Chicago Weekend Citizen 2-27-2019

CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Citizen Week of Feb. 27, 2019

| Vol. 50 | No. 9 | www.thechicagocitizen.com

CHICAGO WEEKEND

A new collaborative community-based initiative to reduce gun violence in Chicago, The inVEST campaign, was recently launched at the Cities Striving for Peace event. Photo Credit: The inVEST Campaign

OVER 50 ORGANIZATIONS PARTNER TO SET GOAL OF DRASTICALLY REDUCING HOMICIDES IN CHICAGO The City of Chicago is known for many things: cold temperatures, towering skyscrapers, deep dish pizza and unfortunately, gun violence. PAGE 2

BUSINESS Job Growth Slows for People with Disabilities PAGE 4

COMMENTARY Pritzker’s pot revenue depends on unfiled legislation: Senate sponsor hopes to introduce bill ‘in the next month or so’

FASHION

NEWS

Four Ways to Focus on Self-Care

Your Home is Your Castle: How to Protect it Through the Years

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2 | CITIZEN | Chicago Weekend | Week of Feb 27, 2019

NEWS briefly EDUCATION

LUTHERAN SEMINARIANS, COLLEGE STUDENTS INVITED TO APPLY FOR BETHESDA AUXILIARY SCHOLARSHIPS The Bethesda Auxiliary, in partnership with Bethesda Lutheran Communities, is offering $30,000 in student scholarships for the 2019-20 school year. The scholarships are for undergraduate- or graduate-level students, including seminarians.

“We’re excited to support youth who hope to put their talents and energy toward enhancing the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities,” said Karen Carter, president of the Bethesda Auxiliary.

The deadline to apply is May 17, 2019, with results to be announced by July 1, 2019.

To download an application, go to https:// www.bethesdalc.org/get-involved/scholarships/.

HEALTH

NEW STUDY: INCIDENTS OF OBESITY-RELATED CANCERS ARE RISING FASTEST AMONG MILLENNIALS A new study by the American Cancer Society suggests cancers, thought to be driven at least in part by excess weight, are on the rise among people under age 50 - particularly millennials - considered to be between ages 20 and 37.

The news comes as no surprise to OSF HealthCare Saint Anthony Medical Center oncologist Dr. Ajaz Khan. “There’s been a significant rise in young patients having colorectal cancer,” says Dr. Khan. He added, “And also upper GI malignancies, such as esophagus or gastro cancer. We’ve noticed a continual rise in that over the last ten years.”

Dr. Khan says while it’s not entirely clear as to the risk factors causing the cancer spike, he suspects one is increased carcinogens from diet and food intake.

LAW & POLITICS

FORMER INMATES WOULDN’T BE CHARGED FOR PRISON STAY UNDER PROPOSAL BY PETERS Former inmates would no longer need to reimburse the Illinois Department of Corrections for the cost of their incarceration under a measure sponsored by State Senator Robert Peters (D – Chicago) which passed out of a Senate committee recently.

“It’s ridiculous that a provision like this even exists in the first place,” Peters said.

“These people already have a major burden placed on them by the criminal justice system. It’s unconscionable that there’s an additional financial burden placed on them once they’re finally released, and only makes a return to a life of crime more likely.”

Under current law, recently released persons are required to reimburse the DOC for any expenses incurred as a result of their incarceration. The measure, Senate Bill 1158, strikes this requirement from the statute.

The bill passed through the Senate Committee on Criminal law and will now proceed to the full Senate for consideration.

Over 50 Organizations Partner To Set Goal Of Drastically Reducing Homicides In Chicago Continued from page 1

BY KATHERINE NEWMAN

The City of Chicago is known for many things: cold temperatures, towering skyscrapers, deep dish pizza and unfortunately, gun violence.

Although the Chicago Police Department announced in their 2017 Annual Report that homicides were down over 15 percent from 2016 to 2017 and shooting incidents were down 22 percent during that same time period, people living in the most at-risk areas of the city still don’t feel 15 to 22 percent safer.

“We have had a 15 percent reduction in shootings and homicides but still, grandmothers aren’t feeling safe to see their grandkids out playing or parents don’t feel safe to see their kids out playing and until we get to that

point, we still have a lot of work to do,” said Billy Moore, manager of case work and outreach in the Green Re-entry Program at the Inner-City Muslim Action Network (IMAN).

In an effort to further reduce gun violence, over 50 community organizations have come together to create the inVEST campaign which was formally launched at the recent Cities Striving for Peace event that brought together five former big-city mayors who were successful in lowering gun violence in their cities.

The former mayors discussed their own experiences and shared advice on what they think Chicago can do to support the families and communities who are being the most impacted by gun violence.

The inVEST campaign has set the goal of reducing homicides in

Chicago by 80 percent over the next five years and is calling on the city, county, state, and federal government to collectively provide $150 million in annual public funding to be used for violence reduction, intervention, and prevention programs in Chicago to ensure that they can meet that goal.

“When I think about what New York and LA, which we are often compared to, have done in the space of addressing violence, they have drastically reduced their violence by far more than what we are proposing right now,” said Eddie Bocanegra, senior director of Heartland Alliance READI Chicago. “It is going to take an entire community and an entire village to address this issue, but I think that it’s a very realistic goal and [I] think that if we didn’t shoot for this, we would be selling ourselves short.”

The inVEST coalition has developed a violence reduction framework that focuses on three key components for communities most impacted by violence.

First is prevention, which includes creating safe public spaces for youth, bringing together existing community partners, and improving relationships between the community and police.

The second focus will be on intervention which will aim to reduce ongoing violence between specific groups, establish stabilization and support for families, and provide transitional jobs.

The third element is strengthening community coordination and support by funding the newly established Mayor’s Office of Violence Prevention, launching a community commission, and increasing the reach of existing community organizations.

Chicago Black Restaurant Week Celebrates Another Successful Year

BY KATHERINE NEWMAN

This year’s fourth annual Chicago Black Restaurant Week recently came to a close after featuring over 35 black-owned eateries across Chicago who all opened their doors to hungry customers and offered special menu items and discounted prices.

Chicago Black Restaurant Week is a way to remind people to support black businesses during Black History Month and all year round.

The concept of hosting a restaurant week has been widely used in cities across the country for quite some time, even Chicago hosts a city-wide restaurant week every year.

At the core, it is simply a week-long event where restaurants offer menu items for a discounted price which brings new customers to their establishment and allows them to try the food in the hopes that they will return.

Chicago Black Restaurant Week was created to give African American owned restaurants in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs a new platform to increase their public exposure and introduce them to new customers.

“The idea for Chicago Black Restaurant Week came from the desire to do something to help funnel money back into my community. It began out of my love for food and the full desire to support my community,” said Lauran Smith, designer of Chicago Black Restaurant Week.

Prior to the first Chicago Black Restaurant Week, Smith, who is a public relations professional in Chicago, realized that the

The fourth annual Chicago Black Restaurant Week recently took place and featured over 35 black-owned restaurants from across the Greater Chicagoland Area.

black-owned businesses and restaurants she frequented were lacking support.

She took it upon her self to find a way to make sure people were made aware of the delicious cuisine that is being served at blackowned restaurants across the city.

This is the fourth year that Chicago Black Restaurant Week has taken place and each event has been bigger than the year prior according to Smith, and she has no plans to slow down anytime soon.

“I would say that the event has grown tremendously over the years. More consumers are learning about the movement, and they want to get involved,” said Smith. “I feel excellent about year four. I am happy about the level of participation from the businesses, and for the support of the masses. Everyone was excited to learn of new businesses to try.”

Moving forward, Smith said she sees no end in sight. She hopes to continue to expand the

CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH

list of black-owned businesses that participate in Chicago Black Restaurant Week, invite more high profile diners to visit Chicago and partake in the event and continue to generate more revenue and exposure for black-owned businesses across the city.

“As far as growth of Chicago Black Restaurant Week, I just want it to increase in size so that the businesses receive more revenue to put into their businesses, I want for The Obamas, Chance the Rapper, and other celebrities to catch on and want to make it part of their February schedule of events and I want more people to realize how amazing the African American community actually is,” said Smith.

To learn more about Chicago Black Restaurant Week, visit www.chiblackrestaurantweek. com. You can also follow Chicago Black restaurant Week on Instagram @officialchicagobrw.

CITIZEN | Chicago Weekend | Week of Feb 27, 2019

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NEWS

African-American women with HIV often overlooked, under-supported

BY THURKA SANGARAMOORTHY

The face of HIV in the United States has long been white gay men, even though the epidemic has had a devastating and disproportionate impact on African-American communities.

This is especially true among women; 60 percent of newly diagnosed cases of HIV in women in 2017 were African-American. Yet, African-American women’s voices are notoriously absent from the national discourse on HIV. Largely invisible to a fractured health care system, these women are often breadwinners and matriarchs whose families count on them for support and care.

Treatments to help people who are HIV-positive manage their illness and survive into older age have improved greatly, yet the unique health needs of African-American women living and aging with HIV – estimated at about 140,000 – are often ignored.

While many are actively taking medication and receiving care, some do not know their HIV status. After diagnosis, many have difficulties managing their HIV, which can contribute to their other health challenges.

I have been working on collecting oral histories from many older HIV-positive women in the Washington D.C. area, where I live and research. It is my hope that by focusing on the voices of African-American women themselves, we as a country are able to better understand the profound impact that HIV has had on black life.

HIV and African-Americans Many believe the HIV epidemic in the United States is nearing an end, in part because increased

Thurka Sangaramoorthy

funding, targeted prevention efforts, and better treatment have resulted in drastic reductions in new HIV-positive cases. Even President Trump, in his recent State of the Union address, discussed his goal of ending HIV by 2030. I am an HIV researcher, and I can say this is totally unrealistic, especially for African-Americans.

Despite comprising only 12 percent of the overall U.S. population, African-Americans represent 43 percent of all persons with newly diagnosed HIV and 42 percent of all people living with HIV. African-Americans living with HIV are nearly 10 times more likely to be diagnosed with AIDS and over six times more likely to die of complications of AIDS than their white counterparts.

African-Americans are also at a higher risk for other health conditions, which can make managing HIV infection more difficult. For instance, African-Americans are twice as likely to die from heart disease and 50 percent more likely to have high blood pressure than whites.

In Washington D.C., a place filled with public health experts and policymakers, the HIV prevalence rate is the highest in the nation, exceeding the World Health Organization

definition of a generalized epidemic.

African-Americans represent a staggering 75 percent of all HIV cases in D.C. HIV in Washington D.C. is a regional epidemic, and crosses the jurisdictional border into Prince George’s County, Maryland.

The sprawling suburbs of Prince George’s County are well known for their ranking as one of the wealthiest African-American-majority counties in the nation, but with HIV rates that are four to 10 times higher than those of white adults.

The high rates of HIV in Washington D.C. and Prince George’s County reflect a growing public health crisis in the United States, where the disproportionate burden of HIV is increasingly concentrated in the U.S. South. Southern states, where 55 percent of African-Americans live, have the highest rates of new HIV-positive diagnoses, the highest percentage of people living with HIV, and the lowest rates of survival for those who are HIV-positive.

Government investment in the domestic response to HIV tops more than US$26 billion per year, yet these health inequities in HIV for African-Americans continue to persist. These inequities are due in part to abstinence-only funding to schools with large minority populations and HIV-specific criminal laws, which undermine the health and well-being of African-Americans and perpetuate systems of inequity. Systemic racism in resource distribution, such as concentrated poverty and health care and funding disparities is also a significant driver of the epidemic within African-American communities.

Since the beginning of the epidemic in the 1980s, African-American women have carried a large burden of HIV, and more than 60,000 lost their lives. But not everyone died. My project of personal narratives of these women suggest that they live with multiple uncertainties brought on by HIV. Many worry about how their health, disability, and eventual death will impact their roles as mothers, grandmothers, daughters, sisters and wives.

Lives of suffering, strength and survival Shawnte’ Spriggs’ story is typical of many African-American women living with HIV whom I spoke to.

Many suffered trauma and abuse as children. Like everyone, however, she has her own unique story.

“My family stories are not pretty,” said Spriggs, 45, who grew up in northeast Washington D.C., in a neighborhood with open-air drug markets, crime and gang violence.

“My mother had a very bad temper.

If she had a bad day, or someone teed her off, or one of her boyfriends did something to her, I was abused pretty bad.”

Her father was around only intermittently. She later learned the reason for his disappearances: He was often in prison.

Looking for love and craving protection from her mother, she turned to her godbrother, a caring guardian whom she later married.

Three months into their marriage, beatings began. The first was in the middle of the night. She woke suddenly. Her ex-husband was still asleep but sat up as if he were awake and punched her in the face. They

both laughed about it in the morning, as if it had been an accident.

The abuse continued.

Eventually Spriggs escaped the marriage. She moved to another state and created a rewarding life.

She even found love again, and remarried. She changed careers. She also became an evangelist, traveling for religious conferences frequently.

In 2010, Spriggs accepted an invitation to speak at a women’s conference in Lynchburg, Virginia. The conference offered health screenings. Some of the women invited her to take an HIV test with them. “Sure, why not?” she thought, wanting to set an example for the young women attending.

The last thing she expected was to test positive.

Her initial reaction was that she was going to die. She researched to learn more about HIV and began to realize that many people in her life probably died of it even though it was being labeled as something else in the community. She was terrified, especially because she feared returning to the pain and trauma from her past.

“I was so afraid of going to a dark place, from my childhood. I know my triggers,” Spriggs said.

She took action, signing herself up for both inpatient and outpatient mental health care, which helped her with her healing process. She attended HIV support groups, where she was the only woman among gay men.

Spriggs counts herself fortunate.

She knows that many others have fewer resources, more responsibilities, and a lack of accessible and culturally appropriate care.

Thurka Sangaramoorthy is an Associate Professor of Anthropology, at the University of Maryland.

State Board Of Education Names Leaders To Increase Teacher Diversity The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) recently announced 22 leaders from across the state selected to provide recommendations on increasing teacher diversity and promoting culturally responsive teaching. The Diverse and Learner Ready Teacher (DLRT) Network includes students and representatives from higher education, K-12 classrooms and administration, and policy and advocacy groups.

Having teachers of different races and ethnicities benefits all students as they prepare to enter a global society. “Research demonstrates that students’ exposure to people who

are different from themselves, and the ideas and challenges that such exposure brings, leads to improved cognitive skills, including critical thinking and problem solving,” according to A Vision and Guidance for a Diverse and Learner-Ready Teacher Workforce from the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO). Only 15 percent of teachers in Illinois’ public schools are teachers of color, compared to 52 percent of students.

“This effort is about capitalizing on the tremendous expertise we possess as a state,” said Deputy Superintendent for Teaching

and Learning Jason Helfer, Ph.D. “Using the insights and experiences of students, educators, and advocates in this work will build upon the excellent teaching already occurring in Illinois schools. Creating the space in which students and educators can develop rich connections can lead to safer schools and stronger student outcomes.”

The DLRT Network first will focus on developing culturally responsive teaching standards for educator preparation programs, so every teacher enters the classroom ready to engage and connect with diverse learners on

CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH

day one. Culturally responsive teaching ensures educators of all backgrounds recognize the importance of culture to learning and incorporate students’ individual cultures in instructional strategies and content.

CCSSO selected Illinois as one of 10 states to lead the national Diverse and Learner Ready Teacher initiative. The initiative supports the results of ISBE’s Teach Illinois: Strong Teachers, Strong Classrooms project, which proposed solutions to ensure Illinois has a highly qualified and diverse teaching corps across its K-12 classrooms.

4 | CITIZEN | Chicago Weekend | Week of Feb 27, 2019

BUSINESS

Job Growth Slows for People with Disabilities New statistics released recently show that Americans with disabilities saw a slowdown in job gains compared to those of the previous year. The Disability Statistics Compendium, released by Institute on Disability at the University of New Hampshire, shows that the employment rate for people with disabilities has risen to 37 percent. The Compendium also shows that geography has an impact on employment outcomes for Americans with disabilities. People with disabilities in North Dakota are twice as likely to have jobs as West Virginians with disabilities.

The newly published 2018 Annual Disability Statistics Compendium compiles data collected by the Census Bureau. The Compendium is intended to equip policy-makers, self-advocates and others with clear statistics on disability in America today. Out of more than 20 million working-age people with disabilities, 7.5 million have jobs. This data also shows the serious gaps that remain between disabled and non-disabled Americans. 37 percent of U.S. civilians with disabilities ages 18-64 living in the community had a job, compared

Further analysis by the nonpartisan advocacy group RespectAbility shows that 111,804 people with disabilities entered the workforce in 2017. That number is down from the previous year's increase of more than 343,000 new jobs for people with disabilities.

to 77.2 percent for people without disabilities.

"Our nation was founded on the principle that anyone who works hard should be able to get ahead in life," said Hon. Steve Bartlett, current chairman of RespectAbility, who co-authored the Americans with Disabilities Act when he was in Congress. "People with disabilities deserve the opportunity to earn an income and achieve independence, just like anyone else."

Further analysis by the nonpartisan advocacy group RespectAbility shows that 111,804 people with disabilities entered the workforce in 2017. That number is down from the previous year's increase of more than 343,000 new jobs for people with disabilities.

Different factors explain the slower pace of job growth. A slowing economy is one factor, as is changing patterns of growth in different sectors of the economy. One lesson is clear to

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Andrew Houtenville, PhD, of UNH's Institute on Disability: "There is still a long way to go toward closing the gap between people with and without disabilities."

"Employment rates only tell part of the story," added Policy and Practices Director at RespectAbility Philip Kahn-Pauli. “When you look across the intersection of disability and race, you find serious gaps in outcomes." Only 28.6 percent of African Americans with disabilities have jobs compared to the 38.6 percent of Hispanics with disabilities and 41.2 percent of Asian Americans with disabilities who have jobs.

Some states have higher employment rates for people with disabilities than others. North Dakota leads the nation with 56.3 percent of its citizens with disabilities employed and is closely followed by South Dakota with a 51.3 percent disability employment rate. One of the biggest surprises in this year's data is Vermont.

Under Gov. Phil Scott, Vermonters with disabilities have seen a 5.7 percent increase in jobs, bumping their employment rate to 47.2 percent. l Only 111,804 people with disabilities entered the workforce in 2017, down from the previous year's increase of more than 343,000 new jobs for people with disabilities. l Florida experienced the biggest growth in job numbers with over 23,000 people with disabilities entering the workforce. Of the 50 states, 29 states saw job gains for Americans with disabilities. l Vermont, under Gov. Phil Scott, becomes one of the top 10 states with the best employment rates, and Rhode Island, under Gov. Gina Raimondo, jumps from 47th in the nation to 19th.

Of the 50 states, 29 states saw job gains among the disability community, while people with disabilities lost economic ground in 21 states. Census Bureau data shows an astounding 23,953 Floridians with disabilities gained new jobs. Illinois saw the second biggest job gains for people with disabilities with over 20,000 new jobs even as 50,000 people without disabilities left Illinois' workforce.

Rhode Island deserves credit for seeing a major turnaround. As reported by RespectAbility, Rhode Island under Gov. Gina Raimondo ranked 47th in the nation last year with an abysmal 30 percent disability employment rate. As a result of a settlement agreement with the Department of Justice, Rhode Island began to close shelter workshops where people with disabilities had been paid subminimum wages.

Through sustained efforts to promote competitive, integrated employment, Rhode Islanders with disabilities are now experiencing new success. Over

7,000 people with disabilities entered the workforce in 2017, pushing Rhode Island to stand 19th in the nation. As bipartisan consensus grows around ending subminimum wages, Rhode Island shows that transformative success is possible.

What is the story behind the numbers? What is driving these changes? The answer is simple.

According to Vincenzo Piscopo of the Coca-Cola Company: "People with disabilities bring a unique skill set that it is very valuable for companies."

He went on to add, "As it relates to employment and competitiveness in the workplace, we have to stop thinking of disability as a liability and start thinking of it as an asset."

Brand name companies such as JP Morgan Chase, Coca-Cola, Ernst & Young, IBM, Walgreen's, Starbucks, CVS and Microsoft show people with disabilities are successful employees.

These companies also know that these workers improve the bottom line.

"People with disabilities bring unique characteristics and talents to the workplace," said RespectAbility President Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi.

"There are no limits to what they can do when given the chance."

As more companies hire employees with disabilities, conversations are shifting to focus on inclusion.

"Disability inclusion is no longer about automatic doors, curb cuts, ramps, and legislation," says Head of the Office of Disability Inclusion at JP Morgan Chase Jim Sinocchi. “Today, the new era of disability inclusion is about "assimilation" – hiring professionals with disabilities into the robust culture of the firm."

According to the Census Bureau, there are more than 56 million Americans living with a disability.

Disabilities include visible conditions such as spinal cord injuries, visual impairments or hearing loss and invisible disabilities such as learning disabilities, mental health or Autism.

Voter research, done by RespectAbility, shows how disability issues connect to all aspects of American life. "Fully three-quarters of likely voters either have a disability themselves or have a family member or a close friend with disabilities," said former Representative and Dallas Mayor Steve Bartlett. "People with disabilities are a politically active, swing vote, and candidates should take note of important issues they care about."

As 2019 moves into 2020 and the political campaign season heats up, continuing job growth for people with disabilities will be a crucial indicator of the health of the American economy.

For more statistics related to jobs for people with disabilities, please visit www.RespectAbility.org/Statistics.

CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH

CITIZEN | Chicago Weekend | Week of Feb 27, 2019

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NEWS

Pritzker’s pot revenue depends on unfiled legalization legislation Senate sponsor hopes to introduce bill ‘in the next month or so,’ with aim for passage by May 31

BY JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinoist jnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com

Springfield – Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s proposed budget for the 2020 fiscal year includes $170 million in new revenue from licensing fees for legalized recreational marijuana, but the details of such legislation are not yet finalized.

State Sen. Heather Steans and state Rep. Kelly Cassidy, both Chicago Democrats who have been working on marijuana legislation for two years, said they wouldn’t rush the process on behalf of revenue.

“Assuming that we want to have some revenue, I think we’d like to pass it by the end of May,” Steans said. “But I think both Representative Cassidy and I have been very clear that the revenue is not what is motivating or should drive this legislation, but obviously it’s a side benefit piece that can also come.”

Cassidy and Steans both said they are waiting for information from a demand study before moving legislation forward. They also want to ensure minority inclusion for vendors and social justice for persons incarcerated for cannabis crimes which no longer would be illegal under the bill.

“We’re still trying to find the best path forward for equity and inclusion, still looking at what’s worked and not worked in other states and trying to put together a combination of solutions on that front,” Cassidy said. “We want to do this not by guess but by fact. That is why

we’ve commissioned the study. We expect the results very, very shortly and that will inform how we grow the program.”

Steans said she would hope to have language filed for a Senate bill “in the next month or so,” and both said they would like to see it passed

by May 31, provided they can iron out the final details. Neither would speak to the governor’s $170 million revenue projection for the fiscal year.

“I haven’t gotten the details behind (the governor’s $170 million projection). So I really can’t comment on that yet,” Steans said.

“It seems like a reasonable approach. All the revenue estimates we’ve had so far, when you have a fully mature program in place, have been around $500 million. So this is clearly well below that and based much more on up-front licensing fees, not from receipts based on sales tax.”

The licensing fee structures for recreational marijuana are not yet clear. But for medicinal marijuana cultivation centers, a permit costs $200,000 up front with a $100,000 annual renewal fee and a $25,000 nonrefundable

application fee, according to the Department of Agriculture.

Illinois allows 22 cultivation center licenses – one in each state police district. Steans said the legislation could add other licensing for smaller craft cultivators, and for the processing and transportation of cannabis products.

She said she would like the location and placement of craft cultivators to be up to local zoning boards and municipalities, rather than being subject to the same strict regulations as existing medicinal cultivation centers.

“Right now the cultivation centers really are all pretty rural and have very big footprints,” she said. “Craft growers could maybe be located in a manufacturing district if a local municipality wants it there.”

While the Department of Agriculture regulates cultivation centers, the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation is in charge of the state’s 60 dispensary licenses, five of which are unused, and fees are much lower.

Dispensary licenses cost $30,000 initially with a $25,000 annual renewal fee and a $5,000 nonrefundable application fee.

Cassidy said she expects the state to need “more dispensaries very quickly” to meet recreational demand, but exact figures will not be available until the demand study is released.

Both senators also emphasized bipartisan support for the legislation, and newly-seated Democratic Attorney General Kwame Raoul has voiced his conditional support for legalization.

CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH

“I’m a proponent generally, but the devil is in the details,” Raoul said. “I’m particularly concerned about anything that’s done to target cannabis and legalization to children through flavoring or production of candies or products aimed toward kids.”

Cassidy said gummies and flavored products are already on the medicinal market, but there are regulations on packaging, dosage, shapes and coloring of such items.

She also said Illinois’ medicinal program is one of the best tracked and regulated in the country, and black market leakage of Illinois cannabis to other states is minimal to non-existent. There are slightly less than 30,000 active medical marijuana cardholders, she said.

“We have one of the smallest covered conditions lists in country, so it really limits who can get access,” she said, adding that separate legislation from Rep. Bob Morgan (D-Deerfield) could increase the reach of the medicinal conditions list as the pilot program sunsets.

Steans said her pending legislation could also mandate more transparency for marijuana facilities.

“We can’t even use (the Freedom of Information Act) to find out who actually owns the cultivations or dispensaries, so we want to fix that,” she said.

With all the moving parts, Cassidy said the earliest possible implementation would be Jan. 1, 2020, but that could be pushing it.

“That’s a goal, but that involves everything going right,” she said.

6 | CITIZEN | Chicago Weekend | Week of Feb 27, 2019

FASHION Cosmetic Executive Women Partners with Preen.Me to Celebrate Rising Influencers of 2019

African Pride Launches Black Castor Miracle Collection to Improve How Protective Style Wearers Care for Their Hair African Pride, a hair care manufacturer with more than 30 years of experience creating quality, affordable products, introduces its Black Castor Miracle collection. The eight-product range provides women with a simplified regimen to change the way they care for their hair before, during and after wearing protective styles; which include braids, locs, weaves, wigs or any other hairstyle that tucks the ends of your hair away from constant manipulation.

Each product in the Black Castor Miracle line was specifically formulated with black castor oil; the number one ingredient associated with hair growth and other premium, all-natural ingredients like coconut water, jojoba, tea tree, peppermint, coconut and soybean oils, coconut milk and shea butter, according to a press release.

"Through our research, we know that within the past 12 months, more than 65 percent of African American women have worn their hair in a protective style," said Director of Marketing Kendria Strong.

“We also know that consumers experience breakage and damage while wearing these styles due to lack of knowledge around proper hair care so we made sure that Black Castor Miracle products were simple, multifunctional and created with the highest quality ingredients to help them protect what's theirs."

The simplified Black Castor Miracle regimen covers the key phases or steps in the life cycle of a protective style: (Step 1) moisturize and prep, (Step 2) style and protect, (Step 3) refresh and seal and (Step 4) takedown and detangle, all while nourishing the hair and scalp, sealing in moisture and protecting against styling damage that may cause breakage; helping to retain length while promoting healthy hair growth.

According to a press release, the eightpiece Black Castor Miracle collection includes: • Prep & Leave-In Moisture Butter (8oz) – Moisturize and prep hair before braided, weaved or protective styles with this specially crafted blend of black castor oil, shea butter and jojoba oil which penetrates hair strands, providing long-lasting hydration and protection against breakage during styling.

• Anti-Humidity Heat Protectant Spray (4oz) – Provides 400°F heat protection and

guards against heat damage when blow drying, flat-ironing or straightening leave out, weaves and edges. Specially crafted with a keratin complex, this light-weight formula blocks humidity, seals in shine and keeps hair straight for up to 2 weeks or until your next wash day.

• Braid, Loc & Twist Gel (8oz) – Smooths frizz and fly-aways while boosting shine, for longer lasting styles. Leaves braids, locs and twists neat and smooth and can be used to slick edges or finish desired styles.

• Hold & Cover Black Edge Gel (2.25oz) Slicks stubborn edges, temporarily covers gray hair and fills in thinning edges or part lines.

• Braid & Scalp Cleansing Rinse (12oz) – Uses a special blend of micellar water, black castor, coconut and peppermint oils to gently cleanse and condition hair, edges and scalp during braided styles and under weaves without causing frizz. Soothes scalp and calms itching; leaving hair refreshed and styles lasting longer.

• Hair & Scalp Sealing Oil (6oz) - Locks moisture into hair strands and improves moisture retention, while helping to condition hair, soothe scalp, calm itching and prevent dryness. Great for braids, crochet styles, edges, under weave care and protective styles.

• Moisture & Detangling Masque (8oz) – Softens, conditions and removes knots or buildup from dry, tangled hair after braided, weaved and protective styles. Helps to prevent excessive breakage and shedding.

• Moisture Restore Treatment (2oz) – Deep conditioning treatment infused with coconut milk and shea butter that hydrates and restores moisture to extremely dry, damaged hair.

Each item in the Black Castor Miracle collection is priced between $4.49 - $4.99 and is available now at beauty supply stores nationwide.

For more information about the brand, visit AfricanPrideHair.com. You can also join the African Pride conversation on Facebook (@MyAfricanPrideHair), YouTube (@AfricanPride), and on Instagram and Twitter (@MyAfricanPride).

To start your own conversation about the brand, use its official hashtag #FeelingMyPride and for Black Castor Miracle specifically, #ProtectWhatsYours.

Cosmetic Executive Women (CEW), the leading organization for beauty industry professionals, recently announced a partnership with Preen.Me to create a new influencer award category for its 2019 Beauty Awards.

The CEW x Preen.Me Rising Influencer of the Year Award will be awarded to one winner in the 'makeup' category and one winner in the 'skincare' category.

The 100 nominated influencers were narrowed down from an original pool of 50,000 US-based online influencers ranging in follower count from 25K - 500K. Using Preen.Me's proprietary multifactor algorithm methodology to assess effective social influence, the nominees were selected based on their audience engagement, the impact of their video posts and overall performance of branded content.

"Influencers have always played an integral role in CEW's organization, but the question we keep hearing is 'who's next?'. As an organization committed to propelling the beauty industry forward, we are so excited to announce the newest category for our 2019 Beauty Awards: Rising Influencers," says CEW President,

Carlotta Jacobson. "Using Preen.Me's proprietary methodology, coupled with our reach and authority in the beauty industry, we have an opportunity to acknowledge the next generation of influencers and help our members be more thoughtful about their future partnerships."

"Influencer marketing has reached a mature stage where brands must look beyond follower size and focus on the effective social impact the influencer has on their target customer," explains Preen.Me VP Brand Relations, Danya Klein. Whether the goal is identification of upstream trends, ambassador program creation or product launch campaigns, Preen.Me's proprietary methodology enhances the brand to influencer match to translate into actual influence. We are delighted to partner with CEW to bring this strategic approach to the beauty industry."

Preen.Me will announce the two award winners at CEW's Beauty Award Luncheon on Friday, May 17. The list of 100 Influencer Nominees is available on cew.org/PM100. Stay up to speed on the nominations by following #2019RisingInfluencer. All nominated influencers will be invited to CEW's product demo on Feb. 28

4 Ways to Focus on Self-Care StatePoint - It’s no surprise that the concept of self-care is getting a lot of traction in many health and wellness circles. Selfcare can improve your mental and physical health and help you be more productive. Unfortunately, many people don’t prioritize it.

Whether you are a careerfocused professional or a stay-athome parent, it’s likely you have a tendency to put other people’s needs – those of your children, colleagues, friends or family -ahead of your own.

Here are four ways to focus on making time for essential self-care activities.

1. Make over your morning: Rise an hour before everyone else in your household. Use the time to meditate, stretch, write in a gratitude journal or visualize a successful day ahead.

2. Make a list of your favorite things: Write down things that truly bring you joy and fill you with a sense of purpose. To ensure you’re finding time to do them, schedule them in your calendar.

Some ideas could be going for a run, buying fresh flowers or tackling an arts and crafts project.

3. Invest in new gear: Sometimes the best motivator for getting active is a new piece of clothing or accessory you feel confident wearing.

“New footwear is a great way to support health and wellness goals, while helping you stay motivated to invest in self-care activities,” says Randy

CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Sometimes the best motivator for getting active is a new piece of gear.

Woodworth, women’s athletic buyer for Rack Room Shoes.

To help you on your healthy self-care path, invest in something that is comfortable and can easily transition between activities. For one-stop shopping for footwear and other accessories to help you reach your self-care goals, visit the Athletic Shop at Rack Room Shoes in stores or online at

rackroomshoes.com.

4. Take regular walks outside: Never underestimate the power of exercise and fresh air. Find the time that is most convenient for you, whether that’s first thing in the morning, during a lunch break or after dinner.

Once you’ve got the plan in place, get into a self-care routine that works for you and stick with it.

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NEWS

Your Home is Your Castle: How to Protect it Through the Years StatePoint - For many people, owning a home is the American dream, and the single biggest financial investment they will ever make. With the stakes so high, in addition to picking out the perfect property, it’s critical to have the right insurance. While homeowners may start out with the right amount when they first purchase their home, over time, their policy can become outdated.

Why? One big reason is inflation.

“Labor and building material costs go up over time, which means that if your home were destroyed by a fire or natural disaster, for example, and you had to rebuild it in today’s dollars, it would very likely cost much more,” said Bob Buckel, vice president and product manager, Erie Insurance. “That’s why we recommend that all homeowners get ‘guaranteed replacement cost’ coverage.”

In addition to making sure your insurance keeps up with inflation, experts also recommend homeowners reach out to their insurance agent when: •You remodel: 2019 is expected to be a popular year for remodeling, according to the Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity. Whether it’s putting on an addition or finishing the basement, be sure the extra square footage and finishes are listed on your policy.

Why? If something were to happen (think:

Owning a home is part of the American dream. With the stakes so high, it’s critical to have the right insurance.

fire, water damage, etc.), you’ll want your insurance policy to provide enough funds for everything to be repaired or replaced.

•You make changes to outdoor space: The same is true with any remodeling to your outdoor space. The addition of an in-ground

pool or fence can add value to your home.

There are also liability concerns associated with certain equipment, such as a swimming pool or trampoline. Unfortunately, at least 148 children drowned in swimming pools last summer and many more were injured,

CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH

according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. You’ll want to make sure you’re properly covered in the event of an accident.

•You install a security system: You may qualify for a discount on your insurance if you’ve recently installed a security system. One study by the Electronic Security Association (ESA) looked at the 10 largest insurance companies and found many offer worthwhile premium discounts.

•You start a home-based business: Whether you have a side hustle or draw a full-time income from a home-based business, you may not have the right coverage in place. For example, if you’re selling LuLaRoe clothing and there’s a fire, your merchandise might not be covered since typical policies don’t always cover home-based businesses. You’ll most likely need an incidental business endorsement. Coverage from Erie Insurance could cost about $30 to $70 per year.

• You acquire valuables: Homeowners insurance covers your belongings, but generally only up to a certain dollar amount per item. So, if you acquire an expensive item, such as an engagement ring, a fur or a valuable artwork, you should talk to your insurance agent about adding special coverage. You may also need to provide a receipt or appraisal.

8 | CITIZEN | Chicago Weekend | Week of Feb 27, 2019

ENTERTAINMENT

Grammy-Winning Best Country Duo Dan + Shay To Headline Grandstand Stage They just won their first Grammy, now country duo Dan + Shay are coming to play at the 2019 Illinois State Fair.

Dan + Shay will perform Sunday, August 11 on the Grandstand stage.

Dan + Shay won the Grammy for Best Country Duo/Group Performance for their single "Tequila" at the 61st Recording Academy Grammy Awards on Sunday, February 10.

This marks the duo's first Grammy win. They've performed

the global smash hit, which has accumulated 355 million ondemand streams, on Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Ellen, the CMA Fest concert special, the 53rd ACM Awards, TODAY Summer Concert Series, the CMT Music Awards and the 52nd CMA Awards.

With "Tequila" and "Speechless," Dan + Shay boast two of the five most-streamed country songs of 2018 and become only the sixth artists ever to hold the top two spots

on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart simultaneously. Dan + Shay recently joined Chris Young for the fall leg of his "Losing Sleep" tour.

They kick off their sold-out "Dan + Shay The Tour" next month.

Dan + Shay is the second Grandstand act announced for the 2019 Illinois State Fair; a capella group Pentatonix was announced last week, playing the Grandstand stage on Wednesday, August 14. Tickets go on sale later this Spring at the following prices:

Dan + Shay: Sunday, August 11 Tier 3 - $25 / Tier 2 - $30 / Tier 1 - $35 / Gen Track - $35 / VIP Track - $55 Pentatonix: Wednesday, August 14 Tier 3 - $45 / Tier 2 - $50 / Tier 1 - $55 / Gen Track - $55 / VIP Track - $75

Mark your calendars for the 2019 Illinois State Fair, August 8 through 18, in Springfield. Stay up to date with all the latest news and announcements from the Illinois State Fair by connecting with them via Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Little Steven And The Disciples Of Soul's 'SOULFIRE LIVE!' Vinyl Box Set And Blu-Ray Video Released A rousing document of the legendary rock n' roller's first world tour in nearly two decades, Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul have released two new exciting collections allowing fans to relive the band's sensational live shows or to experience them for the first time. Titled SOULFIRE LIVE! after the vaunted 2017 tour of the same name, the live album is available as both a 7LP vinyl box set and as a two-disc Blu-ray video via Wicked Cool Records/UMe. Order SOULFIRE LIVE! now: https://UMe.lnk. to/SoulfireLive Comprised of the best performances from the North American and European concerts, the collections feature Little Steven aka Steven Van Zandt and his 15-strong band taking listeners through a musical history lesson as they blast through an arsenal of songs spanning rock, pop, soul, blues, funk, doo-wop, reggae and everything in between.

Nearly every song from his 2016 album SOULFIRE is represented along with inspired covers and classic tracks from his early catalog. The sets each culminate with "Macca To Mecca!," a 12-song tribute to The Beatles that kicks off with a riveting performance of "I Saw Her Standing There" recorded at The Roundhouse in London with a special appearance by Paul McCartney. It is followed by an extraordinary surprise set at Liverpool's legendary Cavern Club recorded November 2017 during the band's sold out European tour.

The intimate lunchtime gig is filled with rocking renditions of "Magical Mystery Tour," "Good Morning, Good Morning," "Got To Get You Into My Life," and "All You Need Is Love," alongside iconic songs famously performed by the nascent Fab Four, including "Boys" (originally by The Shirelles), "Slow Down" (by Larry Williams) and "Soldier Of Love" (first recorded by Arthur Alexander). Watch Van Zandt and McCartney perform "I Saw Her Standing There" http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=cBTL4IwOTaU "Our 2017 tour began in London with one of the most thrilling moments of my life," says Van Zandt. "Sir Paul McCartney surprised us on stage for the encore of our show. We had performed

A rousing document of the legendary rock ’n’ roller’s first world tour in nearly two decades, Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul have released two new exciting collections today, allowing fans to relive the band’s sensational live shows or to experience them for the first time.

Titled SOULFIRE LIVE! after the vaunted 2017 tour of the same name, the live album is available as both a 7LP vinyl box set and as a twodisc Blu-ray video via Wicked Cool Records/UMe.

together a couple times before with Bruce and the E Street Band but this time was particularly meaningful to me. It was an incredibly generous endorsement of my own work and just the encouragement my new artistic rebirth needed. Because of that wonderful gesture, I wanted to do something special once we got to Liverpool. We decided to do a mini-tribute to The Beatles and do a lunchtime set at the Cavern the way they used to. Playing in the same venue where The Beatles started their careers was a childhood dream of mine come true. This was a band that set me on course for a life of music. For my rock 'n' roll religion, The Cavern is the first sacred site. It was an honor – no, make that an epiphany – to perform there."

The vinyl box set and Blu-ray editions of SOULFIRE LIVE! also includes all of the material from the 3CD version released last year. Among the many highlights are signature songs from his illustrious solo career – including "Lying In A Bed Of Fire," "Bitter Fruit" and "Out Of The Darkness," as well as classics written for Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, including "I Don't Want To Go Home" and "Love On The Wrong Side Of Town" – alongside

electrifying takes on a number of Little Steven's all-time favorite rock 'n' roll songs, including Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers' "Even The Losers," AC/DC's "You Shook Me All Night Long," John Lennon's "Working Class Hero," The Allman Brothers Band's "It's Not My Cross To Bear," The Animals' "We Gotta Get Out Of This Place," and The Ramones' "Merry Christmas (I Don't Want To Fight Tonight)." Also included are spirited renditions of The Electric Flag's "Groovin' Is Easy," Etta James' "Blues Is My Business," and James Brown's "Down And Out In New York City," from his SOULFIRE album.

Van Zandt's inimitable introductions detail each song's unique history and singular spot in his life and remarkable career.

SOULFIRE LIVE! showcases special guest appearances from some of Little Steven's closest friends, collaborators, and favorite artists.

Among the highlights are versions of Moby Grape's "Can't Be So Bad" performed with

CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH

the legendary San Francisco band's founding member, Jerry Miller; the Motown classic, "Can I Get A Witness," performed with New Jersey's own Richie Sambora; The J. Geils Band's "Freeze Frame" with vocals from the one and only Peter Wolf; and "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out" and Little Steven's own "I Don't Want To Go Home," both joined by Bruce Springsteen.

The SOULFIRE LIVE! Blu-ray video edition includes Little Steven and the Disciples complete Cavern Club concert alongside video performances of each song on the 3CD/vinyl set, exclusive interviews, and behind-the-scenes footage. In addition, the Blu-ray features a special documentary about the Cavern Club performance that saw Little Steven honored with a brick in the club's hallowed Wall of Fame before leading his band through swift rehearsals of Beatles songs mere minutes ahead of their performance.

CITIZEN | Chicago Weekend | Week of Feb 27, 2019

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NEWS

Chicago Has Voted, There Will Be A Runoff

BY KATHERINE NEWMAN

Since Rahm Emanuel announced that he wouldn’t be running for a third term as Mayor of Chicago there has been constant chatter surrounding the crowded mayoral election which ended up with 14 candidates appearing on the ballot yesterday.

Although voter turnout was low on election day, with the Board of Election Commissioners for the City of Chicago reporting that less than 40 percent of Chicago’s 1,581,755 registered voters participated in the election, residents were able to narrow the race down to two candidates who will participate in a runoff election on April 2.

At press time, it appears that the two candidates who will continue to campaign for their chance at becoming the Mayor of Chicago and will appear in the runoff this spring are Lori Lightfoot and Toni Preckwinkle.

Along with voting for Mayor, Chicagoans were tasked with voting for alderman, city treasurer, and city clerk.

Although three candidates appeared on the ballot for city clerk, two candidates were disqualified by the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners and any votes that they receive will not be counted meaning that the incumbent, Anna Valencia, will retain her seat.

In every case where no candidate receives more than 50% of the votes, the top two candidates in that race will proceed to the runoff election in April.

Below are the voting results that were available by press time on election day.

MAYOR Gerry Chico - 6.3% William Daley - 14.8% Amara Enyia - 7.9% Robert Fioretti - 0.8% La Shawn Ford - 0.9% Jerry Joyce - 7.8% John Kozlar - 0.4% Lori Lightfoot - 17.5% Garry McCarthy - 2.7% Susana Mendoza - 9.1% Toni Preckwinkle - 15.8% Neal Sales-Griffin - 0.3% Paul Vallas - 5.6% Willie Wilson - 10.2% 3RD WARD Pat Dowell (incumbent) - 68.7% Alexandria Willis - 31.3% 4TH WARD Sophia King (incumbent) - 66.2% Ebony Lucas - 33.8% 5TH WARD Leslie Hairston (incumbent) - 48.5% William Calloway - 24.5% Gabriel Piemonte - 27%

Mayoral Candidate, Lori Lightfoot. Photo Credit: Lori Lightfoot For Mayor Campaign

9TH WARD Anthony Beale (incumbent) - 58.6% Paul Collins - 8.5% Essie Hall - 7.1% Cleopatra Watson 25.9%

6TH WARD Roderick Sawyer (incumbent) 50.7% Deborah Foster-Bonner - 30.5% Richard A. Wooten - 18.8% 7TH WARD Greg Mitchell (incumbent) - 66% Jedidiah Brown - 21.7% Charles Kyle - 12.2% 8TH WARD Michelle Harris (incumbent) - 65% Linda Hudson - 16.1% Faheem Shabazz - 10.6% Jewel Esterling-Smith - 8.3%

16TH WARD Toni L. Foulkes (incumbent) - 31% Stephanie Coleman - 44.3% Kenny C. Doss II - 6.3% Eddie Johnson III - 6.8% Jeffrey L. Lewis - 1.8% Latasha Sanders - 9.8% 17TH WARD David Moore (incumbent) - 68% Raynetta Greenleaf - 32%

Mayoral Candidate, Toni Preckwinkle. Photo Credit: Chicago Citizen Newspaper

18TH WARD Derrick G. Curtis (incumbent) - 66.8% Chuks Onyezia 33.2% 21ST WARD Howard Brookins (incumbent) 45.1% Patricia A. Foster - 19.6% Marvin McNeial - 25.4% Joseph Ziegler - 9.9% 24TH WARD Michael Scott (incumbent) - 60.9% Traci Treasure Johnson - 13.1% Toriano Canzone - 5.4% Creative Scott - 20.6%

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27TH WARD Walter Burnett Jr. (incumbent) 71.7% Cynthia Bednarz - 28.3% 34TH WARD Carrie Austin (incumbent) - 54.4% Preston Brown Jr. - 45.6% CITY CLERK Anna Valencia CITY TREASURER Melissa Conyears-Ervin - 43.8% Peter Gariepy - 14.3% Ameya Pawar - 41.9%

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CALENDAR The Museum of Contemporary Photography at Columbia College Chicago (MoCP) will present Birmingham, Alabama, 1963: Dawoud Bey/Black Star from April 11 – July 7, 2019, featuring work from photographer and recent MacArthur genius grant fellow Dawoud Bey (American, born 1953), who is also a professor of photography at Columbia College Chicago.

Birmingham, Alabama, 1963: Dawoud Bey/Black Star The Museum of Contemporary Photography at Columbia College Chicago (MoCP) will present Birmingham, Alabama, 1963: Dawoud Bey/Black Star from April 11 – July 7, 2019, featuring work from photographer and recent MacArthur genius grant fellow Dawoud Bey (American, born 1953), who is also a professor of photography at Columbia College Chicago. His work has been collected by the MoCP since 1993, with over 60 pieces by Bey in the museum’s permanent holdings. This will be his second solo exhibition at the museum.

Birmingham, Alabama, 1963: Dawoud Bey/Black Star responds to the September 15, 1963 bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama— an event that resulted in six deaths of black children by white supremacists.

Organized by Dr. Gaëlle Morel, Exhibitions Curator at the Ryerson Image Centre in Toronto, the exhibition pairs Dawoud Bey’s The Birmingham Project (2012) with a selection of prints from the Black Star archive of photojournalism, providing a historical context for the bombing, and revealing the political and social turmoil that placed the American Civil Rights Movement in the media spotlight during the months leading up to the explosion.

Commissioned by the Birmingham Museum of Art, Bey’s The Birmingham Project was created in memory of the children who were killed in the city that day, nearing the 50th anniversary of the tragedy. Each diptych features a portrait of a child at the exact age of one killed in 1963 paired with a portrait of an adult at

the age the child would have been in the year 2013.

Also on view will be Bey’s 9.15.63, a split screen video exploring communal spaces of the black community and the contested and segregated spaces of the white community in Birmingham alongside a route to the 16th Street Baptist church from the vantage point of a child in the back seat of a car. Birmingham, Alabama, 1963: Dawoud Bey/Black Star is coordinated by Karen Irvine, MoCP Chief Curator and Deputy Director.

Birmingham, Alabama, 1963: Dawoud Bey/Black Star will be presented alongside Chicago Stories: Recent works by Carlos Javier Ortiz and David Schalliol, an exhibition of photographs and films by Carlos Javier Ortiz and David Schalliol pulled from the museum’s permanent collection and the Midwest Photographers Project (MPP). Both artists separately investigate forms of systemic racism in Chicago and beyond through the lens of individual stories. Chicago Stories is curated by MoCP Curator of Academic Programs and Collections, Kristin Taylor.

On April 11, Dawoud Bey will engage in a conversation with Gaëlle Morel, exhibitions curator at the Ryerson Image Centre, about the links between his Birmingham projects and photojournalistic images documenting the civil rights movement of the 1960s.

This conversation is part of Columbia College Chicago’s Collective Impact series, an initiative that seeks to explore community engagement and social justice in art making.

For more information, visit http://www.mocp.org

Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo (C2E2) – the largest pop culture convention in the Midwest – is heading back to McCormick Place for its 10th edition from Friday, March 22 through Sunday March 24th. Thousands of fans will head to the largest pop culture show in the Midwest, which takes place at The South Building at McCormick Place.

C2E2 is bringing a list of talent to Chicago, including a reunion of the 1995 classic film Clueless, featuring Alicia Silverstone, Donald Faison, Paul Rudd and Breckin Meyer; professional wrestling icons Jim Cornette, Tony Schiavone, Eric Bischoff, and The Young Bucks; David Tennant of Doctor Who, and many more.

C2E2 also serves as the last stop on ReedPOP’s 2018 Global Championships of Cosplay circuit.

The C2E2 Crown Championships of Cosplay presented by Singer, the largest and most prestigious cosplay competition in the world, will take place on Saturday, March 23rd and feature regional cosplay champions from around the world including representatives from the United States, Australia, China, Austria, Singapore, Indonesia, India, Korea and France.

Event Details: WHAT: Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo (C2E2), combines comics, entertainment and gaming. C2E2 is bringing its

annual show to The South Building at McCormick Place from Friday, March 22 through Sunday, March 24. Featured talent include: a reunion of the 1995 classic film Clueless, featuring Alicia Silverstone, Donald Faison, Paul Rudd and Breckin Meyer; professional wrestling icons Jim Cornette, Tony Schiavone, Eric Bischoff, and The Young Bucks and many more. On top of these guests, there will also be a cosplay central where there is sure to be a wide array of entertaining cosplayers for all to enjoy.

WHEN: March 22-24 WHERE: The South Building at McCormick Place located in downtown Chicago WEBSITE: http://www.c2e2.com/

XQ and Pop-Up Magazine Productions launch XQ Super School Live Coming To Chicago XQ and Pop-Up Magazine Productions recently announced XQ Super School Live — a new, one-of-a-kind, immersive storytelling tour to inspire people to reimagine high schools in their own community.

This innovative tour is coming to Chicago’s Harris Theater on Saturday, March 30th for a night of high school drama — full of stories, selfie confessionals, viral gratitude, and multimedia adventures that celebrate the everyday heroes transforming America’s high schools.

“From Homer to hip-hop, storytelling is one of the most powerful ways to connect people to possibilities” says Russlynn Ali, executive producer, XQ Super School Live and CEO, XQ. “XQ Super School Live will take people on a multimedia journey, using true stories to show how high schools can foster curious, creative and collaborative students. Today all too many don’t. It’s up to us to change that - for every student, no matter their race, gender or zip code. Our students deserve nothing less.”

“Pop-Up Magazine is one of the most vibrant and exciting storytelling platforms of our day,” says Marc Ecko, producer, XQ Super School Live and Chief Creative and Strategy Officer, XQ. “Bringing this blend of live performance journalism and theater to the public is powerful —especially in these times. We’re building a new platform for community engagement and civic empowerment.”

Contributors on the tour include Chris Duffy (Wyatt Cenac’s Problem Areas), Clio Chang (Splinter, New Republic), Dana Bialek (Panoply, Slate), Christina Esquivel (education activist, Communities in Schools), and Andrew Boryga (New York Times, New Yorker). Stories will be accompanied by illustration, animation, photography, an original score performed onstage by Magik*Magik Orchestra, and 17-year-old DJ Prince.

“We’re thrilled to partner with XQ on this innovative, one-of-a-kind tour that brings Pop-Up Magazine Productions’ signature storytelling to life — live, multimedia, reported — to help shape the way we think about our high schools,” says Derek Fagerstrom, producer, XQ Super School Live and director of special projects at Pop-Up Magazine Productions.

Stories such as Mike Floyd, a Texas teenager who in his senior year of high school decided to run for school board. And won. Or Gary Chery, a student whose hilarious cafeteria reviews amazed his teacher — a future professional comedy writer who celebrated Gary’s creativity — but who struggled in a traditional high school environment.

“XQ Super School Live brings the power of storytelling and theater together to ignite a spirit of social change,” says filmmaker Ava DuVernay. “Stories unlock our imagination and this innovative theatre tour celebrates all those working tirelessly to transform our education system — community leaders, business leaders, parents, teachers, and students.”

From the minute the audience walks into the theater, they will be immersed in XQ Super School Live — greeted with art installations by world-renowned artist and XQ Super School Live Creative Chair Hebru Brantley. Brantley is creating special-edition versions of his iconic, youthful Flyboy and Lil Mama. Brantley’s work challenges the traditional view of the hero with his iconic characters and XQ Super School Live saw parallels with the work needed by everyday heroes to reimagine high schools. This innovative and immersive night continues, from the audience receiving an “Orientation Pack” when they enter to being integrated into the actual show (with phones off !), to a reception after the show that fosters network and community-building to help people connect and take on the work of changing our high schools.

XQ Super School Live cities and dates are: l Feb. 28: XQ SUPER SCHOOL LIVE: Memphis, Crosstown Arts Theater l March 2: XQ SUPER SCHOOL LIVE: Nashville, War Memorial Auditorium l March 7: XQ SUPER SCHOOL LIVE: Denver, Ogden Theatre l March 8: XQ SUPER SCHOOL LIVE: Colorado Springs, Shockley-Zalabak Theater l March 14: XQ SUPER SCHOOL LIVE: San Diego, Spreckels Theatre l March 15: XQ SUPER SCHOOL LIVE: Los Angeles, Wilshire Ebell Theatre l March 30: XQ SUPER SCHOOL LIVE: Chicago, Harris Theater All proceeds from ticket sales benefit local non-profit organizations.

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CITIZEN | Chicago Weekend | Week of Feb 27, 2019

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CLASSIFIEDS SERVICE

remain their chief financial concern for decades.

What’s more, the expanding student loan bubble could rattle the entire American economy in similar ways to the 2008 housing crisis, if borrowers default on loans in large numbers.

SERVICE

year—or more if recommended by your eye care professional.

AmeriHealth Caritas is part of the Independence Health Group in partnership with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and one of the nation’s leaders in health care solutions for those most in need.

The Hidden Cost The direct costs of student loan debt are obvious, but hidden costs often prevent lower-income students from pursuing the highest-value degrees.

Because the most selective, prestigious institutions are also the most expensive, those institutions are disproportionately populated by students from affluent families able to afford the burden of early-career debt. And the recent trend of “differential pricing,” in which tuition costs are dictated by a student’s field of study, has had an effect on enrollment in high-employment fields, potentially scaring off the students who could benefit the most from an indemand degree.

Easing the Crisis Organizations such as Scholarship America are working to alleviate the crisis.

As the nation’s largest provider of privatesector scholarships, they deliver their most direct impact by giving students funding for higher education -- $264 million last year, and more than $4 billion over its history.

The organization is also lending support to nationwide efforts to reduce dependence on student loans. They’ve mobilized a network of postsecondary institutions, or Collegiate Partners, that agree to not punish scholarship recipients with reductions in financial aid; and their Dreamkeepers Emergency Financial Assistance program gives students facing unexpected expenses an alternative to loans. President and CEO Robert C. Ballard sits on the National Advisory Board of the College Promise Campaign, which is developing innovative public-private partnerships to help students earn their associate degrees tuition-free.

“We work with partners to incorporate mentoring, tutoring and financial literacy education into scholarship awards in an effort to help students persist and graduate rather than drop out with debt or get stuck short of a degree,” said Ballard.

No single funder, college or organization will solve the student loan bubble crisis, and it won’t happen overnight. But by working together, the public, private and higher education sectors can continue to reduce student loan debt. __________________________________

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EDUCATION Tackling the High Cost of Student Loan Debt (StatePoint) There’s no way around it: Americans are drowning in student loan debt, collectively owing $1.5 trillion. Rising college costs mean that number isn’t likely to drop much in the next few decades.

The average student borrower takes out around $26,000 in loans over the course of a bachelor’s degree -- debt that’s impossible to discharge in bankruptcy, difficult to have forgiven and increasingly unlikely to be fully repaid on schedule.

Here’s a look at the costs of that debt and what’s being done to lessen the crisis.

The Direct Cost New research shows that student debt load is making Americans less likely to buy homes or start families, and more likely to live at home and take jobs just to make ends meet, instead of the more lucrative positions for which their degrees prepared them.

Short-term solutions include deferring loans by returning to school, or consolidating or borrowing from private lenders, which ends up making the problem worse.

For students graduating into a tight job market whose credit ratings are impacted by the amounts they owe, loan debt can

(NAPSI)—Diabetes kills more Americans each year than AIDS and breast cancer combined—and can cause serious problems throughout the body. According to the National Eye Institute, eye health, for example, can become critically compromised.

Around 30.3 million Americans, or 9.4 percent of the population, are living with diabetes, with about 1.5 million more being diagnosed every year. The longer someone has diabetes, the greater his or her chances are of developing diabetic retinopathy, or damage to the blood vessels in the retina. According to the National Eye Institute, between 40 and 45 percent of people diagnosed with diabetes have some degree of diabetic retinopathy.

While being overweight and leading a sedentary lifestyle are certainly linked to diabetes, social and environmental factors such as poverty, stress, and lack of safe housing and access to a healthy diet can also compromise your health and ultimately contribute to the development of type 2 diabetes. According to America’s Health Insurance Plans, addressing these social determinants of health has become a top priority for Medicaid programs.

“We encourage our members with diabetes to have regular eye exams to rule out complications,” said Dr. Andrea Gelzer, senior vice president of medical affairs at AmeriHealth Caritas, a national leader in Medicaid managed care and other health care solutions for those most in need. “We educate our members so they understand that living a healthy lifestyle, controlling their blood sugar and having regular eye exams can help save their vision.”

Simple steps can help mitigate the effects of diabetes and may potentially delay complications from diabetic eye disease, including controlling your blood sugar and blood pressure, monitoring your cholesterol, seeing your doctor regularly, and having a dilated eye exam at least once per

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