Chicago Weekend Citizen 3-15-2023

Dress for Success® celebrates women leaders globally as it launches its biggest campaign of the year, Your Hour, Her Power® Productions In Parnership With Original Hit Series,

REP. FORD CALLS FOR FREE EXAM PREP FOR ILLINOIS PUBLIC UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

SPRINGFIELD – State Representative La Shawn K. Ford, Chairman of the Illinois House Appropriations Higher Education Committee, announced his proposal to provide Illinois public university students with free access to classes that prepare them for graduate school tests and professional licensing exams.

Dress for Success® Worldwide celebrates women leaders globally as it launches its biggest campaign of the year, Your Hour, Her Power®

Manny Halley Productions In Parnership With Bet+ Releases Original Hit Series, Legacy

LLINOIS RANKS #2 STATE IN THE NATION FOR CORPORATE INVESTMENT

Chicago takes the title as ‘Top Metro’ in the nation for 10th straight year

CHICAGO — Site Selection Magazine –an international industry-leading business publication -- released its annual corporate expansion and relocation rankings, naming Illinois 2nd in the nation for corporate projects and Chicago the Top Metro for the 10th year in a row. The publication noted 487 Illinois projects in 2022, moving the state up from the number three spot in the previous year’s rankings.

The issue also named the Chicago metropolitan area as the Top Metro for corporate investment for the 10th straight year. With a growing reputation as a tech hub with Google’s purchase of the Thompson Center and new headquarters moving in, such as Kellogg, Chicago continues to bolster its reputation as a global powerhouse.

This follows a recent report from Moody’s stating, “Illinois has been one of the Midwest’s stronger performers during the past year. Led by the Chicago metro division, job growth has outpaced that of the Midwest and brought the pandemic jobs recovery in line with the region’s. Most major privatesector industries are moving in the right direction.”

The State of Illinois has created an environment where companies can thrive through unprecedented investments in our infrastructure and our workforce, while also developing cutting edge programs that bring economic growth and jobs to the state. Illinois recently launched a $400 million invest in Illinois fund to attract large businesses and stay competitive with other states, expanded incentives for the clean energy industry, and made it easier for companies to apply for EDGE – the state’s primary incentive program.

The state also announced $40 million in grants to supercharge the development of megasites - large, developed sites ready for occupancy for manufacturers, distribution centers, industrial centers, and more. These grants will increase the number of investment-ready sites in Illinois and increase the state’s competitiveness for large-scale projects.

Similarly, the State of Illinois – which was recently named the top state in the Midwest for Workforce development by Site Selection - has made unprecedented investments in training programs and workforce facilities, including Manufacturing Training Academies, Illinois Works preapprenticeship programs, and nearly $180 million annually for clean energy jobs training and community support efforts under the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA).

Site Selection’s yearly analyses are regarded by corporate real estate analysts as “the industry scoreboard.” To qualify, projects must meet one or more of these criteria: investment of $1M or more, creation of 20 or more new jobs or 20,000 sq. ft. or more of new space.

2023 ILBCF SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION

NOW OPEN

Since 2002, the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus Foundation has given out more than $1 MILLION in scholarships.

The Illinois Legislative Black Caucus Foundation is pleased to announce that we are accepting applications for our annual scholarships. The deadline for submission is May 31.

Students who are matriculating to an accredited 2- or 4-year post-secondary institution of higher learning are eligible and encouraged to apply.

To apply, visit https://tinyurl. com/2wfxyhvn

For additional inquiries or difficulties with your submission, email: scholarship@ ilbcf.org.

REP. FORD CALLS FOR FREE EXAM PREP FOR IL PUBLIC UNIVERSITY STUDENTS TO IMPROVE ACCESS AND EQUITY FOR BETTER OPPORTUNITIES

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Ford, D-Chicago, a former Chicago Public Schools teacher, said he will pursue funding in the state’s fiscal year 2024 budget for the effort.

“Research has shown that traditionally underserved students have been locked out of opportunities because of poor or non-existent preparation for critical graduate school and professional licensure exams,” Ford said “This holds us back as a nation and continues to lock the doors of opportunity to some truly great talent in our state. The time of inaction and ignoring the truth must end in Illinois. As Chairman of the Higher Education Appropriations Committee, I will examine solutions to support students seeking test prep to understand better how to better compete and overcome fears and challenges of exams. Illinois has a shortage of teachers, doctors, and nurses, and many more professional roles - and giving students that can’t afford exam preparation free classes is one solution to grow these professions in our state.”

Ford appeared at a press conference with Brandon Busteed, a national expert on education and workforce development. Busteed is Global Head of

Learn-Work Innovation at Kaplan, a global education service provider.

Busteed said Historically Black Colleges and Universities such as Howard University and regional public universities such as Cleveland State University have successfully used universal free exam prep for their students. At Cleveland State, 266 students have already signed up for universal exam prep, saving students $328,000. Of those 266 students, 45 percent are low income and 44 percent are First Generation college students, which means they are the first in their family to go to college.

“Comprehensive, free exam prep is key to increasing access and helping disadvantaged students achieve better graduate school and career outcomes,” Busteed said. “I applaud Rep. Ford for his efforts to create better opportunities for low income and minority students.”

Prior to the press conference, Ford and Busteed both provided testimony and took questions at a hearing of the Illinois House Appropriations Higher Education Committee.

State Treasurer Mike Frerichs Returns Purple Heart

To Family of Army Specialist Kenneth R. Wiest of Downstate O’Fallon

SPRINGFIELD - The Purple Heart awarded to Army Specialist Kenneth R. Wiest was returned to his family as part of Operation Purple Heart, an unprecedented mission to return 11 Purple Heart medals to their rightful owners, Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs announced.

Wiest earned the medal while serving in Vietnam. He also served in Desert Storm, sometimes called the Gulf War. Mr. Wiest died in O’Fallon, Illinois, on Sept. 4, 1998, at age 48. Like many combat veterans, Mr. Wiest rarely spoke about his service and the injuries he suffered taking fire while inside a helicopter.

“Army Specialist Wiest served his country, and it is our duty to honor this soldier no matter how many years have passed,” Frerichs said during a somber ceremony in Springfield with Mr. Wiest’s children.

“Dad was a good soldier, a loyal friend and dedicated father,” said Andrea Wiest Schone, the youngest of four siblings who initiated the process that led to the return of the Purple Heart and two Gulf War service medals. “My brother and sisters are grateful to have these medals that honor his legacy.”

Mr. Wiest was born on July 28, 1950, in Kelly Township, Pa. He moved to O’Fallon with his family when he was young. He was an Eagle Scout and a graduate of Mascoutah High School class of 1968. He entered the Army and went to Vietnam. When not deployed, he was employed as a logistics/computer program analyst for the United States Department of Defense. Mr. Wiest attended St. Clare of Assisi Catholic Church in O’Fallon, was a member of the Army Aviation Association of America and ran the Idle Hour Pool League for eight years. He was an avid animal lover who requested memorials to be made to the Humane Society.

The Purple Heart and Gulf War medals were among

items in a forgotten safe deposit box submitted to the state treasurer’s office in 2019.

Safeguarding unclaimed property until it can be returned to its owners or heirs – no matter how long it takes - is a core function of the treasurer’s office. Other examples of unclaimed property include forgotten bank accounts, unpaid life insurance benefits and uncashed rebate checks. Military medals are among the most difficult items to return because neither the Armed Forces nor the federal government maintain a comprehensive list of awardees.

Nevertheless, Frerichs’ office has an unparalleled record of returning military medals. With today’s announcement, Frerichs’ office has reunited eight Purple Heart and other military medals to soldiers or their survivors, more than any other administration in Illinois’ history.

“These medals personify honor, sacrifice, and duty,” Frerichs said. “I am grateful we returned this Purple Heart to the Wiest family, and we continue to seek the assistance of Illinois residents to help us return these medals to the loving care of their families.”

Frerichs launched operation Purple Heart in November 2021. It sought the public’s help to return 11 Purple Heart medals that had been especially difficult to return, including that of Mr. Wiest.

Each of the Purple Heart medals was inside a bank safe deposit box. Each bank determined the safe deposit box as abandoned because the owner(s) of the box had not touched it in several years. As a result, the contents of each safe deposit box were turned over to the Illinois State Treasurer’s Office.

In most of these cases, the conflict in which the Purple Heart was awarded, such as World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, or Desert Storm, is unclear or unknown.

MCA Chicago to Open Three Spring

Exhibitions: Duane Linklater: mymothersside, Endless, and Mona Hatoum: Early Works

CHICAGO— The Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) Chicago, has announced three upcoming shows, opening in March 2023.

Duane Linklater: mymothersside

March 11–September 3, 2023

Bergman Family Gallery

Duane Linklater: mymothersside features the work of Duane Linklater (b. 1976, Moose Factory, Ontario), whose multimedia practice addresses the contradictions of contemporary Indigenous life within—and beyond—settler systems of knowledge, representation, and value. Opening the institution of “the museum” to Indigenous content, the exhibition brings together sculptures, video works, and digital

prints on linen from the past decade of the artist’s practice, as well as new adaptations of installations that he has continually revisited and revised.

With his draped and folded tepee cover paintings, Linklater transforms the semicircular canvas wrapping of the traditional Cree dwelling into a support for digitally printed imagery that he tints with natural dyes. Appearing amid these culturally significant forms and materials, references to the artist’s family, childhood home, and favorite bands, films, and garments suggest an expansive constellation of attributes that defies reductive notions of identity. Linklater counters the ongoing processes of erasure, extraction, and dispossession that impede Indigenous people’s potential with what he calls “a zone of non-interference”—a space of sovereignty and selfdetermination through art.

This exhibition is organized by Marilyn and Larry Fields Curator Carla Acevedo-Yates.

Endless

April 15, 2023–April 14, 2024

McCormick Tribune Gallery

Endless brings together works from the MCA collection that touch upon the concept of infinity. Impossible to convey in full, this idea prompts artists to acknowledge the limits of what they can depict and to develop open-ended ways of working. The artists featured in Endless use repetition, abstraction, and processes of change to poetically imply spatial, temporal, and spiritual expansiveness. Throughout the exhibition, horizons suggest boundless space, sculpture embodies eternal change, and waters reflect the immeasurable depth of our inner lives.

Artists featured in the exhibition include Etel Adnan, Charles Gaines, David Lamelas, and Hiroshi Sugimoto.

This exhibition is organized by Marjorie Susman Curatorial Fellow Nolan Jimbo.

Mona Hatoum: Early Works

March 29–November 26, 2023

Dr. Paul and Dorie Sternberg

Family Gallery & Ed and Jackie Rabin Gallery

Early in her career, Mona Hatoum’s (b. 1952, Beirut, Lebanon) work took the body as both subject and material. Using per -

formance as her primary medium, her works from this period afforded her a direct way of communicating with her audience, often employing technology like video and sound recordings in innovative ways. In this exhibition, three key performance works and three pivotal video works—all produced in the 1980s—engage themes that continue to be fundamental to her practice, from the body to the impetus to connect with viewers. Twenty-five years after hosting Hatoum’s first US solo museum exhibition in 1997, the MCA is pleased to revisit these foundational works from the vantage of the present.

“This exhibition is a continuation of the MCA’s commitment to working with Mona Hatoum,” Pamela Alper Associate Curator Bana Kattan said. “We are excited to provide a platform for our visitors to observe, engage, and connect with her work.”

The Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago is a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. The MCA interweaves exhibitions, performances, collections, and educational programs while providing a place for audiences to contemplate and discuss contemporary art in pursuit of a creative and diverse future. The MCA believes in the values of inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility (IDEA) as a platform to enact structural change. The museum is generously supported by its Board of Trustees; individual and corporate members; private and corporate foundations, including the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation; and government agencies. Museum capital improvements are supported by a Public Museum Capital Grant from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. The MCA is a proud member of Museums in the Park and receives major support from the Chicago Park District.

The MCA is located at 220 E. Chicago Avenue and is open 10 am to 5 pm Wednesday to Sunday and Tuesdays (free for IL residents) from 10 am to 9 pm. The museum is closed on Mondays. Suggested general admission of $15 for adults and $8 for seniors. Admission is free for all youth 18 and under, members of the military and veterans, and MCA members. Find more information about MCA’s exhibitions, programs, and special events at mcachicago. org or at 312.280.2660.

DUCKWORTH MEETS WITH IDPH DIRECTOR TO DISCUSS PUBLIC HEALTH SUPPORT IN ILLINOIS

U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) recently met with Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Sameer Vohra to discuss the continued importance of public health funding in Illinois, as the COVID-19 public health emergency declaration is set to end in May. Duckworth and Vohra discussed how Illinois can continue to support testing, vaccine and treatment programs going forward, as well as how all Illinoisans can continue to get the high quality, affordable care they need.

“Over the past three years we saw just how critical the leadership of the Illinois Department of Public Health is to the health and well-being of our state,” Duckworth said. “It was great to meet with Dr. Vohra today, and I look forward to continuing to work together to support IDPH and its public health initiatives throughout Illinois.”

During the meeting, Duckworth also met with IDPH Chief of Staff Laura Vaught and Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services Chief of Staff Ben Winick. In her discussion with Winick, Duckworth emphasized the need to ensure that Illinoisans who rely on Medicaid can continue to get coverage, as well as Illinois’s new law to support nursing home rate reform and the critical need to help provide equitable care for nursing home residents in Illinois.

CASTEN OPENS APPLICATION FOR COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING FOR THE 6TH DISTRICT

March 3rd, 2023 - U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (IL06) has officially opened the applications for FY2024 community project funding.

Members of Congress can advocate for direct funding to their communities through the Fiscal Year 2024 spending bill. To learn what kind of projects are eligible for funding, click here.

Congressman Casten will be able to submit up to fifteen Community Project Funding requests to benefit state or local government grantees or eligible nonprofits. He previously secured over $15 million in funding for FY2023 projects, which included funding to provide housing to victims of domestic abuse, address local hunger and create jobs, combat the climate crisis, and improve local infrastructure.

“Since my first day in Congress, I’ve been working to ensure the federal budget responds to the needs facing constituents of Illinois’ Sixth Congressional District,” said Congressman Casten.“I look forward to advocating for our shared priorities in the appropriations process.

Those interested in applying for community project funding should apply here by March 20th, 2023.

USSFCU President & CEO Timothy L. Anderson Honored at AACUC Hall of Fame Ceremony

WASHINGTON, PRNewswire -- United States Senate Federal Credit Union (USSFCU) President and CEO Timothy L. Anderson was among seven credit union leaders honored at the African American Credit Union Coalition’s Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony held on Tuesday, Feb. 28, at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C.

The AACUC African American Credit Union Hall of Fame honors credit union leaders for their distinguished contributions to the industry. Anderson joins USSFCU Board Emeritus Herbert Bowman in the Hall of Fame. Bowman, inducted in 2020, is Capitol Hill’s longest-serving African-American staffer and a long-time mentor of Andersons.

With the addition of the latest inductees, 63

graduates have been inducted into the Hall of Fame since 2008. More information on this year’s honorees is available at: www.aacuc. org/hall-offame.

“The African American Credit Union Hall of Fame is a prestigious recognition in our credit union movement because it honors those who have committed their years of service to advance financial services and access to financial capital for people of color,” said Renée Sattiewhite, AACUC President/CEO.

The Hall of Fame was created to identify and honor African Americans instrumental in making changes in our communities. To be inducted you

must have accomplished or achieved the following: provided more than 10 years of service in the credit union industry and made significant accomplishments that benefited African Americans and access to financial capital for communities of color.

Anderson has a long history with USSFCU, serving as the EVP and Chief Retail Officer before assuming the role of President and CEO in 2019. He served on the USSFCU Board of Directors for over fifteen years in various capacities, including as Chairman of the Board. He began his career with USSFCU as the Branch Manager of the flagship Hart Senate location. Tim possesses over 30 years of senior executive and management experience at large banks and credit unions.

Since 1935, USSFCU has provided the Senate and Capitol Hill communities with world-class financial stability, security, and service. Now a $1.4 billion financial institution with 100 plus paths to membership, access to the same financial resources provided exclusively to the Senate community is at your fingertips. Call, click or tap to learn more at www.ussfcu.org.

Operation HOPE, U.S. Small Business Administration and U.S. Treasury Host Roundtable to Celebrate Freedman’s Bank

ATLANTA, PRNewswire -- Operation HOPE, Inc., the nation’s largest non-profit dedicated to financial empowerment for underserved communities, joined Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), and US Deputy Secretary of the Treasury (Treasury) Wally Adeyemo, to lead a roundtable discussion focused on advancing Black entrepreneurship. Several prominent leaders from the public and private sectors also participated, including White House Senior Advisor for Public Engagement, former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms.

At the suggestion of John Hope Bryant, the Treasury Annex building was renamed the Freedman’s Bank in 2015.

The roundtable also recognized the anniversary of the founding of the Freedman’s Savings Bank by President Abraham Lincoln on March 3, 1865, which was commissioned to help formerly enslaved Black Americans participate in the free enterprise system. At the suggestion of John Hope Bryant, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Operation HOPE the Treasury Annex building was renamed in 2015.

“The Freedman’s Bureau Act was the original small business program for formerly enslaved Black Americans, connecting assets – 40 acres and a mule - with capital and financial education through the Freedman’s Bank,” said Chairman Bryant. “At Operation HOPE, we are building on this legacy, having created 185,000 new Black businesses since 2020 under our 1 Million Black Business Initiative, of which the SBA has been a significant partner. We are grateful to Administrator Guzman

and her team for their ongoing support.”

During the discussion, Bryant also highlighted data from the HOPE Financial Wellness Index, which reveals the disparities between neighborhoods located just five miles apart in the DC Metro area. By creating a path to sustainable entrepreneurship and increasing engagement in the no-cost HOPE 1MBB Initiative, the organization seeks to improve the overall financial wellness of Black communities. Participants agreed that the need for continued partnership between

Kendall Corley, Deputy Chief of Staff, U.S. Small Business Administration

Rasheeda S. Liberty, Chair, Council of Presidents, National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC)

Lenwood V. Long, Sr., President & CEO, African American Alliance of CDFI CEOs

Ron Busby, President & CEO, U.S. Black Chamber of Commerce

Stephanie E. DeVane, Vice President, Entrepreneurship & Business Development, National Urban League

“Yesterday’s convening brought top economic leaders from the Biden-Harris Administration together with some of America’s most important Black voices and civil society organizations to listen, strategize and advance solutions to close racial inequities that have limited our economy for centuries,” said Administrator Guzman. “This Administration is working tirelessly to deliver a long-promised economic transformation for Black Americans that dates back at least 150 years to the founding of Freedman’s Savings Bank by Congress. We must aspire to the ideals of that historic act and ensure pathways to prosperity through business ownership and capital access are open to all.”

“Freedman’s Bank was founded with the idea that our nation can, and will, live up to its promise of equality – which includes an economy that works for all Americans,” said Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Wally Adeyemo.

the federal government, private organizations, and community leadership can improve economic outcomes for all.

Additional roundtable participants included:

On the heels of Black history month, the discussion also provided the opportunity to map an actionable plan that widens the path to Black business ownership— a proven strategy for increasing wealth and creating new jobs.

PRNewsFoto

Operation HOPE hosts roundtable discussion in DC on advancing Black entrepreneurship with SBA and leaders from the public & private sectors. (Pictured L-R) Wally Adeyemo –US Treasury; John Hope Bryant –Operation HOPE; Stephanie E. DeVane– National Urban League; Ron Busby–U.S. Black Chamber of Commerce; Administrator Guzman–SBA; Keisha Lance-Bottoms – White House; Lenwood V. Long, Sr.–African American Alliance; Rasheeda S. Liberty– National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC); Kendall Corley–SBA. Operation HOPE, Inc.

Deal That Could Increase Minority Media Ownership Hits ‘Brick Wall’

BY HAZEL TRICE EDNEY

A major acquisition that civil rights leaders and advocates for Black-owned media had hoped would increase media ownership, opportunity, and participation by African-Americans and other minorities has apparently “hit a brick wall.”

Following months of advocacy and public support for a $5.4 billion acquisition of Tegna by Standard General, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has essentially killed the deal by sending it to an administrative judge for a hearing, a process that could mire it down in red tape. Standard General is led by Soo Kim, a Korean American immigrant who moved to Queens, N.Y. when he was just 5 years old. Soo Kim’s vision for the future of local broadcast news is one where diverse voices are escalated and heard to better represent the communities they serve.

“As part of the FCC’s mission, we are responsible for determining whether grant of the applications constituting this transaction serves the public interest. That’s why we’re asking for closer review to ensure that this transaction does not anti-competitively raise prices or put jobs in local newsrooms at risk,” said Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel in a Feb. 24 press release announcing the decision. “The additional review will allow us to make a more informed assessment on whether proposed safeguards are sufficient to protect the public interest, and we will take the time needed to address these critical questions.”

The FCC’s decision will have a chilling effect on minority ownership, as this action aims to kill the deal by delaying it past the May 22 deadline by which it must close.

The NAACP New York State Conference issued a strong rebuke to Rosenworcel’s announcement. NY NAACP President Hazel Dukes responded to apparently bigoted perceptions that because of Soo Kim’s Asian heritage, he is not the kind of racial minority being sought to increase media ownership.

“I understand that Chairwoman Rosenworcel has bowed to the pressure of those who accuse Soo Kim of not being the “right type of minority,” wrote Dukes in an open letter to Rosenworcel and the FCC Commissioners March 1. “I am appalled that we still use this type of incendiary language to define a person of color who attempts to enter a particular ‘club’ [of which] they are not traditional members.”

She concludes that the assignment to an FCC administrative judge was intentional to kill the deal.

“This action was deliberate and malicious and only happened because some deemed Soo Kim is considered not to be the ‘right type of minority,’” Dukes writes. “Standard General has not only publicly pledged to invest in local broadcasting and to preserve jobs, but they have also committed to directly impacting our communities to have a voice and to empower community journalism.”

The Rev. Al Sharpton, president of the

New York-based National Action Network, was also riled by what appeared to have been a decision based on Asian bias. “Who determines who is the ‘right minority’ and who is the ‘wrong minority’?” Sharpton questioned in a Tweet. He added that Soo Kim’s Standard General and TEGNA would be “a 300 pct increase of minority owned tv stations.”

This disappointing announcement was made by the FCC despite strong support from civil rights leaders and media diversity advocates for the acquisition throughout the year long review process.

The FCC decision follows months of pushing for the transaction. In her letter, Dukes listed a string of her civil rights associates, who publicly supported the acquisition, including Congressional Black Caucus Chairman Steven Horsford, civil rights leaders including the iconic Rev. Jesse Jackson; Rev. Sharpton, Transformative Justice Coalition President Barbara Arnwine, and Dr. Benjamin Chavis, president/ CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association.

Chavis was among the first to support the acquisition and to explain the benefits of an Asian American taking ownership of TEGNA.

“I know some of you would ask me why I am speaking up and out about other persons of color to own media businesses in America in addition to African American ownership of media businesses. There is, I assert, only one clear answer. If you are, as I am, for equality, equity, and believe in the oneness of all humanity, then we must practice what we preach. This is why I am publicly and forthrightly supporting the efforts and leadership of Soo Kim, founder and managing partner of Standard General. Kim is an effective and outstanding Korean American business leader, and he is on record supporting greater Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) in our nation’s media ownership landscape,” Chavis wrote in an op-ed published in NNPA and other newspapers Dec. 2. “The multimedia publishing and communications industry is a trillion-dollar business sector in America. Yet the disparities and inequities of ownership of media industry businesses by persons of color remains glaringly inequitable.”

Black Star Network host Roland Martin, an avid supporter of Black Media ownership, announced that the deal has now “hit a brick wall.” Interviewing Kim on his You Tube talk show, he asked how it felt to Kim to be assumed “not the right kind of minority?” Kim responded with a quote from former First Lady Michelle Obama, “‘When they go low, I go high.’” He said, “It’s not a great” feeling. Adding that the Black participation in his network would be huge, Kim shows no sign of giving up.

“This deal has taken a long time. We’re in our eleventh month of review here. And so, yes, we have made concessions and basically addressed each of the concerns that have been put up,” Kim told Martin on the show. “We’ve actually gone in and said we’re willing to address each of these concerns. What I’d hoped from the

very beginning is that we’d be treated like everybody else. I would say that maybe that was too much to hope for. But we’re still optimistic that we’ve put together a series of responses to each of the concerns that we’ve heard.”

Rev. Jackson, as president/CEO of the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, sent a letter to the Commission in support of the acquisition.

“After meeting with Soo Kim and upon careful and scrupulous review of his record on diversity and inclusion, my team and I wholeheartedly support the purchase of Tegna,” Jackson wrote. “Soo Kim, being Korean-American, is sensitive to the plight of racial justice, equity and inclusion… It is my strong belief that Soo Kim would be committed to inclusion which leads to growth in the America of our dreams. He will honor the spirit and the law representing the best in American ideals.”

If the deal now fails, the FCC’s decision will no doubt call into question its seriousness about increasing ownership by minority media, one of its stated goals. And the civil rights community will once again feel like their voices are not being heard.

“Enhancing media diversity is a primary objective at the FCC, but it has a lot of work to do,” wrote Barbara Arnwine in an op-ed published in January. “The FCC just reported that Blacks account for only 3% of majority interests in full-power TV stations with Asian Americans at only 1%. Now it has a chance to really show that it cares about this goal as the Standard General transaction would radically enhance minority media ownership of broadcast channels.”

The issue of Black media ownership matters greatly and will continue as a top priority for the civil rights activists. Unrelated to the Standard General/ TEGNA acquisition, the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights has, for years, been on top of the issue of diversity in media ownership.

The Leadership Conference concluded in a recent report: “At a time when more people, particularly Black people, are distrustful of the media, diversity in media ownership has become more important than ever for the functioning of our democracy. Diversity in ownership is part of that solution.”

Dress for Success® Worldwide celebrates women leaders globally as it launches its biggest campaign of the year, Your Hour, Her Power®

ANTHONY HAMILTON PARTNERS WITH FRANCES GREY FOR THE FRANCES GREY X ANTHONY HAMILTON LEGACY COLLECTION

New York, NY – GRAMMY® Award-winning, multiplatinum singer, songwriter, producer, and actor Anthony Hamilton has announced his partnership with luxury millinery hand-crafted fashion brand Frances Grey for the Frances Grey x Anthony Hamilton Legacy Collection. It offers a variety of customizable signature hats of premium quality. Anthony and Debbie Lorenzo, the owner, and designer behind Frances Grey, launched the collection at an exclusive Pop Up Shop at Nordstrom’s NYC Flagship Store on Saturday, March 4.

The collection will be available for custom order at https://www.francesgreyny.com and https://www.anthonyhamilton.com.

After linking up through a mutual friend, Anthony, and Debbie immediately bonded over a lifelong love for hat-wear. Throughout the collection’s development, the pair remained focused on infusing their creations with passion, history, and purpose.

NEW YORK, PRNewswire

-- Dress for Success® Worldwide, the leading global nonprofit employment resource for women, launched its biggest campaign of the year, Your Hour, Her Power.

In celebration of International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month throughout March, Your Hour, Her Power honors diverse, trailblazing female leaders, from C-Suite executives to media luminaries. The campaign raises funds for innovative, no-fee programming; engages corporate partners through employee workplace experiences; and drives awareness that every dollar counts in positively impacting the lives of the women Dress for Success serves.

Three years into the pandemic, women disproportionately still face the effects of ongoing geopolitical and economic upheaval. For the women served by Dress for Success, the need to usher in socioeconomic change has never been greater.

Michele C. Meyer-Shipp, CEO of Dress for Worldwide, says: “This campaign’s power is equal to the powerful women and companies who are celebrated and aligned with the mission of Dress for Success. Their voices and leadership are helping to turn the tide on the myriad of challenges women face around the globe. We are grateful to them and to all who support our commitment to help women thrive personally and professionally.”

This year’s honorees include ABC’s “The View” co-host and three-time Emmy Award-winning legal journalist, Sunny Hostin; Spotify’s Global Head of Equity and Impact, Elizabeth Nieto; and the host of MSNBC’s “The ReidOut,” Joy Reid.

“Power Shift,” a five-episode podcast series, accompanies the campaign. Hosted by Michele C. Meyer-Shipp,

WORLDWIDE

CEO of Dress for Success Worldwide, the series spotlights select honorees and global client ambassadors in compelling conversations. Episodes will launch each Friday in March, with themes that are of critical importance to women today: agency, power, resilience, courage, and community. Power Shift is sponsored by Chart Industries. This campaign is possible thanks to the generous support from 2023 Lead Sponsors: Arm & Hammer Laundry, Danone, Experian, FedEx, Scotiabank, and Sonobello.

Dress for Success Worldwide is grateful to its 2023 Honorees and Power Spotlight Partners: The Adecco Group US Foundation, AllianceBernstein, Arm & Hammer Laundry, Capital One, ClearEdge Marketing, Cushman & Wakefield, Dallas Mavericks, Danone, Experian, FedEx, Mielle Organics, MSNBC, Publicis Groupe, Scotiabank, Spotify, State Street Global Advisors, Trivium Packaging, Ulta, Verizon Wireless, and The View.

Regarding the collection, Anthony said, “Hats are so important to not only my fashion, but to my personality and spirit. Debbie and I found synergy in creating hats, and it’s something special. The goal here is to create something bigger than fashion. This is the new fabric connected to old fabric that people will talk about and wear throughout history. Be ready.” Debbie added, “It’s beautiful because we both wanted to create heirlooms that we can pass down through generations.”

The Frances Grey x Anthony Hamilton Legacy Collection: where heirlooms create history.

With over 50 million albums globally and proclaimed a “national treasure” by the Los Angeles Times, Anthony Hamilton’s voice will resonate louder than ever in 2023 with more music and performances on the horizon.

GRAMMY® Award-winning singer, songwriter, producer, and actor Anthony Hamilton has achieved global sales of over 50 million albums. The North Carolina Music Hall of Fame inductee notably performed for President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle, cementing his place in the history books as the “narrator of love.” Introduced by way of the iconic 2003 smash “Charlene,” his raw, awe-inspiring performances garnered the attention of NPR where he starred in their Noteworthy documentary series. He made his film debut in the critically acclaimed American Gangster, and lent his vocals to the song “Freedom” from the Academy® Award-nominated film Django Unchained. Hamilton recently added author and publisher to his list of accomplishments with the unveiling of his first self-published book, Cornbread, Fish ‘n Collard Greens, where he shares the inspiration for some of the iconic songs in his illustrious career and his love of southern food. Hamilton recently starred as Kyle Kirby in the feature film Carl Weber’s Influence, now streaming on BET+. 2023 sees Hamilton reach another milestone with the launch of his signature hat line: the Frances Grey x Anthony Hamilton Legacy Collection.

Frances Grey is a luxury millinery brand handcrafted in New York that designs and creates custom hats to your head size and personal style. No two hats are the same...that’s what makes each creation special! Every design embodies simplicity and timeless sophistication.

Lorenzo, who is of Jamaican descent, was born and raised in a vibrant section of Queens, a borough of New York City that is energized by Caribbean heritage and spirit. This environment greatly informed her personal style and her inspiration as a designer today. After marrying young and raising three children, Debbie divorced and began to blaze her own trail, traveling the world and going back to school to pursue and complete a Master’s Degree in Social Work. After receiving her graduate degree, she began fulfilling work with organizations for social good, supporting women, children, and seniors. Not one to rest on her laurels, Debbie simultaneously enrolled in New York City’s Fashion Institute of Technology’s millinery program to pursue another passion, cultivate her curiosity, and learn how to develop her design ideas. This creative energy awakened her love of textiles, color, fashion, and hats. These experiences imbued her with confidence, purpose, and a sense of self-worth, which would later become the platform she needed to launch her own business. Years prior to starting her own company, Debbie found her great-grandmother’s passport and knew it meant something special. The unique signature style on her travel documents, accompanied by a family picture as her photo identification, inspired Debbie to learn more about her and the life she led. That woman, Frances Grey, a seamstress from the beautiful island of Jamaica, would become the inspiration and namesake of this new line and woman-run business.

Throughout March, the campaign honors trailblazing C-Suite executives and media luminaries ushering in socioeconomic change.

Your Hour, Her Power honors trailblazing C-Suite executives and media luminaries ushering in socioeconomic change, including ABC’s “The View” co-host and threetime Emmy Award-winning legal journalist, Sunny Hostin. PRNEWSFOTO/DRESS FOR SUCCESS

ANTHONY HAMILTON

BREAKFAST & BLUUES FOR SENIORS

Photos by L.M. Warbington Photography

Presented By The Greater Auburn Gresham Development Corporation

ATTORNEY GENERAL RAOUL SUPPORTS PROPOSED RULE PREVENTING DISCRIMINATION IN ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE

Proposed Rule Would Rescind Portions of the 2019 Healthcare Refusal Rule

Chicago – Attorney General

Kwame Raoul, as part of a coalition of 22 attorneys general, today supported a proposed federal rule that protects access to health care for all individuals. The proposed rule rescinds portions of the 2019 Healthcare Refusal Rule, which allowed anyone working in health care to broadly refuse to provide care based on religious or moral beliefs.

In the letter, Raoul and the coalition said the Biden administration’s proposed rule eliminates the problematic and illegal aspects of the federal government’s 2019 rule and better safeguards patients, including those in the LGBTQ+ community and those seeking abortions, from being denied access to critical or lifesaving health services. The 2019 rule also threatened to cut off essential federal health care funding to states for a single breach of the rule.

“Every patient seeking health care should be able to do so with -

out fear of discrimination or being denied critical and lifesaving health services,” Raoul said. “I will continue to advocate for fair and equitable access to quality health care services in Illinois, and I stand in support of the federal government’s efforts to prohibit discrimination in health care.”

The 2019 Healthcare Refusal Rule was successfully blocked in multiple lawsuits nationwide. In January, the Biden administration announced a new proposed rule that seeks to rescind portions of the 2019 rule.

In the letter, Raoul and the attorneys general expressed their support of the new proposed rule, arguing that it:

Protects vulnerable populations, including LGBTQ+ communities and people seeking reproductive care, by revoking the most dangerous parts of the 2019 rule that opened them up to discrimination and threatened to exacerbate preexisting health care

inequities.

Strikes a better balance between safeguarding conscience rights of individual medical providers and protecting access to health care for patients.

Corrects portions of the 2019 rule that are redundant, confusing or have been deemed illegal by courts in litigation brought by the states, local governments and health care providers.

Protects federal funding for states’ public health care and other federally-funded programs that provide crucial health, education and labor services.

Joining Raoul in filing the comment letter are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Washington and Vermont.

“Every patient seeking health care should be able to do so without fear of discrimination or being denied critical and lifesaving health services,” Raoul said.

MANNY HALLEY PRODUCTIONS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH BET+ RELEASES ORIGINAL HIT SERIES, LEGACY

LOS ANGELES, PRNewswire

-- Black Independent film company, Manny Halley Productions is back at it again, with their latest original hit new series, Legacy. Premiering on BET+, the star-studded series features legendary actor, Ving Rhames (Mission Impossible, Baby Boy); Lisa Raye (The Player’s Club, All of Us); AJ Johnson (Baby Boy); Draya Michele (L.A.’s Finest, BET’s Tales); Barton Fitzpatrick (Power Book IV: Force, The Chi); Andra Fuller (True to The Game); Clifton Powell (BET’s The Family Business, CW’s Black Lightning); Jeremy Meeks (Dutch); and more.

“This series is one for the ages, leaving viewers at the edge of their seats from beginning to end,” says Executive Producer Manny Halley. “This is only the beginning.”

Created and Executive Produced by Manny Halley, written and executive produced by Yolanda Halley, the show follows Guy Simmons (Ving Rhames), the patriarch of the Simmons family, the ruling crime family in the southern underworld. When he gets shot, the balance of power is ended, turning his two sons into competitors, vying for

on

New

control of the family. Kevin (Andra Fuller), the son of his first wife Gloria (AJ Johnson) is pitted against Ty (Markice Moore), the son of his second wife Debra (Lisa Raye). Both must fight off the ‘Pack, a bunch of young, ruthless gangsters, once led by Ty. Family secrets are unearthed that threaten to not only tear the family apart but the streets as well.

Manny Halley Productions is a black independent

film company that funds, produces and licenses all of its content. This is the second TV series under the company.

‘The Godfather’ meets ‘American Gangster’ series takes viewers on the ride of their life in this American crime drama. Legacy, which is co-produced by Rodney Turner and Denee Busby Howard is available now on BET+.

Manny Halley Productions is a black independent film company that funds, produces and licenses all of its content. The company aims to cultivate a community that provides content for the black community by black creators - giving artists an honest space to share their unique stories.

Faith Media Distribution is a streamlined, highly focused, and audience-driven distribution company, with the flexibility and nimbleness to constantly be responsive to the urban consumer market. There is no existing enterprise with a development and production model that creates, distributes, and markets to the urban audience at the pace in which they can. Within a short period, Faith Media has built a reputation of consistently providing urban-themed film products that are commercial, critical, and audience successes.

Awaken The Power!

CULVER CITY, Calif. — From trophy to tyrant, outcast to outlaw, loner to leader, mayor to mutineer … how will The Power transform you? Prime Video has debuted the electrifying official trailer and key art for the global thriller The Power. The emotionally driven series from SISTER (Chernobyl) and showrunner Raelle Tucker (True Blood, Jessica Jones) is based on British author Naomi Alderman’s award-winning novel. The first three episodes of The Power will premiere exclusively on Prime Video on Friday, March 31, with new episodes available each Friday, leading up to the season finale on May 12.

The Power is our world, but for one twist of nature. Suddenly, and without warning, teenage girls develop the power to electrocute people at will. The series features a cast of remarkable characters from London to Seattle, Nigeria to Eastern Europe, as the Power evolves from a tingle in teenagers’ collarbones to a complete reversal of the power balance of the world.

The series stars Toni Collette as Mayor Margot Cleary-Lopez, alongside John Leguizamo as Rob Lopez, Auli’i Cravalho as Jos Cleary-Lopez, Toheeb Jimoh as Tunde Ojo, Josh Charles as Daniel Dandon, Eddie Marsan as Bernie Monke, Ria Zmitrowicz as Roxy Monke, Zrinka Cvitešić as Tatiana Moskalev, Halle Bush as Allie Montgomery, and more.

The Power comes from Amazon Studios and SISTER, with Raelle Tucker (True Blood, Jessica Jones) serving as showrunner.

Prime Video offers customers a vast collection of movies, series, and sports—all available to watch on hundreds of compatible devices. Included with Prime Video: Watch movies, series, and sports, including Thursday Night Football. Enjoy series and films including Emmy winners The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and Lizzo’s Watch

amount+, BET+, MGM+, ViX+, PBS KIDS, NBA League Pass, MLB.TV, STARZ, and SHOWTIME—no extra apps to download, and no cable required. Only pay for the ones you want, and cancel anytime. View the full list of channels available at amazon.com/channels.

- Rent or Buy: Enjoy new-release movies to rent or buy, entire seasons of current TV shows available to buy, and special deals just for Prime members.

- Instant access: Watch at home or on the go with your choice of hundreds of compatible devices. Stream from the web or using the Prime Video app on your smartphone, tablet, set-top box, game console, or select smart TV.

- Enhanced experiences: Make the most of every viewing with 4K Ultra HD- and High Dynamic Range (HDR)-compatible content. Go behind the scenes of your favorite movies and TV shows with exclusive X-Ray access, powered by IMDb. Save it for later with select mobile downloads for offline viewing.

Out for the Big Grrrls, Emmy-nominated satirical superhero drama The Boys, and the smash hits The Lord of The Rings: The Rings of Power, Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, Shotgun Wedding, Samaritan, Thirteen Lives, The Tender Bar, Being the Ricardos, The Tomorrow War, Reacher, and Coming 2 America. Prime members also get access to licensed content.

- Prime Video Channels: Prime members can add channels like HBO Max, discovery+, Par-

Prime Video is just one of many shopping, savings, and entertainment benefits included with a Prime membership, along with fast, free shipping on millions of Prime-eligible items at Amazon.com, ultrafast grocery delivery and pickup, unlimited photo storage, exclusive deals and discounts, prescription savings, and access to ad-free music, books, and games. To sign up or start a 30-day free trial of Prime, visit: amazon. com/prime.

Manny Halley Productions

Based

the

York Times best-selling novel by Naomi Alderman, the global thriller from SISTER premieres globally March 31 on Prime Video

Prime Video

Chicago Public Schools Home to 13 Golden Apple Award Finalists

One CPS Principal and 12 Educators

CHICAGO – Chicago Public Schools (CPS) proudly announces that 12 CPS educators are finalists for the prestigious Golden Apple Awards for Excellence in Teaching and that Kenwood Academy High School Principal Karen Calloway is a finalist for the prestigious Golden Apple Awards for Excellence in Leadership.Nearly a third of the 30 Illinois 4th through 8th grade elementary school teacher finalists are from CPS schools across the city and Principal Calloway is one of six Illinois school leaders who were named as finalists in honor of founding Golden Apple Board Member Stanley C. Golder.

“We are so fortunate to work alongside so many dedicated and talented educators each day and want to especially congratulate these 13 individuals who so aptly reflect the profession and its extraordinary impact on students, colleagues and communities,” said CPS CEO Pedro Martinez. “Their commitment to our students inspires all of us to work harder to ensure every student enjoys access to great learning conditions and opportunities. “

The Golden Apple Awards for Excellence in Teaching honor outstanding teachers for creating lasting, positive effects on students’ lives and school communities. Teacher finalists demonstrate significant, positive impact on their students’ growth and learning. This year’s competition among teachers was limited to elementary teachers for grades fourth through eighth as the program alternates honoring educators by various grade ranges.

“These educators are compelled to serve and share their skills and talents to support our students each day out of a passion for teaching and not out of any quest for recognition or awards,” said Bogdana Chkoumbova, the District’s Chief Education Officer. “And yet, it’s wonderful to see such dedicated educators be recognized, shining a light on the field of education and its unique power to change lives.”

The Complete list of Golden Apple Awards for Excellence in Teaching finalists were announced earlier this month and CPS will highlight each of

PLAY

PURPOSE

Earn National Recognition

the 12 teacher finalists on the District’s website and social media over the next month. The 2023 CPS finalists are as follows:

Anquineice Brown, Marquette Elementary School (4th grade, math & science)

Emily Brown, Robert J. Richardson Middle School (8th grade, English Language Arts)

Helen Chan, South Loop Elementary School (4th grade, Math)

Mandy Guzman, William Dever Elementary School (Grade 7-8, Social Civic Studies)

Latavia Hinton, Daniel Boone Elementary School (8th grade Mathematics and Social Science/ Civics, Algebra)

Rick Coppola, South Loop Elementary School ( 7th grade, English Language Arts)

Miguel Melchor, DeWitt Clinton Elementary School, (6th Grade Math and Science)

Donna Puccini, Edgebrook Elementary School, Chicago (Grade 5, English Language Arts (ELA), Social Science, Math, Social Emotional Learning (SEL))

Jeanette Rocuant, William P. Gray, Chicago (Grades 7-8, Reading, Writing, Social Studies and Civics)

Andrea Salgado, North River Elementary School, Chicago (Grades 7-8, English Language Arts, Writing and Civics)

Piotr Wojciaczyk, Pulaski International School of Chicago, Chicago (Grades 6-8, IB MYP Product Design)

Justin Wrzesinski, John C. Coonley Elementary, Chicago (Grades K-8, General music, rock band, band, and musical)

Guzman of William Dever Elementary School understands the importance of executing meaningful and relevant lessons and encouraging her 7th and 8th grade students to use their voices to raise awareness about important matters, make positive changes, and solve problems.

During a student-led inquiry-to-action project, Guzman’s students organized a series of fundrais-

ers, raising over $2,000 to donate to a Ukrainian charity.

“I love helping students find their power. It motivates me,” Guzman said. “As a Golden Apple finalist, I’m thrilled that my goal to empower students is being recognized as an important part of education.”

The Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Leadership honors exemplary performance in school leadership by a principal or head of school who has had a significant and sustained positive impact on the school, created a culture of inclusivity, and delivered dramatic student growth. The finalists in this category were announced earlier this week.

Principal Calloway was selected as a finalist from more than 130 nominated Pre-K-12th grade school leaders. She believes that a leader must begin with the end in mind, and her end vision is for all her students to succeed in the college and/ or careers of their choice, and to be prepared both socially and emotionally for what comes after graduation.

“I’m honored to be selected for such a prestigious award in education. Being named a finalist for a Golden Apple Award exemplifies the hard work we’ve done at Kenwood over the years,” said Calloway. “Our students, staff, teachers and parents are equal partners in our school community. I thank them all because I wouldn’t have this platform if it wasn’t for their support. I’m blessed.”

The selected 2023 Golden Apple Award recipients will be surprised by the Foundation and their respective districts in the spring. Northwestern University generously provides a spring sabbatical to award recipients at no cost. Each recipient receives a $5,000 cash award. Award recipients become Fellows of the Golden Apple Academy of Educators, a community of educators who play an important role in preparing the next generation of teachers in the Golden Apple Scholars and Accelerators programs - which are dedicated to addressing the teacher shortage in Illinois.

Janssen Launches Health Equity Campaign in Partnership with Award-Winning Radio Host D.L. Hughley to Raise Awareness About Multiple Myeloma Among Black Communities

Black patients can achieve better outcomes.5

Comedian and award-winning radio host D.L. Hughley is partnering with Janssen to empower Black communities with information and encourage better self-advocacy for their health. Hughley’s personal experience with cancer, including his father and sister, motivated him to take his own health seriously many years ago.

International Myeloma Foundation and Professor, Translational Genomics Research Institute, City of Hope Cancer Center.3,4 “Through initiatives such as That’s My Word™, we share a commitment to reaching underserved patient communities that can help result in better education and better outcomes.”

HORSHAM, Pa., PRNewswire -- The Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson announced the launch of That’s My Word™ to raise awareness of and help to drive better health outcomes for multiple myeloma among at-risk populations. A national campaign bringing together trusted voices among Black communities, including those at risk of multiple myeloma, care partners, healthcare professionals, advocacy groups and award-winning radio host and comedian D.L. Hughley, That’s My Word™ aims to be a source of both information and hope by sharing resources specifically for Black patients and their care partners about this rare blood cancer.

Janssen Launches Health Equity Campaign in Partnership with Award-Winning Radio Host D.L. Hughley to Raise Awareness About Multiple Myeloma Among Black Communities

Janssen Launches Health Equity Campaign in Partnership with Award-Winning Radio Host D.L. Hughley to Raise Awareness About Multiple Myeloma Among Black Communities

Delays in diagnosis and treatment initiation, as well as unequal access to newer and more advanced medicines, are part of the challenging reality that creates significant health disparities in multiple myeloma.1

Each year, approximately 35,000 people are diagnosed with multiple myeloma in the United States, and more than 20 percent of all cases occur in Black people, with cases on the rise.2,3

Multiple myeloma is often diagnosed in people over the age of 60 years, but Black people are typically diagnosed 5-10 years earlier.2,4

While Black patients are less likely to have more aggressive disease, they are twice as likely to die from multiple myeloma because it is often undetected until it has progressed to more advanced stages.1,3

Yet, studies show that with early diagnosis, early treatment initiation, and equal access to care,

“Cancer has touched so many of us, but we need greater awareness of diseases that are disproportionately affecting and killing Black people, like multiple myeloma,” said D.L. Hughley. “I am so inspired by people who are living with this disease and who have become actively involved in their health decisions, caregivers who have experienced incredible loss yet push on, and healthcare professionals who are helping to address the complex relationship that our community has with the healthcare system. I am honored to work in partnership with the Black community through That’s My Word™ to raise awareness of critical information

As a leader in the treatment of multiple myeloma, Janssen believes all patients should be treated equally with comprehensive cancer care as part of its commitment to eradicate racial and social injustice as a public health threat, and Our Race to Health Equity.

“We launched That’s My Word™ to change the trajectory of multiple myeloma in Black communities, because we know the impact of health disparities is exacerbated for people who are living with this incurable blood cancer,” said Tyrone Brewer, President, Oncology, Janssen Biotech, Inc. “We are grateful for the partnerships we’ve built within the community because no entity can do this alone. We will continue to work toward a future in which improved outcomes are the reality for all patients, as part of our mission to reimagine care so that patients can redefine living.”

To get involved, follow the conversation on social media using the hashtags #ThatsMyWordMM and #MMPromise.

and encourage action in a way that can potentially save lives.”

Janssen continues to partner with the International Myeloma Foundation (IMF), which is equally passionate in combating healthcare disparities in multiple myeloma. Together, Janssen and the IMF are encouraging people to make Multiple Myeloma Promises, or pledges, to commit to learning more about multiple myeloma and be proactive with their health to help catch it early and treat it, which hopefully will lead to better health outcomes. Janssen will donate one dollar to the IMF, up to $50,000, for each promise made through the campaign at @ thatsmywordMM on Facebook and Instagram.

“Multiple myeloma is too often still diagnosed late or remains undiagnosed altogether in Black communities. While it’s important for patients to be vocal about what they are experiencing, it is equally important that healthcare providers listen to their patients to recognize the signs and symptoms that support prompt and accurate diagnosis,” said Joseph Mikhael, MD, Chief Medical Officer,

Learn more at www.janssen. com. Follow us at @ JanssenUS. Janssen Biotech, Inc. is part of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson. American Cancer Society Cancer Facts & Figures for African American/ Black People. American Cancer Society 2022-2024. https://www. cancer.org/content/dam/cancer-org/research/ cancer-facts-and-statistics/cancer-facts-and-figures-for-african-americans/2022-2024-cff-aa.pdf. Accessed January 2023.

What is Multiple Myeloma. International Myeloma Foundation 2022. https://www.myeloma. org/what-is-multiple-myeloma. Accessed January 2023.

Disparities in African Americans. International Myeloma Foundation 2022. https://www.myeloma. org/IMF-Diversity-Equity-Inclusion-Policy/disparities-african-americans. Accessed January 2023.

Multiple Myeloma in African Americans. The Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation. https:// themmrf.org/2019/08/multiple-myeloma-in-african-americans/. Published January 2020. Accessed January 2023.

Dong J, Hari P. Black patients with multiple myeloma have better survival than white patients when treated equally: a matched cohort study. Blood Cancer Journal. 2022.

That’s My Word™ campaign issues national call to action for earlier diagnosis and treatment to address the disproportionate impact of multiple myeloma among at-risk communities

The Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson

Kale and Kimchi “Fried” Rice

Prep time: 2 minutes

Cook time: 3 minutes

Servings: 1

1 Minute Jasmine Rice and Red Quinoa Cup

1 cup kale, chopped

1/4 cup kimchi, chopped

1 teaspoon soy sauce

1 egg, lightly beaten

Heat rice according to package directions.

In medium microwave-safe bowl, combine kale, kimchi and soy sauce. Cover and microwave 1 minute.

Add rice and egg; mix well to combine. Cover and microwave 30 seconds. Stir and serve.

Serving Suggestions: Drizzle with sesame oil. Add cooked shrimp.

Quick and Easy Dishes from Around the Globe

(Family Features) One of the best parts of traveling is trying the local cuisine, and that’s particularly true on an international scale. No matter where you go around the globe, however, there is one ingredient you’ll likely find is an integral part of many cultures and cuisines: rice.

Grown on almost every continent, this staple ingredient is a large part of meals around the world, which means there are nearly endless varieties and recipes to try. However, you don’t need to go on vacation to try authentic-tasting international food; easy-to-make versions of popular dishes from around the globe can be made right at home in mere minutes.

Mediterranean

Known for vibrant vegetables, savory sauces and incredible tastes, the Mediterranean is also home to a few classic rice dishes such as rich and creamy risotto from Italy. Other vibrant options include Spanish specialties like arroz con pollo (chicken and rice) and paella, which is made with an assortment of ingredients like seafood, spices and savory broth.

Asia

If you’ve ever been to an Asian restaurant, you’ll notice a large portion of the menu likely includes recipes made with rice. While it might be difficult to pinpoint where certain recipes originate, fried rice is a Chinese specialty. Over time, this delicious dish has made its way to many different countries and been reinvented with local ingredients. For example, this Kale and Kimchi “Fried” Rice is based on Korean cuisine and can be

made in less than 5 minutes using Minute Jasmine Rice & Red Quinoa Cups, which combine the buttery taste and aromatic scent of authentic Jasmine rice with crunchy, 100% whole-grain red quinoa in a convenient, pre-portioned cup.

Middle East

Much like other cuisines around the world, Middle Eastern cooking uses rice almost every day. A Turkish and Arab mixed dish, shawarma is now a global street food. Traditional Persian rice uses a variety of spices like turmeric, ginger and cardamom with dried fruits and nuts.

Latin America

Latin American recipes vary from country to country and region to region, but rice is essential on the side or as part of the main dish across the board. A quick and easy morning meal, this Mexican Breakfast Scramble is ready in 4 minutes. Aiding the short prep time, Minute Jalapeno Rice Cups are ready in just 1 minute and can help spice up dishes with a tasty blend of onion, green peppers and jalapenos.

North America

With bold flavors, few things say southern comfort quite like Louisiana cooking. Bring the taste of New Orleans to your kitchen with ricebased dishes like gumbo or jambalaya, or by pairing rice with another popular Cajun pastime – a classic shrimp boil.

Find more quick and easy international recipe ideas at MinuteRice.com.

Mexican Breakfast Scramble

Prep time: 2 minutes

Cook time: 2 minutes

Servings: 1

1 Minute Jalapeno Rice Cup

1 egg, lightly beaten

2 tablespoons salsa

2 tablespoons queso fresco

Heat rice according to package directions.

In small microwave-safe dish, combine egg, salsa and rice. Microwave 1 minute. Stir in cheese; microwave 30 seconds. Serving Suggestion: For meal to go, wrap scramble in warm tortilla.