Citizen Suburban Times Weekly 2-19-2020

Citizen CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH Week of Feb. 19, 2020

| Vol. 3 | No. 28 | www.citizennewspapergroup.com

SUBURBAN TIMES WEEKLY

THE SEARCH IS ON FOR AMERICA’S NEXT TOP YOUNG SCIENTIST

3M and Discovery Education recently announced the opening of the 2020 3M Young Scientist Challenge (#YoungScientist). The annual 3M Young Scientist Challenge recruits students in grades 5-8 to compete for an exclusive mentorship with a 3M scientist, the $25,000 grand prize and earn the title of America’s Top Young Scientist.

Competition entries are accepted at www.

YoungScientistLab.com until the April 21, 2020 deadline.

SEE PAGE 2

3M and Discovery Education recently announced the opening of the 2020 3M Young Scientist Challenge (#YoungScientist).

POLITISCOPE

How Trump’s proposed benefits changes will create hardship for rural people with disabilities PAGE 2

BLACK HISTORY FOCUS

Chicago’s South Side Was Big Part of the Civil Rights Era PAGE 3

|

NEWS

NEWS

South and West side Clergy endorse Kim Foxx

New Documentary About Ben Wilson Highlights Forgiveness and Healing From Family

PAGE 3

PAGE 5

|

|

advertising@citizennewspapergroup.com thechicagocitizen@thechicagocitiz www.facebook.com/durrell.garth.9 www.citizennewspapergroup.com

2 | CITIZEN | Suburban Times Weekly | Week of Feb. 19, 2020

COMMUNITY

The Search is on for America’s Next Top Young Scientist Continued from page 1 3M and Discovery Education recently announced the opening of the 2020 3M Young Scientist Challenge (#YoungScientist). The annual 3M Young Scientist Challenge recruits students in grades 5-8 to compete for an exclusive mentorship with a 3M scientist, the $25,000 grand prize and earn the title of America’s Top Young Scientist. Competition entries are accepted at www.YoungScientistLab.com until the April 21, 2020 deadline.

The competition enters its thirteenth year of fostering a new generation of students who are inspired to improve the world through science and innovation.

Each year, the program recognizes 10 finalists and up to 50 state merit winners nationwide who have demonstrated a passion for solving everyday problems.

Previous challenge finalists have collaborated with 3M scientists to create solutions to a wide variety of real-world problems, including water conservation, noise pollution, energy consumption and public transportation efficiency.

Last year’s winner, 14-year old Kara

IT’S EASY FOR STUDENTS TO ENTER THE 3M YOUNG SCIENTIST CHALLENGE – IT ONLY TAKES AN IDEA TO GET STARTED AND NO PROTOTYPES OR FANCY LABS ARE REQUIRED. STUDENTS ARE INVITED TO CREATE A ONE TO TWO-MINUTE VIDEO COMMUNICATING THE SCIENCE BEHIND AN IDEA AIMED AT SOLVING A PROBLEM THAT POSITIVELY IMPACTS THEM, THEIR SCHOOL, FAMILY OR COMMUNITY. Fan, invented a first aid liquid bandage to reduce antibiotic overuse.

It’s easy for students to enter the 3M Young Scientist Challenge – it only takes an idea to get started and no prototypes or fancy labs are required. Students are invited to create a one to two-minute video communicating the science behind an idea aimed at solving a problem that positively impacts them, their school, family or community.

Videos will not be judged on production skills and may be recorded on cell phones or basic digital cameras. Entries will be evaluated based on their creativity, scientific knowledge, and effective communication skills.

In June 2020, ten finalists will be chosen

to participate in an exclusive summer mentorship program, where they will work closely with and learn from a 3M scientist.

Each finalist will also receive a trip to the 3M Innovation Center at the company’s headquarters in St. Paul, Minn., to compete at the final event in October 2020.

“At 3M, we are passionate about the application of science to improve our everyday lives. The 3M Young Scientist Challenge and its summer mentorship program is a unique, immersive experience for students to explore innovation and nurture their ideas from concept to working prototype,” said Denise Rutherford, senior vice president, Corporate Affairs at 3M. “Year after year, it’s a true pleasure to work alongside young leaders as they imagine and discover what is possible

through the power of science.”

Since its inception, the 3M Young Scientist Challenge has awarded hundreds of thousands of dollars in student prizes, paired students with world-renowned scientists to give them real-world insights and delivered science resources to millions of students, teachers and families across the country. 3M Young Scientist Challenge learning resources, including classroom interactives and family activities, are available at no cost at YoungScientistLab.com.

“Discovery Education is proud to partner with 3M and power a program that shines light upon the innate curiosities and wonder of young scientists,” said Lori McFarling, president of Corporate Education Partnerships at Discovery Education. “As we collectively embrace unknowns of the future ahead, we look to our youngest leaders to inspire change for the betterment of our world – and ultimately open our eyes to the change that can result from student innovation, commitment and passion for innovation.”

For more information on the contest and rules, to learn more about the challenge and to submit entries, please visit YoungScientistLab.com.

POLITISCOPE

How Trump’s proposed benefits changes will create hardship for rural people with disabilities

BY LILLIE GREIMAN AND CATHERINE IPSEN

Changes to the Social Security Disability Insurance program proposed in January by the Trump administration could make it harder for over 8 million Americans with disabilities to maintain federal benefits.

That’s particularly true for those in rural communities, where we have worked and studied for the past 35 years.

Changes to disability benefits Currently, nearly 8.4 million people receive Social Security Disability Benefits, averaging about US$1,200 a month. Individuals receive these benefits if they are unable to hold a job because of a mental or physical impairment, such as back pain, arthritis or mood disorders.

To continue receiving these benefits, recipients must go through a periodic review process called a Continuing Disability Review. There were 2.2 million such reviews in 2018.

These reviews are meant to ensure that people who have improved

or recovered from disability do not continue receiving federal benefits.

The process varies depending on medical diagnosis and whether their condition is expected to improve.

Currently, recipients are classified into one of three groups: Medical Improvement Expected, Medical Improvement Possible and Medical Improvement Not Expected. Depending on classification, reviews can occur as frequently as twice a year or as rarely as once every seven years. Regardless of the designation, the review process can result in the termination of benefits.

The Trump administration has proposed the addition of a fourth classification category, called Medical Improvement Likely.

A letter from the House Ways and Means Committee states that such substantial changes to disability benefits haven’t happened since the 1980s.

According to the Federal Register, close to 1 million people, now categorized as Medical Improvement Possible, would likely move to this new category, increasing the frequency of their reviews.

This change would add 2.6 million additional individual reviews over the next 10 years.

The goal of these proposed changes is to reduce overall benefits costs to the government. The Federal Register indicates that the additional reviews would cost $1.8 billion to administer while saving $2 billion in terminated benefits, for an overall savings of $200 million.

These proposed changes are based on research from The Office of Research, Demonstration and Employment Support showing that, after losing benefits based on a review, 70% of people had some earnings within the next five years.

However, this research also shows that a majority continue to live below the poverty line.

Barriers to access People with disabilities in rural communities will be disproportionately affected by these changes.

In 2018, the Social Security Administration processed 2.4 million reviews, and nearly 200,000 individuals had their benefits terminated.

Individuals with terminated

benefits must go through a lengthy appeals process in order to get benefits reinstated, often requiring a visit to a Social Security office or an administrative judge for a hearing.

The need to travel to a Social Security office or court can be a barrier for people who lack access to transportation. People with disabilities living in rural areas frequently report that limited access to transportation prevents them from getting a job, accessing health care and participating in recreation.

These issues are exacerbated for the more than 9 million people with disabilities who live in counties without Social Security offices. In fact, our analysis shows that 25% of all SSDI beneficiaries – over 2 million people – live in a county without a Social Security office. Of these, over half live in rural counties.

Lagging economically People in rural communities who lose benefits are also more economically vulnerable than those in more urban communities.

Access to economic opportunity is not equally distributed across

CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH

the U.S. Our research group’s work shows that rural Americans with disabilities are still trying to recover from the recession.

Overall, fewer rural people with disabilities have jobs now than did in 2008 – this at a time when the U.S. unemployment rate is at historic lows. The drop in employment is particularly pronounced across a few geographic areas, including the Mid-Atlantic, Southern, Mountain and Pacific regions.

Additionally, people in rural areas are five percentage points more likely to experience disability than those in urban areas. They also tend to develop disabilities at a younger age.

We think that the sudden loss of benefits, or the inability to receive any at all, has serious implications for people with disabilities across rural America.

Lillie Greiman is a Project Director at RTC: Rural at The University of Montana. Catherine Ipsen is the RTC: Rural Director and Director of Employment Research at the University of Montana.

CITIZEN | Suburban Times Weekly | Week of Feb. 19, 2020

NEWS

|

3

BLACK HISTORY

In 1956, Chicago Historian Timuel Black (far right) invited Dr. King (far left) to give a speech at the University of Chicago. In 2003, along with many of his other historian papers, Black donated King’s 1956 speech to the Vivian G. Harsh Research Collection at Woodson Regional Library, 9525 S. Halsted St. Photo credit: Courtesy of the Vivian G. Harsh Research Collection

Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx accepts the endorsement of clergy from the South and West Sides at an event on Tuesday, Feb. 11, at First Baptist Congregational Church of Chicago. Photo Credit: Tia Carol Jones

Chicago’s South Side South and West side Was Big Part of the Clergy endorse Kim Foxx Civil Rights Era

BY TIA CAROL JONES

Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx stood surrounded by clergy members from the South and West sides as they endorsed her to continue the work she has done in that office for the last four years.

The endorsement took place at First Baptist Congregational Church of Chicago where the Rev. George W. Daniels is the pastor. Referring to the church’s history and its place in civil rights, Daniels said, “It has been on the forefront of the civil rights movement. It’s always active,” he said. “It’s just exciting to know that we are here.”

The Reverend Ira Acree, of Greater St. John Bible Church, said he was excited to be in the presence of other church leaders.

“I am very excited about the work that Kim Foxx has done,” he said.

“She has kept her promise, she said she was going to reform the criminal justice system. Eleven more people had their crimes exonerated. That’s a big deal.”

Acree said the work Foxx has done in Cook County has become something other communities have started to do.

“Because of the way black and brown people were treated, no parity, no equity, just a system of apartheid, this young lady said not on my watch,” he said. “The work that she has done here in

this county has now become a National model for Urban America.”

The Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III of Trinity United Church of Christ said he stands with Foxx because she is qualified and progressive.

“She is dismantling the mass incarceration system,” he said.

“Now, we have an attorney for the people, we are excited and we stand with her.”

Moss said the coalition of church leaders that stand with Foxx are a marker of communities across the land.

“We are supporting her because she is one who is deeply committed to our community,” he said.

Bishop Larry Trotter, of Sweet Holy Spirit Church of Chicago, said Foxx’s record as State’s Attorney speaks for itself.

“At the end of the day, she is the woman who is helping our young people. She is the one our young people look up to. We believe she is the woman for the job,” he said.

Trotter recited the verse in Esther, “she came into the kingdom for such a time as this.”

“Kim is one of ours. We’re going to be pushing Kim Foxx back into the seat that she may continue to do the work,” he said.

Other clergy described Foxx as a champion of criminal justice reform and they talked about how she righted the wrongs of wrongly incarcerated people.

Foxx said she grew up in the

Black Church and was encouraged to be surrounded by so many Black ministers.

“It has been the faith community that has pulled me through some of the most difficult moments,” she said.

She said there is a reason why she talks about her upbringing in Cabrini Green wherever she goes.

“It is testimony for me, to be able to know what’s possible when our leaders invest in those communities,” she said. “But that’s what we’re fighting for, our young people in neighborhoods in all across the city.”

Foxx also talked about the way the criminal justice system was being used as an oppressive tool against poor people and how she was committed to righting the wrongs of the past.

She also discussed the distrust between the Black community and law enforcement.

“We have to be just as intentional of righting the wrongs of the past. It’s admitting the war on drugs was really a war on poor, black people,” she said.

“It’s not enough to say ‘yeah we know,’ you gotta make it right.”

Clergy chanted “Four more years” at the end of the press conference.

Foxx is running against former Alderman Bob Fioretti, Donna More and Bill Conway. The primary is Tuesday, March 17. Early voting begins on Monday, March 2.

BY WENDELL HUTSON Contributing Writer

The civil rights era may have begun in the south, but made its way through Chicago’s South Side by way of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who delivered one of his first Chicago speeches at the University of Chicago (U of C).

On April 13, 1956, a 27-year-old King spoke at the Rockefeller Memorial Chapel, 5850 S. Woodlawn Ave., after being invited by Chicago historian Timuel Black, who earned a master’s degree in social science two years earlier at the University of Chicago.

In 2003, Black donated many of his historian papers, including the 1956 speech King gave at the U of C, to the Vivian G. Harsh Research Collection at Woodson Regional Library, 9525 S. Halsted St. “We cannot slow up, because we have a date with destiny and we must move with all deliberate speed,” King told a standing room only crowd at the chapel in 1956.

In total, King visited the U of C three times between 1956 and 1966 during an era when he received the Noble Peace Prize in 1964, and then Congress passed the 1964 Civil Rights Act. The more King came to Chicago, said Black, the larger his followers became as he preached justice, peace and equality for all.

“We are, in the South, moving from a negative peace, where Negroes accept a subordinate place in society, to a positive peace, where all people live in equality,”

CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH

King said on Oct. 25, 1959 during a Sunday worship service at the chapel.

King’s last U of C visit was on Jan. 27, 1966, one day after he moved his family into a West Side apartment building. The 39-year-old Baptist preacher was shot dead by a lone gunman while in Memphis, Tenn. with other civil rights leaders including the Rev. Jesse Jackson on April 4, 1968.

That day changed Black America forever said Black, a 100-year-old Washington Park resident.

“Things were never the same in America for blacks after King was killed,” contends Black. “This man stood up for ‘us’ and he died for us too and that is something black folks will never forget.”

Black helped organize marches and protest demonstrations for King when he visited Chicago, and said he did so because he believed in his message of hope. And on Aug. 28, 1963, Black, a Chicago teacher at the time, was among the 250,000 people that stood in the mall in Washington, D.C. to hear King’s famous “I Have A Dream” speech.

“I was impressed that a young, black man cared enough about us black folks to speak out against injustices even if it meant becoming a ‘target’ by whites,” recalled Black. “His courage and determination to see justice at any cost was remarkable and really inspired me to want to become apart of his movement for change in America.”

But even with all the accomplishments King made in Chicago and around the world, Black pointed out Continued on page 4

4 | CITIZEN | Suburban Times Weekly | Week of Feb. 19, 2020

ART SCENE

Gates to Cultivate Exposition’s Offerings for Local, Regional and Global Arts Patrons EXPO CHICAGO, The International Exposition of Contemporary and Modern Art, recently announced the appointment of Eboni S. Gates as Head of VIP Relations and Strategic Initiatives in advance of the ninth annual edition, returning to Navy Pier’s Festival Hall September 24 – 27, 2020.

EXPO CHICAGO’s VIP Relations team provides collectors, art advisors, civic leaders, museum directors, board members, trustees, patrons and artists with unique access to Chicago’s cultural scene. As Head of VIP Relations and Strategic Initiatives, Gates will cultivate the exposition’s offerings for local, regional and global arts patrons.

“We are extremely proud to welcome Eboni to the team as she brings her extensive professional background and international relationships to the benefit of EXPO CHICAGO,” said Tony Karman, president and director of EXPO CHICAGO. “I am confident that her experience will build on our existing programming, further our collector outreach and develop new strategic partners in support of our exhibitors and the exposition.”

Gates has spent the last two decades helping transform

arts and culture institutions through her expertise in arts management, strategic philanthropy, executive recruitment and diversity equity and inclusion. Gates will use her vast knowledge base in her role to identify new partners and create bespoke opportunities for supporters of the fair by conceptualizing customized events and experiences, while spearheading the exposition’s integrations with sponsors and institutions across the city.

“As a leading international art fair, EXPO CHICAGO is a prodigious asset to the City of Chicago and a motivating force for the galleries, collectors and artists that constitute the global art world. In my newly appointed role as Head of VIP Relations and Strategic Initiatives, I look forward to increasing the visibility of the vibrant cultural and creative center that is Chicago,” states Gates.

“Together with Tony and his extraordinary staff, EXPO CHICAGO has become a highly anticipated and preeminent international art event.” She added, “I am delighted to be a part of the team who will continue that success and find dynamic new and exciting ways to engage art patrons, both local and global.”

About EBONI S. GATES Eboni S. Gates has spent the last two decades helping transform arts and culture institutions through her expertise in arts management, strategic philanthropy, executive recruitment and diversity equity and inclusion. Founder of Gates Consulting Group, her clients have included notable institutions and private sector clients such as DRG Talent Advisory, the Museum of the City of New York, the Studio Museum in Harlem, Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, Morgan Stanley Global Wealth Management and numerous contemporary art collectors. She has also held leadership positions at the Museum of the City of New York, RBC Capital Markets Charitable Foundation, TD Charitable Foundation, Livet Reichard Arts Management and Artnet. Currently, she serves as a member of both the Leadership Advisory Committee and the Acquisitions Committee for The Society of Contemporary Art (SCA) at the Art Institute of Chicago. She will also continue to serve as an advisor to DRG Search Advisory. Previously, she served as a gala co-chair and Executive Committee member on the Museum of Modern Art’s (NY) Friends of Education Committee.

Gates received her MA in Art Business from the Sotheby’s Institute London, and a BA in Art History from New York University.

TRAVEL Southwest Airlines Grant Program Funds 14th Year Of Connecting Patients And Care Southwest Airlines Co. recently announced it has donated 10,000 roundtrip tickets to nearly 80 nonprofit hospitals and medical transportation organizations across North America, easing the burden of travel for medical patients and their caregivers.

Through the carrier’s Medical Transportation Grant Program, organizations are able to distribute tickets directly to those who need to travel for specialized or life-changing medical care.

“Southwest recognizes our Customers travel for a variety

of reasons, but there is a special group of travelers who tug at our Hearts: those traveling to or from receiving medical treatment,” said Laurie Barnett, Southwest’s

managing director of communications and outreach. “Through the Medical Transportation Grant Program, we’re able to take some of the stress out of a challenging time for families, allowing them to focus on their treatment and recovery.”

Now in its 14th year, Southwest has donated nearly $36 million in transportation costs to more than 89,000 patients and caregivers. To view the full list of participating hospitals and charitable organizations for 2020, visit Southwest. com/medicalgrant.

BLACK HISTORY

Chicago’s South Side Was Big Part of the Civil Rights Era Continued from page 3 some lingering issues that remain a challenge today like housing.

“Housing segregation still exists in Chicago. More unity is needed in the black community,” said Black. “Nowadays there’s a unique class-separation, but back when I was growing up, there was no class-separation among blacks. We all looked alike and we all lived in the same neighborhoods.”

He added that during his generation, black kids lived at home with both parents, but now black kids are growing up in households with no male role models.

“There were mostly two-parent households back then, but today that is less than 35 percent,” contends Black. “The community has disconnected itself from helping families and now we have a bunch

of single mothers raising children with no help from the community.”

A contributing reason why so many black youth are involved in crimes like murder and selling illegal drugs is because young people do not plan for the future, explained Black.

“The reason you see so many young people shooting each other is because they do not believe there is a future for them and they just don’t care about their actions,” added Black. “That’s why you don’t see more young people voting and getting involved with their community.”

Fast forwarding to more than 40 years after King was murdered, the fight for equality in Chicago continues. Only these days, it’s by more modern civil rights leaders like entrepreneur Edward Garner, who founded the former Soft Sheen Products Co. in 1964 with his wife in the

basement of his South Side home.

These days, Gardner, 95, spends much of his time with family but remains passionate about blacks getting what he described as “their fair share of the pie.” In 2012, he went on a citywide crusade shutting down construction sites (especially those in black neighborhoods) whose workers did not include any blacks.

One year later in 2013, Gardner led about 200 protesters who marched outside Menards, 9100 S. Western Ave., in Evergreen Park because he said there were no black construction workers used to build the store.

While today’s civil rights leaders in Chicago have done remarkable work, Dr. King would be both proud and disappointed that more has not been done since his death, said former U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., who was the keynote speaker at a

Jan. 20 Dr. King event in Harvey.

“I never met Dr. King obviously because I was just a little boy during his era but I have studied his work and have always tried to do my part as a civil rights believer and supporter,” Jackson Jr. told the Citizen. “Dr. King would be proud of the efforts we as a nation have made when it comes to equality for all. But I think he would also be disappointed with the limited accomplishments this country has made since giving up his life for us.”

So much has changed in Chicago for blacks thanks to King’s efforts, contends Jackson Jr. Housing segregation has been outlawed so blacks can live anywhere they desire, although there still remains an unwritten boundary when it comes to ‘well-to-do’ areas.

Hyde Park has a population of 24,100 and 52 percent are white

CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH

while 28 percent are black and historically, it has been a majority white neighborhood, according to census data. But more black families now reside in the South Side neighborhood, such as President Barack Obama and the Nation of Islam’s Minister Louis Farrakhan.

And blacks can now attend public schools with whites even though it was once illegal to do so. Wendell Phillips High School is in Bronzeville and was built in 1904 as the first public high school in Chicago whose students were predominately black even though Phillips himself was a white abolitionist and attorney.

“See what I mean when I say while we have come a long way and achieved many things we still have much work that needs to be done before we can truly be proud of ourselves as a nation,” said Jackson Jr.

CITIZEN | Suburban Times Weekly | Week of Feb. 19, 2020

|

5

NEWS

New Documentary About Ben Wilson Highlights Forgiveness and Healing From Family

BY WENDELL HUTSON Contributing Writer

An upcoming TV documentary about slain Simeon Career Academy High School basketball star Benjamin “Ben” Wilson will show not only Wilson’s life leading up to his murder, but also his family’s pain and suffering before their healing process began.

In 1984, Wilson was ranked as the top high school basketball player in the country and was recruited by almost every major university before he was shot dead outside Simeon on Nov. 21 while on his lunch break.

A Feb. 13 screening of the 75-minute documentary “Both Sides of the Gun: A Story of Reconciliation” was held at Malcolm X College, 1900 W. Jackson Blvd., and attended by William “Billy” Moore, the person convicted of murdering Ben Wilson.

Two of Wilson’s brothers, Jeffrey and Anthony Wilson, also attended the screening.

After the screening, Moore, along with both brothers, participated in a panel discussion with more than 300 elementary and high school students.

Former U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and Chicago native,

(from left) Former U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and Chicago native, singer and actor Lonnie “Common” Lynn, moderated a Feb. 13, 2020 panel discussion at Malcolm X College on the West Side with students who watched a screening of an upcoming TV documentary about slain Simeon Career Academy High School basketball star Benjamin Wilson. Photo credit: Wendell Hutson

singer and actor Lonnie “Common” Lynn, moderated the discussion.

At age 16, Moore was convicted of attempted armed robbery and first-degree murder of Wilson and sentenced to 20 years in prison.

But now, after meeting with Wilson’s brothers, Moore said he has finally been forgiven for a mistake he made without thinking clearly.

“You can never walk away from something like this no matter how much time you serve in prison. At the

end of the day, you will still be judged by society and by God for your actions and you must face whatever consequences come with it,” Moore told the Citizen. “I know what I did was wrong and I am sorry for taking this young man’s life. It has caused pain for his family and for me because what I did was wrong and I now crave for forgiveness from the community.”

But the one question Moore, 52, said no one ever asked him until he met the Wilson family four years ago

was his motive for shooting Wilson.

“I shot Ben because I felt threatened by him because he was so tall.

We’re talking about a guy who stood 6’7 and looked like a giant to me when I was only 5’6 and 135 pounds,” explained Moore, who was released from prison in 2004.

Jeffrey Wilson said he struggled with forgiving Moore for years and for many years after the shooting, he wanted to kill Moore. Had he run into Moore on the street, he said he would have shot Moore “dead on the spot.”

He added up until now, he carried a bullet taken out of his brother’s body and he had planned on using it to shoot and kill Moore who took away his big brother, Ben. “That time has passed though and I have forgiven him largely because of my mother, who asked me and my brothers to forgive Mr. Moore, on her death bed,” Jeffrey Wilson stated.

For Anthony Wilson, 42, he said his late mother, who was a registered nurse, asked him to forgive Moore. “ I remember asking my mom ‘why would you ask me this at this time?

Of all the things we could be talking about, you want to talk about this?’” recalled Anthony Wilson. “That just blew my mind but that was my momma. Always being a peace keeper and

helping people at all times.”

After Anthony and Jeffrey Wilson met Moore, they got to know him personally and Anthony Wilson said it was a sigh of relief to finally release the anger he carried inside for so long.

“We spoke a lot after that first meeting and I am glad I met him.

Meeting him and forgiving him was one of the best decisions I made in my life,” added Anthony Wilson. “All wounds will heal in time and it is time for my wounds and the hurt my family has felt for years to end. I now realize that everyone makes bad decisions and everyone deserves a second chance and for Billy, this is his second chance in life.”

The documentary was in the works for nearly five years and is expected to air on TV sometime this year, according to Charles Johnson, executive producer of the documentary.

“It [the documentary] took so long to complete because that’s how long it took for me to get the family and Mr. Moore together to finally meet,” said Johnson. “Now that the family has met him, talked with him and forgave him, it’s time to show the world what healing and forgiveness looks like through the eyes of this family that was injured by the loss of their loved one Ben Wilson.”

Cook County Board Approves Five Incentives Designed to Grow Vital Communities The Cook County Board of Commissioners recently approved five proposals from President Toni Preckwinkle’s Bureau of Economic Development (BED) that will provide tax incentives to businesses in Cook County.

The incentives, designed to promote economic growth, were approved in the following communities: Bridgeview, Chicago, Chicago Heights, Harvey and Posen.

“Our tax incentive tools are used to either keep or expand businesses in Cook County,” Preckwinkle said. “The companies receiving these incentives, designated for either industrial or commercial use, have demonstrated their commitment to helping us grow vital communities.”

Details on the incentives follow, listed by municipality: l Applicant Name: Arlington Industrial Owner LP, 7400 West 100th Place, Bridgeview Property Use: Manufacturing Description: Tibor Machine Products, Inc. established in 1968 is a contract machined products manufacturer of parts. Products include: steering knuckles, hydraulic cylinder components, rod eyes, rod ends, yokes, spindles, axles, shafts,

brake drums, wheel hubs, trunnions, housings and more.

Type of Incentive: 6b SER (Sustainable Emergency Relief) l Applicant Name: Liberty Property Limited Partnership, 5063 South Merrimac Avenue, Chicago Property Use: Industrial Description: The applicant intends to secure industrial tenants to the site, who will likely be third party logistics providers and/or packaging and food related companies. The site will be designed to accommodate 284 car parking stalls.

Type of Incentive: Class 6b l Applicant Name: 1401 Western Avenue LLC, 1401 Western Avenue, Chicago Heights Property Use: Commercial for healthcare facility Description: Applicant has purchased the subject property and intends to substantially rehabilitate and lease it. The applicant plans to lease property to Oak Street Health, a provider of primary care centers for adults on Medicare. Oak Street Health has been investing in communities

across Illinois, Indiana and Michigan since 2013.

Type of Incentive: Class 8 Applicant Name: MGR 017, LLC, 210 E. 159th Street, Harvey Property Use: Industrial Description: Transportation, Logistics and truck repair MGR will occupy the space as their truck repair location and trailer drop-lot location Type of Incentive: Class 8 l

l Applicant Name: Noble Estate Group LLC, 2425 140th Place, Posen Property Use: Industrial Description: The investment group is relocating their trucking business to the subject property and plans to complete some improvements to the building in order to improve and expand its capabilities to warehouse, dispatch and provide fleet maintenance.

Type of Incentive: Class 8 For more about the tax incentive programs offered by the Cook County Bureau of Economic Development, go to www.cookcountyil.gov/economicdevelopment.

CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH

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

Written issues annually).

Written permission is required permission is required to to reproduce contents contents inin whole reproduce wholeor or partfrom from the the General or or part Generalmanager manager the publisher.

CST Weekly does the publisher. CST Weekly does not assume the responsibility for not assume the responsibility for nor are are we we able nor able toto return return unsolicited marterials. marterials. Deadline forfor unsolicited Deadline advertising is is every advertising every Monday Mondayat at noon.

For information noon.

For information on on subscriptions or us us subscriptions or advertising advertisingcall call at (773) 783-1251. is is at (773) 783-1251. Our Ouroffice office located at 8741 S. Greenwood located at 8741 S. Greenwood Ave., Ste# Ste# 107, 107, Chicago, Ave., Chicago,Illinois Illinois 60619.

60619.

Editorial: Editorial:

Send press releases, news tips, Send press releases, news tips, calendar listing etc. to: calendar listing etc. to: editorial@cstweekly.com editorial@cstweekly.com

Advertising Advertising

advertising@cstweekly.com advertising@cstweekly.com Classifieds call us at Classifieds call us at (773) 783-1251 (773) 783-1251

6 | CITIZEN | Suburban Times Weekly | Week of Feb. 19, 2020

CITIZEN | Suburban Times Weekly | Week of Feb. 19, 2020

|

7

8 | CITIZEN | Suburban Times Weekly | Week of Feb. 19, 2020

WWW.CITIZEN NEWSPAPERGROUP.COM

Publisher Of The:

* Chatham-Southeast Citizen * South End Citizen * Chicago Weekend Citizen * Hyde Park Citizen * South Suburban Citizen * Citizen Suburban Times Weekly

8741 S. Greenwood Ave., Ste# 107, Chicago, Illinois 60619 (773) 783-1251