Chicago Weekend Citizen 2-12-2020

CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Citizen Week of Feb. 12, 2020

| Vol. 51 | No. 7 | www.citizennewspapergroup.com

CHICAGO WEEKEND

BLACK HISTORY FOCUS

MEMOIR DETAILS LIFE, LOVE AND CAREER

Housing Choices for Blacks Has Fallen and Risen PAGE 3

Farissa Knox knew that she was a good storyteller. One day, after telling a story, someone told her she should write a book. PAGE 2

BUSINESS

Ilyce Glink and ThinkGlink Announce New Credit Education Series, Sponsored by Equifax PAGE 4

NEWS

Smart Saving Strategies PAGE 8

“Love, Sex, and Friendship: In No Particular Order,” written by Farissa Knox is a memoir that focuses on her early adult years. Photo by Donedo

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2 | CITIZEN | Chicago Weekend | Week of Feb. 12, 2020

NEWS briefly EDUCATION

NEW AGREEMENT OFFERS NURSING STUDENTS PATH FROM LEWIS AND CLARK COMMUNITY COLLEGE TO UIC BSN DEGREE The board of trustees of the University of Illinois, on behalf of the UIC College of Nursing and UIC Extended Campus, and Lewis and Clark Community College (L&C) in downstate Godfrey, Illinois, has entered into a memorandum of understanding to create a dual-admissions pathway from the Lewis and Clark associate degree in nursing (ADN) program to UIC’s online RN to BSN degree completion program.

According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, the U.S. is projected to experience a shortage of registered nurses that is expected to intensify as Baby Boomers age and the need for health care grows. “This innovative new opportunity for students is an example of higher education in Illinois working together to fill a critical workforce shortage in our area,” said State Sen. Andy Manar (D-Bunker Hill). “This new dual credit pathway with the University of Illinois System and Lewis & Clark Community College is exactly the type of thing we should be doing in Illinois to help better deliver higher quality healthcare to underserved areas.”

HEALTH

2019 DEBBIE’S DREAM FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP ESSAY CONTEST WINNERS Debbie’s Dream Foundation: Curing Stomach Cancer (DDF) recently announced the winners of the 2019 DDF Scholarship Essay Contest. Nasir Thompson, 10, from Las Vegas won $100 in the elementary school division for his essay on ways to treat stomach cancer and his dreams for finding a cure.

Melanie McNair, 12, also from Las Vegas, won $200 in the middle school division for writing about how she would work to improve the lives of stomach cancer patients if she were president. Amari Carpenter, 16, from Atlanta, Georgia, won $700 in the high school division for his compelling essay on the importance of stomach cancer research and how he thinks the federal government should allocate more funds to that area.

Amari Carpenter This year’s essay contest was open to children between the ages of 5 to 18 across the United States and consisted of three categories: elementary, middle, and high school.

Submissions were accepted from September to December 2019. The essays were scored by celebrity judges Brad Meltzer, #1 New York Times bestselling author, and Rochelle Weinstein, USA Today and Amazon bestselling author.

LAW & POLITICS

FTC WARNS 19 VOIP SERVICE PROVIDERS THAT ‘ASSISTING AND FACILITATING’ ILLEGAL TELEMARKETING OR ROBOCALLING IS AGAINST THE LAW Federal Trade Commission staff recently sent letters to 19 Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service providers warning them that “assisting and facilitating” illegal telemarketing or robocalling is against the law.

FTC Bureau of Consumer Protection Director Andrew Smith said, “These warning letters put VoIP providers on notice that we will take action when they knowingly facilitate illegal robocalls.”

The letters warn the VoIP service providers that the FTC may take legal action against them if they assist a seller or telemarketer who they know, or consciously avoid knowing, is violating the agency’s Telemarketing Sales Rule (TSR). The FTC is not disclosing the names of the companies and/or individuals to whom it sent the warnings.

The letters note several types of conduct that may violate the TSR, including but not limited to making a false or misleading statement to induce a consumer to buy something or contribute to a charity, misrepresenting a seller or telemarketer’s affiliation with any government agency and transmitting false or deceptive caller ID numbers, among other conduct.

Memoir details life, love and career Continued from page 1

BY TIA CAROL JONES

Farissa Knox knew that she was a good storyteller. One day, after telling a story, someone told her she should write a book.

Knox, who is the founder and CEO of RLM Media and founder and CEO of What R U Wearing Productions, took heed and published a memoir, “Love, Sex and Friendship: In No Particular Order.”

The memoir follows Knox as she navigates career and relationships in her early 20s, living in New York then moving to Chicago. Knox described writing the book as a journey and an adventure and it became more of a personal obstacle.

“Once I started, I just had to finish,” she said, adding when she realized that, she didn’t need outside sources to push her, rather Knox said she pushed herself.

She said she learned she could tell and write really great stories. She had just moved from New York to Chicago when she wrote the first iteration of the book. It was a diary that took six months to write.

“It was a fun, therapeutic way to get through my first Chicago winter,” she said.

Knox said she wanted to focus on her early adult years, which she said, “seemed like an entire lifetime ago.”

She said as she looked back, she realized something.

“Man, I’ve done like a ton and I’m only 20-something. Now, at 38-years old, I’m living a very different life,” said the wife and mother of two. “As a woman, we evolve into so many different versions of ourselves.”

So, she had the premise of the memoir, but she needed a title.

“I said, ‘what are the things that matter in your 20s? Love, sex and friendship.’ But not in that order,” she said.

Knox said as she started to write, things started to come to her. “I was able to add in detail things I hadn’t thought of since I was in my 20s,” she said. “There were things that happened that I wouldn’t have ever remembered if I hadn’t written that in a book.” Knox said while she wanted to be truthful, she wasn’t sure if she could be vulnerable.

“There were parts where I was like, ‘oh my goodness, am I sure I want to write that down?,’” she said. “I wasn’t sure if I was comfortable with feeling so vulnerable.”

She said she knew, in the end, if she didn’t get comfortable telling her truth and being vulnerable, the story

Farissa Knox, founder and CEO of RLM Media and founder and creator of What R U Wearing Productions, has released her memoir “Love, Sex, and Friendship: In No Particular Order.” Photo by Donedo

wouldn’t be as good.

“I had some fear, ‘are the other folks in my story going to appreciate this?,’” she said. “I can just stick to the truth and let that be the guide.”

When it comes to what she left out, Knox said she purposely strayed away from intensely describing her sex life.

“I didn’t want to disrespect my parents,” she said. “I found myself wanting to make sure the people who matter don’t feel offended.”

She did, however, write about the first time she and her husband were intimate. She said she wrote about it with intensity and thoughtfulness.

“This is the last time I’m having sex

CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH

with someone for the first time,” she said.

Knox said it is her hope that people see that experiences of life, career and navigating relationships are not unique to one individual. And, that readers feel a sense of connectivity and community to others through the book.

She said she hopes the young women and young people get a sense, “that they’re not alone in the things they’re trying to figure out,” adding, “I hope it helps people feel better about their day-to-day relationships.”

“Love, Sex and Friendship: In No Particular Order” is available at www. amazon.com. For more information about Knox, visit farissaknox.com.

CITIZEN | Chicago Weekend | Week of Feb. 12, 2020

NEWS

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BLACK HISTORY

SBA Seeks Comments for Proposed Rule Allowing Veteran-Owned Small Businesses Access to Surplus Federal Personal Property The U.S. Small Business Administration is seeking comments on a proposed rule that would allow veteran-owned small businesses, including companies located in Puerto Rico and disaster areas, access to property no longer needed by the federal government.

The Federal Surplus Personal Property Donation Program, managed by the U.S. General Services Administration, enables nonfederal organizations to obtain excess property the government no longer uses. Surplus property would include computers, office equipment, tools, vehicles, heavy

construction equipment, and any property except land or other real property.

The SBA, in coordination with the GSA, is proposing certain procedures for determining which firms may participate in the GSA surplus personal property program, and under what conditions.

The proposed rule is in accordance with the Recovery Improvements for Small Entities After Disaster Act of 2015 (RISE Act, Section 2105), the Veterans Small Business Enhancement Act of 2018, and the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization

Act for Fiscal Year 2019.

Comments must be submitted on or before March 23, 2020, to www.regulations.gov, identified

by Regulation Identifier Number RIN 3245-AH18. You may also mail comments to Brenda Fernandez, Office of Policy, Planning and Liaison, 409 Third Street, SW, 8th Floor, Washington, D.C. 20416.

The SBA will post all comments on www.regulations.gov. If you wish to submit confidential business information, mail it to Brenda Fernandez at the above address, or send an email to brenda.fernandez@sba.gov.

The shuttered Central Arms Motel in Bronzeville was among the few motels in the neighborhood 40 years ago when housing choices for blacks were limited. Photo credit: Wendell Hutson

Housing Choices for Blacks Has Fallen and Risen

BY WENDELL HUTSON Contributing Writer

Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas, center, at a Vasilopita celebration with, from left, Father Chrysanthos Kerkeres of St. George Greek Orthodox Church in Chicago; Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx; Toni Preckwinkle, president of the Cook County Board of Commissioners; His Eminence Metropolitan Nathanael of the Greek Orthodox Church, and Consul General of Greece Ekaterina Dimakis. The celebration was held Jan. 30, 2020, in the Treasurer’s Office, 118 N. Clark St., Room 112, Chicago, Ill.

Treasurer Pappas seeks good luck for Cook County for 2020 with Greek tradition of cutting the Vasilopita Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas, His Eminence Metropolitan Nathanael of the Greek Orthodox Church and Consul General of Greece Ekaterina Dimakis recently celebrated the New Year with the Greek tradition of cutting the Vasilopita.

“This celebration is a serious yet festive way to welcome the New Year to the County Building,” Pappas said.

To celebrate the New Year, Greeks traditionally bake a special “pita,” which can be a loaf of bread or a cake in which a coin is hidden. It is called Vasilopita, which means St. Basil’s bread.

In the fourth century, when St. Basil the Great was the archbishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia, he gave

the poor sweetened bread with gold coins inside.

The tradition evolved into an expression of good wishes and a sign of “luck” for the persons whose bread contains a coin. His Eminence Metropolitan Nathanael distributed the Vasilopita to see who will have especially good fortune for 2020.

Participating in the celebration were: Toni Preckwinkle, president of the Cook County Board of Commissioners; State’s Attorney Kim Foxx; Commissioner John Daley (11th), and Commissioner Bridget Gainer (10th). They were joined by other elected officials, consuls general, Honorary Cook County Deputy Treasurers and community leaders. The celebration was held in the Treasurer’s Office.

There used to be a time when blacks had to be careful where they lived in Chicago and the suburbs because segregation had divided people up based on their race and economic status.

To some degree, housing is still based largely on race and income even though The Fair Housing Act (Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968) outlawed such measures. Under this federal law, it is illegal to refuse to sell or rent a dwelling to any person because of religion, sex, familial status, race, color, disability, or national origin.

From 1910 to 1930, the “Great Migration” occurred and brought large numbers of blacks to Chicago from the South. In fact, from 1940 to 1960, blacks began coming to Chicago in droves (which historians said was around 60,000) hoping to find good, paying industrial jobs.

But Chicago’s housing market grew thus pushing blacks seeking housing to what was called the “Black Belt” located between 12th and 79th streets and Wentworth and Cottage Grove Avenues.

And such overcrowding resulted in poor housing conditions for blacks, which was the goal of whites, according to Timuel Black, a 100-year-old historian.

He said the game plan all along was to keep blacks out of good neighborhoods and lump blacks together in one concentrated area.

These days, a millennial wouldn’t know what a “kitchenette” is but Black said, “those of us old enough to remember can tell you it was not an ideal place to live.”

With supply not being able to keep

CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH

up with demand, landlords opted to divide up apartments also known as kitchenettes and then charged ridiculous rents for units with no bathrooms.

Fast forwarding to nearly 30 years later, local housing choices for blacks improved after years of decline.

The Chatham neighborhood on the South Side has historically been a middle-class area where blacks “with a little money” would move to once they “made it,” explained former U.S. Sen. Roland Burris, who has lived in Chatham since 1963.

“I remember as a young man I would drive through Chatham and look at all the beautiful homes and say to myself ‘one day I will live here.’ And wouldn’t you know it, I have been a Chatham resident now for almost 60 years,” Burris told the Citizen. “For as far as I can remember, Chatham has always been a predominately black neighborhood although I am beginning to see a few whites walking their dogs in the area, so I guess the neighborhood is diversifying and that’s good.”

According to census data, Chatham has a population of 32,844 whose residents are 97 percent black, 2 percent white and 1 percent Hispanic.

Burris, an 83-year-old husband, father and grandfather, lives in the same home he bought in 1972 from the late gospel singer Mahalia Jackson.

“I bought this home January 30, 1972 and Mahalia died Jan. 27, three days before the sale was to become final,” recalled Burris, who was a real estate attorney at the time. “Her family tried to stop the home from being sold but it was too late because a contract for the home was already in place. It is my Continued on page 8

4 | CITIZEN | Chicago Weekend | Week of Feb. 12, 2020

BUSINESS Redfin Report: Homes Within Walking Distance of Amenities Sell for More In U.S. cities, homes within walking distance of schools, shopping, parks and other urban amenities sell for an average of 23.5%, or $77,668, more than comparable properties that are car dependent, according to a new report from Redfin (www.redfin.com).

To determine how much walkability is worth when buying or selling a house, Redfin looked at sale prices and Walk Score® rankings for nearly 1 million homes sold last year across 16 major U.S. metropolitan areas and two Canadian cities.

About a quarter of active Redfin listings are considered walkable, or have a Walk Score ranking of 50 to 100, although only about 4% are a walker’s paradise, or have a Walk Score of 90 and above. While house hunters are willing to spend more for walkability, the premium they’ve paid for properties in this category has slipped 2.3% since the last time Redfin conducted this report, in 2016, when such homes in the U.S. sold for 25.8% more than car-dependent ones.

“The premium drop is tied to affordability.

Properties that are more affordable are seeing the most demand and price growth right now, and homes in less walkable neighborhoods often fall into this category,” Redfin chief economist Daryl Fairweather said. “There just aren’t as many people who can afford walkable neighborhoods. Many house hunters are also willing to move to less walkable neighborhoods in order to get single-family homes.”

Home-sale prices have been rising faster in cardependent areas than in walkable places since September

2018, according to a 2019 Redfin report. Prices in cardependent neighborhoods climbed 4.3% year over year in July to a median of $312,100, compared with a 2.3% annual increase in walkable locations, the data showed.

The results for this report differed by metro area. In Boston, walkability increased the value of a home by 29%, or $140,724, the highest premium in dollar terms of all of the U.S. regions that were analyzed.

“Boston is very flat, and one of the most walkable cities around. Parking can be difficult, so people often prefer to live near public transportation.

We’ve had standalone parking spots sell for six figures in some neighborhoods,” said Redfin Boston team manager April Itano. “Our public transportation is great compared to other cities, and it’s pretty easy to get by without a vehicle if you live downtown. We also have a relatively high percentage of residents who prefer to work and live in the city over the suburbs.”

In Oakland, however, walkable homes sold for 1.3% less, or $9,477, than car-dependent homes. The benefits of walkability have also changed over time.

In 2016, Atlanta garnered the highest walkability premium—38%—of any metro area. In 2019, it boasted a 30.2% premium. That’s still the highest of all areas Redfin analyzed in percentage terms, but it also marks the largest premium drop. Meanwhile, Tampa saw the biggest boost, with an increase of 6.3% since 2016.

To read the full report, please visit: https://www. redfin.com/blog/how-much-does-walkability-increasehome-values

Americans are carrying $13.95 trillion in total household debt, according to 2019 data from the Center for Microeconomic Data.

Ilyce Glink and ThinkGlink Announce New Credit Education Series, Sponsored by Equifax Americans are carrying $13.95 trillion in total household debt, according to 2019 data from the Center for Microeconomic Data — this includes credit card debt, mortgages, home equity lines of credit and auto loans.

In a new 5-part Credit 101 series, Ilyce Glink explores common questions about credit reports and credit scores. The series, sponsored

by Equifax, will help consumers better understand their credit reports, explain the various types of credit scores and how a consumer’s credit history may influence their ability to get approved for mortgages, auto loans, credit cards or other credit accounts.

The series is designed to help consumers make more informed decisions in pivotal financial moments of their lives.

Below is a preview of the first article in the series. Read the full article on ThinkGlink.com.

Part 1: What’s in your credit reports?

Your credit reports summarize your history of borrowing and paying back debt. They help prospective lenders and creditors evaluate how you’ve handled repaying debt in the past which can in turn help them decide whether to offer you credit and at what terms.

Although each of the three nationwide consumer reporting agencies formats and reports your information in a slightly different way, credit reports generally include the following: Personal identifying information.

This includes identifiers such as your name, address, Social Security number and date of birth.

Credit accounts. This includes

CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH

open lines of credit, including mortgages, installment loans, revolving accounts and other loans.

Credit inquiries. This section lists companies that have accessed your credit history.

Potentially negative information.

Your reports may include a section on potentially negative information such as bankruptcies.

It’s a good idea to check your credit reports regularly to ensure they’re accurate and complete and to make sure you recognize all of the accounts and activity on the report.

You can create a myEquifax account (at www.myEquifax.com) to receive six free Equifax credit reports each year. Or you can click “Get my free credit score” on your myEquifax dashboard to enroll in Equifax Core Credit™ for a free monthly Equifax credit report and a free monthly VantageScore® 3.0 credit score, based on Equifax data.

A VantageScore® is one of many types of credit scores.

As a syndicated financial journalist, media personality and Founder/ CEO of an award-winning financialwellness company, Glink has spent her career empowering consumers by providing them with accessible, comprehensive financial information.

She chose to work in partnership with Equifax, an industry-leader in consumer credit education. In the new education series, she’ll provide easy, accessible answers to some of the most common credit questions.

The series will update weekly on Ilyce’s website at thinkglink.com.

CITIZEN | Chicago Weekend | Week of Feb. 12, 2020

MIKE GETS IT.

MIKE GETS IT DONE.

THE ENDURING LEGACY OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION CONTINUES TO STAND IN THE WAY OF CREATING WEALTH IN BLACK COMMUNITIES.

MIKE’S GREENWOOD INITIATIVE IS A COMPREHENSIVE NATIONAL APPROACH TO CREATING GENERATIONAL WEALTH FOR BLACK AMERICANS. IT INCLUDES:

CHILDREN WITH A GOOD EDUCATION ARE MORE LIKELY TO ACHIEVE THE AMERICAN DREAM. KEEPING KIDS OUT OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IS THE KEY TO A BRIGHT FUTURE.

• • •

Creating 1 million new Black homeowners.

Supporting the development of 100,000 new Black-owned businesses.

Investing $70 billion in neighborhoods that need it most.

DURING HIS TIME AS MAYOR OF NEW YORK CITY, MIKE:

• •

Increased teacher salaries by 43% and Black student graduation rates by 53%.

Reduced crime to historic lows by cutting the murder rate in half and reducing juvenile detention by 36%.

MIKE BLOOMBERG IS THE ONLY DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE WITH A PLAN TO BUILD REAL WEALTH FOR BLACK AMERICA AND A TRACK RECORD FOR GETTING THINGS DONE. For more information visit

M i ke Fo r B l a c k A m e r ic a .co m

Paid For by Mike Bloomberg 2020

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In Celebration Of Black History Month

MWRD President Kari. K. Steele shares history making ceremony with the Raising of the Black Heritage Flag. MWRD for the first-time in their 130 -year history raised the Black Heritage Flag as an expression of their support for the Black Community and their commitment to diversity.

The Chicago "300' Black Women, Network Celebrated Chicago's leading Black and small business Professionals The Chicago “300” Black Women, Network celebrated Chicago’s leading Black professional and small-business Professionals, at their 9th annual Top Influential Black Women Professionals Gala & Awards Ceremony at the Tuscany Falls Banquets. Pictured Bottom from left to right: Marissa Nelums; Angelina Hill; Mike and Parris Fitzpatrick; Ryenne Shaw, Esq; Dr. Tammy Hicks, PhD; Nakia Lee Samuels ; Ka’Tee Abercrombie; Mimi Johnson; Farrah Ollins; Tameki Warner; LaTrina Joshua . Top Back left to right: Jessica Boyd; Ryan Lee; Coresa Hill; LaKrisha Davis; Jerquette Balentine; Winter Balentine. Photo by: Billy Montgomery Media Videos

A Double Celebration For Black History Month

Celebrating Black History Month and the birthday of Fernando Jones at the Chicago Center for Arts and Technology are: Kappa brother Judge Boyd; Retired State Senator Emil Jones; Fernando Jones; Retired Alderman Bob Fioretti. Photo by CREDD

Boykin Gets Support For Office

A countywide coalition of 100 Pastors and Faith Leaders came together to endorse Attorney Richard Boykin for Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County.

IL. Association of School Board Members Go To DC

The National School Boards Association (NSBA) recently held the 2020 Equity Symposium in Washington, DC. School boards from across the nation participated in workshops and lobby legislatures on Capitol Hill. The representatives discussed various issues affecting school districts in their states. Lobbying in the Congressional Office of US Congresswoman Robin Kelly are: Christina Dupee, SD; Dr. Donna Simpson-Leake, Vice-President Illinois School Boards and Superintendent 168; Allison McCray, VP SD 163; Kelly Fair, CEO Polish Pebbles, Inc; Carolyn Palmer, VP SD 159; US Congresswoman Robin Kelly; Michael Holmes, Int. VP Chicago State University; Attorney Patricia Brown Holmes; Mayor Varnard Alsberry, Hazelcrest, Illinois; Tammy Jones, President SD 168 ; Bernice Brown, Secretary SD 159.

Pictured are: Thomas Neeley, President IASB, Susan Hilton, Director Governmental Relations,; Tom Bertrand, Exec. Director IASB; Dr. William McClinton, President SD 159; Kieta McCloskey, President SD 156; Larry Lawrence, President SD 148; Janet Rogers, President SD152; Mable Chapman, SD 147; Tammy Jones, President SD 160 and Allisaon McCray, VP SD 163.

Stay Connected , Visit Us Online At: www.citizennewspapergroup.com

CITIZEN | Chicago Weekend | Week of Feb. 12, 2020

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NEWS

Smart Saving Strategies Family Features - Money management and building long-term financial health is a careful balancing act between long- and short-term financial needs, and now is a perfect opportunity to re-examine your goals.

People sometimes focus on short-term needs, making sure they can cover routine bills and living essentials. However, many Americans do not have the resources to cover an unexpected expense, much less save for the future.

Data from the U.S. Financial Health Pulse shows that Americans are savings-constrained, over-indebted and underinsured.

In fact, despite it being the longest period of economic expansion in modern times, 79% of Americans are not financially healthy, and many live paycheck to paycheck just to cover bills, rent and basic living expenses.

As a result, 60% of households are unprepared for a financial shock, with 41% unable to cover an unexpected $400 expense without borrowing money or selling a personal item. This makes saving incredibly challenging, especially for many low-income households.

“The data makes it quite clear that a significant segment of America is struggling to create a meaningful savings account, whether it’s intended as an emergency fund or a means of attaining a goal without incurring debt,” said Deborah Winshel, global head of

social impact at BlackRock.

Last year, the firm launched its Emergency Savings Initiative, a program designed to help people living on low incomes gain access to, and increase usage of, savings strategies and tools to help establish important safety nets.

As with any financial matter, there’s no one “right” way to save. Individual circumstances require a customized approach to determine the best method to fit needs. In addition to traditional saving methods, Common Cents Lab, Commonwealth and the Financial Health Network are working with financial institutions and other enterprises on an initiative to create new and experimental programs that address the challenges many consumers face when it comes to saving money.

If you’re not sure where to start, consider these options and consult with your credit union, employer or financial institution to learn more about the options available to fit your unique lifestyle and savings goals.

you to consistently funnel money into savings with a one-time setup process.

Automated Savings Often offered as an option through employer payroll, this approach allows you to designate a portion of your paycheck to be deposited in a savings account. Whether you choose to make it a flat amount or percentage of your income, it’s an easy method that allows

Windfall Moments When you receive a substantial amount of money from a source like a tax refund or a work bonus, it can be tempting to splurge on immediate needs or something fun, like a vacation. Allowing yourself to enjoy a portion of the money isn’t a bad idea, but you can also take advantage of the

Round Up Some financial institutions offer programs in which every transaction you make on your account, or perhaps just those made using your debit card, are rounded up to the nearest whole dollar. The difference between that whole dollar amount and your actual purchase amount is then directed into your savings account.

Prize-Linked Savings Marrying the fun of winning prizes and a savings account, this type of program incentivizes personal saving by offering an on-going, risk-free chance to win a prize, such as additional cash, by making savings account deposits. Promising both security and opportunity (and perhaps some fun), the amount deposited by the account holder is never at risk, unlike lotteries and games of chance.

As with any financial matter, there’s no one “right” way to save. Individual circumstances require a customized approach to determine the best method to fit needs. Photo courtesy of Getty Images

unplanned income as an opportunity to launch, or grow, your savings account.

Collective Savings Accountability is a common barrier to better saving habits, but when others are counting on you to contribute your share, there’s a greater level of responsibility at play. A collective savings account may be a good solution for a shared goal like a trip, special project or funding a special event for a loved one.

To learn more about the savings problem and some of the work being done to help employees, customers, gig workers and students take essential steps toward long-term financial well-being, visit savingsproject.org.

SOURCE: Financial Health Network

BLACK HISTORY

Housing Choices for Blacks Has Fallen and Risen Continued from page 3 desire to remain in this home forever.”

Jackson bought the 4,000-squarefoot home in 1956 when it had three bedrooms and one bath only to add space to the home and expand it to a four bedroom and two and a half bath house with no basement but a large attic.

Chatham is unique though because traditionally, it has always been a black neighborhood. However, Bronzeville is a different South Side neighborhood and is quickly changing into a very diverse community thanks largely to the Chicago Housing Authority’s Plan for Transformation in 2000. The plan included demolishing high-rise buildings and replacing them with two to three story mixed-income, apartment buildings.

As a result, Bronzeville, which is 5.2 miles from Downtown, has attracted a drove of middle to upper class families including many whites.

Gone is the former Ida B. Wells public housing complex at the corner of Pershing Road and Cottage Grove Avenue. The complex has been replaced with spacious apartments, townhomes and condominiums.

“Bronzeville is becoming the ‘new’ version of Hyde Park when you look at the housing available in the area,” contends Harriet Moore, 74, a Bronzeville resident since 1984. “I can tell you that blacks still dominate the population but whites are quickly discovering the neighborhood too.”

There are 24,014 residents in Bronzeville, according to census data, and the average household income is $50,157 and the median household income is $33,959.

“There’s not a lot of poor people living in Bronzeville anymore since public housing was redeveloped in Chicago,” she added. “That’s why I say Bronzeville is looking more and more like Hyde Park, and soon it may be too expensive for common folks like myself, a retired school teacher, to live here.”

Beyond historically black neighborhoods like Chatham and Bronzeville, housing has shifted in other areas like Auburn Gresham on the South Side based on race.

“Auburn Gresham used to be a predominately white community but then a shift began around 1980 when whites were moving further west, and the dividing line was Damen Avenue

The Sutherland Building in Bronzeville is not only a historic building but has been redeveloped into an affordable housing complex. Photo credit: Wendell Hutson

and today it’s Western Avenue,” said Burris. “You’re not going to find too many black families living pass 87th and Western where suburbs like Evergreen Park and Oak Lawn begin.”

Sheryl Gilmore, 49, said she grew up in Auburn Gresham but now lives in Evergreen Park, “and I love it.”

The human resource executive said while Evergreen Park is mostly white, there are “a lot of middle-class, black families living here and we all get along just fine regardless of race,” she added. “My church and my job are in Chicago but my heart is suburban life.”

Not far from Auburn Gresham is Beverly, which has historically been a mostly white neighborhood. Today, its population is 20,815 residents including 56 percent white, 35 percent black and 5 percent Hispanic, according to

census data. There are very few apartment buildings in Beverly also, which could explain why blacks rarely relocate there, said Madison Carruthers, a Chicago real estate analyst.

“Research has shown that crime breeds mostly in neighborhoods saturated with rental units, and homeowners are more likely to report criminal activity and maintain their properties,” said Carruthers.

“But renters often do not care about maintaining property they do not own and will not report crimes even if they are a victim themselves.”

Other south suburbs have also been transformed since the early 1980s when whites started moving back to Chicago neighborhoods from Markham, Country Club Hills and Flossmoor, which all previously had a

CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH

The historic Rosenwald Courts Building has been redeveloped into affordable housing units including some that are market rate units. Photo credit: Wendell Hutson

majority white population, but is now mostly black, according to census data.

June Isaac, 81, a Markham resident since 1995 remembers when Markham was mostly white but looks at it now and sees dilapidated homes, run down apartment buildings, vacant lots, closed up businesses and crime running rampant. “I moved to the suburbs from Roseland to escape the gangs, bad public schools and corrupt politicians. And after running away from what I thought were problems behind me, I am now dealing with here in Markham.

There’s no glory days here anymore and if I wasn’t old and stubborn, I would gather my things and move back to the city.”

CITIZEN | Chicago Weekend | Week of Feb. 12, 2020

WWW.CITIZEN NEWSPAPERGROUP.COM

Publisher Of The:

* Chatham-Southeast Citizen * South End Citizen * Chicago Weekend Citizen * Hyde Park Citizen * South Suburban Citizen * Citizen Suburban Times Weekly

8741 S. Greenwood Ave., Ste# 107, Chicago, Illinois 60619 (773) 783-1251

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CALENDAR

American Writers Museum Honors Black History Month with Special Programs To celebrate Black History Month, American Writers Museum is presenting guided tours spotlighting the work of the many great Black writers throughout U.S. history, weekly Little Squirrels Storytime dedicated to Black writers, and welcomes Writer Nicholas Buccola who will present his new book, The Fire Is Upon Us. Other leading contemporary Black writers were featured earlier in the month.

Frederick Douglass Tours - Modeled after 2019’s popular special exhibit, Frederick Douglass: Agitator, guided tours spotlighting his work will be offered twice daily with special attention paid to the memoirs and speeches of the author and orator who became one of the most eloquent voices of abolitionism. Frederick Douglass’s pens and inkwell are on display in the Tools of the Trade exhibit.

Black History Month Storytimes - Every Saturday in February, the weekly Little Squirrels Storytimes will feature three of this country’s most beloved writers: Maya Angelou, Gwendolyn Brooks and Langston Hughes. Families are invited to join the museum’s dedicated and engaging storytellers in their Children’s Literature Gallery to learn more about these writers, listen to their work read aloud, and appreciate their contributions to American writing and our culture.

Writer Nicholas Buccola presents

his new book, The Fire Is Upon Us, on February 13 at 6:30 pm. The book shows how the iconic debate between civil rights firebrand James Baldwin and the father of modern conservatism William F. Buckley, Jr. continues to illuminate America’s racial divide. Buccola is joined by photographer Steve Schapiro, who with his camera captured the changing socio-cultural landscape of America during the Sixties.

The American Writers Museum is located on 180 N. Michigan Avenue, 2nd Floor in Chicago, IL 60601. It’s open daily from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. For more information, visit americanwritersmuseum.org

Maya Angelou

Langston Hughes photographed by Carl Van Vechten, 1936

Guided tour of Frederick Douglass’s works during Black History Month at American Writers Museum.

Frederick Douglass

NABSW to hold their 52nd Annual Conference in Detroit, Mich., April 14-18, 2020 The National Association of Black Social Workers (NABSW) invites you to take advantage of the Early Registration for the 52nd Annual Conference, April 14-18, 2020 at the Detroit Marriott – Renaissance Center, Detroit, Michigan. This year’s theme is “Ma’at: African-Centered Values as Practical Healing Tools.”

A personal invitation has been extended to you to take part in a broad array of workshops, institutes and symposiums; as well as celebrate 52 years of advocacy in the interest, development and strengthening of the Black community.

This is an educational conference that will feature prominent keynote

speakers, and inspiring and motivational sessions.

Instructional workshops will be conducted on practice, social policy and social justice issues that affect the everyday lives and destiny of Black individuals, Black families and Black communities.

The conference location is in

Detroit, a comeback city which is on the rise with more than $24 billion invested in its revival. It offers numerous attractions outside of the conference.

Conference Early Bird Registration is now open and ends February 21, 2020.

NABSW wants to hear your

CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH

input as professionals, social work students, and community organizers as they seek to impart African-centered values as practical healing tools.

For more information, visit the National Association of Black Social Workers website at www.nabsw.org or call (202) 678-4570.

CITIZEN | Chicago Weekend | Week of Feb. 12, 2020

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CLASSIFIEDS SERVICE

SERVICE

LEGAL Notice is hereby given, pursuant to “An Act in relation to the use of an Assumed Business Name in the conduct or transaction of Business nt he State,” as amended, that a certification was registered by the undersigned with the County Clerk of Cook County. Registration Nmber: Y2003120 on FEBRUARY 4, 2020 Under the Assumed Business Name of JL EVENTS AND DESIGN with the business located at 8008 S. RHODES AVE, CHICAGO ILLINOIS 60619. The tue and real full name (s) and residence address of the owner (s)/Partner(s) is: OWNER/PARTNER FULL NAME: LESA BEVIL Complete Address: 8008 S. Rhodes Ave., Chicago, Illinois 60619, USA __________________________________

Darrell Garth

President /Publisher

Janice Garth

Sales Manager General Manager

Editorial

Send news tips, press releases, calendar listing etc to: editorial@citizennewspapergroup.com

Advertising

Display Advertising advertising@citizennewspapergroup.com or jgarth@citizennewspapergroup.com

Classified Advertising call us at

(773) 783-1251

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(773) 783-1251

Coverage Areas: CHATHAM-SOUTHEAST

Chatham, Avalon Park, Park Manor, Greater Grand 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.

MISCELLANEOUS

Hiring Now

SOUTH SUBURBAN

Permanent employment 61/2

Serves communities in Harvey, Markham, Phoenix, Robbins, Dixmoor, Calumet Park, Blue Island, South Holland, and Dolton. Shopping- their favorite pastime!

Personal assistant Full-time,

TRAINING/EDUCATION AIRLINE CAREERS FOR NEW YEAR BECOME AN AVIATION MAINTENANCE TECH. FAA APPROVED TRAINING. FINANCIAL AID IF QUALIFIED - JOB PLACEMENT ASSISTANCE. CALL AIM 800-481-8312 __________________________________

hours/day 5-days/week must have a valid driver’s license as driving is necessary. Please call

HELP WANTED

CREDIT REPAIR

JOB OFFER PERSONAL CAREGIVER ASSISTANT POSTION MUST HAVE DRIVER’S LICENSE CALL (773) 233-5678 ASK FOR PAUL CALL AFTER 6:00 P.M. _______________________________________

REAL ESTATE HUD/BANK FORECLOSURES CITY & SUBURBS Call: FRED D. CLINK (773) 294-5870 REALTY SERVICES CONSORTIUM _______________________________________ 3+ Bedroom HOMES FOR SALE SELLER FINANCING Call: FRED D. CLINK (773) 294-5870 REALTY SERVICES CONSORTIUM ______________________________________

WANTED TO BUY Paying Cash For Comics! Top national comic buyer will be in your area, paying cash for vintage comics (1970 & earlier).

Call Will: 866-461-0640 __________________________________ Freon Wanted: We pay CA$H for cylinders and cans. R12 R500 R11 R113 R114.

Convenient. Certified Professionals. Call 312-598-1758 or visit RefrigerantFinders.com __________________________________

(773) 233-5678 After 6:00 P.M.

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

RESTORING YOUR CREDIT SCORE STARTS WITH YOU. . .

CALL YOUR CREDIT MAINTENANCE GURU REPRESENTATIVE MR. FREDRICK TODAY AT CREDIT RESTORATION SERVICES AT (218) 833-3769 9:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m Monday thru. Friday DON’T HESITATE TO CALL US FOR A FAST AND FREINDLY REPAIR. LEAVE THE WORK TO US. WE CAN DO THE JOB. WE WORK TO CLEAN UP YOUR CREDIT SCORE WITH THE ALL THREE MAJOR CREDIT BUREAUS. _______________________________________

SUBURBAN TIMES WEEKLY Bloom Township, Chicago Heights, Flossmoor, Ford Heights, Glenwood, Homewood, Lansing ,Lynwood, Olympia Fileds, Park Forest, Sauk Village, South Chicago and Steger

Citizen Newspaper Group Inc., (CNGI), Publisher of the Chatham-Southeast, South End, Chicago Weekend, South Suburban and Hyde Park Citizen and Citizen Suburban Times Weekly. Our weekly publications are published on Wednesday’s (publishing 52 issues annually).

Written permission is required to reproduce contents in whole or in part from the publisher. Citizen Newspaper Group, Inc. does not assume the responsibility for nor are we able to return unsolicited materials, therefore they become property of the newspaper and can or will be discarded or used at the newspapers disgratation. Deadlines for advertising is every Friday at noon. Deadlines for press releases are Thursdays at 10 am prior to the next week’s edition. Please send information for the calendar at least three weeks prior to the event. Send to: editorial@citizennewspapergroup.com. For more information on subscriptions or advertising, call us at (773) 783-1251 or fax (872) 208-8793. Our offices are located at 8741 South Greenwood Suite# 107, Chicago, Illinois 60619.

12 | CITIZEN | Chicago Weekend | Week of Feb. 12, 2020

“It’s About You, It’s About Me, It’s Actually All About Us… We should celebrate our history

“24/7-365”