South End Citizen 1-9-2019

5TH ANNUAL ABC 7 GREAT CHICAGO BLOOD DRIVE HELPS SAVE LIVES — PAGE 2

Citizen Week of Jan. 9, 2019

| Vol. 51 | No. 48 | www.thechicagocitizen.com

SOUTH END

BUSINESS

Online Marketing Agency, fishbat, Explains How Using Hashtags Can Grow Your Brand PAGE 4

ENTERTAINMENT LADY GAGA ENIGMA Headlines Grand Opening Of New Las Vegas Resort, Park MGM PAGE 6

Tonika Lewis Johnson (pictured) is the creator of Folded Map Project which was recently transformed into a stage play and will be performed on January 18th, 23rd, and 26th at Collaboraction, 1579 N. Milwaukee Ave., 3rd Floor, in Chicago’s Wicker Park neighborhood. Photo Credit: Provided by Tonika Johnson

REAL ESTATE Check out our real estate listings for important foreclosure information PAGES 8-10

TONIKA LEWIS JOHNSON’S FOLDED MAP IS TRANSFORMED INTO A STAGE PLAY

The well-known photography project, Folded Map, was created by Tonika Lewis Johnson as a way to connect Chicagoans with their cross-city map twin. Starting Jan. 18, the story of Folded Map and how it came to be will be performed live as a mid-length stage play at Collaboraction, 1579 N. Milwaukee Ave., 3rd Floor, in Chicago’s Wicker Park neighborhood. PAGE 2

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2 | CITIZEN | South End | Week of Jan. 9, 2019

NEWS briefly EDUCATION

BIC USA PARTNERS WITH DONORSCHOOSE.ORG TO SUPPORT HANDWRITING EDUCATION FOR 60TH ANNIVERSARY In celebration of BIC USA’s 60th anniversary, the world leader in stationery products, lighters and shavers has allocated $60,000 of an original $100,000 donation in 2018 to DonorsChoose. org to fund handwriting projects and classroom requests. This funding will reach 5,500 students nationwide, including more than 450 K-12 students in underserved areas of Illinois.

“According to Hanover Research, 15 minutes of daily writing promotes individuality, enhances motor skills and improves cognitive development,” said Linda Palladino, senior brand manager, BIC Consumer Products USA. To learn more about BIC 60th anniversary and the handwriting projects it’s supporting, please visit www.us.bicworld. com.

HEALTH

THE M.A. IN COUNSELING PSYCHOLOGY PROGRAM AT THE CHICAGO SCHOOL OF PROFESSIONAL PSYCHOLOGY IS ACCREDITED BY MPCAC The Chicago School of Professional Psychology (TCSPP) recently announced that its Chicago Campus’ M.A. in Counseling Psychology Program is accredited by the Masters in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council (MPCAC) for the period of December 2018 through December 2028. The 10 years accreditation granted the program is the maximum allowed by MPCAC. We are thrilled to receive this recognition from MPCAC! It is further proof of our commitment to program excellence,” explained Department Chair Maureen Keeshin, Psy.D. “The accreditation speaks to the dedication of the department faculty and staff who work tirelessly to provide high quality education and clinical training to our students.

Equipped with a strong foundation of education and clinical training, our graduates are prepared to provide essential mental health services to individuals, families, and communities in need.”

LAW & POLITICS

FORD PROPOSES MOVING CITY’S ELECTIONS TO WEEKENDS IN LATE SPRING OR SUMMER State Representative and Chicago Mayoral Candidate La Shawn K. Ford, D-Chicago is proposing moving city elections to weekends in warmer weather. Though more than 1.4 Million Chicagoans are registered voters, Chicago only had 483,000 vote in the last mayoral election, for a turnout rate of 34%. To increase voter participation, Ford suggests that Chicago elections move from Tuesdays to the weekend.

Though some participate in early voting, there are still many Chicago residents who miss voting on election day. School and work responsibilities are just some of the reasons that Chicagoans miss voting. Ford believes Chicago’s elections should be convenient for voters to increase voter turnout.

“Here in Chicago, a weekend election day in warmer weather would create a fair and accessible path to the voting booth that ultimately benefits our democracy and benefits us all,” said Ford. “In today’s society, this proposal just makes sense for all Chicago voters.”

Tonika Lewis Johnson’s Folded Map Is Transformed Into A Stage Play Continued from page 1

BY KATHERINE NEWMAN

The well-known photography project, Folded Map, was created by Tonika Lewis Johnson as a way to connect Chicagoans with their cross-city map twin. Starting Jan. 18, the story of Folded Map and how it came to be will be performed live as a mid-length stage play at Collaboraction, 1579 N. Milwaukee Ave., 3rd Floor, in Chicago’s Wicker Park neighborhood.

Folded Map will be performed Friday, January 18 at 9:30 p.m., Wednesday, January 23 at 7:30 p.m., and Saturday, January 26 at 7 p.m. Tickets to each performance are $10 for students, artists, educators, and seniors; $25 general public.

Collaboraction is a social-issue driven contemporary theater and the Folded Map stage play is one of several new productions that will be viewable at their second annual Encounter winter festival that runs from January 15 to 27.

“Folded Map visually investigates disparities among Chicago residents who live on

the same street but in different neighborhoods while bringing us together to have a conversation,” said Tonika Lewis Johnson.

Many people across the city are familiar with Johnson’s photography project that connects north side residents with south side residents who live on the same street but at opposite ends of the city. What most people don’t know, is how Folded Map came to be.

“This is kind of like an introduction of what the story of Folded Map looks like.

There has been a lot of media coverage about Folded Map and because of that people have experienced the project in a specific way and they understand the concept,” said Johnson.

“The next question that I eventually get that wasn’t addressed in the media coverage was how did I come up with it.”

When presented with the opportunity to transform Folded Map into a theatrical production, Johnson knew she wanted to offer a true insight into what went on behind the scenes and how the iconic project got its start.

“This production is another way to illu-

minate the larger issue of segregation and how it creates a dual existence for people of color especially people who grew up on the south side,” said Johnson. “Because I had the experience of living on the south side and having to go to the north side and then eventually living on the north side and then moving back, afforded me a perspective to clearly see these disparities in a way that a lot of Chicagoan’s don’t see,” said Johnson.

Ironically, one of Johnson’s map twins happened to be Chicago theater artist Brighid O’Shaughnessy. The pair met through the Folded Map project and they were able to work together and create the on-stage adaptation.

“The theatrical production of the original story of Folded Map shares my lived experiences and is the perfect way to help people understand how Folded Map was created,” said Johnson.

To purchase tickets and for more information, visit collaboraction.org, email boxoffice@collaboraction.org or call (312) 226-9633.

5th annual ABC 7 Great Chicago Blood Drive helps save lives ABC 7 and the American Red Cross urge the community to give more life by donating blood at the Fifth annual ABC 7 Great Chicago Blood Drive Wednesday, Jan. 16, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. at The Merchandise Mart, 222 W. Merchandise Mart Plaza in Chicago, The Drake Oak Brook Hotel, 2301 York Road in Oak Brook and CDW At Play, 165 N. Lakeview Parkway in Vernon Hills.

While helping to save lives, participants will receive a free ABC 7 Great Chicago Blood Drive T-shirt, while supplies last.

The winter months can be among the most challenging times of year for the American Red Cross to collect enough blood donations and inclement weather can force the cancellation of blood drives. Additionally, some donors become temporarily ineligible because of seasonal illnesses, according to a press release.

Patients like Marqus Valentine understand the need for blood. Valentine was diagnosed with sickle cell anemia at just 6 months old and has relied on blood donations to manage the disease and the pain that comes with it. He was given a life expectancy of 10

Marqus Valentine pictured with his sister, Ashley Valentine.

years and is now 35 years old.

“Blood donations keep people like me alive, so the fact that others do it willingly and continuously really means a lot,” said Marqus Valentine.

Since the inception of The ABC 7 Great Chicago Blood

www.thechicagocitizen.com

Drive, area donors have provided more than 2,500 donations.

Donated blood may be used to help accident victims, surgery patients, organ transplant patients, and those receiving treatment for leukemia, cancer or sickle cell disease.

“The blood drive is such a great team effort and every year we have joined forces with the American Red Cross, blood donations have increased and lives have been saved,” said John Idler, president and general manager of ABC 7. “That’s something that makes us all very proud.”

There is no substitute for donated blood products. The Red Cross must collect more than 13,000 blood donations every day for patients at about 2,600 hospitals nationwide.

During FY18, the ABC7 Great Chicago Blood Drive produced the most blood products of any Red Cross single-day blood drive in Illinois.

While all blood types are needed, those with types O, A negative and B negative blood are encouraged to make a Power Red donation at this blood drive. Power Red donors give a concentrated dose of red blood cells during a single donation, allowing them to maximize their impact.

To help save lives, the Red Cross and ABC 7 are partnering with Chicago Proud, CDW, iHeartMedia Chicago, Univision, Clear Channel Outdoor, the Mart, and The Drake Oak Brook Hotel.

CITIZEN | South End | Week of Jan. 9, 2019

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NEWS

Roseland Medical District moving along slowly

BY WENDELL HUTSON Contributing Writer

One of four medical districts in Illinois is located on the Far South Side in Roseland, and despite some progress in development, one alderman said progress remains slow.

In 2011, when the Roseland Medical District was created, elected officials from former Gov. Pat Quinn to Alderman Carrie Austin (34th), whose ward includes the 100-acre medical district, said upon its development, the area would see a spur in economic development.

But nearly eight years later, Austin said not much development has taken place other than Roseland Community Hospital keeping its doors open despite financial woes.

“I am not satisfied with the current growth of the medical district for several reasons. The state’s budget impasse from August 1, 2015 to August 31, 2017 has had an extremely negative impact on the medical district and the area as a whole,” said Austin. “Much needed funding from the state was not provided to serve our hospital, postal service and social services.”

She added that because Roseland Hospital was on the brink of closure in 2013, it hindered progress for the medical district.

“It created an unnecessary level of uncertainty among residents, businesses, developers, and investors,” added Austin.

If a municipality fund made up from the city, county and state was created in low-to-moderate, income distressed communities it could help medical districts flourish, contends Austin.

Besides the medical district, which is bounded by 110th and 112th streets and Stewart and

Roseland Community Hospital on Chicago’s Far South Side is the anchor for the Roseland Medical District, which was created in 2011. Photo credit: Wendell Hutson

Michigan avenues, the state’s other three medical districts are located in Springfield, East St. Louis and the Near West Side.

Tim Eagan, chief executive officer of Roseland Community Hospital, was unavailable for comment and Eva McMiller, director of operations for the hospital, said she knew very little about the medical district.

“I have only been in this position for six months and while I heard of the Roseland Medical District, I do not know enough about it to make a comment,” McMiller told the Citizen.

The 12-member medical district commission, which to date has eight members including Eagan, hired the nonprofit Far South Community Development Corporation in 2018 to assist it.

“Our organization is providing administrative and programmatic services, fundraising and plan-

ning efforts to the commission to make it more viable,” said Abraham Lacy, executive director of the nonprofit. “This year we plan to redesign the website (roselandmed.org), recruit more members to join the commission and solicit funding from the state now that we have a new governor.”

According to Lacy, a big reason why the commission is not yet fully operational is because of a lack of funding from the state.

“The previous governor [Bruce Rauner] did not want to help at all,” said Lacy. “If there is no investment we cannot expect anything to happen.

Hopefully, with a new governor, the medical district can finally get the help it needs from the state to grow into something good for the community.”

Bruce Rauner, who did not return phone calls seeking comment, lost his re-election bid in 2018 to billionaire businessman J.B. Pritzker.

Austin said Roseland Hospital received $6 million in funding from the state last year and despite slow progress with the medical district, the alderman said there has been some improvements to the area since the district was created.

According to Austin, the medical district, “created the 107 Street Tax Increment Financing District that overlaps the Roseland Community Medical District, which would generate nearly $2.1 over the next 23 years,” she explained. “The Chicago CRED Program with former Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and former President Barack Obama (was also created) to provide at-risk youths from Roseland and Pullman with opportunities and connections that were experiencing high levels of area violence and substance abuse.”

The medical district is anchored by Roseland Hospital, which has struggled to keep its doors open due to funding. But even if the hospital closes both Lacy and Austin said the medical district could still survive and prosper.

“The medical district is not solely based upon the hospital,” said Lacy. “And can survive should Roseland Hospital close.”

While medical districts don’t have zoning or taxing authority, they can buy, sell and lease property within their boundaries and take property by eminent domain. And to attract new businesses, districts can offer tax credits and assistance in securing capital.

“If the hospital closed, the vacant location would leave room for other hospitals to locate in areas that would be on the development upswing,” contends Austin. “Plus, the financial incentives and low-cost land availability in the area would give another interested hospital a financial advantage above its competitors.”

National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day Set for February 7, 2019 National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NBHAAD) is February 7. Now in its 18th year, NBHAAD is a day to increase awareness about HIV among blacks/African Americans and encourage people to get involved in prevention efforts, get tested, and get treatment if they are living with HIV. HIV diagnoses have fallen in recent years among African American women—declining 20% from 2011 to 2015. Diagnoses among young African American gay and bisexual men (aged 13 to 24) are now stable, after years of increases. This good news shows that the nation’s HIV prevention efforts are helping to reduce HIV infections among African Americans.

But there is still much work to do. In 2016, African Americans accounted for 44% of HIV diagnoses, despite making up 12% of the U.S. population.

Also, HIV diagnoses are up among African American gay and bisexual men aged 25-34—increasing 30% from 2011 to 2015.

What Can African Americans Do?

National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NBHAAD) is Feb. 7. The red ribbon is a symbol for solidarity with HIV-positive people and those living with AIDS. Photo credit: Gary van der Merwe

\Get educated and get involved.

Learn the facts about HIV and share this lifesaving information with others.

Get tested.

Knowing your HIV status gives you important information to help

keep you and your partner healthy.

CDC recommends that every American get tested for HIV at least once and those at high risk get tested at least once a year. Unfortunately, too many people live with HIV for years before they know it, which means they aren’t getting the benefits of early treatment. If people living with HIV take HIV medicine as prescribed, they can stay healthy for many years. HIV medicine also helps prevent transmission to others.

To find a testing site near you, visit https://www.cdc.gov/ actagainstaids text your ZIP code to KNOWIT (566948), or call 1-800-CDC-INFO. You can also use a home testing kit, available in drugstores or online. More resources on testing are available from CDC’s Act Against AIDS campaign Doing It. Protect yourself and your partner.

Today, powerful tools exist to prevent HIV and to help people living with HIV stay healthy . If you are living with HIV, start treatment as soon as possible after you get www.thechicagocitizen.com

a diagnosis. The most important thing you can do is take HIV medicine as prescribed by your doctor.

HIV medicine lowers the amount of virus (viral load) in your body, and taking it every day can make your viral load undetectable. If you stay undetectable, you can stay healthy for many years, and you have effectively no risk of transmitting HIV to an HIV-negative partner through sex. To make sure you stay undetectable, take your medicine as prescribed, and see your provider regularly to get a viral load test.

There are many other actions you can take to prevent getting or transmitting HIV: l Use condoms the right way every time you have sex. Learn the right way to use a male condom or a female condom. l If you are HIV-negative but at high risk for HIV, take daily medicine to prevent HIV, called pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). l Talk to your doctor about post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) if you think you have been exposed

to HIV in the last 72 hours and are not on PrEP. l Choose less risky sexual behaviors. l Limit your number of sexual partners. l Get tested and treated for other sexually transmitted diseases. l Never share needles or other equipment to inject drugs (works). l Remember, abstinence (not having sex) and not sharing needles or works are the only 100% effective ways to prevent HIV. Learn more about how to protect yourself and your partners and get information tailored to meet your needs from CDC’s HIV Risk Reduction Tool (BETA).

What Can CDC Partners Do? Health departments, community-based organizations, and other partners can address stigma and discrimination, extend the reach of their HIV prevention and testing services that focus on African Americans, and link those who are HIV-positive to care.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

4 | CITIZEN | South End | Week of Jan. 9, 2019

BUSINESS Online Marketing Agency, fishbat, Explains How Using Hashtags Can Grow Your Brand In order to help companies improve their social media promotion strategy, online marketing agency, fishbat, explains how hashtags can grow your brand.

While hashtags are most commonly associated with Twitter, they have become a major part of Facebook and Instagram as well. These terms have major potential to improve a brand's visibility in spaces that might not have been accessible otherwise, and effectively utilizing them is integral to creating successful social media posts.

Discussed below are a few of the ways that hashtags can elevate a brand to the next level and continue to build business.

CREATING A BRAND HASHTAG One of the easiest and most effective ways to use hashtags is to create a short and memorable hashtag that is associated with the brand. The most obvious way to do this is to use the company or product name, but the key is to use it consistently across all types of social media content, and over time, the hashtag will start to accumulate a significant amount of traffic.

Keeping a brand-related term that is intuitive to search can lead to

powerful and cost-effective form of marketing, since it requires no further investment from the company while allowing them to penetrate into the poster's group of followers.

In order to help companies improve their social media promotion strategy, online marketing agency, fishbat, explains how hashtags can grow your brand.

more people stumbling across the company's marketing materials.

FOSTERING BRAND COMMUNITY Some of the most successful companies have built a community

around their products. Social media is all about connecting people, and businesses that take advantage of this primary intended use can leverage those connections to grow and thrive. Creating a hashtag that encourages the engagement of

Jobs Increase in most Metro Areas

PAYING PR AGENTS TOO MUCH FOR PUBLICITY? Instead use LG Consulting’s “pay as you go” press release service. Reach over 400,000 consumers with your message.

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customers helps them feel like part of something bigger and opens up the possibility for companies to grow through user-created content.

Effectively encouraging customers to create their own posts and use a community hashtag is an incredibly

CREATE A MARKETING CAMPAIGN OR CONTEST By offering a prize to a few lucky winners, companies can harness the power of a huge base of followers.

Asking customers to create a post with a specific campaign-related hashtag provides a huge bump in visibility for the brand and also gives the company valuable information that can be used to inform future marketing campaigns.

The investment involved in giving away free products to a few users' pales in comparison to the brand awareness associated with these types of promotions.

LISETTE GUSHINIERE Owner, LG Consulting

Unemployment rates increased over-the-year in November in eleven of Illinois’s metropolitan areas, decreased in two, and was unchanged in one, according to preliminary data released recently by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES).

Data also show nonfarm jobs increased in twelve of the metropolitan areas.

“Payrolls rose in most metro areas across the state” said IDES Director Jeff Mays. “At the same time, the unemployment rate increased in most metros, mostly due to more people entering or reentering the labor force as many of the local economies continue to improve.”

Illinois businesses added jobs in twelve metro areas, with the largest percentage increases in: Kankakee (+4.5 percent, +2,200), LakeKenosha (+1.5 percent, + 6,500), and Elgin (+1.3 percent, +3,400).

Total nonfarm jobs in the Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metro Division increased (+0.9 percent or +32,300). Illinois businesses lost jobs in two metro areas: Carbondale-Marion (-0.7 percent, -400), Springfield (-0.6 percent, -700).

The industry sectors recording job growth in the majority of metro areas included Manufacturing (11 of 14), Transportation, Warehousing and Utilities (11 of 14), Professional and Business Services (11 of 14), Education and Health Services (11 of 14), Mining and Construction (9 of 14), and Leisure and Hospitality (8 of 14).

Not seasonally adjusted data compares November 2018 with November 2017. The not seasonally adjusted Illinois rate was 4.1 percent in November 2018 and stood at 12.2 percent at its peak in this economic cycle in January 2010.

Nationally, the not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 3.5 percent in November 2018 and 10.6 percent in January 2010 at its peak. The unemployment rate identifies those who are out of work and looking for work and is not tied to collecting unemployment insurance benefits. www.thechicagocitizen.com

T:10.75”

CITIZEN | South End | Week of Jan. 9, 2019

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HIS DREAM NEEDS YOUR VISION. In 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. marched on Washington for a dream. Over 50 years later, people are still marching because of his vision. Comcast celebrates Dr. King’s legacy with a one-of-a-kind interactive digital mosaic made up of pictures and videos of people sharing their vision of his dream.

Join countless others inspired by Dr. King and share why you’re still marching at

VisionsOfKing.com

Personality rights and copyrights of Dr. King are used with the permission of The Estate of Martin Luther King Jr. Inc. Represented by Greenlight. ©2019 Comcast. All rights reserved.

6 | CITIZEN | South End | Week of Jan. 9, 2019

ENTERTAINMENT LADY GAGA ENIGMA Headlines Grand Opening Of New Las Vegas Resort, Park MGM

Lady Gaga floats in from the sky in opening song to kick of Las Vegas residency, ENIGMA, at Park MGM

Park MGM, Las Vegas' newest resort, celebrated its official grand opening recently with the debut of Lady Gaga's residency, the introduction of Las Vegas' first Eataly and the launch of On The Record, a new speakeasy and club.

Lady Gaga performed before a sold-out crowd for the first night of her residency, which will run through 2019. Developed exclusively for Park MGM's intimate Park Theater, the six-time GRAMMY Award-winner, Golden Globe Award-winner and Academy Awardnominated superstar's engagement consists of two separate shows, each offering an immersive only-in-Vegas experience anchored by the pop star's raw talent and sprinkled with her signature experimental performance art: LADY GAGA ENIGMA, a never-before-seen journey through the star's pop hits and LADY GAGA JAZZ & PIANO, debuting Jan. 20, featuring stripped-down versions of her hits alongside music from the Great American Songbook.

Delivering new takes on the statementmaking performances for which she is renowned and thrilling the crowd with hits ranging from "Bad Romance," "Telephone" and "Just Dance" to "Million Reasons" and "Shallow," the inaugural performance of LADY GAGA ENIGMA wowed the crowd of more than 5,200 fans who came ready to party.

Opening night guests included pop superstar Katy Perry and actor Orlando Bloom; Avengers actor Jeremy Renner; Foo Fighter's lead singer Dave Grohl; current Queen frontman Adam Lambert; award-winning actress Marisa Tomei; Dancing with the Stars judge Carrie Ann Inaba; a capella group Pentatonix; and actress and

Exterior of Park MGM, a new luxury resort in the heart of the Las Vegas Strip

director Regina King.

Los Angeles scene-makers and twin brothers Jonnie and Mark Houston hosted the evening's official after-party, premiering their new modern speakeasy and club concept, On The Record. Hidden behind a functioning record-store entry, the club spans three rooms, including indoor and outdoor spaces, dance floors, a patio bar and three hidden karaoke rooms. It also boasts the ultra-intimate 25-seat Vinyl Parlor, where a lineup of top bartenders from coast to coast serve as Bartendersin-Residence. Inspired by music across the decades, On The Record fuses meticulous period design and authentic music nostalgia, such as framed vinyl and a decommissioned 1963 Bristol Lodekka double-decker bus converted into a DJ booth.

Located directly on the famed Las Vegas Strip and serving as the new main entrance to Park MGM, the 40,000 square-foot Italian marketplace Eataly welcomed more than a thousand guests for its opening reception, which featured a pasta-ribbon cutting and a proclamation of Dec. 27 as the official

"Eataly Day" in Las Vegas. Guests waited excitedly to enter the vibrant space full of unique food counters, bars, cafés and dining experiences offering traditional, authentic Italian food. Eataly Las Vegas introduces several new experiences, most notably Cucina del Mercato, or "Kitchen of the Market," an open, counter-to-table space that shatters the barrier between restaurants and store – a first for an Eataly in the United States. The venue consists of six fresh counters where guests can eat what they shop, and shop what they eat.

The debuts of Lady Gaga, On The Record and Eataly mark the final stage of the two-year, $550 million development at the heart of the Las Vegas Strip. Park MGM and NoMad Las Vegas offer an intimate luxury resort experience on a grand scale. A partnership between MGM Resorts International and New York-based Sydell Group, Park MGM features 2,700 guest rooms and suites; and the Las Vegas extension of Sydell's NoMad features 293 well-appointed guest rooms and suites.

The resort's culinary program features NoMad Restaurant and NoMad Bar from Will Guidara and Daniel Humm; L.A. legend Roy Choi's Korean BBQ concept, Best Friend; Hogsalt Hospitality's renowned Bavette's Steakhouse; and the vibrant Italian marketplace, Eataly, among other original dining and cocktail experiences. Park MGM and NoMad Las Vegas are located in the heart of The Strip, next to the entertainment and dining neighborhood created by The Park and the 20,000-seat T-Mobile Arena.

Black Ensemble Theater and Northeastern Illinois University partner for Black Ensemble Theater’s Jackie Taylor's Anti-Racism Drama Series and Residency Program Black Ensemble Theater and Northeastern Illinois University recently announced a partnership for Black Ensemble Theater’s Jackie Taylor's Anti-Racism Drama Series and Residency Program.

The series will include the staging of three one-act plays produced by the nationally renowned Black Ensemble Theater that speak to different aspects of racism.

All performances will take place at Northeastern Illinois University locations, January 2019 – March 2019.

The Jackie Taylor Anti-Racism Drama Series consists of three dramatic plays written by members of Black Ensemble Theater’s Black Playwrights Initiative (BPI), an educational incubator for aspiring Black playwrights. The series features works that are relevant to current events and speak to the demise of recent racial equity issues. The plays aim to help audiences understand the devastating effects of racism and to spark conversation about

what we can do as a community to recognize and denounce racism. All performances will be followed by a discussion with the audience.

Black Ensemble uses theater as a learning facilitator that purposely helps audiences respect and accept our differences while embracing our sameness as human beings. The three plays were written to motivate audiences toward having healthy, hearty and safe conversations about racism in our society. Post-show conversations will address how audiences can recognize racism on a systematic level while helping us to be active participants in denouncing and negating this ever-present issue.

Plays and performances for The Jackie Taylor's Anti-Racism Drama Series are: Jan. 17-19, 2019 National Anthem

by Ervin Gardner directed by Jackie Taylor Thursday, Jan. 17 at 7:30 p.m.;

Friday, Jan. 18 at 7:30 p.m.; and Saturday, Jan. 19 at 5 p.m.

NEIU Auditorium (Main Campus), 3701 W. Bryn Mawr Ave.

This dramatic one-act play speaks to the controversy surrounding professional athletes and their right to peacefully protest. A star college athlete and pro prospect must decide whether or not to make a political stand in light of the possible consequences to his professional career.

Feb. 7-9, 2019 In The Shadow of Justice

by L. Maceo Ferris directed by Rueben D. Echoles Thursday, Feb. 7 at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, Feb. 8 at 7:30 p.m.; and Saturday, Feb. 9 at 7:30 p.m.

Donn F. Bailey Legacy Hall at the Jacob H. Carruthers Center for Inner City Studies, 700 E. Oakwood Blvd.

This intense drama depicts how two young Black police detectives—one woman and one man—are forced to face corruption, brutality and murder in a South Side Chicago police www.thechicagocitizen.com

precinct where they have been assigned. Will they accept business as usual or care enough to try and change a racist status quo?

March 14-16, 2019 The Plea

by Reginald Williams directed by Daryl D. Brooks Thursday, March 14 at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, March 15 at 7:30 p.m.; and Saturday, March 16 at 7:30 p.m.

NEIU Stage Center Theatre (Main Campus), 3701 W. Bryn Mawr Ave.

The Plea addresses the violence epidemic that has engulfed so many Chicago communities resulting in senseless murders and the hopelessness and traumatic mental anguish that has consumed our neighborhoods.

In particular, the play depicts how due process is withheld from so many in our criminal justice system which encourages plea-bargaining as opposed to trials that provide people with an opportunity to defend themselves.

Tickets for individual productions are $20 and can be purchased online at http://www.neiu.edu/tickets.

Packages for the full series are $45 and are available by calling the Welcome Desk at (773) 442-4636.

Tickets are free for all students, regardless of which school they attend. Tickets are also free for Northeastern employees and alumni by calling the Welcome Desk or picking up tickets at the box office the night of the show.

As part of the partnership, Black Ensemble Theater will offer a Residency Program, which will allow Northeastern Illinois University students in a technical theater practicum to participate with the company in the technical aspects of producing each play.

The program will give the students six (two for each play) master classes in theater areas of interest as defined by the students. All classes will be taught by the Black Ensemble play directors: Jackie Taylor, founder and executive director, Daryl D Brooks, managing producing director, and Rueben Echoles, associate director.

CITIZEN | South End | Week of Jan. 9, 2019

NEWS

Eighth Ward Alderman, Michelle Harris (pictured) will host an information session regarding the South Shore and West Pullman Retail Thrive Zones application process on Jan. 14 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Sheldon Heights Church of Christ. Photo Caption: Office of Alderman Michelle Harris

The Time To Apply For A Retail Thrive Zone Grant Is Now

BY KATHERINE NEWMAN

An information session regarding the South Shore and West Pullman Retail Thrive Zones application process will be held on Jan. 14 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Sheldon Heights Church of Christ, 11325 S. Halsted St. The event will be hosted by Ald. Michelle Harris (8th Ward), Ald. Carrie Austin (34th Ward), Ald. Greg Mitchell (7th Ward), and the Far South Community Development Corporation.

During the information session, details about the Retail Thrive Zones and application process will be presented from 9 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. and following that, City Officials from the Departments of Buildings, Business Affairs, and Public Health will be available until 1 p.m. to answer questions relating to start-ups, licensing, permitting, food safety, and other relevant topics.

The Retail Thrive Zones Initiative was started by the Mayor of Chicago, Rahm Emanuel, and uses the city’s Small Business Improvement Fund to support small businesses that are located in eight neighborhood commercial corridors on the City’s South, Southwest, and West sides where economic challenges are the most prevalent.

Through the Retail Thrive Zones Initiative, small business owners and property owners that lease to businesses in the Retail Thrive Zones can receive reimbursement grants of up to $250,000 for commercial projects and to cover the costs of eligible remodeling work.

In general, there are three goals of the Retail Thrive Zones program.

The goals are to spark development by providing greater access to capital

and financial incentives, rebuild and strengthen commercial corridors by activating underutilized real estate and making infrastructure improvements, and lastly to create community-based wealth and local jobs by supporting existing small business owners and new entrepreneurs, according to the Retail Thrive Zones website.

“This is a win-win for the community. It’s a win for the businesses that need additional resources just to get over the hump and to assist them in bringing their dreams to life and then it’s a win for the community at large because now you have positive corridors and positive spaces that are being brought back to life,” said Eighth Ward Alderman, Michelle Harris.

Retail Thrive Zones exist in eight communities across the city including, South Shore, Chatham, Englewood, and West Pullman and applications are available now.

“Over time, it will revitalize all of the corridors and I’m really thrilled about what it is going to do for the 79th street corridor in terms of changing the complexion of that community,” said Harris. “As we start to revitalize communities by helping people with their dream business by giving them a step up, it really is just wonderful and I’m sitting back in the background just watching all the pieces of the puzzle come together and it’s just amazing for the community and it’s amazing for me to see it at this point in time and it is going to transform our communities.

For more information on the Retail Thrive Zones program and economic development incentives visit thrivezones.com.

www.thechicagocitizen.com

Tickets are on sale now!

Visit EmeraldCityTheatre.com

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CLASSIFIEDS SERVICE

SERVICE

CAREERS Are You a Job-Seeking Veteran? What to Know

DRIVERS

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(StatePoint) With the veteran unemployment rate at a record low, many who have served in the military are now in the driver’s seat when it comes to civilian job hunting.

This is in part because employers understand that veterans bring a wealth of translatable skills and experience to the workforce, including leadership, teamwork and attention to detail.

“For veterans, the right employer is one who values the leadership, discipline and service record of military members and veterans,” says Jerry Quinn, Wells Fargo Military Affairs Program manager. “They seek an employer that goes above and beyond to empower them to succeed in and out of the workplace.”

Wells Fargo, which established its Military Affairs Program in 2012, is an example of an employer committed to hiring and retaining veteran team members. A variety of job options, confidential resources, educational information and career guidance tools are available to those who served. In fact, eligible team members called to active duty receive military leave benefits and other programming designed to mitigate the burden on their families.

Are you a job-seeking veteran? Before accepting an offer, find out whether your potential employer values veterans’ contributions to the workplace.

“Start by asking the hiring manager or human resources contact what benefits and programming are offered,” suggests Quinn. “You’ll quickly get a feel for the company culture.”

To help get the conversation started, Quinn suggests the following topics of discussion: • Growth opportunities. Is this position one on track for promotions and raises?

Does this company offer resources and support to employees looking to grow?

Discover what your future at this company could look like.

• Development programs. From apprenticeships and internships to transition services and leadership programming, ask about opportunities that will offer a chance to make new contacts, find a mentor, develop professional skills and learn how to translate existing skills to a new position.

• Employee resource groups (ERGs).

ERGs can provide resources, opportunities and camaraderie to employees. Find out if the company has a similar group for veterans.

• Diversity. Is this a company that values diversity, particularly when it comes to veteran status and disabilities? Will the employer accept your veteran status and value it as an asset?

• Benefits. Beyond military leave, are benefits available that provide supplemental pay and continued healthcare when individuals are called to active duty? Research whether the company offers additional fringe benefits to ease the burden of being away on active duty. For example, some employers provide lawn mowing and snow

removal to those away from home on military orders.

More information about career transition services and the type of workplace benefits offered to veterans are available at wellsfargojobs.com/military.

Remember, military skills and experience is an asset to employers. Hold out for a position that will value what you bring to the table through tangible workplace benefits and programming.

Darrell Garth

President /Publisher

Janice Garth Sales Manager General Manager

William Garth Sr. CEO Emeritus

Editorial

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

Advertising

Display Advertising advertising@thechicagocitizen.com or jgarth@thechicagocitizen.com

Classified Advertising (773) 783-1251

Display Advertising call us at (773) 783-1251

Coverage Areas: CHATHAM-SOUTHEAST

Chatham, Avalon Park, Park Manor, Greater Grand Crossing, Burnside, Chesterfield, West Chersterfield, South Shore,and Calumet Heitghts.

SOUTH END

Washington Heights, Roseland, Rosemoor, Englewood, West Englewood, Auburn-Gresham, Morgan Park, Maple Park, Mt. Vernon, Fernwood, Bellevue, Beverly, Pullman, West Pullman, West Pullman, Riverdale, Jeffrey Manor and Hegewisch.

SOUTH SUBURBAN Serves communities in Harvey, Markham, Phoenix, Robbins, Dixmoor, Calumet Park, Blue Island, South Holland, and Dolton. Shopping- their favorite pastime!

HYDE PARK

Lake Meadows, Oakland, Prairie Shores, Douglas, Grand Boulevard, Kenwood, Woodland, South Shore and Hyde Park.

CHICAGO WEEKEND

Chicago Westside Communities, Austin and Garfield Park

SUBURBAN TIMES WEEKLY Bloom Township, Chicago Heights, Flossmoor, Food Heights, Glenwood, Homewood, Lansing ,Lynwood, Olympia Fileds, Park Forest, Sauk Village, South Chicago and Steger

CNGI Publishers of the Chatham-Southeast, South End, Chicago Weekend, South Suburban and Hyde Park Citizen, published weekly on Wednesday’s (publishing 52 issues annually).

Written permission is required to reproduce contents in whole or in part from the publisher. CNGI does not assume the responsibility for nor are we able to return unsolicited materials, therefore they become property of the newspaper and can or will be discarded or used at the newspapers disgratation. Deadlines for advertising is every Monday at noon. Deadlines for press releases are Fridays at 10 am prior to the next week’s edition. Please send press releases for calendar items at least three weeks prior to the event.

Send to: editorial@thechicagocitizen.com. For more information on subscriptions or advertising, call us at (773) 783-1251 or fax (872) 208-8793. Our offices are located at 8741 South Greenwood Suite# 107, Chicago, Illinois 60619.

12 | CITIZEN | South End | Week of Jan. 9, 2019

Make rent a thing of the past.

With a down payment as low as 3% for modest-income buyers, Bank of America makes affording a new home easier than ever.1 To get started call 1-800-641-8603 or visit your local financial center.

BankofAmerica.com /FirstHome

Available for fixed-rate purchase loans with terms of 25 or 30 years and on primary residences only. Certain property types are ineligible. Borrower(s) must not have an individual or joint ownership interest in any other residential property at time of closing. Maximum purchase loan-to-value is 97% and maximum combined purchase loan-to-value is 103%.

For loan-to-values >95% any secondary financing must be from an approved Community Second Program; ask for details. Homebuyer education may be required. Restrictions apply regarding co-borrowers. Maximum income and loan amount limits apply.

1

Bank of America, N.A.,

Equal Housing Lender Š2018 Bank of America Corporation. Credit and collateral are subject to approval. Terms and conditions apply. This is not a commitment to lend. Programs, rates, terms and conditions are subject to change without notice. AR98CFM5