Chicago Weekend Citizen 05-17-2023

BRANDON JOHNSON SWORN IN AS MAYOR OF CHICAGO

When Brandon Johnson’s name was announced, people at the UIC Pavilion stood to their feet and cheered, and chants of “Brandon” rang out. Then, there were chants of “CTU,” followed by “SEIU.” Mayor Brandon Johnson’s swearing-in ceremony took place on Monday, May 15th, with dignitaries and residents in one room to celebrate a changing of administration that many are hopeful will bring unity and inclusion.

On Monday, May 15, 2023, Brandon Johnson was sworn in as the 57th Mayor of the City of Chicago

Photo by Tia Carol Jones

CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND PARTNERS HOST INAUGURAL GREEN AND GROWING SUMMIT

Educators, agriculturalists, students and community members attended workshops and learned about caring for farm animals

CHICAGO – Chicago Public Schools (CPS) and District partners hosted the inaugural Green and Growing Summit. CPS, along with Openlands, Healthy Schools Campaign (HSC) and Advocates for Urban Agriculture (AUA) organized the summit to strengthen the connectivity of Chicago’s garden education movement by building on the work of the Green Teachers Network and the CPS Garden Educator Cohort.

The summit’s theme, “Imagine What’s Possible,” aimed to amplify participants’ knowledge of garden, nature, and sustainability education through workshops and networking opportunities. The summit was open to educators, agriculturalists, students and community members who attended workshops and heard from more than 30 speakers who work in environmental education and sustainability in Chicago. Workshops were organized under five learning tracks: Growing Environmental Stewards, Growing Your Gardening Knowledge, Growing Health and Wellness, Growing Your Community and Capacity and Growing Your Care for Farmed Animals.

The summit builds on the District’s ongoing health and nutrition efforts, including the CPS Farm to School program which connects District schools to fresh, healthy food from local producers. Initiatives like the Green and Growing Summit create hands-on learning activities for students to learn and grow through school gardens, farm visits, cooking lessons, and other food and farm related education.

700 CHICAGO WOMEN RAISING FUNDS FOR COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Dinner en Rouge event to support local literacy, violence prevention and youth mentoring programs

Chicago -- The Chicago Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. is excited to host its third annual fundraising event, Dinner en Rouge. This red-hot fundraiser will take place from 6 to 11 p.m. Saturday, May 20, 2023 at the Morgan Arts Complex, 3622 S. Morgan St. Funds raised support community-based programs in Chicago’s underinvested communities.

General admission tickets are $150 and VIP tickets are $225. The event is also being streamed so that it’s accessible virtually to guests at no cost. To register and purchase tickets, visit Eventbrite at bit. ly/40kPaH9. Donors can also support the fundraiser by purchasing raffle tickets at https://go.rallyup. com/cacdervirtualraffle/Campaign/Details.

The Fundraising Committee of the awardwinning Chicago Alumnae Chapter (CAC) has assembled a stellar night of entertainment including musical selections from Park N Ride Band, saxophonist Darryl Henry and world-renowned DJ Vince Adams. The color of the night is red. Guests who attend in-person will enjoy dinner, dancing, cash bar, raffles, and more. “We are thrilled to host Dinner en Rouge which funds crucial programming across Chicagoland,” says CAC President, Shaunessye D. Curry. “Our guests can expect to be thoroughly entertained while contributing to the betterment of our neighborhoods. Funds raised will allow the Chicago Deltas to continue to make impactful change in our communities.”

Some of the key programs funded by supporters and sponsors include CAC’s annual HBCU College Tour, The dfree© Billion Dollar Challenge, A Shot in the Dark: Steps to End Chicago Gun Violence, and Good Health Wins. CAC boasts an extensive list of programs aimed at children and adults that target the immediate needs of the communities served, including a Holiday CareAVan which provides toys and clothing for children in need. Donors and corporations interested in supporting CAC’s programs through event sponsorships may contact Erica Reaves at 219-6703110 or by emailing or by emailing Fundraising. dstchicagoalum@gmail.com.

Memorial celebrates Mamie and Emmett Till

BY TIA CAROL JONES

Sculptor Sonja Henderson had a grand plan to sculpt common people who changed the world and elevate them in bronze. A memorial to Mamie Till-Mobley and Emmett Till was part of that plan. A sculpture of Mamie Till-Mobley, created by Sonja, now sits at Argo Community High School in Summit, Ill. “Mamie Till-Mobley was an incredible visionary and human rights leader. I just feel like everything in my life has led to this point,” Sonja said.

Sonja began in painting and drawing at the Art Institute, where she transferred from Loyola University in New Orleans. Sonja’s painting was described as sculptural, thick and painterly. Sonja moved to the sculpture department at the School of the Art Institute, where she met Preston Jackson, a premier sculpture and figurative teacher. Sonja and Jackson ended up being contenders for the commission of the Mamie Till-Mobley sculpture. Each one of them graciously wanted the other person to do sculpture.

It took Sonja nine months to sculpt the podium, which has low relief themes of Emmett Till’s life. The front has a portrait tile of Till riding his bike and the scenes behind it has two fishing poles, a nod to the pastime that was a favorite of Mamie and Emmett. “There are little easter eggs everywhere, there are butterflies and rabbits and frogs and everything children and especially Emmett Till loved playing with through their childhood,” Sonja said.

Facing the ride side of the podium is the barn where Emmett Till was lynched and on the left is the funerary scene. The scenes were agreed upon by Till’s family. Sonja brought the scenes to the Till family and introduced them in the charrettes. Sonja wanted to ensure the depictions were appropriate to tell the story, while not triggering people who have suffered from violence. To calm down the sculpture of the podium, while still continuing the narrative, Sonja used the cotton plant, which symbolizes protection. “As you walk around the podium, the front scene has the cotton plant flowering because he was in the bloom of his life and the funerary scene, the cotton plant is kind of shriveled in seed, dormant,” Sonja said.

While making the Mamie Till part of the sculpture, every morning Sonja had a ritual of quieting herself, quieting her body, really meditating on the materials and the work that was done the day before. Sonja was working hard to channel Mamie and

Emmett Till. Hours were spent in the space with the clay, sitting with all of the elements, then Sonja began sculpting.

“The subject matter is very triggering and very daunting. But, the wonderful part about Mamie and Emmett Till is they’re incredibly physically beautiful people. I just had this challenge of creating Mamie Till, not only as this human rights and civil rights leader, a woman fighting for justice, but also as a mother and as a beautiful woman,” Sonja said.

Sonja wants people to see Till-Mobley’s spirit and courage, as well as her belief in reconciliation, love and unity. Sonja wants people to feel Till-Mobley’s triumph and recognition through the Emmett Till Antilynching Bill passing. Sonja wants people to feel the beauty and be very lifted by it.

Sonja also created the MLK Living Memorial, located at 67th and Kedzie. Sonja said memorial and restorative justice work chose her. Sonja has always done community-based work, restorative justice work and social justice work, which she described as her life’s work. Sonja loves the idea of memorializing someone or something through talking to a community and through storytelling.

“I think a big part of my artwork has this thorough line of storytelling and narrative and putting a lot of symbolic imagery together to tell these stories. Cultural ritual is a big part of my work, my drawings and my sculptures,” Sonja said. “So I feel like this work has called upon me to tell these stories through site specificity, through ritual, through creating beautiful spaces where people can celebrate or be reflective, or use them for spoken word or drumming, or just relax.”

Sonja believes the spaces are necessary for relaxation, play, growing and being reflective, individually and as a community. Sonja created the Mothers Healing Circle in 2020 to help heal mothers in Lawndale from the traumatic and violent loss of their children. Sonja said those women gave her the love and support she needed while she sculpted the Mamie Till-Mobley and Emmett Till Memorial.

The Memorial has received Congressional recognition. Those who are interested in seeing the process of creating the memorial can visit www.mamietill.net. The memorial also is tied to a scholarship fund, which will provide a young person with money to attend school and become an educator, like Mobley-Till. For more information about Sonja, visit Sonja-henderson. format.com.son.format.com.

MCA Chicago Announces the Return of its Free Summer Concert Series, Tuesdays on the Terrace

CHICAGO—The Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) Chicago’s summer concert series, Tuesdays on the Terrace, will return to museum grounds from June 13 to August 29. For the first time, Tuesdays on the Terrace will expand beyond the jazz genre to include a diverse range of styles that have unique Chicago roots, including hip-hop, house, blues, bomba, and more, in addition to several jazz performances.

Tuesdays on the Terrace invites visitors to enjoy an evening of free music on the MCA’s Anne and John Kern Terrace Garden with our annual summer performance series highlighting artists from Chicago’s internationally

renowned music community.

Visitors can enjoy light fare and refreshments from the bar or bring their own food to picnic on the lawn. Performances will highlight local musicians from around Chicago, ranging from legendary names to rising stars, and will begin at 5:30 pm and run until 8 pm. Attendees can also head inside to explore the museum, which is open until 9 pm and free for all Illinois residents on Tuesdays, including the upcoming exhibition Gary Simmons: Public Enemy, opening on June 13.

Tuesdays on the Terrace is a free program, but seating is limited and admittance is first-come, first-served. A

Sculptor Sonja Henderson created the Mamie Till-Mobley and Emmett Till Memorial for Argo High School in Summit, Ill. PHOTO PROVIDED BY SONJA HENDERSON.

Brandon Johnson sworn in as Mayor of Chicago

Continued from page 1

BY TIA CAROL JONES

The Reverend Dr. Otis Moss III gave the invocation and in it, Moss spoke about the hope that marginalized voices could find space in the new administration. “We, as constituents, of this grand Metropolis of possibility, engage our imagination to dream of a city that is yet to be born; One city, not divided by income, one city not divided by race, one city not divided by ethnicity,” Moss said. Inaugural Chicago Poet Laureate avery r. young performed, “& whereas a dream can blas(t) off.”

In Rabbi Shoshanah Conover’s blessing, comparisons were drawn between Johnson and Joseph from the Bible. “So may God place within you, a heart of many colors. And, may your rainbow heart, beat in the rhythm of all Chicago. May you continue to act with the kind of integrity that has brought you to this very moment,” Conover said.

After the Aldermanic Oath of Office, Johnson hugged former Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Lightfoot shook the hand of First Lady Stacie Johnson and their children. Imam Hassan Ally gave the prayer for peace and guidance. Ally talked about it being a new era for the City of Chicago and the State of Illinois and advised Johnson to judge with justice. Grammy award winning Gospel singer Karen Clark Sheard sang “Total Praise,” which brought the people in the audience, as well as people on stage to their feet, with some even lifting their hands in the air.

for her service and her sacrifice. He talked about how his mother taught him to love people and said he could feel her in the room. He talked about how his father taught him to work hard and be accountable.

“We all are here because of the work of giants who came before us and without whom this day would not be possible,” Johnson said. During his address, someone shouted “go ‘head Black man.” He took a moment to take it all in and returned to his speech, where he talked about wanting to re-open the mental health facilities that were closed.

“Once and for all, let’s create a safer Chicago. A safe Chicago means a safe Chicago for all, no matter what you look like, who you love or where you live. We’ll do it by investing in people,” Johnson said. In just his first hours in office, Mayor Brandon Johnson signed four executive orders to: establish a Deputy Mayor for Labor Relations; establish a Deputy Mayor for Community Safety; establish a Mayor for Immigrant, Migrant and Refugee Rights; and boost youth employment.

HUNTER’S SNAP BENEFIT FRAUD BILL PASSES SENATE

SPRINGFIELD — State Senator Mattie Hunter advanced a bill through the Senate granting the Illinois Department of Human Services the authority to collect data on the frequency of stolen SNAP benefits within the state. This comes in response to widespread reports of identity fraud leaving Illinois residents without needed funds to purchase groceries and other necessities.

“The passage of this legislation marks a significant step forward in our ongoing efforts to safeguard the integrity of SNAP benefits,” said Hunter (D-Chicago). “Collecting essential data on SNAP benefit fraud enables us to implement targeted solutions and protect vulnerable families in our state.”

House Bill 2214 allows IDHS to track how often benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program are stolen from their rightful recipients. SNAP participants receive monthly benefits for groceries deposited onto EBT cards, and in recent months, card skimming has increased significantly in many states. IDHS began collecting data on card skimming and other fraud methods in December 2022, making it unclear how much theft had previously occurred. Under this measure, IDHS will be required to report its findings to the General Assembly annually beginning on Jan. 1, 2024.

CHATHAM-SOUTHEAST

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

In his Inaugural Address, Johnson talked about the food, the music and the people of the city of Chicago. He thanked the elected officials for their service and congratulated the Alderpersons who took their oath of office. He also thanked Lightfoot

Serves

“As your Mayor, it’s my duty to take bold, immediate action to build a better, stronger, safer Chicago,” Mayor Johnson said in a release. “My first executive orders as Mayor of Chicago is to instruct our government to boost youth employment, so all young Chicagoans can reach their potential across our city, in addition to re-organizing the work of the Deputy Mayors to ensure that my cabinet reflects our top priorities for achieving community safety, supporting new arrivals, and protecting and expanding the right to organize. Together, we will collaborate to build a stronger city for all of us.”

MCA CHICAGO Continued From Page 2

limited number of “Fast Pass” reservations, which allow individuals and groups to bypass the entry line, will be available online starting Wednesday, May 24, at mcachicago.org or by calling the MCA Box Office at 312.397.4010. In the event of inclement weather, Tuesdays on the Terrace will move indoors to the Edlis Neeson Theatre. Indoor seating is limited.

The 2023 presentation of Tuesdays on the Terrace is organized by Laura Paige Kyber, Curatorial Associate, Otez Gary, Community Engagement Manager, and Daniel Atkinson, Manager of Learning, Adult Interpretive Programs.

CONCERT SCHEDULE:

June 13: Coco Elysses

June 20: Victor Garcia - Tribute to

Tito Puente

June 27: Mzz Reese & the Reese’s Pieces Band

July 4: Club Crib / TRIBE

July 11: Thaddeus Tukes – Tribute to Milt Jackson

July 18: Alysha Monique and the Family Divine

July 25: F.A.B.L.E.

August 1: Honey Water Band

August 8: Jazz Hoofing Quartet

August 15: Sol Dial

August 22: Ivelisse Diaz, “Bomba con Buya”

August 29: Rajiv Halim

Tuesdays on the Terrace is presented by Univision Chicago and made possible in part by a generous gift from Luminarts Cultural Foundation.

Last year, Congress passed legislation to replace SNAP benefits stolen between Oct. 1, 2022 and Sept. 30, 2024. House Bill 2214 will serve as a starting point for Illinois to gain a clearer understanding of the scope and frequency of SNAP benefit fraud in the state, allowing for more effective measures to be put in place to combat this issue.

“By shedding light on the scope and frequency of SNAP benefit fraud, we can pave the way for stronger anti-fraud measures in Illinois,” Hunter said. “Our aim is to ensure that every dollar allocated for SNAP assistance reaches those who genuinely need it, and this bill is a crucial tool in achieving that goal.”

House Bill 2214 passed the Senate on Thursday.

JOYCE CHAMPIONS MEASURE ALLOWING THREE-YEAR HUNTING, FISHING AND TRAPPING LICENSE

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Patrick Joyce championed a measure that passed the Senate Thursday that will allow an easier way to obtain a hunting, fishing, trapping and sportsmen license.

“This is a commonsense measure that will save people time,” said Joyce (D-Essex). “People will have more time to engage in outdoor activities without having to worry about if their license is expired.”

House Bill 3677 will allow Illinois residents to obtain a three-year fishing, hunting, sportsmen’s combination or trapping license at three times the cost of an annual one.

Under current law, people have to renew their license for these activities every year. This legislation will make the process easier for individuals by allowing them to renew the licenses after three years rather than one.

“This is a big convenience factor for people who hunt, fish and trap, but it also helps out our state’s conservation,” said Joyce. “By switching to three-year license options, we will save people the hassle of renewing their license every year while also helping generate more revenue at a time for the state’s conservation efforts.”

House Bill 3677 passed the Senate.

“Once and for all, let’s create a safer Chicago. A safe Chicago means a safe Chicago for all, no matter what you look like, who you love or where you live. We’ll do it by investing in people,” Johnson said.

FAST COMPANY HONORS OPERATION HOPE’S 1 MILLION BLACK BUSINESSES INITIATIVE WITH ‘WORLD CHANGING IDEAS’ AWARD

ATLANTA, PRNewswire -- Operation HOPE, the nation’s leading non-profit in financial literacy and economic inclusion, announced that its 1 Million Black Businesses Initiative (1MBB) has been named the winner of Fast Company’s World Changing Ideas Award in the Enduring Impact category. The World Changing Ideas awards honor products, concepts, companies, policies, and designs that are pursuing innovation for good.

Launched in partnership with Shopify, 1MBB helps Black entrepreneurs and existing Black business owners acquire the knowledge, skills and access to resources required to start, scale up and grow a business at no cost. A panel of judges selected the 1MBB for its impact, program design, scalability and ingenuity from a pool of nearly 3,000 applicants. Slated to continue until 2030, 1MBB has supported nearly 200,000 Black businesses to date.

HOPE’s 1MBB Initiative named the winner of Fast Company’s World Changing Ideas Award in the Enduring Impact category.

Through its HOPE Inside network and Coalition of the Willing partners, 1MBB participants are better positioned to thrive in both physical locations and through eCommerce activities. In addition to Shopify, key partners include the U.S. Small Business Administration, Truist, First Horizon, Wells Fargo, the NFL, MasterCard, Comcast, iHeart Radio, Aprio, The Salvation Army, as well as several historically Black colleges and Universities (HBCUs), churches, municipalities and members of the National

Pan-Hellenic Council, to name a few.

The 1MBB movement is part of Operation HOPE’s broader mission to promote financial inclusion and dignity, aimed at empowering underserved Americans. The 1MBB initiative was born following the Black Lives Matter movement.

“Operation HOPE is honored to be recognized by Fast Company for creating an idea that can— and will – change the world for the better,” said John Hope Bryant, Operation HOPE Founder, Chairman and CEO. “Through 1MBB, we are devising new ways to help Black business owners defy the odds, improve their overall financial wellness and ultimately build generational wealth. It’s no small task, but the data shows that we are making a true impact.”

“At Operation HOPE, our team includes tirelessly persistent problem solvers who are committed to addressing the most urgent challenges in our communities,” said Lance Triggs, SVP, Operation HOPE. “We want to make the world more equitable, make access to business resources more accessible and illuminate a path to a better future for those who have historically been underserved.”

Despite the negative impacts of the pandemic and recent social unrest, research from the latest HOPE index reveals that Black entrepreneurs remain optimistic. Through the 1MBB initiative, barriers to business success such as mentorship, risk tolerance, lack of technological innovation/digital strategies, and limited access to capital have proven to improve outcomes. For more information

about 1MBB, including how to register, click here.

Since 1992, Operation HOPE has been moving America from civil rights to “silver rights” with the mission of making free enterprise and capitalism work for everyone—disrupting poverty for millions of low and moderate-income youth and adults across the nation. Through its community uplift model, HOPE Inside, which received the 2016 Innovator of the Year recognition by American Banker magazine, Operation HOPE has served more than 4 million individuals and directed more than $3.2 billion in economic activity into disenfranchised communities—turning check-cashing customers into banking customers, renters into homeowners, small business dreamers into small business owners, minimum wage workers into living wage consumers, and uncertain disaster victims into financially empowered disaster survivors. Operation HOPE recently received its eighth consecutive 4-star charity rating for fiscal management and commitment to transparency and accountability from the prestigious non-profit evaluator, Charity Navigator. For more information: OperationHOPE. org. Join the conversation on social media at @operationHOPE.

Shopify is a leading global commerce company, providing trusted tools to start, grow, market, and manage a retail business of any size. Shopify makes commerce better for everyone with a platform and services that are engineered for reliability while delivering a better shopping experience for consumers everywhere. Headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, Shopify powers over one million businesses in more than 175 countries and is trusted by brands such as Allbirds, Gymshark, Heinz, Staples, and many more. For more information, visit www.shopify.com.

Report Sheds New Light on Conditions Required to Boost Wealth for Black and Hispanic Entrepreneurs

McLEAN, Va., PRNewswire -- The Capital One Insights Center has released new research that sheds light on how business ownership can drive personal wealth creation for Black and Hispanic entrepreneurs and their communities –and ultimately close the racial wealth gap.

“For many Black and Hispanic entrepreneurs, owning a business can be a tremendous opportunity to build wealth and narrow the racial wealth gap,” said Shena Ashley, President, Capital One Insights Center and Vice President, Community Impact and Investment. “In Richmond, about 35% of Black and Hispanic business owners saw at least $188,000 in personal wealth growth over the course of their business ownership, the same as the median wealth for white U.S. households. With the support of a coordinated business ecosystem, sustained funding, and educational resources, these businesses were able to make a real difference in closing the racial wealth gap for themselves.”

The study, conducted in partnership with Boston Consulting Group (BCG), surveyed more than 1,000 business owners and residents in Richmond, Virginia, along with 21 interviews with community organizations, and found unlocking wealth is possible – but under the right conditions.

The report’s key findings include:

Successful businesses have shown that it is possible to unlock wealth under the right conditions. Approximately one-third of Black and Hispanic business owners in Richmond experienced personal wealth growth of at least $188,000 over the course of their business ownership. Wealth growth is not a guarantee. Wealth growth by Black and Hispanic business owners was roughly half of non-business owners from 2017/18 to 2022.

Size and scale matter for long-term personal wealth and business success. Businesses that survive the initial start-up years or grow to greater than $500,000 in annual revenue generate greater wealth.

Business success depends on three critical conditions.

Access to and acumen around initial and growth funding, right-sized skills and capabilities, and a supportive business ecosystem are key variables to business success and personal wealth generation.

Based on these findings, the research highlights potential levers that could help entrepreneurs, financial institutions, business and community organizations, and policymakers close the racial wealth gap.

“Working to level the playing field for all small businesses in Richmond requires a multi-faceted and long-term strategy that consists of dedicated investments, available resources, and policy,” said Andy Navarette, Executive Vice President, Head of External Affairs, Capital One. “Public, private, nonprofit, and government sectors must come together to explore innovative ways to increase Black and Hispanic entrepreneurs’ access to capital and make concerted, harmonized efforts to level the playing field for diverse business owners, in Richmond and around the country.”

In order to unlock personal wealth creation for Black and Hispanic entrepreneurs at scale, the report recommends 1) continued exploration of innovative ways to increase capital; 2) public, private, and nonprofit support; 3) financial management and digital tools; 4) collaboration among organizations within the business ecosystem; and 5) trust-building between funders and communities of color.

“Being a small business owner in any community is a challenge. When it comes to minority small business owners and closing the staggering racial wealth gap, challenges such as unequal access to capital and business support systems often make their journey even tougher,” said Kedra Newsom Reeves, Managing Director and Partner at BCG and Co-Lead for The Center for Inclusion and Equity. “This

research makes clear that while wealth growth through business ownership is achievable, public and private organizations play an integral role in supporting underserved communities and the budding entrepreneurs within them.”

Methodology:

From August to October 2022, we surveyed 1,015 current and former business owners and residents of Richmond, Virginia, and conducted interviews with 21 community organizations that provide support to local business owners. We focused on businesses in Richmond, Virginia, using wealth creation rather than longevity as a measure of success.

Our survey covered current and past business owners from Black or Hispanic backgrounds, against the general population in Richmond. Responses include active businesses started between 1970 and 2021; former businesses started between 1974 and 2022; businesses up to $10 million in annual revenue, with a sample average revenue of $2.9M; and businesses from service, retail, and manufacturing industries. Nearly all the owners surveyed launched their business before 2020, meaning they survived the economic impact of the pandemic.

The Capital One Insights Center combines Capital One research and partnerships to produce insights that advance equity and inclusion. As a nascent platform for data and dialogue, the Center strives to help changemakers create an inclusive society, build thriving communities and develop financial tools that enrich lives. The Center draws on Capital One’s deep market expertise and legacy of revolutionizing the credit system through the application of data, information and technology.

Learn more about the Insights Center by visiting https://www.capitalone.com/about/insights-center/.

Northeastern Illinois University’s Business Innovation & Growth (BIG) Center opens first physical location

CHICAGO, PRNewswire -- Northeastern Illinois University is thrilled to announce the grand opening of the first physical location of the Business Innovation & Growth (BIG) Center at the Jacob H. Carruthers Center for Inner City Studies (CCICS), 700 E. Oakwood Blvd. in Chicago.

Launching a business is a risky venture, but it is less so with community support. This brand new space, located on the first floor of the historic CCICS building (formerly known as the Abraham Lincoln Center) is ready to make business dreams a reality.

“The BIG Center has a history at Northeastern of being an incubator business program and serves our diverse population of students and entrepreneurs,” Northeastern President Gloria J. Gibson said. “Through the BIG Center, we get to influence not only student learning outcomes, but help guide them on a path to their future careers and help shape the future of the greater multicultural business community.”

Decades of research have shown that entrepreneurs of color face severe barriers regarding the three fundamental areas critical to business success: business management education, access to financing, and access to markets. All three are addressed at the BIG Center.

With the support of a Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Office of Minority Economic Empowerment (OMEE) grant, funds to renovate the space were dedicated to meet the demand for BIG Center

services and provide adequate facilities for the incubator. Renovations provided meeting, co-working and instructional space, as well as two offices for one-onone coaching and technical assistance. Additionally, an Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant, energy and water-efficient all-gender restroom was reconstructed. Technology infrastructure upgrades include wireless internet access, web conferencing and a touchscreen media center for entrepreneurs working, learning and building their businesses at CCICS.

“This program has been a win-win for our students and the community,” said Michael Bedell, Dean of Northeastern’s College of Business and Technology (CBT). “The College of Business and Technology has had the opportunity to help entrepreneurs and family businesses in the communities we serve by providing student interns and faculty from an AACSB-accredited institution to help these entrepreneurs shape the plans for their high-growth businesses.”

The BIG Center at CCICS will generate public benefits for the surrounding Bronzeville community.

“Launching the BIG Center at CCICS is very significant as it will continue to provide opportunities in a physical space to engage, learn and build the community,” said Interim Director of CCICS Akua Cason. “We are excited about being a hub of support for the sustainability of entrepreneurs in the area and the various Black Businesses that are growing in Bronzeville.”

Entrepreneurs and their businesses will help create jobs for residents, which can generate benefits to the local business ecosystem by fueling related businesses that support the new venture. This virtuous cycle of business creation and stimulation of related enterprises has the potential to create more jobs in communities in Chicago and beyond.

“I am thrilled to be leading the future of business development through the community-focused Business Innovation & Growth Center,” said Mueller, the executive director of Adult Education, Advancement and Business Innovation at Northeastern’s CBT. “It has been nothing short of amazing to build out this Center as well as lead hopeful founders on their new business ventures!”

Northeastern Illinois University founded the Business Innovation & Growth (BIG) Center in the fall of 2018 to meet the needs of underserved and underrepresented populations of current and prospective entrepreneurs. Since its inception, the BIG Center has served entrepreneurs with and without business management education with a business planning curriculum, one-on-one coaching and technical assistance. The Center supports businesses from pre-launch to exit, creating a crucial pipeline from the earliest stages of business development into and out of the regional innovation ecosystem.

Northeastern Illinois University offers more than 40 undergraduate degree and certificate programs and more than 50 graduate degree, certificate, licensure and endorsement programs. The Main Campus is located on 67 acres in an attractive residential area on the Northwest Side of Chicago. The University has additional locations in the metropolitan area, including the Jacob H. Carruthers Center for Inner City Studies, El Centro and the University Center of Lake County.

‘One Poem, One Chicago’ Invites City to Celebrate Its Poetic Lineage

CHICAGO, PRNewswire -- The Poetry Foundation, in partnership with Chicago Public Library (CPL), Third World Press Foundation, Brooks Permissions, and Northwestern University Press, is proud to announce One Poem, One Chicago. An opportunity to engage Chicagoans in poetry and foster a sense of community through reading, One Poem, One Chicago will launch with a reissue of Gwendolyn Brooks’s landmark poetry collection Blacks, which will be available via CPL and public programming.

Poetry for All

One Poem, One Chicago is an extension of Chicago Public Library’s One Book, One Chicago, which launched in 2001. Chicago’s connection to poetry has always been deep, from the founding of Poetry magazine in 1912, to serving as the home to poets who have changed the face of the literary arts through their unique voices and innovation. Now is the perfect moment for Chicagoans to embrace poetry and experience its impact together.

“Poetry is an essential part of literature, and it’s only fitting that we shine a light on it,” emphasizes Chris Brown, Chicago Public Library Commissioner, as he reflects on One Poem, One Chicago complementing the existing One Book, One Chicago program. “Our past One Book, One Chicago selections are infused with poetic elements. Adding a One Poem, One Chicago selection is the natural next step to fully celebrating the beauty of language and enriching our reading experience.”

For the inaugural One Poem, One Chicago, copies of a newly published edition of Brooks’s Blacks—including its iconic cover—will be available at all 81 branches of the Chicago Public Library (find your nearest location) and at the Poetry Foundation’s 30,000-volume poetry library in

Chicago’s River North neighborhood. In addition, a limited run of the collection will be available for purchase from Third World Press Foundation. Nora Brooks Blakely, president of Brooks Permissions, shared her excitement that her mother’s legacy will continue to be celebrated by the Chicago community through this special initiative.

A Chicago Legend

One of the most highly regarded, influential, and widely read poets of 20th-century American poetry, Gwendolyn Brooks holds the distinction of being the first Black person to win the Pulitzer Prize in any category. Blacks, a collection of poems that spans more than 30 years and features Brooks’s Pulitzer Prize-winning collection, Annie Allen, was first published in 1987 by Third World Press Foundation. Northwestern University Press is publishing a limited edition of Blacks in collaboration with Third World Press Foundation specifically for One Poem, One Chicago.

“Third World Press Foundation is honored to publish this literary masterpiece by Illinois’s most beloved poet laureate and Chicago’s elder Black literary stateswoman,” said Dr. Haki R. Madhubuti, Third World Press Foundation founder and a 2022 recipient of the Poetry Foundation’s Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize. “We’re looking forward to introducing Ms. Brooks to a new generation of readers through One Poem, One Chicago.”

“Partnering with Chicago’s venerable Third World Press Foundation to publish Blacks is a brilliant example of community, arts, and humanity partnership. One Poem, One Chicago makes space to celebrate this partnership and the genius that is Gwendolyn Brooks,” said Northwestern University Press Director, poet, and Poetry Foundation Trustee, Parneshia Jones.

Community Programming

To complement Chicago’s collective reading of Blacks, there will be several free opportunities to learn about Brooks’s life and legacy.

Live performances of No Blue Memories: The Life of Gwendolyn Brooks will be held at the Harold Washington Library May 16–18. Written by Chicago poets Eve L. Ewing and Nate Marshall, No Blue Memories is a uniquely staged retelling of Brooks’s life using simple, illuminative paper-cut puppetry by Manual Cinema set to music composed by Jamila Woods and Ayanna Woods. Three matinees will be designated for students and two evening showtimes will open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis.

On May 25 at 7PM, the Poetry Foundation will host a panel discussion on the life and impact of Brooks’s poetry featuring Nora Brooks Blakely, Dr. Haki Madhubuti, and Dr. Kelly Norman Ellis.

In honor of Gwendolyn Brooks’s 106th birthday— known as “Brooks Day” in Chicago—all are invited to a reading of Blacks and new poems by local poets on June 7 from 10AM-6PM at the South Side Community Art Center. This 10th annual Brooks Day is presented in partnership with the Guild Literary Complex. After the marathon reading, Brooks Permissions will host a virtual panel on Brooks’s only novel, Maud Martha, with insights from Dr. Joanne Gabbin, Dr. Sandra Jackson-Opoku, and Sandra Cisneros.

Information on how to get involved with One Poem, One Chicago is available on the Poetry Foundation website. Follow the Poetry Foundation on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for event information, and visit the River North building to pick up One Poem, One Chicago-related materials.

PRNewsfoto/NORTHEASTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY

KIL N.Y.C. Releases Dentata, Jewelry Inspired by the Pro-Choice Movement

New York, NY -- All over the world, cultures have created myths about women with teeth in their vagina. These have resulted in the male fear of injury during intercourse and even potential castration. Sigmund Freud is credited for coining the term “Vagina Dentata” to describe the idea of devouring or being devoured. Many feminists have reclaimed the idea of this myth, turning it into a symbol of empowerment and pride.

Combining this myth with another tool used to control women, the chastity belt, founder of KIL N.Y.C., Konstantinos Leoussis, created the Dentata Ring and Dentata Pendant. With the news buzzing about reproductive rights, he draws parallels between current events and urban legend. Styled on an 18 inch chain, the Dentata Pendant shows this spiky design laid flat, creating a teardrop shape to elongate the neck. The Dentata Ring features the same spiky design, curved around the finger, mimicking the way the chastity belt would have been worn. Both styles are made-to-order in customer’s choice of sterling

silver, 18k yellow gold over sterling silver, or 14k yellow gold.

Generating an impact with these pieces, 10% of each sale will be donated to Her Justice, an organization dedicated to assisting women living in poverty in New York City, by recruiting and mentoring volunteer lawyers to provide free legal help to address individual and systemic legal barriers. Leoussis says of his design, “We wanted to

create an empowering, yet fashionable, ring and we believe we succeeded. I have kind of a twisted sense of humor and love for all things taboo, so this felt like the perfect way to pay homage to the feminist movement while staying true to myself. The pieces feel like a fun dirty secret, granting power only to those that recognize the symbol.”

All Dentata pieces come carefully wrapped in KIL N.Y.C.’s signature sustainable packaging and ship carbon negative. The packaging is designed from post-consumer recycled paper, using algae-based inks. Bury the care card that accompanies the jewelry, and wildflowers will bloom.

Inspired by a life of travel and antiquities, jeweler Konstantinos Leoussis created KIL N.Y.C. in 2018, to showcase his love of old-world techniques and motifs. With styles referencing mythology, antiquities, and teenage melancholia, KIL N.Y.C. puts an edgy and modern spin on sentimental jewelry. Leoussis’ aim was to create styles that feel like modern talismans, bringing magic to the everyday wearer. Each piece is lovingly made by hard working hands in New York City, keeping sustainability and fair wages at the forefront of their production. To contact KIL N.Y.C, email at krystelle@kil-nyc. com, or call/text 646-824-1502.

Starbucks and Brandon Blackwood team up to launch new limited-edition Sip

& Sling bottle bag collection

(Black PR Wire) To celebrate the recent release of RTD Starbucks® Pink Drink and Starbucks® Paradise Drink, two new bottled beverages inspired by the popular handcrafted drinks at Starbucks cafés, fashion designer Brandon Blackwood has created limited-edition sling bottle bags as the perfect way to carry the new beverages on-the-go. Blackwood took inspiration from the colors, flavors and textures of the beverages to design the newest must-have accessory.

Starbucks®

The new bottled beverages feature vibrant fruit flavors combined with coconutmilk and refreshing fruit juice. Starbucks® Pink Drink features bold fruit flavors of strawberry and açaí combined with coconutmilk and refreshing fruit juice. Starbucks® Paradise Drink features tropical fruit flavors of pineapple and passionfruit, blended with coconutmilk and refreshing fruit juice. The new colorful and refreshing nondairy beverages, RTD Starbucks® Pink Drink and Starbucks® Paradise Drink, are available nationwide where groceries are sold.

Pink Drink first took social media by storm in 2016 as a beverage created by a fan, and it officially joined Starbucks menu in 2017 followed by Paradise Drink Starbucks Refreshers® beverage last summer. With their bright hues and refreshing taste, the fan-favorite beverages have become more than just drinks, but an expression of individual personality.

In the same spirit of creative collaboration, the new Brandon Blackwood + Starbucks™ Sip & Sling Collection features sling bottle bags in two gradient colors: a bold pink-hued design inspired by the fruit flavors of strawberry and açaí in Starbucks® Pink Drink, and an ombre design inspired by pineapple and passionfruit flavors in Starbucks® Paradise Drink.

“This is a dream collaboration for me,” said Blackwood, whose handbag and accessory collections have become iconic in their own right. Blackwood has been lauded for his positive impact on fashion and culture at large. He is the recent recipient of the highest industry accolades and is beloved among his dedicated fans who carry his bags and share on social media.

“My designs are a reflection of my creativity and how my community inspires me, and I credit social media with not only helping me connect with them – but driving our popularity relatively quickly over the last few years,” said Blackwood. “I like giving people fun and bold ways to accessorize and individually express themselves and I like how these drinks were fan inspired. Which is the reason why this collaboration with Starbucks and creating a bag for the new RTD Pink Drink and Starbucks® Paradise Drink makes so much sense.”

Additionally, as part of the brand’s ongoing community investment efforts, Starbucks is supporting Big Brothers Big Sisters, the nation’s largest mentoring organization.

These musthave accessories are as bright and bold as the beverages they were made to carry: new Ready-toDrink (RTD)

Pink Drink and Starbucks® Paradise Drink

Brandon Blackwood

Girls Like Me Project Partners with National Geographic Explorer for an Immersive Film Screening Experience of Disney’s “Enchanting the Little Mermaid”

CHICAGO, IL- (May 1st, 2023) Girls Like Me Project, Inc, in partnership with National Geographic Explorer Alyea Pierce, Producer of the critically acclaimed podcast, Into The Depths, aims to push past stereotypes by exposing girls to the powerful narratives and contributions of Black girls in spaces that have otherwise muted their impact by hosting an exclusive screening of one of Disney’s most anticipated beloved classic film “Enchanting the Little Mermaid”. Saturday, May 27th at 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM Cinema Chatham: powered by Emagine 210 W. 87th St. Chicago, IL. 60620.

This event will create an interactive, immersive movie-going experience where Black girls connect to HERstories rooted in concepts of memory, authenticity, identity, and oral storytelling through sound and voice about maritime archaeology. To help exemplify the experience, GLMPI partnered with National Geographic Magazine’s Into the Depths to serve as a platform to help explore the experience.

Special Guest Speaker, National Geographic Explorer and Fulbright alumna, Alyea Pierce will present a reflection conversation using poetry, spoken word performance, audio, and photography to examine oral storytelling and folklore traditions across the African diaspora. As a poet and researcher, she also recently contributed to National Geographic’s podcast series Into the Depths, and was recently featured on episode 1 of National Geographic’s The Soul of Music—Overheard’s four-part podcast series focusing on music, exploration, and Black history.

PLAY

PURPOSE

• Swimwear Fashion Showcase

• Live DJ

• Interactive STEM activities

• Photo Booth

• Popcorn & Drink

For tickets log on to: https://www.eventbrite. com/e/little-mermaid-immersive-screening-experience-tickets-613648006707

Proceeds from ticket sales support FREE programming for girls and help advance the mission of Girls Like Me Project.

About Girls Like Me Project Inc.:

The mission of GLMPI is to help African-American girls ages 13-18 critically examine social, cultural, and political ideologies in media so that they will be able to overcome stigmas and negative stereotypes. In addition, we equip them with the tools and strategies to become influential, independent digital storytellers who transform their communities and foster global sisterhood. The program intends to serve as a resourceful career-driven program in the Chicagoland area, by creating a safe space for Black girls between the ages of 12-18 who aspire to pursue careers in the media industry.

For more information on Girls Like Me Project, Inc., visit https://www. girlslikemeproject.org/.

Connect with Girls Like Me Project, Inc. on:

The Immersive experience includes:

• Live displays of oceanic artifacts powered by National Geographic

Facebook: Girls Like Me Project, Inc.

Twitter: GirlsLikeMeProj

Instagram: girlslikemeproject

LinkedIn: Girls Like Me Project, Inc.

of Profits go toward building and maintaining police memorials, helping families of the fallen, and funding other police support programs in Illinois.

Why DIVERSITY

in Clinical Trials Matters

Clinicaltrials are a critical part of the research process for new medicines and vaccines. The information gained is fundamental to the development of new ways to help treat and prevent disease. Evidence has shown that some drugs and vaccines show variations in the response to some individuals depending on their racial or genetic background. For this reason, it is important that volunteer participants of clinical trials appropriately reflect the people that the investigational medicine or vaccine is intending to treat.

Our company, Merck, and many others, are working to ensure that volunteer participants from diverse backgrounds are included in clinical trials. Why is this so important? Age, gender, weight, race, or ethnicity might change how individuals respond to a treatment. By including people with varied traits and characteristics, research can provide important information to understand how treatments work in a diverse population.

There are many reasons why people volunteer for clinical trials – and many reasons they choose not to. In the United States, past medical mistreatment made some people distrust science and medicine. Financial or travel issues can also make it hard for people to join research trials. Too often, all those worries combined prevent people from volunteering.

That’s why we’re trying to make it easier for all volunteer participants.

The importance of diversity in cancer research

Diversity in clinical research is especially important in cancer research because the impact of cancer can be very different among diverse groups of people. For

example, the American Cancer Society says prostate cancer is increasing. It also is 70% more common among Black men than White men in the United States. It’s important then that Black men are also a big part of research into the disease and the evaluation of investigational treatments.

Improving diversity in trials by reaching people in underrepresented communities

We need to do a better job engaging people in underrepresented communities and help them understand what participation in a clinical trial involves. Then we need to help those with challenges, like being too far from a trial or having financial concerns.

Partnerships with local organizations –groups who know their people best -- can help. We’re also running our trials in more areas. Last year, about half of our clinical trial locations were placed in areas where underrepresented groups live to meet them where they are.

We recognize that there are things we can do to improve the clinical trial experience for volunteer participants, such as providing travel to and from clinical sites for their study appointments.

We know people often feel more comfortable with doctors and medical professionals who look like them too. So, we’re working to improve the diversity of clinical researchers. Plus, we’re creating tools to help health care professionals engage their patients about participating in trials.

We’re training more people to help volunteer participants through the clinical trial process called Patient Navigators. Patient Navigators can work with patients and medical staff as a go-between. We’re also looking at how to run trials

so that some aspects may be easier for volunteer participants, like using telemedicine.

Working together to improve clinical research

We have a lot more to do, but we’re seeing progress. In 2022, we enrolled about 50 percent more diverse volunteer participants in our trials. It’s positive momentum we are working hard to grow, to make sure clinical research is an option for everyone.

You can help. Be open to learning more about clinical trials. Every trial has risks and benefits, and participation is completely optional and voluntary. You can stop at any time. Volunteer participants get to be active in their health and help advance medical research for everyone.

Authored by: Adrelia Allen, Senior Director, Clinical Trial Patient Diversity, Merck Research

BLUE BOTTLE COFFEE AND THE WEEKND PARTNER TO LAUNCH “SAMRA ORIGINS”

OAKLAND, Calif., PRNewswire -- Blue Bottle Coffee, a global leader in specialty coffee, has announced a partnership with multi-platinum recording artist Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye and his record label, XO. Together, they have created Samra Origins, a brand and product line celebrating Ethiopian culture and excellence in coffee. Named in honor of The Weeknd’s mother Samra, Samra Origins pays homage to his family’s heritage with a shared respect for Ethiopia — the proud birthplace of coffee.

“Ethiopian culture is an important part of my identity and I’m proud to work alongside the Blue Bottle Coffee team to shine a light on Ethiopian traditions, values, and of course, coffee,” said Tesfaye. “Growing up, I watched my mother perform Buna Tetu, a traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony. This sensory experience helped shape my understanding of community and taught me to always honor my roots. Samra Origins is a true passion project that I hope will inspire curiosity and encourage support for Ethiopia’s people, while also spreading the warmth and friendship so ingrained in Ethiopian culture.”

Commemorate Ethiopia’s Coffee Heritage

Through Samra Origins, Blue Bottle and The Weeknd are curating and crafting coffees that encapsulate Ethiopian coffee excellence. Coffee plays an integral part in Ethiopian traditions, especially through the time-honored Buna Tetu coffee ceremony.

“Ethiopian coffee is truly in a class of its own and the country holds a special place within our Blue Bottle community,” explained Karl Strovink, CEO of Blue Bottle Coffee. “Since Blue Bottle Coffee’s inception in 2002, we’ve sourced coffee from Ethiopia. In 2023, Ethiopia is still consistently among our top origins by volume. I’m excited that we’re extending our commitment there with Samra Origins so we can continue to share the best of Ethiopian coffee and support our network of producers in the country.”

Blue Bottle’s Samra Origins launches this month with a limited release of Exceedingly Rare Ethiopia Wolde Faye Koricha COE #7 ($65 per 100 gram tin), available exclusively online at www.samraorigins.com.

Samra Origins Blend Coming Summer 2023

The Weeknd and Samra developed the first Samra Origins blend in collaboration with Blue Bottle’s Head of Innovation & Quality, Benjamin Brewer. Brewer selected some of Ethiopia’s best coffees to craft three blend variations. During cupping sessions, both The Weeknd and his mother tasted each variation and carefully selected the offering most similar to the coffee Samra brews at home. From there, Blue Bottle carefully worked with The Weeknd to fine tune the blend. After making final adjustments, the end result is a distinctly delicious blend that pays homage to both Samra

and Ethiopia with Blue Bottle’s signature attention to tasting notes and quality.

Debuting in Summer 2023, the blend whole bean will be available for purchase online and in select Blue Bottle cafes in the US. These cafes will also offer this coffee as cold brew.

A Partnership with Purpose

Born to Ethiopian immigrants, The Weeknd’s strong ties to his family’s heritage ignited his passion about Ethiopia and giving back to communities in need. The Samra Origins partnership signals a mutual commitment between Blue Bottle Coffee and The Weeknd to maintain traditions and unify communities. As part of The Weeknd’s humanitarian efforts, Blue Bottle will donate to the XO Humanitarian Fund, administered by World Food Program USA. The Fund supports the United Nations World Food Programme’s lifesaving emergency operations in hunger hotspots around the world, with a special focus on Ethiopia where an estimated 20 million people require urgent humanitarian food assistance. Learn more and donate to the Fund here.

“Samra Origins honors our longstanding commitment to caring for communities around the globe,” said Strovink. “We jumped at the opportunity to work with The Weeknd because his advocacy with the World Food Program inspires us to continue lifting up communities in need and highlighting their incredible work.”

“We are grateful to have The Weeknd and Blue Bottle Coffee’s steadfast support as we work to feed families in hunger hotspots worldwide,” said Barron Segar, President and CEO of World Food Program USA. “Private sector partners like Blue Bottle Coffee are critical in generating both public awareness and funding to save the 43 million people on the brink of starvation across 51 countries.”

For full details on Samra Origins and to sign up to be among the first to be notified about upcoming product drops, please visit www.samraorigins.com. Follow along on Instagram and TikTok via @bluebottle.

THEY’RE MOVING ON AND MOVING UP IN ‘RUN THE WORLD’

(Black PR Wire) Santa Monica, Calif. —STARZ released the key art and trailer for the critically acclaimed series “Run the World” set to premiere on Friday, May 26. Vicariously live through Whitney (Amber Stevens West), Renee (Bresha Webb) and Sondi (Corbin Reid) as they fashionably navigate through the ups and downs of life, love and careers in the pursuit to have it all. They’re moving on, and moving up. The second season of the half-hour comedy series will premiere at midnight (ET) on the STARZ app, all STARZ streaming and on-demand platforms. On linear, it will debut on STARZ at 9:30PM ET/PT in the U.S. and Canada.

“Run the World” chronicles the euphoric highs and heartbreaking lows that Whitney, Renee and Sondi must endure in their pursuit of world domination. Whitney must follow the road of self-discovery in order to thrive in her life with or without Ola, while Renee and Sondi must decide what they truly want out of life – both in love and their careers. Whether they reunite with a past love, taste the life of a millionaire, or see their career take off in a radical new direction, these powerful Black women, fortified by their impenetrable friendship, won’t let anything get in their way.

Amber Stevens West (“The Carmichael Show”), Bresha Webb (“Marlon”) and Corbin Reid (“Valor”) return to their roles as “Whitney,” “Renee” and “Sondi,” three best friends living and thriving in Harlem. Stephen Bishop (Moneyball) and Tosin Morohunfola (“Black Lightning”) return in series regular roles. Erika Alexander (“Living Single”) and Nick Sagar (“Queen of the South”) will also be returning as recurring guest stars and Jay Walker (“Grey’s Anatomy”) and Tonya Pinkins (Enchanted) will return as

guest stars.

STARZ previously announced that Tika Sumpter (Sonic the Hedgehog 2, “Mixed-ish”), Comedian CP (“Detroiters,” “Love Life”) and Isha Blaaker (A Madea’s Homecoming, “The Flight Attendant”) will be joining the second season in recurring roles, while Cree Summer (“Better Things,” “Queen Sugar”) and Ashley Blaine Featherson-Jenkins (“Dear White People,” Bad Hair) will guest star.

Rachelle Williams-BenAry (“Love Life,” “Mixed-ish,” “Survivor’s Remorse”) joins season two as showrunner and executive producer. Yvette Lee Bowser and Leigh Davenport serve as executive producers. “Run the World” is produced by Lionsgate for STARZ.

“Run the World” Online Twitter: @ RunTheWorldTV | @STARZ Instagram: @RunTheWorldSTARZ | @STARZ Facebook: @RunTheWorldSTARZ Join the conversation with #RunTheWorld and #STARZ STARZ (www.starz.com), a Lionsgate company, is a leading global media streaming platform committed to delivering premium content that amplifies narratives by, about and for women and underrepresented audiences. STARZ is home to the highly rated and first-of-its-kind STARZ app that offers the ability to stream or download STARZ premium content, as well as the flagship domestic STARZ® service, including STARZ ENCORE, 17 premium pay TV channels, and the associated on-demand and online services. In 2018, STARZ launched its international

premium streaming platform STARZPLAY, now LIONSGATE+, to provide subscribers access to bold, curated storytelling. LIONSGATE+, coupled with the STARZPLAY ARABIA joint venture in MENA and Lionsgate Play in South and Southeast Asia, has a footprint that extends across the globe. STARZ and LIONSGATE+ are available across digital OTT platforms and multichannel video distributors, including cable operators, satellite television providers, and telecommunications companies around the world. In February 2021, STARZ launched #TakeTheLead, a multi-faceted and innovative inclusion initiative expanding its existing efforts to improve representation on screen, behind the camera and throughout the company.

Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF.A, LGF.B) encompasses world-class motion picture and television studio operations aligned with the STARZ premium global subscription platform to bring a unique and varied portfolio of entertainment to consumers around the world. The Company’s film, television, subscription and location-based entertainment businesses are backed by a 17,000-title library and a valuable collection of iconic film and television franchises. A digital age company driven by its entrepreneurial culture and commitment to innovation, the Lionsgate brand is synonymous with bold, original, relatable entertainment for audiences worldwide.

Samra Origins

West Town Chamber of Commerce Announces Do Division Street Fest

CHICAGO, ILL. – Ahead of the West Town Chamber of Commerce’s much-anticipated Do Division Street Fest, the team is thrilled to announce the full 2023 live music lineup! Kicking off Chicago’s festival season from Friday to Sunday, June 2-4, 2023, the event will feature local vendors and electrifying live tunes on Division between Damen and Leavitt. In addition to two live music stages, patrons can enjoy a wide variety of local shopping, food, and plenty of ice cold beer, including varieties from local favorite Goose Island Beer Co., as well as spirits from White Claw and Deep Eddy.

To engage and entertain festival-goers of all ages, Do Division Street Fest will also feature a dedicated “Do Division Family Fun Fest” organized by A.N. Pritzker Public School and LaSalle II Magnet School, who are festival season benefactors along with Jose De Diego Community Academy. “Do Chicago Fashion Fest” will also return with local designer runway shows and vendors throughout the weekend, organized by Dynamic Salon. Further, Do Division Street Fest will welcome more than 30 bands across two live music stages throughout the weekend, programmed by two of West Town’s renowned live music venues: The Empty Bottle and Subterranean.

“Do Division Family Fun Fest” is one of the premier neighborhood children’s events of the year, which takes place on Saturday, June 3 and Sunday, June 4, 3023, from 12:00p through 6:00p. The event jam packs two blocks (Hoyne & Crystal) full of fun for little ones to enjoy, including train rides, face painting, bounce house, arts, crafts and dozens of local children’s retailers. To top it off, the “Do Division Family Fun Fest” boasts its own live entertainment stage, including family-friendly musical acts and a talent show! All proceeds will benefit A.N. Pritzker Public School and LaSalle II Magnet School.

TICKETS + DETAILS

Festival attendees can pre-reserve entry by visiting https://www.eventbrite. com/e/do-division-street-fest-tickets-628593870187.

The West Town Chamber of Commerce is a 501(c)6 non-profit organization with hundreds of small business members. The Chamber’s mission is to foster community and economic development by empowering businesses with information and technical resources, creating connections, and providing neighborhood-wide marketing and other valuable programming. For more info: westtownchamber.org.

Oggi Trattoria Announces Relocation in Chicago’s West Town Neighborhood

CHICAGO, ILL. – After more than 30 years on Grand Ave, the Padilla family is thrilled to announce the reopening and relocation of Oggi Trattoria. Now open to the public at 1461 W Chicago Ave, the move for the beloved restaurant marks a significant milestone for the Padilla family, who’ve lived and worked in West Town since the late 1970s.

The new space has been completely gutted and built out, providing a fresh environment for patrons to enjoy the same incredible classic food and service Oggi is known for. Interiors include custom wallpapering, “The Tree of Life,” made in collaboration with local business, Urban Source—as well as custom brass bar stools, mint green accents and plenty of natural light, thanks to the installation of several new windows along the eastern wall. The new Oggi Trattoria will have seating for 75 guests, including 10 seats at the bar.

“We wanted to give our long-time customers a fresh environment and an overall elevated experience,” said head chef Sam Padilla. “Even if you’re just having a glass of water, we want it to be a more refreshing experience.”

Oggi Trattoria has become an iconic establishment in West Town over the years, known for its authentic Italian cuisine and

warm, welcoming atmosphere. The new space on Chicago Ave is set to continue this tradition, offering diners an unforgettable experience, and the continuation of a family legacy. Notably, this is the restaurant’s third location in West Town, but the first that the family has owned after renting two different locations on Grand Ave for the past 30 years.

“West Town has always been home for our family, but we could never plant our restaurant’s roots in one place because we’ve always rented,” says Padilla. ““It’s been an incredible journey over the past 30 years in West Town, and we can’t wait to bring our passion for great food and hospitality to this new location. We are finally home on Chicago Ave. We’ve finally made it.”

The new Oggi Trattoria is located at 1461 W Chicago Ave in Chicago’s West Town neighborhood, and will be open Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., Friday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday from 3 to 10 p.m., and Sunday from 2 to 9 p.m. The restaurant can be found on Instagram at @oggitrattoria and on Facebook at @OggiTrattoria, and reservations can be made via OpenTable by clicking here. For all menus, special events and info, visit oggitrattoria.org.

Peanut Butter and Jelly Sweetpotato Taquitos

Recipe courtesy of Tracy Shaw on behalf of Healthy Family Project

Prep time: 5 minutes

Cook time: 20 minutes

Servings: 8

1 cup sweetpotatoes, peeled and diced small nonstick olive oil spray

1/2 cup peanut butter, preferred nut butter or nut-free butter

8 small, low-carb flour tortillas

1 cup blueberries, washed and dried

1 cup raspberries, washed and dried

Preheat air fryer to 400 F.

Add diced sweetpotatoes to air fryer basket and lightly spray with olive oil spray. Cook sweetpotatoes 10 minutes, shaking basket 1-2 times to toss sweetpotatoes.

Transfer cooked sweetpotatoes to medium bowl; add peanut butter and mix well.

Lay tortillas on counter and place 1-2 tablespoons sweetpotato mixture on each tortilla.

Add blueberries and raspberries next to sweetpotato mixture.

Roll each tortilla tightly. Place rolled tortillas, seam sides down, in air fryer.

Spray tortillas lightly with olive oil spray. Cook in air fryer 6-7 minutes.

Fuel Up for Summer Fun

Dietitian-approved, family-friendly recipes

(Family Features) Summer sun brings an abundance of outdoor activities from jumping in the pool and playing in the yard to simply lounging in the shade. Making the most of those warm weather moments with loved ones means maximizing your time and fueling up for adventure with easy, kid-friendly recipes the whole family can enjoy.

From favorite snacks to homemade lunches, flavorful dishes that are quick to make using nutritious fruits and veggies can help keep your family ready for whatever summer brings. Dietitian-approved recipes like Peanut Butter and Jelly Sweetpotato Taquitos and Easy Homemade Salsa offer better-for-you summer solutions with healthy ingredients like sweetpotatoes, blueberries, raspberries, sweet onions, Roma tomatoes and more.

Ready in less than 30 minutes, these taquitos let you enjoy the convenient benefits of cooking with an air fryer, including:

• Healthier cooking: Requiring little to no oil, air frying is a healthier alternative to deep frying.

• Timesaving: Air fryers can cook foods faster than traditional methods and typically with less cleanup.

• Versatility: From vegetables and meats to desserts or reheating leftovers, air fryers can cook a variety of foods.

“Get into the kitchen together as a family and get cooking,” said Julie Lopez, registered dietitian and culinary nutrition chef. “Cooking together can help kids build self-confidence and lay down the foundation for healthy eating habits.”

While shopping for your family’s preferred ingredients, remember to look for the Produce for Kids and Healthy Family Project logos next to favorite items in the produce department, as adding these flavorful fruits and veggies to your cart can help make a difference in your community.

Visit HealthyFamilyProject.com to find more summer recipe inspiration.

Easy Homemade Salsa

Recipe courtesy of Healthy Family Project

Cook time: 10 minutes

Servings: 6

1/2 small RealSweet sweet onion, halved

5 mini sweet peppers, seeded and quartered

3 Roma tomatoes, quartered

1 1/2 limes, juice only

1/4 cup fresh cilantro

1 1/2 teaspoons garlic salt, or to taste tortilla chips

In food processor, blend onion, peppers, tomatoes, lime juice, cilantro and garlic salt until desired consistency is reached. Serve with tortilla chips.

SAS announces first HBCU Fellows

CARY, N.C., PRNewswire -- High demand for data science skills generates rewarding career opportunities, but those opportunities have not historically gone to underrepresented populations. Innovative professors at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) are forging opportunities for students to engage with data analytics in meaningful and creative ways, ensuring students develop career-ready analytics skills. To supercharge their efforts, SAS developed the HBCU Fellows Program and recently named the four members of the inaugural cohort.

The HBCU Fellows Program supports educators at Historically Black Colleges and Universities by helping integrate analytical tools into academic programs and increase access to data and analytics education. Fellows are chosen based on interest in data analytics, feasibility of proposed plan and projected impact to teaching. The inaugural cohort is using SAS to explore compelling real-world applications in financial services and investing, human resources, marketing, and sports analytics.

“The HBCU Fellows are opening doors to exciting careers in data and analytics for their students,” said Liz Moran, Director, SAS Academic Programs and Certification. “They are also helping make their institutions destinations for a new, more diverse generation of data scientists and analytics experts that can use data to grow businesses, power research and improve society.”

Those selected for the program receive customized curriculum planning and technical guidance, opportunities to network with technical experts, and more. Fellows will participate in quarterly training and professional development events aimed at advancing their analytics and data science skills and identifying resources for teaching data analytics in their disciplines. The first cohort of HBCU Fellows are:

Minnette A. Bumpus, PhD, Associate Professor of Management in the College of Business at Bowie State University.

Gregory W. Ramsey, PhD, Associate Professor in the Information Science and Systems Department at the Earl G. Graves School of Business and Management at Morgan State University.

Pamela Queen, PhD, Professor in the Accounting and Finance Department at the Graves School of Business and Management at Morgan State University.

Joni Jackson, PhD, Associate Professor of Marketing in the College of Business at Chicago State University.

Striving to close a growing skills gap

According to CompTIA’s State of the Tech Workforce report, Black people account for 12% of the US workforce but occupy only 8% of tech jobs. That gap is projected to widen. Technology jobs are expected to grow 14% by 2032, but Black tech talent in those roles is expected to grow only 8%.

By integrating data skills into coursework and projects, HBCU Fellows will prepare students with real-world experience to seize those growing opportunities.

At Morgan State University, some of that experience will be in the rapidly growing area of sports analytics. Students will get to work with the university’s Center for Data Analytics and Sports Gaming Research to study and support research on socio-behavioral attitudes about esports, sports wagering, gambling addiction and other trends to inform public policy and regulations.

“The SAS HBCU Fellows Program will enable me to serve as an ambassador to my colleagues by customizing curriculum and student assignments that will better prepare Morgan students to utilize data analytics in various business disciplines, including sports and fintech,” said Queen.

Increasing representation in the analytics workforce

For decades, SAS has supported education at all levels to shrink the data skills gap and prepare more students for college, work and success in the analytics economy. From its partnerships with minority-serving institutions to diversity hiring initiatives and employee inclusion groups, SAS is committed to increasing diversity, equity and inclusion within the company and in the industry.

Last year, SAS hosted the first HBCU Invitational in concert with the SAS Championship golf tournament. It joined many other outreach and recruiting programs, including SAS HBCU STEM & Business Connects, HBCU Career Development Marketplace and HBCU Academic Excellence Program.

Learn more about the HBCU Fellows Program: https:// www.sas.com/en_us/events/22q3/hbcu-fellows.html

Bank of America Awards Negro Leagues Baseball Museum $1M Grant for New Facility

KANSAS CITY, Mo., PRNewswire -- The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum (NLBM) announced it has been awarded a $1 million grant from Bank of America in support of the museum’s $25 million capital campaign to build a new 30,000 square-foot facility. This funding will enable the NLBM to provide the latest state of the art technology that will be used to promote diversity, inclusion, and equity through the lens of America’s unsung baseball heroes who overcame tremendous social adversity to play baseball. The announcement was made at the NLBM with bank and museum officials alongside Congressman Emanuel Cleaver; Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas; Frank White, Jr., Jackson County Executive; Kathy Nelson, President & CEO, Kansas City Sports Commission and John Sherman, Chairman & CEO Kansas City Royals.

To coincide with the bank’s commitment of the new museum, Major League Baseball alumni players David DeJesus, Rajai Davis, and Dexter Fowler will take part in a Bank of America “Play It Forward” baseball clinic on Saturday, May 6 for 50 area youth from the YMCA of Greater Kansas City. The Clinic coincides with the celebration of the winning spirit of the Kansas City Monarchs and is held on the anniversary of Jackie Robinson’s first game with the team.

The new state of the art facility will be built adjacent to the Buck O’Neil Education and Research Center (BOERC) which will now be housed in the former Paseo YMCA. That historic building is where Andrew “Rube” Foster established the Negro Leagues in 1920. With help from the anchor grant, the new NLBM, in combination with the BOERC, will create a “Negro Leagues Campus” that will become the gateway into Kansas City’s famed Historic 18th & Vine Dis-

trict. This will be a catalyst for economic growth in a vastly underserved, predominantly African American community.

The bank’s support will allow the NLBM to expand programming, create dynamic interactive displays, house a gallery to showcase new exhibitions, feature a larger gift shop, and include a more expansive archival and storage space.

“Thanks to the generosity and continued support of Bank of America, the future of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum begins today,” said Bob Kendrick, museum president. “Our growth from a one-room office to becoming America’s National Negro Leagues Baseball Museum has been an amazing journey. Now, we’re building an organization that will continue to preserve and celebrate the triumphant story of the Negro Leagues but also fortify our position as one of the nation’s most important civil rights and social justice institutions,” Kendrick said.

The grant is part of Bank of America’s overall commitment to strengthening the Kansas City community by addressing key issues fundamental to economic opportunity and social progress. It also builds on Bank of America’s efforts to advance racial equality and opportunity for communities of color. The new facility will integrate a blend of technology and nostalgia to create an immersive culturally enriched experience that enlightens students and adults about a precious piece of baseball and Americana that has been excluded from the pages of American history books.

“We share NLBM’s mission to preserve and celebrate the rich history of African American baseball and its impact on the social advancement of America,” said Matt Linski, president, Bank of America Kansas City. “Our commitment recognizes the importance – culturally and economically –

of the 18th & Vine District to Kansas City today and we hope it will be an example for other funders to follow. Additionally, this grant is paramount to ensuring greater understanding and better appreciation of the many contributions African Americans have made and continue to make, including Jackie Robinson breaking the Major League color barrier.”

This announcement is the latest in a series of investments that Bank of America has made in the Kansas City community. Bank of America has invested more than $13 million in grants and sponsorships since 2020 as well as capital investments to help small businesses, affordable housing, and other economic revitalization projects benefiting communities throughout Kansas City.

Bank of America’s relationship with the NLBM dates back to the 1980s with bank leaders having served on the original 18th & Vine Authority Board that established the district. Bank of America funded the exhibition Discovering Greatness that traveled to all Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) campuses to reach young African Americans who might otherwise have been unaware of their Negro Leagues heritage. In 2008, the museum presented Bank of America the prestigious Buck O’Neil Legacy Award. In 2019, the museum was selected for Neighborhood Builders®, Bank of America’s signature philanthropic program and received $2000,000 grant for operational funding and leadership training. President Bob Kendrick has provided thought leadership at numerous Bank of America events including Courageous Conversations over the past three years and at the recent opening of the Barrier Breakers exhibition at Dodger Stadium. The NLBM has been part of the bank’s Museums on Us® program for many years.

SAS partners with minority-serving institutions to increase opportunities and help create a more diverse analytics and data science workforce. [Photo from the SAS HBCU STEM Connect event] PRNewsfoto/SAS

Steps You Can Take to Control Your Asthma 4

MISSION, Kan., PRNewswire -- (Family Features) Did you know that asthma affects 1 in 13 people in the United States (U.S.)? Asthma is a long-term condition that can make it harder for you to breathe because the airways of your lungs become inflamed and narrow. If you have the disease – or think you do – don’t tough it out. While there’s no cure for asthma, it can usually be managed by taking a few key steps that can help you live a full and active life.

Here are some important facts to know first:

Asthma affects some communities more than others. Black people and American Indian/Alaska Native people have the highest asthma rates of any racial or ethnic group, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In fact, Black people are over 40% more likely to have asthma than white people.

Asthma rates vary within some communities. For example, Puerto Rican Americans have twice the asthma rate of the overall U.S. Hispanic/Latino population.

Some groups are more likely to have serious consequences from asthma. The CDC found Black people are almost four times more likely to be hospitalized because of their asthma than white people.

Almost twice as many women as men have asthma.

Even if you experience asthma differently than others, you can still take action to try to control

your symptoms and begin doing the things you love. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) recommends these four steps:

Talk to a health care provider. You can work with a health care provider to set up an asthma action plan. This plan explains how to manage your asthma, what medicines to take and when and what to do if your symptoms get worse. It also tells you what to do in an emergency.

Know and track your asthma symptoms. Are you experiencing symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, chest tightness or shortness of breath? Tell a health care provider about them and make sure to keep track of any changes. That way you and the provider can know if your treatment plan is working.

Identify and manage your triggers. Some common asthma triggers include dust, mold, pollen, pests like cockroaches or rodents and pet hair. The asthma action plan can help you figure out what triggers make your asthma worse and how to manage them.

Avoid cigarette smoke. If you smoke, talk to a health care provider about ways to help you quit. If you have loved ones who smoke, ask them to quit. Do your best to avoid smoke in shared indoor spaces, including your home and car.

Asthma doesn’t have to stop you from leading a full and active life. Find out more about asthma and how to manage it from NHLBI’s Learn More Breathe Better® program at nhlbi.nih.gov/breathebetter.

Susan G. Komen® Continues its Partnership with Mielle Organics to Fight Breast Cancer Disparities in Black and Brown Communities

DALLAS, PRNewswire -- Susan G. Komen®, the world’s leading breast cancer organization, announced it is continuing its partnership with Mielle Organics. This partnership will help Komen’s mission to save lives by meeting the most critical needs in communities and investing in breakthrough research to prevent and cure breast cancer.

As part of the partnership, Mielle Organics has co-branded its Oats & Honey collection with Susan G. Komen, and for the second consecutive year will be making a $100,000 donation to support Komen’s mission lifework.

“Mielle Organics is a leader in the natural hair and personal care industry, and we are thrilled to partner with them this year,” said Sarah Rosales, Vice President of Corporate Partnerships at Susan G. Komen. “We value their commitment to creating high-quality products, and we look forward to working with them to continue to reach Black and Latino communities. Komen is committed to closing the health equity gap, and partnerships like these help us reach and inform historically marginalized communities about the disease.”

“Through education, outreach programs, and the funding of representative research, we can remove barriers to care and achieve health equity for all women. Mielle is proud to support Komen in this important effort by co-branding our most gentle collection, Oats & Honey, which is targeted toward sensitive scalp consumers. Over two years, Mielle has donated $200,000

to the cause. Together, we can power progress and make a meaningful difference for people in Black and Brown communities.”

Everyone is at risk of breast cancer — though some are at higher risk than others. Black women are about 40% more likely to die from breast cancer than white women. Latina women are more likely to be diagnosed later than white women. Komen is a trusted breast health organization, providing timely breast health information, support and resources to diverse populations.

Funds raised by this partnership will help Komen continue its efforts to improve breast health disparities in Black and Latino communities by connecting them to personalized breast health resources and support, which helps break down barriers to high-quality breast care for these populations. Komen’s goal is to create a world without inequities where marginalized populations have the same chances of surviving breast cancer as anyone else.

“Mielle is honored to continue its partnership with Susan G. Komen, supporting their health equity work to eliminate breast cancer disparities by ensuring that Black women have access to high-quality care and treatments,” says Mielle Chief Marketing Officer, Jolorie Williams.

Founded in 2014 by CEO Monique Rodriguez, Mielle Organics is a popular Black-founded, woman-led global beauty brand that is rooted in natural ingredients. With a heavy emphasis on incorporating healthier ingredients as its “root to results,” Mielle Organics’ collection of beauty products is designed for Black women. Their products can be found in more than 100,000 stores across the U.S. in retailers such as Ulta Beauty, Sally Beauty, Target, CVS, Rite Aid, Walgreens, and Walmart.

Susan G. Komen® is the world’s leading nonprofit breast cancer organization, working to save lives and end breast cancer forever. Komen has an unmatched, comprehensive 360-degree approach to fighting this disease across all fronts and supporting millions of people in the U.S. and in countries worldwide. We advocate for patients, drive research breakthroughs, improve access to high-quality care, offer direct patient support and empower people with trustworthy information. Founded by Nancy G. Brinker, who promised her sister, Susan G. Komen, that she would end the disease that claimed Suzy’s life, Komen remains committed to supporting those affected by breast cancer today, while tirelessly searching for tomorrow’s cures. Visit komen.org or call 1-877 GO KOMEN. Connect with us on social at WW5.KOMEN. ORG/social.

Photo courtesy of Getty Images

LEGAL NOTICE

A Public Declaration and Notice of Immediate Withdraw of Consent

I. Stevie Dwight Harris, conceived to a human mother and father on March 27,1956, domiciled in the Bolivar County. within the geographic boundaries of the twentieth State of the Union. Mississippi, hereby declare my.full and complete renunciation and withdraw of all possible forms of consent to the unlawjul creation of, operation of, and participation in, the current.fraudulent, de facto federal and state "corporate bodies politic"misunderstood to be the STATE of MISSISSIPPI/STATE OF ILLINOIS and The UNITED STATES government.

This complete withdraw of consent includes all known and unknown.fraudulent"unconscionable" agreements or contracts, past, present, or.future, relating to any artificial "person," corporate '”fiction," commercial entity, legal fiction, trust, status, standing, station, or any other possible creative combination of care.fully constructed "words o fart," CAPITIS DIMINUTIO .MAXIMA, or any other possible "color of law" misrepresentation of my existence and flesh and blood body, that aredesigned to replace my God given unalienable rights, Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness, with non- Article W privileges and immunities, civil rights, statutory code, and public policy, currently enforced by a "presumption of consent" to the 14th Amendment and fraudulent defacto corporate UNITED STATES and STATE OF ILLINOIS governments, Any and all past, present, or future participation in this fraudulent defacto corporate UNITED STATES and STATE OF MISSISSIPPI /STATE OF ILLINOIS governments and all related, subsidiary, or participatory corporate entities, shall be considered acts under duress, protest, and "Without Prejudice"until such a time as we, the People, return to the original and only lawful form of government instituted and created by our Founding Fathers - a Republic.

The Supremacy clause, Article VI of the Constitution for the united States, and this official.flesh and blood Withdraw of Consentstrikes with NULL:

The current.fraudulent corporate body politic operating as the de facto government "instituted" by the citizen's "registration" to vote and perpetuated by participation;

* All usage whatsoever of the concept of "CAPITIS DIMINUTIO MAXIMA;"

* The entire procedural system of Admiralty, Maritime and ''private" law administered by non -Article Ill Judiciary courts and used against the Federal "citizens"under the jurisdiction thereof;

* All fraudulent,unconscionable, or unlawful contracts. suretyships, licenses, registrations, certifications, or programs;

* All.fraudulent de facto corporate

government bodies, agencies.franchises, subsidiaries, offices, or extensions;

All fraudulent de facto corporate bodies politic or anti - Republic "Presidential" Executive Orders;

The entire Federal Reserve System and any un - Constitutional fiat currency;

* All public policy, legislation, and every act or treaty enacted by the.fraudulent, de facto corporate bodies politic;

* The entire fraudulent 14th Amendment and corporate ''person" status with federal "citizen" privileges and immunities subject to the jurisdiction thereof;

Let it be known that with this complete, public, and formal Withdraw of Consent and Act of Expatriation, under the Expatriation Act of July, 27.1868, I. Stevie Dwight Harris.Sui juris Mississippian and Man of the Republic, expect an immediate and.full return of my God given unalienable rights, Life, Liberty, and Pursuit of Happiness full Constitutional protections and Bill of Rights access,

And that from this day forward, all issues, including all jurisdictional issues, arising from, relating to. or in regards to, the "presumption of consent" to the 14th Amendment corporate "person" of federal United States "citizen"status, shall be considered NULL, void. invalid and unlawjul - as they always have been - under the original and only lawful form of government instituted and created by our Founding Fathers - a Republic.

Signed: Stevie,Dwight Harris, STEVIE-DWIGHT: HARRIS

Date: March 21, 2023

:C-S.-S-SP-S-G-P. Flag of this vessel. **Reg mail# RE For the Claimant_Knowledge of this live-Life is with this claim by this claimant.

Witness/: Moshai-Thuti: ElBey/Copyclaim ~For the day: April 17, 2023 FP

Witness/: Ancqunette-Dorlene: Cunningham El/: Copyclaim~ For the day: April, 2023 FP :[Stevie- Dwight: Harris] ~For the date: April- 17, 2023 FP: Autograph-Claimant- Life birth: Autograph/:Copy-claim-is with the verfication this~ seventeeth-Day,-

___________________ 2023 FP: (PRESENT) :

Authograph-Claimant-Life birth : Autograph/: Copyclaim-is with the verification this ~seventeeth-DAY,~ MONTH;April,~ 2023 by the now-time: On demand: claim

Disclaimer: The Citizen NewspaperGroup,Inc. or any of it affiliates, publisher or empolyee’s are in no way responsible for the contents listed in the ad above. Citizen hereby declares that it/they are not responsible or liable for any of the claims listed in this advertrisement. Any questions or disagreement with the content herein must be addressed by the author (s) listed in this paid advertisement.

:C-S.-S-SP-S-G-P. Flag of this vessel. **Reg mail# RE For the Claimant_Knowledge of this live-Life is with this claim by this claimant.

~

1 For the knowledge of these facts are with the claim of this Live-life-man born on~ twenty-eight-day! June-~ year~ 1961.

~2 For these witness-knowldge of this live-life-life are with these claims of this live-lfe-birth-nativity in the city~Evanston,State~Illinois,-County~Cook, is with witness by the mother-party-by the name: Oneida-Servate: Grant, and by the father. Joe-Wesley: Henry,,~ by their marriage-joinder.

~

1 For the knowledge of these facts are with the claim of this Live-life-man born on~ twenty-seven-day! March~ year~ 1956.

~2 For these witness-knowldge of this live-life-life are with these claims of this live-lfe-birth-nativity in the city~Cleveland,-State~ mississippi,-County~Boliva, is with witness by the mother-party-by the name: Luevada Harris, and by the father. Thelma-Harris,~ by their marriage-joinder.

~3 For the witness-knowledge of this live-life-claim are with the claim of this live-life-birthwith an authorization of these (2) two-witness-autographs, :Moshai- Tehuti: El Bey- one, :Ancqunette- Dorlene: Cunningham El.

~4 For the witness-knowledge of these facts are with this live-life-birth-claim with this Correct-Sentence-StructureCommunications-Parse-Syntax-Grammer-Performance of this Communications-Claim with this live-life-party.:

Image: (inserted on orginal document) Fingerprints (FP)- (on original documents) Salva or Hair (S/H): (Not visual)

~3 For the witness-knowledge of this live-life-claim are with the claim of this live-life-birthwith an authorization of these (2) two-witness-autographs, :Stevie-Dewight: Harris-one,: Ancqunette-Dorlene: CunninghamEl.

~4 For the witness-knowledge of these facts are with this live-life-birth-claim with this Correct-Sentence-StructureCommunications-Parse-Syntax-Grammer-Performance of this Communications-Claim with this live-life-party.:

Image: (inserted on orginal document) Fingerprints (FP)- (on original documents) Salva or Hair (S/H): (Not visual)

Witness/: Stevie-Dewight: Harris/: Copy-clam ~For the day: April 17, 2023 FP

Witness/: Ancqunette-Dorlene: Cunningham El/: Copyclaim~ For the day: April, 2023 FP

:[Tony-Christopher; Hernry ErxRel Moshai-Tehuti: El Bey] ~For the date: April- 17,