Chatham Southeast Citizen 7-17-2019

COMMENTARY: Tone Deaf Congress Wants Military Pork — Page 2

Citizen Week of July 17, 2019

| Vol. 55 | No. 16 | www.thechicagocitizen.com

CHATHAM SOUTHEAST

The Neighborhood Network Alliance has launched its Walk, Stroll, Talk initiative in South Shore. Photo Caption: The Neighborhood Network Alliance

SOUTH SIDE NEIGHBORHOOD GROUP STRENGTHENS COMMUNITY THROUGH WEEKLY WALKS

For the last few weeks, residents of South Shore have been coming together for a Tuesday evening walk as part of the Neighborhood Network Alliance’s Walk, Stroll, Talk program. During the weekly event, community members are encouraged to walk, talk, and get to know each other better as a way of strengthening the community. PAGE 2

NEWS

Rush, Roe, Chu, and Dunn Introduce USPSTF Transparency & Accountability Act PAGE 3

BUSINESS

REAL ESTATE

50 Fastest Growing Women-Owned And Led Companies Announced By WPO And Capital One

Check out our real estate listings for important foreclosure information

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NEWS briefly EDUCATION

IBHE AND NURSING WORKFORCE CENTER RECOGNIZE 2019 NURSE EDUCATOR FELLOWS The Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) and the Illinois Nursing Workforce Center (INWC) Advisory Board are acknowledging the 2019 Nurse Educator Fellow recipients, each of whom is awarded $10,000 to help promote excellence in nursing education. Pursuing doctorate degrees, research on heart attacks in women, the Certified Nurse Educator exam, and more are examples of how nurse educators in Illinois are using the fellowship dollars.

“We are grateful to state lawmakers, who funded this program in recognition of the many benefits it provides to the educators, their colleges and universities, and their students,” said Nyle Robinson, interim executive director of IBHE. “The list of projects, research, and plans for additional degrees and certifications that this group is pursuing is beyond impressive.”

HEALTH

REPORT: DEMAND FOR SPECIALIST PHYSICIANS DRIVING PHYSICIAN RECRUITMENT Hospitals, medical groups, and other healthcare facilities are seeking more medical specialists and fewer primary care physicians, according to an annual report tracking physician starting salaries and other recruiting incentives.

Prepared by Merritt Hawkins, the nation’s leading physician search firm and a company of AMN Healthcare, the 2019 Review of Physician and Advanced Practitioner Recruiting Incentives tracks a sample of 3,131 physician and advanced practitioner recruiting engagements that the firm conducted from April 1, 2018, to March 31, 2019.

Now in its 26th year, the report indicates Merritt Hawkins is conducting a growing number of search engagements for medical specialists and fewer searches for primary care physicians relative to recent years.

LAW & POLITICS

SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TO DELIVER REMARKS AT 110TH NAACP NATIONAL CONVENTION The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the nation’s foremost civil rights organization, has announced that Speaker Nancy Pelosi will give remarks at the 110th National Convention in Detroit on July 22, 2019.

“We are delighted to have Speaker Pelosi join us to address our activists and advocates from across the country about the major issues impacting our communities today,” said Derrick Johnson, president and chief executive officer of the NAACP. “Congress must be the keystone in enacting policies to ensure all Americans have access to jobs paying a livable wage, affordable healthcare, and quality public education for young people. Everyone deserves the right to elect their representatives without voter suppression, racial gerrymandering and foreign interference. We look forward to hearing from Speaker Pelosi on legislative wins and plans to further advance social justice in this highly charged political climate.”

South Side Neighborhood Group Strengthens Community Through Weekly Walks Continued from page 1

BY KATHERINE NEWMAN

For the last few weeks, residents of South Shore have been coming together for a Tuesday evening walk as part of the Neighborhood Network Alliance’s Walk, Stroll, Talk program. During the weekly event, community members are encouraged to walk, talk, and get to know each other better as a way of strengthening the community.

The Neighborhood Network Alliance at its core is a block club organization that helps neighborhood residents to collectively revitalize their communities by creating networks. The organization provides residents with effective methods for organizing and collaborating with each other and with community leaders, businesses, elected officials, and government agencies to build a thriving community, according to information from the Neighborhood Network Alliance.

“What we are is an organization that convenes block club leaders and we provide resources to block club leaders to organize

the block club. We provide services to them and we train block club leaders in basic day to day operations of organizing and maintaining their block clubs,” said Val Free, lead steward for the Neighborhood Network Alliance.

With initiatives like the Walk, Stroll, Talk program, the Neighborhood Network Alliance is trying to separate itself from old stereotypes that are attached to block clubs and reach a younger generation by creating neighborhood networks.

“We hear Millennials and Gen Xers say that they don’t want to be part of the block clubs because the traditional block club for them is known for the block parties, the CAPS meetings, they were the snitch group and the elder club. They never see block clubs for the capacity that they could be and the power that they could have if we were able to tap into the human capital that exists on a block by block basis,” said Free.

The Walk, Stroll, Talk program has several goals that include building a strong social circle, a local business network, creating support for families, building a network of

community advisors, and creating an overall source of help that residents of South Shore can turn to.

Residents are invited to meet at Rosenblum Park, 7547 S. Euclid Ave., at 6 p.m. every Tuesday and begin their walk from there.

The Tuesday night walks are just the beginning of the Neighborhood Network Alliance’s bigger plans for community building in South Shore, according to Free.

“The bigger plan is to get to know our neighbors and build up our public safety network so that we can create a culture of community accountability where we can hold one another accountable. The first step in doing that is getting to know who’s on the block and letting them get to know who we are as well. From there, we can come up with a neighborhood plan that the community can get behind,” said Free.

To learn more about the Neighborhood Network Alliance and the Walk, Stroll, Talk initiative visit www.thenna.org or follow the Neighborhood Network Alliance on Facebook.

COMMENTARY

Tone Deaf Congress Wants Military Pork

BY JULIANNE MALVEAUX NNPA Newswire Contributor

The F-35 stealth fighter aircraft is one expensive plane. It costs $135 million to produce a single aircraft, but Congress is prepared to authorize spending for 90 more planes, a dozen more than the Pentagon has requested. Why? Lobbyists for Lockheed Martin, the company that produces these aircraft, have exercised their fine art of persuasion to convince the House Armed Services Committee that these aircraft are needed for our national “defense.”

Wouldn’t you think the Pentagon has a better idea of what they “need” than lobbyists? Or are the profits of this corporation more important than the fiscal prudence that so many in Washington crow about when looking at education, Social Security, health care or programs that address human needs?

There is much to object to about the “Defense” budget, as defense spending absorbs more than half of all of spending from our budget. But spending on the F-35 aircraft is especially egregious. More than a trillion dollars will be spent on this aircraft — a trillion. Enough to eliminate all student debt, or fully endow the nation’s

historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) with money left over!

What do we get from this trillion? We get an aircraft with supply chain problems that the General Accounting Office has described as “falling short of warfighter requirements.” They say the aircraft, “cannot perform as many missions or fly as often as required,” partly because of a “shortage in spare parts and limited repair capability.”

So, Lockheed Martin is producing this $135 million aircraft, more than two thousand, to be exact, without producing the requisite spare parts or developing the appropriate repair capabilities.

Bloomberg News described the F-35 program, “as the world’s costliest weapons program.”Its entire history has been fraught with both cost and efficiency problems. Why then, are lobbyist pushing Congress to order more of these planes, more, even than the Pentagon wants? Follow the money. It’s all about the profits.

While the House Armed Services Committee is planning to waste billions of dollars on these costly and flawed F-35 planes, poor people around the country gathered in Washington to hear from Rev. William Barber

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and Rev. Liz Theoharis about the Moral Budget.

Believe me, there is no room for F-35 fighter planes in the Moral Budget. Instead, the Poor People’s Campaign increased spending on human needs, like heath care, education, and that oh-so-basic need – food!

It might have been impactful for members of the House Armed Services Committee to spend a few moments with the Poor People’s Congress, the thousand or so people who crowded into Trinity Hall at Trinity Washington University to demand equity in education, affordable health care, and more.

The Poor People’s Moral Budget has the theme: “Everybody Has the Right to Live.” The budget would cut $350 billion in military spending, while increasing taxes on the wealthy, corporations, and Wall Street. It represents a paradigm shift from our nation’s current focus on militarism to a focus on human needs.

Our nation’s hawks, and our President, believe that profligate military spending makes our world safer, which is nonsense!

Indeed, the possibility of military action against Iran (and the deployment of a thousand more troops to the Middle

East in late June), suggests that militarism makes the world dangerous, not safer.

In any case, in this militaristic climate, the move to order more F35s than even the President wants is nothing more than a profit-serving move to benefit Lockheed Martin, the corporation that can’t even produce enough spare parts for the planes it has already produced!

The Poor People’s Congress operated in stark contrast to the House Armed Services Committee. Rev. William Barber testified before the House Budget Committee on June 19, 2019, calling for an end to police violence against poor people and urged Congress to embrace its moral budget. By continuing profligate spending on F35 fighter planes, and funding more planes than even the Pentagon wants, Congress is engaging in policy violence against all Americans, but especially the 140 million who are poor!

Julianne Malveaux is an author and economist. Her latest project MALVEAUX! On UDCTV is available on youtube.com. For booking, wholesale inquiries or for more information, visit www. juliannemalveaux.com

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NEWS New Guidance on Care of Children and Young Adults with Diabetes Released The American Association of Diabetes Educators (AADE) recently released comprehensive guidance on the care of children and young adults with diabetes across life stages.

As the incidence rate of type 1 and type 2 diabetes amongst youth continues to climb, diabetes educators and the diabetes care team are uniquely positioned to support families with targeted, individualized care through behavior change and clinical management.

“A diabetes diagnosis can be frightening and confusing for both children and parents. It’s critical that as diabetes educators we provide guidance and support with appropriate care that takes into account each family’s unique needs,” said 2019 AADE President Karen Kemmis, PT, RN, DPT, MS, GCS, CDE, FAADE. “AADE’s new practice guidance is a key component in fostering a safe and smooth transition to adulthood, while creating an environment that supports the entire family.”

Key Points addressed in the guidance include: 1. Detailed information on type 1 and type 2 diagnosis, tips and tools to use through the lifespan and overall treatments 2. Descriptions of care in each stage of life so that as new challenges arise, solutions can be administered based on age and life stage 3. Medication options available for youth with diabetes and when medications are appropriate to add and adjust 4. Practical tips for encouraging healthy eating habits for youth with type 2 diabetes 5. Weight loss solutions for youth including the criteria required for bariatric surgery Other resources developed by AADE include handouts for parents with tips on how to best manage type 1 and type 2 in their child, what to expect at diabetes camp in 2019 and additional research and guidance on diabetes pediatric care as seen in AADE’s journals The Diabetes Educator and AADE In Practice. To access the guidance and other resources, visit DiabetesEducator.org/Pediatrics.

Committee Democrats Call on Facebook to Halt Cryptocurrency Plans Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), Chairwoman of the House Financial Services Committee; Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), Chair of the Investor Protection, Entrepreneurship and Capital Markets Subcommittee; Congressman William Lacy Clay (D-MO), Chairman of the Housing, Community Development and Insurance Subcommittee; Congressman Al Green (D-TX), Chairman of the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee; and Congressman Stephen F. Lynch (DMA), Chairman of the Task Force on Financial Technology, recently wrote a letter to Mark Zuckerberg, Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Facebook; Sheryl Sandberg, Chief Operating Officer of Facebook; and David Marcus, Chief Executive Officer of Calibra, requesting an immediate moratorium on the implementation of Facebook’s proposed cryptocurrency and digital wallet.

“Because Facebook is already in the hands of over a quarter of the world’s population, it is imperative that Facebook and its partners immediately cease implementation plans until regulators and Congress have an opportunity to examine these issues and take action,” the lawmakers wrote.“

Elected officials are requesting an immediate moratorium on the implementation of Facebook’s proposed cryptocurrency and digital wallet.

During this moratorium, we intend to hold public hearings on the risks and benefits of cryptocurrency-based activities and explore legislative solutions. Failure to cease implementation before we can do so, risks a new Swiss-based

financial system that is too big to fail.”

This letter comes on the heels of Chairwoman Waters’ initial request for Facebook to agree to a moratorium in June.

The Chairwoman has also

announced plans to convene a full Committee hearing entitled, “Examining Facebook’s Proposed Cryptocurrency and Its Impact on Consumers, Investors, and the American Financial System” on Wednesday, July 17.

Rush, Roe, Chu, and Dunn Introduce USPSTF Transparency & Accountability Act U.S. Representatives Bobby L. Rush (D-Ill.), Phil Roe (R-Tenn.), Judy Chu (D-Calif.), and Neal P. Dunn (R-Fla.) recently introduced H.R. 3534, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) Transparency and Accountability Act. This bipartisan legislation would require more transparent practices by the USPSTF. According to a press release, currently, the USPSTF (the Task Force) has little accountability.

Task Force members — who are appointed by the Director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) — do not meet with relevant stakeholders during their review process.

Additionally, medical specialists in the subject under review do not serve on the Task Force.

This leads to recommendations that are not based on the best evidence available, the press release reported.

This bill would reform the Task Force by requiring it to: 1. Publish research plans to guide its review of scientific evidence relating to the effectiveness of preventive services;

U.S. Representatives Bobby L. Rush (D-Ill.)

2. Make evidence-based reviews and recommendations available for public comment; and 3. Convene a preventive services advisory board made up of patient groups, community-based providers, and specialty physicians to provide feedback on Task Force activities and

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recommend preventive services and scientific evidence for the Task Force to review.

“This important legislation will bring transparency and specialist input to the USPSTF’s current process. It is critical that we make needed reforms to the process to ensure that the recommended preventive services are based on the best scientific evidence available,” said Rush.

“I am pleased to work with Representatives Roe, Chu, and Dunn on these changes to ensure that life-saving preventive services are accessible and affordable for patients.”

The USPSTF was created in 1984 as a panel of experts tasked with making evidence-based recommendations about clinical preventive services such as screenings, counseling services, and preventive medications. Its role on patient care has changed in recent years because the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) linked its recommendations to insurance coverage. As a result, the Task Force now determines which preventive services health plans must provide without enrollee cost sharing obligations.

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BUSINESS

50 Fastest Growing Women -Owned And Led Companies Announced By WPO And Capital One The Women Presidents’ Organization (WPO) has announced the 12th annual ranking of the 50 Fastest-Growing Women-Owned/Led Companies™. Winners were announced during the WPO Annual Conference, held this year in Charlotte, NC. The companies featured on this year’s list span a wide variety of industries, including technology and finance, emerging sectors for women.

Aggregate revenues of the 50 companies are $5.9 billion, representing a significant impact towards women-led companies’ contribution towards the global economy.

Tierra Kavanaugh Wayne, CEO of TKT & Associates based in Louisville, Kentucky, has been ranked (#2) among this year’s WPO 50 Fastest-Growing Women-Owned/Led Companies list.

TKT & Associates is a multidimensional organization providing diversity for suppliers, workforce and total talent management solutions.

The company specializes in garnering inclusive workforce MSPs, staffing, recruitment process outsourcing and contact centers. The current revenue is approximately $80 million with 228 employees.

“At Capital One, we are passionate about supporting women business owners and leaders,” said Jenn Flynn, Head of Small Business Bank at Capital One. “The rise in women-owned businesses is an exciting trend to watch. These women are a real force, as reflected in the WPO 50 Fastest winners, and they are inspiring others to achieve great levels of success.”

“I am delighted that this year our rankings show that women entrepreneurs are branching out into every sector of business,” said WPO President and Founder Dr. Marsha Firestone. “We are also very encouraged that companies of all sizes, such as (TKT & Associates) are represented. Some smaller but very successful companies demonstrated significant growth this year.”

All eligible companies were ranked according to a sales growth formula, combining percentage and absolute growth. To qualify for the ranking, businesses are required to be privately held, woman-owned/led companies and have reached annual revenues of at least $500,000 as of 2013 and every subsequent year. Applicants are not required to be WPO members.

Additional facts about the 2019 50 Fastest Growing Women-Owned/Led Businesses: l Average age of women-owner/ leader is 50, younger than the average age of 51 last year l Aggregate revenue is $5.9 billion l Average 2018 revenue was $117.1 million l Average number of employees on first day: 9; projected average for 2019: 492 l Funding sources at company start: o 78% with their own funds o 22% with funds from friends and family o 6% with a bank loan o 6% with a line of credit o 4% with a credit card o 8% with private investors/angels All 50 companies were honored at a special event at the 2019 WPO Annual Conference at the Westin Charlotte in May. Following the luncheon and awards ceremony, WPO hosted a “Guide to Growth” discussion featuring a selection of 50 Fastest winners sharing advice for established entrepreneurs working to increase businesses.

The Women Presidents’ Organization (WPO) recently announced the 12th annual ranking of the 50 Fastest-Growing Women-Owned/Led Companies™.

Tierra Kavanaugh Wayne, CEO of TKT & Associates based in Louisville, Kentucky, has been ranked (#2) among this year’s WPO 50 Fastest-Growing Women-Owned/Led Companies list.

The 2019 50 Fastest-Growing Women-Owned/Led Companies are: 1. Enspire Energy, LLC Mary Hensley and Julie Hashagen Chesapeake, VA 2. TKT & Associates, Inc. Tierra Kavanaugh Wayne Louisville, KY 3. LYNC Logistics, LLC Cynthia P. Lee Chattanooga, TN 4. Lever1 Erica Brune Kansas City, MO 5. SPERO Jenelle S. Coy Washington, DC 6. Stride Consulting Debbie Madden New York, NY 7. Xtreme Solutions Inc. Phyllis W. Newhouse Atlanta, GA 8. Within Interior Design, Inc. Heather R. Robinson Norfolk, VA 9. Quality Business Solutions, Inc. Pamela S. Evette Travelers Rest, SC 10. Merrimak Capital Company Mary Kariotis Novato, CA

70% of Employees Are Likely to Participate in Job Retraining If Offered Seventy percent of employees (70%) say they are likely to participate in an employer-provided job retraining program, according to a new survey report by Clutch, the leading B2B ratings and reviews firm.

Clutch surveyed 510 full-time employees in the U.S. to learn about their experiences with and attitudes about job development and retraining.

Experts say that most employees value job retraining opportunities for a simple reason: They want to improve at their jobs.

“Most employees don’t want to be complacent,” said Sean Pour, co-founder and marketing manager at SellMax, a nationwide cash-forused cars selling service. “They want to keep growing. People feel bad when they feel like their skills aren’t advancing.”

Employees are most likely to wish their companies offered tuition assistance for classes outside their company (19%) and intracompany classes and workshops to learn new skills (19%). Employees are far less likely to hope their companies provide expanded access to learning resources such as books, videos, and online courses (7%).

Companies should consider employee preferences, but must make sure they also match the business’ priorities and capabilities.

Blindly providing tuition assistance for out-of-company classes, for example, can be costly and ineffective.

Most employees (70%) who are offered job retraining say they are satisfied with the programs their employer provides.

Experts believe that job retraining allows companies to improve their overall direction by improving employee retention and maximizing worker output. “[Companies] have not been able to say why people stay, why people go, what makes them succeed,” said Joe Carella, assistant dean for executive education at the Eller College of Management at the University of Arizona.

Carella says that a happy workforce is a motivated workforce. Retraining is an opportunity for companies to think about their larger strategy and bridge two priorities: the future of the company and the future of the people who work for it.

Read the full report: https:// clutch.co/hr/staffing/resources/jobdevelopment-workforce-retraining

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NEWS

Exclusive: Former 20th Ward Alderman Willie Cochran Discusses His Recent Conviction With The Chicago Citizen

BY WENDELL HUTSON Contributing Writer

Now that his criminal case is over, former 20th Ward Alderman Willie Cochran explains what he did and did not do in an exclusive interview with the Chicago Citizen.

The retired Chicago police officer said he did not violate his oath as alderman and did not steal money from the “20th Ward Activities Fund” as the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois alleged in a 13-count indictment.

In March, Cochran plead guilty to one-count of wire fraud, and next month he will begin serving a oneyear prison sentence.

“I am innocent of these charges and if I had the money to fight this case, I wouldn’t have plead guilty,” contends Cochran. “I did not take any money that I did not put in there [Fund].”

In its indictment, prosecutors alleged that Cochran stole money from the “20th Ward Activities Fund” that was created to assist children and seniors living in the 20th Ward, which includes the Woodlawn, Back of the Yards and Englewood neighborhoods.

However, Cochran said while he did take money from the Fund’s bank account, which he said was closed Dec. 31, 2013, he did so legally.

“From 2010 to 2013, I loaned the account money because checks and donations don’t always come in a timely fashion, but the events have to take place,” explained Cochran. “So I used my money to pay. When the money comes back, then I take my money back out.”

In a plea deal, the U.S. Attorney’s

Willie Cochran is the third alderman since 1987 from the 20th Ward to go to prison for misconduct while in office. Photo credit: By Wendell Hutson

Office acknowledged that Cochran contributed monies into the Fund, but withdrew more than what he paid.

“While defendant personally donated in excess of approximately $32,000 to the Fund, he withdrew money, and used that money for his own personal expenses in excess of that amount,” the plea deal stated.

“Defendant acknowledges that between January 2010 and April 2014, he took approximately $14,285 in excess of what he donated from the 20th Ward Activities Fund, and converted the money to his own personal use.”

Monies taken from the Fund, according to the government, included $13,100 used to pay his daughter’s tuition at Eastern Illinois University and $25,758.59 at ATMs near casinos.

“The government did not want to give me credit for money used for my daughter’s college tuition

even though she earned this money working for me as an interpreter, youth track coach and working in my office,” said Cochran.

There were other legitimate expenses Cochran said the government did not give him credit for and now has been ordered to repay.

“I took my interns to Springfield for a civic trip and I spent money getting two hotel rooms, bought five CDs for a raffle (for gift baskets), etc., but the government wants me to pay back this money as part of the $14,000 they said I owe,” Cochran told the Citizen.

Ultimately though, Cochran said he accepted a plea deal to prevent his family from enduring financial hardship, which he said would have occurred had he went to trial.

At a June press conference following Cochran’s sentencing hearing, the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, John Lausch, said Chicago historically has a public corruption problem and “we’ve seen that happen here with this case with former alderman Cochran.”

In March, Cochran resigned as alderman after pleading guilty. He contends that had he not been indicted, instead of running for re-election this year, he would have run for Cook County Sheriff or mayor of Chicago. Cochran was first elected alderman in 2007 after retiring as a Chicago police officer. And despite his conviction, Cochran will still receive his police pension as allowed by state law.

The indictment also stated Cochran used money he took from the Fund to buy items for his home and

car, and Cochran said that is correct.

“My vehicles are registered as ‘Willie B. Cochran 20th Ward’ and were used for the activities fund. I bought tires for the car and van because they were being used for political purposes,” he said. “The items they [federal prosecutors] said I bought for my home were two lamps, two vases, two cup coasters, a juicer used at political picnics, and utensils. My home is registered with the state as my home office and the IRS allows you to buy things for your office. And just because it (my office) is in my home, does not disqualify it.”

The indictment also included bribery and extortion charges, which Cochran denied, and the government later dropped.

After first being cleared by the IRS of any financial crimes, Cochran said the government indicted him once he refused to cooperate in their investigation into Ald. Edward Burke (14th) and former Mayor Rahm Emmanuel. Burke, who pleaded not guilty, was hit with a 14-count federal indictment in May that includes extortion and racketeering. Emmanuel has not been charged with any wrongdoing.

At press time, the Citizen could not confirm Cochran’s claim that the government wanted him to assist them in other investigations.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Fitzpatrick, declined comment.

Emmanuel was unavailable for comment.

Cochran is the third alderman from the 20th Ward to go to prison since 1987 when former Alderman Cliff Kelly went to prison after he

admitted taking $30,000 in bribes.

Kelly was replaced by former Chicago police officer Ernest Jones, who died in office. After his death he was replaced by Arenda Troutman, who went to prison herself in 2009, for shaking down real estate developers.

In April, voters elected Jeanette Taylor, a progressive-Democrat, as the latest 20th Ward alderman.

“I am not the judge or jury and I do not have a Heaven or Hell to send anyone to, so I don’t have an opinion about Willie Cochran’s situation,” said Taylor.

But even before being elected, Taylor said voters were already concerned about a new alderman.

“During my campaign voters asked me how do I plan to stay out of jail since two previous aldermen had went to prison already,” she said.

“I told them ‘I don’t look good in orange. That ain’t a fat girl’s color.

Bologna in prison has no first name.

I’m an Oscar Meyer lover. And it’s not enough to just vote for me. I need your help running the ward.’

One person cannot run a ward. It takes the community too.”

In the end, Cochran said he accepts responsibility for his actions regardless how flawed the government made it seem, and is ready to move on with his life.

“I don’t want to make excuses because this falls on me. I should have made better choices,” said Cochran.

“I shouldn’t have been gambling but it became a source of income. After I complete my prison sentence, I want to come out and make life better not only for me and my family but for everyone.”

Harper Advocates for Urban Agriculture, Cannabis Legalization at National Conference State Rep. Sonya Harper, D-Chicago, recently led panels on urban agriculture and cannabis legalization at the 34th annual legislative conference of the National Organization of Black Elected Legislative (NOBEL) Women that was held in Chicago.

“As a longtime advocate for urban agriculture and chair of the Illinois House Agriculture and Conservation Committee, I was proud to speak about groundbreaking public policy and innovative community engagement strategies with black women colleagues from across the country,” Harper said. “I was also honored to share experiences about the legalization of adult-use recreational cannabis in Illinois, which is currently the only state to do so through a legislature.”

NOBEL Women is a nonpartisan group organized to increase and promote the presence of black women in government. NOBEL Women offers educational forums, networking opportunities, and training programs for black women in legislative bodies to increase the number of black women in public service and enhance the ability of black women legislators to provide economic and social justice for their communities.

Harper represents the 6th District, which includes all or portions of Armour Square, Bridgeport, Chicago Lawn, Englewood, Gage Park, Back of the Yards, Canaryville, New City, West Englewood, Marquette Park, South Loop and River North.

Pictured (left to right): State Rep. Sonya Harper (right) with state Rep. Camille Lilly, U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly, state Sen. Mattie Hunter, and Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton

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NEWS

Inspiring Men to Do Good StatePoint - With so many negative messages about masculinity floating around these days, some say it’s important to spend some time focusing on the positive. Doing so can help give men the confidence they need to be their best selves.

In fact, 91 percent of men agree that it takes more confidence to be a “good guy” than it does to be a typical alpha male, according to research from Men’s Wearhouse, which is on a mission to encourage more men to be good on the inside and out. As part of its “Good on You” campaign, they are highlighting the good works of dads and gentlemen everywhere who have gone above and beyond to show they care about something that makes the world a little bit better.

“We believe that good guys everywhere are ready to stand up and be their best selves,” says Tank Sinatra, who after getting sober at 22, decided

to surround himself with only positive things. Involved with the nonprofit organizations, Hope House and Bring Change to Mind, he is a social media influencer and founder of Tank’s Good News, which shares only positive news stories.

Already committed to identifying, spreading and celebrating acts of good, Sinatra is now serving as the facilitator of the Good On You Initiative and, in this role, is sharing an inspiring story of a man making the world a little bit better in his own backyard: In 2016, Rodney Smith founded a lawn care nonprofit, Raising Men Lawn Care Service, in his hometown of Huntsville, Alabama. Raising Men Lawn Care Service helps young men give back to their communities by mowing lawns or doing yard work -- free of charge -- for veterans, the elderly, the disabled and single mothers.

Smith sought to establish a program

In 2016, Rodney Smith founded a lawn care nonprofit, Raising Men Lawn Care Service, in his hometown of Huntsville, Alabama. While founded originally in Alabama, the organization now has a presence in almost all 50 states.

that inspires young men to learn and understand their value in society, and acts as a true father figure to many young boys throughout the country.

While founded originally in Alabama, the organization now has a presence in almost all 50 states.

To honor Smith’s work, Men’s

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Wearhouse is donating $10,000 to his organization as a “thank you” for all that he’s doing to help his community. He also received a custom-made jacket and lapel pin, as the brand believes that being your best self, and looking and feeling your best, go hand-in-hand.

To learn more about the campaign, which will honor men throughout the year, as well as to get gift ideas to honor the men in your life, visit menswearhouse.com.

“From activism to fatherhood, moments of good come in all shapes and sizes,” says Sinatra.

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CLASSIFIEDS SERVICE

1. Virtual Reality. More educators are turning to VR to provide immersive experiences for students and bring the curriculum to life.

Whether it’s to allow students to learn a subject more deeply or to take them places they have never been before, VR presents an opportunity to engage students in a new way.

SERVICE

2. Next-Generation Projectors. The latest projectors are providing educational solutions that offer teachers greater flexibility.

For example, Casio Superior Series LampFree Projectors can be operated remotely through a smart device from anywhere in the classroom. Because up to 40 devices can be connected at one time and up to four devices can be displayed simultaneously, it’s both easy for teachers to project data and classwork, and for students to share presentations and findings.

3. Portable Keyboards. Learning to play piano just got easier and more versatile in classrooms nationwide, thanks to the latest in portable keyboards. The CT-X700 integrates 600 tones and 195 rhythms on one instrument. Displaying proper fingering and notation as one plays, the Step-Up lesson system supports students as they learn 100 built-in songs in the keyboard’s library. One can also make use of its class-compliant USB-MIDI port, smartphone shelf and tablet-ready music rest in order to explore the world of music available online.

4. Online Engagement. Whereas teachers once communicated with parents strictly through notes sent home in a child’s backpack and the annual parent-teacher conference, special custom online platforms now are offering schools and families a faster, more comprehensive way to connect and share such important information as field trip permission slips, school play details and more.

5. Math Software. Free all-in-one webbased mathematics software is helping students take a deep dive into mathematics concepts. For instance, with the “digital scratch paper” found in Casio’s ClassPad.net, students and teachers can draw geometry figures freehand and input calculations as they would on real scratch paper. Equally usable with keyboard, mouse and touchscreen-based platforms, this is one educational aid that students can use both in the classroom, and on-the go. __________________________________

Darrell Garth

President /Publisher

Janice Garth

Sales Manager General Manager

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You may be entitled to compensation.

Call Attorney Charles Johnson 1-800-5355727 __________________________________ LEGAL SERVICES NEED LEGAL HELP? Get a FREE referral to an attorney! Call the Illinois State Bar Association Illinois Lawyer Finder The advice you need 877-270-3855 or https://www.isba.org/public/illinoislawyerfinder __________________________________ TRAINING/EDUCATION AIRLINE CAREERS FOR NEW YEAR BECOME AN AVIATION MAINTENANCE TECH. FAA APPROVED TRAINING. FINANCIAL AID IF QUALIFIED - JOB PLACEMENT ASSISTANCE. CALL AIM 800-481-8312 __________________________________

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EDCUATION 5 Classroom Technologies Making Learning Easy and Fun (StatePoint) New technologies being introduced into the classroom are making learning easy, fun, and engaging, and are transforming education in the following ways:

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12 | CITIZEN | Chatham Southeast | Week of July 17, 2019