Chicago Weekend Citizen 9-04-2019

Citizen

UI Health supports city program to house homeless emergency department patients — Page 3 Week of Sept. 4, 2019

| Vol. 50 | No. 36 | www.thechicagocitizen.com

CHICAGO WEEKEND

Prevention Force Family Center is preparing to host its annual Get Along Summertime Jam from noon to 3 p.m. on Sept. 21 at DMI YOUth Can. Photo Caption: Prevention Force Family Center

WEST SIDE NONPROFIT PREPARES TO HOST GET ALONG SUMMERTIME JAM

The Prevention Force Family Center is a nonprofit organization operating on the west side to provide residents with an array of services including youth development, violence prevention, and entrepreneurship programs. The organization is preparing to host their annual Get Along Summertime Jam at DMI YOUth Can, 5090 W. Harrison St., from noon to 3 p.m. on Sept. 21. PAGE 2

BUSINESS

Half Of Working Americans Would Lie About Cell Reception And Wi-Fi Access To Avoid Work Calls And Email On Vacation

ENTERTAINMENT

CALENDAR

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Viola Davis To Star As Michelle Obama In ‘First Ladies’ Drama Series In Works At Showtime

Explore or Rediscover The City With Fall Tours

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2 | CITIZEN | Chicago Weekend | Week of Sept. 4, 2019

NEWS briefly EDUCATION

EDUCATORS TO ENTREPRENEURS; IT’S NOT BACK TO SCHOOL FOR EVERYONE Nineteen to thirty percent of educators leave the teaching profession within the first five years, according to the Starz Program, which is helping to turn educators into entrepreneurs. A children’s fitness and education program that promotes a healthy lifestyle, motor skills development, and confidence-building for children, The Starz Program is offering professional educators a 10% discount on the initial franchise fee now through December 31st.

“We know educators are opting to leave the teaching profession in pursuit of business ownership. As such, we wanted to kick-off the school year with an offer that gives educators or former educators the ability to follow their dreams of owning and running their own business,” said Sophia Z. Wastler, the program’s founder who’s also a former teacher.

“Teachers often make the best entrepreneurs because they are professional, organized, and passionate about helping. Most are also personable as they have to keep their student’s attention with stimulating lessons as well as interact with parents and the community, Wastler added. For more information, visit www.Starzfranchise.com.

HEALTH

BLACK CARDIOLOGISTS DISCUSS, ADDRESS CHICAGO’S BARRIERS TO CARDIOVASCULAR CARE Despite advanced therapies and new treatment options for patients with, or at risk for cardiovascular disease, access remains a challenge for underserved and minority patient populations. The Spirit of the Heart Community Leaders’ Forum, the first in a national series of forums and health fairs sponsored by the Association of Black Cardiologists, was held at Imani Village, 901 E. 95th Street.

The forum was an invitation-only discussion about local healthcare disparities and steps for improving access to cardiovascular and primary care on Chicago’s South Side, according to an Advocate Trinity Hospital news release. Participants discussed concerns of the community and took away actionable steps for reducing barriers to health care.

Community activists, church leaders, healthcare providers, healthcare industry leaders and Association of Black Cardiologist members joined a Town Hall led by Dr. Marlon Everett, a cardiologist with Advocate Trinity Hospital.

LAW & POLITICS

CHICAGO LAW FIRM RE-FILES NATIONWIDE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST THE MAKERS OF JUUL E-CIGARETTES A Chicago law firm has re-filed a nationwide class action lawsuit against the makers of JUUL e-cigarettes. Moll Law Group filed claims on behalf of teen addiction and injuries associated with nicotine ingestion, including a recent warning by the federal Food & Drug Administration (FDA) of the association between seizures and e-cigarettes.

According to the CDC, about 4.9 million middle and high school students were current users of a tobacco product in 2018, meaning that they used such products within the past 30 days.

This represents an increase of 1.3 million users just since 2017. According to a recent Wells Fargo report, JUUL owns three-quarters of the e-cigarette market.

West Side NonProfit Prepares To Host Get Along Summertime Jam Continued from page 1

BY KATHERINE NEWMAN

The Prevention Force Family Center is a nonprofit organization operating on the west side to provide residents with an array of services including youth development, violence prevention, and entrepreneurship programs. The organization is preparing to host their annual Get Along Summertime Jam at DMI YOUth Can, 5090 W. Harrison St., from noon to 3 p.m. on Sept. 21.

Prevention Force Family Center was founded in 1996 by a community resident who saw that struggling youth and families on the west side needed an opportunity to connect with qualified programs and services that could help them overcome some of the obstacles they were facing.

Today, the Prevention Force Family Center operates under the mission of creating an environment where individuals are self-sufficient, responsible, and productive residents of the community, according to information

provided by Prevention Force Family Center.

“Our main goal is to promote non-violence activities for the residents in the communities we serve, like Austin, Garfield Park, and North Lawndale, and also to give resources to different people in those communities,” said Vickey Perkins, assistant administrator of the Prevention Force Family Center. “We provide support for youth, students, families, community residents, schools, nonprofit organizations, and businesses to implement programs and provide resources to the community.”

The upcoming Get Along Summertime Jam is an annual event that Perkins said everyone looks forward to and is very well attended each year. This year’s event is being funded by a $5,000 grant from the Safe and Peaceful Communities Fund. The event is lead by young people who volunteer to assist with planning and implementing the day’s activities along with other violence prevention activities throughout the summer.

“This event brings the community togeth-

er and the youth that are tired of their family members and neighbors and other people getting killed. They are just getting tired so we want to give them a voice and allow them to say how they feel about the violence that’s going on in the communities they live in,” said Perkins.

There will be another event in October called the Get Along Summertime Family Walk where families are invited to come out and walk the neighborhood to protest violence in the area.

“We have a really nice crowd at the Get Along Summertime Jam. There is usually a range from little kids all the way up to seniors and we try to make sure the seniors enjoy themselves,” said Perkins. “We have entertainment, resources, and refreshments and this event really just lets the neighbors get to know one another because there are a lot of people that don’t even know the person that stays right by them.”

For more information about Prevention Force Family Center or the Get Along Summertime Jam, call (773) 940-1355.

Arbitration panel rules in favor of Lilly in complaint filed

by Adocia

JB Pritzker

Kimberly A. Lightford

Legislation Supports Teachers During Evaluation Process Governor JB Pritzker signed legislation recently creating a new appeal process for teachers during evaluation by a school district.

“Illinois’ educators play invaluable roles in our children’s lives and our state as a whole, and I’m proud that this legislation supports our hardworking teachers as they strive for excellence,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “I’ve said that we’re going to put Springfield back on the side of working families, and we’re delivering by bolstering every teacher’s right to a fair evaluation.”

The new law sets up a bargaining process between school districts and union representatives to allow teachers to appeal an unsatisfactory rating. Allowing local flexibility in implementation, criteria for a successful appeal will be determined by district and local union officials.

Senate Bill 1213 takes effect immediately.

“Teachers deserve a fair opportunity to present their case when given an ‘unsatisfactory’ rating,” said Sen. Kimberly A. Lightford (D-Maywood). “This law not only creates an appeals process, it also helps teachers combat possible biases that may exist through the current evaluations method.”

“Teachers deserve an opportunity for a fair appeals process if they are at first given an ‘unsatisfactory’ rating after their teacher evaluation,” said Rep. Katie Stuart (D-Edwardsville).

“Sometimes certain factors can negatively affect an individual during the evaluation process, and they should have the right to work with their school district to revisit the results of their evaluation. Senate Bill 1213 will provide the framework for teachers to appeal that result.”

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A Chicago-based arbitration panel recently ruled in favor of Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) in a claim filed by Adocia S.A. over the companies’ prior collaboration on a rapid-acting insulin. The panel of three arbitrators ruled that Lilly acted appropriately regarding Adocia’s intellectual property, and while they denied Lilly’s smaller counterclaim, ruled that Lilly is not liable for damages.

“We’re pleased with the panel’s decision,” said Michael J. Harrington, Lilly’s senior vice president and general counsel.

“Lilly conducts its business with integrity. We look forward to putting this matter behind us and focusing on the important work of discovering and developing new treatments for people living with diabetes.”

Lilly and Adocia signed a collaboration agreement in December 2014. Lilly terminated the agreement and discontinued future development, manufacturing, and commercialization related to the program in January 2017.

CITIZEN | Chicago Weekend | Week of Sept. 4, 2019

NEWS

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COMMENTARY

UI Health supports city program to house homeless emergency department patients The city of Chicago recently announced the expansion of the Chicago and Cook County Flexible Housing Pool (FHP) with $1.78 million in new investments. UI Health has committed $350,000 to the program.

The FHP, which was established by the city in 2018, is a public-private partnership that provides a streamlined process and mechanism to provide supportive housing for homeless individuals who are frequent users of hospital emergency rooms, paramedic services, jails and shelters. The program offers a housing subsidy together with wraparound health and social services.

The Center for Housing and Health leads housing administration and tenancy support services for the FHP. The program already has housed 23 individuals.

UI Health has led the way in Chicago in providing housing for homeless emergency department patients. UI Health’s Better Health Through Housing program has provided permanent housing and supportive services to 59 patients since it began in 2015. It is funded by UI Health, which has provided a total of $559,000.

“The UI Health Better Health Through Housing program was started to provide permanent housing and social services to chronically homeless emergency department patients. The Flexible Housing Pool expands this concept by consolidating capital to build capacity to house more individuals, so it provides a synergistic effect that is much greater than what individual hospitals can do on their own,” said Mike Zenn, chief executive officer of UI Health.

“When we looked into our records, we found that close to half of our top 100 frequent emergency department patients had experienced some form of homelessness within the last 12 months,” said Stephen Brown, director of the UI Health Better Health Through Housing program. “We established our program because chronic homelessness is a major social determinant of health.”

He added patients who have no home base tend to live about 27 years fewer than

Eddie Bernice Johnson

A Fool’s Folly The FHP is a public-private partnership that provides a streamlined process and mechanism to provide supportive housing for homeless individuals who are frequent users of hospital emergency rooms, paramedic services, jails and shelters.

“WHEN WE LOOKED INTO OUR RECORDS, WE FOUND THAT CLOSE TO HALF OF OUR TOP 100 FREQUENT EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT PATIENTS HAD EXPERIENCED SOME FORM OF HOMELESSNESS WITHIN THE LAST 12 MONTHS.” STEPHEN BROWN Director UI Health Better Health Through Housing Program someone with permanent housing. They also have higher risks for mortality, chronic conditions as well as substance abuse, HIV and mental health issues, he said. In addition, being homeless makes it much harder to manage one’s health.

“We have found that housing these individuals not only helps them to better manage their health, it is also less expensive to hospitals and Medicaid,” he said.

Brown said that just one hospital admission is about five times more expensive than 30 days of supportive housing.

Among participants in the Better Health Through Housing program, there has been a 48% reduction in hospital and emergency room utilization.

Going forward, homeless patients with poorly managed health conditions who are seen frequently in UI Health’s emergency department will be housed through the FHP. The FHP was created in 2018 with

$500,000 from the Affordable Housing Opportunity Fund, $500,000 in 2018 city corporate funds, and $800,000 in HUD funds that were approved by the CHA board in November 2017. Over three years, the city and CHA have committed to $5.4 million in project support of the FHP. In May 2019, Cook County Health pledged a $1 million investment into the FHP. The broader vision of the FHP is to grow and sustain the fund and eventually expand the number of people served by securing nontraditional and cross-sector investors such as hospitals, health care systems and philanthropic organizations.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois Foundation, Advocate Aurora Health, the Chicago Community Trust, J.B. and M.K. Pritzker Family Foundation, Polk Bros. Foundation, Michael Reese Health Trust, and Otho S.A. Sprague Memorial Institute also have provided support to the FHP.

Domestic Violence Advocacy Organization Awards $22,200 in Scholarships to Survivors Break the Silence Against Domestic Violence’s 2019 Angel Fund made the biggest impact yet. Bereaved families across the nation partnered with BTSADV recently to help raise $22,200 to be awarded to survivors of domestic violence this fall.

“We’ve had so much immense growth,” Kristen Faith, BTSADV Founder said. Nearly 100% of proceeds raised in this year’s fund are going back

to scholarship recipients.

The organization focused on providing more financial support to assist survivors reach their academic goals. Kohl’s Department Store donated close to $40,000 to BTSADV earlier this year, which was used to support programs and operations.

“Our biggest hope is to show families that we are here to go the distance to remem-

ber their loved ones,” Kristen said. Since 2015, BTSADV has awarded $63,950 in the names of fallen victims of domestic violence, providing funding to students affected by domestic violence while also spreading awareness by sharing their stories.

Twenty-seven scholarships will be granted to students this year. “Over 100 students applied, this is more than ever

before,” Kristen said, adding that the scholarship program is a great resource for survivors to empower themselves with higher education.

Of the 27 recipients, Sunny Lim, a student at the University of Chicago received the Brandi’s Legacy Scholarship for $1,000, according to a press release.

To learn more about BTSADV, visit www.btsadv.org

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BY CONGRESSWOMAN EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (D-TX) Texas Metro News Columnist

The hundreds of thousands of distressed desperate women with babies, children and men from Central America, South America and Africa who journey thousands of miles from their countries, risking their lives and leaving those that they love behind to enter the United States for a new life, will not be stopped by a Southern border wall.

That belief is simply folly, or at worse, political rhetoric designed to win over emotional voters that can be easily manipulated during the election season by an administration whose life expectancy, many predict, will conclude in 2020.

Serious thinkers understand that a comprehensive federal immigration strategy and a working relationship with the leaders of nations such as Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador, are critical to stem the tide of the massive numbers of migrants that are moving north.

Perhaps the president and those who help him to shape his immigration policy might consult with people such as the president of El Salvador, Nayib Bukele, who recently suggested that migrants would remain in the country that he leads if there were sufficient employment and a safe environment.

President Bukele recently urged Washington to become his country’s partner in creative a massive jobs programs in El Salvador.

He said that he believes his government, with assistance from President Trump, could create nearly 400,000 jobs that do not exist today. Those jobs, President Bukele said, would discouraged Salvadorans from seeking a life in the United States, he added, saying “… if people have an opportunity for a decent job, a decent education, a decent health care system and security, I know that forceful migration will be reduced to zero.”

No one wants to leave their home. If the average person were to examine their own lives and found that they were jobless and fearful, they would search for a place where they could earn an income and raise their families in peace.

Isn’t that what the first settlers in this country did when they fled what they characterized was tyranny in England?

So, history teaches us that those who stand at our Southern Border eager to enter and those who are walking towards it are not much different from those who settled what is now the United States of America, which we have declared as the ‘the land of the free and the home of the brave.’

Congresswoman Johnson represents the 30th congressional district of Texas in the US House of Representatives.

4 | CITIZEN | Chicago Weekend | Week of Sept. 4, 2019

BUSINESS

Fearless Fund Launches $5 Million Dollar VC Fund Fueling Women Of Color Owned Businesses The Fearless Fund invests in women of colorled businesses seeking pre-seed, seed level, or series A funding. With a mission of bridging the gap in venture capital funding for women of color founders building scalable, growth aggressive companies, Fearless Fund is built by women of color for women of color. Since its recent initiation, the Fearless Fund has hosted pitch competitions at Facebook Headquarters & Spanx Headquarters with brand partners such as Coca-Cola, UrbanSkinRX, Bumble and more.

Through Fearless Fund, Founding Partners Arian Simone and Keshia Knight Pulliam are highlighting how diversity significantly impacts a company’s performance and potential to provide investor returns.

In fact, a 2018 report released by Boston Consulting Group found that for every dollar of funding a startup in their study received,

female-run startups generated an average of 78 cents in revenue while male-run startups generated 31 cents.

Despite a greater potential to produce higher returns, women are historically underfunded-particularly women of color. “The Fearless fund is designed to change the narrative as it relates to funding allocated to women of color,” states Simone.

In 2018, U.S. companies raised a total of $130B in VC funding. A mere 2.2% of that total went toward female-founded companies and less than 1% of total funding was allocated toward businesses founded by women of color (Fortune, 2018 & GirlBoss, 2019). This is not a “pipeline issue” or a result of a lack of VC-

eligible, women of color-led companies. In fact, Fearless Fund already has five companies in its portfolio including Ellis Island Tea founded by Forbes 30 Under 30 entrepreneur Nailah EllisBrown, the first African-American female to ever own a beverage production facility.

Simone, a serial entrepreneur, philanthropist, angel investor, best-selling author, and marketing expert, spearheads this initiative alongside Pulliam, who’s an actress and entrepreneur.

Simone is the Founder and CEO of Arian Simone Enterprises and Pulliam is the Founder of spice line Keshia’s Kitchen, podcast Kandidly Keshia and non-profit The Kamp Kizzy Foundation. Additionally, the fund has seen abundant support from its advisors: Opportunity Hub CEO, Rodney Sampson, and The 22 Fund Managing Partner, Tracy Gray.

Early investors in the fund include actress

and producer, Marsai Martin (Black-ish), Atlanta OBGYN, Dr. Jacqueline Waters (Married to Medicine), Chattanooga VC fund, The JumpFund, and other notable individual and institutional investors.

With a proven track record of molding successful startups and building an expansive network of top entertainers and business leaders, the Fearless Fund team is more than a source of capital infusion for the companies they invest in, according to a press release. In addition to a robust mentor program, the team is leveraging their network to build out an optional Celebrity Equity-Based Endorsement program for their portfolio companies. This program aims to quickly scale companies by connecting them with celebrities for influencer marketing campaigns.

For more information on the Fearless Fund, visit www.fearless.fund.

Half Of Working Americans Would Lie About Cell Reception And Wi-Fi Access To Avoid Work Calls And Email On Vacation Little white lies about Wi-Fi are acceptable to half (49%) of working Americans avoiding checking into the office while on vacation, according

to the 2019 Vacation Confidence Index* released by Allianz Global Assistance, a leading travel insurance and assistance company.

As “email creep,” referring to when work obligations encroach on personal time, affects two thirds (65%) of workers who feel the need to check-in with the

office while on vacation, using limited phone service or Wi-Fi in a vacation destination has become the excuse du jour for employees this summer.

Most likely to use the excuse are Millennials (59%), followed by Gen X’ers (49%) and Boomers (32%). While men and women are equally honest, with no difference between the sexes at 49% each, those earning more than $50,000 a year are significantly more likely (53%) to use the excuse compared to those earning less than $50,000 (39%).

Who is the most likely person to pull the “I’m cutting out” excuse?

A white (53%), college-educated (50%) Millennial (59%) who is married (53%) with children (53%) and working full time (50%) for an annual salary more than $50,000 (53%) in the Northeast (53%).

A quarter of all working Americans (24%), meanwhile, make a point not to go on vacation in places where poor cell reception or Wi-Fi access could disrupt their connection to the office.

Millennials (74%) are the most likely to check email while on vacation, but the rate is also high for Gen X’ers (58%) and Boomers (63%), with the most common reason: it makes catching up on work easier when returning to the office (34%).

Despite the pressures to stay “online” and connected to the office while on vacation, the majority of working Americans (54%) would choose to work even more while away if it meant they were able to take more vacations throughout the year, with Millennials (64%) more likely choosing the more vacations with more checking in at work

scenario. Boomers, meanwhile, were more likely (54%) to prefer fewer vacations if it means they could be unplugged from the office.

“Most working Americans feel pressured to spend their vacations attached to their work email, when they may just need a few days to unplug. Consequently, half of U.S. workers are willing to lie about lack of connectivity to set them free from work obligations,” said Daniel Durazo, director of marketing and communications at Allianz Global Assistance USA. “For travelers seeking a carefree getaway from the grind, trip insurance offers peace of mind and 24/7 global assistance to help them stay cool and collected when faced with covered travel disruptions.”

Allianz Global Assistance offers travel insurance through most major U.S. airlines, leading travel agents, online travel agencies, and other travel suppliers, as well as directly to consumers. Terms, conditions, and exclusions apply to all plans. Plans are available only to U.S. residents and not all plans are available in all jurisdictions.

For more information on Allianz Global Assistance and the policies offered for travelers, please visit: http:// www.allianztravelinsurance.com.

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CITIZEN | Chicago Weekend | Week of Sept. 4, 2019

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NEWS

6 Play Activities That Can Help Manage ‘Bad Behavior’ StatePoint - When children misbehave, there’s often a reason for it, according to experts, who point out that understanding the behaviors can help you manage them more effectively, especially during play time.

“Our bodies want to be in balance and, ideally, we seek out what we need when we need it. When we are hungry, we eat. When we are thirsty, we drink. But when it comes to children whose sensory and nervous systems don’t process efficiently or effectively, this restorative balance may simply look like bad or undesired behavior,” says Ellen Metrick, a toy design consultant and an expert contributor to TheGeniusofPlay.org, who has a background in special education.

During play time, children who are understimulated may seek out sensory stimulation by spinning around repeatedly or intentionally banging into walls or even other children.

Children who are over-stimulated may get agitated and retreat from sensory stimulation by crawling under tables.

While playtime is when some of these behaviors may be exhibited, it’s also a chance for parents and caretakers to help children regulate their sensory system,” says Metrick. “Remember that every individual is different, and if something isn’t working for your child, you can tweak the activity to fit his or her needs.”

Whether your child requires more noise and excitement to satisfy energy needs or less to reduce feelings of anxiety and stress, there are ways to tailor playtime to cater to those individual needs.

To help, Metrick and The Genius of Play, an initiative whose mission is to raise awareness about the importance of play and help parents make play a critical part of raising their kids, are offering three ideas for activities that will give a needed boost to children who are understimulated and crave more sensory stimulation: • Climb on a jungle gym. Hanging on monkey bars and climbing ladders use a child’s

own body as resistance to send signals to the brain and help organize the nervous system.

• Have a dance party. Games like freeze dance and musical chairs add structure and auditory processing to play. Children receive feedback from their muscles and joints with every step they take.

• Pop some bubbles. Jumping up and down on a sheet of bubble wrap can be great fun and

the deep pressure will trigger sensory receptors, telling the brain how to control movement and postural balance.

For children who are over-stimulated and need a bit less distraction, consider these three ideas for helping kids focus, from Metrick and The Genius of Play: • Tone down the sound. Removing extraneous sounds, like music, television and the whirring of a washing machine, may lessen distracting stimuli and improve the child’s focus and engagement in the activity.

• Play at a table. Using a placemat or cookie sheet under the toy or activity at an empty table provides visual boundaries for focused play. It helps to have feet firmly planted on the ground, rather than dangling, so consider using a childsized play table.

• Create a quiet area. Adding soft pillows and blankets to a cozy corner gives children a space to seek respite from environmental stimuli.

Parents searching for more play ideas and expert tips like these can visit TheGeniusofPlay.org.

Whether your child requires more noise and excitement to satisfy energy needs or less to reduce feelings of anxiety and stress, there are ways to tailor playtime to cater to those individual needs.

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6 | CITIZEN | Chicago Weekend | Week of Sept. 4, 2019

FASHION

SweeTARTS® Celebrates the Freedom to “Be Both™” Through Fashion Collaboration with Christian Siriano SweeTARTS® recently announced its partnership with Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) designer Christian Siriano in celebration of SweeTARTS “Be Both” campaign.

Siriano designed a custom couture look inspired by the brand, which celebrates the freedom to be “more than one thing.”

The couture fashion look was shared recently at a private event held in New York City to an exclusive audience of media and fashion insiders.

Earlier this year, SweeTARTS launched a new marketing campaign called “Be Both,” celebrating the multi-dimensionality of its products, and its Gen Z brand fans who live unapologetically colorful lives. The new campaign champions Gen Z and their desire to reject one-dimensional definitions of identity, by celebrating their passions, expressions and tastes, and connecting this back to the brand’s multitude of colliding flavors, textures and forms.

“SweeTARTS candies are never just one thing – they are long and short, flat and round, chewy and hard, sweet and tart.

Our brand embraces surprising mash-ups, and embodies the idea of duality, just like Gen Z,” said Ashley Incarnato, SweeTARTS Senior Brand Manager at Ferrara Candy Company. “SweeTARTS is thrilled to be collaborating with Christian Siriano to create a visual representation of “Be Both” because of his unique talent rejecting one-dimensional definitions in fashion, a key passion point for our core audience.”

Siriano designed the look using the SweeTARTS Original and Mini Chewy products as inspiration.

He chose a textured stretch crepe fabric that is soft, but also gives a sense of structure for the suiting. The fringe was inspired by SweeTARTS Ropes, adding some movement and drama to the dress.

The overall inspiration of the look embodies the “Be Both” ethos that the brand has adopted.

“It’s impressive to see a candy brand really think about the world today, and want to be as inclusive and diverse as our society is becoming,” said Siriano. “This project was such a great fit for me because this is how I design and live my life every day! Anyone can be anything, and even candy can be more than one thing.”

Lance Bass

Africa Miranda

Danika Brysha

T.J.Maxx Takes “The Changing Room” In-Store, Offering Personalized Experiences To Help Women Embrace Their Individuality Continuing its mission to help women embrace their individuality and the changes that come with every life stage, T.J.Maxx has launched the second phase of The Maxx You Project with personalized In-Store Changing Room Experiences which offer a one-of-a-kind service – part styling and part life coaching. The experiences are an extension of “The Changing Room” interactive pop-up, which ignited a conversation around the critical role that change has on individuality in early June.

Singer and television personality, Lance Bass, kicked off the InStore Changing Room Experience tour at a T.J.Maxx in New York City on August 27. Bass then passed the baton to beauty maven and author, Africa Miranda, and body positive fashion model and wellness entrepreneur, Danika Brysha, who will bring experiences to several T.J.Maxx locations across the country.

“I love the concept of a ‘changing room’ that is tailored to help people navigate their individual journeys. Because let’s face it, everyone’s journey is different and our style most certainly evolves as we pursue and explore different paths,” said Bass. “As someone who has personally navigated some significant life changes, I’m excited about the opportunity to work one-on-one with different women as part of The Maxx You Project.”

“T.J.Maxx is a place to explore who you are now, and who you are becoming,” said Gina Bollus, manager of marketing, T.J.Maxx. “We want to help you be you. Whether it’s through fashion or more tangible experiences like The Changing Room, we are proud to continue to help women navigate their individual journeys.”

Fashion designer Christian Siriano celebrates the “freedom to be more than one thing” with a custom-designed SweeTARTS-inspired couture design unveiled recently in New York, NY.

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In-Store Changing Room Experience Tour Schedule For Chicago: Location: 11 North State Street, Chicago, IL 60602 Dates: September 19 - 20, 2019 To participate, women can visit maxxyouproject.com and enter for a chance to win an hour-long session with the lifecoach and stylist duo. Ninety-eight women will be selected, and each winner will enjoy a customized individual session.

Entries are being accepted now– September 13.

CITIZEN | Chicago Weekend | Week of Sept. 4, 2019

NEWS Contest Promotes Emerging SciFi Writers and Illustrators NewsUSA - Aspiring artists and authors in the science fiction and fantasy arena have an outlet to finding a wider audience, thanks to the L. Ron Hubbard Achievement Award.

The award, now in its 36th year, has long been an opportunity for a promising debut for professional writers and illustrators in science fiction and fantasy.

“The contest was formed for a purpose beyond simply giving awards - it was intended to help foster the next generation of master writers,” states Joni Labaqui, the Contests’ Administrator.

L. Ron Hubbard, one of the most recognized and prolific American writers, created and endowed the Writers of the Future Contest in 1983 to help foster new talent in science fiction and fantasy writing.

For writers, the contest is a chance to have their work judged by professional authors who are among the masters of the SciFi and fantasy genre and to be discovered by a wide audience.

Entrants retain all publication rights to their work, and there is no entry fee.

The contest awards quarterly first, second, and third prizes of $1,000, $750, and $500 every three months. One of these four quarterly first-place winners

is selected as the Grand Prize winner for the year. The Grand Prize Winner receives the L. Ron Hubbard Golden Pen Award and an additional $5,000.

The judging protocol and prize structure is the same for illustrators.

The Grand Prize Winner is chosen from quarterly winners to receive the L. Ron Hubbard Golden Brush Award and an additional $5,000 cash.

The 35th annual award winners were Andrew Dykstal and Aliya Chen, who were honored at a gala event this spring in Hollywood, Calif. Prior to the awards ceremony, writer and artist winners spent a week enjoying workshops with established writers, artists, and publishing professionals.

“I feel that my career as a writer has now been catapulted,” says Mr. Dykstal, Grand Prize Writing Award Winner for 2019.

Ms. Chen, winner of the Grand Prize Illustrator’s Award, says: “Winning this Grand Prize Award is validation for me that illustration, which is a passion for me, doesn’t have to be limited to a hobby, but it’s definitely possible as a career.”

Writers can enter the contest at: www.writersofthefuture.com/enter-writer-contest/.

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• Open an Easy Checking account by September 28, 2019 • Make 10 debit card transactions • Make deposits totaling $2,500 or more • Enroll in mobile banking and e-statements Visit a local branch or FirstMidwest.com/Easy250 YOU HAVE PLANS. WE HAVE IDEAS.

To receive the $250 bonus, the new personal checking client must: 1) Open a new Easy, Midwest or Diamond Checking account with $100 minimum deposit by close of business on 9/28/2019. 2) Make deposits totaling $2,500 or more within 60 days of account opening.

3) Make 10 debit card transactions within 60 days of account opening. 4) Enroll in mobile banking and e-statements within 60 days of account opening. Once all requirements have been met, $250 bonus will be issued as a credit to the account within 30 calendar days of the transactions being verified, following the 90 day period from opening. The account must be open with a positive balance to receive payout. Promotional credit may be subject to IRS 1099-INT form reporting and may be considered taxable as interest income to you.

Consult your tax advisor. Limit of one bonus per client, regardless of the number of accounts opened. Offer only available to residents of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa and Wisconsin. Offer may be changed or withdrawn at any time without notice. Offer is not available to existing First Midwest Personal checking clients, accounts that have been closed within 90 days or First Midwest colleagues.

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8 | CITIZEN | Chicago Weekend | Week of Sept. 4, 2019

ENTERTAINMENT Viola Davis To Star As Michelle Obama In ‘First Ladies’ Drama Series In Works At Showtime Viola Davis is set to portray Michelle Obama in First Ladies, a one-hour White House drama that has been put on fast-track development at Showtime with a three-script commitment. Davis will executive produce the project, which hails from writer Aaron Cooley (novels Four Seats: A Thriller of the Supreme Court, The Guns of Ridgewood), Davis and Julius Tennon’s JuVee Productions, Cathy Schulman’s Welle Entertainment (Otherhood), Jeff Gaspin’s Gaspin Media (LA’s Finest) and Brad Kaplan (The Intruder).

Showtime and Lionsgate TV coproduce.

Written by Cooley, First Ladies is set in the East Wing of the White House, where many of history’s most impactful and world-changing

Viola Davis (left) Michelle Obama (right)

decisions have been hidden from view, made by America’s charismatic, complex and dynamic first ladies. The series will peel back the curtain on

the personal and political lives of our most enigmatic heroes, with Season 1 focusing on Eleanor Roosevelt, Betty Ford and Michelle Obama.

Hard Rock Cafe® to Honor the Legacy of Music Icon Freddie Mercury with “Freddie for a Week” Celebration Hard Rock International is kicking off its annual celebration of the life and music of the legendary Freddie Mercury by hosting “Freddie for a Week” from Thursday, September 5, 2019 – Freddie Mercury’s birthday – through Thursday, September 12, 2019. In honor of the iconic frontman, Hard Rock Cafe® locations around the world will offer a limited-time, Freddie-inspired milkshake and exclusive merchandise that benefits The Mercury Phoenix Trust, a UK charity created in memory of Freddie Mercury by Queen band members Brian May and Roger Taylor together with their manager Jim Beach to support the global fight against HIV/AIDS. Throughout the week, Hard Rock Cafe locations will be rocking in Freddie’s honor with various themed events taking place for fans of all ages to come and celebrate.

The Freddie-inspired milkshake combines bourbon and dark rum with vanilla ice cream and dark chocolate sauce before being topped with white chocolate whipped cream and an iconic chocolate

(PRNewsfoto/Hard Rock International)

brownie mustache.

The Instagram-worthy milkshake will also be available in a non-alcoholic version for fans of all ages to enjoy.

Guests looking to “break free” and look like the legend himself can purchase a wearable Freddie mustache inrestaurant or within and Rock Shop® at participating Hard Rock Cafe locations while supplies last. Those trying to celebrate while

wearing Freddie-inspired merchandise can stop by their favorite Rock Shop or visit https://shop.hardrock. com to purchase limitededition t-shirts and a pin that features an iconic image of Freddie on stage.

“We are thrilled to extend our annual celebration that honors Freddie Mercury’s memory as a legendary singer, songwriter and record producer by hosting ‘Freddie for a Week’ at Cafe locations worldwide,” said Stephen K. Judge, president of cafe operations for Hard Rock International. “Our unique offerings inspired by the legendary Freddie Mercury provide an opportunity to give back to The Mercury Phoenix Trust in support of their philanthropic efforts and honor the mottos Hard Rock® was founded on such as, ‘Love All - Serve All,’ ‘Take Time to Be Kind’ and ‘All is One’.”

The 2019 “Freddie for a Week” marks the seventh year Hard Rock Cafe and The Mercury Phoenix Trust have partnered to host this celebration, and the first time that it will extend for a

full week.

“The Mercury Phoenix Trust is committed to honoring Freddie’s memory, and we are thrilled to continue our enduring relationship with Hard Rock to celebrate Freddie’s life and music,” said Claudia Walker, head of The Mercury Phoenix Trust. “Seeing the success of the ‘Freddie for a Day’ initiative over the past several years has been incredibly rewarding, and we look forward to raising funds to promote HIV/ AIDS awareness and fight AIDS worldwide with this year’s ‘Freddie for a Week’.”

Visit www.hardrockcafe. com for additional details on “Freddie for a Week” and local market events.

Those looking to dine at Hard Rock Cafe can find their local Cafe and make a reservation by visiting www.hardrockcafe. com/locations.aspx. To purchase Hard Rock Cafe merchandise, visit the online Rock Shop at https://shop.hardrock.com.

For additional information on the Hard Rock Cafe brand, visit www. hardrockcafe.com/.

www.thechicagocitizen.com

Sony Pictures Entertainment Partners With American Black Film Festival On Its “ABFF 365” Initiative ABFF Ventures, LLC, recently announced that Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is the first entertainment studio to support the American Black Film Festival (ABFF) on its newly formed global diversity initiative, “ABFF 365,” targeted to creatives and audiences of African heritage.

The program expands the ABFF brand beyond its annual film festival, now in its 23rd year, to include other experiential events and screenings showcasing the work of black content creators and promoting camaraderie among multicultural artists in the motion picture and television industries. Through this partnership, Sony Pictures Entertainment will have a presence at multiple ABFFproduced events throughout 2019, including the American Black Film Festival (Miami Beach), ABFF UK (London) and ABFF Honors (Los Angeles). In addition, ABFF Ventures CEO Jeff Friday will serve as an adviser to SPE on its diversity outreach and programming.

“For the past 23 years, our film festival has led the way in showcasing the work of Black artists and content creators with support from many blue chip companies. We are thrilled to have Sony Pictures as a committed partner of our “ABFF 365” initiative as we expand the footprint of the ABFF brand throughout the year and around the world,” says Jeff Friday, festival founder and ABFF Ventures CEO. “Sony Pictures’ commitment to diversity and inclusion extends beyond the borders of the U.S. We are excited to partner with ABFF on an international scale for this important initiative,” said Paul Martin, senior vice president & chief diversity officer, Sony Pictures Entertainment.

“I am delighted that Sony Pictures Entertainment is partnering with the ABFF to support its international expansion,” said Wayne Garvie, president of International Production, Sony Pictures Television. “London is a vibrant, important source of diverse creative talent and a fantastic place to showcase emerging content. We are excited to launch the ABFF 365 programme here, which highlights SPE’s commitment to harnessing the

power of diversity and promoting inclusivity so that talented people can thrive working with us.” The ABFF/SPE partnership successfully kicked off at the American Black Film Festival recently held in Miami, FL. (June 12-16), with SPE presenting two dynamic sessions.

The first, a panel discussion, “Beyond the Spider-Verse: What’s Next for Sony Pictures Animation,” offered a look at what made the Academy Award®winning Spider-Man™: Into the Spider-Verse a global hit and explored the road ahead for the rapidly expanding studio. In addition, SPE premiered the pilot episode of its upcoming series “For Life,” a fictional serialized legal and family drama. Inspired by the life of Isaac Wright, Jr., the story follows the life of a prisoner who becomes a lawyer, litigating cases for other inmates while fighting to overturn his own life sentence for a crime he didn’t commit.

“ABFF 365” program will continue this year with the initiation of ABFF Global, an international film series and extension of the American Black Film Festival. Its mission is to promote the universal appeal of films by and about people of color and encourage collaboration between content creators throughout the African diaspora, with the objective of expanding distribution opportunities for black content on an international scale. SPE is the founding sponsor of the first installment of the series, ABFF UK, which will take place in London, September 27-29, 2019.

The three-day program will be held at Picturehouse Central, and offer award-winning features, short films and web series from the 2019 Festival. ABFF Global will visit other major cultural hubs around the world, including Madrid, Cape Town and Paris in 2020. “ABFF 365” culminates this year with ABFF Honors, an annual awards show that salutes excellence in the motion picture and television industry. The ceremony celebrates black culture by recognizing individuals who have made distinguished contributions to American entertainment through their work, as well as those who champion diversity and inclusion in Hollywood. Dates to be announced soon.

CITIZEN | Chicago Weekend | Week of Sept. 4, 2019

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CALENDAR

Explore or Rediscover The City With Fall Tours As one of the top urban destinations in the world, Chicago continues to impress with new world-class hotels, groundbreaking exhibits, exciting food experiences and tours. From iconic architecture to tasty food experiences, tours in Chicago offer an opportunity to see the city for the first time or explore it all over again.

Happening right now are the following fall tours: Bobby’s Bike Hike - Combining health, history, and a whole lot of food, Bobby’s Bike Hike is offering a revamped “Bikes, Bites & Brews Tour - Westside Foodie Ride”, in addition to their other biking, walking, and food tours. Participants will bike through iconic Chicago neighborhoods such as Fulton Market, Ukrainian Village, and Wicker Park while learning about how immigration has shaped the city’s diverse, cultural landscape. As the tour name implies, this history is anything but dry. Participants will sample craft beer and burgers at Kuma’s Corner, decadent “sipping chocolate” from Cocoa & Co, delicious tacos from Antique Taco (ranked among the top 50 taco establishments in the country), and finish off with a special “Chicago Handshake” of Malört from Bucktown Pub. During the summer, Bobby’s Bike Hike offers this tour every day starting at 12 p.m., lasting four hours. On Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, this tour is offered at 12 p.m. as well as at 12:30 p.m. For more information, visit https:// www.bobbysbikehike.com

From iconic architecture to tasty food experiences, tours in Chicago offer an opportunity to see the city for the first time or explore it all over again.

Chicago Detours has redesigned their popular Historic Chicago Walking Bar Tour to step inside the Gilded Age mansion that is now Lawry’s restaurant. This educational pub crawl tour shows a secret side to Michigan Avenue. Guests get to see opulent architecture, now including the hidden architectural details on the outside of Lawry’s. On this new tour stop, guests step inside to hear more history while enjoying a glass of wine or Lawry’s signature “Brown Gown Ale,” and taste house-made potato chips deliciously doused in Lawry’s famous seasoning. Located just a block off Michigan Ave, this building also once held a theater with quirky performances.

This new revised tour is available year-round, five nights a week. For more information, visit https:// www.chicagodetours.com/ Frank Lloyd Wright’s iconic masterpiece,

the Frederick C. Robie House, re-emerged fully restored on March 29, 2019. The Frank Lloyd Wright Trust’s historic $3 million interior restoration reveals Wright’s original 1910 vision. Considered one of the 20th century’s most significant buildings, Robie House is the consummate expression of Wright’s Prairie style of architecture and a showcase of his groundbreaking architectural philosophy.

Conceived as an integral whole, where site and structure, interior and exterior, furniture, ornament and architecture come together, the residence is the most forward-looking of Wright’s Prairie homes. The restored spaces brilliantly reflect Wright’s concept of a dwelling place as a work of art. The Frederick C. Robie House has recently been inscribed to the UNESCO World Heritage List. It is among one of 24 sites on the

list located in the U.S. For more information, visit http://cal.flwright.org/tours/robie Tastebuds’ Chicago Food and History Tour explores the city’s downtown Loop area. The three- hour tour guides you to six restaurants and shops serving up Chicago’s iconic cuisine providing more than enough to be considered dinner! Think along the lines of: Al’s Italian Beef, Billy Goat Tavern Cheezborger, Chicago Kernel, Pizano’s Deep Dish Pizza, Fannie May, In-Field’s Chicago Style Hotdog and/or the Goddess and the Baker. The tour also highlights non-food-related history and landmarks like the Art Institute, works of Louis Comfort Tiffany at Chicago Cultural Center and Macy’s. Tickets are $64.50 (including all food and water), offered Monday-Sunday. For tickets and for more information, visit tastebudtours.com.

Free outdoor concert begins at 7:00pm on Friday, September 6 Lyric Opera of Chicago launches its 65th season with the 19th annual Stars of Lyric Opera at Millennium Park concert at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion on Friday, September 6, at 7:00 p.m. The free outdoor performance, presented in cooperation with The City of Chicago and Millennium Park, annually attracts capacity crowds to the pavilion, great lawn, and surrounding areas of the park.

Lyric’s renowned music director, Sir Andrew Davis, will conduct the Lyric Opera Orchestra and Chorus along with an array of outstanding international opera artists, including the stars of Lyric’s season opening production of Rossini’s The Barber of Seville: Marianne Crebassa, Lawrence Brownlee, Adam Plachetka, and Krzysztof Bączyk (making his Lyric Opera debut). Current Ryan Opera Center Ensemble members Mathilda Edge, Kayleigh Decker, Eric Ferring, and Christopher Kenney will also perform.

The starry evening features

excerpts from Lyric’s upcoming season, including highlights from The Barber of Seville, as well as selections from Verdi, Puccini, Mozart, and Tchaikovsky. The concert will also include music from Verdi’s Falstaff, Donizetti’s La favorite, Bizet’s Carmen, and Rachmaninoff ’s Aleko.

The Lyric Opera Chorus will be prepared by chorus master Michael Black.

Lyric will post live updates via social media throughout the evening.

Join the conversation by tagging your posts with #LyricStars on Facebook at facebook.com/lyricopera and on Twitter and Instagram at @ LyricOpera. There will be chances to win tickets to the 2019/20 Season during the evening, and the first 5,000 guests to arrive will receive a free Lyric giveaway item.

Invite your friends to attend this free event and let others know you are attending by going here https://www.facebook.com/ events/743730036029226/?ti=icl

Lyric Opera of Chicago launches its 65th season with the 19th annual Stars of Lyric Opera at Millennium Park concert at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion on Friday, September 6, at 7:00 p.m.

Lyric Opera of Chicago opens its 65th season on Saturday, September 28. The season will include eight operas: Rossini’s The Barber of Seville (Sept. 28 – Oct. 27), Verdi’s Luisa Miller (Oct. 12 – 31), Heggie and McNally’s Dead Man Walking (Nov. 2 – 22), Mozart’s Don Giovanni (Nov. 14 – Dec. 8), Puccini’s Madama Butterfly (Feb. 6 – www.thechicagocitizen.com

Mar. 8), Tchaikovsky’s The Queen of Spades (Feb. 15 – Mar. 1), Wagner’s ¨ GÖtterdammerung (Apr. 4 & 11), and a Midwest premiere of Tesori and Thompson’s Blue (performed at The Yard at Chicago Shakespeare Theater, June 19 – 28).

The climax of the season will be Lyric’s new production of Wagner’s Ring cycle, attracting audiences from around the world to experience the four operas over the course of a single week: Das Rheingold, Die Walküre, Siegfried, and Götterdämmerung (Cycle 1: Apr. 13 – 18, Cycle 2: Apr. 20 – 25, Cycle 3: Apr. 27 – May 3).

Lyric’s 2019/20 Season also includes the company premiere of Harry Warren and Al Dubin’s Tonywinning song-and-dance spectacular 42nd Street (May 29 – June 21), and two special events: Lyric favorite Sondra Radvanovsky singing the finales of Donizetti’s three “Tudor Queen” operas in The Three Queens with members of the Lyric Opera Orchestra and Chorus (Dec. 1 – 7) and the long-awaited Chicago return

of Sir Bryn Terfel in Recital (Feb. 2).

All of Lyric’s regular-season performances take place at the Lyric Opera House, 20 N. Wacker Drive in Chicago, with projected English texts for every opera. Subscriptions are still available, as are single tickets for individual performances.

Discounts are available for groups of 10 or more. For information on specific performance dates and ticket availability, please call (312) 8275600 or visit lyricopera.org.

Stars of Lyric Opera at Millennium Park is supported by Lead Sponsor closerlook, inc. and cosponsors Walter E. Heller Foundation, An Anonymous Donor, Rhoda and Henry Frank Family Foundation, Baker Tilly Virchow Krause LLP, CNA, Crain-Maling Foundation, the Komarek-Hyde-McQueen Foundation/Patricia Hyde, Sipi Metals Corp., the Music Performance Trust Fund, and the Film Funds Trust Funds. Presented in cooperation with The City of Chicago and Millennium Park.

CITIZEN | Chicago Weekend | Week of Sept. 4, 2019

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