Chicago News Weekly Issue 8

chicago news weekly

cheryl Mainor norman President & Publisher

Kai El’ Zabar editor In Chief

Terri winston vice President

Darnell pulphus

Art Director

editors

Danielle sanders

managing editor sterling caprico Fashion editor

Margo crawford Copy editor

Marti worell

Arts & Culture editor

Staff Writers

sharice Braford

liz lampkin Marcus Bouldin David pierce Tammy Gibson phyllis D Banks

Marti worell Dr. Mila K. Marshall, phD

Contributors nnpa newswire

Theresa Horton stacy M. Brown Mare Evans

Dr. sanja Rickette stinson

8348 S Stony Island Avenue Chicago, IL 60617 (773) 236-1464

vol. 1 No 8 Wednesday, November 16, 2022

Chicago News Weekly is published weekly on Wednesday. www.cnwmedia.com

chicagonewsweekly@gmail.com

chicagonewsweeklyeditorial@gmail.com

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E notes

OUR RIGHT TO EQUALITY

ouR GoD-GiVEn RiGHT

In June of this year, the Supreme Court officially reversed Roe v. Wade, declaring that the constitutional right to abor tion, upheld for nearly a half-century, no longer exists. Opposing Judges said that the court’s decision means that “young women today will come of age with fewer rights than their mothers and grandmothers. The court’s opinion means that “from the very moment of fertilization, a woman has no rights to speak of. A state can force her to bring a pregnan cy to term even at the steepest personal and familial costs.”

This loss of fundamental constitutional protection is be cause of selfish Republican white males who think that the power over a woman’s body rests with them, best get ready to go to battle because the war has just begun.

Man’s law VERsus GoD’s law

We voted last week and women all over the country in red and blue states chose the right to choose their own fate. I’ve always felt that a woman or any female pregnant with a child had the right to determine whether she can manage the de mands/responsibility of birthing and raising a child. Women do not need the Pope, the President, our fathers, husbands, or any other man to tell us what we can and cannot do with our bodies. It’s as simple, as that. Today more than ever, now is the time for women to connect to the ‘Feminist Movement.’

And yet, though many young women identify with what Femi nists stand for, they shy away from the stigma with which it is as sociated. To men, it means that women are anti-men, which is the furthest thing from the truth. Instead, one only needs to look at its history. Feminists rose as women who moved to take their power.

Power that has always been denied them by men. Women took responsibility for themselves without fear of what men would do. And because I am pro-woman does not mean I am anti-man, just as, because I am pro-Black does not mean I am anti-white. When a man says he’s a feminist, is it presumed that he’s anti-men?

Here’s the thing, women are powerful beings. We are as inde pendent of men as we are interdependent. We think, we create, we organize, and we manifest just as men do. But the fear of a woman’s power began long ago with ‘primitive man’ who had dif ficulty accepting that a woman would bleed monthly and still live. She also birthed future generations. To the primal man that was everything. A woman and her children represented more help in re-enforcing the clan or tribe. The ownership of her meant everything to the man. So, he sought to control and oppress her to increase his wealth and power. This is one of the reasons for polygamy. The more wives a man had, the more children, and the fruit of that becomes more workers of the land. So, man has always seen ‘woman’ as an asset that he had to control. Failure to see her as an equal partner has brought us to where we are today.

El’ Zabar editor-in-Chief

wHaT woMEn wanT

Women have grown over time, no longer solely depen dent upon men, she recognizes her own value and contri bution to the world. We are not at war with men we are at war to become CEO of our own destinies. That is the threat. As a result, men want to manage women. In part it’s primal, in part it’s fear, In part it’s political; in part, it’s about power.

That fear is the denial of what being a Feminist means—a woman who recognizes and accepts the intricacies of being a woman, embracing the complexities thereof and through all the challenges faced to be self-expressed. It is not fair to say, ‘You have to choose whether you want to be a doctor or a mother.”

We’re seeking gender equality, political and econom ic equity—equal pay and consideration in the job market. What women know now is that we will not have any of what we want if we don’t build our own institutions, where we can teach ‘woman things,’ unique to women. Such is the secret to strong ancient cultures that embraced ‘Women Secret Soci eties,’ the same as they implemented Men Secret Societies. If we do not, we will not have our stories told, we will not have our poems on a page, our music will not be played, and our songs will not be sung. Only women can write our stories. Together man and woman pour into both boys and girls, but we grow up to be men and women. We cannot afford to be afraid of change. We must once more seize the moment to establish our po sition in the world and our place in society. We must do this togeth er men and women, Black and white, otherwise, we are doomed.

Kai

photo credit: Dot Ward

What Happened To The 2016 World Series Champions The Chicago Cubs After Breaking The 108-Year Curse?

By Marcus Bouldin CNW Staff Writer

It’s

been six years since the Chicago Cubs won the 2016 MLB World Series Cham pionship. After a rain delay halted the action late in the evening, Cleveland’s Michael Martinez was at bat with two outs and a man on first at the bottom of the tenth.

Mike Montgomery is on the mound for the Cubs. Martinez hit a slow roll down the left side of the pitcher’s mound. Third baseman Kris Bryant sprints to scoop up the ball and throws it to first base to end the game. The Cubs defeats the Cleveland Indians 8-7. The city erupted into cheers and highfives as the beloved Cubbies ended their 108-year “Billy Goat” curse.

Six years later, so much has changed since that historic baseball game. Right fielder Jason Heyward, who signed a record-breaking 8-year $184 million contract with the franchise months before the 2016 season opened, is being released from his duties as a Chicago Cubs. Catcher Wilson Contreras will be leaving once free agency begins. Pitcher Kyle Hendricks will be the only player from the championship team heading

into the spring training as a Chicago Cubs.

What about the rest of the 2016 Cubs roster? Well, players began leaving almost immediately once the season ended. A few left in free agency while the organization traded others. Here’s a rundown on what happened with some of the fan’s favorite Chicago Cubs.

Jake Arrieta (RHP)- The 2015 Na tional League Cy Young winner left the Cubs in 2017 to sign a three-year deal with the Philadelphia Phillies. Arrieta did return to the Cubs in 2021 on a one-year deal worth $4 million. But was unable to relive the glory of 2016 and announced his retirement in April of 2022. He now hosts a podcast on Barstool Sports.

Kris Bryant (3B)- After the World Series concluded, the 2016 National League MVP began negotiating a con tract extension. But those negotiations stalled, and Bryant filed and lost a griev ance against the Chicago Cubs over service-time manipulation. As a result, Bryant was traded to the San Francisco Giants at the 2021 trade deadline. Bry ant would eventually sign a seven-year $182 million contract with the Colo rado Rockies. The contract includes a

$7 million signing bonus. Plus, $182 million is guaranteed. That’s an annual average salary of $26,000,000.

Anthony Rizzo (1B)- The Cubs and Rizzo were engaged in a contract ex tension in 2021. But Rizzo ended the negotiations and was traded to the New York Yankees. The All-Star first baseman found success with the Yankees and signed a two-year $32 million guaran teed contract.

Dexter Fowler (CF)- The Cubs leadoff man kicked off Game 7 in Cleveland, cranking out a solo home run on the game’s first pitch. After the World Series, Fowler signed with the St. Louis Cardinals on a five-year deal worth $82.5 million. With one-year remaining on his contract, Fowler was traded to the Los Angeles Angels in 2021. Un fortunately, he suffered a season ending ACL tear. He would return to play three games with the Toronto Blue Jays minor league team. On April 22, 2022, Fowler was released from his contract per his request.

Javy Báez (SS)- Báez, the 2016 NLCS co-MVP, said he was days away from getting a long-term extension. But COVID had shut down spring training, and Báez was dealt to the New York

Mets for Pete Crow-Armstrong in 2021. Báez signed a six-year, $140 million free-agent deal with the Detroit Tigers.

Addison Russell (SS)- The 2016 AllStar contributed to the must-win Game 6 in the World Series. His two-run RBI in the first inning, followed by a grand slam in the third, gave the Cubbies a 7-0 lead. However, in 2018 Russell was suspended for violating the league’s domestic violence policy. The MLB handed Russell a 40-game suspension which signaled the beginning of the end of his MLB career. He played his last major league game with the Cubs in 2019. He is now playing winter ball in the Dominican Republic.

Ben Zobrist (IF)- The World Series MVP Ben Zobrist hit the double that gave the Cubs the lead in the 10th in ning of Game 7. But after an extended leave of absence citing personal reasons.

Ben Zobrist retired after his four-year contract with the Cubs ended in 2019.

Zobrist retired as a two-time World Series champion in consecutive seasons. Winning the championship in 2015 with the Royals and again in 2016 with the Cubs,

Weed WOrk

is a safe haven for creative risk-takers. Compliance is king in this industry and who you hire matters. Ambitious entre preneurs who’ve made it through the ap plication processes to secure the highly coveted licenses have another unique hur dle, hiring from our hoods but the Canna bis Regulation and Tax Act formally refers to as disproportionately impacted areas or

nabis professionals identified as a person of color. Black professionals are at risk of never being found by a company because of the hundreds to thousands of applicants for one position. Also, compliance is king and while there may be an abundance of applicants there are still checks and bal ances. Plant-touching employees must pass a state background check, and have to be familiar with the state legislation for compliance.

TuHiGH RnoVERs

“DIA’s” for short. Advancing equity in the cannabis industry requires diversity from the boardroom to the budtender and be yond.

No cannabis experience, lack of culture fit, and transferable skills that don’t align with the job duties and requirements are just a few reasons an applicant would be rejected for a position, says Shawnee Williams, seasoned recruiter, and staff ing expert. Shawnee knows firsthand the challenges cannabis businesses face when soliciting, interviewing, hiring, and retain ing diverse talent. Her company Illinois Equity Staffing provides HR administra tion and consulting services to support companies with strategies to find the right fit for their model and team.

“We are a responsible vendor provider in the state of Illinois and have recently been awarded R3 funds to serve 60 justice-im pacted Chicagoans” shared Williams. Un derrepresentation of Black employees in the industry creates an opportunity for companies like IES and Williams’ work focused on professional development fill a gap. Most early career cannabis profes sionals in Illinois are network poor despite ethnicity or race. The industry is brand new and those who are well-connected have built those relationships from other markets like Colorado or California.

In 2022 11% of legally employed can

Forty-two percent of Black Illinoians in the private sector make no more than $30,000 according to McKinsey & Com pany’s 2021 report, “The Black Experience in the US Private Sector”. The in-depth report pointed out Black employees are overrepresented in low-paying service industries, are not located in fast-grow ing cities and counties and 73% of Black workers are in the retail sector. For compa nies wishing to be impactful, knowing the existing wage and employment trends in the Black community is a must.

Shawnee and her team work with mar ijuana and hemp businesses tailored to their needs with full awareness of the sup port systems needed for hiring diverse ap plicants as well as understanding the nu anced needs of applicants of DIA’s.

“Hiring from a DIA sounds good, but there are lots of barriers to entry when it comes to residents living in these areas, including transportation, childcare, and sometimes even criminal records,” Shaw nee says. She believes the pursuit of profit by cannabis businesses is resulting in low retention rates of staff. For social equity entrepreneurs, this high turnover rate and increased cost of training workers with greater needs than others put their busi nesses at risk. Black-owned businesses and hiring professionals of color can help in crease diversity for sure. Ivy Hall, a 61%

Black owned dispensary in Chicago will have all eyes on them for who and how they hire.

“If you’re continuously bringing on folks who don’t stay long, you’re spending any where from $3000-$8000 just to replace them” Shawnee lifted up. Her expert ad vice is for all owners to take the process slowly and make the right decisions the first time. The financial support for canna bis companies to address equity through the hiring process is directed towards vio lence prevention grants through the states Restore, Renew and Reinvest program; while at the city level in Chicago grants through the Neighborhood Opportuni ty Fund for cannabis entrepreneurs are focused on construction, purchasing of property, financing and engineering fees for example. Shawnee sees the lack of funding directed towards empowering employment in DIA’s as the next step for advancing equity in the industry.

“I think as ICJIAs R3 program continues to mature and the City of Chicago con tinues with violence prevention grants, we may see a real focus on cultivating the population of Illinoisans in DIA areas”Shawnee Williams

Her advice for diverse talent retention by social equity entrepreneurs and MSOs is to be intentional about DEI initiatives to avoid as Shawnee says, “a sea of only lilywhite faces staring back at you”.

shawnee williams, illinois Equity staffing

The industry is brand new and those who are well-connected have built those relationships from other markets like Colorado or California.

paRK sTaTion loFTs

cnw staff Report

Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot joined Alderwoman Jeanette Taylor, the Michaels Organi zation, DL3 Realty, and a host of community stakeholders to break ground on the Park Sta tion Lofts. The new mixed-in come, mixed-use, affordable living community in Chicago’s Woodlawn neighborhood will occupy a city-owned property at the southeast corner of E. 63rd Street and S. Maryland Ave, which is currently vacant.

“I am thrilled to break ground on our first affordable housing development being realized under the Woodlawn Housing Preservation Ordinance,” said Mayor Lightfoot. “The Park Station Lofts will answer many housing needs of the Woodlawn community while also delivering retail space, new streetscaping, jobs, and more to this area. Im portantly, this development will ensure that the long overdue influx of targeted investments in Woodlawn does not displace residents, allowing everyone to bene fit from this community enhancement.”

The new development comprises 58 apartment homes, 41 of which will serve households earning between 30% and 60% of the Area Median Income (AMI), as well as 17 market-rate units. The Park Sta tion Lofts are steps away from the University of Chi cago and near the upcoming Obama Library Campus.

Park Station is a transit-oriented development, located just 350 feet from the Cottage Grove Station of the CTA Green Line.

“Michaels is excited to expand our South Side pres ence with this community-driven development,” said Greg Olson, Regional Vice President of Development at The Michaels Organization. “As a national leader in residential real estate, we are committed to leading the way for others to create housing solutions that Lift Lives.”

Park Station is the first new development in the community to meet the requirements of the Wood lawn Affordable Housing Preservation Ordinance which was passed by the City Council in 2020 to proactively address the potential gentrification of the neighborhood due to the Obama Presidential Center. This ordinance, spearheaded by Alderman Jeanette Taylor and Alderman Leslie Hairston in consultation

with community stakeholders, ensures affordable housing remains in Woodlawn by mandating afford ability requirements on all rental and for-sale housing developed on City-owned residential land.

“The Park Station Lofts highlight the importance of the community-driven Woodlawn Affordable Housing Preservation Ordinance,” said Alderwoman Jeanette Taylor, 20th ward. “I applaud that Michaels and DL3 are investing in my community and making Wood lawn a place where everyone can afford to live and thrive. I am excited to see the positive impact of this development for my community.”

The Michaels Organization has been developing and managing affordable and mixed-income hous ing for almost two decades. The Park Station Lofts development is being developed in collaboration with Chicago-based DL3 Realty, a full-service real estate development firm committed to accelerating the trans formation of emerging communities.

“DL3 is proud to partner with Michaels on Park Station Lofts, which is the first development to meet not just the letter but also the spirit of the Wood lawn Affordable Housing Preservation Ordinance,” said Leon Walker, Managing Principal of DL3. “This development will provide high-quality, luxury housing to Woodlawn that is accessible to all residents.”

Park Station’s first floor will include approximately 3,500 square feet of retail, two live-work spaces, a

management office, and a community amenity space. Woodlawn’s Sunshine Enterprises will offer business development and wealth-building classes to local entrepreneurs in the building’s business center. The apartments will be offered in 1- to 3-bedroom layouts and feature amenities such as designer cabinets, solid surface countertops, luxury vinyl plank flooring, and open floor plans.

Financing for the development includes Low Income Housing Tax Credit Equity in the amount of $19.4M, Tax Increment Financing (TIF) of $5M, and City of Chicago HOME funds of $6.5M. Commonwealth Edison is providing approximately $140,000 in funding through its Affordable Housing New Con struction energy efficiency program. Equity and debt are provided to the project by tax credit syndicator Berkadia Affordable Housing Tax Credit Solutions with BMO Harris as the investor, construction lender, and permanent lender.

DL3 Realty has served as a co-developer partner in the project alongside Michaels Development while Michaels Management will serve as the property man agement company. FitzGerald Associates and Brook Architecture are the project architects and local joint venture partnership Ujamaa Construction/Brown & Momen will serve as the general contractor. Construc tion is expected to be complete by November 2023.

Mayor Lightfoot joins Alderwoman Taylor, Michaels Organization, DL3 Realty to Break Ground on

The mixed-income, mixed-use, family community will be the first to meet the City of Chicago’s requirements of the woodlawn affordable Housing preservation ordinance

lyTE lounge Helps Homeless youth on southside

Danielle sanders CNW Managing Editor

Amuch-needed resource opened on the southside in October. The LYTE Collective is an organization that assists teens and young adults expe riencing poverty and homelessness on the southside. Located at 549 E 76th St, the LYTE Lounge is a community center where young people can receive support, medical services, educational tools, and legal assistance. In ad dition, young people can also receive access to meals, showers, and laundry services.

The professionals at the LYTE Lounge also assist youth in finding safe housing and mental health support. Of the number of homeless teens and young adults, 81% of homeless youth comprise black and brown youth. Lack of affordable housing and the lack of a living wage are just a few reasons black and brown youth struggle with homelessness and poverty.

Lyte Collective utilizes a holistic approach to helping young people, meeting them where they are with their mobile services, and assisting them in providing their ba sic needs. Young people also have the opportunity to get off the streets and enjoy recreational activities at the LYTE Lounge. During a tour of the facility during the grand opening, visitors saw a digital music studio, art room, computer lounge, rest area and gym.

The lounge also offers access to em ployment re sources and educational support. Pro gramming at the Lyte Lounge in cludes adult basic educa tion, literacy, high school

new Healthy lifestyle Hub opens in auburn Gresham

Danielle sanders CNW Managing Editor

Anew healthy lifestyle hub in

the Auburn Gresham community celebrated its grand opening this past Friday. The brain child of Carlos Nelson, Director of the Great er Auburn Gresham Development Cor poration (GAGDC), the Auburn Gresham Healthy Lifestyle hub is part of Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s Invest South/West Initia tive. Located at 839 West 79th Street, the lifestyle hub will house the University of Illinois health center and urgent care facility, pharmacy, UIC Neighborhood Center, Bank of America and Mikkey’s Retro Grill. In addition, the hub also fea tures the Chicago Bears Community Room and teaching kitchen.

The lifestyle hub was funded by the Invest South/West initiative, the Pritzker Traubert Foundation and the Chicago Bears. The University of Illinois health and urgent care facility is expected to serve over 30,000 residents by providing medical, dental and mental health services. The healthy lifestyle hub is just the latest in economic developments coming to the neighborhood. In addition to the lifestyle hub, Yellow Banana, which owns the Save-A-Lot Grocery Store chain plans to add a new store around the corner and there is an affordable housing development under construction across the street from the Lifestyle Hub.

The healthy lifestyle hub was built using a majority of minority-owned service providers. According to Teresa Prem real estate consultant on the project, 73% of the service contracts were contracted to minority-owned firms and a majority of the workforce consisted of members of the community. Also residing in the

phi Beta Fraternity,sigma inc. to Host GiveawayTurkey to Help Families

Tammy Gibson CNW Staff Writer

In the spirit of giving, the Upsilon Sigma Chap ter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., will host its third annual Thanksgiving Day of Service Tur key Giveaway, Sunday, November 20, 2022, at 11 a.m. at the Larry Williams State Farm located at 5932 W. Lake Street, Chicago, IL. Upsilon Sigma Chapter is partnering with Larry Williams State Farm Insurance Agency, Thrive Life Wellness Center, and another Phi Beta Sigma Chapter, Pi Psi Sigma. The chapter’s goal is to give away 108 frozen turkeys to commemorate the fraternity’s establishment on January 9, 1914, on the campus of Howard University in Washington, D.C. Justice of the Appellate Court, Judge Carl A. Walk er, is the chapter president. Walker says Upsilon Sigma Chapter has been actively giving back to the communi ty. He wants to ensure the less fortunate have a thankful holiday for Thanksgiving. For the past two years, Walk er says families were very grateful that the chapter was able to help them in their time of need. “We had people so happy that they were in tears just to be able to get a free meal,” says Walker.

Larry Horne, Chairperson of Community Service, said the responses were positive and not only receiving a turkey but seeing African Ameri can men work ing together and providing assis tance to the community. Even during the pandem ic, while many organizations could not volunteer, the chapter still provided holiday food to those in need. “During the pandemic, it was hard on many families and the nation. A lot of families were very appreciative, especially during the pandemic, that we were able to put food on their table,” says Horne.

When Black Greek Letter Organizations have been perceived as negative, giving back, mentorship, and helping brothers and sisters in the community is essen tial to Upsilon Sigma Chapter. “It’s not about wearing the letters, stepping, and strolling. It’s about providing a service and being a role model in the community,” says Horne.

Walker says it’s crucial that the male youth see a group of African American men work and bond together in the name of brotherhood. Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. was founded on the core principles: “Brotherhood, Scholarship and Service.” “Brotherhood is crucial be cause it’s the foundation upon which we all work to

gether cohesively and as a family. Scholarship is vital because we require individuals to attend college in or der to become a member of our organization. We hold scholarships at the highest level for undergrad students. Their primary reason for going to school is to get an education. Service is the primary basis for our existence that allows us to give better service to the community,” says Walker.

To receive a frozen turkey (one per household and reg istration is preferred), interested in sponsoring a family, donate a frozen turkey, or make a monetary donation, please contact Larry Horne at (331) 315-8868 or email at thanksgivingusc.pbs@gmail.com.

For more information about Upsilon Sigma Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., go to http://www. upsilonsigmapbs.org/.

Tammy Gibson is an author, re-enactor, and black history traveler. Find her on social media @sankofa travelher

Emmett Till statue unveiled in Greenwood, Ms

Tammy Gibson CNW Staff Writer

The Greenwood, MS, community unveiled a 9-foot bronze statue of Emmett Till Friday, Oct. 21. The statue, located at Rail Spike Park, is an estimated 10 miles from Bryant’s Grocery in Money, MS, where Carolyn Bryant, a white store clerk, accused Till of whistling/ flirting with her. Ironically it’s a short distance from a Confederate monument that has stood outside of the Leflore County Courthouse since 1913.

Democratic State Senator David Jordan of Green wood, MS, played an essential role in helping pass legislation and securing $150,000 in state funding for the statue. The statue’s unveiling coincides with the movie “Till,” released last month. Matt Glen, a Utah artist, was commissioned to create the statue. Con gressman Bennie Thompson, who attended the cere mony, posted on social media that “Emmett Till will not be remembered by the atrocities he endured, but by the justice pursued in his honor.” The statue will be protected from vandalism with security cameras. Just days after the unveiling of the Emmett Till stat ue, Argo Community High School held a ground breaking ceremony of the Mamie Till-Mobley and Emmett Till Memorial. The bronze statue of Till-Mo bley will be located on the corner of 63rd Street and 74th Avenue in Summit, Illinois. Till-Mobley graduated from Argo Community High School in 1940. She was the first Black student to make the “A” Honor Roll and the fourth Black student to gradu ate. The sculptor is Sonja Henderson. The statue and plaza will be unveiled on April 29, 2023.

In 1955, Emmett Till and his cousin Wheeler Park er spent the summer in Mississippi with relatives. On Aug. 24, 1955, Till and his cousins, Wheeler Parker, Jr., and Simeon Wright, went to Bryant’s Grocery to buy candy. Carolyn Bryant, a white female clerk, accused Till of whistling at her. Bryant’s husband Roy and half-brother J.W. Milan kidnapped, murdered, and threw Till’s body in the Tallahatchie River. Till’s heinous murder shocked the world and sparked the Civil Rights Movement. Till-Mobley made the courageous decision to decline the mortician at A.A. Rayner and Sons Funeral Homes to touch up her son’s body and insisted on an open casket at Roberts Temple Church of God. Till-Mobley wanted the world to see what was done to her son.

For decades, Emmett Till’s family has sought justice for his kidnapping and murder. The Department of Justice reopened the investigation when Till’s accuser, Carolyn Bryant said she lied about the advances Till made towards her in her trial testimony. The family of Donham denied that she recanted her allegations about Till. The department closed its investigation in 2021.

In 2022, an unserved 1955 warrant for Ms. Roy Bryant was found in the basement of a Mississippi courthouse. The Mississippi Attorney General refused to prosecute Donham. On March 29, 2022, President Joe Biden signed the Emmett Till Anti-Lynching Act, making lynching a federal hate crime. The bill passed on Feb. 28, 2022, in a 422-3

vote after the anti-lynching bill failed in Congress over 200 times since 1900. Tammy Gibson is an author and Black history traveler. Find her on social media @sankofatravelher.

Hows your water working ?

By Mila K. Marshall CNW Staff Writer

CHICAGO WATER SOURCES

BLACk CHICAGO

has a unique relationship with water. The Chicago River and Lake Michigan are beloved by locals and visitors. Fortunately, Black Chicago lives in a water metropolis with access to over 20 miles of shoreline and 26 public beaches, historic and award winning marinas and the world's largest source of freshwater.

Water in the city is a big deal and for decades water conscious developers, environmental advocacy groups and municipal leadership have worked to protect and manage our most precious natural resource. An exam ple of how forward thinking Chicago had become is that of the creation of a binational non-profit organi zation for mayors and other leaders to work collabora tively to protect and manage shared lakes and rivers of the region. Back in 2003 then Mayor Richard Daley and the mayor of Toronto, Canada partnered to found and lead the Cities Initiative. Just how important is our Chicago water system? Ninety five percent of the nation's freshwater supply is in Lakes Huron, Michi gan, Eerie, Superior and Ontario.

Both the Chicago River and Lake Michigan flow to gether to create a world class vibe that draws millions to Lake Michigan shorelines and the river walk. Our lake is the 2nd largest of the five Great Lakes and is

the only one completely in America. We may have most of the water, but many Black Chicagoans may not have all the awareness of water issues, water agen cies, water advocates and water entrepreneurs. We’ve heard about the “green economy” here in Chicago, we have a blue economy too.

Know youR waTER

Water falls into two categories, drinking water and wastewater. The water that comes out of residential and commercial faucets is managed by the Chicago Department of Water, and rainwater and water that is flushed down toilets and drains is managed by Metro politan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chica go. These two agencies work together to deliver water and remove water from homes and businesses in the Chicago metro area.

“People may not know that the MWRD reversed the flow of the Chicago and Calumet River systems,'' Commissioner Steele shared, “Also they may not know that we do not provide drinking water as we are often confused with the Chicago Department of Water Management” she continued.” Depending on where you are located wastewater flows to any of MWRD’s seven water reclamation plants for treatment.

The service area for each of the agencies isn’t that different. MWRD provides sanitation services to municipalities in the Cook County region including Chicago and 128 other cities. The agency was first created in 1889 by the Illinois General Assembly to protect Chicago's only source of drinking water. Chicago drinking water serves the 77 communities in addition to 120 suburbs. While these two agencies are autonomous politically, they work together to protect water from pathogens, pollutants and poor policies. Black Chicago is in need of water protections from a range of threats and stressors like; urban flooding, lead contaminated water, water affordability and blue jobs Commissioner Steele, the current President of the Board of Commissioners of MWRD, believes there is a wide range of work to protect our water environ ment. “Our combined sewer systems are designed to share both sanitary and stormwater flow through the same pipes, eventually leading to our water reclama tion plants” shared Steele.

MWRD transforms nearly 1.3 billion gallons of water daily and Commissioner Steele travels around Cook County educating the public and building bridges with community leaders.

DOW is charged with the safe delivery of drinking water. Legislation like the Safe Drinking Water Act

establishes water standards for about 90 contaminants. Policies are created to provide a guideline that elected officials, businesses and the general public can use to inform decisions and hold violators accountable.

Just a little under 1 billion gallons of water per day are pumped from strategically placed pumping sta tions. About 2-miles offshore,12 stations work around the clock to provide clean drinking water Water from the natural world may not be of the highest quality so it must be chemically treated. According to the department's website there are 5 chemicals used for disinfection.

For lake water to become safe drinking water, chlo rine disinfects, aluminum sulfate settles out impuri ties, blended phosphates coat pipes to prevent lead from contaminating water, activated carbon removes taste and odors and fluoride helps fight cavities in children’s teeth.

Community groups like ‘Blacks In Green’ have stepped up to build bridges to Black communities so they can be informed on what’s with their water.

Naomi Davis is a living legend and champion of environmental justice. A former environmental lawyer for Chicago Naomi’s Southside Green Living Room, located at 6431 S. Cottage Grove in the Woodlawn community, was transformed into a water warriors training ground. Alicia Sanders from US Environmen tal Protection Agency shared environmental justice grants, Jeremy Orr of Earthjustice shared legislative wins and the legacy of lead in Chicago water and En vironmental Policy Innovation Center’s Jeremiah Orr shared his thoughts on equity water and expert voices from the community.

wHaT’s in youR waTER

Saturday’s ‘Water Justice Now,’ was a conversation on what’s in your water and what you can do about

it highlighted the need for the Black community to move from informed to engaged. Chicago has 400,000 lead service lines and if you’re a person of color, despite your income, it is a high likelihood that your water service lines are made with lead. Why do we have so many? Despite the known public health risks of lead the city of Chicago continued to use lead lines until they were banned at the federal level in 1986 while other cities had stopped decades before.

waTER QualiTy

Covid exposed the fragility of water vulnerabilities of Black Chicagoans spurring water ordinances to prevent privatization and extend relief to low-income Chicagoans. Those attempts to address financial relief have not resulted in passed ordinances. What else is in our water that should concern us besides lead? Com missioner Steele lifts up microplastics as and forever chemicals known as PFAS as contaminants of concern.

“We need everyone’s help to limit the spread of these contaminants and the source of the pollution to en sure we can keep these out of our water environment.”

Water is a basic human right and our government and its agencies should be working to ensure this resource is of the highest quality, especially for vulner able populations. Over 50% of prisoners incarcerated in Illinois state prisons and jails are Black. Reports of unsafe drinking water, and confirmed the presence of bacteria that causes Legionnaires disease was reported by the Chicago Sun-Times in August of 2022 but have been public for quite some time. Families of those impacted have been organizing to Governor Pritzker’s office to put an end to the inhumane condi tions their loved ones must face daily.

The pipeline of water information is leaky. Often times residents are not aware of services, programs and subsidies. Property owners that are curious as to

the quality of their water can get free water testing done by the city by calling 311. Home-based child care providers can get free assistance for testing, lead abatement and other technical support from Elevate through their Leadcare Illinois program. Passionate water allies can learn to organize and strategize by joining The Black Water Council with Naomi Davis at Blacks In Green.

The waters of our region support our health and our economy. The summer of 2022 brought about new businesses like Sea Black Charters, a Black-owned company that offered cruises on Lake Michigan or the Chicago River docked at 31st street Harbor south of Margaret Burroughs Beach. Also behind Altgeld Gar dens a piece of our history forever commemorated by a local landmark. Chicago’s Finest Marina sits on the Little Calumet River and is owned by the Gaines fam ily. This evolving marina is a stop on the Underground Railroad and is one of 11 Black owned marinas in the world and is looking to create a riverfront community of educated boaters and a new generation of Black tradesmen and women working in and around water.

“Clean and healthy water is very important to my family's business,'' shares Charlotte Stanton, co-owner of Sea Black Charters. I’m more involved and aware of what makes the water dirty than ever before” she continued.

Charlotte and husband Jacare Thomas pass on water literacy to their customers, educating them on how to enjoy their cruises and how to keep the water healthy.

At Chicago’s Finest Marina tours are given by environmental groups teaching the public about the region's river system through culturally relevant pro gramming like the African American Heritage Water Trail. Our water is our world and it is our right to have clean water. Let this be an invitation to join those who are shaping a future for clean water for us all.

Arts & Culture

Pemon Rami Pens Memoir

Growing up when Blackness was Golden

Tammy Gibson CNW StaffWriter

RAmI

American culture, pride, and love ruled supreme. Rami honors sig nificant contributors to the history of the Chicago Black Renais sance that has been overlooked or forgotten.

chicago news

weekly: what inspired you to write a memoir?

PEMON R AMI: I wanted to tell the story of the number of people I met and the significant contributions that were made between the 1950-1980s, which I considered to be the golden era of the development of Black art, culture, theater and the movement in Chicago. The pandemic allowed me the time to be able to actually sit down and put the pen to paper. It’s the story of my involvement in theater and film, and the number of people that have been forgotten in terms of history and their contributions that made me want to write the book.

chicago new weekly:

chicago?

PEMON R AMI: In the 1950s we got to a place where we appreciated our Black ness. We celebrated our hair, referring to each other as Brother’ or ‘Sister,’ and con tinued to be more respectful of our elders as was our tradition. That became the cul ture we evolved into. We went from that to a movement of Black power, resilience, and cultural identity.

chicago news weekly: How did chicago shape you into the person you are today?

PEMON R AMI: I initially grew up in what is now known as Bronzeville. My fam ily lived on Indiana and Prairie in tenement buildings. Part of the reason we moved out because a rat climbed into my younger brother’s crib when he was born. My fa ther said he couldn’t deal with the rats in the building anymore.

At that time, the Chicago Housing Projects were being built. We moved to Stateway Gardens, which at that point, was abso lutely incredible. It was manicured lawns. All the utilities were brand-new. The Chicago Symphony Orchestra would entertain us on the weekends, which most people found hard to believe.

Martin Luther King, Jr. came to speak one weekend in 1956 when I was 15 years old. It was an incredible environment when the community was rich with cultural institutions and places we could go to, like the Savoy Ballroom, Provident Hospital, DuSable Museum, South Side Community Art Center and the YMCA on Wabash. It was an incredible community of enrich ment and love.

chicago news weekly: Do you believe Blackness is still golden in 2022?

PEMON R AMI: It’s not as golden as it was. Our work is still in an environment of golden possibilities. What I mean by that is young people are doing wonderful things but not getting cov erage from the media. The media used to be a great tool for ex ploring of what we were doing that was great. That went by way of Ebony, Jet, Essence, and many community-based newspapers and radio shows that have gone away. We must get back to the understanding that our community grows as we grow. There are enough of us that have been educated, and what I’m calling edu cation is an understanding of your responsibility to Black people and the world that will help us to move back to garner the kind of respect and commitment that will help us move forward.

“When Blackness Was Golden!” Observations From the Front Line!” is available for purchase at The Silver Room, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, BookBaby, Baker & Taylor, BAM, and Ingram and Powell’s City of Books.

Tammy Gibson is an author, and Black history traveler. Find her on social media @sankofatravelher.

PEmOn

is an international film producer, activist, influencer, and educator who has unselfishly used his talents to develop greatness in others. His memoir “When Blackness Was Golden!” Observations From the Front Line!” thrusts

what was your experience growing up during the civil Rights Movement in

We celebrated our hair, referring to each other as Brother’ or ‘Sister,’ and continued to be more respectful of our elders as was our tradition.

BLUE HEAVEN at Black Ensemble Theatre

Marti worell Arts & Culture Editor

The Blues comes to life on the Black Ensemble Theatre stage. Blue Heaven is set in a simple, understated music venue reminiscent of those where the Blues is often experienced. One by one, musical artists whose names and music are known around the world to enter the club, each one belting out a signature tune as their ticket for admission. They are Howlin’ Wolf, played by Lyle Miller, Muddy Waters, played by Dwight Heal, Big Mama Thornton, played by Miciah Lathan and Stevie Ray Vaughan, played by Billy Rude. As they chide each other playfully, the bond they share as members of the Blues elite musical is clear. The love, respect, and comradery are clearly seen and felt as this group shares music and career stories.

You would think this much Blues genre royalty would be enough but there is one more legend on the way to the club and no one knows who it is. But when he ar rives on the scene, BB King enters, playing his beloved guitar the world knows as “Lucille.”

Although this little tidbit is not in the play, it’s important to share. BB’s guitar known as Lucille seems obvious. Like you, I always thought Lucille was a special woman in his life. In the early days of his career, B B King often played in a little club in Twist, Arkansas. Probably a juke joint. To heat the club on very cold nights, the owner would fill a large metal can with kerosene fuel, place it in the center of the room, and light it. The people would dance around it while the musicians played. One night a fight broke out and the can was knocked over. The burning kerosene quickly set the wood building aflame and everyone ran for the door including B B. Once outside, he realized he had left his beloved guitar behind and, without think ing, ran back into the collapsing building to retrieve it.

The next morning, he learned the fight was over a woman whose name was Lucille. In that moment he decided to name all his guitars, “Lucille” to remind him never to do something that foolish again!

Written by Daryl D. Brooks, BET Producing Managing Director, Blue Heaven shines a light on the life and times of these musical greats through their stories of triumph, joy, love, and shame, bringing each to a place of self-forgiveness. Kudos to the members of this stellar cast for their virtuoso performances and to Jackie Taylor and the Black Ensemble Theatre for continuing to share our stories with passion and authenticity! Blue Heaven runs through Nov. 27. Visit www.blackensembletheatre. org for tickets. Next up: Jackie Taylor’s Joy to the World: A Holiday Celebration. Performances will be December 10 & 11, 17 & 18. Celebrate the holidays and make a joyful noise with the Black Ensemble Theatre!

AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM MEDICARE

Medicare plans change every year and so can your health. Now’s the time to compare your current Medicare plan to other options and choose the right plan for your health and your budget.

Use Medicare.gov to easily compare options for Medicare health and prescription drug plans. Do a side-by-side comparison of: ·

Medicare Savings Programs, run by your state, can help lower your healthcare costs.

If you’re single with an income of $20,000 or less, or if you’re married with an income of $25,000 or less, you may be eligible to save with Medicare Savings Programs.

Call your state Medicaid office at 1-888-342-6207.

ivy Hall Makes History as illinois’ First Black social Equity cannabis Retailer

By Mila K. Marshall CNW Staff Writer

monday November 14th, Chicago’s northside community of Bucktown formally welcomed a new weed com pany.

Ivy Hall located at 1728 N. Damen opened their doors rooting themselves as a part of Black cannabis history. As Nigel Dandridge took the podium the look on his mother’s face who is also a partner in the endeavor, blossomed with pride. Intergenerational investments in the cannabis sector are inspiring. One of Illinois’ first social equity dispensaries is 61% Black. The Dandridges’ family business operating in Chi cago is proof of how sensible legislation can remove barriers for BIPOC cannabis companies.

Nigel Dandridge expressed gratitude for local and state policy makers that worked to create a pathway for social equity endeavors such as Ivy Hall.

While the Dandridge family has the North Damen location as one of the first, it will not be their last. The brand has plans to open multiple locations in Crystal Lake and Montgomery, IL in the near future.

The morning was infused with photo ops with State Rep. Kelly Cassidy and Deputy Mayor Samir Mayekar and the ceremonious ribbon cutting with the larg er-than-life scissors. Surrounded by staff, family and friends Ivy Hall begins its journey to become the lead ing dispensary in Illinois. Nigel’s remarks were warm and heartfelt as he reflected on the many years of work

and preparation.

“Three years is too long”, stated a passionate State Rep.Cassidy in her remarks as she congratulated Nigel Dandridge and his partners on their momen tous accomplish ment. Cheerful Cassidy took a moment to lift up the much-needed banking access for all of the industry and acknowledged there is much more work to do.

Inside Ivy, Chica go’s first Black owned cannabis brand 93 Boyz sits on the shelves. Founded by Chicago native vibe curator, musician and activist Vic Mensa, Ivy reminds us Black Chicago is leading the way the city brings our buddies along.

While the young company isn’t even a week old, their living legacy already opens the doors for other hopefuls entering the industry; Budtender, Human Resources Coordinator and Senior Marketing Coordi nator Current positions are posted on their LinkedIn

page as positions they are seeking to fill.

Ivy Hall hours are Monday-Thursday 9 a.m.- 9 p.m., Fridays/Saturdays 9 a.m.-10 p.m., and Sundays 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Surrounded by staff, family and friends, State Rep. Kelly Cassidy, Owner Nigel Dandridge and Deputy Mayor Samir Mayekar cut the ceremonial ribbon at Ivy Hall, the first Black owned social equity dispensary in Illinois.

photo courtesy of The Gemini Group,

what is the Key unlocking the secret to Becoming an intentional Millionaire?

By Dr. sakira Jackson CNW Columnist

Unless you are dead you have heard about the best-selling book The Secret. The Secret is a 2006 self-help book by Rhonda Byrne, based in principle that thoughts become things. It sold 20 million copies worldwide. While many doubt the book, it is still true if you want to change your results you must change how you think. Over the years I’ve found that you can use this principle too if you put your mind too it. I call it the Intention Principle. So how do you as a motivated, high-per forming entrepreneur utilize this practice to grow your business to millions in sales? The book the Secret describes how to improve one’s life, relationships, and health through visualization, however the author didn’t outline the visualization process or what to do once you have the vision. In my coach program we not only outline the process; but also, through specific exercises engage in visualization that implement it your business and your life. We call it intentional visioning. It’s a six-step process that be gins with Vision (visualization).

To begin, first you push your mind to a time in the future, 3 to 5 years away, push your mind so that you can see the future clearly. The second step of the Intention Principle ™ is Imagination.

Begin by imagining what your business growth is and the changes have already taken place. This includes the types of clients you have, what they say about you, the number of sales, etc. be incred ibly detailed. Only move to step three when you can see this in your mind. Step three you will identify a specific set of intentions that you believe you will have completed when your vision is manifested. For the non-intentional business owner, this task is a little daunt ing and is usually one reason why the Intentional Vision does not manifest. Here is where many people drop the ball, because “I believe it when I see it” shows up. And because their belief is limited to what they can currently see they are unable to push themselves to believe it and the see it. This the point of the true test. Believing is Seeing. Many of my Intentional Million aire Members have completed the ex ercise and the results are astounding. From increased sales from $60,000 a month to $500,000 per month, from new homes to multimillion dol lar contracts, when the mind can perceive it, the world can achieve. Keep in mind, everything that you use, buy or want to buy was conceived in the mind of someone first. when you

change your mind to “I’ll see it when I believe it”, the mind can become creative and expansive.

Step 4 is Attention. Now that you have intention, you must focus part of your mind on seeing the real world what you have in your mind. Look for opportunities, avenues and paths to towards your vision. Create a task list of what you think you might have to do to get to the vision. Do not worry about being right or all inclusive. Start from where you are. “Action” is the next step, don’t get stuck here as many people do. Don’t worry about what you don’t know. Again start from where you are. Trust, have faith. Take the leap. The next action will be there once you start. Why do good intentions fall off? Most good intentions fall off because of Step #5. Fear, procrastination and non-belief show up and derail many a plan. The cemeteries are filled with great intentions. Not because they ar en’t but due to lack of action. Have you ever noticed there is a little voice in your head questioning your abili

ty to achieve? It whispers reasons why your plan of action can’t or won’t work. Quiet that voice that keeps you from achieving your vision with the last step for Manifestation, it’s called the “The 5 Second Rule”. Whenever the anxi ety, doubt, uncertainty starts, you start countdown Like a NASA space launch 5- 4 – 3 – 2 – 1. Lift off towards your vision. The same meta-physical energy required to launch a rocket is what you need to launch you towards your vision. These are 6 steps of the Intention Principle™ – Vision, Imagination, In tention, Attention, Action and Man ifestation™. And no, you can’t skip as step. If you do, you will not get the results you seek. It does not mat ter what is it is you are envisioning.

Politics

erick Sawyer says, “appropriates the legacy of one of the most be loved African American leaders in Chicago history.”

days after he was re-elected to the IL House of Representatives, Jesus ‘Chuy’ Garcia an nounced his run for Chicago mayor. This is Garcia’s second run for Mayor after an un successful bid in 2015. He joins an increasingly crowd ed list of opponents vying to unseat Mayor Lori Light foot in the 2023 election.

“Now is the time to revitalize our neighborhoods, strengthen our schools and bring safety back to our streets because we believe in a Chicago for everyone, a welcoming Chicago, the same Chicago that welcomed me as a 9-year-old immigrant boy and gave me a fight ing chance to dream big,” Garcia said at his news con ference.

Garcia made his announcement on the 40th anniver sary of Harold Washington’s announcement to run for mayor. A move one of his challengers, Alderman Rod

In a statement, Alderman Saw yer said, “The race is about what you can do for Chicago today, not who you rubbed elbows with 35 years ago. With all due respect to Rep. Garcia, he served in the City Council under Harold Washington for about 19 months before Mayor Harold Washington passed. Rep Garcia has found his way into a variety of offices over the years, but he hasn’t been a part of our city leadership or our legislation or our budgeting for more than 30 years. I had the tremen dous opportunity to sit with Mayor Washington many times, and he gave me advice on a great many things, including law school and how to navigate it. My father was very close to Mayor Washington, serving as both his Rules committee chairman as well as his President Pro-tempore in the City Council. I grew up with May or Washington visiting my father’s office regularly as our State Senator and congressman. He was a friend to our family, and yet I haven’t tried to wrap myself in his

legacy the way Rep. Garcia has.”

Representative Garcia previously endorsed Lori Light foot over then-challenger, Toni Preckwinkle in the 2019 election. He says now that was a mistake and said Chicago needs a mayor that will unify and not be di visive.

Garcia joins the race for Mayor with Paul Vallas, State Rep, Kam Buckner, cook County Commissioner, Bran don Johnson, Willie Wilson, Ja’Mal Green, and Alds. Raymond Lopez, Sophia King, and Roderick Sawyer.

Chicago’s Mayoral Election is in Feb. 2023.

Chuck D on Death of Takeoff: ‘When Corporations Show Up God Leaves the Room’

#LETITBEknOWn

NNPA NEWSWIRE — “I don’t blame the youth. You’ve got to blame some adults hiding behind the scenes, pied piping and pied papering all of this madness and making this kind of thing seem normal. Was there a shootout at a dice game? Yes. Were Black men involved in that circle? Yes. But it’s somebody pushing buttons and pulling levers and not only doing so but they have been greatly enriched financially by these incidents.”

Chuck said the life artists today lead today, compared to earlier hip-hop stars, is different.

By stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent @StacyBrownMedia

Asfamily, friends, and fans, contin ue to mourn the death of Migos member Takeoff, the demand for hiphop to take a stand against gun violence has grown.

While many have expressed disbelief and anger that the shooting death of the 28-year-old, whose real name is Kirshnik Khari Ball, took place allegedly because of an argument over a dice game.

Fans on social media and the main stream press have quickly tossed blame at everyone from Takeoff’s bandmate Quavo to clothing boss J. Prince Jr. and even to the slain rap star himself.

And as always, hip-hop has come under fire.

That’s no surprise to legendary Public Enemy frontman Chuck D, whom most

In putting in a perspective as perhaps only the “Fight the Power” artist can, Chuck noted that any other industry that has seen as many fatalities as hiphop would have addressed that issue long ago.

And Chuck doesn’t put the blame en tirely on the artists.

“This curiosity of what is this hip-hop thing, what is this Black thing. The world always seems to want to know and mimic our greatness,” Chuck asserted in a 30-minute interview with the Black Press of America’s live morning news program, “Let It Be Known.

“And if they can find a way to finance and have our people mimic us at our worst – the stereotype that generalizes us as a bunch of murderous thugs and metastasize that over a 10-15-20-year period as being normal, then we got a problem.”

He continued:

“I don’t blame the youth. You’ve got to blame some adults hiding behind the scenes, pied piping and pied paper ing all of this madness and making this kind of thing seem normal. Was there a shootout at a dice game? Yes. Were Black men involved in that circle? Yes. But it’s somebody pushing buttons and pulling levers and not only doing so but they have been greatly enriched financially by these incidents.”

Takeoff’s death counts among a string of murders in the hip-hop community over the past several years.

Other high-profile murders include PnB Rock, Pop Smoke, XXXTentacion, Nipsey Hustle, King Von, and Young Dolph.

“I was in college when Biggie and ‘Pac

we’d ever experience anything remotely close to that again,” media personality Jemele Hill tweeted following Takeoff’s death.

“Now,” Hill continued. “It’s happening so frequently that you barely have time to recover before someone else is killed.”

Chuck noted that a large part of the argument about hip-hop deaths and vio lence comes from many who don’t con sider all available facts.

“There are hundreds of thousands of artists out there,” he said when asked whether the younger artists pay atten tion to the old heads.

“Who do you count? Do you count the more successful ones because more people like them? When we start getting into followers and likes, those algorithms don’t add up to who we are as a people,” Chuck insisted.

He explained:

“I have ten stations on Rap Station (Radio). We play artists from the under ground and under-found. We play artists with a 10-15-year career, women world wide and in more abundance than in the United States.”

Chuck continued:

“If you only pay attention to what’s be ing washed up on your shores, you’re go ing to get a limited view of what it really is. There is really no kind of educational forum that people can go to like in oth er aspects of life. Our arts and culture should be taught to us. If we don’t con trol our educational curriculum, we’re going to let corporations teach us. And, whenever corporations show up, God walks out the door.”

In a recent podcast, Takeoff spoke about receiving his flowers before he died.

“It’s time to pop it,” Takeoff said on “Drink Champs.”

“It’s time to give me my flowers. I don’t want them later when I’m not here. I want them right now.”

Chuck said the life artists today lead today, compared to earlier hip-hop stars, is different.

“At the beginning of hip-hop, especially in the real beginning, cats wanted to get away from that,” Chuck recounted.

“They didn’t want to be in the Bronx. New York City had been deemphasized and abandoned by the U.S.A. during a tough fiscal time post-Nixon. Cats saw the emergence of hard drugs coming in out of nowhere. Guns coming out of no where, and cats wanted to get away from that, and they didn’t want to [rhyme] about that in the 1980s.

He concluded:

“You had MCs and rappers who ad hered to those values and qualities. We could have “The Message” by Grand master Flash and the Furious Five that talked about what’s going on, but they also made party records to not talk about things people saw every day.

“There was a balance to at least try to bring good times into the picture. Peo ple often said Public Enemy bought a political message, but we came from the 1960s, so we remember a time of being broke but not broken.

“Many cats came from the 1970s doing hip hop in the 1980s and 1990s.

“We came from the Black Panther Par ty doing lunch programs, the Nation of Islam doing things in the neighborhood. We remember Dr. Martin Luther King and Malcolm X being assassinated when they were living people to us.

“On my birth certificate, it says ‘Ne gro.’ I remember being ‘Colored’ and ‘Black is Beautiful.’ That’s a different pe riod that has been kind of pushed under the rug in Americana.”

Russia Transfers BRITTnEY GRInER to DREADED PEnAL COLOnY

By stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent @StacyBrownMedia

nnpa nEwswiRE — A court convicted Griner in August of trying to wsmuggle narcotics. She received a nineyear sentence, which an appeals court up held last month. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said President Biden had di rected all in the admin istration to prevail on her “Russian captors” to improve Griner’s treatment and the con ditions many must en dure in the country’s penal col ony. Individuals who’ve spent time at one of Russia’s infa mous penal colonies reported that prisoners aren’t allowed outside contact for weeks.

attorneys for Griner said they don’t expect to know her exact location for a couple of weeks.

Russian authorities have trans ferred Brittney Griner to the country’s dreaded penal colony, a move that, while expected, she and her family had hoped could be avoided.

Attorneys for Griner said they don’t expect to know her exact location for a couple of weeks.

Russian officials jailed Griner in February when au thorities arrested her at a Moscow airport after finding a small amount of cannabis oil in her luggage

A court convicted Griner in August of trying to smug gle narcotics. She received a nine-year sentence, which an appeals court upheld last month.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said President Biden had directed all in the administration to prevail on her “Russian captors” to improve Griner’s treatment and the conditions many must endure in the country’s penal colony.

Individuals who’ve spent time at one of Russia’s infa mous penal colonies reported that prisoners aren’t al lowed outside contact for weeks.

The colonies are notorious for corrections officers’ repeated abuse of prisoners, violence among inmates, lack of food, and inadequate sanitation.

Confirmed reports said the United States government had offered to swap the so-called “Merchant of Death” Viktor Bout for Griner and another imprisoned Amer ican, Paul Whelan.

Bout, who’s serving a 25-year federal prison sentence and notorious for his desire to kill Americans, report edly has been at the top of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s wish list.

“We communicated a substantial offer that we believe could be successful based on a history of conversations with the Russians,” a senior administration official said

earlier this year. “We communicated that many weeks ago, in June.”

The families of Whelan, who Russia has held for al leged espionage since 2018, and WNBA star Griner, jailed in Moscow for drug possession since February, have urged the White House to secure their release, in cluding via a prisoner exchange, if necessary, the report stated.

During her court testimony, Griner said she’s still un sure how cannabis oil ended up in her luggage.

She said a doctor recommended cannabis oil for her injuries on the basketball court.

“I still don’t understand to this day how they ended up in my bags,” Griner said, adding that she was aware of the Russian law outlawing cannabis oil and that she had not intended to break it.

“I didn’t have any intention to use or keep in my pos session any substance that is prohibited in Russia,” Gri ner said.

U.S. officials continue to wait for word from the Rus sian government on whether they will accept the swap.

Dior Dresses Harrods for Christmas

c l Blackburn Contributig Witer

Ifyou haven’t completed your winter hol iday travel plans consider a weekend in London, where you can experience the fashion excursion of a lifetime creed as a collaborative partnership for you to enjoy.

Like fashion itself, the House of Dior French luxury fashion has given Harrods a makeover. With a lot of finesse, Harrods has metamorphically become a giant glamorous gingerbread house for the 2022 hol iday season. Dior has taken over 44 window displays and illuminates the façade with stars, roses and other flowers.

The Fabulous World of Dior’s Harrods’ makeover runs through January 3, 2023, and celebrates Mon sieur Christian Dior’s love of British elegance and the fashion house’s ongoing partnership with the luxury department store. The Christmas collaboration also marks the largest luxury brand takeover of Harrods. It’s a lovely love affair between the two powerhouses that only beauty can create.

window Displays and illuminating Façade

The main attraction of Dior’s transformation clearly is the mag ical display across the 44 window installations, with “small theatres of wonder” to be seen from Bromp ton Road to Hans Crescent, via part of Basil Street. Inspired by the “celebration of dreams and Dior savoirfaire,” each display is showcased against a backdrop of gingerbread, with decorative moldings and details of sculpted sugar and caramel, alongside outfits designed by Maria Grazia Chiuri for the Dior cruise 2023 line, Dior beauty, and fragrances.

While the Brompton Road façade of Harrods has been decked out in an impressive installation, reinterpreting sketches created by Chiuri and Roman artist Pietro Ruffo for the Dior cruise 2023 collection. Highlights include the classic Dior references, such as the compass rose, a symbol precious to the founding couturier, as well as celestial choreography and stars displayed on the ornate Edwardian architecture of the department store. Dior has also fashioned a central star structure, erected to an impressive height of seventeen metres, the build ing’s largest structure to date, which appears to dance before the dome of the British department store, beck oning visitors within. While a few steps away, on Hans Crescent, the entrance at Door n°5 is ornamentally flanked by a majestic forest of biscuit fir trees.

Two exclusive pop-ups

Not to deny its unique creative approach to form, shape and color Dior has taken its design presenta tion by staging two exclusive multi-experience popups, which draw their décor from “the most beautiful

Christmas fairytales, inside the landmark department store. The first, designed as an authen tic gingerbread house, consti tutes Monsieur Dior’s Atelier and features the fashion house’s signature leather goods and accessories, including the Lady Dior and Dior Book Tote.

The second pop-up not to disappoint offers a gift shop inspired by a cabinet of curiosities featuring “the perfect present,” from ready-to-wear to shoes. Highlights in clude sweaters adorned with poetic patterns, homeware items from the Dior Chez Moi capsule, and a series of T-shirts featuring socially aware prints evoking the first-ever collection of Maria Grazia Chiuri for Dior.

Dior highlights beauty and fragrance

This Christmas emergence goal is to highlight all ar eas of Dior, including beauty and fragrance, which are getting two additional temporary spaces. One is dedi cated to La Collection Privée Christian Dior fragrance collection, complete with a dream workshop “tracing the history of Dior through the prism of its signature compositions” including Gris Dior, Ambre Nuit, Oud Ispahan and Bois d’Argent. While the other focuses on “mark-up, the art of perfume and exceptional pamper ing,” explains Dior in the press release.

‘Kingdom of Dreams’ exhibition

Alongside window displays, pop-ups and a café, Dior has also created an exclusive in-store ‘Kingdom of Dreams’ exhibition that explores the tradition of

gingerbread houses. Dior has crafted its landmark lo cations, from Granville to La Colle Noire and 30 Mon taigne, entirely out of gingerbread cookies in micro proportions.

The enchanting display recounts the Dior journey so far, from gingerbread Monsieur Dior thinking about the future silhouettes he will fashion to trying his hand at embroidery, and in the perfume atelier, there is a scale model of the original Miss Dior dress, echoing the first Dior fragrance. While on Avenue Montaigne, a mischievous fairy transforms a piece of candy into a Bar jacket with a wave of her wand.

le café Dior at Harrods

Once the customer has seen the windows and the illu minated façade, bought a Dior gift or two in the popup, and visited the exhibition, there is only one thing left - to eat a Dior-inspired gingerbread cookie. Inside the French fashion house’s elegant tearoom, complete with chairs dressed in its iconic Dior toile de Jouy, fans can eat gingerbread in the shape of the Dior Bar jacket and the Lady Dior bag, as well as the signature CD Diamond motif and even the 30 Montaigne plaque.

Le Café Dior, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, also offers a menu filled with “classic great classics of French cuisine and culinary specialties with a twist of British influence,” such as Cornish crab with green ap ple, Atlantic lobster Thermidor and its yuzu vinaigrette, and a roasted chestnut velouté with winter chanterelles. For those with a sweet tooth, the menu also offers a selection of gourmet creations, including tarte tatin or pear baba, and pastries reinventing traditional Christ mas desserts, such as a sumptuous honey cake in the shape of a Christmas tree.

Arts & Culture

Chicago’s Stages for THE HOLIDAYs

Marti worell Arts & Culture Editor

It’sNovember, and we’re in the holiday season.

Everyone is making plans for Thanksgiving, Christ mas, Kwanzaa, and New Year’s Eve, and because it finally looks like we’re mov ing further away from our COVID past making fresh starts. Plans include gath ering with family and friends for good food and libations, anticipating sharing old memories and creating new ones, and simply being in a space of the kind of joy that only comes during these holi day festivities. While we all look forward to these warm gatherings, we also look forward to sharing experiences at Chi cago’s many entertainment venues. To help with your entertainment planning, here are a few productions to consider adding to your holiday season activities.

The 1998 Tony Award Winner for Best Musical, The Lion King, begins its triumphant return to Chicago at the Cadillac Theatre on Nov. 17, running through Jan. 14, 2023. The Lion King was a groundbreaking theatrical endeav or as the first live adaptation of a Disney animated film. The creative team, led by visionary playwright, film and stage Director, Julie Taymor known for her masterful use of Asian inspired masks and puppets in costume design, includ ed Tony award winners Garth Fagan (Choreographer) with Sir Elton John and Tim Rice (Musical Score)! If you’ve never seen this magical production, or you want to experience it again, either way, it’s a fantastic way to spend an eve ning with family or friends from ages 6 to 96! Do not hesitate to get your tickets for this fantastic, jaw-dropping, joyful, energetic stage adaptation of the beloved

animated film. Tickets sellout fast. Vis it broadwayinchicago.org for tickets.

Hyde Park’s Court Theatre is taking its audience on a different kind of Af rican journey with their production of The Island written by South African playwright, novelist, actor & director, Athol Fugard along with two more South African playwrights & actors, John Kani (Black Panther, Marvel’s Captain America: Civil War, and Lion King live action remake) Winston Nt shona (Sizwe Banzi is Dead ((play)), The Power of One, Dogs of War).

“The Island” is running at Hyde Park’s Court Theatre. The story is about polit ical prisoners, Winston and John and their survival on South Africa’s infamous Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was held for 18 of his 27-year imprison ment. A sobering glimpse into the so cial, physical, and psychological wounds of Apartheid, “The Island” is a complex work of liberation and a testament to the transformative power of theatre as the audience journey with these two pris

oners who find strength, purpose and friendship after long days of grueling toil at meaningless tasks in the prison quarry, while secretly rehearsing a twoman version of Sophocles’ Greek tragedy Antigone While this African journey is the polar opposite of the feel-good expe rience of Disney’s “The Lion King,” perhaps it will provide the audi ence with a deep er understanding of the human spirit and the in nate will to sur vive in the face of racial oppression and cruelty driven by the delusion of superiority long held by the white South Afrikaners.

“The Island” is as important now as it was when it was produced by The Serpent Players in 1972, we watch members of our political party at tempt to strong arm the Ameri can democratic foundation. As sociate Artistic Director Gabri elle Randle-Bent makes her solo di rectorial debut at

Court, bringing her vision of resistance and resilience to the stage, featuring actors Ronald L. Conner and Kai Ealy. The Island will run through Decem ber 4. Visit courttheatre.org for tickets.

Last Thursday, “Black Panther II: Wakanda Forever, ‘the long awaited se quel opened in theaters across the world. The pressure is immense because of the overwhelming success of its first in stallment. Not spoken out loud much, but the question is, will Chadwick Boseman’s absence make a huge dif ference? What do think? Let us know.

Blue Heaven, Black Ensemble Theatre’s much anticipated production featur ing the stories and music of five of the most influential Blues musicians of all time is running through Dec. 27. Clap your hands, tap your feet, and sing along with the music of Big Momma Thorn ton, Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters, Ste vie Ray Vaughn, and B.B. King. Visit blackensembletheatre.org for tickets.

Other noteworthy productions for the season include Living All Alone Phyllis Hyman Musical at John Ruffins Theatre 47 in Park Forest, IL. This encore perfor mance runs from Nov. 12 through Dec. 11.

A Christmas Carol, Goodman The atre’s cherished holiday retelling of the Christmas classic is celebrating 45 years as a Chicago tradition and must see for holidays. It runs from Nov. 19 through Dec. 31 and tickets are on sale now! Visit goodmantheatre.org to get yours.

Stay tuned to Chicago News Weekly for more of what’s happen ing for the holidays in Chi-town!

Health/Healthy Living

DiaBETEs can BE ManaGED-cHoosE To acT REsponsiBly & saVE a liMB

By clover lee Contributing writer

Ifyou’re Black in America, you know that Diabetes is prevalent amongst African Americans. You also know as Dr.Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health care is the most shocking and the most inhuman because it often results in physical death.” He said that in Chicago at the Medical Committee for Human Rights in 1966. Unfortunately, it still remains true.

suppoRTiVE EViDEncE

Risk factors for diabetes amongst Blacks is overwhelmingly in your face. In your search to identify supportive evidence, you can select any state and seek the impoverished areas. What you will find is that the African-American commu nity in those areas stands out because you will immediately recognize the circumstances that contribute to the perpetual state of poor health. On top of limited access to quality care, there’s few dietary options that can lead to one’s even tual healing and possibly overcoming diabetes. Sadly too many Black communities are actual ly ‘Food Deserts.’ These communities literally have no major grocery stores and the ones that do sell old food. The meat is bad, but not bad enough to be considered rancid, but close. The fruits and vegetables are on their way to bad. The point? There’s no nutritional value gained. How can one manage their well-being?

coMMuniTy oBsTaclEs THaT KEEp you sicK

Sugar is the poison that replaced tobacco. The only good thing about it is that smokers weren’t obese. Now people are obese on top of the added health issues of high blood pressure, diabetes and heart issues. They’re trapped in food deserts where exercise facilities are few and far between, and there are fewer safe parks. The devastating consequence of obesity and diabetes, can both be prevented with proper diet and exercise. Diabetes accelerates the buildup of fats and cholester ol, known as atherosclerosis. The fatty goo accelerates the process that causes the narrowing of blood vessels and decreases the amount of oxygen-rich blood that goes to your organs. If it happens in the heart, you can have a heart attack. And if it happens in your arms and legs, you can develop PAD—peripheral artery disease. If this buildup is left unchecked or undiagnosed in the legs, it can progress to a late stage that’s known as critical limb ischemia, which most likely if not attend ed to will lead to a painful, debilitating, nonhealing wound—an ulcer or gangrene—in your foot. Most doc

tors treat this with an amputation-first strategy, despite the fact that there are minimally invasive procedures that decrease the odds of amputation by 90 percent.

You see why it’s so important to know about your disease?

sMaRT alTERnaTiVE cHoicEs

Being informed provides you the opportunity to manage your disease wisely from a perspective of em powerment. Yes, be the ‘physician and heal thyself.”

There is a procedure called an angiogram, which basically is an X-ray that examines the anatomy of your blood vessels. You shoot a contrast agent into the, or a gas to protect the kidneys, and it tells you what’s open and what’s clogged, right? It’s very easy.

The doctor can use his/her skill set to use a small catheter balloon, a wire, to go in and unclog it.

In minority and underserved areas, 90 percent of pa tients who had an amputation never had an angiogram before it, which is criminal, because up to 90 percent of lower--extremity amputees will die within five years.

The national average of those who aren’t tested is about 50 to 70 percent falling among the Black community.

It’s unfortunate but Black doctors care more about you because you are family. When they see you, they see

their parents, grandparents, siblings, and friends. They want you to keep your limbs, to heal and get better. A caring concerned Black doctor is less likely to ampu tate a limb if they can prevent it from having to be done.

Because of one wonderful young Black doctor, Fo luso Fakorede, MD, the founder of the Heart Dis ease & Amputation Prevention Institute in rural Mississippi; who happened to be an interventional cardiologist and limb-salvage specialist, from 2015 to 2018, amputation rates amongst Blacks decreased by 88 percent in the area just by instituting pre ventive strategies, doing angiograms on patients who needed them, and successfully treating them.

So that is the root of our advocacy fight that led to the es tablishment of the Congressional PAD Caucus in 2019, whose main objective is to prevent amputations that are performed without appropriate anatomic testing and to screen high-risk patients early in the disease process.

In real-time we are seeing diabetes prevalent in 40 and 50-year-olds. That means that in the near future more patients will be unable to exercise and will eventual ly be lost to productivity in society. This is a vicious cycle that we must prevent and it begins with you. .. Be informed and act responsibly regarding your health.

Don’t Distort Harold Washington’s Legacy for Your Own Benefit

letter to the Editor

would be especially insensitive for any candidates who are not African Ameri can.

We do not condone any attempt to re write the Washington narrative for polit ical ends in a way the late mayor would not have appreciated.

The first traceable member of his family in the United States was Isam or Isham Washington, born a slave in 1832 in North Carolina.

Mayor Washington grew up in Bronzeville when it was a center of Af rican-American culture. He attended DuSable High School, then a newly es tablished and racially segregated public school where he was a member of the first graduating class.

an open letter to chicago’s Mayoral candidates

M AYOR H AROLD WASHINGTON lived a life that was big, bold, ground breaking and uniquely African Ameri can.

As the anniversary of Mayor Washing ton’s death on Nov. 25th approaches, we have noted one candidate who never knew Mayor Washington attempting to distort his legacy for their own benefit.

That is an insult to those of us who knew him, worked with him, and fought with him. We fear more candidates will lay unfounded claim to his legacy, which

Mayor Washington was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1942 and served over seas as part of the racially segregated unit of the U.S. Army Air Corps.

The future mayor returned to Chicago and enrolled at Roosevelt College, now Roosevelt University, because it was one of the few places to allow black students. There he was named to a committee that supported citywide efforts to outlaw socalled “restrictive covenants’’ in housing,

a means of keeping Blacks, Jews and other minorities out of white neighbor hoods.

It's these experiences that molded him into the leader he became.

When he became the first Black mayor of Chicago he created opportunities and hope for African Americans from Chi cago and around the country - many of whom grew up enduring the same segre gation and inequality he did.

In spite of all this, his signature phrase was: “I want to be fair to everyone whether you voted for me or not.’’

While Mayor Washington was a true leader of the whole city, not any one group, his experience was one that could only belong to an African American.

For those of us who knew him, who loved him, who worked with him, we demand his legacy remain undistorted, especially by anyone who did not share his experience.

Josie Childs, President & Founder Harold Washington Legacy Committee

Easy, Fun, No-Fuss Thanksgiving Turkey

Mari Evans Contributing Writer

you’re not smiling because you just got that call . . . it’s your turn to cook the thanksgiv ing turkey. You knew it was coming. Why not, you’re grown, own our own home and you brag that you can cook so your family finally called you out.

Don’t delay, because Mari’s here to help you. I’m going to help you pull this off. It’s not my recipe or my family’s but one I found on the internet some while ago now. But it really takes the burden you’re feeling off your shoulders This Thanksgiving Turkey recipe packs all of the flavor and juiciness you expect from the perfect Thanksgiving turkey, with none of the stress!

Not only is this roasted turkey recipe fool-proof and easy to make, but it will exceed expectations as the centerpiece of your Thanksgiving feast! Now you know why people stress so much over

their Thanksgiving Turkey? Thanks giving is the one holiday that is all about the food with the turkey as the centerpiece of your Thanksgiving meal. Sitting around it, are a table of hungry people you cannot disappoint. So yep, it’s a big deal. So let’s get to it and just do it! and just picture what your turkey will look like and how good it will taste because this method is complete ly fuss-free and easy. There’s no brining or basting the turkey, no cooking it upside down, or anything strange.

You don’t even need an expensive roasting pan. I’m convinced that this recipe is not only the simplest way to cook a Thanksgiv ing turkey, it also yields a gorgeous, super juicy, perfectly cooked turkey.

The real KEY to baking a perfect Thanksgiving Turkey is not to overcook it–that’s what dries out the meat, and you want to carve into a juicy, moist turkey on Thanksgiving! It’s all about the timing. So plan ahead to get the timing right.

Let’s go ahead and go over the basics– the do’s, and the don’ts– for How to Cook a Thanksgiving Turkey: What size turkey to buy for Thanksgiving dinner:

First things first: Buy about 1.5 pounds of turkey per person. (So if you’re feeding 6 people, buy at least a 10 lb. turkey). That way you’ll have leftovers.

How to thaw your turkey:

Make sure and allow plenty of time for your turkey to thaw! A good rule of thumb is to allow one day in the fridge for every 5 pounds of turkey. I always give myself one extra day, just to be safe. Set the turkey on a cookie sheet or pan, to catch any liquid the turkey may drip as it defrosts in the fridge.

Don’t wash the turkey.

If you wash your turkey in your sink you will just contaminate your sink. Remove the turkey from its packaging, dry it off with some paper towels, and then prepare it for the oven. Any bacteria on the turkey will be killed in the hot oven while it bakes.

Don’t brine the turkey.

Don’t buy a wild turkey. If you buy a high-quality turkey from the store (like Butterball or Norbest), then brining the turkey is an unnecessary step. How ever, if the turkey is wild, you should brine it the night before to make sure it will be moist and flavorful.

Don’t baste the turkey.

Basting is really unnecessary to produce a beautiful golden brown turkey. It also requires you to constantly open the oven, which causes the oven to lose heat and the turkey to take longer to cook–which could lead to a dry turkey. By smearing an herb butter mixture over the outer and inner skin of the turkey you will ensure the skin will brown beautifully and taste amazing.

Don’t cook stuffing inside the turkey.

If you try to put stuffing/dressing inside the cavity of the bird, the turkey will be overcooked by the time the stuffing reaches a temperature that’s safe to eat. In stead, cook your stuffing in a casserole dish. Then you can fill the cavity of the turkey with things that will give it flavor (and add flavor to the drippings/stock): salt and pepper and any mixture of onion, apple, car rots, celery, or citrus.

Do test the turkey with a thermometer.

The only way to really tell if the turkey is cooked (165 degrees F), is by using a thermometer (I love this one). Test the turkey right from the oven—if it reaches 160 degrees F, I take it out and tent it with foil. It will continue to cook inside the foil tent to make up that extra 5 degrees.

Do let the turkey rest.

After removing the turkey from the oven, let it rest for at least 15 minutes, or up to 40 minutes (that gives you some extra time if you need to bake or warm any thing else in the oven). If you’re using the drippings for gravy, remove the turkey from its pan to a cutting board and tent it with foil while it rests there. If you’re not using the drippings, then just leave the turkey in the pan and tent with foil.

you don’t need an expensive roasting pan.

If you have a big metal roasting pan, great! If you don’t, no worries. Just use a casserole dish big enough to fit the bird, or buy a $1 disposable foil roasting pan from Walmart (then you can throw it away after). Place a bunch of chopped veggies on the bottom of your pan. The veggies will act like the wire rack in a regular roasting pan by elevating the turkey slightly. Place the turkey right on top of the chopped veggies. save the turkey drippings.

After the turkey is finished cooking there will be juice and browned cooked bits at the bottom of your

roasting pan. You can reserve all of it for making turkey gravy. You can also use the leftover neck and giblets you pull from the turkey when you remove it from the packaging, to make giblet gravy. The most flavorful gravy! Your grandma would be proud

How to prepare a simple roasted Thanksgiving turkey:

First, remove the thawed turkey from its pack aging. Remove the neck (usually found in the large cavity of the bird) and the bag of giblets (sometimes found in the smaller neck cavity of the bird). Discard them or save them for gravy. Pat the turkey dry with paper towels.

Next, season the cavity of the turkey with salt and pepper. Stuff it with the quartered lemon, onion, apple, and herbs\

Tuck the wings of the turkey underneath the turkey and set the turkey on a roasting rack inside a roasting pan (or on top of a bed of chopped veggies —carrots, onion and celery work well— in a disposable roasting pan). Tucking the wings prevents them from burning, and helps the turkey sit flatter.

Use your fingers to loosen and lift the skin above the breasts (on the top of the turkey) and smooth a few tablespoons of herb butter un derneath. Use some twine to tie the turkey legs together. Then slather the outside turkey in the rest of the herb butter. That’s it! You are ready to let your oven do the rest of the work!

You will want to check the turkey about halfway through cooking. Use your oven light to see if the skin is golden, and then place a large piece of tinfoil over the breast meat of the turkey to help keep it from overcooking.

sTEp By sTEp

PREP 20 MINS

COOK 3 HRS 30 MINS

TOTAL 3 HRS 50 MINS

INGREDIENTS

• ▢1 12-20 pound turkey

• ▢1 onion , peeled and quartered

• ▢1 lemon , quartered

• ▢1 apple (your favorite kind), quartered

• ▢.75 ounce container fresh rosemary *

• ▢.75 ounce container fresh thyme *

• ▢.75 ounce container fresh sage *

For the herb butter:

• ▢1 cup unsalted butter , softened

• ▢1 teaspoon salt

• ▢1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

• ▢6-8 cloves garlic, minced

• ▢fresh chopped herbs

Celebrating and Creating Thanksgiving Traditions

liz lampkin CNW Staff Writer

Thanksgiving is the time of the year when people come together to celebrate why they are grateful. Fami lies gather and prepare the annual meal together. Good Samaritans volunteer their time to serve others, friends get together for Friendsgiv ing activities, and believe it or not Christmas trees are up and shining bright. Every year people engage in traditional activities that bring them closer together, allow them to reminisce on good times, and create new memories.

As the first holiday of the season approaches, many have loved ones to celebrate with (old and new) while others may not. Whatever the case may be, there is no reason for anyone to be bored or alone during the holiday season. If you’re look ing for ways to celebrate with your family, friends, or yourself, take a look at the list below for new and traditional ways to create memora ble holiday moments.

• Host a wine and recipe exchange. Gather your friends and family and have everyone bring one recipe and a bottle of wine to trade with someone. The recipes can range from simple to extravagant and appropriate for any occasion. This is a fun way to add to your cooking repertoire and add to your wine collection. It’s also a wonderful way to begin planning for the next big

holiday meal.

• Collect donations for a food pantry. As a family, with friends or a party of one, collect canned goods and deliver them to food pantries. With the price of food skyrocketing and the increase in the need for food for families, donations of any kind would be appreciated.

• Thanksgiving Box. If you’re spending the traditional Thanks giving dinner with your family, change things up a bit. Before the meal, give everyone a small sheet of paper and something to write with. Instruct everyone to write one thing they are thankful for and place it in a decorative box. When the meal is done, each person can share why everyone is thankful. Be sure to place those notes back in the box so everyone can add to it each year and remember what they were grateful for.

• Arts and Crafts. Who doesn’t love arts and crafts? If you’re looking for something light and fun for everyone to enjoy, stock up on a variety of art supplies and plan out different crafts for everyone to cre ate. Everyone loves to show off their creative side, and what better way to have fun with family and friends than to show off your creative skills.

• Volunteer Your Time. If you want to spend this holiday giving to others, find a shelter, food pantry, or church to volunteer your time.

Helping others is a good way to spread cheer to those less fortunate. It’s also a way to remember why you should be grateful for what you have.

• Create a New Family Recipe. Before or on the day of Thanksgiv ing, gather a few of the family cooks and create a new recipe. It can be a new appetizer, main course item, signature drink, or dessert. Whatev er you decide to make, be sure it is something that is unique to you and your family.

• Go Thanksgiving Caroling. Make it a ‘Thing.’ After everyone has wined and dined on the Thanksgiv ing feast, go through your neighbor hood or a nearby neighborhood, go door to door, and sing songs about being grateful. Do your research and learn a few short songs that send messages of love and thankful ness.

The holiday season is the time when people come together to cel ebrate and give thanks. No matter what you decide to do and who you decide to do it with, make sure it warms your heart, uplifts your spir its, and leaves a lasting impression in your thoughts. But most impor tantly, make sure you’re grateful for the time you have to do the things you’ll do.w

Liz Lampkin is a Lifestyle, Love, and Relationships writer. Follow her on social media @Liz_Lampkin.

Dr. Willie Wilson E L E C T

F O R M A Y O R O F C H I C A G O

C O M P A S S I O N A T E C O M M I T T E D & C O N S I S T E N T

L E A D E R S H I P

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