to overdraft a bank account.

In fact, U.S. consumers pay billions of dollars a year in overdraft fees for covering all types of purchases, both large and small.

There is no doubt that overdraft fees serve as a pain point for many consumers, and as the issue of overdraft continues to be discussed and debated, several banks have taken different approaches in response.

Some have taken steps to address overdrafts, mostly by eliminating fees or eliminating the ability to overdraft completely.

Alternatively, PNC Bank now offers a solution that provides customers with greater control in these circumstances. Low Cash Mode, a tool that offers transparency and choices to help customers avoid fees by managing low-cash moments or mistimed payments, is a feature available in the PNC Virtual Wallet account through the PNC Bank Mobile app. The feature notifies you when your available balance is near or below zero and gives you at least 24 hours (and often more) to bring a negative balance to at least $0 through a deposit or funds transfer before incurring a fee. It also

gives you the choice of whether to pay or return certain pending checks and electronic payments when your balance is nearing negative territory.

The Value of Overdraft

The ability to choose to overdraft can help consumers avoid bigger repercussions like credit impacts and loss of access to banking that unpaid bills or late payments can cause. Allowing customers to make their critical payments – albeit for a small fee – sometimes makes a difference that helps allow them to stay in the banking system.

For example, if you opt to pay your rent or car payment – and avoid a penalty or a negative impact to your credit score by simply paying an overdraft fee – then the option to overdraft has provided a value.

“Removing the ability to overdraw an account doesn’t address the fact that many customers need to pay bills, even during temporary cash shortfalls,” says Alex Overstrom, head of Retail Banking at PNC Bank. “The key is that the consumer should be making the decision to incur or avoid fees, not just the bank.”

Control Pays Off

This level of control has demonstrated real results. PNC reports that 64% of customers who have a negative-balance event cure their account in time to avoid incurring a fee.

“Sometimes people just need a little more time to cover important expenses,” says Overstrom. “And in these moments, they should have choices to make things right.”

Is Your Wallet Recession-Proof?

(StatePoint) As inflation continues to put a strain on budgets, talk of an upcoming recession has Americans worried about their finances. Prices on everyday items continue to rise and consumers are trying to find ways to make their dollar stretch further while safeguarding their money against the potential challenges a recession may bring. The future may be difficult to predict, but preparing now can help consumers protect their financial health during a recession.

A recent Experian survey found that two in three U.S. adults are concerned about a recession occurring in the United States. Consumers are most worried about the affordability of routine expenses, with 73% concerned that the price of everyday items like gas, groceries and rent will continue to rise to a level they can’t afford. Meanwhile, 55% harbor supply chain concerns and 38% are stressed about the affordability of big, planned purchases such as a home or a car.

As recession worries grow, more Americans are sizing up their finances to see where they stand. Only 48% are confident that they can financially handle a recession, and two in five believe that they’ll need to rely on credit to cover essential and unexpected expenses over the next three months. In fact, 27% have already increased their credit card debt within the past three months. This trend is accompanied by additional anxieties: two in three survey respondents are concerned to some degree that their credit score will negatively affect their ability to access credit in the next three months.

Being proactive is key to weathering financial storms, yet less than half of consumers have prepared for a recession when it comes to their finances and credit. Those who have are finding different ways to do so: 49% have cut non-essential expenses like entertainment and vacations, 45% have created a budget and 40% have paid down debt.

While these are effective actions, there are other steps consumers can take to understand their credit history and safeguard their credit.

Consumers should check their credit report and credit score regularly to know exactly where they stand in the event that they need to apply for credit, or simply to be better informed as they prepare to pay down their debt ahead of an economic decline. They can get a free credit report and credit score from Experian (Spanish-language credit reports are also available) as well as access to free financial tools, an auto insurance shopping service and credit card marketplace.

Those who need help increasing their credit score can sign up for Experian Boost. This free feature enables consumers to add their monthly payments for cell phone bills, utility bills, rent and video streaming services to their credit history to potentially increase their FICO Score instantly. To learn more, visit experian.com/boost.

“Inflation and recession fears are putting pressure on consumer’s finances, but proactively planning for the worst can help consumers make it through potential challenges. Many consumers are already taking great steps to prepare, like creating a budget and paying down their debt, and we encourage them to utilize other available resources and tools to help,” says Rod Griffin, senior director of Public Education and Advocacy at Experian.