Chicago Defender 100318

Chicago and suburbs $1 Volume 113 No. 23 | October 3 - 9, 2018

CHICAGO DEFENDER

Mario Van Peeples Page 10

Our Hair, Our Money?

Let’s Play: Page 8

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Community Calender: Page12 POWERED BY REAL TIMES MEDIA

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Wednesday – Tuesday October 3 - 9, 2018

Cover Story................................................................3 Classifieds................................................................13

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City News Congresswoman Kelly to Host 6th Annual Hiring Event and Job Readiness Workshop Congresswoman Robin Kelly will host her 6th Annual Hiring Event for residents of the 2nd Congressional District on Friday, October 19, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., at the Lan-Oak Park District, 2550 178th St., Lansing. More than 50 employers with active job openings will be in attendance.

Prior to the Hiring Event, Rep. Kelly will sponsor a free Job Readiness Workshop on Wednesday, October 17, from 6 to 7:30 p.m., in the Community Room of the Calumet City Public Library, 660 S. Manistee Avenue, Calumet City. Instructors from the Chicago-Cook Workforce Part-

nership will teach job-seekers interview etiquette and skills, and how to prepare a resume.

Companies and agencies participating in this year’s Hiring Event include UPS, ComEd, Metra Rail, Comcast, and the U.S. Post Office.

Job-seekers can visit www.reprobinkelly.eventbrite.com to register for the Hiring Event and/or the Job Readiness Workshop. Pre-registration is strongly encouraged. For more information, call Alan Banks or Elise Miller at (708) 6790078, or email Alan.Banks@mail.house. gov or Elise.Miller@mail.house.gov.

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2 October 3 - 9, 2018

Chicago Remains #1 City for Comcast’s Internet Adoption Program for Low-Income Residents Comcast announced this week that it has connected nearly 300,000 low-income Chicagoans – more than any other city – to the Internet at home through Internet Essentials, its comprehensive high-speed Internet adoption program for low-income Americans. Since 2011, more than six million low-income Americans nationally have been connected to the Internet at home through Internet Essentials. In addition, Comcast recently expanded the program’s eligibility to include more than 130,000 low-income veterans in Illinois and a million nationally.

According to the U.S. Census American Community Survey, 80 percent of all Chicago households subscribe to an Internet service, but only 61 percent of households with an annual income of less than $35,000 do. Comcast developed Internet Essentials to close that digital divide by addressing each of the three major barriers to broadband adoption that research has identified. These include: a lack of digital literacy skills, the lack of a computer and the absence of a low-cost Internet service.

“Partnerships with non-profit organizations have been crucial to Internet Essentials’ success and Comcast’s efforts to close the digital divide,” said David L. Cohen, Comcast’s Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer.

“We need to go into our neighborhoods with partners who are there every day, on every issue, and work alongside them to connect families one-by-one across the country.”

Internet Essentials is not simply a corporate initiative, but a public-private

partnership between Comcast and tens of thousands of school districts, libraries, elected officials, and nonprofit community partners, including the National Urban League (NUL), an early partner in the program. The Chicago Urban League was part of the first “Internet Essentials Learning Zone,” which launched in late 2013. Through the zones, Comcast has funded digital literacy training at several participating nonprofits in several low-income neighborhoods.

The NUL joined Comcast in Chicago this week to talk about the digital divide and the partnership, which provided training to nearly 3,000 Urban League members.

“While African-Americans are among the most prolific users of digital technology and the leading influencers on social media, we are drastically underrepresented in tech jobs,” said NUL President and Chief Executive Officer Marc Morial, noting that the NUL has devoted 2018 to exploring the intersection between technology and racial justice.

According to the Urban League’s 2018 Digital Inclusion Index, less than five percent of the workforce in social media and technology companies is African American. “Increasing access to computers, the Internet and digital skills training will help close the gap,” Morial said. “The Urban League has been partnering with Comcast to grow digital skills and spread the word about Internet Essentials, because the program has been very effective in addressing the causes of the digital divide.”

www.chicagodefender.com

Lamont Watts Brings Tom Joyner Back to Chicago Radio on 95.1 FM Lamont Watts sealed the deal of a lifetime to become the only other African American to own an FM radio station in Chicago, alongside publishing giant, the late John H. Johnson, who onced owned a station. Watts was most recently the Program Director of WVON Chicago. Subsequently, concentrating on the growing popularity of Clubsteppin. com, his internet station, p r e p a r a t i o n Tom Joyner and opportunity finally intersected and he launched Clubsteppin on 95.1 FM. Watts is the sole owner of 95.1 FM and has recently announced a line-up including the syndicated Tom Joyner Morning Show, which airs from 5 a.m.-9 a.m. each weekday.

“Serving more than 95 percent of the African American audience in Chicagoland, Clubsteppin 95.1 FM extends to the South and West Sides, South Suburbs, near West Suburbs and can even be heard in parts of NW Indiana, “ says Watts. “And, we are not done. Because Steppin’ has been popularized well beyond Chicago, it only makes sense to obtain broadcast licenses in those markets as well. This will afford us the ability to geotarget messaging for our partners but most importantly, to bridge cultures and give voice to 35+ year old African Americans no longer thought of as a primary consumer.”

THE CHICAGO DEFENDER

Cover Story

Our Hair, Our Money?

Fighting for our share of the Black Hair Care Business

By Deborah Bayliss Defender Contributing Writer Coming to the aid of an African-American senior citizen being verbally abused by a Korean beauty supply store owner, entrepreneur Princess Dempsey was catapulted into the multi-billion dollar hair care industry.

“I was browsing around a beauty supply on the West Side of Chicago,” Dempsey said. “The store was located at Independence (Avenue) and Roosevelt Rd. The owner was so disrespectful to the senior African-American lady and no one was speaking up for her.

He was saying things like ‘You guys never have any money when you come into my store.’ I spoke up for her and said, ‘God’s got it all!’

After a discussion with him, I got the money together and bought all of his merchandise on the spot. I called my staff and took the merchandise to an office of mine. We stacked all of that merchandise and it filled all the rooms. I bought him out. He’s gone from that location now.”

The lack of disrespect from Korean beauty supply store owners, who open their shops in primarily African-American communities, is a constant complaint from African-Americans who shop at those stores.

On that fateful day however, the Korean store owner’s rude words rang out within earshot of someone with the power to do something amazing in response to his disrespect of the senior citizen who patronized his store.

A seasoned entrepreneur, Dempsey has owned one of the few minority- and women-owned certified staffing firms in the country, Dempsey Staffing. She also owns a transportation company.

When asked why she thought Koreans open their beauty supply stores in African-American communities, Dempsey said, “Because we spend money and they know that. We are fashion gurus and it didn’t just start here in America, it started in Africa. We were the ones in this country to start designing nails. We start things and someone else takes it over. It’s time for us to do this. We’re not THE CHICAGO DEFENDER

Princess Dempsey grasping how smart we are! Go out and become entrepreneurs.”

A Billion Dollar Industry There is plenty of room and time for African-Americans to heed the mother of four’s advice especially if you’re considering hair care. Hair care is a billion-dollar industry thanks largely in part to Black women.

A 2018 Nielsen report shows that African Americans spent $54 million on ethnic hair and beauty products in 2017.

The problem has long been that despite their considerable contributions to the beauty industry, the beauty supply stores where Black women shop for hair extensions, wigs, and other beauty products are largely owned by Korean-Americans.

Korean-Americans run 70 percent of all beauty supply stores in the county due to their ties to Korea, where most of the hair has been imported and exported since

the 1970s.

“Most of the hair manufacturing was done out of Korea back in the day,” Sam Hwang, vice president of the National Federation of Beauty Suppliers, said in a July 2018 WOSU Public Media report.

“It was real human hair so it was really expensive, but many of the Korean women actually cut off their hair to sell for the hair industry to grow.”

By the 1970s, reportedly, most importers and exporters of hair were Korean. Some first-generation Korean-Americans went to work for and eventually owned beauty supply stores. Korean immigrants began selling wigs in stores, when products were previously sold door-to-door, according to the WOSU report.

“Otherwise, where were you going to go buy these beauty supply products if Koreans weren’t there?” Hwang questioned in the article. www.chicagodefender.com

Major Shifts The industry, however, is experiencing a quiet change, with two major shifts reportedly happening at the same time. One is that more Black women are opting for natural hair styles and Korean-Americans are leaving the industry.

The natural hair movement focuses on encouraging women of African ancestry to forgo chemically treated hair styles and embrace their natural hair texture.

The movement includes advice, product reviews, hairstyle tutorials and the creation of Black-owned hair care products.

According to The Black Owned Beauty Supply Association, there are now about 3,000 Black-owned beauty supply stores in the country, several in the Chicago area.

African-Americans are finally capturing some of the wealth in the billion dollar hair care industry they helped create.

Black consumers overall are

impacting brands, according to Nielsen. Throughout 2017, popular brands experienced the power of Black Twitter and the brand impact of socially conscious Black consumers.

Through social media, Black consumers brokered a seat at the table and are demanding that brands and marketers speak to them in ways that resonate culturally and experientially—if these brands want their business, the Nielsen report states. And with African Americans spending $1.2 trillion annually, brands have a lot to lose.

“When it comes to African-American consumer spending, there are millions, sometimes billions of dollars in revenue at stake,” said Andrew McCaskill, Senior Vice President, Global Communications and Multicultural

continued on page 4

October 3 - 9, 2018 3

Cover Story The industry, however, is experiencing a quiet change, with two major shifts reportedly happening at the same time. One is that more Black women are opting for natural hair styles and Korean-Americans are leaving the industry.

The natural hair movement focuses on encouraging women of African ancestry to forgo chemically treated hair styles and embrace their natural hair texture. The movement includes advice, product reviews, hairstyle tutorials and the creation of Black-owned hair care products.

Our Hair, continued from, Page 03

Marketing, Nielsen. “With 43 percent of the 75 million Millennials in the U.S. identifying as African American, Hispanic or Asian, if a brand doesn’t have a multicultural strategy, it doesn’t have a growth strategy. The business case for multicultural outreach is clear. African-American consumers, and all diverse consumers, want to see themselves authentically represented in marketing, and they want brands to recognize their value to the bottom line.”

A wider scope of the Nielsen report shows Black consumers and consumers of color are making considerable contributions to the overall market—in some cases representing more than 50 percent of the overall spending in key product categories. For example, half of the total spent ($941 million) on dry grains and vegetables in the U.S. in 2017 came from consumers of color. Black consumers represented $147 million of the total spent in this category, which has recently made advances in product creation to meet the demands of diverse buyers.

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“Our research shows that Black consumer choices have a ‘cool factor’ that has created a halo effect, influencing not just consumers of color but the mainstream as well,” said Cheryl Grace, Senior Vice President of U.S. Strategic Community Alliances and Consumer Engagement, Nielsen. “These figures show that investment by multinational conglomerates in R&D to develop products and marketing that appeal to diverse consumers is, indeed, paying off handsomely.”

According to Nielsen, companies should take notice of even the subtle shifts in spending, because Black consumer brand loyalty is contingent upon a brand’s perception as authentic, culturally relevant, socially conscious and responsible.

The report shows further, 38 percent of African Americans between the ages of 18 and 34 and 41 percent of those aged 35 or older say they expect the brands they buy to support social causes, 4 percent and 15 percent more than their total population counterparts, respectively.

Additionally, Black consumers’

brand preferences are increasingly becoming mainstream choices, which illustrates that the investment in connecting with Black consumers can often yield sizeable general market returns.

Dempsey operates Princess Dempsey Delights Beauty Supply, 1907 S. Mannheim Rd. in Westchester. The Broadview resident said she opened her store in Westchester because it was easier to do business there as it was not political the way Chicago tends to be.

During the full-day grand opening celebration for the store on July 28, more than 30 people lined up before the store opened at 11 a.m. By noon, Dempsey said, she had sold around $1,000 worth of product.

“Business is amazing,” Dempsey said. “We sell out of our merchandise every weekend. The distributors, some of whom are Black, just want to know and see that you are serious. Some of them are from Africa, Singapore and Atlanta.”

As for other Korean-owned stores near her, Dempsey said they are staying open later than her www.chicagodefender.com

7 p.m. closing time.

“By buying out the store-owner who disrespected the Black senior citizen, I’m sending a message that you will not disrespect us! Enough is enough!”

Dempsey’s store is stocked with the standard beauty supply items, including hundreds of hair extension packs that line one wall. Shampoos, conditioners and other hair maintenance products are sold there as well. Dempsey Delights Beauty Supply is open Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. It is closed on Sunday. For more info, call (708) 938-5427.

You can also order her merchandise online at www.princess-delights.com.

“Koreans used to control the market, now they are selling the stores back to us because their kids do not want to take on the store,” says Sam Ennon, President and CEO of The Black Owned Beauty Supply Association, in a published article.

Over the past 15 years, the organization has helped open 450 Black-owned beauty supply stores

across the country.

Advice from African-American beauty supply store owners to African-Americans thinking about opening a beauty supply store: “… build slow and do not take on too much inventory at once.”– Robert Horton, owner of Beauty’s Own Beauty Supply in Fort Washington, MD “Position your stores to look like an all-encompassing store.

My ads feature entire families, children, and teenagers. My products are a wide range, and that’s how you stay in business. You go into business for what your customer wants, not what you want.”

– Devin Robinson, owner Shelly’s Beauty Supply Store and Training Lab in Atlanta, GA “Customer satisfaction is my number one goal. You come into the store and you’re going to be greeted and treated with the utmost respect. You build your inventory off of who is coming into your store. Build relationships, and watch your business grow.” – Renay Green, owner of Natalya’s Beauty Supply in Conyers, GA THE CHICAGO DEFENDER

Community

Development Approved to Start on Site of Old Ickes Housing Projects

By Deborah Bayliss es Homes,” CHA CEO Eugene E. Defender Contributing Writer Jones, Jr. said in a press release.

“But it also represents the expansion of Chicago’s vibrant South By the time the U.S. Depart- Loop. Southbridge will be at the ment of Housing and Development center of the historic Bronzeville, approved demolition of Harold Ick- dynamic Chinatown and bustling es Housing Projects in 2010, they McCormick Place Square neighreportedly were falling apart and borhoods. And it will be steps away too costly to save. from CTA’s green and red line staSituated on approximately 18 tions and multiple bus routes. We acres between 22nd, State, 25th couldn’t be more excited.” and Dearborn Streets, the low-inMatthew Aguilar, a CHA come housing development was spokesman, provided information named after Harold L. Ickes, Sec- on Thursday that the former Ickretary of the Interior during Pres- es residents are living in CHA and ident Franklin D. Roosevelt’s ad- Housing Choice Voucher locations ministration and opened in 1955 across the city, with only 20 forwith 11 buildings and 1,006 total mer Ickes families remaining who units. want to use their legal right to reBy 2010, The City of Chicago turn once the Southbridge develand the Chicago Housing Author- opment is built. ity had moved the families out and “Even with this small number of the buildings were torn down mak- former Ickes residents who wish ing way for new development. to return to this location, CHA The CHA Board of Commission- is creating a total of 244 units of ers recently approved up to $24.8 public housing over three phases million in funding for the first two because the agency remains phases of a new development for committed to providing access to the site called Southbridge, a con- housing for those who need it,” temporary mixed-use, mixed-in- Aguilar said via email response. come community on the footprint Redevelopment of the Ickes reof the former Harold Ickes Homes. portedly was done with the Work“It is a new era for those who ing Group, residents, aldermen formerly lived in the Harold Ick- and the master developer of The

Community Builders and McCaffrey Interest and integrates the once isolated area into the fabric of the larger South Loop community and serves as a catalyst for other development, according to Aguilar.

“After many years, I am delighted the CHA Board approved Southbridge,” said Chicago Third Ward Ald. Pat Dowell. “The redevelopment of this site is a pivotal part of connecting the entire Near South Side. I look forward to continue working with CHA and the development team for the full redevelopment of this site.”

The first phase of the Southbridge project is expected to break ground in early 2019 with expected completion in 2021. The new development will include 68 units for CHA families, 26 affordable units and 112 market-rate rental units.

All three phases will include a total of 877 new residential units, with 244 units for CHA residents and up to 60,000 square-feet of planned commercial/retail space.

The $24.8 million for Phases 1A and 1B will provide funds for project redevelopment activities, including site remediation.

“The Community Builders is proud to partner with CHA and McCaffrey Interests to create Southbridge,” said Terri Hamilton Brown, Midwest Regional Vice President for The Community Builders. “This new planned community will bridge the Chinatown, Bronzeville and South Loop neighborhoods and provide modern residences and vibrant retail shops.”

The development and construction team reportedly will hire residents throughout the construction process through CHA’s Section 3 program which provides opportunities and support for resident-owned businesses.

On-site amenities will include elevators, balconies, decks, club room, fitness room, bike storage, dog spa, parking and retail stores, as well as on-site property management and resident services.

The retail stores will be located in mid-rise buildings along State Street.

The development will also include rebuilding Dearborn Street, 23rd Place and 24th Street, and the installation of new infrastructure, including water, sewer and electric for the site.

The public housing apartments

will serve residents up to 80 percent of the Average Median Income (AMI). The estimated rents for the public housing apartments will be approximately 30 percent of the resident’s income.

Apartments will include dishwashers, microwaves, washers/ dryers, range hoods, and bedrooms spacious enough for queen and king-sized beds. Open space at the corners of State and 23rd Place will be designed to host community events, farmer’s markets and street-side dining.

“CHA made it clear from the beginning of this planning process at meetings and discussions with the Ickes Working Group that its intention was to create a healthy, vibrant mixed-income development that supports a better quality of life for residents and the surrounding community with job creation and community amenities,” Aguilar said. “Housing alone will not build a strong community; other components, such as retail, commercial and recreational, are integral to creating better neighborhoods.”

CHA no longer builds concentrations of public housing in one place.

Walgreens Expressions Challenge For Teens Opens Beginning this month, Chicago area teens have the opportunity to enter the Walgreens Expressions Challenge in creative writing, visual arts or multimedia submissions. Students are encouraged to express their perspective on topics that affect teens. Their submissions will also attempt to help other teens make healthy decisions for their lives both now and in the future. Topics including self-esteem, bullying, depression, suicide, domestic violence, sexting, sexual responsibility and teen pregnancy are among the art expressions featured by students in previous years.

The Walgreens Expressions Challenge is a peer-to-peer based “healthy choice” awareness initiative for high school students aged 14 - 18. At the core of the Expressions Challenge is an incentive-based contest for teens to THE CHICAGO DEFENDER

showcase their creative perspective on healthy lifestyle choices.

The Challenge motivates participants to voice their opinion on critical life issues they face daily through creative writing, visual arts, and media arts.

The Expressions Challenge runs in the Chicago and St. Louis areas; teens can submit their expressions from October 1-November 30.

Kirsten Ceralde of Senn High School in Chicago, the 1st Place Media Arts Winner from the Walgreens Expressions Challenge last year, says: “The Expressions Challenge is not only a place of interaction where adults and teens listen to what you have to say. It’s a place where I can be myself and not feel judged. The Expressions Challenge has helped me become a better speaker and made me feel what I have to say is important.” Her video delivers a powerful

message about social media, the unhappiness that it can bring and gives us all a reminder to not focus on our insecurities and to value the things that bring us all joy and happiness.

The competition offers students the opportunity to win a $2,000 first place prize or a $1,250 second place prize in each category. Participation also provides students with an opportunity to have their work publicly showcased through a traveling art show that visits schools and organizations across the metropolitan area. This traveling art show is directed by internationally renowned artist and filmmaker Raymond A. Thomas.

The 2018 Walgreens Expressions Challenge launched recently at an event created by and hosted by teens in the Chicago area. The 4U By U (For You By You) event www.chicagodefender.com

featured 100 works of art, creative writing and multimedia work created by teens for the Walgreens Expressions Challenge.

Patricia Belk, 2017 winner in 2nd place for visual arts states, “This challenge has showed me you can do anything in your life if you put your mind to it, and it has allowed students to be remembered for the art we put into this

world.”

Teachers, parents, and community leaders are asked to encourage Chicago teens from all over the city to enter the 2018 Walgreens Expressions Challenge. To enter or for more about the Walgreens Expressions Challenge, visit www. expressionschallenge.com.

Law Office of

JOHN STRZYNSKI Wills – Living Trusts – Powers of Attorney Guardianships – Probate Administration 221 N. LaSalle Street, Suite 2700 Chicago, Illinois 60601 (312) 223-0540 www.js-law.net Call for Office or Home Appointment

October 3 - 9, 2018 5

Community Why Illinois Has So Many Wrongful Convictions—and How to Fight Them More men have been exonerated in the ongoing Ronald Watts corruption scandal.

We spoke with a wrongful-convictions attorney who’s working the case.

By Bashirah Mack City Bureau Last week, 18 men who were wrongfully convicted of crimes linked to corrupt former Chicago police Sgt. Ronald Watts had their cases overturned. Joshua Tepfer represented 12 of them.

As part of a reporting project about how incarcerated people fight their convictions, City Bureau spoke with Tepfer, an attorney with the Exoneration Project – a legal service organization that reinvestigates cases of individuals who claim that they were wrongfully convicted.

Since 1989, 2,240 people in America have been wrongly convicted of crimes and then later exonerated and cleared of all wrongdoing due to new evidence of innocence. Illinois ranks No. 3 on the list, with 225 exonerations in the past nearly 30 years. That’s according to the Nation-

al Registry of Exonerations, which counted 20 men and one woman in Illinois who were exonerated in 2017 from the crimes of murder, sexual assault, drug possession and robbery.

Earlier this year, Tepfer sat down with City Bureau to discuss racial bias and police misconduct in the criminal justice system, as well as how individuals and their families cope with the emotional and material impact of wrongful convictions.

Information from this interview, as well as dozens of other interviews and extensive research, is compiled into a zine: “After the Trial: A Legal Toolkit for Prisoners and Their Loved Ones.” If you would like a free copy, please go to www.citybureau. org/afterthetrial.

According to the National Registry of Exonerations, Illinois consistently ranks in the top two or three states for exonerations each year. Can you explain what led to this?

Scary Movies Pumpkin Patches

Halloween Parties Learn more at:

ChicagoParkDistrict.com

Pumpkins in the Park 5K Run/Walk

October 20 City of Chicago | Rahm Emanuel, Mayor Chicago Park District | Board of Commissioners Michael P. Kelly, General Superintendent & CEO For more information about your Chicago Park District, visit www.chicagoparkdistrict.com or call 312.742.7529 or 312.747.2001 (TTY).

6 October 3 - 9, 2018

Haunted Spaces Treats & More!

Sometimes the criminal justice system gets it wrong. Illinois has a lot of wrongful convictions. Chicago’s got a lot of wrongful convictions.

One of the reasons is we have one of the most active post-conviction litigation bars. I work at the Exoneration Project.

There’s another organization called The Center on Wrongful Convictions, where I used to work. There’s another organization called the Illinois Innocence Project, that’s downstate. That’s pretty rare for a state to have this many groups working on these types of issues.

The second reason, of course, is the horrible history of police misconduct that we have in Chicago. It’s led to an extraordinary amount of wrongful convictions.

Have you worked on any cases involving police misconduct?

What I’ve been involved in more recently is the Sergeant Ronald Watts scandal.

This was a sergeant in the Chicago Police Department who ran a housing unit at the Ida B. Wells Homes and was basically facilitating his own drug trade from 2000 to about 2012 until he was federally indicted.

It involved maybe 15 officers who worked under him. We’ve had something like 30 convictions overturned in the last couple of years based on that, and that’s just gonna be the beginning. [Ed. Note: After last week’s ruling, that number is now 42.]

African Americans make up 13 percent of the American population but are 47 percent of the exonerations.

What leads to racial disparities?

Racial bias infringes on every aspect [of the criminal justice system] because the system is made up of individual actors – prosecutors, judges, police officers, defense attorneys. Individuals come with their own flaws. As we know, many people have their own biases whether it’s explicit racism or implicit bias.

Bigger picture, the flaws are at every level. Incarceration is disproportionately Black and Brown people. There’s a problem with how police conduct searches and investigate crimes and make arrests. And then of course, the oversentencing problem is huge. Nowhere do you see that more than in drug crimes. It’s well documented.

[White] kids who experiment in college with drugs are not prosecuted, whereas Black, Brown or urban youth who are experimenting in the same way are sent away for very, very long periods of time. Needless to say, when you are overprosecuting Black and Brown people as a whole, you’re going to see disproportionate wrongful convictions from those individuals as well.

What was it like working with the families of those who were wrongfully convicted?

It’s always difficult to go back to court and to go through this process. But they’ve been living with [the conviction] a lot lon-

www.chicagodefender.com

Joshua Tepfer ger than I have, and they’re the ones who know that their son or loved one or themselves is innocent. Usually they’re heartened that somebody is fighting for them and bringing it back to court. It gives them some hope.

The alternative is they’re fighting it on their own in an unfamiliar system, in a system that already wrongfully convicted them, in a system that they’re not trained to fight in, in a system that is not going to take untrained lawyers, or loved ones advocating on their behalf, seriously.

Some people remain in prison for 10 or more years before their innocence is proven. What does a person lose when wrongfully convicted? What have your clients lost?

Well, it’s brutal. They’re taken out of society for a significant period of time. They lost time with their family. Loved ones die.

Loved ones can’t always stick by them or they lose touch with them. They are unemployable because they don’t have job skills.

Lots of times they are very, very young, like high school age, when they were wrongfully convicted, or younger. They don’t have education. They suffer from violence in the prison system from correctional officers and other inmates. Many times they are hardened. They have significant Post Traumatic Stress Disorder when they’re released.

Are folks who are wrongfully convicted compensated in Illinois?

They can be. There’s a statute called the Certificate of Innocence and if you’re certified innocent, you can then petition for state statutory compensation. But it takes a long time. It’s not automatic.

Some of them are more successful than others. I have a client who never got the money for three years because the state wouldn’t pass a budget.

The process to exoneration seems really difficult. Have you been more successful than you expected?

You know, the successes are wonderful but the losses stick with you more. I’ve had a lot of success. I’m proud of that. I’m super happy for my clients especially in the last year or two – I’ve had more success than I probably ever envisioned in some of these cases. But I still have clients who I firmly believe in who are still sitting in prison. So, I think of them more often than I think of the wins.

This report was produced by City Bureau, a Woodlawn-based civic journalism lab. For more information and to get involved, visit www.citybureau.org.

THE CHICAGO DEFENDER

Community Michelle Mbekeani-Wiley shepherds school police changes, now on the brink of reform

By Jeremy Borden Defender Guest Writer It is rare, especially in Chicago, when someone can point out a problem, identify solutions and bring together the necessary forces to change things for the better.

And, yet, while there is still much work to be done, Michelle Mbekeani-Wiley finds herself and the issue of accountability and training for police in Chicago’s public schools closer than ever to completing that loop. As an attorney for the Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law, her 2017 report “Handcuffs in Hallways” found that Chicago police officers placed in public schools have little training or oversight once they get there, either from the Chicago Police Department or Chicago Public Schools. The Shriver Center found those conditions lead to unnecessary arrests and misconduct, an investigation bolstered by an extensive report by the non-profit journalism outlet City Bureau published last year in the Chicago Reader that found many of the same problems.

Mbekeani-Wiley advocated for change at the state level and was instrumental in helping to bring together a diverse group of lawmakers, law enforcement officials and advocates around a bill sponsored by state Sen. Kimberly Lightford, D-4th, that required training statewide for so-called School Resource Officers (SRO). The bill was introduced in February and signed by Gov. Bruce Rauner on August 19 — a lightning fast road for any substantial measure in just one year’s time.

But Mbekeani-Wiley also hopes that advocates are successful in getting City Council to hold a full hearing on the issue and explore whether police in schools are necessary at all. “I think in my personal opinion the replacement would be investing in more counselors and social workers instead of police,” she told the Defender.

The issue of reforming police in Chicago schools got another shot in the arm on Sept. 13 when the city’s Inspector General (IG), the official government watchdog, delivered a stiff rebuke to CPD and CPS officials, saying that the departments needed to formalize its SRO program with a clear agreement between the agencies and provide training and oversight, the IG’s extensive review found.

Mbekeani-Wiley is moving to a new job, advising State’s Attorney Kim Foxx on juvenile justice policy. But before she left Shriver for that job, Mbekeani-Wiley caught up with the Defender on what’s next for police training in schools, the chance for real reform and whether police need to be in schools at all.

The interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Were you surprised at anything the THE CHICAGO DEFENDER

Michelle Mbekeani-Wiley Inspector General’s office found in their report?

Michelle Mbekeani-Wiley: What I found surprising was not necessarily the findings but the fact that how similar the findings were from both the report and [City Bureau’s] story last year. And now all of a sudden CPS is saying they’re open to the recommendations but we made those very same recommendations, similar recommendations, last year. And they had an opportunity to actually reform the program.

And nothing was done.

Are you worried that CPS and CPD are not committed to reform?

Michelle Mbekeani-Wiley: I think that the OIG’s office has more clout, than say advocates, so hearing it from someone actually from the city, I think it will have more of an influence on whether they actually do what community members have been vocalizing for years when it comes to School Resource Officers.

The one thing I was really happy to see in their report is that one of the recommendations, which we didn’t put in our report, is that there be an updated roster of officers so people are informed of who the officers are in the school. And I was glad that they ran into the issue that the roster that CPD did provide had a lot of inaccurate information regarding which officers were assigned to which school. I’m glad they were able to flesh out that issue.

What is the most important thing for CPS and CPD to do when it comes to police in schools?

Michelle Mbekeani-Wiley: One of the big things is ... ensuring officers do not intervene on matters that should be handled

by the disciplinary procedure within CPS. We need to stop arresting students for minor infractions. I think that’s something that’s really important and that’s something that can be addressed in an MOU [agreement], to create an arrest standard for stating that for these certain offenses, we are not going to arrest the children but let CPS handle it through their code of conduct.

How does all of this relate to the statewide bill for SRO training that you worked on that is now being implemented?

Michelle Mbekeani-Wiley: We’re currently working on convening a core group of community organizations and law enforcement to create this curriculum and consult with the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board. We really

/FathersRightsMovement

www.chicagodefender.com

want to collaborate with the community that has been invested in this issue and give them an opportunity to really create the curriculum for law enforcement, which is going to be very unique and different.

I actually recently just spoke with a group of officers at the police academy about this issue. And they had such valuable feedback on what the school resource officer program should look like, what the curriculum should look like. And one of the things that was kind of stated numerous times is that they’re tired of arresting children for minor infractions.

There also needs to be training for administrators and teachers to start referring these kids to get help.

A lot of times when a child is having an outburst you shouldn’t arrest them but instead refer them to appropriate social services that they so desperately need.

What else did you learn from the officers?

Michelle Mbekeani-Wiley: One of the takeaways I had from the meeting is there needs to be a discussion about whether police should be in schools in the first place. And I think that would be fleshed out in a City Council hearing. If we do need this program, what does it look like? But if we don’t, what’s the replacement? And I think in my personal opinion the replacement would be investing in more counselors and social workers instead of police.

Do you think real reform is on the horizon for police in schools?

Michelle Mbekeani-Wiley: You know I’m a very optimistic person (laughs). I’m hoping that the OIG report was the straw that broke the camel’s back and they’re saying we’re going to do something about this now.

I’m always going to be hopeful when it comes to police reform in Chicago. That’s my nature.

/FathersMatter

/DadsRights

/JefferyLeving

October 3 - 9, 2018 7

Garrett Lutz (Sam), Donica Lynn (Oda Mae) and Kelvin Roston Jr. (Hospital Ghost, Orlando, Furgeson, ensemble).

Ghost: Existing In Two Realms at the Same Time

By Brenda and Rick McCain therefore, taking on the challenge to do this rare beauty could haunt Let’s Play you forever. However, TATC takes on this romantic thriller and delivIt was 1990 when the world ers. was introduced to the romantic Set in New York City in modfantasy thriller ern-day, Sam Wheat (Garrett Lutz) Ghost writa banker, and his girlfriend Molly ten by Bruce Jensen (Courtney Mack ), a talentJoel Rubin ed potter, renovates and moves and directed into an apartment in Manhattan

by Jerry Zuckwith the help of Sam’s good friend er. The movie and co-worker Carl Bruner (Tony starred PatCarter). Sam discovers some disrick Swayze crepancies in some bank accounts Brenda and Rick as Sam, Demi McCain and confides in Carl. Carl offers to Moore as Mollook into it, but Sam decides to inly, and Whoopi vestigate the situation himself.

Goldberg as Oda Mae. After a beautiful night out with “Ghost The Musical,”’ which is now playing in Munster, IN, at Molly, they are attacked by an Theatre at the Center (TATC), is armed thug (Carlos Olmedo) who the afterlife love story brought to shoots and kills Sam in a brawl bethe stage with some highly talent- fore he steals his wallet. Sam sees ed actors. This timeless love story Molly crying over his body and diswent on to become the highest covers he is now a ghost whose grossing movie in 1990 raking in presence cannot be seen or heard. $505.7 million dollars at the box He is invisible and unable to interoffice on a budget of $22 million; act with the mortal world.

8 October 3 - 9, 2018

Theatre at the Center Presents Ghost The Musical Book & Lyrics by Bruce Joel Rubin Music & Lyrics by Dave Stewart & Glen Ballard Musical Direction by William Underwood Directed and Choreographed by Linda Fortunato Sept 13 – Oct 14 Sam, who isn’t convinced he died, is transitioning between this world and the next, and he needs to save Molly from the man who murdered him. Sam must enlist the help of a very important yet reluctant psychic by the name of Oda Mae Brown.

Director Linda Fortunato does an excellent job taking us between the two worlds, by bringing this story to life with a delightful and www.chicagodefender.com

funny cast. Fortunato did a great job with a simple stage, showing each spirit with the sudden turning off and on of the lights.

Garrett Lutz and Courtney Mack make for a lovely and adorable couple, and they make you believe they are in love. You root for them to the point that even though you know how the story ends, you wish it would change just to see them walk away hand and hand.

The star of the show, however, goes to Donica Lynn. Donica’s performance as Oda Mae was Jeff Award quality. She brings a mixture of horror and exceptional humor to the role of Oda Mae that was simply phenomenal. She stole the show with her quick-witted character with one of the best scenes in the play involving her closing a bank account under the name of Rita Miller. This scene was hilarious.

“Ghost” works because of its excellent directing and cast. It delivers with non-stop action and

provides a fun night of theater where you root for love all the way to the end.

Let’s Play “Highly Recommends” that you see this musical; it’s just in time for Halloween, especially if you like ghost stories!

The cast includes: Tony Carter (Carl) Christie Coran (Mrs. Santiago, Wallace, ensemble) Jackie Gessert (Clara, Bank Officer, ensemble) Garrett Lutz (Sam) Donica Lynn (Oda Mae) Courtney Mack (Molly) Qiana McNary (Louise, Susan, Ortisha, ensemble) Carlos Olmedo (Willie, Ensemble) Kelvin Roston Jr. (Hospital Ghost, Orlando, Furgeson, ensemble) Travis Austin Wright (Subway Ghost, Minister, Detective, ensemble) THE CHICAGO DEFENDER

CP Around Town

By Carolyn Griffin Palmer

Email: cpalmer@chicagodefender.com

South Suburban “Blue Wave” The Rich Township Democratic Organization (RTDO) hosted their “Join the Blue Wave” Annual Awards Dinner at the Idlewild Country Club in Flossmoor, Ill., this past weekend. The Rich Township Democrats proudly engage their youth in the political process and are committed to the care of their seniors. The organization also supports candidates committed to reversing the erosion of the region’s economic and political strength in Olympia Fields, Flossmoor, Matteson, Park Forest, Richton Park, Hazel Crest, Country Club Hills and Homewood, Ill. Yumeka Brown served as Chair of the RTDO Dinner Committee, Adam Shorter III, Co-Chair, and Calvin Jordan is the Rich Township Democratic Committeeman. J.B. Pritzker, Democratic Candidate for J.B. Pritzker Governor of Illinois, served as the guest speaker and State Senator Toi Hutchinson was the keynote speaker.

Condolences Condolences to the Redmond family in the passing of legendary educator, Chicago Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Famer, and student advocate, Charles William Redmond.

Charles William Redmond was born October 14, 1944, in Oxford, Miss. He attended Jackson State University where he received his Bachelor’s Degree in Health and Physical Education. He received his Master’s degree from Roosevelt University with a concentration in Administration and Supervision.

He taught physical education at Banneker School, became the interim assistant principal at Beale Charles William Elementary and later beRedmond came the varsity coach at Robeson High School. He retired but never retired his advocacy for his students. He loved to laugh and to bring his joy of Christ and fun wherever he went.

He leaves to mourn his devoted wife of 51 years, Mrs. Beverly J. Redmond, and a charming son, Corey Brandon Redmond. He also leaves a huge family, countless friends and multitudes of students heartbroken yet enriched.

Condolences to the family of Judith Patterson Mims in the passing of her mother, Lily Patterson, who would have been 100 years old on Oct. 3, 1918. Mims, of Mariana, Ark., was also the kindergarten classmate of John H. Johnson, founder of Ebony Magazine.

Special Thanks Many thanks to the Retirees in Motion (RIM), Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., Delta Sigma Chapter, and Read on Sistas for showing up and showing out! Your show of support was awesome! To Spencer Leak III and the Leak Funeral Home, thank you! From the bottom of our hearts, the Griffin, Lyle, Roach, Palmer and Butler families thank everyone who played a role in the homegoing of my Mom, Carrie Lyle Griffin.

THE CHICAGO DEFENDER

Andre Satchell, Trustee Village of Matteson; Monica Gordon, Acting Executive Director, Illinois Legislative Black Caucus Foundation; Julian Alexander, Trustee Richton Park; Ricardo D. Spivey, 4th Ward Alderman, Country Club Hills; Cassandra Matz, Trustee, Olympia Fields; Jerome Brown, Former Trustee, Park Forest; Yumeka Brown, Clerk of Matteson; Adam Shorter III, Trustee Matteson.

Supporting 2018 Democratic Candidates are: Calvin Jordan, Committeeman Rich Township; Kwame Raoul, Democratic Candidate for States Attorney; State Senator Toi Hutchinson; Mayor Vernard Alsberry Jr. of Hazel Crest; Adam Shorter III, Co- Chair, RTDO Dinner Committee.

Circuit Court Judge Elect- Michael Barrett; Appellate Judge Nathaniel R. Howse Jr; 6th District Commissioner Elect Donna Miller; Appellate Judge Cynthia Cobb; Country Club Hills 4th Ward Alderman Ricardo D. Spivey.

Cliff Kelley, WVON 1690 Radio Personality, and Calvin Jordan, Rich Township Democratic Committeeman

Deborah Sims, Cook County Board Commissioner 5th District, and Lori Wilcox, Candidate for Bloom Township Democratic Committee

Enjoying the evening are Percy Scott, CEO Global 360 Marketing, and Joni Scott, Village Clerk, Flossmoor.

www.chicagodefender.com

October 3 - 9, 2018 9

Mario Van Peebles Won’t Stop Making Films That Matter

By Allison Kugel Defender Guest Writer Born of a revolutionary bloodline to activist filmmaker, Melvin Van Peebles, you could say that Mario Van Peebles was born to make films that nudge our social consciousness and encourage us to answer questions we hadn’t thought to ask. An actor, director and writer, Mario Van Peebles’ first foray into acting was playing a younger version of his father Melvin’s character, Sweetback, in the senior Van Peebles’ most notable film, 1971’s Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song. Baadasssss Song pioneered a new era of African-American cinema throughout the 1970s. It was this small role in his father’s groundbreaking film that set the stage for Mario’s life and career. He would continue to be driven to add to his father’s earlier legacy with films that push audiences out of their comfort zone and question social and societal boundaries.

One theme that runs through much of Mario Van Peebles’ work is the assertion that we all have the right to be fully recognized human beings, but more provocatively, how do we react when we feel that right has been infringed upon? Some might call Van Peebles an iconoclast, coming for long cherished, yet often potentially destructive social norms and institutions, while remaining inherently likeable to his fans. The secret, he says, is in the characters he writes, directs and sometimes portrays; they are complex portraits that make us look at the gray areas of life while being entertained.

In his latest independent film, Armed, written, directed and starring Van Peebles, he plays a former U.S. Marshall who has fallen on hard times after he led his team of under-cover agents on a raid that went horribly wrong. Now, suffering from PTSD and other mental health issues, as well as a somewhat warped sense of reality, he must navigate life as a civilian while desperately trying to regain some former glory and recognition. Armed aims to portray the complexities of human nature and questions the publicly floated theory that “a good guy with a gun stops a bad guy with a gun.”

Van Peebles’ character, Chief, was one of the good guys in his career as a U.S. Marshall. Still armed with a collection of guns, he now 10 October 3 - 9, 2018

struggles with mental illness; a potentially combustible combination. The questions that this film asks are topical and obvious, but the conclusions are not, which is what makes Armed an interesting watch.

Allison Kugel: I’m going to lead with a comment that your character, Chief, makes at the end of your new film, Armed; “We’re all born into this world looking for love, and sometimes we settle for attention.” That statement is profound and ties into our culture’s current obsession with social media. What’s your take on that?

Mario Van Peebles: It’s understanding the ego and its need to experience itself. The ego doesn’t like being invisible. It can’t handle that, and so we need recognition on some level. Also, as pack animals we need recognition, because we need to have a designation within the pack or we don’t survive. A great white shark doesn’t need recognition, it just needs to eat (laughs). But a wolf… is it the beta wolf, is it the alpha wolf? It needs to know what its role is within the pack. Social norms and structure play a big part when you’re a pack animal. For example, if a kid can’t get recognized for being an A student, he’ll settle for being recognized as a disruptor, or the class clown, or the athlete, or even as the cutter. The bigger thing, of course, is to be loved.

That’s the ultimate high. But when we can’t get that, we settle for some sort of attention. Now, with social media, people are creating these faux-lifestyle commercials that are not really them. There’s a Drake lyric where he says, “I know a girl happily married ‘til she puts down her phone.” The pictures you take, those Snapchats you take, are capturing these created or staged moments.

Allison Kugel: How do you connect that statement to the mass shootings that are happening with increased frequency?

Mario Van Peebles: The people who seem to commit them are often referred to as loners, and people that didn’t fit in; people who wanted a sense of importance that they didn’t feel. Part of it, I think, is that we have evolved rather quickly, socially speaking. I’m in New York right now, and I’m on the eighth floor. Someone above me is on the ninth floor, and someone

below me is on the seventh floor.

We’re not really designed to live like this, where we’re stacked up on top of each other. Cities are these artificial social constructs.

Our bodies are pretty much the same as when we were in Egypt, or maybe when we were in chains.

But socially we’ve evolved very quickly. As pack animals, as hunter gatherers, we do well in groups of maybe fifty, or even a hundred.

Beyond that, we divide into subgroups. We want to be in groups where everyone knows our name, where we are not nameless. When you live in a city and you suddenly are around whole groups of people who don’t know your name, you can be surrounded by folks and yet feel very lonely and disassociated.

Allison Kugel: You’ve come up with a catch phrase, “Make America Think Again,” an obvious retort to Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again.”

What inspired it?

Mario Van Peebles: Even before [Trump] put that slogan out there, I wanted to make films that made people think. There are three loves in life: love what you do, love and enjoy the people you do it with, and love what you say with what you do. If I can make people think while they consume art, maybe they’ll think when they’re ordering their food, or when they’re picking out what car to drive, or maybe, even when they’re voting.

I’m intrigued by the relationship between the art we watch and how we vote. My film will hopefully make people discern, “Oh wow!

We all have some good guy and some bad guy within us.” “A good guy with a gun stops a bad guy with a gun,” is a very reductive way of looking at the world. The reality of human beings is much more complex. I’ve always wanted to make films that make people think, so it was just natural to say, “Let’s Make America Think Again.”

Allison Kugel: I’ve heard so many people say that putting your own money into a film is the worst investment one could make. You even wrote in your director’s statement, “The golden rule is he who has the gold makes the rule. The other [golden] rule is he who uses his own gold to finance a film is a knuckle head or has the last name Van Peebles.” (Laughs) Are you in it simply for the social impact, or is this film also a business venture for you? www.chicagodefender.com

Mario Van Peebles Photo by Mario Van Peebles, GVN Releasing, MVP Mario Van Peebles: It is for me, as well as one of my sons (Mandela Van Peebles). He took the money he made from Roots, and that’s why his name is [in the credits] as Executive Producer.

He liked the idea of Armed, and I think he’s going to get a pretty good return. I’ve done it before, and it is a risk, but it’s a calculated risk. I can’t think of anything better to do with it other than paying for education and travel. I don’t want more clothes. I have one hybrid car and the air conditioner is broken (laughs). I’m laughing, but I’m serious. I will eventually get another car. But what do I want to look back on when I’m an old fart?

I want to do the movies I want to do. And like I said in my director’s statement, you can’t make Supersize Me if you’re going to take McDonald’s money. All the movies lately with casts of color, and there are some wonderful movies out now, but they’re all race-centric.

My movie, Armed, is not race-centric; it has nothing to do with race, and yet it’s a multiracial cast.

Allison Kugel: With this film, Armed, do you fear the echo chamber effect, where people that are on the left and proponents of gun control laws are going to be responsive, while people on the right who are very pro-Second Amendment aren’t going to be interested at all?

Mario Van Peebles: I think if you are absolutely committed to a position, then you will be committed to it with or without this film. If I

make a documentary about [guns], then yes, that absolutely is the case. We don’t tend to learn informationally; we learn behaviorally. If you make something entertaining and you play against type, it tends to grab people’s attention. People are used to seeing me playing a character that is heroic. In Armed I’m playing against type. With this character, you’re kind of waiting for him to get it together, and you’re rooting for this guy. You’re in this guy’s skin, and then when it goes sideways, you’re still right there with him. It makes you feel like, “I enjoyed being there and still wanted him to win, but I was super conflicted.” The moral of this film is, can I put myself into the skin of someone who is kind of a ticking timebomb? Good film takes you in, just like good religion takes you in. Bad religion is exclusionary and says, “You can’t come in because you’re different.” … With this new film, Armed, I can try to get people inside the head of a guy who loves to be recognized, who would settle for attention, and who realizes he might not be a good candidate to be a gun owner.

Armed, written, directed by and starring Mario Van Peebles, is out in theaters, on digital platforms and VOD. Allison Kugel is a syndicated entertainment columnist, and author of the book, Journaling Fame: A memoir of a life unhinged and on the record. Follow her on Instagram @theallisonkugel and at AllisonKugel.com.

THE CHICAGO DEFENDER

Living Well UIC College of Medicine to Use 800 Participants for Uncontrolled High Blood Pressure Education

By Deborah Bayliss controlled high blood pressure has Defender Contributing Writer detrimental consequences on the heart and sets the stage for kidney disease, something that’s also In the Black community, it’s not prevalent in the Black community. uncommon to come across a fam“Uncontrolled hypertension is ily member, co-worker or acquainknown as the ‘silent killer’ because tance living with high blood presit is often symptomless,” said Dr. sure who does not take any kind of Heather Prendergast, professor of medication to regulate it. emergency medicine at the UniIt’s also not uncommon to find versity of Illinois at Chicago Colpeople using apple cider vinegar lege of Medicine and principal inand other home remedies in an at- vestigator on the grant. “We know tempt to control their blood pres- that about half of all individuals sure levels. with uncontrolled hypertension do Prevalence of high blood pres- not even realize they have it.” sure in African-Americans in the Funding will allow researchers U.S. is among the highest in the to educate people in the high risk world with more than 40 percent of group, namely minority groups African-American men and women with uncontrolled hypertension, living with it. For African-Ameri- about the importance of how getcans, high blood pressure also de- ting their blood pressure under velops earlier in life and is usually control can help reduce the risk more severe. of developing chronic and expenReferred to as the “silent killer,” sive-to-treat secondary cardiovaselevated blood pressure levels are cular conditions. very dangerous and can cause seMedical guidelines issued by vere headaches and dizziness. the American Heart Association Thanks to a $3 million, five-year define hypertension as a blood grant from the National Heart, pressure higher than 130 over 80 Lung and Blood Institute, doctors millimeters of mercury. at the University of Illinois at ChicaHigh blood pressure can lead to go College of Medicine will provide thickening of the walls of the heart, much needed education about which can reduce the heart’s abilhow even mild to moderately un- ity to efficiently pump blood. Hy-

pertension also increases the risk for stroke and death.

There are often no symptoms associated with high blood pressure, but if caught early enough, changes to the heart can be reversed and risks for secondary complications reduced. Lifestyle changes such as reducing sodium intake and exercising more, as well as medications, can help lower blood pressure.

The study will enroll approximately 800 people who show up in the University of Illinois Hospital emergency room and are identified as having uncontrolled high blood pressure — meaning they are either unaware of their elevated blood pressures and/or are not taking any steps or medication to lower their blood pressure.

Participants will be identified and randomized to one of two study groups after receiving evaluation and treatment for their initial emergency department complaint and prior to being discharged home.

“Our goal is not to keep study participants in the emergency department any longer than they need to be there, so our evaluation, enrollment and the study interventions are streamlined and

can be completed in about 20 minutes total, which is pretty short,” Prendergast said.

Half of the participants will receive the “usual care” for asymptomatic high blood pressure, which includes a pre-printed handout explaining high blood pressure and what can be done to help get it under control and an outpatient referral for follow-up care with a primary care physician within 48 to 72 hours.

The other half of participants will view a three-minute video on high blood pressure including its causes and treatments. They will also be shown ultrasound images of age and gender matched hearts affected by hypertension.

“We want to show them what the difference is between a healthy heart and one that has these early changes attributed to uncontrolled hypertension, especially because many participants with high blood pressure feel totally normal, so seeing the ultrasounds is important in bringing the message home and empowering patients,” Prendergast added.

This group will also have a brief consultation with a clinical pharmacist or an advanced practice nurse to review all of their cur-

rent medications and receive additional educational information.

Individuals without a primary care physician will receive a scheduled follow-up clinic appointment.

All study participants will be re-screened three and six months later to determine whether their blood pressures have changed.

Earlier this year, Prendergast and colleagues completed a pilot study of the intervention program.

“A significant percentage of our emergency department patients are from minority populations, which we know have a higher incidence of uncontrolled hypertension,” Pendergast said. “By empowering participants through educating them about uncontrolled hypertension — especially if they are unaware that they have high blood pressure — and giving them the tools they need to address the issue by taking the time to show them exactly what the consequences are with the ultrasound images, and having them watch a short educational video, we found that people were much more likely to make changes to improve their blood pressures and overall health.”

Memory Loss Study Shows More Culturally Competent Research May Benefit African Americans

By Deborah Bayliss tive decline and dementia in Black Defender Contributing Writer than in White communities,” said Barry Rovner M.D., professor of neurology, psychiatry, and a cliniIt may be possible to prevent cal expert on Alzheimer’s Disease cognitive and memory decline at Jefferson University Hospitals in African-Americans but more in Philadelphia, in a press release. culturally-competent research is “Differences in rates of medical needed, according to a Philadel- conditions that are associated phia physician who conducted a with cognitive decline, like diabestudy with Black participants that tes and hypertension, as well as he said showed significant prom- differences in health beliefs, health ise. literacy, and access to healthy African-Americans have almost foods, safe neighborhoods, and twice the rate of dementia as medical care account for these Whites. disparities. There is a clear need Keeping your brain, body, and for research in this area. This study social lives active may significant- provides the first evidence that we ly help reduce memory loss, may can prevent memory decline in this be something you’ve heard before high-risk population and help peobut the study digs a little deeper ple maintain independence.” for results.

A condition associated with “We see higher rates of cogni- changes in the brain’s structure THE CHICAGO DEFENDER

and function, some research suggests that people who remain active and engaged in community or stimulating work are resistant to the cognitive decline that otherwise can accompany neurological changes associated with dementia.

Rovner said the advice from physicians to “Stay busy, and use your mind,” is common sense advice but often is not sufficient to change behavior.

The study, which included 221 African-Americans with mild cognitive impairment, published in The Journal of the American Medical Association, found that Behavioral Activation, designed to increase cognitive, physical, and/or social activity, significantly reduced the risk of cognitive decline compared with Supportive Therapy, an attenwww.chicagodefender.com

tion control treatment.

To test whether it was possible to help people set goals and engage in a more active lifestyle, Rovner and colleagues used Behavioral Activation. Research has shown that Behavioral Activation effectively reduces depression.

Rovner and colleagues used the approach to prevent memory loss, and thereby potentially delayed the onset of dementia, according to the study.

Behavioral Activation helps by guiding someone through goal setting and action planning.

In the race-concordant study, community health workers helped participants set the action plans.

Race concordance is when the race of a patient matches the race of his/ her physician.

Some examples from the action plan to increase physical activity included: calling a friend after lunch, picking a time to meet, recording the date on the calendar, and taking the walk.

If participants did not meet the self-defined goals, the community health workers helped participants break down goals to smaller actionable steps. It was also important that participants choose their own goals - ones they had an interest in achieving.

The control group reportedly had a 9.3 percent incidence of memory decline over a two-year period, whereas participants who received Behavioral Therapy saw only a 1.2 percent decline in memory based on a battery of standardized cognitive tests.

October 3 - 9, 2018 11

Community Calendar OCTOBER 5 Sequence Chicago at Navy Pier Navy Pier welcomes the fall/winter season with Sequence Chicago, a free dynamic performance series featuring local artists, musicians and cultural organizations.

Sounds of Peace program on Oct. 5 (with performances by Trickster and Pokagon Native veterans; Navy Band Great Lakes and Wind Ensemble) Polk Bros Park and Crystal Gardens 5:15 p.m., 6 p.m.-7:30 p.m.

For more information and the schedule of other concerts, visit navypier.org

OCTOBER 5 AND 6 Chi City Comedy Jam Featuring Sherryl Underwood, Lavell Crawford, Earthquake, DC Young Fly, Kountry Wayne, Just Nesh, and Tony Roberts.

Arie Crown Theater 2301 S. Lake Shore Drive Tickets are on sale now at the Wintrust Arena Box Office, ticketmaster.com, and via phone (800-745-3000).

OCTOBER 6 Community Savings Bank Shred-A-Thon Customers and non-customers can shred old checks, bank statements and other documents containing personal information. A mobile industrial shredder will be parked in the bank’s main parking lot.

4801 W. Belmont Ave 9 a.m.- Noon Free For more information, visit communitysavingsbank. bank or call (773) 685-5300

Navy Pier

OCTOBER 10 - OCTOBER 14 I Am That Woman Retreat Strategic Event Solutions will host the I Am That Woman Retreat, created to be an intimate, peaceful meeting of powerful, economic, intellectual, and spiritual multicultural women, at the 5-star Unico Hotel in Riviera Maya, Mexico.

The 4-day, 4-night retreat, is an all-inclusive experience targeting professional women across industries ages 40 and up. The retreat will feature excursions, yoga and meditation, live entertainment, and workshops led by world renown speakers: Susan L. Taylor, Founder and CEO of CARES Mentoring Movement and Editor-in-Chief Emeritus of Essence Magazine; Kim Coles, Actress, Comedian & Motivational Speaker; Tracey Edmonds, amongst many more influential women.

To register or for additional information, visit www. iamthatwomanretreat.com .

OCTOBER 6

ter

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. The Pride in Our Heritage Hosted by Joliet Area/ South Suburban Alumnae Chap-

Jazz, Poetry, and discussion with Dr. Johnnetta B. Cole and Jacque Reid Palos Country Club 13100 SW Hwy, Orland Park, IL, 60462 Tickets are $40 for general admission and $55 for VIP. Visit www.BIT.LY/Jassac-pride to order tickets now.

OCTOBER 6 Day of OM Meditation, Yoga, and a reflective community Darshan Center 626 W. 18th Street 11am - 1pm. $30. Register on splashthat.

For more information, visit http://curvychickyoga.com

OCTOBER 11 South Side Pitch Hosted by Institute for Justice Clinic Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation 1452 East 53rd Street, 2nd Floor 6-8:30pm Free for the general public.

OCTOBER 13 Fit to Fight An alternative to walking in order to combat cancer will be brought to the fore front as Gladiator Fitness Expo hosts the 5th annual Fit to Fight. The event will feature Chicago’s best personal trainers, a motivation speaker, and upbeat music.

11901 S. Loomis 10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

OCTOBER 13 She Looks Like Me A Domestic Violence Awareness Workshop Breakthrough Urban Ministries 3330 W. Carroll Ave Chicago, IL 11am-2pm Registration is free; register at: apostolicflygirl.com

12 October 3 - 9, 2018

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OCTOBER 19-21 2nd Logan Center Bluesfest UChicago’s Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts has announced programming for its 2nd Logan Center Bluesfest, a three-day festival of concerts, workshops, film, poetry and conversation honoring the South Side roots of the Blues tradition.

915 E. 60th Street The majority of programming is free and open to the public, with reservations recommended for interactive workshops. Evening headliner concerts and the Blues Brunch are ticketed, and a $35 Bluesfest Pass allows entry into all three ticketed evening concerts. To purchase a Bluesfest Pass or individual tickets, and to RSVP for free events, please visit tickets.uchicago.edu.

OCTOBER 21 A Walk for the Bear Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation will host A Walk for the Bear, its 5th Annual Walk Lincoln Park 1700 North Stockton Drive Ghosts, Goblins and Ghouls of all ages are welcome to dress up and spend the morning walking the 3-mile trail to benefit pediatric cancer research. Halloween activities continue after the walk with pumpkin decorating, costume contests and a boxed lunch following the walk.

Funds raised will benefit pediatric cancer research grants through Bear Discoveries.

Registration is $25 for adults, $15 for children ages six to 19, and free for children under five.

Cancer patients and survivors can register free of charge. Tickets are available online at https://www.bearnecessities.org/event/a-walk-for-the-bear/ or by calling (312) 214-1200.

OCTOBER 27 Pearls, Pumps and Jeans Tea Talk Sheila Tolbert Ministries hosts “The Seven Crowns of a Lady” Pearls, Pumps and Jeans Tea Talk Eden Room Freedom of Grace Church 667 W. 87th St Chicago Heights 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

Tickets: $50 To register or for more information, visit sheliatolbert. org THE CHICAGO DEFENDER

CLASSIFIEDS

At Your Fingertips!

DIGITAL DAILY WWW. C H IC AG ODE F E N DE R .C OM

Follow Us On LEGAL NOTICE

LEGAL NOTICE ATTENTION ALL PUBLIC HOUSING RESIDENTS & HCV PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS Proposed Updates to the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Administrative Plan The Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) is releasing proposed updates to the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program Administrative (Admin) Plan for public comment.

The 30-day public comment period begins Sept 28 and ends October 29, 2018. While CHA encourages and welcomes all program participants, residents, and the community-at-large to review the proposed updates to the HCV Admin Plan, you are not required to attend the public comment hearings in order to submit comments.

The date, time, and location of the public comment hearings are as follows: • October 9, 2018, 11:00 am: Fannie Emanuel Apt, 3916 W Washington • October 11, 2018, 6:00 pm: Family Investment Center (FIC), 4859 S Wabash • October 17, 2018, 3:00 pm: CHA Headquarters, 60 E Van Buren St Copies of the proposed updates to the HCV Admin Plan will be available beginning September 28 until October 29, 2018 (5 p.m.) at the following locations: • CHA and HCV Administrative Offices • Family Investment Center (FIC) • Central Advisory Council Office • HCV Regional Of ce – South • HCV Regional Of ce – West • Erie Neighborhood House: Little Village West Town • Spanish Coalition for Housing: North Office South Office SE Office • www.thecha.org

60 E Van Buren St 4859 S Wabash St 243 E 32nd St 10 W 35thSt 2750 W Roosevelt Rd 4225 W 25th St 1347 W Erie St 1922 N Pulaski Rd 1915 S Blue Island 9010 S Commercial

Mail comments to: Chicago Housing Authority Attention: Proposed HCV Admin Plan 60 E. Van Buren Street, 12th Floor Chicago,IL 60605 E-mail comments to: commentontheplan@thecha.org Subject: Proposed HCV Admin Plan Fax comments to: (312) 913-7837 Subject: Proposed HCV Admin Plan If you have a question about this notice, please call the CHA at 312.913-7300.

To request a reasonable accommodation, please call 312.913.7690.

TTY 866.331.3603

THE CHICAGO DEFENDER

@chidefender LEGAL NOTICE

Bid Opening: November 6, 2018 Compliance with the District’s Affirmative Action Ordinance Revised Appendix D, Appendix C, Appendix K, IEPA regulations and the Multi-Project Labor Agreement are required on this Contract. ******************************************************************************************************* The above is an abbreviated version of the Notice - Invitation to Bid. A full version which includes a brief description of the project and/or service can be found on the District’s website, www.mwrd.org; click the Contracts and Proposal quick link on the District’s Home page. Go to Contracts Currently Being Advertised and click for further information.

Notice is hereby given, pursuant to “An Act in relation to the use of an Assumed Business Name In the conduct or transaction of Business in the State, “as amended, that a certification was registered by the undersigned with the County Clerk of Cook County. Registration Number: D18155439 on the September 14, 2018. Under the Assumed Name of SPEAK UP with the business located at 1350 W ELMDALE AVE UNIT 1, CHICAGO, IL 60660.

The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owners(s)/partner(s) is: Owner/ Partner Full Name: MEGAN BRAND, Complete Address: 1350 W ELMDALE AVE UNIT 1, CHICAGO, IL 60660, USA

Specifications, proposal forms and/or plans may be obtained from the Department of Procurement & Materials Management, Room 508, 100 East Erie Street, Chicago, Illinois 60611, Monday - Friday, between 8:45 A.M. and 4:15 P.M. Documents, unless stated above to the contrary, will be mailed in response to a fax request (312/7513042). The vendor may also download specifications, proposal forms and/or plans online from the District’s website, www.mwrd.org. No fee is required for the contract documents unless stated above.

ROOM FOR RENT

NOTICE INVITATION TO BID TO METROPOLITAN WATER RECLAMATION DISTRICT OF GREATER CHICAGO Sealed proposals, endorsed as below, will be deposited in the sealed bid depository located in the lobby of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Administration Building, 100 East Erie Street, Chicago, Illinois 60611, from the date of the Invitation to Bid, up to 11:00 A.M. on the bid opening date, and will be opened publicly by the Director of Procurement and Materials Management or her designee at 11:00 A.M. on the stated bid opening date below for: CONTRACT 11-186-3F ADDISON CREEK RESERVOIR, BELLWOOD, ILLINOIS

All Contracts for the Construction of Public Works are subject to the Illinois Prevailing Wage Act (820 ILCS 130/1-et seq.), where it is stated in the Invitation to Bid Page.

The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago reserves the right to reject any or all Proposals if deemed in the public’s best interest.

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago

By Darlene A. LoCascio Director of Procurement and Materials Management Chicago, Illinois October 3, 2018

Room for rent in private home for FEMALE renter / 40th. & King Drive / $650 month, share utilities.

Call 630.842.1739

Need to place an ad?

Call the Chicago Defender (312) 225-2400 www.chicagodefender.com

October 3 - 9, 2018 13

CLASSIFIEDS APARTMENTS FOR RENT

48th and King Drive

PROPERTY FOR SALE

49th and Vincennes

AFFORDABLE RENTAL APTS IN BRONZEVILLE!

CITY OF CHICAGO NOTICE OF PUBLIC NOTICE AND REQUEST FOR COMMENT

1BR/1BA renovated units HEAT INCLUDED 1st, 2nd and 3rd floor walk-up units Available now for $750-$900/mo Washer/Dryer on Premise Call (773) 548-2603 for More Info

PSYCHIC READER Psychic Reader and Advisor Helps with all problems, reunite lovers, remove evil influences, god gifted to help you with all problems of life.

Call 312.738.0410 walk-ins welcome!

The City of Chicago Office of Budget and Management will host a public hearing on the 2019 Draft Action Plan on: Thursday, October 18, 2018, 6:00 pm Chicago Children’s Advocacy Center Education Center Room 1240 S. Damen Avenue Chicago, Illinois 60608 Registration will begin at 5:30 pm Public Hearing will begin at 6:00 pm The 2019 Draft Action Plan covers the following U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Entitlement Programs: Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) HOME Partnership Investment program (HOME) Housing Opportunities for People with AIDS (HOPWA) Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG)

The public is invited to attend and provide input on the uses of the funds proposed in the plan or send written comments to the Office of Budget and Management, City Hall, Room 604, 121 N. LaSalle Street, Chicago, Illinois 60602, Attention: Latoya Vaughn, or send by email to OBMGMU@cityofchicago.org. Written comments will be accepted through November 14, 2018.

Additional information on the Entitlement Programs and funding details are also available at: http://www. cityofchicago.org/grants. If you have any further questions, please contact the Office of Budget and Management at (312)744-0358.

14 October 3 - 9, 2018

www.chicagodefender.com

HANDY MAN/ REPAIR SERVICE

Fix Your House Roofing Carpentry and More!

Call Ray 773.368.0137

Need to place an ad? Call the Chicago Defender (312) 225-2400 October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

LEGAL NOTICE This letter is to notify that on October 25, 2018 at 9:00 a.m. an auction will be held at Hyde Park Self Storage, Inc., located at 5155 S. Cottage Grove Ave, Chicago, IL 60615, to sell the following articles held within said storage units to enforce a lien existing under the laws of the state of Illinois.

1. 10121 Lawrence O. Echols 2. 10144 Shenina S. Hill 3. 10168 Jaquanda Jones 4. 36 Jennifer Barnes 5. 466 Gerelene Gibbs 6. 516 Willie Childs 7. 549 Tiffany Smith 8. 73 Jennifer Barnes 9. 80 Helena Kumah This letter is to notify that on October 25, 2018 at 9:00 a.m. an auction will be held at South Shore Self Storage, Inc., located at 7843 S. Exchange Ave, Chicago, IL 60649, to sell the following articles held within said storage units to enforce a lien existing under the laws of the state of Illinois.

1. 129 Precious Bonner 2. 238 Terrell Davis 3. 409 Jonas Lloyd 4. 444 Dinah Berry 5. 602 Gregory Thomas This letter is to notify that on October 25, 2018 at 9:00 a.m. an auction will be held at Aaron Bros. Self-Storage, Inc., located at 4034 S. Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60653, to sell the following articles held within said storage units to enforce a lien existing under the laws of the state of Illinois.

1. 122 Edith Quinn 2. 305 Steve James 3. 548 Anna Long 4. 309 Chris Webb 5. 479 Davis Bedenfield

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY FSB D/B/A CHRISTIANA TRUST AS TRUSTEE FOR PNPMS TRUST I Plaintiff, -v.DORIS NELL DAVIS, NEIGHBORHOOD LENDING SERVICES, INC. Defendants 16 CH 005193 5231 S. PEORIA STREET CHICAGO, IL 60609 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on August 14, 2018, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on November 16, 2018, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker Drive, CHICAGO, IL, 60606, sell at public auction to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 5231 S. PEORIA STREET, CHICAGO, IL 60609 Property Index No.20-08-414-011-0000.

The real estate is improved with a residence.

Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance in certified funds/ or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in “AS IS” condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court.

Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale.

The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information.

If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4). If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/18.5(g-1).

IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW. You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales.

For information, examine the court file or contact Plaintiff’s attorney: CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C., 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100, BURR RIDGE, IL 60527, (630) 794-9876 Please refer to file number 14-14-14688.

THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236-SALE You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales.

CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100 BURR RIDGE, IL 60527 (630) 794-5300 E-Mail: pleadings@il.cslegal.com Attorney File No. 14-14-14688 Attorney ARDC No. 00468002 Attorney Code. 21762 Case Number: 16 CH 005193 TJSC#: 38-6830 NOTE: Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you are advised that Plaintiff’s attorney is deemed to be a debt collector attempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose.

I3100366

THE CHICAGO DEFENDER

CLASSIFIEDS PROPERTY FOR SALE

REAL ESTATE

REAL ESTATE

REAL ESTATE

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON F/K/A THE BANK OF NEW YORK AS SUCCESSOR IN INTEREST TO JP MORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. AS TRUSTEE FOR STRUCTURED ASSET MORTGAGE INVESTMENTS II TRUST 2006-AR6 MORTGAGE PASSTHROUGH CERTIFICATES SERIES 2006-AR6 Plaintiff, -v.DEBORAH COLTRO, JERRY COLTRO A/K/A JERRY R. COLTRO, THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON FKA THE BANK OF NEW YORK, AS SUCCESSOR TRUSTEE TO JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS TRUSTEE ON BEHALF OF THE CERTIFICATEHOLDERS OF THE CWHEQ INC., CWHEQ REVOLVING HOME EQUITY LOAN TRUST, SERIES 2006-F, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, MUSEUM TOWER RESIDENCES CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION, MUSEUM PARK EAST UMBRELLA ASSOCIATION Defendants 17 CH 7993 1335 SOUTH PRAIRIE AVENUE, UNIT 902 Chicago, IL 60605 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on May 1, 2018, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on October 31, 2018, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker Drive, CHICAGO, IL, 60606, sell at public auction to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 1335 SOUTH PRAIRIE AVENUE, UNIT 902, Chicago, IL 60605 Property Index No. 17-22-110-114-1052; 17-22-110-114-1311; 17-22-110-1141341.

The real estate is improved with a condominium.

The judgment amount was $514,840.01.

Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance in certified funds/ or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in “AS IS” condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court.

Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale.

Where a sale of real estate is made to satisfy a lien prior to that of the United States, the United States shall have one year from the date of sale within which to redeem, except that with respect to a lien arising under the internal revenue laws the period shall be 120 days or the period allowable for redemption under State law, whichever is longer, and in any case in which, under the provisions of section 505 of the Housing Act of 1950, as amended (12 U.S.C. 1701k), and subsection (d) of section 3720 of title 38 of the United States Code, the right to redeem does not arise, there shall be no right of redemption.

The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information.

If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4). If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/18.5(g-1).

IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW. You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales.

For information, contact The sales clerk, SHAPIRO KREISMAN & ASSOCIATES, LLC, 2121 WAUKEGAN RD., SUITE 301, Bannockburn, IL 60015, (847) 2911717 For information call between the hours of 1pm - 3pm. Please refer to file number 17-083267.

THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236-SALE You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales.

SHAPIRO KREISMAN & ASSOCIATES, LLC 2121 WAUKEGAN RD., SUITE 301 Bannockburn, IL 60015 (847) 291-1717 E-Mail: ILNotices@logs.com Attorney File No. 17-083267 Attorney Code. 42168 Case Number: 17 CH 7993 TJSC#: 38-7758 NOTE: Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you are advised that Plaintiff’s attorney is deemed to be a debt collector attempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose.

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A. Plaintiff, -v.TAMARA A. BLOCKSON A/K/A TAMARA BLOCKSON, TORINA HATCHETT, UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NON-RECORD CLAIMANTS Defendants 12 CH 12435 525 EXCHANGE AVENUE CALUMET CITY, IL 60409 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on December 8, 2017, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on October 18, 2018, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker Drive, CHICAGO, IL, 60606, sell at public auction to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 525 EXCHANGE AVENUE, CALUMET CITY, IL 60409 Property Index No. 30-07-306-0330000.

The real estate is improved with a single family home with an attached two car garage.

Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in AS IS condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court.

Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale.

The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information.

If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4). If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/18.5(g-1).

IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW. You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales.

McCalla Raymer Leibert Pierce, LLC, Plaintiff’s Attorneys, One North Dearborn Street, Suite 1200, Chicago, IL 60602. Tel No. (312) 346-9088. Please refer to file number 9691.

THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236SALE You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales.

McCalla Raymer Leibert Pierce, LLC One North Dearborn Street, Suite 1200 Chicago, IL 60602 (312) 346-9088 E-Mail: pleadings@mccalla.com Attorney File No. 9691 Attorney ARDC No. 61256 Attorney Code. 61256 Case Number: 12 CH 12435 TJSC#: 38-7457

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A. Plaintiff, -v.UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NON-RECORD CLAIMANTS, KIMBERLY WILLIAMS, CHAD WILLIAMS, KAREN WILLIAMS, BRIA WILLIAMS, KIMBERLY WILLIAMS, INDEPENDENT ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ESTATE OF ROYNAL WILLIAMS, DECEASED, UNKNOWN HEIRS AND LEGATEES OF ROYNAL WILLIAMS, IF ANY Defendants 13 CH 18007 1013 NORTH PARKSIDE AVENUE CHICAGO, IL 60651 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on May 22, 2018, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on October 11, 2018, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker Drive, CHICAGO, IL, 60606, sell at public auction to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 1013 NORTH PARKSIDE AVENUE, CHICAGO, IL 60651 Property Index No. 16-05-415-014-0000.

The real estate is improved with a two unit, two story home with a detached car garage.

Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance in certified funds/ or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in AS IS condition.

The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court.

Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale.

The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information.

If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4). If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/18.5(g-1).

IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW. You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales.

McCalla Raymer Leibert Pierce, LLC, Plaintiff’s Attorneys, One North Dearborn Street, Suite 1200, Chicago, IL 60602.

Tel No. (312) 346-9088. Please refer to file number 9848.

THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236-SALE You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales.

McCalla Raymer Leibert Pierce, LLC One North Dearborn Street, Suite 1200 Chicago, IL 60602 (312) 346-9088 E-Mail: pleadings@mccalla.com Attorney File No. 9848 Attorney ARDC No. 61256 Attorney Code. 61256 Case Number: 13 CH 18007 TJSC#: 38-7300

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A. Plaintiff, -v.NADINE ANDERSON, EARL ANDERSON A/K/A EARL L. ANDERSON, ILLINOIS HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, CAPITAL ONE BANK (USA), N.A., S/I/I TO CAPITAL ONE BANK Defendants 15 CH 14826 14440 SOUTH KIMBARK AVENUE DOLTON, IL 60419 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on March 9, 2016, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on October 15, 2018, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker Drive, CHICAGO, IL, 60606, sell at public auction to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 14440 SOUTH KIMBARK AVENUE, DOLTON, IL 60419 Property Index No. 29-02-417-0280000.

The real estate is improved with a single family home with a detached two car garage.

Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in AS IS condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court.

Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale.

The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information.

If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4).

If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/18.5(g-1).

IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW. You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales.

McCalla Raymer Leibert Pierce, LLC, Plaintiff’s Attorneys, One North Dearborn Street, Suite 1200, Chicago, IL 60602. Tel No. (312) 346-9088. Please refer to file number 11696.

THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236SALE You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales.

McCalla Raymer Leibert Pierce, LLC One North Dearborn Street, Suite 1200 Chicago, IL 60602 (312) 346-9088 E-Mail: pleadings@mccalla.com Attorney File No. 11696 Attorney ARDC No. 61256 Attorney Code. 61256 Case Number: 15 CH 14826 TJSC#: 38-7331

I3100144

THE CHICAGO DEFENDER

www.chicagodefender.com

MEMORIES REAL ESTATE IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF Cook County, Illinois, County Department, Chancery Division.

Specialized Loan Servicing LLC Plaintiff, vs.

Jeremy Chaffin; Clara Condominiums Unit No. 4 Condominium Association; Unknown Owners and Non-Record Claimants Defendants, Case # 17CH15793 Sheriff’s # 180170 F17080241 SLS Pursuant to a Judgment made and entered by said Court in the above entitled cause, Thomas J. Dart, Sheriff of Cook County, Illinois, will on November 1st, 2018, at 1pm in room LL06 of the Richard J. Daley Center, 50 West Washington Street, Chicago, Illinois, sell at public auction the following described premises and real estate mentioned in said Judgment: Common Address: 11911 South Lawndale Avenue, Unit 2B1, Alsip, Illinois 60803 P.I.N: 24-26-102-076-1005 Improvements: This property consists of a Residential condominium.

Sale shall be under the following terms: payment of not less than ten percent (10%) of the amount of the successful and highest bid to be paid to the Sheriff by cashier’s check or certified funds at the sale; and the full remaining balance to be paid to the Sheriff by cashier’s check or certified funds within twenty-four (24) hours after the sale.

Sale shall be subject to general taxes, special assessments.

Premise will NOT be open for inspection.

Firm Information: Plaintiff’s Attorney ANSELMO, LINDBERG OLIVER LLC 1771 W. Diehl Road, Suite 120 Naperville, IL 60563-4947 Phone: 630-453-6960 Fax: 630-4284620 Attorney #: Cook 58852, DuPage 293191, Kane 031-26104, Winnebago 3802, IL 0312-6232 sales@alolawgroup.com For bidding instructions, visit www.fal-illinois.com This is an attempt to collect a debt pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and any information obtained will be used for that purpose.

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10/03/18

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Funeral Directory Call Classifieds 312-225-2400 to advertise

CALAHAN

A.A. RAYNER & SONS

“The Home of Personal Service” 7030 S. Halsted St.

318 E. 71st St. 5911 W. Madison St.

FUNERAL HOME

(773)723-4400 Taylor Funeral HOME, LTD.

63 East 79th Street Chicago, IL 60619 & 5350 W. North Ave. 773-488-7300 Chicago, IL 60636

TAYLOR

Funeral Home HOWELL Helen Howell......….. Graveside Service was held: Friday, September 28, 2018; 9:00 a.m. @ Lincoln Cemetery, Chicago, Illinois. Arrangements Entrusted To: Taylor Funeral Home, 63 East 79th. Street, Chicago, IL 60619: (773) 488.7300 cbtaylorfuneralhome.com JAMES Ronald T. James.......….. Wake was held: Saturday, September 29, 2018; 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.@ Blackwell Memorial A.M.E. Church, 3956 South Langley Avenue. Funeral was held: 12:00 p.m. –1:00 p.m. Cremation. Arrangements Entrusted To: Taylor Funeral Home, 63 East 79th.

Street, Chicago, IL 60619: (773) 488.7300 cbtaylorfuneralhome.com WAKEFIELD Delores Wakefield.......….. Wake was held: Saturday, September 92, 2018; 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.@ Apostolic Pentecostal Church of Morgan Park, 11401 South Vincennes Avenue. Funeral was held: 12:00pa.m. –1:00 p.m. Interment: Mount Hope Cemetery, Chicago, Illinois. Arrangements Entrusted To: Taylor Funeral Home, 63 East 79th.

Street, Chicago, IL 60619: (773) 488.7300 cbtaylorfuneralhome.com WOODSON Annie Woodson........….. Prepast was held: Monday, October 1, 2018; 9:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Wake was held: 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.@ Southlawn United Methodist Church , 8605 South Cregier Avenue. Funeral was held: 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Interment: Mount Glenwood Memory Gardens, Glenwood, Illinois. Arrangements Entrusted To: Taylor Funeral Home, 63 East 79th.

Street, Chicago, IL 60619: (773) 488.7300 cbtaylorfuneralhome.com TINSLEY-ROSS Marjorie A. Tinsley-Ross.....…..

Wake was held: Tuesday, October 2, 2018; 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. @ Taylor Funeral Home. Funeral was held: 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Interment: Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery, Elwood, Illinois.

Arrangements Entrusted To: Taylor Funeral Home, 63 East 79th. Street, Chicago, IL 60619: (773) 488.7300 cbtaylorfuneralhome.com

FUNERAL HOME

(773)846-6133 (773)626-4222 GOLDEN GATE FUNERAL HOME

2036 W. 79th St.

(773)846-7900 “Families Come First at Golden Gate” HOWZE Robert Howze, Jr.......….. Family Hour will be held: Friday, October 12, 2018; 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.@ Taylor Funeral Home. Cremation.

Arrangements Entrusted To: Taylor Funeral Home, 63 East 79th. Street, Chicago, IL 60619: (773) 488.7300 cbtaylorfuneralhome.com

CALAHAN Funeral Home

SMITH Connie Smith. ….. Visitation: Friday, October 5, 2018; 6:00 p.m.7:00 p.m. @ Beautiful Zion MBC, 1406 W. 64th St. Funeral: 7:00 p.m.- 8:00 p.m. Interment: Evergreen Cemetery.

Arrangements Entrusted To: Calahan Funeral Home, 7030 S. Halsted St., Chicago, IL (773) 723.4400 RENO Robert P. Reno. ….. Visitation: Saturday, October 6, 2018; 10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. @ New Spiritual Light, 7566 S. Shore Dr. Funeral: 11:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m. Interment: PRIVATE. Arrangements Entrusted To: Calahan Funeral Home, 7030 S. Halsted St., Chicago, IL (773) 723.4400 DAY Willie Day. ….. Visitation: Saturday, October 6, 2018; 10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. @ Greater New Mt. Eagle, 12300 S. Michigan. Funeral: 11:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m. Interment: Mt. Hope Cemetery. Arrangements Entrusted To: Calahan Funeral Home, 7030 S. Halsted St., Chicago, IL (773) 723.4400 BOYD James E. Boyd. ….. Visitation: Saturday, October 6, 2018; 10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. @Jubilee Temple, 114 E. 59th Street. Funeral: 11:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m. Interment: Abraham Lincoln Cemetery. Arrangements Entrusted To: Calahan Funeral Home, 7030 S. Halsted St., Chicago, IL (773) 723.4400 VALENTINE Gertrude Valentine. ….. Visitation: Saturday, October 6, 2018; 10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. @ Evening Star MBC, 2050 W. 59th St. Funeral: 11:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m. Interment: PRIVATE. Arrangements Entrusted To: Calahan Funeral Home, 7030 S. Halsted St., Chicago, IL (773) 723.4400

Cherished memories of those we loved October 3 - 9, 2018 15

16 October 3 - 9, 2018

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