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. 20, 2021
| Vol. 32 | No. 9 | www.citizennewspapergroup.com
HYDE PARK
Free COVID-19 Testing Available at State Mobile Testing Sites in Northern Illinois
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SURVIVOR CREATES APP
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New survey finds 70% of consumers improved home during COVID-19, more than half used smart devices
The National Domestic Violence Hotline began collecting data on the impact of COVID-19 on domestic violence victims and survivors in March 2020.
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Why a Tech Career Might Be Right for You Page 7
Lisa R. Jenkins is a domestic violence survivor who used her experience to create an app to help others going through domestic violence situations. Photo by Sarah K Photography.
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NEWS briefly EDUCATION 500 PAGES OF PRESCHOOL WORKSHEETS GIFTED TO THE PUBLIC DOMAIN The website www.abbythepup.com, which was launched recently, provides free quality educational materials to teachers and parents to help educate their 3 and 4 year old children. All preschool printables and worksheets on the website have been placed under the Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication (CC0). The content is provided with no logins, no fees and no advertisements. Abby the Pup’s purpose is for social good, dedicated to improving the lives of children through education. According to a press release, there are hundreds of pages of preschool printables and worksheets in literature, math, general knowledge and skills and for the classroom. Users can download, print and distribute the materials freely. The contributors and supporters of the website believe that quality preschool educational materials should be freely available to all children. The website was created in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic when many young children could not go to school or were required to learn remotely from home. For more information, visit www.abbythepup.com.
HEALTH
FREE COVID-19 TESTING AVAILABLE AT STATE MOBILE TESTING SITES IN NORTHERN ILLINOIS The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has several mobile testing teams that are dispatched to various locations around the state each week to provide COVID-19 testing. Anyone can be tested, regardless of symptoms or immigration status. There is no cost to the individual for testing, but they should bring their insurance card if they have one. However, insurance is not required. Specimens will be collected using a simple nasal swab. Drive-through and walkup testing are both available at most locations. Site locations are subject to change. Please check the IDPH website for the most current mobile testing site location information at http://www.dph.illinois.gov/testing/mobiletesting-sites.
LAW & POLITICS
NEW ABA BOOK TELLS STORY OF FIRST HISPANIC AMERICAN JUDGE ON U.S. TAX COURT The American Bar Association Section of Taxation has published “From the Texas Cotton Fields to the United States Tax Court: The Life Journey of Juan F. Vasquez,” a biography of the first Hispanic American to serve on the United States Tax Court. The book traces Juan F. Vasquez’s journey, which surmounted numerous challenges such as poverty, manual labor and discrimination. It explores his pursuit of education to build — with the support of family, friends and mentors — a professional career serving community, taxpayers and the tax system. Vasquez was appointed and confirmed to the United States Tax Court in 1995 and reappointed and reconfirmed in 2011. Written by Mary Theresa Vasquez and Anthony Head, the book is based on family records and interviews with family, friends and colleagues. Mary Theresa is Vasquez’s wife and the author of “Mi Mamacita Tiene Alzheimer’s.” Head is the author of “Spirit: The Life and Art of Jesse Trevino,” “Lucid: A Novel” and “Meatless in Cowtown.” Vasquez was born to a working-class family in San Antonio, Texas, and grew up learning the value of education and hard work, as well as an appreciation for justice. After graduation from San Antonio’s Fox Technical High School, he earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting from the University of Texas at Austin, a J.D. from the University of Houston Law Center, and a Master of Laws in taxation from New York University School of Law. During his career, he worked in private practice, at the Internal Revenue Service and in teaching. Book Price: $34 / $44 / $29 Place Orders: 800-285-2221 or shopaba.org
Domestic violence survivor creates app Continued from page 1 BY TIA CAROL JONES
The National Domestic Violence Hotline began collecting data on the impact of COVID-19 on domestic violence victims and survivors in March 2020. According to the National Domestic Violence Hotline, there was a more than 9 percent increase in total contacts received from March 16 to May 16, 2020. During that same time period, 6,210 total contacts answered by the hotline cited COVID-19 as a reason for the contact. Additionally, the Hotline receives more than 500,000 calls, texts and chats every year. Calls mentioning COVID-19 as a condition of a survivor’s experience, make up about 7 percent of all the contacts received. One domestic violence survivor has created an app to help others who are experiencing or who have experienced domestic violence situations. Lisa R. Jenkins was in an abusive relationship for 21 years and she has been out of that relationship for more than 7 years. In the course of healing from her experiences, she started writing books. Then, she realized, a lot of people had also been through what she experienced. She decided to create the Slipout app, to help others going through domestic violence. She launched the app in September 2020. “For me, the story isn’t in what happened, the story is in how I got out of it,” she said. Jenkins went to grad school to study mental health counseling because she wanted to gain the technical knowledge to help people in domestic violence situations. She also wanted to help people in toxic relationships. Jenkins discovered that there are programs where people can get assistance helping them out of relationships where there’s domestic violence, but once out, there is little to no help to address the mental healing aspect of it all.
The Slipout is an app, created by domestic violence survivor Lisa R. Jenkins to help others going through domestic violence situations. It includes a global resource guide, as well as push notifications with words of encouragement. Image by @ADianaStory.
“The main focus of the app is domestic violence, but in the course of building it, I wanted to address after the abuse and have something that even if you aren’t dealing with domestic abuse or don’t know someone dealing with domestic abuse, you can still find benefit in the app,” she said. Jenkins said she learned to love herself, and also that everybody needs somebody, words of encouragement or support. The app has push notifications that have words of encouragement. There are self-care check-ins for physical, social, mental and emotional self-care, as well as a checklist for a safe exit. There is also a part that details the cycle of violence. Jenkins said she made the app free to use and didn’t require a log in because she
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wanted people to get access. Being able to easily explain why the app is on a person’s phone, was another goal. Jenkins went on to say that what she wants people to get from the app is that any form of abuse – financial, physical, emotional - is not okay. People deserve better and if people find themselves in an abusive relationship, there is life after it, Jenkins added. “I want to be the face of life after trauma. I’ve written six books, I’ve gone to grad school, I created an app, all by myself, I put my daughter through college, all by myself. I just want to give some kind of encouragement to people. I just want to help people through it, but I want to actually show them after
that, there is other life.” Jenkins acknowledged the numbers for domestic abuse and violence have increased because of COVID-19. She said now those people are stuck at home with their abusers. Jenkins said she has gotten a lot of positive responses about the app and added since it launched in September 2020, it has been downloaded more than 900 times in 27 countries. “I never imagined it would cross the United States. It has been downloaded in Barbados, Japan, Malaysia. I just never imagined it would go that far,” she said. “It shows the need is much greater than I could even imagine.” The Slipout is available in the App Store on IPhone or Google Play.
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NEWS
Research shows that charter schools are improving student achievement Political interests, teachers unions and legislators are thwarting new and existing charter schools, and parents and students must use every available tool to fight back, argues a new research brief released recently by the Pacific Research Institute, a California-based, nonpartisan think tank. “Research shows that charter schools are improving student achievement more than traditional schools,” said Lance Izumi, senior director of PRI’s Center for Education. “Unfortunately, charter schools are under attack. Recent successes by opponents would trap students in failing schools – and prevent their escape to alternatives that will better prepare them for the future.” In “New and Emerging Obstacles Facing Charter Schools,” Izumi cites recent Harvard University research showing that African American charter school students are gaining a half-year of learning in math and by twice the amount in reading versus students attending traditional schools. He also cites University of Washington, Bothell research showing charter schools have better transitioned to virtual learning during the Covid-19 pandemic than traditional schools, noting better teacher interaction with students and technology availability. Among the threats he cites to charter schools are: * Laws in 21 states capping the number of charter schools, effectively limiting expansion; * Inefficient laws like those in Oregon that provide insufficient school accountability; * Efforts in California and Michigan to deny charter schools equal funding with
traditional schools, citing local and state Covid-19 fiscal crises; and * Action to hinder the growth of virtual, online charter schools, denying an important education alternative during the Covid-19 pandemic. Izumi cites a political shift in California, a state previously known for relatively strong charter school laws under former Gov. Jerry Brown, a charter school supporter. Legislation signed in 2019 by Gov. Gavin Newsom weakens these laws by giving school districts more loopholes to deny charter petitions on fiscal grounds. However, recent University of Washington, Bothell research shows that charters do not increase the likelihood of schools entering fiscal distress. He argues the strategies and tactics of teachers unions are among the biggest obstacles for charter schools to overcome. For example, teachers unions in Oakland, Los Angeles, Chicago, and elsewhere have called strikes and used contract negotiations to push for new charter school moratoriums and restrictions on charter school flexibility such as expanding charter school teacher unionization. To overcome these hurdles, Izumi recommends that charter school supporters urge state lawmakers enact reforms that mirror the best, most thoughtfully-crafted laws in other states. Where politicians are hostile to charter schools, he says litigation could be an effective strategy. Citing recent successful lawsuits in Mississippi and Washington state, Izumi notes that charter school proponents have a strong recent track record of prevailing in court. Follow PRI on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn or visit, www.pacificresearch.org
In “New and Emerging Obstacles Facing Charter Schools,” Izumi cites recent Harvard University research showing that African American charter school students are gaining a half-year of learning in math and by twice the amount in reading versus students attending traditional schools.
RECAP: Rev. Raphael Warnock’s Historic Win in Georgia Senate Race BY LAUREN VICTORIA BURKE NNPA Newswire Contributor
Rev. Raphael Warnock, who is the pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church, the Atlanta church where Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was pastor during the civil rights movement, is now the first Black Democrat to be elected to the U.S. Senate in the Deep South in the modern political era. Warnock is the first African American to win a U.S. Senate seat in Georgia’s history. The runoff election featured historic turnout. A voter registration strategy implemented by former gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams, along with a push by grassroots groups like Black Votes Matter, led by LaTosha Brown, was a deciding fac-
tor in Warnock’s decisive win. Black voters in Georgia over-performed in the early vote and on Election Day. The balance of power in Washington and on Capitol Hill will now shift dramatically to Democrats who will now control Congress and The White House. The dual victories on the same night by Rev. Warnock and Jon Ossoff marks a repudiation of the GOP under Donald Trump. Rev. Warnock won his heavily contested U.S. Senate race over billionaire Kelly Loeffler who was appointed to the Senate by Georgia Governor Brian Kemp in December 2019. The U.S. Senate race cost over $200 million with soon-to-be Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell donating over $60 million from his PAC.
By late Tuesday night and into Wednesday morning after Election Day in Georgia, Warnock had 2,227,296 votes to Loeffler’s 2,173,866. On top of Warnock’s historic win, another Democrat, Jon Ossoff has won against incumbent Republican Senator David Perdue. As election results continued to come in showing how close the Warnock/Loeffler race would be, some Republicans began assigning blame for the coming loss to President Trump. The stunning double victory on a single night for Democrats will change the trajectory of the presidency of Joseph Biden, which begins today. The U.S. Senate will be tied 5050 and Vice President-elect Kamara Harris will now become a pivotal www.citizennewspapergroup.com
figure required to often preside over the U.S. Senate from the presiding officers Chair and break ties on key policy and nominees. In the race for The White House in 2020, Trump lost Georgia to Joe Biden by over 11,000 votes on November 3, 2020. In the days before the runoff elections in Georgia, Trump spent most of his time criticizing other Republicans in Georgia. Trump had earlier called into question the validity of the voting process in Georgia. The President also pressured Georgia officials to flip the state in his favor as Congress was set to officially certify the presidential election. Trump’s words signaled an internal war in the Republican Party
as the out-going President caused problems within the GOP. Trump attacked Republican Georgia Governor Brian Kemp and the Secretary of State Brad Raffensberger. That, along with out-going U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell single handedly blocked $2,000 checks to assist Americans in a pandemic that has killed over 350,000 people, likely impacting the results in Georgia. Lauren Victoria Burke is an independent journalist for NNPA and the host of the podcast BURKEFILE. She is also a political strategist as Principal of Win Digital Media LLC. She may be contacted at LBurke007@gmail.com and on twitter at @LVBurke
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BUSINESS STAY-AT-HOME ORDERS CHANGED THE VERY NOTION OF HOW PEOPLE INTERACT AND LIVE IN THEIR HOMES, DRIVING PEOPLE TO RECONFIGURE THEIR PHYSICAL SPACE TO MEET NEW FUNCTIONAL REQUIREMENTS, INCLUDING WORKING AND LEARNING AT HOME, CREATING AT-HOME GYMS, OR FINDING NEW WAYS TO RELAX AND ENJOY THEMSELVES.
New survey finds 70% of consumers improved home during COVID-19, more than half used smart devices A new study released recently by Xiaomi, a global leader in smart devices, found that since March 2020, 70% of consumers have reported making changes in their living environment due to spending more time at home during the pandemic, and more than half (51%) have reported purchasing at least one smart device during that period. Stay-at-home orders changed the very notion of how people interact and live in their homes, driving people to reconfigure their physical space to meet new functional requirements, including working and learning at home, creating at-home gyms, or finding new ways to relax and enjoy themselves. The survey found that 3 out of 5 respondents said that since their leisure and work environments have become one, it has become harder to carve out personal space to relax and find joy at home. Of those, 63% purchased smart home devices, 82% adapted a room for working from home during COVID, and 79% reconfigured at least one room. “Smart living has always been about reimagining and optimizing physical space to solve problems and adapt to new realities through the use of technology, and we’ve seen this adoption accelerate in 2020,” said Daniel Desjarlais, global product marketing manager at Xiaomi. “Connected homes, automated systems, and new technology are helping people create ecosystems within their homes to solve new challenges presented by increased time at home, whether it’s adapting or creating new uses for old spaces, such as office space or classrooms, or just creating a more streamlined home that is easier to manage and control.” Key survey findings include: * People had to adapt existing spaces to serve new purposes, particularly younger generations: Makeshift spacing
PRNewsfoto/Xiaomi
arrangements were widespread across all age groups, with nearly two-thirds (66%) of all respondents saying that they had to use makeshift spacing arrangements in response to staying home more during the pandemic. This was particularly pronounced among Gen Z and Millennials -- 91% of Gen Z consumers and 80% of Millennials indicated this was something they were forced to do. * Smart home device purchases were a solution: On average, consumers bought two new smart devices since March in response to being home more during the pandemic, with Gen Z consumers buying an average of three. Smart devices can help to streamline a space and provide solutions for problems generated by more time at home, such as the need to carve out specific work or study space.
Regardless of devices purchased, there is an overwhelming consensus among consumers (82%) that there are significant advantages to a home with smart devices. * For many, these makeshift solutions may end up being permanent. According to a press release, 60% of consumers say they plan to continue using their home for activities typically performed elsewhere, even after a COVID-19 vaccine is widely available. If stay-at-home orders go into effect again in 2021, nearly 2 in 5 (39%) of consumers have reported that they want to upgrade their devices and 41% will adapt a room. In 2021, the adoption and integration of smart home technology will be a prevailing trend in home improvement as consumers look to smart devices as part of their
long-term solutions. As of September 30, 2020, the number of users with five or more devices connected to Xiaomi’s AIoT platform reached 5.6 million. Much of Xiaomi’s growth is coming from overseas markets, including expansion into Western markets. The newest product to be readily available for U.S. consumers is Mi Air Purifier 3H, which went on sale on January 14, 2021. The Xiaomi Survey was conducted by Wakefield Research (www.wakefieldresearch.com) among 1,000 nationally representative U.S. adults ages 18+, between December 11th and December 16th, 2020, using an email invitation and an online survey. For more information on Xiaomi and their smart home ecosystem, visit mi.com.
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Six Workforce Trends to Watch in 2021 The Center for State and Local Government Excellence (SLGE) helps local and state governments become knowledgeable and competitive employers so they can attract and retain a talented and committed workforce. Recent research by SLGE reveals key challenges and opportunities facing states and localities in 2021. The research offers insights into what strategies and tactics to monitor as governments of all sizes strive to attract and retain talented state and local employees. SLGE offers the following six trends to watch in 2021: 1. Embracing a holistic approach to employee well-being: Public employers will embrace a holistic approach to employee well-being through expanded financial wellness programs, increasing their understanding of employee benefit preferences, and evaluating the impact of structural change to retirement benefits on retirement security. 2. Strengthening the post-COVID-19 workplace: The public sector will continue to work to address the impact of COVID-19 on employers and employees and identify a balance between remote work environments and more traditional approaches for a wider range of positions, while expanding the use of flexible work practices more generally. 3. Implementing innovative staffing practices and collaborative approaches: Budget challenges and increased service demands will incentivize state and local governments to assess current staffing levels, project future needs, expand the use of innovative staffing practices, and collaborate with other organizations. 4. Focusing on financial wellness: Given the impact the pandemic has had on individuals’ personal finances, employee financial education programs will be expanded to cover more topics, leveraging enhanced communications methods, while evolving to more specifically meet the needs of more employees. 5. Expanding workforce management tools: The comprehensiveness and fiscal sustainability of public retirement plans will continue to be a central focus for these workforce management tools, while new approaches for providing benefits, including retiree health care, will be explored. 6. Developing a diverse and inclusive workforce: As public sector employers work to attract and retain a talented workforce of the future, they will look to ensure that their workforce is diverse, inclusive, and more reflective of the populations they serve, taking into account the disproportionate health and economic impacts of COVID-19 on racial and ethnic groups. According to a press release, SLGE identifies leading practices and conducts research on public retirement plans, health care benefits, workforce demographics and skill set needs, and labor force development. SLGE brings state and local leaders together with respected researchers. You can access all SLGE publications and sign up for its newsletter at slge.org and follow @4govtexcellence on Twitter.
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FASHION
Black-Woman Owned Online Shoe Boutique Celebrates First Anniversary With All Items on Sale
Low Heel No Heel Owner, Shannon Ashmore-McMath
Shannon Ashmore-McMath founded Low Heel No Heel in 2019. Low Heel No Heel is a Black Woman-owned online shoe boutique that specializes in offering women’s shoes that are affordable, comfortable, and under 4 inches tall. The company offers free shipping on all orders over $50 and no monthly subscriptions and just celebrated their first full year in business.
To honor their first year in business, the entire site is on sale. “The goal was to provide women with stylish footwear options that can be worn for all occasions,” says Shannon who is from Grand Rapids, Michigan. She continues, “We just completed our first full year in business. Like many other small businesses, we were also affected by the pandemic;
however, we are grateful to still be in business due to the unwavering support of our customers and remain optimistic regarding our future. We are hoping to inspire other women and minority entrepreneurs to do the same as well.” To view their selection, please visit LowHeelNoHeel.com Follow the brand on social media and follow the Owner, Shannon on Instagram
HALSEY SET TO LAUNCH about-face Make-u(p) without rules Created by multimedia, awardwinning artist and bestselling author Halsey, about-face is a multidimensional color beauty brand which is set to launch direct-toconsumer via www.aboutface.com on January 25, 2021. Inspired by music, fashion and art, about-face honors inclusivity, acceptance, experimentation and the democratization of beauty for our multiple identities. About about-face is described as Make-u(p) without rules, made for the many versions of you. It’s a multidimensional makeup for everyone, everywhere created by Halsey and built on the truth that no one is just one thing and humans are weird, complex and imperfectly beautiful beings. Halsey, a self-taught makeup artist, has always taken ownership of what makes her feel most beautiful, creating and applying her own looks for performances, editorials and music videos. A true makeup junkie, she has an encyclopedic knowledge of brands, application methods, and best-in-class products from drugstore heroes to luxury leaders. Perfecting her craft, she was often blending, cocktailing and color-correcting to achieve levels of vibrancy, pigment intensity and shine. From this extensive base knowledge of beauty, she created a brand rooted in performance-driven formulations. “Makeup is an art and art is about happy accidents, not any one ideal of perfection,” said Halsey, founder and chief creative officer of about-face. “I always feel the most free when I am creating looks without following any rules. The beauty industry has norms,
Light Lock Highlighter Collection by about-face
but I want to encourage people to challenge those standards and allow things to be imperfect and fun.” The about-face launch collection embodies Halsey’s personal style and love of diverse beauty, initially with three distinct franchises - Light Lock, Matte, and Shadowstick. Light Lock, her signature face highlighter range with stratospheric shine, includes Stick, Powder, Fluid and Lip Gloss. The Matte range of velvety smooth, creaseless, high-intensity colors consists of Paint-It Matte Lip Colors, Matte Fix Lip Pencils and Matte Fluid Eye Paint, as well as a Set and Prime Spray with application sponge for face. Shadowsticks are precise, multi-tasking cream eyeshadow crayons that feature soft pearly pastels, as well as a high intensity matte velvet in white, teal blue and black for a range of looks for liner
and lids. The launch consists of 10 product categories (inclusive of beauty tools and limited edition cosmetic bags) across a total of 40 skus. All about-face products are formulated to be vegan, clean, and cruelty free. Prices range from $17.00 to $32.00. about-face will be sold direct-toconsumer in the US, Canada, UK and Europe on www.aboutface.com, as well as via an exclusive year-long partnership with Ipsy, featured in the newly launched and limited edition Glam Bag X on www.ipsy.com. The next about-face drop will be AntiValentine’s Day, a limited-edition matte lip range launching in early February 2021. About Halsey: GRAMMY® Awardnominated multi-platinum singer/ songwriter Halsey burst onto the scene in 2015 with her first studio www.citizennewspapergroup.com
Halsey for about-face
album, Badlands, which has been RIAA certified 2x platinum. Her second release, Hopeless Fountain Kingdom, claimed the #1 spot on the Billboard Top 200 chart upon its debut. Since then, Halsey has continued her success with her 7x Platinum “Without Me,” which made Halsey the first and only female artist to have at least three songs chart on the Billboard Hot 100 for 50 weeks each. Halsey continues to push creative boundaries, expanding her influence and impact beyond music. In 2019, she was awarded the Hal David Starlight Award, presented by the Songwriters Hall
of Fame, to honor her songwriting. In 2020, Halsey released her latest album, Manic, to rave reviews. The album has already attained RIAA Platinum status as did the single “Graveyard” from the album. Most recently, it was announced that she will executive produce and star in “The Players Table” alongside Sydney Sweeney and in November of 2020, she debuted her first original poetry book, I Would Leave Me If I Could, which made her a NY Times bestselling author. For more information please visit www.aboutface.com @aboutfacebeauty
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NEWS
Why a Tech Career Might Be Right for You StatePoint - If you have an interest in innovation, a passion for helping people and the confidence to let your creativity shine, there are exciting and rewarding career opportunities available to you in technology in almost every industry. From supporting the development of critical vaccines; building the next generation of electric vehicles; creating new and engaging ways to deliver distance learning; keeping air, food and water safe and sustainable; or bringing efficiencies to the delivery of government services, there is a career in tech waiting for you. Even better, you don’t necessarily need to be a computer whiz or math genius to land one of these jobs, as technical skills can often be taught, but professional and personal skills are often more difficult to find. Those in the know say that a growing number of employers are more interested in creativity, organization, verbal and written communications skills and a willingness to be a team player and less in technical acumen. “That’s true for people joining the labor force for the first time, returning to the workforce, burned out or hitting a ceiling in their current job, or downsized out of a job through no fault of their own,” said Todd Thibodeaux, president and CEO of CompTIA, the Computing Technology Industry Association. It’s a field that offers a certain amount of job
Employers across the country continue to advertise job openings for tech workers – there were nearly 200,000 listings in November 2020.
security, too. The economic and employment disruptions brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic have had an impact on tech occupations, though not nearly to the degree that other industries have been affected. The unemployment rate for IT occupations in the U.S. stood at 2.4% in November 2020, below the national unemployment rate of 6.7%. Employers across the country continue to
advertise job openings for tech workers – there were nearly 200,000 listings in November 2020. These openings were spread across many industries outside the technology sector, including financial services, manufacturing, retail, government, healthcare and education. You’ll also find great variety in the types of positions companies need to fill. They include application and software developers; tech support professionals,
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whose roles are increasingly important as more people work and learn from home; network analysts, architects and engineers; cybersecurity pros responsible for securing our data, devices and networks; and project managers tasked with keeping mission-critical projects on track. There are a number of free resources available to help you learn more about tech careers: • The Future of Tech (futureoftech.org) is a free and growing library of resources to get you up to speed on what’s new and next in the world of technology. • Cyberstates (cyberstates.org) is the definitive guide to information on the U.S. technology industry and workforce. • If you’re interested in cybersecurity, CyberSeek (cyberseek.org) has detailed information on the U.S. job market, including guidance on career paths and professional certifications. • CompTIA (comptia.org) offers many tech career planning tools, including salary calculators and job search help. “There are career options available that allow you to combine an interest in technology with something you are passionate about,” Thibodeaux said. “With the right access, encouragement and opportunity, anyone can maximize their digital knowledge and skills so they can achieve their life’s ambitions.”
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CITIZEN On The Move
"Christmas In The Wards" in Collaboration with CFC Awarded $10,000.00 To Chicago Park District Recently
Pictured left to right are: Everett Rand, Board Member "Xmas in the Wards" and Co-Founder Chicago Football Classics; Elzie Higgenbottom, Alderwoman Carrie Austin, 34th Ward; Alderwoman Michelle Harris, 8th Ward; Larry Huggins, Founder, "Xmas in the Wards" and Co-Founder Chicago Football Classics; Tim LeFevour, General Manager, Soldier Field, ASM Global and Board Member "Xmas in the Wards".
Christmas in the Wards is a non-profit organization, founded by Larry Huggins, CEO of Riteway-Huggins Construction. CFC organizations gave away a laptop to a deserving student of the 34th ward. Alderman Carrie Austin personally congratulated the wards resident and made the presentation. (Photos by CREDD). www.citizennewspapergroup.com
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HOME
Tips to Improve Indoor Air Quality and Breathe Better at Home (StatePoint) With more of life centered at home due to cool weather and social distancing, it’s time to ensure the space where your family spends the majority of its time is healthy and safe. What many people don’t know is that concentrations of air pollutants can typically be up to five times higher inside one’s home than out, and sometimes far more, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. However, there are many simple actions you can take to breathe better in your home: • Monitor carbon monoxide: This potentially deadly gas can be emitted by a faulty gas-burning home appliance. Monitor for carbon monoxide using detectors placed in major areas of the home, especially the bedrooms. • Make the switch to VOC-free: Most paints and stains, along with aerosol sprays, air fresheners and other household products, contain Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), which emit gases that can result in respiratory problems, headaches and irritation to the eyes, nose and throat, among other health problems. Take a cue from forward-thinking institutions like the Getty Museum and Google and swap out conventional paints in your home interiors for an eco-friendly, non-toxic alternative such as ECOS Paints. The brand, which has a 35-year history of offering VOC- and odor-free paints and stains in virtually any color, uses sustainable ingredients and can deliver directly to a home or business. To learn more, visit ecospaints.net. “We want people to feel good about what they are bringing into their homes. This is why we are transparent about ingredients and VOC testing results,” says Julian Crawford, ECOS Paints CEO. • Keep airborne dust to a minimum: Dust carries a variety of contaminants, including bacteria and allergens. Mop and dust often using a wet mop and dust cloth. Vacuum often as well using a vacuum with a HEPA filter, which traps small particles. • Eliminate moisture from the air: Moisture promotes mold, which can cause serious health problems when left unabated. Reduce moisture by eliminating sources of water leaks, installing exhaust fans in kitchens, using air conditioning, and positioning dehumidifiers in high-moisture rooms such as bathrooms, laundry rooms and basements. • Reduce airborne particles: Install an air purifier to trap irritating particles, including mold, pollen and pet dander, which are particularly bad for people with respiratory problems like asthma. Brush pets often -- outdoors if possible -- and give pets regular baths. • Decrease dirty air: Replace HVAC filters regularly. While the optimal frequency that you perform this task depends on the type of filter, the number of pets at home and other factors, a good reference point is the manufacturer’s guidelines. When it comes to creating a healthy home sanctuary, taking steps to manage the most common indoor air pollutants should be a top priority.
PHOTO SOURCE: Interior by Lisa Tharp. Photo by Michael J. Lee.
PERSONAL FINANCE Need Mortgage Relief Due to COVID-19? Here's What to Know (StatePoint) As the pandemic continues to affect Americans across the country, many are facing financial hardship. For homeowners with a Freddie Mac loan, COVID-19 mortgage assistance is available in the form of “forbearance,” which temporarily suspends or reduces your mortgage payment without penalty so you can get back on your feet. Here is how forbearance works and what happens when it ends: How do I request forbearance? To request forbearance, you must contact your loan servicer (the company listed on your mortgage statement) who will help you understand your options. Forbearance is available for up to a year, though servicers will typically start you on a shorter forbearance plan and reassess to see if your financial situation has changed. What happens when forbearance ends? It’s important to remember mortgage forbearance is not the same as mortgage forgiveness and you will have to repay your missed payments. About 30 days before the forbearance plan is scheduled to end, you and your servicer will determine next steps. This could include additional forbearance or a workout option to make up the missed payments. Just remember, you are never required to pay back missed payments in a lump sum if your loan is owned by Freddie Mac. How does repayment work? Even though you must pay back payments that were missed during forbearance, you have several options for doing so. Additionally, you won’t accrue additional fees, penalties or interest beyond the amounts already scheduled or calculated based on the terms of your mortgage. For example, let’s say you enter into a www.citizennewspapergroup.com
forbearance agreement of three months. If your monthly mortgage payment is $1,000, you will owe about $3,000 in missed mortgage payments at the end of your forbearance term. Your servicer can help you determine the workout option that works best for you, including: • Full repayment, where you pay back the missed payments all at once. • Repayment plans, which allow you to catch up gradually while you are paying your regular monthly payment. • Payment deferral, which allows you to resume making your normal monthly payment. Your servicer can work with you to leverage alternative ways for you to pay back the missed payments from your forbearance period at a later date and in a manner that is affordable. • Modification of the loan, which changes the terms of your loan, usually to reduce your original monthly payment amount. Your servicer can help with a modification that might suit your new circumstances. Additional Information: To stay on track with paying down your loan balance and less interest over the life of the loan, it’s important that you resume your payments as soon as you’re financially able. Keep in mind that while you’re not charged “extra” interest, you won’t be paying down your principal, and the interest will continue to accrue on your unpaid mortgage balance. For information on forbearance and how to get help with your mortgage, visit My Home by Freddie Mac at myhome.freddiemac.com. Remember, contacting your servicer is the first step in getting help with your mortgage payments if you are facing financial hardship due to COVID-19 or for other reasons. They can explore available options with you and determine what works best for your circumstances.
CITIZEN | Hyde Park | Week of Jan. 20, 2021
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This shouldn’t be how we say hello...or goodbye.
It’s our reality right now. But it won’t be if we do what it takes to beat COVID-19. Vaccines are coming, but until enough of us are vaccinated, we all still need to wear our masks, stay at least six feet from others, and avoid indoor social gatherings. The more we slow the spread, the faster we’ll return to normal hellos … and fewer goodbyes. Learn more about vaccines and slowing the spread at cdc.gov/coronavirus Brought to you by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services