CST Weekly 1-6-2021

Y O U R S O U R C E F O R C O R O N AV I R U S N E W S

Citizen The Citizen: Serving The Black Community For 55 Years Week of Jan. 6, 2021

| Vol. 4 | No. 22 | www.citizennewspapergroup.com

SUBURBAN TIMES WEEKLY

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, scientists and other experts have debated whether the general public should wear face masks and whether these masks should be medical grade masks or homemade face coverings.

COVID-19 AND FACE MASKS: TO WEAR OR NOT TO WEAR?

Many countries around the world recommend that people wear masks in public as part of their strategy to curb the COVID-19 pandemic. MedicalNewsToday.com looks at why some people do not wear masks and discusses what scientiďŹ c evidence says about wearing them. PAGE 3

2020 has been a year. Here are some notable events to remember.

Dental Visits Are Essential Health Care, Here’s Why Page 4

GoodGirlPR Launches New Jazz/ Pop Project with Christina Jones and Kimiko Ishizaka Page 6

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2 | CITIZEN | Suburban Times Weekly | Week of Jan. 6, 2021

POLITISCOPE

Obama book offers key insight about how laws really get made the difference between “making a point and making a difference.”

There are exceptions to this. For instance, in Philip J. Rock’s memoir, published after his 2016 death, “Nobody Calls Just to Say Hello,” the longtime Illinois Senate president carefully explains how at least a dozen important decisions came about.

BY DAVID WEBBER

Amid all the attention on former President Barack Obama’s new book, what may not have shown up in the reviews is mention of a twopage summary that, for legislative scholars like me, includes what may be the shortest and perhaps best description of how legislatures really work, even for political scientists.

Based on his time as an Illinois state senator from 1997 to 2004, the brief passage crystallizes the inner workings of the legislative process.

As a scholar who has observed and studied state legislatures and Congress for almost 50 years, I know there are hundreds of autobiographies by former members of Congress, former U.S. senators and former state legislators – all of whom offer lessons about what goes on in their respective chambers. But none is so succinct as Obama’s.

Legions of accounts One of the first legislative memoirs I read, in about 1972, was “Congress: The Sapless Branch,” written a decade earlier by Joseph Clark, who then represented my home state, Pennsylvania, in the U.S. Senate.

I became fascinated with the idea

Obama’s experience In his 750-page book, Obama’s legislative insight comes early, on pages 33 and 34. Obama recounts an early speech opposing tax breaks to corporations using facts and figures that he felt certain were convincing. When he finished, Senate President Pate Philip came over to his desk: That was a hell of a speech,” he said, chewing on an unlit cigar.

“Made some good points.” Then he added: “Might have even changed a lot of minds,” he said. “But you didn’t change any votes.” With that he signaled to the presiding officer and watched with satisfaction as the green lights signifying “aye” lit up the board.

Obama went on to describe his view of politics in Springfield as “a series of transactions mostly hidden

David Webber

of legislators evaluating their own institutions – and even proposing reforms to make them work better.

Most legislator autobiographies are heavy on personal journeys, describing why and how they ran for office, what happened during the campaign and their legislative successes once elected. These sorts of books include former U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill of Missouri’s 2015 “Plenty Ladylike” and Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky’s 2016 “The Long Game.” They pay little attention to the performance of the legislature or the wider political system – though McConnell does note the contrast between politics and reality,

from view, legislators weighing the competing pressures of various interests with the dispassion of bazaar merchants, all the while keeping a careful eye on the handful of ideological hot buttons – guns, abortion, taxes – that might generate heat from their base.”

Obama explained that it wasn’t that legislators “didn’t know the difference between good and bad policy. It just didn’t matter. What everyone in Springfield understood was that 90 percent of the time voters back home weren’t paying attention.

A complicated but worthy compromise, bucking party orthodoxy to support an innovative idea – that could cost you a key endorsement, a big financial backer, a leadership post, or even an election.”

In that passage, Obama describes the central weakness of representative democracy: Nice-looking political institutions don’t work the way they seem, partly because organized special interests keep them that way, and more importantly, because “90 percent of the time voters back home weren’t paying attention.”

Legislators respond to people and interests they see and hear. Usually that means other politicians, lobbyists and their staffs. Without an

attentive public, the public interest loses out.

We all know better than we live His account reinforces a truth I first struggled with in 1981 while interviewing an Indiana legislator for my dissertation. I asked him if he looked for information to better understand legislative proposals. He told me, “I can’t help but think that you think that our problem is that we don’t know what we should be doing here. It’s just like in farming, I already know how to farm better than I farm.”

People already know the facts of how to live healthier, work more effectively and save more money. And politicians largely know how to address what the public actually needs.

It is motivation and discipline that are often the obstacles, not a lack of knowledge.

Academic books and articles are useful for understanding pieces of the legislative process. But they, and lawmakers’ own reflections, seldom so clearly reveal – as Obama captures – how legislators understand it.

David Webber is an Associate Professor Emeritus of Political Science at University of Missouri-Columbia.

NEWS

Year in Review

BY TIA CAROL JONES

2020 has been a year. Here are some notable events to remember: Marijuana On January 1, 2020, Illinois legalized cannabis. While there is one marijuana dispensary in a neighborhood of color, Mission at 87th Street and Commercial Avenue, Black people have been noticeably absent from enjoying the monetary gain of a drug that they were disproportionately jailed for having possession of and for selling.

Subsequently, legal experts and organizations have been trying to help people get their records expunged and found the rules surrounding expungement cumbersome.

In November, Illinois Equal Justice Foundation announced the launch of New Leaf Illinois.

The State-funded program is an alliance of 20 organizations

across Illinois that will provide free legal and advisory services to assist people with marijuana convictions.

Pandemic COVID-19 was first recognized in December 2019.

And, a year later, businesses have closed, schools have moved to remote learning, restaurants and other small businesses have suffered irreparable losses. In the United States, more than 300,000 people have died.

The pandemic brought to light the health disparities experienced by Black people.

It also highlighted the lack of resources for Black people when it comes to health care.

According to the Illinois Department of Public Health’s website, there have been 16,074 deaths in 102 counties in Illinois due to COVID-19. There have been more than 4,000 deaths in the City of Chicago.

Black Lives Matter After the deaths of unarmed Black people, including George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmad Arbery, people took to the streets to protest the loss of Black lives, with some calling for measures designed to “Defund the Police,” and “Abolish the Police.”

From that movement, came celebrations of Juneteenth and calls to make it a holiday, nationally and locally. In December, the Cook County Board of Commissioners voted to make Juneteenth a recognized holiday, making it a paid day off for county workers. Locally, movements like Equality Should Be Normal, founded by Romel Murphy, and Illinois Black Collective, founded by Ashley Munson, as well as others, were born out of the marches for equity and inclusion.

Civil Unrest People caused damage

Photo by L.M. Warbington

to businesses, which led to businesses boarding up their storefronts.

Communities had to clean up and recover from damage done to grocery stores and other businesses. In communities where there were fewer resources, the pain of loss was felt even deeper. But something else happened, people also banded together to protect businesses in their communities.

Census 2020 Once every 10 years, the United States takes a count of the people in the country.

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This year, there was a push to make sure Black people were counted because it meant more federal dollars and representation for the community. There were events to inform people about how to fill out the census form as well as mobilization efforts to ensure people completed the form. Now, the United States Census Bureau is tabulating and certifying the number.

According to the United States 2020 website, as close to April 1, 2021, the Census Bureau will send redistricting counts to the states. This is

the information that is used to redraw legislative districts, which is based on population changes.

Politics The November 4, 2020 election was not expected to be decided the night of and results didn’t come until that Saturday and now, Joe Biden has been certified as the President-elect, and Kamala Harris is the Vice President-elect.

Donald Trump has still not conceded the race and has still said publicly the election was stolen.

CITIZEN | Suburban Times Weekly | Week of Jan. 6, 2021

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NEWS

COVID-19 and face masks: To wear or not to wear?

Continued from page 1 Many countries around the world recommend that people wear masks in public as part of their strategy to curb the COVID-19 pandemic.

MedicalNewsToday.com looks at why some people do not wear masks and discusses what scientific evidence says about wearing them.

All data and statistics are based on publicly available data at the time of publication. Some information may be out of date. Visit coronavirus hub at https://www. medicalnewstoday.com/coronavirus and follow their live updates page at https://www.medicalnewstoday. com/articles/live-updates-coronavirus-covid-19#1 for the most recent information on the COVID-19 outbreak.

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, scientists and other experts have debated whether the general public should wear face masks and whether these masks should be medical grade masks or homemade face coverings.

From early April onwards, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States recommended that people wear homemade face coverings in places where physical distancing is impossible.

Other countries, such as the United Kingdom and Germany, have made wearing a face covering on public transport mandatory.

The World Health Organization (WHO) long shied away from such recommendations, maintaining that only healthcare professionals, those who currently have the new coronavirus, as well as those caring from them at home, wear medical grade masks.

But in early June, the WHO released a list of recommendations suggesting the most appropriate types of masks to wear in a variety of settings. This included the use of non-medical masks in crowded places and public transport.

Yet, not every place or person has adopted the use of face coverings. In this special feature article, MedicalNewsToday.com explores four reasons why some people choose not to wear masks. They examine the claims behind these reasons in the context of the scientific evidence that is available today.

1. Masks offer no protection to the wearer Claims: Masks are not an effective way of protection from the new coronavirus, only N95 are, and masks have disclaimers saying they cannot prevent someone from acquiring the new coronavirus These claims represent the essence of the argument around whether to wear a mask. The primary aim of asking the general public to wear masks where physical distancing is not possible is not to protect the wearer. Instead, this public health measure aims to stop people with a SARS-CoV-2 infection who are asymptomatic or presymptomatic from transmitting the virus. Experts refer to this as source control.

Rather than protecting the wearer, source control seeks to block the release of virus-laden droplets into the air that surrounds the person wearing the mask.

Several research papers have shown that simple face coverings can reduce the number of droplets, and perhaps some aerosols, to some extent.

2. Evidence is lacking Claim: There is no scientific evidence to say that masks are effective Prof. Trisha Greenhalgh from the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom has voiced her support about using face masks in several prominent research journals, such as The BMJ. “The argument that we should not recommend face coverings because there are no published experiments is out of step with other

public health policy on infection control in general and [COVID-19] in particular,” she recently wrote in the Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice.

3. Masks may increase risk of infection Claim: Masks can become contaminated very quickly, and every time the wearer breathes in, they inhale contaminants Masks can be a source of infection for the person wearing them, according to the WHO. A 2017 study involving 16 healthcare professionals showed that self-contamination was common when the volunteers were putting on and removing medical-grade personal protective equipment.

The CDC recommends that people do not touch their face covering while wearing a face mask in public and that they wash their hands if they do so accidentally.

Medical-grade masks block microorganisms from reaching the wearer’s nose and mouth. It is not clear whether this applies to homemade face coverings as well.

In a recent study, which as not yet undergone peer review, researchers tested different fabrics to see how many different sized droplets would pass through.

“We found that most home fabrics substantially block droplets, even as a single layer. With two layers, blocking performance can reach that of a surgical mask without significantly compromising breathability,” the authors wrote in the manuscript.

Claim: Masks can lead to pneumonia or other lung infections There is no evidence indicating that masks increase the wearer’s risk of developing pneumonia or other bacterial, viral, or fungal lung infections.

The WHO acknowledge that if a person wears the same mask for a long time, microorganisms may grow on the fabric. The CDC

recommend that a person removes the face covering once they return home and washes it before using it again.

“All masks should be changed if wet or visibly soiled; a wet mask should not be worn for an extended period of time. […] Either discard the mask or place it in a sealable bag where it is kept until it can be washed and cleaned,” the WHO advises.

4. Masks might harm the wearer Claim: Masks limit oxygen intake and increase carbon dioxide (CO2), and they increase the potential risk of CO2 poisoning One small study looked at 39 volunteers who had end stage renal disease and received dialysis during the SARS pandemic in 2003.

The researchers found that 70% of participants who wore an N95 respirator for 4 hours during treatment experienced a fall in oxygen levels.

Another study found no differences in the oxygen levels in 10 intensive care nurses who wore N95 respirators for their shifts. Carbon dioxide poisoning is very rare, and experts mostly associate it with accidents that occur in confined spaces, such as ships and mines.

Hypercapnia, or hypercarbia, occurs when a person has too much carbon dioxide in their blood. Hyperventilation and some lung conditions can lead to hypercapnia. It can manifest as dizziness and headaches at the mild end of the spectrum, and confusion, seizures, and coma at the severe end.

Research from 2006 found that during the SARS pandemic in 2003, healthcare workers who wore N95 respirators for more than 4 hours at a time were more likely to develop headaches.

A representative from the CDC recently spoke to Reuters about hypercapnia: “The CO2 will slowly build up in the mask over time.

However, the level of CO2 likely to build up in the mask is mostly tolerable to people exposed to it.

AmeriCorps Launches College Access Project For Alumni; 250 Schools Of National Service Pledge Support AmeriCorps recently announced a new nationwide initiative, Schools of National Service, to improve college access and affordability for AmeriCorps alumni. Through the project, participating schools will provide incentives and awards to AmeriCorps alumni in recognition of their service, encouraging them to attend their institution.

“I’m proud to announce Schools of National Service, a new effort that will prepare the leaders of tomorrow by making higher education more

affordable and accessible today,” said Barbara Stewart, CEO of AmeriCorps. “AmeriCorps has a long history of partnership with higher education and this new initiative will continue that legacy by highlighting schools that are committed to the public good. Every day, I’m inspired by our AmeriCorps members – whether in service, in school, or in the community – they are making a difference.” As AmeriCorps prepared to launch Schools of National Service, nearly two

dozen schools pledged their support, officially becoming among the latest schools to be named a School of National Service.

AmeriCorps, a federal agency, brings people together to tackle the country’s most pressing challenges, through national service and volunteering. AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers serve with organizations dedicated to the improvement of communities.

Learn more at AmeriCorps.gov.

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You might get a headache, but you most likely [would] not suffer the symptoms observed at much higher levels of CO2. […] It is unlikely that wearing a mask will cause hypercapnia.”

To wear a mask or not?

Whether a person decides to follow public health advice and wear a mask is down to individual choice, at least in countries where wearing masks is not mandatory. This might never be a clear-cut topic, and there may be no resolution for those who prefer to consult a large body of well-conducted scientific studies to help them make their decisions.

Some experts think that conducting randomized control studies to tease out the exact contribution that masks may make to slowing the spread of SARS-CoV-2 is likely impractical.

Some people may find wearing a mask a straightforward adjustment to their daily lives and will readily wear a mask when venturing out to crowded places, doing the groceries, or visiting friends.

For some people, such as small children and people with breathing problems, wearing a mask is not practical or possible. However, these people may still benefit if others wear them.

Darrell Garth President / Publisher Janice Garth Sales Manager/ General Manager CST Weekly, published weekly on Wednesdays and distributed in the Township of Bloom, (publishing 52 issues annually).

Written permission is required to reproduce contents in whole or part from the General manager or the publisher. CST Weekly does not assume the responsibility for nor are we able to return unsolicited marterials. Deadline for advertising is every Monday at noon.

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4 | CITIZEN | Suburban Times Weekly | Week of Jan. 6, 2021

FASHION

PRETTYPARTY And Fashion Nova To Launch New Hair Products Line PRETTYPARTY, LLC (https://prettyparty.com, @ prettypartybty), recently announced that it’s introducing, SOULe

by PRETTYPARTY, a new line of youthful, salon-quality, affordable do-it-yourself hair extensions and other hair products developed in conjunction with Fashion Nova, one of the world’s leading fashion lifestyle brands. SOULe by PRETTYPARTY hair products will be available through a new beauty section of Fashion Nova’s website, and will also be sold directly by PRETTYPARTY. “For years, I have admired and loved Fashion Nova. Their styles and looks are always right on, and the brand has great energy,” said PRETTYPARTY Founder and CEO Laura Mayer. “We were really honored when they approached us and asked us to work with them to develop a new line of hair extensions designed with their customer in mind. SOULe products are just as high quality and innovative as, and even more affordable than, our existing product line. We designed the SOULe line to appeal to customers of all ethnicities and ages, so we know that Fashion Nova’s customers will love it.”

“At Fashion Nova, we are always looking for hot, on-trend products that can help our customers look and feel stylish and beautiful,” explained Fashion Nova Senior Beauty Buyer Marissa Schroeder. “SOULe by PRETTYPARTY extensions and other hair items fit just as perfectly with our fashion products as our famous jeans fit our customers’ bodies. We are super excited to be entering the beauty space and PRETTYPARTY is a great initial partner in that effort.”

SOULe by PRETTYPARTY hair extensions are 22 and 26 inches long and come in a variety of colors and textures. According to a press release, they attach in less than 30 seconds, eliminating timeconsuming, expensive salon visits, tape or beads.

For more information, visit Fashion Nova’s website at https://www.fashionnova.com/ or follow them on Instagram @ fashionnova For more information, visit PRETTYPARTY’s website at https://prettyparty.com or follow them on Instagram @ prettypartybty

Fashion Nova and PRETTYPARTY create new, hair extension line.

Dental Visits Are Essential Health Care, Here’s Why StatePoint - If maintaining good health is top of mind these days, as it is for many, be sure to factor dental hygiene into the equation.

Medical experts say that a healthy mouth is critical to whole-body health, and warn that during the COVID-19 pandemic, certain stressrelated oral health concerns are on the rise.

“Dental health and overall health are intrinsically linked. Beyond teeth and gums, the mouth serves as a window to the rest of the body, providing clues about health related issues that may be brewing,” says Dr. Alice Boghosian, American Dental Association (ADA) spokesperson.

Dr. Boghosian reminds the public that dental visits have always been an essential part of health care and are safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thanks to ADA

and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance, dentists have increased their already strong infection control and office sterilization protocols when treating patients.

“Routine dental exams during the pandemic can help keep your mouth and body healthy. In addition, dentists can sometimes spot signs suggestive of medical issues, alerting you to the need for medical follow-up,” says Dr. Boghosian.

According to the ADA, here’s why you should be seeing your dentist regularly, and insights into how oral and overall health are connected: • The COVID-19 pandemic has been a tremendous source of anxiety and stress, which makes it no surprise that since its onset, a majority of dentists in an ADA Health Policy Institute survey report a rise in stress-

related oral health conditions in their patients. If you are waking with a tired or sore jaw, find you’re grinding your teeth or have a chipped or cracked tooth, a dentist can help.

• Dentists’ areas of care extend beyond teeth, gums and supporting bone to include the muscles of the head, neck and jaw, the tongue, salivary glands and the nervous system of the head, neck and other areas.

When appropriate, dentists can take samples of tissue to screen for chronic or infectious diseases, and even oral cancer. Catching oral cancer early reduces the risk of your being among the 10,030 people nationwide whose lives are claimed annually by the disease.

• For the 29.1 million people in the U.S. living with diabetes, and those at high risk of developing the disease,

“Dentists, along with your physician and other healthcare professionals, are part of your health care team,” says Dr. Boghosian. “Your oral and overall health are our top priority.”

dental visits are especially important. Untreated diabetes can take a toll on your mouth in numerous ways your dentist can detect.

What’s more, people with diabetes are more prone to periodontal disease, a chronic, inflammatory disease that can destroy gums, all the tissues

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holding your teeth and even bones. Research suggests that treating gum disease and then practicing good oral hygiene can help improve blood sugar control in people living with diabetes.

• With pregnancy come changes in your body, including an increased risk

of the gum disease called gingivitis. Keeping up with regular dental cleanings during your pregnancy can help keep this issue at bay.

For more dental health tips and resources, visit MouthHealthy.org. To find a dentist near you, visit FindaDentist.ada.org.

CITIZEN | Suburban Times Weekly | Week of Jan. 6, 2021

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ENTERTAINMENT Joseph Acquired by Urban Home Entertainment for Video-On-Demand Distribution Worldwide

GoodGirlPR Launches New Jazz/Pop Project with Christina Jones and Kimiko Ishizaka GoodGirlPR has announced an untitled collaboration between Christina Jones and composer/ pianist Kimiko Ishizaka to be released this year. The album will consist of original, heart wrenching songs – all in the name of saving love. Further collaborators are Corey Allen (arranger & producer) who has previously worked with the Manhattan Transfer, Chuck Mangione, and Lou Rawls, as well as Latin Grammy winner Allan Leschhorn (sound engineer).

During the unprecedented times of COVID-19, divorce and breakup rates are steadily increasing, and Ishizaka wrote these songs specifically to save her love and marriage. Jones will give voice to the feelings and emotions of someone who has been left, and who is fighting to save that love.

The collaboration between Jones and Ishizaka began during the pandemic lockdown when the two still managed to collaborate remotely to produce the first demo songs. Jones will travel to the Dominican Republic in 2021 to work with Corey Allen and Allan Leschhorn to complete the album.

Ishizaka discovered Jones while watching a virtual orchestra video produced by students of the Berklee School of Music. After collaborating remotely throughout most of 2020, Ishizaka said of Jones: “Christina is a brilliant musician and powerful storyteller. Her voice brings songs to life, and I am thrilled that she has taken on the project of sharing my songs with the world.”

To receive news about the album, register at www. christinajones.com. The project demo is also available on Spotify.

About Christina Jones As a musical theater major at Boston Conservatory at Berklee, up-and-coming artist Jones knew that music

Christina Jones

would always play an instrumental role in her life. She started her pursuit in art as a young girl by singing in church and school musicals, where she discovered her passion for music and began entering competitions.

Jones entered the world of performing arts and music theater and her talents landed her in the Top 40 of American Idol, alongside multiple appearances at The Apollo in Harlem, NY. Her conscious drive and dedication also earned her roles in musicals at the New Repertory Theater and Central Square Theater in 2021.

With influences like Ella Fitzgerald, Janelle Monae, Alicia Keys, and Maya Angelou, Jones has a unique, artistic style that translates strong feelings of purpose into her poetry and songwriting. Her jazz and R&B background resonates through her lyrics and personal creative projects, including her most recent project titled “America the Dream” with founders Shelbie Rassler and Steve Schuch.

On December 24, 2020, on Amazon Prime and Vimeo, the film company, Soulidifly Productions, partnered with TRIAL X FIRE, LLC, the distribution branch of Urban Home Entertainment, and released Joseph to audiences everywhere on video-ondemand.

“Joseph will bring viewers a deeper understanding of how the search for truth can be healing, especially during times of social and political unrest,” said BK Fulton, founding chairman and CEO, Soulidifly Productions. “This film aligns with 2019’s ‘Year of Return’ and the ‘Decade of Return,’ currently being expressed by African leaders and global influencers as more people search for answers in the present by looking to clues from the past.”

Winner of the 2020 “Best Diaspora Narrative Feature” award at the Africa Movie Academy Awards, Joseph was shot on location in Ghana, Jamaica and Barbados and produced by Step by Step Productions with assistance from Soulidifly Productions.

Joseph is a dramatic feature

film about Joseph King, a young Jamaican doctor with a burning desire to re-connect to his family’s roots with the Ashanti tribe in Ghana. The quest to “go home” creates family conflict.

Joseph’s curiosity about Africa is fueled even more by a friend from medical school, who would boast about his homeland Ghana. His stories contradict with what Joseph hears and sees about Africa in the media.

A serious tragedy, a chance meeting and an unfulfilled promise drive Joseph towards an uncertain destiny.

Access the trailer: https:// www.soulidifly.com/joseph Joseph has been endorsed and supported by the Governments of Ghana, Jamaica and Barbados and was included in the Ghana Tourism Authority’s “Year Of Return.” The film was released theatrically in Ghana, Nigeria, Jamaica and other Caribbean islands, and in the U.S. in select AMC theaters earlier this year.

Directed by Marcia Weekes and co-written by Weekes and Delphine Itambi from the Republic of Cameroon, the film includes Caribbean/African actors and artists.

The Marcus Graham Project Receives Inaugural Grant From The NBA Foundation The Marcus Graham Project (MGP) was named among seven organizations that were awarded grants from the NBA Foundation.

The Marcus Graham Project will dedicate its grant towards improving and expanding training, mentorship, and professional development opportunities for talent of color across the media, advertising, and sports marketing industries.

“The advertising, media and marketing industry will not reflect the rich racial diversity found in the U.S. until the year 2079, at the current rate of hiring, retention, and promotion,” said Larry Yarrell, cofounder of Marcus Graham Project.

“Minority voices are often the drivers of culture, and we desperately need them in rooms where decisions

are made. These funds will give us the opportunity to further invest in developing the next generation of leaders and we hope that the companies and organizations that have made commitments to advancing economic justice and equality for Black Americans will join us in expanding our efforts.”

The grant will enable the Marcus Graham Project to improve and expand their iCR8™ programs, including the iCR8™ Boot Camp and iCR8™ Workshop. These programs are designed to provide diverse aspirants in the field of marketing and media, including advertising, public relations & social media with the exposure and experience necessary to solidify careers within the industry.

“The Cavs are extremely proud

of the NBA Foundation’s decision to make the Marcus Graham Project one of its inaugural grantees. This speaks volumes to the continued impact of MGP since our introduction and first sports marketing workshop during the 2014-15 NBA season. Since then, we’ve continued to use our platform to amplify MGP’s mission and couldn’t be more pleased to see these fruits of the relationship. We look forward to continuing to play our role in the development of creatives and thought leaders, not only in Northeast Ohio, but with the NBA Foundation and other team markets,” said Corey James, Cleveland Cavaliers director of diversity, inclusion, and community engagement.

Since its creation in 2005, the Marcus Graham Project has www.citizennewspapergroup.com

impacted over 2,500 members and alumni internationally. With the grant from the NBA Foundation, MGP will have the tools to develop the careers of more than 1,500 additional aspiring marketing and media professionals.

“My first experience with the Marcus Graham Project came in the form of the Sports Marketing Workshop hosted in Cleveland with the Cavaliers,” said Saxx Booker, an alumna of the Marcus Graham Project and Manager of Social Influence for the Washington Wizards. “I can honestly say the MGP iCR8 Programs (workshop and boot camp) have allowed me to gain experience and build a network that has opened doors and shaped the trajectory of my career.”

This grant is the first of what will be a $5 million capacity-building campaign for the expansion of the Marcus Graham Project’s programs across North America, as well as its social enterprise extension, Locomotus, which was announced in Forbes earlier this year.

About Marcus Graham Project Founded nearly 15 years ago, the Marcus Graham Project (MGP) is a national organization focused on developing the next generation of diverse leaders in the advertising, media, and marketing industries through training, mentorship, and professional development opportunities to ensure the industry is more inclusive to better reflect the diverse world we live in.

CST Weekly

CITIZEN | Suburban Times Weekly | Week of Jan. 6, 2021

Classifieds REAL ESTATES AC 12-30-2020 IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION US BANK NA; Plaintiff, vs. PATRICIA A. ESKRIDGE AKA PATRICIA ESKRIDGE; UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NONRECORD CLAIMANTS; Defendants, 19 CH 9141 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above entitled cause Intercounty Judicial Sales Corporation will on Monday, February 1, 2021 at the hour of 11 a.m. in their office at 120 West Madison Street, Suite 718A, Chicago, Illinois, sell at public auction to the highest bidder for cash, as set forth below, the following described mortgaged real estate: P.I.N. 32-17-414-005-0000.

Commonly known as 140 Broadway Avenue, Chicago Heights, IL 60411. The mortgaged real estate is improved with a single family residence. If the subject mortgaged real estate is a unit of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by subsection (g-1) of Section 18.5 of the Condominium Property Act. Sale terms: 10% down by certified funds, balance, by certified funds, within 24 hours. No refunds. The property will NOT be open for inspection. For information call Sales Department at Plaintiff's Attorney, Manley Deas Kochalski, LLC, One East Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60601. (614) 2205611. 19-024949 F2 INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION intercountyjudicialsales.com I3161775 ____________________________ HUD/BANK FORECLOSURES CITY & SUBURBS Call: FRED D. CLINK (773) 294-5870 REALTY SERVICES CONSORTIUM ____________________________

3+ Bedroom HOMES FOR SALE SELLER FINANCING Call: FRED D. CLINK (773) 294-5870 REALTY SERVICES CONSORTIUM ____________________________

RESTORE YOUR CREDIT SCORE TODAY!

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LEGAL NOTICE

CALL US TODAY AT:

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS

CREDIT RESTORATION SERVICES

(218) 833-3769

Derrick Lowe,Plaintiff (s) v.

Yvette Anderson Lowe, Defendant (s) No# 2020D630638 TO: Yvette Anderson Lowe, Motion

by Derrick Lowe FOR: Divorce Hearing I (We) do hereby certify that a copy of this instrument was served upon all parties who have appeared and have not previously been found by the court to be in default for failure to plead. Dated: October 29, 2020, Name: Derrick Lowe Address: 12142 S. Bishop Street, Chicago, Illinois 60643, Telephone: 773-6483878.

Shaymar Media Productions LLC

DOROTHY BROWN, CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. ___________________________

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8 | CITIZEN | Suburban Times Weekly | Week of Jan. 6, 2021