Chicago Weekend 2-06-2019 by CITIZEN NEWSPAPERS

Citizen DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. STREET HAS RICH HISTORY — PAGE 3 Week of Feb. 6, 2019

| Vol. 50 | No. 6 | www.thechicagocitizen.com

CHICAGO WEEKEND

Taste for the Homeless was recently held at Columbus Park, 500 S. Central Ave., and provided food, resources, and compassion to homeless Chicagoans. Photo Credit: Provided by SocialWorks

TASTE FOR THE HOMELESS CONNECTS VULNERABLE CHICAGOANS WITH RESOURCES AND COMPASSION There are about 80,000 homeless Chicagoans, according to the Chicago Homeless Coalition, and Michael Airhart has made it his life mission to provide as many resources as he can for those individuals. Most days, Airhart can be found working in the streets and shelters across the city providing food and compassion to the less fortunate. PAGE 2

BUSINESS

NEWS

ENTERTAINMENT

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The HistoryMakers Kicks Off Black History Month with a One-On-One Interview As Part of its Groundbreaking Business Initiative

Inspired by children who are visually impaired, X-Marks the Spot creates a theater event for everyone

Stories untold: Carbondale woman chronicles Southern Illinois’ black Civil War soldiers |

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2 | CITIZEN | Chicago Weekend | Week of Feb 6, 2019

NEWS briefly EDUCATION

THE PRINCETON REVIEW HAS RELEASED ITS ANNUAL “BEST VALUE COLLEGES” BOOK AND RANKINGS IN SEVEN CATEGORIES FOR 2019 The Princeton Review® recently released the 2019 edition of The Best Value Colleges: 200 Schools with Exceptional ROI for Your Tuition Investment. This annual book and its seven ranking lists (which focus on different aspects of financial aid and career preparation) is The Princeton Review’s guide for college shoppers seeking affordable, academically outstanding colleges that stand out for their success at guiding students to rewarding careers. The book’s ranking lists can be found at https:// www.princetonreview.com/college-rankings/ best-value-colleges. “Only 7% of the nation’s four-year colleges made it into this book,” noted Robert Franek, its lead author and The Princeton Review’s Editor-in-Chief. “We salute them for their stellar academics and generous aid awards to students based on need and/or merit. They also provide their undergrads with career services from day one plus strong networks of alumni connections.”

HEALTH

EMANUEL ANNOUNCES STRONGER RULES TO REDUCE THE HARM TO PUBLIC HEALTH FROM AIR POLLUTION, MANGANESE Mayor Rahm Emanuel recently announced that the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) has implemented stronger rules governing industries to further reduce the harm to public health from air pollution, including manganese. Specifically, CDPH strengthened the City’s Bulk Materials Rules to enhance monitoring requirements for all bulk solid material facilities and establish new requirements for facilities that handle unpackaged manganese-bearing materials. Manganese is a naturally-occurring substance that is used to make steel. A small amount of it in the diet is important to stay healthy, but if inhaled at excess amounts it can be harmful to the brain.

LAW & POLITICS

CHICAGO-KENT OFFERS SPRING 2019 SESSION OF THE AMERICAN LEGAL SYSTEM IN POPULAR CULTURE, A COURSE FOR VISITORS TO THE UNITED STATES Chicago-Kent College of Law is offering a six-credit course called, The American Legal System in Popular Culture to students seeking an introduction to the American legal system and how it is portrayed in modern media. The course is targeted at au pairs and others visiting the United States who are interested in a broad understanding of the nation’s legal system and its role in shaping American culture. The course is limited to students not regularly enrolled at Chicago-Kent College of Law or Illinois Institute of Technology and it’s designed for students visiting from other countries with a limited understanding of or exposure to the American legal system. Students must be fluent in English and able to participate in class discussions and prepare various written assignments, including a five- to seven-page paper at the conclusion of the course.The course will be offered on May 17 to 19, 2019, at Chicago-Kent College of Law, 565 West Adams Street, Chicago, Illinois. For more information, contact Professor Kari Johnson at kjohnson@kentlaw.iit.edu.

Taste For The Homeless Connects Vulnerable Chicagoans With Resources And Compassion Continued from page 1 BY KATHERINE NEWMAN

There are about 80,000 homeless Chicagoans, according to the Chicago Homeless Coalition, and Michael Airhart has made it his life mission to provide as many resources as he can for those individuals. Most days, Airhart can be found working in the streets and shelters across the city providing food and compassion to the less fortunate. A few years ago, Airhart decided to take his commitment to Chicago’s homeless population to the next level and founded Taste for the Homeless, an event that brings homeless individuals from across the city to one central location where they can receive free food, clothing, haircuts, entertainment, and fellowship. “About six or seven years ago, I was at the Taste of Chicago and I was in line getting something to eat and some homeless guys came up and they asked the guy in the booth

if they could have something to eat,” said Airhart. “They turned them away and I was hurt by that. After that day, God put it on my heart and gave me a dream with the Taste for the Homeless idea.” The most recent Taste for the Homeless event was held on Jan. 27 at Columbus Park, 500 S. Central Ave., and Airhart was able to partner with SocialWorks, a nonprofit organization founded by Chance the Rapper, to host and organize the event. “We made sure they got everything they needed, whether that was personal hygiene products, clothes, coats, or food. Throughout each season from winter to fall, we want to be able to provide them with the items that they need,” said Airhart. “All these companies came out and put a lot of love in their food and [the homeless attendees] said they had never experienced anything like this before.” Airhart works with local shelters to invite individuals to the event and supplies the

transportation for them to go from the shelter to the event where they are met with a nurturing and inclusive environment to socialize in and an opportunity to receive and seek their most needed survival items. “The families that were there from the shelters and their kids were giving me hugs and thanking me. They said that they had never been to anything like this ever in their life,” said Airhart. “They were able to go shopping and get their haircut and get their nails done for free. They said it was amazing and that they have never, ever experienced anything like that. They were so grateful for everything.” Now that the Taste for the Homeless Winter Festival has ended, Airhart is already looking forward to the Summer Festival which is scheduled to take place on June 22. He said there will be “some amazing stuff ” taking place at the upcoming summer festival. To learn more about the Taste for the Homeless visit www.socialworkschi.org.

Birmingham Seeks to Restore Previously Rescinded Honor to Angela Davis BY STACY M. BROWN NNPA Newswire Correspondent @StacyBrownMedia

Human and Civil Rights Activist Angela Davis turned 75 recently and family, fans, and supporters took to social media and other platforms to salute the freedom fighter and Birmingham, Alabama native. “Happy birthday, Dr. Davis,” Tweeted the official account of Smithsonian Folkways, the nonprofit record label of Smithsonian. “Today, we celebrate the birthday of activist/educator/author Angela Davis, who has spent decades fighting for civil and human rights all over the world,” Smithsonian Folkways tweeted. Born Jan. 26, 1944, Davis became a master scholar who studied at the Sorbonne. She joined the U.S. Communist Party and was jailed for charges related to a prison outbreak, though ultimately cleared, according to biography.com. Known for books like, “Women, Race & Class,” Davis has worked as a professor and activist who advocates gender equity, prison reform and alliances across color lines. Davis grew up in a middle-class neighborhood dubbed “Dynamite Hill,” due to many of the African-American homes in the area that were bombed by the Ku Klux Klan. She’s perhaps best known as a

radical African-American educator and activist for civil rights and other social issues and, according to her biography, Davis knew about racial prejudice from her experiences with discrimination growing up in Alabama. As a teenager, Davis organized interracial study groups, which were broken up by the police. She also knew some of the four African-American girls killed in the Birmingham church bombing of 1963. Meanwhile, on the eve of her birthday, CNN reported that an Alabama civil rights group that rescinded an award for Davis announced it had “learned from its mistakes” over the controversial move and have requested Davis accept the honor after all. The move comes after the group’s board of directors recently issued a “public apology for its missteps in conferring, then rescinding, its nomination of Dr. Angela Y. Davis in early January.” It is not known whether Davis will attend. CNN said it has reached out to her for comment. Birmingham Civil Rights Institute President and CEO, Andrea Taylor, said in a statement that “Dr. Angela Davis, a daughter of Birmingham, is highly regarded throughout the world as a human rights activist. “In fact, the Schlesinger Library at Harvard University’s Radcliffe Institute of Advanced Study acquired her personal

CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH

archives in 2018, recognizing her significance in the movement for human rights, her involvement in raising issues of feminism, as well as her leadership in the campaign against mass incarceration. Her credentials in championing human rights are noteworthy.” The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute initially intended to honor Davis with its 2018 Reverend Fred L. Shuttlesworth Human Rights Award in February. But the group earlier this month rescinded the honor following opposition. Withdrawing the award came after “supporters and other concerned individuals and organizations, both inside and outside of our local community, began to make requests that we reconsider our decision,” the institute’s board said in a statement at the time, according to the CNN report. “Upon closer examination of Ms. Davis’ statements and public record, we concluded that she unfortunately does not meet all of the criteria on which the award is based,” the statement said. Mayor Randall Woodfin, who said he regretted the board’s move, said protests were made “by some members of the community, Jewish and otherwise.” Reacting to the decision, Davis said that “although the BCRI refused my requests to reveal the substantive reasons for this action, I later learned that my long-term support of justice for Palestine was at issue.”

Reacting to the decision, Davis said that “although the BCRI refused my requests to reveal the substantive reasons for this action, I later learned that my long-term support of justice for Palestine was at issue.” In this photo, Davis is pictured in 2010. Photo credit: DILINHOS

Davis said she was stunned by the move. “I have devoted much of my own activism to international solidarity and, specifically, to linking struggles in other parts of the world to US grassroots campaigns against police violence, the prison industrial complex and racism more broadly. “The rescinding of this invitation and the cancellation of the event where I was scheduled to speak was thus not primarily an attack against me but rather against the very spirit of the indivisibility of justice,” she said.

CITIZEN | Chicago Weekend | Week of Feb 6, 2019

NEWS

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street has rich history BY WENDELL HUTSON Contributing Writer

Across the world, the street, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., can be found more than 900 times including on Chicago’s South Side. In Chicago, the street spans 14 miles and begins just south of East Cermak Road and four blocks east of South Michigan Avenue before ending at 115th Street. And King Drive, as it is often referred to, runs through predominantly black, South Side neighborhoods like Chatham, Woodlawn, Roseland, and Bronzeville. After first being named Grand Boulevard and then South Park Way, it was renamed Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in 1968 thanks to the late Alderman Leon Despres (5th), a white King supporter who first sponsored an ordinance to rename a street after King. Despres originally wanted MLK Street to be located downtown, but the late Mayor Richard J. Daley chose to support a South Side location instead. King Drive is a busy thoroughfare on the South Side and anytime you have a main street located in your community, it could help boost the local economy, said Alderman Pat Dowell (3rd), whose ward includes Bronzeville. “I think King Drive has contributed to the economic vitality of Bronzeville,” explained Dowell. “King Drive is lined with historic churches like Liberty Baptist, South Park Baptist and Metro-

After first being named Grand Boulevard and then South Park Way, it was renamed Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in 1968. In Chicago the street spans 14 miles and begins just south of East Cermak Road and four blocks east of South Michigan Avenue before ending at 115th Street. Photo by Wendell Hutson.

politan Apostolic Community Church where you have tremendous history that has happened.” According to Timuel Black, 100, a Chicago historian, King streets are located in predominantly black neighborhoods throughout the country. Black, also a civil rights activist, added that he helped King, a Baptist minister, organize protest marches when he came to Chicago including on the West Side where King had an apartment. And the Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, founder of the Rainbow PUSH Coali-

tion, said he too assisted King when he visited Chicago by running a Chicago chapter of an economic empowerment program called Operation Breadbasket to get companies to hire more blacks and contractors. Jackson was with King when he was shot dead on April 4, 1968 at age 39 while standing on a motel balcony in Memphis, Tenn. At age 35, King became the youngest person to receive the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964. In an interview with the National Geographic magazine, Daniel D’Oca, a Harvard University professor, said

“Once you name a street after someone like King, you better be certain that you maintain the street as a monument to him, so that if he were to come back and visit the street, he would be proud.” However, one community activist said more needs to be done to keep King’s dream alive. “The street name itself represents a great person, but I don’t believe we as a community are doing anything to enhance the true meaning of the man who we honor,” said Richard Wooten, president of the nonprofit Greater Chatham Alliance. “I would like to see

MLK Street expanded just as Pulaski Road and other streets named after prominent people [were extended].” Wooten, a Chatham resident and aldermanic candidate for the sixth ward, which represents Chatham, Park Manor and parts of Englewood, added that blacks must do the ‘leg’ work in making sure King’s sacrifices do not go unnoticed. “As a servant, Dr. King took a stance and dedicated his life for the change that many of us are now benefiting from,” said Wooten. “It’s important that we keep up the fight and educate our young, so that we don’t allow history to repeat itself.” Born to the Rev. Martin L. King Sr. and Alberta Williams, King was one of three children. His birthday is Jan. 15, but is observed nationally as Martin Luther King Jr. Day on the third Monday of January each year as a federal holiday. In 1983, the late President Ronald Reagan signed legislation recognizing the day as a national holiday, and on Jan. 20, 1986, the first King Day was observed. D’Oca added that the total number of MLK streets globally is 1,000 including several in Germany where King’s father, also a Baptist preacher, got the idea to name him after he visited Berlin in 1934. King Jr. was 5-years-old when his father changed both his first name and his firstborn to Martin from Michael. Wooten said the best way he can describe King is “a man of courage who sacrificed his life for the sake of equality.”

A Slave’s African Medical Science Saves the Lives of Bostonians During the 1721 Smallpox Epidemic BY STACY M. BROWN NNPA Newswire Correspondent @StacyBrownMedia

With another Black History Month upon us, the observance of Black Excellence, Black Girl Magic, Black Power and other invigorating movements of the African American begins to take center stage. From Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., to Malcolm X and also many of the world’s greatest Black athletes and entertainers, the country celebrates their achievements. While some may never tire of hearing about the greatness of Civil Rights leaders, famous black athletes and renowned entertainers, Black History Month also represents a time to focus on the unsung. “I’d like to read about people who made impacts but are not entertainers, musicians, and those we hear about every Black History Month,” said Kisha A. Brown, the founder

and CEO of Justis Connection, a service that connects the top legal talent of color to local communities. “The Black Press is an aspect of the fabric of the Black existence in America that is not getting enough attention or support from the community. We rally to support athletes and artists who are ‘wronged’ by the system, but we fail to honor is the voice of the Black Press that has been capturing our stories for centuries,” Brown said. “Long before Black Twitter and online blogs, and so the Black Press is not only an essential voice but it is also a historical and cultural archaeological goldmine that we must preserve,” she said.

In an email, Laurie Endicott Thomas, the author of “No More Measles: The Truth About Vaccines and Your Health,” said the most important person in the history of American medicine was an enslaved African whose real name we do not know. “His slave name was Onesimus, which means useful in Latin. The Biblical Onesmius ran away from slavery but was persuaded to return to his master,” Thomas said. “The African-American Onesimus was the person who introduced the practice of immunization against smallpox to North America. This immunization process was called variolation because it involved real smallpox. Variolation led to sharp decreases in the death rate from smallpox and an important decrease in overall death rates,” she said. Thomas’ thoughts jelled with a Harvard University study and a Boston WGHB report from 2016 which noted that after 150 years, Jack Daniels finally came clean that its famed

CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH

whisky recipe came courtesy of a Tennessee slave. “This is – of course – by no means the only example of a slave’s contribution to American industry and culture being, at worst, stolen and, at best, minimized or completely forgotten. There was Baltimore slave Benjamin Bradley’s steam engine. “And a Mississippi slave known only as Ned’s cotton scraper. And then, there was Boston’s own Onesimus. “While Massachusetts was among the first states to abolish slavery, it was also one of the first to embrace it. In 1720’s Boston, buying a human being was apparently an appropriate way thank to your local man of God.” “He was presented to Cotton Mather by his congregation as a gift, which is, of course, extremely troubling,” Brown University history professor Ted Widmer told WGHB. Cotton Mather was a true puritan. A tower Continued on page 6

4 | CITIZEN | Chicago Weekend | Week of Feb 6, 2019

BUSINESS The HistoryMakers Kicks Off Black History Month on PBS with a One-On-One Interview Program As Part of its Groundbreaking Business Initiative The HistoryMakers has announced the oneon-one interview program, An Evening With Ken Chenault. The hour-long program provides a rare, inside, look into the life and career of one of America’s most successful CEOs – Ken Chenault. The program is hosted by CBS sportscaster and NFL network host James “J.B.” Brown and serves up a master class on corporate and civic leadership featuring interviews from those who know and have worked with Chenault during his phenomenal career. Viewers will hear from Chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway Warren Buffett; former Xerox CEO Ursula Burns; Merck CEO Kenneth C. Frazier; Lazard Freres Senior Managing Director Vernon E. Jordan, Jr.; Media legend Oprah Winfrey; Co-Founder and Co-Executive Chairman of The Carlyle Group David Rubenstein; former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg; Harvard President Larry Bacow and former Harvard University President Drew Faust; NBA legends and Hall of Famers Julius “Dr. J” Erving and Earvin "Magic" Johnson Jr.; Chair of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts Katherine Farley; his sons Kenneth and Kevin Chenault and his wife, Kathryn Chenault, among many others. An Evening With Ken Chenault peers behind the veil of Chenault’s rise to the head of one of the world’s most successful companies, and sheds light

BusinessMakers will focus on adding 150 additional interviews of noted African American business leaders to its collection – increasing The HistoryMakers over the next two to three years.

on his effective leadership as well as his legacy. In 2014, it was announced that the Library of Congress would serve as the permanent repository for The HistoryMakers Collection. Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden, interviewed by The HistoryMakers in 2010, added, “The HistoryMakers archive provides invaluable first-person accounts of both well-known and unsung AfricanAmericans, detailing their hopes, dreams and accomplishments—often in the face of adversity,

this culturally important collection is a rich and diverse resource for scholars, teachers, students and documentarians seeking a more complete record of our nation’s history and its people.” To date, the organization has interviewed more than 3,200 HistoryMakers, with the goal of creating an archive of 5,000 interviews (30,000 hours) for the establishment of a one-of-a-kind digital archive. A 501 (c) (3) national non-profit organization

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headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, is dedicated to recording and preserving the personal histories of well-known and unsung African Americans. It is the largest video oral history archive of its kind, and the only massive attempt, since the WPA Slave Narratives of the 1930’s, to record the African American experience in the first voice. The HistoryMakers unique context can be aggregated and packaged for delivery in a variety of distribution formats for different audiences such as corporations, higher education, museums and media. Currently, the history of African Americans in business make up less than one percent of Harvard Business School case studies, and there are no dedicated exhibits or collection of African American business leaders in any of the nation’s repositories. BusinessMakers will focus on adding 150 additional interviews of noted African American business leaders to its collection – increasing The HistoryMakers over the next two to three years. Check your local listings for An Evening With Ken Chenault on Saturday, February 23, on WNET in New York, NY at 1:00 p.m. For more information, visit The HistoryMakers website at: http://www.pbs.org/program/eveningken-chenault/ and to view trailer of An Evening With Ken Chenault at https://www.pbs.org/show/ evening-ken-chenault/

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in people’s lives when they get their finances together,” says Brittney Castro, a Los Angeles-based Certified Financial Planner (CFP) professional. “It’s a great feeling because I know I helped them get there.” 3. It offers freedom and flexibility. Talk to successful CFP professionals and you will learn that what many of them value most in their work is the freedom and flexibility to balance their personal and professional lives. 4. It’s not a one-size-fits-all career. From striking out on your own to working at firms big and small, there are a variety of possible pathways in this profession. Nearly one in four personal financial planners are selfemployed, according to BLS. 5. It allows you to build your future by helping others. From budgeting and planning for retirement to managing taxes and insurance coverage, financial planners help clients bring all the pieces of their financial lives together to achieve their dreams. But beyond the personal satisfaction of helping others, there are financial rewards, too. The median pay for personal financial planners is $89,000, according to BLS. To learn more about financial planning careers, visit www.cfppro. org.

CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH

CITIZEN | Chicago Weekend | Week of Feb 6, 2019

CELEBRATING

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Stories untold Carbondale woman chronicles Southern Illinois’ black Civil War soldiers BY GABRIEL NEELY-STREIT The Southern

MOUND CITY — For 50 years, Corene McDaniel has walked through the rows of graves at Mound City National Cemetery to visit her father, who lies in rest there alongside thousands of other veterans. But it was only a few years ago that she noticed an abbreviation chiseled into some of the oldest white headstones: USCT. It stands for United States Colored Troops, she learned — the name given to about 200,000 black men who fought for the Union in the Civil War. Representing some 10 percent of the entire Union Army, and 25 percent of its Navy, the men played an instrumental role in preserving our nation’s unity and cementing the freedom promised to them by the Emancipation Proclamation. However, McDaniel discovered, very little is known about the USCT servicemen buried at Mound City. “We know they’re here, but not necessarily where they are, or how many,” McDaniel said. She spoke to Mound City Cemetery representative Alex Kment, who contacted the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in Washington, D.C. “They said the best way to start was to walk and document,” McDaniel said. In the last year, McDaniel, walking alone or with friends and family, has identified 350 USCT graves. “It’s an experience that gives you goosebumps,” McDaniel said. “It is so wonderful to walk here peacefully and know that all of these soldiers have served this country.” She’s got all the soldiers’ names written in a pocket-sized pink-andblue notebook, plus the numbers on their headstones, which indicate their location in the cemetery. “Felix Mattingly, 4497; Thomas Richardson, 4498; Calee Prewitt, 4452; Solomon Brooks, F4465.” McDaniel, of Carbondale, hopes her records can be added to the directory at the cemetery museum, allowing future visitors to more easily find and visit the USCT graves. That could benefit history buffs, and even families, who frequently visit the cemetery in search of Civil War-veteran relatives, Kment said. But McDaniel has a second, more ambitious goal. She wants to tell the stories of these soldiers. “I’m interested in the contribution that was made,” McDaniel said.

A headstone at Mound City National Cemetery shows the abbreviation U.S.C.T., which stands for United States Colored Troops, the name given to black soldiers who served in the Civil War. Gabriel Neely-Streit, The Southern

“There may be so many people that do not know the role they played. In the Civil War we’re thinking about slavery, and not necessarily the sacrifice these soldiers made.” Their service was indispensable. “Without the military help of the black freedmen, the war against the South could not have been won,” President Abraham Lincoln said in 1865. Black soldiers were prohibited from joining the Union Army until about a year after the war began, when Congress passed the Militia Act of 1862 recognizing the urgent need for black soldiers. Freedmen from throughout the North enlisted at a staggering rate, with some even returning to the U.S. from Canada to serve. USCT recruitment intensified with the Emancipation Proclamation, issued on Jan. 1, 1863. The Proclamation freed slaves in secessionist Southern states and publicly announced that any who so desired would be welcomed into the Union military. “Make no mistake, the Emancipation Proclamation was aimed at Southern slaves,” said Frank Smith, director of the African American Civil War Memorial and Museum in Washington, D.C. “But it came with an asterisk: you’ve got to put on a uniform and help us to win this war, otherwise this won’t have any meaning.” During the last two years of the war, from 1863 to 1865, black soldiers “fought in every major campaign and battle,” according to the museum’s website, earning 52 Medals of Honor, and helping to capture major strategic targets like Charleston, South Carolina, and Richmond, Virginia, the capital of the Confederacy.

Corene McDaniel, of Carbondale, checks her research on black Civil War soldiers buried at Mound City National Cemetery. Gabriel Neely-Streit, The Southern

The soldiers of Company E of the 4th U.S. Colored Infantry are pictured at Fort Lincoln, in Maryland. About 200,000 black men served in the Union Army during the Civil War. Provided by Library of Congress

Black women, including Harriet Tubman, worked as nurses, spies, and scouts to support the Union cause, although they couldn’t enlist in the military. Because of the prejudice against them, many black soldiers were withheld from combat and instead were placed in support roles as carpenters, chaplains, cooks, and laborers, according to the National Archives. Still, nearly 40,000 black soldiers died over the course of the Civil War, and they endured some of the

war’s harshest and most dangerous conditions. They received lower pay, insufficient supplies, and often stronger punishments when captured by the Confederates. Their segregated regiments also received greatly inferior medical care, with many white physicians unwilling to treat black soldiers and just three black physicians serving the Union Army’s 166 black regiments, according to the news website OZY.

CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH

McDaniel, who comes from a proud military family, said she hadn’t given much thought to the ugly truths her project might uncover in Southern Illinois. But she’s prepared for them. “What we have is a sign of the times,” McDaniel said. “This is the way it was then, it’s not the way it is now. I’ll be looking for information without being judgmental about what I find. The goal is to be informed and help people be more informed.” But researching the USCT soldiers at Mound City is going to take determination. Very few black soldiers originated in Southern Illinois, as the state had just one black regiment, said P. Michael Jones, director of the General John A. Logan Museum in Murphysboro. Both during and after the war, the USCT soldiers who ended up in the region came from far and wide. Now a town of just a few hundred people, Mound City was then home to a naval shipyard and one of the largest Civil War hospitals, serving thousands of wounded. “It was one of the most strategically important locations in the Civil War, second only to the capital,” Kment said. Wounded soldiers were brought to Southern Illinois by ship from all over the south and Midwest, via the Mississippi and Ohio rivers. Those who died in treatment were buried at Continued on page 7

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NEWS A Slave’s African Medical Science Saves the Lives of Bostonians During the 1721 Smallpox Epidemic Continued from page 3 ing if controversial figure, especially following the Salem witch hysteria to which his preaching and writings greatly contributed. “Mather was interested in his slave whom he called Onesimus which was the name of a slave belonging to St. Paul in the Bible,” explained Widmer. Described by Mather as a “pretty intelligent fellow,” Onesimus had a small scar on his arm, which he explained to Mather was why he had no fear of the era’s single deadliest disease: smallpox. “Mather was fascinated by what Onesimus knew of inoculation practices back in Africa where he was from,” said Widmer. Viewed mainly with suspicion by the few Europeans’ of the era who were even aware of inoculation, it’s benefits were known at the time in places in places like China, Turkey and Onesimus’ native West Africa. “Our way of thinking of the world is often not accurate,” said Widmer. “For centuries Europe was behind other parts of the world in its medical practices.” Bostonians like Mather were no strangers to smallpox. Outbreaks in 1690 and 1702 had devastated the colonial city. And Widmer says Mather took a keen interest in Onesimus’ understanding of how the inoculation was done.

“I DIDN’T KNOW I WAS A SLAVE UNTIL I FOUND OUT I COULDN’T DO THE THINGS I WANTED.” Frederick Douglass “They would take a small amount of a similar disease, sometimes cowpox, and they would open a cut and put a little drop of the disease into the bloodstream,” explained Widmer. “And they knew that that was a way of developing resistance to it.” The Harvard University report further cemented what Onesimus accomplished after a smallpox outbreak once again gripped Boston in 1721. Although inoculation was already common in certain parts of the world by the early 18th century, it was only just beginning to be discussed in England and colonial America, according to researchers. Mather is largely credited with introducing inoculation to the colonies and doing a great deal to promote the use of this method as standard for smallpox prevention during the 1721 epidemic, Harvard authors wrote. Then, they noted: Mather is believed to have first learned about inoculation from his West African slave Onesimus, writing, “he told me that he had undergone the operation which had given something of the smallpox and would

“I AM NOT ASHAMED OF MY GRANDPARENTS FOR HAVING BEEN SLAVES. I AM ONLY ASHAMED OF MYSELF FOR HAVING AT ONE TIME BEEN ASHAMED.” Ralph Ellison forever preserve him from it, adding that was often used in West Africa.’’ After confirming this account with other West African slaves and reading of similar methods being performed in Turkey, Mather became an avid proponent of inoculation. When the 1721 smallpox epidemic struck Boston, Mather took the opportunity to campaign for the systematic application of inoculation. What followed was a fierce public debate, but also one of the first widespread and well-documented uses of inoculation to combat such an epidemic in the West. “A few people who got inoculated did die. But roughly one in 40 did, and roughly one in seven members of the general population dies, so you had a much worse chance of surviving small pox if you did nothing,” according to WGHB’s research. Mather and Boylston both wrote about their findings, which were circulated at home and

impressed the scientific elite in London, adding invaluable data at a crucial time that helped lay the groundwork for Edward Jenner’s famed first smallpox vaccine 75 years later. “Even though most of the city was on the wrong side and didn’t want inoculation to happen they were smart enough to realize afterward that they had been wrong,” Widmer said. “And so, there was a higher level of respect for science going forward.” The scourge of slavery would continue in Massachusetts for another 60 years, but as for the man whose knowledge sparked the breakthrough…”Onesimus was recognized as the savior of a lot of Bostonians and was admired and then was emancipated,” Widmer said. “Onesimus was a hero. He gave of his knowledge freely and was himself freed.” Thomas, who has worked as an editor in medical and academic publishing for more than 25 years, added that it’s important for African Americans to understand that immunizations were originally an African practice that Africans brought with them to America. “Since then, African Americans played an important role in making vaccines safer and more effective,” she said, noting that an African American woman scientist named Loney Gordon played a key role in the development of the vaccine against whooping cough – or pertussis.

“POETIC AND AMBITIOUS” –Chicago Tribune

“A MOVING PORTRAIT OF PEOPLE BUILDING THEIR LIFE STORIES” –Chicago Sun-Times

“DEEPLY RELATABLE” –The Root

BY CHRISTINA

ANDERSON DIRECTED BY NIEGEL SMITH

A young writer’s life turns upside down when her girlfriend drops some unexpected news. Fifty years later, four artists feel the reverberations of that moment—and its unexpected consequences— as their lives intersect in pursuit of creative passion and legacy. A bold, imaginative work from Christina Anderson—“a gifted playwright you want to pay attention to” (Variety).

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CITIZEN | Chicago Weekend | Week of Feb 6, 2019

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WE POWER

MONTH

Corene McDaniel speaks with Alex Kment, the cemetery representative at Mound City National Cemetery, about her efforts to catalogue black Civil War soldiers buried there. Gabriel Neely-Streit, The Southern

Stories untold Continued from page 5 Mound City, and in many cases, the cemetery has no record of where the soldiers came from. After the war ended, thousands more soldiers came to Mound City, when the Army undertook a massive project to dig up soldiers lying in battlefield graves and transfer them to newly created national cemeteries like Mound City, Kment said. That led to another influx of soldiers about whom very little is known, disinterred from makeshift cemeteries near battles at Cairo, Illinois; Belmont, Missouri; and Paducah, Kentucky. Many of them were reburied as unknown soldiers Still, there are reasons to be hopeful. The growth of genealogical research and the digitization of government records continue to make it easier to find relevant information. Jones, the museum director and a former schoolteacher, has profiled almost 40 black veterans who moved to Elkville, De Soto, Murphysboro and other Southern Illinois towns after the Civil War. He’s used muster rolls and census and pension records to dig up their military histories and a surprising amount of biographical information. “Particularly in the pension records, there is a wealth of information: where people were born, who they belonged to, when they were enslaved, who they married, who their children were,” Jones said. While black Illinoisans still faced discrimination and violence after the war, Jones’ research indicates the USCT veterans received special respect. “They got obituaries in the newspapers, which, back then, were usually reserved for people with some status,” Jones said. “You would see these obituaries mentioning how few old Civil War veterans were left. They may have called them black veterans, but there was respect for those men

and what they did.” The USCT soldiers’ service “changed the image of black people in the world,” Dr. Smith agreed. But it has often gone undervalued and under-recognized — a historical neglect that, to Smith, exemplifies the unequal treatment black Americans still face today. McDaniel hopes continued research on the USCT troops buried at Mound City, most of whom died in wartime, will help set the record straight. And she’s got a long list of interested helpers, from her fellow members of the local Zeta Phi Beta sorority, to area historical societies, to fellow volunteers at the African American Museum of Southern Illinois, which McDaniel co-founded with her husband. She’s certain the project will continue to grow. After all, you can Google anything these days, she said. When the weather gets nicer this spring, McDaniel will return to the cemetery to complete her walk and add the last few names to her notebook. Then she’ll reach out to her volunteers and figure out what’s next. One thing she’s sure of: She’ll be getting young people involved. Each year, the African American Museum of Southern Illinois hosts a monthlong youth summer program, taking children on educational trips throughout the region. In future years, McDaniel hopes to have a new piece of the story to share with the students when she brings them to Mound City. “I would hope when this is all done that we would have a great story to tell to our kids, grandkids, students, adults, to anybody that wants to listen,” McDaniel said. “And in telling the story there are going to be some things that aren’t so rosy, but that’s life.” Gabriel Neely-Streit is a reporter for The Southern Illinoisan in Carbondale. He can be reached at gabriel.neely-streit@thesouthern. com or 618-351-5074.

THE FUTURE In celebration of Black History Month, some of Chicago’s finest STEM students will meet the latest in renewable energy as part of ComEd Solar Spotlight. The two-day educational event gives African American students in Chicagoland the chance to work with ComEd mentors and gain hands-on experience with solar technology.

CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH

8 | CITIZEN | Chicago Weekend | Week of Feb 6, 2019

ENTERTAINMENT

Inspired by children who are visually impaired, X-Marks the Spot creates a theater event for everyone Calling all moms and dads! The Chicago Children’s Theatre is inviting you and your kids to X-Marks the Spot, an all-new form of “X-Tra Sensory Theatre” inspired by children who are visually impaired, but created for all audiences. That’s right. Close your eyes. Because X-Marks the Spot: An X-Tra Sensory Xperience uses sounds, voices, tastes, and touchable, scented props to create an all-new multisensory theater event, ideal for children and parents to experience together. At X-Marks the Spot, audiences enter the theater to find a magical, low-light, communal setting. The first surprise is how fast the other four senses jump to life, ready to take in the interactive fun soon to come. Then, actors perform a spine-tingling story about a family of adventurers using a highly choreographed series of props, sounds, tastes and smells that stimulate the senses and bring the play to life. So don’t miss X-Marks the Spot, an unforgettable new theater experience that helps kids appreciate all of their senses. Performances are running now through February 24, 2019: Saturday and Sunday at 11:30 a.m. Single tickets are $35. Visit chicagochildrenstheatre.org or call Chicago Children’s Theatre Guest Services, (312) 374-8835 for single tickets, subscriptions, information on school performances and group rates. Chicago Children’s Theatre, The Station, is located at 100 S. Racine Ave. in Chicago’s West Loop neighborhood. The Station is minutes from I-90 and I-290, as well as downtown and Ashland Avenue. Chicago Children’s Theatre offers free onsite parking on the south side of the building, entering from Racine Ave. Additional street parking is usually readily available nearby on weekends, or look for the Impark parking lot, 1301 W. Madison St. According to a press release, X-Marks the Spot is ideal for families with children ages 8 and up. The show on Sunday, February 10 is sensory-friendly, with a quiet room and family restroom available. Listen! Smell! Touch! Taste! Behind the scenes of X-Marks the Spot X-Marks the Spot: An X-Tra Sensory Xperience is conceived and directed by Jacqueline Russell, co-founder and artistic director, Chicago Children’s Theatre. The work was deeply informed by her semester-long residency last spring with students who are visually impaired at a CPS elementary school. It also builds on Russell’s efforts throughout her career to create theater that is inclusive of all audiences, best evidenced by her acclaimed Red Kite Project productions and camps for children on the autism spectrum. "Creating theater that's inclusive of all of Chicago's children is core to CCT's mission," said Russell. "My drama residency work last spring with students who are visually impaired inspired me to try something brand new that would be special for them to experience, but will also be equally delightful and engaging for everyone.” Paris Ray Dozier, son of Motown legend

Inspired by children who are visually impaired, X-Marks the Spot uses sounds, voices, tastes, and touchable, scented props to create an all-new, multisensory theater event for all audiences.

Lamont Dozier, who co-created the music for Chicago Children’s Theatre’s hit world premiere Last Stop on Market Street last spring, is teaming with Russell to create original music and sound for X-Marks the Spot. The cast includes Amanda de la Guardia (Melody), Anthony Lombard (Peanut/Foxy McGroovy), Brian Keys (Devon) and Tina Munoz-Pandya (Sky). The production team also includes Will Bishop, scenic and costume design; Becca Jeffords, lighting design. The plot for X-Marks the Spot is loosely based on the Victorian era children’s novel Five Children & It by Edith Nesbit, which tells the clever and funny story of a family of young adventurers who discover a mischievous wishing fairy in the sand—only to learn the old adage, “be careful what you wish for.” X-Marks the Spot: An X-Tra Sensory Xperience is funded in part by the NEA Arts Work program. What’s Next at Chicago Children’s Theatre After X-Marks the Spot, Chicago Children’s Theatre hosts New York’s Spellbound Theatre’s The World Inside Me, a new form of educational arts experience designed specifically for pre-K youth, February 9-March 10. This world premiere production is part art

and part science, showcasing the creative abilities of our youngest children while celebrating the human body, following human development from pre-natal through age five. Chicago Children’s Theatre’s 13th season finale is the world premiere of The Watsons Go to Birmingham – 1963, based on the groundbreaking, timeless young adult novel by Christopher Paul Curtis, adapted by Cheryl L. West, directed by Wardell Julius Clark. Performances are March 26-April 28. For ages 9 and up. For tickets, subscriptions and group rates, visit chicagochildrenstheatre.org or call (312) 374-8835. About Chicago Children’s Theatre Chicago Children’s Theatre has transformed the former 12th District Police Station, located in the heart of Chicago’s West Loop neighborhood at 100 S. Racine Avenue, into its first permanent home. The new Chicago Children’s Theatre, The Station, celebrated its grand opening in January 2017, and now serves as a mixed-use performing arts, education and community engagement facility that welcomes all Chicago families. Since its launch in 2005, CCT has cemented its reputation as the city’s largest professional theater company devoted exclusively to

CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH

children and young families. The company evolved out of Chicago’s need for high-quality, professional children’s programming to match the quality and significance of powerhouses such as Steppenwolf, Goodman and Lookingglass. In 2017, Chicago Children’s Theatre became the first theater for young audiences in the nation to win a National Theatre Award from the American Theatre Wing, creators of the Tony Awards. Chicago Children’s Theatre has built its national reputation due to its focus on new work, producing 17 world premieres in the last 12 years including The Selfish Giant, The Hundred Dresses, Jackie and Me, Dot and Ziggy, The Houdini Box, The Elephant and The Whale (in association with Redmoon), Mr. Chickee’s Funny Money, Leo Lionni’s Frederick, Wonderland, Alice’s Rock & Roll Adventure, A Snowy Day with Beatrix Potter, Jabari Dreams of Freedom, Moonshot: A Race to Space, The Year I Didn’t Go To School: A Homemade Circus, My Wonderful Birthday Suit!, An Epic Tale of Scale and Last Stop on Market Street. These enjoyed successful inaugural runs in Chicago, many followed by productions at theaters across the U.S. For more, visit chicagochildrenstheatre.org.

CITIZEN | Chicago Weekend | Week of Feb 6, 2019

CELEBRATING

BLACK HISTORY INSERT BLACK HISTORY M O N T H MASTHEAD HERE

Mali to Mississippi Art Exhibition Portrays Influence of Cultural History “Where the Savagery of America’s Past, Meets the Beauty of its Promise for the Future” KNOW 1 Foundation will host “From Mali to Mississippi: Keeping Cultural History Alive” art exhibition, February 7, thru February 28, 2019. The event will be held at the KNOW 1 Innovation Center, 3501 S. Martin Luther King Drive, Chicago IL, 60653 (The historic Supreme Life Building/Seaway Bank). Opening night is Thursday, February 7th from 6pm to 9pm. In many aspects Black History is American history, and the “Mali to Mississippi” art show uniquely depicts this fact with the historical aspect of Africans from the West African country of Mali, through the United States of America’s Deep South of Mississippi, Alabama and beyond. This significant art exhibition stems from the work of art historian and collector Diarra “Jabby” Diaby, a native of Mali, who specializes in indigenous African cultural antiques, arts, textiles, fabrics, wood, metals and designs. Jabby, who has lived and traveled the world, has an eye for culture and history, especially through art that depicts elements of the past that speak to the uniqueness of the human experience, that have been lost. Yet, are noteworthy events that reconnect and put back pieces of the plight of Africans, primarily those who endured slavery, through art. Jabby’s quest to connect the untold story of Africans, on both sides of the Atlantic, has led him over the last thirty years, to the stories that are depicted in the artwork he collects. As well as artifacts and documents,which include slave ledgers, iron shackles, ballasts; even items such as bales of cotton, that he has discovered during his journey through America’s South. Diarra Jabby Diaby Featured artists include, Carolyn Williams, director and curator of nonprofit The Quilted Photos by Koffi Hemadje History; Kevin Bullard, a mixed media artist and cultural historian; Raymond A. Thomas, an award-winning artist, filmmaker and creative director; Fanta Celah, fine artist and jewelry designer; as well as works by Margaret Burroughs, who was a visual artist, writer, poet, and an American treasure who left an indelible mark on the art world . “From Mali to Mississippi: Keeping Cultural History Alive” art exhibition is a precursor for a much larger exhibit planned for 2020, due to the vast amount of pieces in Mr. Diara’s collection. Nevertheless, this event will serve as a preview, not only of the scale of his memorabilia, but also the savagery of American’s early history and the plight of African-Americans. As well as the significant impact on the global economy, paid for with the price of human suffering and life. “From Mali to Mississippi: Keeping Cultural History Alive” will remind att endees that there is still more work to be done in the quest for equal, social and economic justice. RSVP: rsvp@know1foundation.org

CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH

10 | CITIZEN | Chicago Weekend | Week of Feb 6, 2019

CALENDAR

OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH

Fourth Annual 4th Teen Opportunity Fair Series

Pictured: 2018 Women’s Conference STAR Award recipient Erika Gilchrist.

Seeking Star Awards Nominations for The 2019 Chicago Women’s Conference South Suburban College will be holding its 11th Annual Chicago Women’s Conference on Friday, March 15, 2019. The Women’s Conference Committee is seeking nominations for its 4th Annual STAR Awards. The STAR Awards recognize the accomplishments of fabulous women and encourage other women to also be STARS. The application deadline is Tuesday, February 12th and recipients are expected to be in attendance at the event. The STAR Awards are presented for two different categories. The Alumna STAR Award will be presented for achievements by an outstanding South Suburban College (Thornton Junior College) alumna, and the Community STAR Award will recognize women who have demonstrated outstanding leadership in business, community and/or education. “How appropriate for our STAR Awards that this year’s theme is Leading the Way through Vision & Action,” said Nancy Burrows, cochair, Women’s Conference Awards Committee. “We hope women from throughout the community and our college alumnae will nominate their deserving friends and colleagues and consider attending this truly enriching conference.” The link for the STAR Nomination Form can be completed online from www.thechicagowomensconference. org/star-awards. If you have any questions, or for more information about the 2019 Women's Conference, please contact Nancy Burrows at nburrows@ssc.edu. The Women’s Conference is held at SSC’s Main Campus in South Holland, IL.

The Chicago Park District invites teens from across Chicago to attend its 4th annual Teen Opportunity Fair series. “The Chicago Park District is committed to providing children with the structure and access to resources that they need during their formative years to go on to build strong futures,” said Park District Superintendent & CEO Michael P. Kelly. “These fairs are meant to inform teens about their options while in high school and bring them one step closer to achieving their goals after they graduate.” The Chicago Park District’s Teen Opportunity Fairs are free for all teens between 13-19 years old. All teens attending the opportunity fairs will have access to information about job readiness and connect with organizations in attendance to receive feedback and critique. Teens seeking volunteer opportunities and skill

development offerings will find ample options during the fair. Some representatives and organizations attending the Teen Opportunity Fairs include: l After School Matters l Aramark l Chicago Urban League l Chicago Women in Trades l DeVry University l Mikva Challenge l Music Forward Foundation l Obama Foundation l One Summer Chicago l Shedd Aquarium l SMG-Soldier Field l WE Organization l Year Up l Youth Outreach Services l North Park University l El Rescate l Chicago Public Library l You Media l North Park University l Pump it up l Chicago Cares l Martin Luther King Center l Illinois National Guard l U.S. Army and Army Reserve

U.S. Marines Chicago Fire Department l Youth Job Center Mayor Emanuel and the Chicago Park District launched the Teen Opportunity Fair series in 2016 to educate Chicago teens on opportunities, such as internships, jobs or after school learning. Organizations typically fall into three categories: Recreation, Educational/Vocational and Job Readiness. Each organization attending the fair will provide information about their specific field and how teens can take advantage of the opportunities they provide. Along with visiting representatives of organizations, teens can sit in on resume building and interview tips workshops, among others. Teen Opportunity Fairs will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on: Saturday, Feb 16th at Malcolm X College, 1900 W. Jackson Blvd. Saturday, March 2nd at l l

Kennedy King College, 740 W. 63rd St. Efforts like the Teen Opportunity Fairs help to support Learn.Plan.Succeed., a groundbreaking, first in the nation graduation initiative to ensure all CPS students graduate with a post high school plan by 2020. Launching with the CPS class of 2020, LPS will support postsecondary success for students of all levels by ensuring they develop plans for life after graduation with the support of dedicated professionals. In 2016, nearly 60 percent of CPS students graduated with a concrete plan. Chicago Park District, as well as many city agencies, non-profit and higher education groups continue to provide schools with additional support to help all students explore a variety of paths to a successful future. The Chicago Park District offers a variety of programming aimed at teen

audiences in parks across the city. Teens are encouraged to participate in Leadership Councils and culture & arts, fitness and sports programming. Registration for these programs is ongoing and available at www. chicagoparkdistrict.com. Career opportunities for teens with the Chicago Park District are also available. Teens can start gaining experience in the workforce with a job as a lifeguard and/ or summer recreational leader. Lifeguard applications are being accepted now. For more information, visit www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/ lifeguards. Additional available job opportunities are available at www.chicagoparkdistrict. com/jobs. For more information on the two Teen Opportunity Fairs, please visit www.chicagoparkdistrict. com/programs-memberships/ teens-park

Applications Now Open for Chicago High School Teens Seeking Opportunities with After School Matters® After School Matters® is now excepting applications for spring 2019 programs, which will begin the week of February 12. Students can choose from more than 400 programs in the arts, communications and leadership, sports and STEM offered at various Chicago public high schools, as well as Chicago Park District, Chicago Public Library and community organization locations throughout the city. Programs will also continue to be offered downtown at Gallery 37 Center for the Arts and at The Michael and Karyn Lutz Center for After School Matters in Belmont Cragin. Teens can search and apply for spring programs online at afterschoolmatters.org. This mobile-friendly application includes an interactive map to help teens search for programs, as well as, a full Spanish translation feature. After School Matters programs offer teens an opportunity to expand their subject-matter specific skills, while also developing critical thinking skills in collaboration, problem-solving, social awareness and more. Multiple independent studies have confirmed that teens who participate in After School Matters programs have higher Freshmen On-Track rates, improved school-day attendance and higher graduation rates than their peers. In total, nearly 7,000 paid apprenticeship and internship opportunities will be available to Chicago high school teens this spring through After School Matters. Participating teen apprentices will be eligible to earn a stipend of up to $425 depending on the program level; interns can earn up to $10.50 per hour. “This spring, After School Matters is providing nearly 7,000 teen opportunities in safe, productive and inspiring environments that will prepare them for college, careers and beyond,” said After School

Matters CEO Mary Ellen Caron. “The skills that teens learn in our programs help them to develop a strong foundation that they can build upon throughout the rest of their lives.” A few of the programs offered throughout the city this spring include: AeroStars Aviation Exploration – STEM Location: Air Force Academy High School/Armour Square In this program, teens discover the rich history of aviation and participate in experiments, modeling, airport design and flight simulation. Participants get hands-on experience in the aerospace industry through field trips to local airports, aerospace businesses, aerospace and museum exhibits. Bikes ‘N Roses – Sports Location: Bikes N’ Roses/Albany Park Teens will learn to build and repair bikes while developing communication and entrepreneurial skills through interaction with real customers and helping run a business. This program offers youth a comprehensive bike curriculum, in-depth youth development opportunities, and connections to community and industry partners. DJ Foundations – STEM Location: Gallery 37 Center for the Arts/Loop In this program, teens will learn the art of selecting and mixing music for a variety of events, occasions and audiences. These fundamentals are transferable to several industries including music production, film, television and radio. Additionally, teens will be exposed to professional soft skills required to be a successful DJ. Mural Project – Arts Location: Spry Community Links High School/South Lawndale

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In this program, teens work as a team to create a powerful and inspiring mural that will display the teens' talents and commitment to their community. Teens will be able to contribute through designing and creating a mural that will be publicly displayed and showcased. Ignition Community Glass' Deep Dive into Handson Glass Blowing and Flame Working – Arts Location: Ignition Community Glass/West Town This unique arts program introduces teens to glass blowing where they will focus on sculpting and lamp working. Students engage in the dynamic process of designing and creating public installation pieces, while working individually and in groups. Mixed Martial Arts – Sports Location: Lutz Family Center/Belmont Cragin This program is designed to introduce teens to martial arts in a fun and safe environment. The program consists of alternating training days of boxing, muay thai, grappling and kickboxing instruction. Teens learn self-management, discipline, listening, and cooperation skills while demonstrating respect towards others. Teens can search and apply for Spring 2019 programs at afterschoolmatters.org. All After School Matters programs are free and open to Chicago teen high school students who are at least 14 years of age (16 years of age for internships). As part of the application process, teens interview with program instructors to discuss their interests. Teens are encouraged to apply early, as program opportunities fill up quickly. For questions about programs and applications, call 312-742-4182 or email applications@ afterschoolmatters.org. For more information, visit www.afterschoolmatters. org.

CITIZEN | Chicago Weekend | Week of Feb 6, 2019

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SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE Six Steps To Help Students Get Into, And Pay For, College (NAPSI)—Getting into college can seem complicated, even overwhelming—but help is available. To support students and families, the College Board—the creator of the SAT and Advanced Placement—has launched a first-of-its-kind national scholarship program that serves as a simple college planning guide for all students. It explains what to do and when to do it. These College Board Opportunity Scholarships lay out six simple steps that all students can take to get into college. Completing each step will earn a chance for a scholarship; completing all six will earn students a chance to win $40,000 for their college education. These six steps help students plan by making a good starter college list, help them prepare so they can take their best shot and help them pay for college: 1. Build a College List—Students get started by exploring colleges they’re interested in. 2. Practice for the SAT—Students use Official SAT Practice on Khan Academy to help them get ready for test day. 3. Improve SAT Scores—Students show how practice pays off by improving their SAT score. 4. Strengthen College Lists— Students make sure their college list is a mix of academic safety, fit and reach schools. 5. Complete the FAFSA—Students fill out the free government form to apply for financial aid.

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6. Apply to Colleges—Students apply to the schools they want to attend. A Big Difference One thing that makes these scholarships different from other programs is that they’re about how much students grow, not how high they score. They don’t require an essay or an application and don’t have a minimum GPA or SAT score requirement. Instead, the program rewards all students’ efforts and actions on their way to college. The more effort students put in and actions they complete, the more chances they have to earn a college scholarship. The College Board is investing $25 million over five years. A total of $5 million is available for each graduating class, beginning with the class of 2020. All students are invited. How To Sign Up Students can sign up at www.CB.org/Opportunity and go to BigFuture to create a starter list of six colleges in which they’re interested. Just by making that list, they earn a chance for a $500 scholarship. Then,

they can take the next step toward earning a $40,000 scholarship by going to SATPractice.org to receive free, personalized practice on Khan Academy. _______________________________

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12 | CITIZEN | Chicago Weekend | Week of Feb 6, 2019

T:10.75”

Franchesca Ramsey

J.J. Kirkpatrick

Aldis Hodge

T:13”

The New Renaissance The history of arts and entertainment has evolved, keeping the integrity and passion of the past weaved into today’s work. This Black History Month, Xfinity is celebrating the current wave of heavy hitters, from Franchesca Ramsey keeping it real online, to Aldis Hodge capturing our eyes on the big screen and J.J. Kirkpatrick playing to our souls. They’re paving a path for the next generation of creators to find their own voices. Just say “Black Film & TV”, into your X1 Voice Remote to immerse yourself into powerful Black stories or watch on-the-go with the Xfinity Stream App. Xfinity, where Black History is always on.

Visit xfinity.com/discovermore