Chatham-Southeast Citizen 10-26-2022

Haki Madhubuti, founder of Third World Press is one of 11 writers recognized by The Poetry Foundation with the Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize.

CHICAGO — Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot and the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities (MOPD) announced the opening of the MOPD Career Center, dedicated to serving job seekers with disabilities and providing career readiness. The Career Center is located at the Central West Community Center, located at 2102 W. Ogden in the Tri-Taylor neighborhood. The Center is staffed by Career Placement Counselors who specialize in assisting job seekers with disabilities to access em ployment and accessibility, including an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter on staff along with computer stations equipped with adaptive technolo gy to reduce barriers to digital access.

Under Mayor Lightfoot’s leadership, the City of Chicago is making a $1.2 million investment toward increasing disability employment, an import ant contribution to making the City of Chicago one of the most accessible cities in the nation.

The career center not only leverages the pan demic, which created a surplus of job opportunities available along with a labor shortage but also pro vides much-needed services to support people with disabilities seeking employment opportunities.

The event also celebrated the unveiling of a new mural at the Central West Community Center, created by local and internationally renowned artist Sam Kirk. The mural was a collaborative initiative by MOPD, the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE), and the Department of Family and Support Services (DFSS).

MOPD, DFSS, DCASE, and Mayor Light foot also announced the selection of an inaugural Artist-in-Residence at the Central West Community Center, Ariella Granados.

Services at the Central West Community Center are available to people with disabilities who reside in the City of Chicago, are at least age 16, identify as a person with a disability, and want to get a job. City Colleges of Chicago students with disabilities are also eligible for services. This career center is one of the many investments Mayor Lightfoot has created to ensure job seekers have the resources and opportunities to access good-quality and sustainable jobs.

BLICK ART MATERIALS CELEBRATES OPENING OF CHICAGO RANDOLPH ST. STORE

CHICAGO — Blick Art Materials is pleased to announce the opening of its newest retail store at 16 W. Randolph St. in downtown Chicago Situated in the heart of the city’s theater district, the new store is housed inside an historic Chicago building with a distinct architectural style.

Originally the site of the Old Heidelberg Restaurant, the building boasts an elegant façade de signed by the same architecture firm responsible for the Merchandise Mart and Civic Opera Building.

The new space features two stories and a media-spanning selection of over 18,000 products. Highlights include an enhanced selection of Utrecht Artists’ Paints, as well as trending craft items, stationery, and unique gifts. In addition to serving professional artists and hobbyists, the store will cater to students and educators from the nearby School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Columbia College Chicago, and The American Academy of Art College.

Blick has long supported arts education and community organizations throughout Chicago and nationwide and is intentional about inviting local artists to enhance its stores.

Blick Art Materials’ new Randolph St. store is accessible via the Lake station on the CTA Red Line and the Washington station on the CTA Blue Line.

Poetry Foundation recognizes honors writers with 2022 Pegasus Awards

Continued from

BY TIA CAROL JONES

“For the first time in my life, I was reading literature that wasn’t an insult to my own personhood. I was reading words and sentences and paragraphs and pages and chap ters about me, about our struggle,” Madhubuti said.

That book, plus others, changed Madhubuti’s young life. As he read he began to understand that “if you don’t know who you are, anybody can name you, and they will.”

Madhubuti is one of 11 writers who are being recog nized with the Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize, which is part of the Poetry Foundation’s 2022 Pegasus Awards. Other award recipients include Sandra Cisneros, CAConrad, Rita Dove, Juan Felipe Hererra, Angela Jackson, Sharon Olds, Patti Smith, Arthur Sze, Sonia Sanchez and Nikki Giovanni. Elizabeth Acevedo has been named 2022-2024 Young People’s Poet Laureate and Kevin Quashie has won the Pegasus Award for Poetry Criticism.

“We’re celebrating 110 years of Poetry magazine this year, and approaching 20 years of the Poetry Foundation in 2023. We wanted to do something special to mark these milestones by honoring an outstanding cohort of writers whose work has brought comfort and inspiration to so many,” Poetry Foundation President Michelle T. Boone said in a release. “Poetry shows us the way forward, and there is no poetry without the imagination and talent of those behind the pen.”

Madhubuti was influenced by Black music, which was his first love. His early years were spent between Chicago and Detroit, and Motown played a very important part of his life. Reading Langston Hughes, Gwendolyn Brooks,

who he said changed his life, Claude McKay and Marga ret Walker had a greater influence on him than the music, although the music stayed in his heart. He took the musical background and put it into his poetry.

Inspired by Dr. Margaret Burroughs and her husband Charlie Burroughs and their creation of the Ebony Museum of Negro History, which became the DuSable Black His tory Museum and Education Center and Dudley Randall, who created Broadside Press in Detroit, he decided to start a publishing company.

“We need independent Black institutions. Any people who do not have institutional structures that genuinely work for that people will be in serious trouble,” he said.

Madhubuti has published more than 30 books. He has also, with Third World Press and Third World Press Foun dation, co-founded the Betty Shabazz International Charter School in 1998, the Barbara A. Sizemore Middle School in 2005, and the DuSable Leadership Academy in 2005. He taught at Columbia College Chicago, Cornell University and Chicago State University.

“Everything that has happened in my life and the lives of people I’ve worked with over the last 60 years, is a result of poetry,” Madhubuti said.

Madhubuti said the reason why he has stayed the course is because he loves Black people and there’s noth ing more important to him than his people. He is grateful for the recognition from the Poetry Foundation.

“This award comes at a time when I’ve worked all my life for Black people,” he said. “I know who we are and what we need, and we need independent Black institu tions.”

Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs Returns $11 Million to Chicago Man’s Family

SPRINGFIELD - Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs’ office made history this week when it returned $11 million to the estate of a Chicago man who died of natural causes just before Christmas in 2016.

It is the largest returned unclaimed property dollar amount in the nation’s history.

Most of Joseph Richard Stancak’s 119 heirs reside in Poland, where his parents were born, as well as Slovakia.

And little is known about how Mr. Stancak accumulated such wealth so quietly, although he did own a boat named “Easy.”

“This is a life-changing amount of money,” Frerichs said. “I only wish we knew more about Mr. Stancak.”

Unclaimed property refers to money or accounts within financial institutions or companies in which there has been no activity for several years. Unclaimed property includes forgotten bank accounts, unpaid life insurance benefits, the contents of safe deposit boxes and other items. Returning unclaimed property is a core function of the Illinois State Treasurer’s Office, no matter how long it takes.

Mr. Stancak was born in Chicago in August of 1929. He last lived in a house on South Troy Street where he was found on Dec. 23, 2016. He was 87 years old.

His parents were born in Poland and married at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in Passaic, New Jersey, on Nov 27, 1909. They had seven children – Joseph, Mary, Paul, Anna, John, Helen and Frances. Only Anna and John married.

Neither Joseph nor any of his siblings had children. Each passed away before Joseph.

Because Mr. Stancak and his siblings never had children, the Stancak estate had to identify family through his parents – essentially going up the family tree before going back down – and the majority of these heirs reside in Poland and nearby Slovakia. A few relatives are in the United States, including New Jersey, New York and Minnesota. Seven are in Chicago or nearby suburban communities.

It is unclear how Mr. Stancak accumulated such wealth. In 2019, a variety of investments began to be turned over to the treasurer’s office as unclaimed property; such investments typically are surrendered if the owner has not had contact in three years and the investment firm is unable to locate the owner.

Attorney Kenneth Piercey is a partner with Piercey & Associates in Barrington, an expert in high-dollar estate planning, and the administrator of Mr. Stancak’s estate. The law firm initiated the claim earlier this year and staff from the treasurer’s office called after realizing the dollar amount involved.

“It is a great privilege to be able to assist the heirs in collecting their rightful inheritance,” Piercey said.

Prior to Mr. Stancak, the highest paid unclaimed property claim in Illinois was $8.1 million to a suburban manufacturer of auto components in 2012. The largest claim paid to an indi vidual was $5 million to a Cook County woman in 2013.

MAYOR LIGHTFOOT AND THE MAYOR’S OFFICE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES CUT THE RIBBON ON CAREER CENTER

WEINBERG/NEWTON GALLERY, SKYART AND ARTS + PUBLIC LIFE CREATE SPACES TO REIMAGINE THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM AND HIGHLIGHT YOUTHS’ HUMANITY AND VOICES

CHATHAM-SOUTHEAST

SOUTH

CHICAGO – Weinberg/Newton Gallery (688 N. Milwaukee Ave.), a non-commercial gallery dedicated to promoting social justice causes, is partnering with South Side youth arts non-profit SkyART and Arts + Public Life, which fosters neigh borhood vibrancy through the arts on the South Side of Chicago, to present Can you see me?. Across three galleries, artwork by incar cerated young people, contemporary artists and arts-justice organizations will explore themes of ascendance, innocence and freedom. The exhibi tion aims not only to highlight the humanity and potential of young people affected by the juvenile jus tice system, but also to explore new aspirational possibilities for how art can be a tool of justice and healing. Extensive public programming will bring together diverse audiences and practitioners to create important dialogue and accessibility for new communities.

Visitors will have the opportu nity to interact with and contribute to the exhibition, and will leave with a lasting impression of humanity in place of criminality, perseverance in place of violence and hope in place of despair.

The three exhibitions include:

• The primary Can you see me? exhibition at Weinberg/Newton Gallery will open on Oct. 14, with a reception from 5 to 7pm, and will remain on view until Dec. 17, 2022

• Arts + Public Life presenting FREEDOM SPACE, Oct. 21 through Dec. 16, 2022, with the opening reception taking place Oct. 21 from

5 to 7pm

• SkyART presenting Can you see me? Envisioning the future at their flagship studio space in South Chicago (3026 E 91st St.) on view from Oct. 28 through Dec. 17, 2022, with an opening reception taking place on Oct. 28 from 4 to 7pm

Can you see me? aims to bring people together using art as a catalyst to prompt restorative and healing conversations in order to imagine a future where all children are innocent, free and valued. This exhibition will provide a small example of a world in which young people are elevated as experts in their own experiences, alongside practitioners and contemporary art ists; where people who may disagree can find common ground; and where the justice system rights historic wrongs instead of perpetuating the trauma, oppression and systemic racism reflected in prisons and jails throughout the United States.

The exhibition originated from SkyART’s Just-Us program, which provides weekly open studiostyle art therapy sessions for incarcerated youth. Across all three sites, the ex hibition features large-scale paint ings made over the course of several months at the Illinois Youth Center Chicago (IYC-Chicago), a male me dium-security Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice (IDJJ) youth facility located on the west side of Chicago. The paintings, which provided the initial inspiration and foundation for Can you see me?, were created by incarcerated youth in collaboration with SkyART staff.

JOYCE APPLAUDS PROGRAM TO IMPROVE COVID-19 HEALTH EQUITY STRATEGIES

The COVID-19 pandemic further exacerbated the health inequities facing communities throughout Illinois. Five organizations in portions of Kankakee and Will Counties represented by State Senator Patrick Joyce have been award ed funding to implement health equity strategies, he announced Thursday.

“The pandemic showed us firsthand the inequity and inequality in our health care system,” said Joyce (D-Essex).

“This program will help combat the health equity gaps taking place in all corners of our state.”

Activating Relationships in Illinois for Systemic Equity (ARISE) is a joint initiative of the Illinois Department of Public Health’s Center for Minority Health Services and The Center for Rural Health, in collaboration with Well-Being and Equity (WE) in the World.

Between Joyce’s district in Kanka kee and Will counties, five organiza tions will receive funding to address systemic health disparities highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic: Kankakee County Health Department, Coordinat ed Care Alliance in Kankakee and Will counties, Will County Health Depart ment and Junior Medic LLC.

Funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, ARISE intends to support socio-economically disad vantaged and historically marginalized communities outside of Cook County that have been disproportionately im pacted by COVID-19. Further, organi zations will be able to address enduring health inequities in their communities that have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The selected ARISE Community Equity Zone communities will engage in a rigorous “learning-and-doing” capac ity building program to advance health equity in the short, medium and long term. The community coalitions will address inequities in mental, physical and social well-being in communities that are experiencing the brunt of these disparities by connecting people to vaccinations, food, and other well-being needs. They will also address underly ing community needs such as humane housing, reliable transportation, and the root causes of these inequities, includ ing racism and poverty.

“This initiative is targeting disadvantaged communities that are struggling to bounce back,” said Joyce. “Through these grant opportunities and community efforts, the state is seeing strides in healing post-pandemic.”

To learn more about the ARISE initiative, people can visit www.wein theworld.org/arise-project

“LIZZIE G” ELIE

Photo provided by SkyART

Tips on saving for the unexpected

Finances are different for everyone, and so are the life events we all go through. An emergen cy fund is your financial line of defense against life’s lemons. Although there are many financial rules of thumb, there is no “normal” way to han dle your emergency fund.

The bottom line: saving money is the first line of defense to financial wellness, especially when the unexpected happens. While nobody can predict the future, everyone can prepare for it.

What is the reason for my emergency fund?

Your emergency fund is a safety net that can help you avoid getting into a difficult financial situation due to a loss of income or unexpected, one-time expenses. Having one in place can reduce stress, anxiety, and other emotions that could make han dling the non-financial aspects of an emergency much more difficult.

It may seem a little obvious that an emergency fund is for emergencies. However, one of the challenging aspects of an emergency fund is knowing what expenses qualify as an emergency. This fund’s sole purpose is to prepare you for costs that you cannot or would not typically plan out. For example, oil changes and new tires are predictable vehicle expenses you should plan for in your regular savings. However, you wouldn’t typically plan for costs that you could incur on the off chance that you need to make emergency home repairs or pay for emergency medical expenses. You would cover these from your emergency fund.

How much do I need?

How much would a new furnace cost? If you could not work, how much would you need to cover essential expenses until you could? Asking yourself these kinds of questions will help you set a goal amount for your emergency fund.

The general rule of thumb is three to six months of essential expenses. However, you can always start with a goal you find achievable. Say, $1,000. Once you reach that goal, aim for three months of rent, then three months of essential expenses, and so on.

Tracking your spending can help you estimate monthly expenses. Completing this exercise can also help you figure out how much you can afford to save toward your emergency fund each month.

How do I save that much?

Start small: If you haven’t started, consider putting $25 from every paycheck into a savings account. Even a few dollars can make a big impact in the long run. Check your budget or spending plan to see how much you can save after you’ve paid essential expenses and before budgeting for discretionary spending.

Keep it separate: Open a separate savings account to

help you resist the temptation to dip into it. Remember, this account is for emergencies, so keep it away from your daily spending accounts and separate it from vaca tion and holiday savings. This method will help you stay organized, visualize your progress, and provide peace of mind.

Automate your savings: One way to automate is via direct deposit. You may be able to instruct your employer to deposit a portion of your paycheck directly into your emergency savings account every pay period. Alterna tively, you can set up an automatic transfer from your primary checking account to your emergency savings ac count on payday. Both methods save you from adding a manual transfer to your to-do list that may be overlooked if things get busy!

Will I ever need to change the amount?

As your life changes, the amount you need in your emergency fund will change as well. It’s a good idea to revisit your emergency fund plan every six months or any time you experience a life event that impacts your income. Marriage, starting or adding to your family, buying a home, and divorce are just a few examples of when you may need to increase your emergency fund. A good savings plan can roll with the punches right alongside you!

How do I prioritize emergency savings against debt and other goals?

Deciding whether you should pay down debt, save for other goals, or grow your emergency fund is all about the big picture. Everyone has different financials, so that picture will vary person-to-person. What will impact you the most financially? Paying down debt and saving mon ey long term or having a plan B that allows you to keep making minimum payments if you lose income? There is no right or wrong answer.

Your emergency fund is there to help you expense the unexpected. So, make a plan and be ready for what ever comes your way!

Sponsored content from JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Obatala Sciences Closes $3 Million Series A Funding Round Co-led by être Venture Capital and Ochsner Health

-Funding accelerates commercialization of researchenabling solutions to speed up therapies for obesity, diabetes, and cancer across diverse populations

NEW ORLEANS -- (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Obatala Sciences, a New Orleans biotechnology company recognized for speeding up therapies for obesity, diabetes, and cancer across diverse populations, today announced the closing of a $3 million Series A finance round coled by être Venture Capital and Ochsner Lafayette General Healthcare Innovation Fund II and joined by Benson Capital Partners, Elevate Capital Fund, and The Hackett-Robertson-Tobe Group.

The funding will be used to further the commercialization of its first-of-kind research-enabling products and platform for drug discovery and development. These solutions, provided to pharmaceu tical companies, government labs, and researchers, are designed to accelerate the study and prevention of diseases in the fields of obesity, diabetes, cancer, and regenerative medicines.

“Recently the FDA has signaled the need to improve predictivity by reducing the use of animal-derived tissues, while the NIH has been calling for greater diversity in testing. Obatala Sciences’ diverse human-derived products are the exact solution designed for these market directions,” said Jennifer Kuan, partner at être Venture Capital. “Obatala’s solutions enable their custom ers to significantly reduce failure rates, reduce the time to market, and thereby reduce costs. Combine that with Obatala’s extensive intellec tual property portfolio, manufacturing strength, and rapidly growing customer base, and you can see why Obatala is positioned to be a leader in the 3D culture market.”

“We are thrilled to have the support of our investment partners. Their belief in us, and their commitment to support minority-led compa nies and communities, like New Orleans, is changing the landscape for biotech companies like Obatala Sciences,” said Obatala Sciences CEO Trivia Frazier, Ph.D., MBA. “This funding will accelerate the commer cialization of our pipeline products as we work towards our milestones, which include the build-out of our lab at The Beach at UNO, a Research Park District located near the University of New Orleans campus, obtaining our ISO certifications, expanding our North American and international distribution network, and deepening our sales, marketing, and customer support teams to support our growing global customer base.”

Acadia Pharmaceuticals Appoints Adora Ndu, Pharm.D., J.D. to its Board of Directors

SAN DIEGO -- (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq: ACAD) has announced the appointment of Adora Ndu, Pharm.D., J.D. to its Board of Directors. Dr. Ndu is a biopharma executive with more than 15 years of experience in regulatory affairs and clinical development.

“We are pleased to welcome Dr. Ndu to Acadia’s Board,” said Stephen R. Biggar, M.D., Ph.D., Chairman of Acadia’s Board of Directors. “Dr. Ndu’s significant regulatory and clinical development experience, combined with her extensive background in rare disease nicely complements the skill sets of our current membership. Her expertise will be invaluable as we continue to pursue our strategic initiatives in disorders affecting the central nervous system, particularly as the company prepares to launch its second commercial product, trofinetide, for the treatment of Rett syndrome.”

“I am honored to join Acadia’s Board of Directors. I look forward to collaborating with its members alongside

Acadia’s talented management team as they develop and commercialize innovative new therapies addressing high unmet needs in the field of CNS,” said Dr. Ndu.

Since 2022, Dr. Ndu has served as the Chief Regulatory Affairs Officer of BridgeBio. Previously, she was the Group Vice President, Head of Worldwide Research and Develop ment Strategy, Scientific Collaborations and Policy at BioM arin Pharmaceutical. She brings over 15 years of complemen tary experience in drug development and regulatory affairs. Dr. Ndu has spent eight years in various leadership roles in the biopharmaceutical sector. Her expertise includes regulatory strategy, patient engagement, prescription drug promotion, and policy for U.S. and international markets. Additionally, Dr. Ndu spent eight years at the U.S. Food and Drug Admin istration, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, where she progressed in leadership serving most recently as Director for the Division of Medical Policy Development and Command er in the U.S. Public Health Service. She has been involved

in the registrations of multiple products globally and is a re spected thought leader in regulatory science, having played a significant role in developing and evaluating guidance, as well as shaping regulatory policy. Dr. Ndu currently serves on the board of DBV Technologies. Dr. Ndu received her doctorate in pharmacy from Howard University’s College of Pharmacy and a law degree from the University of Maryland.

Acadia is advancing breakthroughs in neuroscience to elevate life. For more than 25 years we have been working at the forefront of healthcare to bring vital solutions to people who need them most. We developed and commercialized the first and only approved therapy for hallucinations and delusions associated with Parkinson’s disease psychosis. Our clinical-stage development efforts are focused on treating the negative symptoms of schizophrenia, Rett syndrome and neu ropsychiatric symptoms in central nervous system disorders. For more information, visit us at www.acadia.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Trivia Frazier, PhD, MBA. Co-Founder, President, & CEO of Obatala Sciences, Inc.

(Photo: Business Wire)a

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T.J.Maxx and “Find Your Maxx” Partner and Mentor Yvonne Orji Launch Interactive Workshop Series for Women Everywhere

FRAMINGHAM, Mass., PRNewswire -- As part of its mission to provide women with essential tools that empower them to ditch the fear of failure and put themselves first, T.J. Maxx is launching its Find Your Maxx workshop series this weekend. Find Your Maxx is part of The Maxx You Project, T.J. Maxx’s ongoing initiative to support women with tools and resources as they navigate the process of becoming their most authentic, unapologetic selves.

Earlier this year, T.J. Maxx and Emmy-nominated actress, comedian, and writer, Yvonne Orji partnered to launch Find Your Maxx, offering one lucky grand prize winner the mentorship of a lifetime and $50,000 in starter funds to help propel them toward their Maxx self. Now, Yvonne will kick off an interactive virtual workshop series with the ‘Maxx Your Mindset’ session, co-hosted by seasoned life coach Sophia Casey. The first workshop took place on Instagram Live via @ tjmaxx on Oct. 15. Following Orji’s workshop, five additional workshop installments will follow, each hosted by two influen tial women, throughout October and November via Instagram Live and TikTok Live and will provide viewers with support and resources they need to break down the barriers of self-pri oritization and maintain a confident mindset.

“Over the years, I’ve learned that it’s not always easy to Maxx Your Mindset – sometimes we just need a little help get ting started! During my virtual workshop, I’ll be hosting a dis

cussion on how I tap into my Maxx self, and I’ll share tools to help you become your best, most confident self,” said Yvonne Orji. “I’m also excited to introduce the Find Your Maxx grand prize winner as we kick start her journey. Be sure to tune in on @tjmaxx’s Instagram Live and ask questions – I can’t wait to pass along what I’ve learned from my mentors and inspire women everywhere to be their most unapologetic selves.”

The workshop series is designed to provide women with actionable tools to become their most authentic self and includes themes like ‘Maxx Your Mentors’ and ‘Maxx Your Confidence.’ T.J. Maxx will also collaborate with global non-profit organization Dress for Success – an ongoing partner – on the ‘Maxx Your Career’ virtual workshop to support its mission of empowering women to transform their lives and re-envision their futures.

“The Maxx You Project community has grown tremen dously since it began in 2017, and we’re proud to provide women with tools and resources that empower them,” said Robyn Arvedon, Assistant Vice President of Marketing, T.J. Maxx. “We look forward to kicking off the Find Your Maxx workshop series and continuing this impactful movement we’ve started.”

For more information on The Maxx You Project, as well as tools and resources to use during the Find Your Maxx work shops, visit maxxyouproject.com.

Saks Fifth Avenue Foundation Celebrates Commitment to Mental Health Support

NEW YORK, PRNewswire

-- On Tuesday, Oct. 11, the Saks Fifth Avenue Foundation celebrated its ongoing commitment to support mental health with a cocktail fundraiser hosted by Executive Chairman of Saks and President of the Saks Fifth Avenue Foundation Richard Baker and Saks CEO Marc Metrick at L’Avenue at Saks in New York City. The event raised $1.8 million to help strengthen the Foun dation’s mission to make mental health a priority in every commu nity by increasing awareness and education, improving access to care, and promoting the tools and skills that build positive mental health for those who need it most.

“There is no doubt that the last two and a half years have chal lenged people around the world in unforeseen ways,” said Richard Baker, Executive Chairman of Saks and President of the Saks Fifth Avenue Foundation. “The need for mental health support has never been more urgent, and we are grate ful to our many partners who make our efforts possible through their generous donations. With this latest funding, we are able to continue supporting our nonprofit partners in delivering crucial mental health support to those in need.”

Since the Foundation’s found ing in 2017, Saks Fifth Avenue and the Saks Fifth Avenue Foundation have donated more than $5.8 mil lion for U.S. mental health initia tives and reached over 6.6 million individuals through programs that promote positive mental health, with a focus on allocating resources to underserved communities. This

year, the Foundation launched a $250,000 fund that will support grassroots, community-based organizations whose local efforts are critical in offering support to the health and wellbeing of those they serve.

“Five years ago, the Saks Fifth Avenue Foundation embarked on a journey to make an impact on mental health, and today, we feel just as passionate about supporting this increasingly important cause,” noted Marc Metrick, CEO of Saks and Saks Fifth Avenue Foundation Board Member. “We are proud of the incredible work our nonprofit partners are doing to ensure that underserved communities and pop ulations disproportionately affected by mental health issues receive criti cal access to care. We appreciate our many partners who make this work possible through their continued dedication to the Saks Fifth Avenue Foundation’s efforts.”

Guests at the fundraiser enjoyed a special performance by six-time GRAMMY Award-win ning artist and pop culture icon, Dionne Warwick, who sang three of her top hits including “What The World Needs Now Is Love,” “That’s What Friends Are For,” and “If I Want To.” Dionne joins an impres sive roster of legendary artists who have performed at the Foundation’s annual Fall Fundraiser, including Patti LaBelle, Cyndi Lauper and Rufus Wainwright.

“There’s something that can be done about mental illness and it takes all of us to do that,” noted Ms. Warwick. “All we have to do is care, truly care, and always try

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Photo Credit: Erik Carter

Improving Health Outcomes through Equity and Access

Betteraccess to healthcare equals better health outcomes. Biogen strives to increase access and address the barriers that patient populations face. Oftentimes, health outcomes depend on factors beyond the control of patients and their doctors. Dis parities across age, gender, race, ethnicity and socio economic level are some examples. One of the key parts to Biogen’s approach involves researching and understanding these issues as well as their compound ing factors, such as, inadequate representation in clin ical trials and limitations to accessing care. Overall, the goal is clear: improve health outcomes for Black, African American, Hispanic, Latino and other under served communities in Biogen’s main disease areas.

Research and Collaboration

Issues of culture awareness and mistrust remain prev alent alongside a host of other considerations prior to enrollment in a clinical trial. To address these issues, Biogen uses a multi-channeled health equity strate gy which includes incorporating diverse community perspectives and insights into our drug development and engaging with the community by partnering with organizations to educate, build awareness, establish trust, and drive health equity.

In partnership with the Center for Information and Study on Clinical Research Participation (CISCRP), Biogen formed a Community Advisory Board (CAB) of patient advocates from underserved and underrepre sented communities who co-develop honest and trans parent educational assets for patients, HCPs and clin ical trial sites to discuss the importance of diversity in clinical trials. The CAB has also advised on various program and study designs as well as the develop ment of Biogen Trial Link, a publicly facing website to learn more about and find clinical trials.

In collaboration with the National Minority Quality Forum (NMQF), Biogen launched the Clinical Trial Index and Clinical Trial Learning Community (CTLC) which uses U.S. heat maps of Medicare/Medicaid ben eficiary data by patient demographics and maps them against clinical trial site locations. This information seeks to identify the right sites in the right locations to meet patient needs. The CTLC launched as a vir tual space for local stakeholders and subject matter experts to integrate routines in local care networks to increase underrepresented and underserved popula tion participation in clinical trials.

Clinical Recruitment and Specific Disease Areas

As the clinical study recruitment begins, Biogen teams track and report their progress toward the study tar gets that represent the epidemiology of their respec tive disease. Given this commitment, 2021 had 100% of Phase 1–4 studies in the U.S. including a plan to recruit participants from underrepresented commu nities to ensure the study population is representa tive of the intended treatment population. They also launched an Internal Participant Demographic Dis tribution Dashboard to track and measure the demo graphic distribution of participants across programs and studies, and to compare directly to epidemiology targets. Within certain disease areas, Biogen has built community and faith-based outreach and education programs for disease awareness and general clinical trial education with trusted organizations such as HEAL Collaborative and Proximity Health Solutions.

In Alzheimer’s specifically, they have sponsored the Bright Focus Foundation’s Virtual Community Out reach Series, bringing sustained Alzheimer’s disease and clinical trial education and access to communities with an underrepresented focus. Additionally, Biogen co-developed a paper with the NMQF titled “A Road map for Real-World Evidence Generation in Alzhei mer’s Disease.” It highlights how real-world evidence can include larger patient populations that are his torically underrepresented in randomized controlled trials.

In Lupus, Biogen collaborated with Saira Z. Sheikh, M.D., Director of University of North Carolina (UNC) Rheumatology Lupus Clinic and Director of the Clin ical Trials Program at UNC’s Thurston Arthritis Re search Center, to gather insights on barriers to clini cal trial enrollment among underrepresented groups. These insights are being used to inform Biogen’s clin ical development programs in lupus and address eq uity in study participation. For the Phase 3 studies in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), Biogen set enrollment targets that reflect the prevalence of SLE in Black or African American and Hispanic and/or Latino communities to achieve appropriate represen tation. Through partnerships with community-based Proximity Health Solutions and faith-based HEAL Collaborative, along with expert panels of commu nity leaders, HCPs and patient advocates, they par

ticipated in seven events across the U.S. in 2021 to educate communities about lupus and clinical trial research.

A Holistic Approach to Inclusion and Equity

Beyond this commitment to the patients and their specific needs, Biogen also focuses on the workers in volved in clinical trials. In 2021, they joined the Asso ciation of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP) as part of ACRP Partners in Workforce Advancement™, which works to expand the diversity of the clinical re search workforce and to set and support standards for workforce competence.

Additionally, Biogen has fostered employee collabo ration to increase awareness of health equity needs cross-functionally. In 2021, they introduced a Health Equity Ideas Cafe Series to deepen organization-wide understanding of Biogen’s commitment, including representation in our clinical trials and equitable ac cess. The three-part series engaged internal and ex ternal guest speakers on themes of lupus awareness, patient voices and community partnerships, and equi table access to healthcare. In addition, Biogen hosted an event with John Sawyer, Ph.D., ABPP-CN and a board-certified clinical neuropsychologist of the Ochs ner Neuroscience Institute; and Donnie Batie, M.D., on successful approaches to caring for underrepre sented patients.

From their research into healthcare disparities and patients’ needs, Biogen’s approach to health equity is guided by the motivation to help those who have his torically been underserved. Concretely, this commit ment to health equity looks like: clinical trial diver sity, empowering underrepresented groups, engaging employees, and launching new tools to improve acces sibility.

Visit Biogen Trial Link to learn more about clinical trials and how you can support equity and access ef forts such as these.

by L.M. Warbington Photography

by L.M. Warbington

THETA OMEGA CHAPTER TO CELEBRATE 100 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY

The Theta Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated will host a double celebration to commemorate its Centennial and to celebrate the payoff of its 30-year mortgage on its multimillion-dollar AKARAMA Foundation Community Service Center in 15 years. The Center is under the umbrella of the AKARAMA Foundation, the charitable arm of Theta Omega chapter.

The Chapter will honor these milestones with a Reception on Saturday, November 5 from 2-5 PM at the Center, 6220 S. Ingleside. The theme of the celebration is “100 Years of Sister hood and Service: Strengthening Our Community.” Founded on November 5, 1922, the chapter is hailed as one of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority’s premiere chapters. Theta Omega Chapter was the first Graduate Chapter in Chicago and boasts an illustrious history.

During the reception, members will reflect on the past 100 years and will make projections for the future. Several organizations such as Legal Aid Chicago, DLA Piper Law Firm, University of Chicago Office of Civic Engagement will be recognized and will receive expressions of appreciation for being sustained supporters through the years.

In making the announcement, Kimberley Egonmwan, Esq. President of the AKArama Foundation and Theta Omega chapter declared that the reception will hail the chapter’s Centennial milestone. Egonmwan also asserted: “Retiring the mortgage is a triumph and a reflection of the Foundation’s love and devotion to serving the community.”

Located in the heart of the Woodlawn community, the Center is heralded as a beacon of light. Under its roof is a service haven where programs are planned and hosted by mem bers who reach out to the community and provide information, tools and resources.

Egonmwan declared that the payoff of the Center rep resents the culmination of a dream by the Foundation members. “In illustrating their financial might, members pooled their

resources, combined their talents, crafted a plan, harnessed their strengths and executed their mission: to own, manage and control the Foundation’s direction and destiny. It is a powerful show of Black economic empowerment by African-American women.”

The President revealed that the early payoff was because aggressive fundraising efforts were mounted. Additionally, with extra-generous donations from members and substantial amounts bequeathed to the chapter, the mortgage was paid off in half the time.

During the event on Saturday November 5, members will host a symbolic “Burning of the Mortgage.”

The AKArama Community Service Center stands as a brick-and-mortar extension of the Foundation members’ passion, resolve and commitment to service. Under its roof, the Foundation has served millions, awarded over $1 million in scholarships and, overall, earned its designation as a citadel of service.

The acquisition and ownership of the Community Service Center is a major part of the arc of history of Theta Omega and the AKARAMA Foundation. In the 1990s, members began craving for a bigger space. These constant laments represented the tipping point that led to the eventual building of the Center. Audrey Cooper-Stanton, chapter president in 1999, led the charge. She put in motion a plan, assembled a team, and did the preliminary work that achieved results.

To seek support, Cooper-Stanton met with State Senator Emil Jones, Jr., who was also president of the State Senate.

Impressed with the community service focus, Jones directed Cooper-Stanton to prepare a plan capturing the vision. She crafted and submitted a proposal. Within a month, Coo per-Stanton received a commitment that the Foundation was awarded $500,000 from the Illinois First Fund. Additionally, the City sold the chapter eight parcels of land valued at $450,000 for a total of $1 per parcel. Reflecting on the significance of

these two developments Stanton-Cooper remarked: “With these two events, the Center went from a dream to a reality.”

The contractors charged with the overall project were Black-owned firms: The architect was Raymond Broady of RBA Architects; construction management was entrusted to UBM, Inc., whose president is Paul J. King, Jr.

In 2007, five years after the groundbreaking, the AKAra ma Foundation Community Service Center opened its doors to much fanfare and excitement.

Spotlighted among the attendees was State Senator Emil Jones, Jr. who was hailed for his role in giving life to the Center. Jones is invited to attend and will be applauded at the reception on November 5.

With pride, Egonmwan declared, “The AKArama Com munity Center is emblematic of the 100 years of service that defines the Foundation and the chapter. The Center has emerged as a service haven where programs are planned and hosted by members who reach out to the community and provide infor mation, tools and resources. We invite the public to participate in the many activities that take place at the Center.

The reception will be the first of three events to com memorate Theta Omega’s Centennial. Following are the other high-profile events and the dates:

• On Saturday November 12 the chapter will host a gala formal at the Marriott Hotel, 540 N. Michigan Avenue begin ning at 6:00 P.M. Members will reflect on 100 years of service through testimonials and anecdotes.

•On Sunday, November 13.the Centennial Celebration will culminate with a brunch, also at the Marriott, beginning at 11: A.M. Members will offer final words of praise and gratitude while looking forward to the second century.

To purchase tickets to the Centennial events and for more information, log on to https://www.eventbrite.com/e/celebrat ing-100-years-of-sisterhood-service-a-centennial-ball-tick ets-412891378227.

MONEY

Your Wallet

(StatePoint) As inflation continues to put a strain on budgets, talk of an upcoming recession has Americans worried about their finances. Prices on everyday items continue to rise and consumers are trying to find ways to make their dollar stretch further while safeguarding their money against the potential challenges a recession may bring. The future may be difficult to predict, but preparing now can help consumers protect their financial health during a recession.

A recent Experian survey found that two in three U.S. adults are con cerned about a recession occurring in the United States. Consumers are most worried about the affordability of routine expenses, with 73% concerned that the price of everyday items like gas, groceries and rent will continue to rise to a level they can’t afford. Meanwhile, 55% harbor supply chain concerns and 38% are stressed about the affordability of big, planned purchases such as a home or a car.

As recession worries grow, more Americans are sizing up their finances to see where they stand. Only 48% are confident that they can financially handle a recession, and two in five believe that they’ll need to rely on credit to cover essential and unexpected expenses over the next three months. In fact, 27% have already increased their credit card debt within the past three months. This trend is accompanied by addi tional anxieties: two in three survey respondents are concerned to some degree that their credit score will negatively affect their ability to access credit in the next three months.

Being proactive is key to weathering financial storms, yet less than half of consumers have prepared for a recession when it comes to their finances and credit. Those who have are finding different ways to do so: 49% have cut non-essential expenses like entertainment and vacations, 45% have created a budget and 40% have paid down debt. While these are effective actions, there are other steps consumers can take to understand their credit history and safeguard their credit. Consumers should check their credit report and credit score regularly to know exactly where they stand in the event that they need to apply for credit, or simply to be better informed as they prepare to pay down their debt ahead of an economic decline. They can get a free credit report and credit score from Experian (Spanish-language credit reports

Sudoku Solution

are also available) as well as access to free financial tools, an auto insurance shopping service and credit card marketplace.

Those who need help increasing their credit score can sign up for Experian Boost. This free feature enables consumers to add their monthly payments for cell phone bills, utility bills, rent and video streaming swervices to their credit history to potentially increase their FICO Score instantly. To learn more, visit experian.com/boost.

“Inflation and recession fears are putting pressure on consumer’s finances, but proactively planning for the worst can help con sumers make it through potential challenges. Many consumers are already taking great steps to prepare, like creating a budget and paying down their debt, and we encourage them to utilize other available resources and tools to help,” says Rod Griffin, senior director of Public Education and Advocacy at Experian.

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