South End Citizen 12-4-2019

Survey Shows Nearly All U.S. Consumers Plan Majority of Holiday Shopping Online — Page 3

Citizen Week of Dec. 4, 2019

| Vol. 52 | No. 43 | www.citizennewspapergroup.com

SOUTH END

Diane Latiker, founder and executive director of the nonprofit Kids Off The Block Inc., is seeking to reopen a shuttered South Side park so that her youth organization can use the park exclusively.

Photo credit: By Wendell Hutson

SHUTTERED SOUTH SIDE PARK COULD REOPEN SOON A Far South Side park that closed more than seven years ago could soon reopen for youth to use during the winter break from school. PAGE 3

BUSINESS

NEWS

NEWS

Ross University School of Medicine and Oakwood University partner to increase physician diversity in the US

EmpowerYouth!

Igniting Creativity through the Arts begins its third year

Get Inspired to Give Back this Holiday Season PAGE 5

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

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NEWS briefly EDUCATION

CLASSDOJO LAUNCHES LATEST ‘BIG IDEAS’ SERIES TO HELP CHILDREN UNDERSTAND AND EXPRESS THEIR EMOTIONS IN AND BEYOND SCHOOL ClassDojo recently announced a new Big Ideas series to help children recognize, understand and express their emotions in and beyond school. In the latest Big Ideas series, ClassDojo has produced 12 animated video episodes and discussion guides to help children understand their emotions and build emotional intelligence. According to a press release, ClassDojo is the leading communication app for primary schools around the world, used in 95% of pre-K-8 schools in the United States and a further 180 countries. It helps teachers, families, and children build a close-knit classroom community by sharing pictures, videos, moments from school and home.

Each Big Ideas series consists of different learning experiences: some include short, animated stories that end in a question, others have hands-on exercises, and others create reflection and interactive discussions designed to bring overlooked and hardto-teach social and emotional learning concepts to life in the classroom and at home.

For more information on ClassDojo’s new Big Ideas series, please visit https://www.classdojo.com/ideasand https://www.classdojo. com/about.

HEALTH

SURVEY: MORE THAN HALF OF AMERICANS HAVE AVOIDED MEDICAL CARE DUE TO COST If there is one thing a majority of Americans can agree on, it’s that healthcare costs are too expensive and they want upfront pricing. HealthPocket, a free information source designed to help consumers find medical coverage recently released results of a pulse survey which found A recent pulse survey has found that that 85% of U.S. adults 85% of U.S. adults think that healththink that healthcare costs care costs in general are too high. in general are too high.

Underscoring that point, 51% of those surveyed have avoided medical care due to lack of ability to pay.

The survey found that prices are a priority, with 91% saying that costs for medical services should be as readily available as prices are on a restaurant menu. In fact, 78% have been afraid to go to the hospital because of cost, with an overwhelming majority (96%) saying that hospitals should be upfront about the cost before treatment. Given the option, 86% said they would compare prices before going to the hospital if prices were posted online.

Entire survey results are available at https://www.healthpocket. com/health-insurance-insights/medical-debt-in-us-2019

LAW & POLITICS

CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS EXPRESSES OUTRAGE OVER TRUMP ADMINISTRATION SNAP PROPOSAL CUTTING FREE SCHOOL MEAL ELIGIBILITY FOR ONE MILLION SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN The Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) recently sent a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue regarding the Department’s proposed rule to eliminate broadbased categorical eligibility (BBCE) in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and its adverse impact on access to school meals for nearly 1 million school-age children.

According to USDA estimates, over 3 million people, including seniors, veterans, persons with disabilities, and working families with children, would be kicked off SNAP under the proposed rule.

Nearly 1 million children in affected SNAP households would lose automatic eligibility for free school meals.

The full text of the letter can be found here https://cbc.house.gov/ uploadedfiles/cbc_letter_to_usda_on_snap_cat-el_proposed_rule.pdf

“Students who study abroad enjoy an advantage in terms of timely graduation,” said Angela Bell, USG’s vice chancellor of Research and Policy Analysis. “These advantages are especially powerful for minority students and for students who receive need-based aid. Students who study abroad are more likely to graduate on time than those who do not.”

Students Benefit from International Education Opportunities The University System of Georgia’s Consortium for Analysis of Student Success through International Education (CASSIE) recently released its findings that student participation in international education has a positive effect on learning outcomes.

“Students who study abroad enjoy an advantage in terms of timely graduation,” said Angela Bell, USG’s vice chancellor of Research and Policy Analysis. “These advantages are especially powerful for minority students and for students who receive need-based aid. Students who study abroad are more likely to graduate on time than those who do not.”

Released during International Education Week, which ran from November 18-22, the research shows that after controlling for other factors, students who study abroad are nearly six percentage points more likely to graduate in four years, compared with their peers who do not study abroad.

They are nearly four percentage points more likely to graduate in six years. At graduation, their grade point averages are on average .11 points higher.

The advantages of international study are even more striking for black and for Hispanic students. For example, black students who study abroad are nearly 10 percentage points more likely to graduate in six years, compared to black students who do not study abroad.

Hispanic students who study www.citizennewspapergroup.com

abroad are about 13 percentage points more likely to graduate in four years, compared to Hispanic students who do not study abroad.

These findings, the USG’s Momentum Year focus on student success, and one of the goals of the new Strategic Plan 2024 are among the reasons the USG has invested in the USG Goes Global program. This new approach to study abroad programs is a collaboration among USG institutions to provide quality, affordable and impactful faculty-led study abroad opportunities to all USG undergraduate students.

USG Goes Global takes on the administration of running the programs, which reduces costs and frees faculty to focus on the academic oversight. It makes the experiences more beneficial for students while also increasing the availability of study abroad experiences for students at every institution.

Drawing on student data from all 26 USG institutions plus 17 public and private universities across the United States, CASSIE utilizes a big data approach to detecting trends among tens of thousands of student records.

It also uses rigorous statistical matching techniques to help ensure that the patterns found are associated with

studying abroad and not with other factors such as students’ high school success or the particular institution in which they are enrolled.

A collaborative effort between USG’s Office of Research and Policy Analysis, Office of International Education, and a national not-for-profit agency, the Institute of International Education, CASSIE is funded by the U.S. Department of Education’s Division of International and Foreign Language Education.

International Education Week is a joint initiative of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education. Its goal is to promote programs that prepare Americans for a global environment and attract future leaders from abroad to study, learn, and experience cultural exchange.

Many USG institutions hosted International Education Week events on their campuses.

“The data from CASSIE’s good work proves the value of these experiences for students, and we plan to continue our efforts to provide international education opportunities to all students at every institution,” said Tammy Rosner, USG’s director of International Education. “We are building on the CASSIE data to grow USG Goes Global and help provide quality and affordable study abroad programs accessible to all USG students.”

CITIZEN | South End | Week of Dec. 4, 2019

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NEWS

Shuttered South Side Park Could Reopen Soon Continued from page 1

BY WENDELL HUTSON Contributing Writer

A Far South Side park that closed more than seven years ago could soon reopen for youth to use during the winter break from school.

Kensington Park, 345 E. 118th St., for now is boarded up with locked gates around the play area that encompass an outdoor basketball court and play lot for small children.

But Diane Latiker, founder and executive director of the nonprofit Kids Off The Block Inc. said she is negotiating with the Chicago Park District to allow her youth organization exclusive use of the park. More than 3,000 youth have come through the doors of KOTB, according to Latiker, and currently there are about 100 youth participating.

“The park district is working with us to get the park up to speed since it has been vacant for so long. We are hoping to have an ice

skating rink built there and host other winter sports at the park,” said Latiker. “The park is just sitting there not being used and I want to offer kids an alternative to hanging out in the street especially during the winter months when many of them just sit inside anyway.”

But one concern Latiker, 62, said the community has about the park reopening is gang activity occurring.

“I have heard about how youth living around the park are a part of one gang and some of my youth are former members of a rival gang, and that friction could occur by having them all under one roof,” explained Latiker. “That’s why I plan to have police presence at the park to prevent any problems from happening.”

According to Latiker, this is not the first time she tried to have the park reopened. A few years back, she proposed to park district officials about reopening Kensington Park only to have the proposal rejected by the

community.

“Let me set the record straight, I did not walk away from the previous park proposal. I was pushed out,” contends Latiker, who said a park committee comprised of community residents voted against her proposal for fear of gang activity. “But that was then and this is now and this time I want to go the course, despite any opposition I may incur, to make sure ‘my’ kids have a safe place to go.”

Ald. Anthony Beale (9th), whose ward includes Kensington Park, also expressed concerns about youth violence.

“I have already received numerous calls from the community opposed to anyone using that park,” Beale told the Citizen. “There have been shootings and other incidents that occurred around that area [where the park is located] and I think for now, it’s best that we leave that park boarded up and secured because we still have problems in the community.”

And while park district officials acknowl-

edged Latiker’s proposal to reopen the park, “there is no agreement at this time,” said Irene Tostado, a spokeswoman for the Chicago Park District.

One upcoming community event hosted by Latiker’s organization is the 9th Annual Christmas Toy Giveaway from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 21 at its outdoor facility at 11618 S. Michigan Ave. In 2003, Latiker’s 13-year-old son had friends looking for something to do besides hang out on the corner, so she said she opened her home up and allowed them to play there.

That passion then for helping at-risk youth continues today for the wife, mother and grandmother.

“It’s all I have wanted to do and all I know how to do and that’s help children make a better way for themselves,” said Latiker. “Kids nowadays need guidance and love and that’s what I try to provide each and every kid that I encounter.”

Survey Shows Nearly All U.S. Consumers Plan Majority of Holiday Shopping Online Leanplum recently announced the results of a new study that shows consumers are shunning brick-andmortar stores this holiday season with over 95 percent choosing to buy half or more of their gifts online.

Younger Americans (Millennials and Gen Zs) are leading the online shopping trend and over 16 percent are “only” shopping online this holiday season.

As shopping online and via mobile devices quickly becomes the new norm, personalized communication becomes even more crucial to brand success.

With 80 percent of respondents reporting that they shop on their mobile phones, brands need solutions that enable them to reach their customers at appropriate touchpoints.

Brands must successfully connect the right way and at the right time with their customers.

Three-quarters of shoppers find it helpful to receive emails from retailers regarding deals and promotions.

Interestingly, 74 percent of those surveyed said they were “excited” to receive notifications from retailers about offers/sales. After receiving a notification from a brand about a deal, almost 70 percent said they would check out the offer and probably purchase the item.

However, 75 percent of respondents said generic messages from retailers annoy or bother them. Consumers have a preference for when and how they would like to receive messages from retailers. It is imperative retailers communicate with their consumers regularly regarding topics that are useful to them and in the form that they are most comfortable engaging with, to ensure consumer satisfaction and retention.

“Personalizing customer experience and communication is the cornerstone of everything we do at Afterpay,” said Frazer Adnam, CRM marketing director at Afterpay, a Leanplum customer. “Christmas is a key trading period for Afterpay and the retail sector, so it’s imperative we deliver a world-class personalization experience to our customers and make trading seamless.”

Across all income levels, consumers reported sales as the primary reason they opened notifications from brands and retailers. Surprisingly, even respondents who earn $150,000 or more annually, stated they are most excited to receive push notifications from retailers regarding sales.

Gone are the days of coupon clipping, instead consumers prefer to receive discounts and deals from

As shopping online and via mobile devices quickly becomes the new norm, personalized communication becomes even more crucial to brand success.

brands via email. In fact, two-thirds of respondents reported they open emails from brands they believed contained product deals or sales.

When asked about favorite shopping apps, the Amazon app dominated with 82 percent of the vote.

Walmart was a very distant second with five percent of the vote, followed by second-hand marketplaces (eBay/ Poshmark/ThredUp) at four percent and Target at three percent.

Consumers had opinions about how brands communicate with them as well. Sweden’s H&M handily beat www.citizennewspapergroup.com

out other brands with 19 percent of the vote. Urban Outfitters (12 percent), Asos (four percent), Zara (four percent) and Brandy Melville (two percent) rounded out the top five best brands at communicating with consumers.

“As shopping habits shift online and away from brick-and-mortar stores, brands must adjust to communicate with their customers via mobile,” said Momchil Kyurkchiev, CEO and co-founder of Leanplum.

“Through our research, we see that it’s important that brands provide

a personalized experience for each customer. At Leanplum, our core mission is to enable our customers to consistently deliver relevant, timely and personalized communications to their end users.”

Other interesting statistics include: l Nearly half (46 percent) of respondents said that they’ve bought a product because it was shown in an app or sent in an email l About two-thirds of respondents that make $150,000 or more annually plan to do most of their holiday shopping online this year

4 | CITIZEN | South End | Week of Dec. 4, 2019

BUSINESS

This page is sponsored by

Ross University School of Medicine and Oakwood University partner to increase physician diversity in the US African Americans make up only six percent of U.S. physicians. With the goal of driving diversity among U.S. physicians, Oakwood University and Ross University School of Medicine (RUSM) recently announced a new agreement to help more African Americans attend medical school.

The agreement was signed on October 24, at Oakwood’s campus by Leslie N. Pollard, Ph.D., D.Min., MBA., president of Oakwood University, and William F. Owen, M.D., FACP, dean and chancellor of RUSM. Oakwood and RUSM are establishing an educational pathway program, making it easier for Oakwood graduates to study medicine at RUSM. Qualified Oakwood students who earn full acceptance into the medical school will receive a scholarship covering full tuition for the first semester.

Oakwood University has consistently been a top producer of Blacks that are accepted and go on to attend medical school. Oakwood is currently the fifth ranking Historically Black College or University (HBCU) in the U.S., according to the American Association of American Medical Colleges and as reported by the Journal of Blacks in Higher Education.

Oakwood is coupling the longstanding excellence of its pre-med program with its UNCF grant-supported Career Pathways Initiative to grow its relationships with

With the goal of driving diversity among U.S. physicians, Oakwood University and Ross University School of Medicine (RUSM) recently announced a new agreement to help more African Americans attend medical school.

institutions such as RUSM. Developing partnerships such as this will provide additional opportunities for continued student success and professional growth.

“We engage this hopeful relationship with Ross University School of Medicine on behalf of interested Oakwood students. Our students will join the generations that have been blessed through their work,” said Oakwood University President Leslie Pollard.

“African-American doctors are woefully

underrepresented in the physician workforce, leading fewer African Americans to see a doctor,” said RUSM Dean and Chancellor, William F. Owen, Jr., M.D., FACP. “This has significant negative healthcare outcomes in communities already prone to high rates of chronic diseases. Working with Oakwood and other HBCUs, using novel student engagements, validated support programs and senior-level commitments to success, we’re working to address that long overdue challenge to increase

the diversity of our nation’s physicians.”

As part of its continued commitment to addressing diversity, RUSM’s parent company, Adtalem Global Education (NYSE: ATGE), signed on to the HBCU Partnership Challenge created by the Congressional Bipartisan HBCU Caucus, pledging to invest in creating strategic collaborations with HBCUs and working to increase diversity in key workforce sectors. Over the past year, RUSM has announced six similar agreements with minority serving institutions, including Charles R. Drew University, Dillard University, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, Tuskegee University, Saint Peter’s University and California State University, Dominguez Hills.

Having recently celebrated its 40th anniversary, RUSM’s 14,000-plus diverse alumni practice medicine throughout North America and across all specialties, including a high percentage of graduates who enter the in-demand field of primary care. More than a quarter of RUSM students identify as black or Hispanic, with RUSM earning a 96 percent USMLE Step 1 first-time pass rate in 2018.

RUSM also achieved a 92 percent residency attainment rate for first-time-eligible 20182019 graduates, and of the 647 RUSM medical students who attained residency in March of 2019, 82 were black and 61 were Hispanic.

Academy Securities Announces Sponsorship of The Naval Academy’s First Annual Black Female Network Breakfast Academy Securities, a registered broker-dealer, certified Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE), and Minority Business Enterprise (MBE), recently sponsored the First Annual Black Female Network Breakfast at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD. The firm supports the group of Naval Academy alumni while helping to provide pathways of success and networking opportunities.

At the breakfast event, notable guests and alumni gathered to celebrate the legacy that these females carry and their responsibility to pave the way for future generations. The order of events included a breakfast and a panel discussion with a Q&A session.

“As a Minority Business Enterprise, we understand how important diversity is to a company and our society,” said Chance Mims, Academy’s founder and CEO. “We are honored to support such a valuable event that helps nurture the careers of this group of Midshipmen.”

Academy Securities’ leadership consists of several Naval Academy graduates including CEO, Chance www.citizennewspapergroup.com

Mims, President, Phil McConkey, CFO and COO, Anthony Graham and CCO, Michael Boyd.

Additionally, Academy’s advisory board is represented by distinguished Naval Academy alumni including VADM (Ret.) Edward M. Straw, RADM (Ret.) Julius Caesar, LtGen (Ret.) Robert S. Walsh, RADM Mark Heinrich, and VADM (Ret.) Robert S. Harward.

Academy Securities is a disabled veteran owned investment bank with strengths in capital markets, public finance, fixed income and equity trading. Leadership and staff have had intensive military training prior to entering and gaining in depth financial services experience in global capital markets.

According to a press release, it is the nation’s first post-9/11 disabled veteran owned investment bank and is a certified as a DVBE, SDVOSB, and MBE. The firm has offices in New York, San Diego, Chicago, Los Angeles, Sacramento, South Norwalk, Charlotte, and Chapel Hill. Information about Academy Securities is available at www. academysecurities.com.

CITIZEN | South End | Week of Dec. 4, 2019

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NEWS

If you’re committed to helping improve the lives of others in your community, donating to organizations working to help those in need may take long-term thinking.

Get Inspired to Give Back this Holiday Season Family Features - For many, the holiday season sparks the spirit of giving - not only among family and friends, but to those living in need and the organizations working to help them.

If you’re committed to helping improve the lives of others in your community, it may mean thinking long-term.

After the lights come down and the New Year’s ball drops, the programs and services provided by most nonprofits and cause-based organizations continue to run year-round. Their ability to help those they serve not only relies on meeting a single season’s fundraising goals but also on the ongoing commitments from donors who provide the financial stability they need to plan and grow. These five tips can help your gifts provide long-term benefits for the causes you support: Make a personal connection.

Hand-deliver your donation to a local chapter and introduce yourself as a supporter. Even consider bringing your kids to inspire generations of giving. Inquire about how you can make the greatest impact and learn about ongoing events and opportunities to get involved.

Spread your contribution over time. If a strict monthly budget has you concerned about breaking the bank, consider signing up for a recurring donation to benefit those served by an organization like The Salvation Army throughout the year. A $25 monthly gift can feed 126 people over the course of one year or provide 11

nights of shelter for those in need in your community.

Introduce co-workers to the cause. Many businesses support employees’ volunteer efforts and match contributions, which makes it easy for you to become a champion for cause-related work in your community. Gathering colleagues who share your passion for a cause is a team-building activity that allows you to build personal connections with people you might not have a chance to interact with regularly otherwise.

Sharing the load also means you can take turns volunteering, attending events or making contributions for a larger overall impact than you could make on your own.

Give the gift of giving. Rather than giving material goods, consider a meaningful contribution in your gift recipient’s honor. Or share an experience to benefit the cause: spend date night volunteering or gift someone tickets to a nonprofit organization’s performance or gala event.

Pay it forward with younger generations. Introducing kids to the joy of giving can pay dividends for decades to come. Teach the little ones in your life about the big impact they can make by letting them get hands-on. Kids delight in getting to donate loose change, by dropping it in an iconic red kettle, for example (this year, you can even donate through Apple Pay or Google Pay) and you can take advantage of their interest by explaining the impact of their donation. An average of 82 cents

of every $1 donated to The Salvation Army goes directly to help neighbors who need it most.

Donations to nonprofit organi-

zations are tax-exempt no matter when they are contributed during the year.

Learn more about giving oppor-

tunities all year long by joining the Fight for Good at SalvationArmyUSA.org.

SOURCE: The Salvation Army

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6 | CITIZEN | South End | Week of Dec. 4, 2019

Holiday Instant Tickets from the Illinois Lottery Make Great Gifts for the Adults on Your List Did you know that it’s illegal to give an instant ticket to a minor?

The holidays are here! Have you made your list? Have you checked it twice? Holiday instant tickets from the Illinois Lottery are a fun and easy way to check off everyone on your list. Everyone except for minors, that is.

“At the Illinois Lottery, we always want to encourage responsible holiday gift-giving,” explained Harold Mays, Acting Director of the Illinois Lottery. “What players may not realize is that in Illinois it’s illegal to give an instant ticket to anyone under the age of 18.”

During the holidays, instant tickets can be given in a variety of ways to surprise and delight your loved ones, such as hiding them in a cookie tin, a new pair of comfy holiday pajamas or cozy slippers, or including them as an add-on to a hostess gift, such as candy or flowers. Keep in mind that instant tickets are not gifts for the children on your list.

The Illinois Lottery supports the National Council on Problem Gambling’s Holiday Lottery Responsible Gambling Campaign because early gambling experiences are a risk factor for gambling problems later in life. Many young people even report that their first gambling experiences occur around 9 to 11 years of age.

Be Smart, Play Smart™ This Holiday Season The Illinois Lottery reminds players to Be Smart, Play Smart™ and to gift smart when purchasing instant tickets during the holiday season. Throughout the year, encourage players to play for fun, not funds, and to set a budget and stick to it. For more information on how to gift and game responsibly, please go to https://www.illinoislottery.com/ and visit our Responsible Gaming Page.

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CITIZEN | South End | Week of Dec. 4, 2019

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NEWS

EmpowerYouth! Igniting Creativity through the Arts begins its third year In November, the Lyric Opera of Chicago and the Chicago Urban League kicked off the third year of their innovative youth program, EmpowerYouth! Igniting Creativity through the Arts. This collaborative program provides Chicago youth an opportunity to learn about the performing arts while creating an original production.

EmpowerYouth! is a year-long program engaging 30 African-American high school students from Chicago in a process that encourages them to tell their story in their own words. The 2019|20 admitted participants are part of an all-time high in program applicants, including 13 who are returning from last year.

Students will meet weekly with professional artists who specialize in acting, composition, vocal training, dance, and writing. Throughout the program, participants take part in a collaborative process that will result in an original stage production. This year’s work will be performed on Thursday, June 4, 2020 at Kennedy-King College. Kennedy-King is a part of the City Colleges of Chicago.

Guiding students as the program’s acting mentor and stage director is one of Chicago’s theater community leaders, Regina Victor (Breach:..., To Catch A Fish, A Persephone Pageant), who was recently named one of Windy City Times’ “30 Queer Leaders Under 30” and

New City Stage’s “Chicago Players 2019: The Fifty People Who Really Perform for Chicago.”

Tanji Harper, artistic director of the Chicago youth performance nonprofit The Happiness Club, will serve as the movement mentor and choreographer for the third year. Kedrick Armstrong, Project Inclusion Fellow in Conducting with Chicago Sinfonietta and assistant music director of Wheaton College Opera, will also return as music mentor and music supervisor.

Librettist/scriptwriter Kristiana Rae Colόn (good friday, florissant & canfield, Octagon, but i cd only whisper, Tilikum) and composer/ songwriter Adrian Dunn (Hopera: A Hip Hop Opera, Revelations: A collection of spirituals & gospel songs in seeking justice for Black lives) will work with participants to incorporate their stories and ideas into the original script and music.

Jacob Watson, an experienced program facilitator and recent graduate of Harvard University’s Masters in Arts Education program (Tellin’ Tales Theatre, Project Zero, FYI Performance Company, Redmoon, Center for Community Arts Partnerships at Columbia College Chicago), will serve as the facilitator for the program.

The intent of the EmpowerYouth! program is to support young people in telling their stories as young, Black Chicagoans. The final performance will be fully assembled by the students,

“I’M MORE CONFIDENT, I’M ABLE TO BRANCH OUT MORE [BECAUSE OF THIS PROGRAM]. ONCE YOU DO EMPOWERYOUTH!, THEY MAKE SURE THEY STAY CONNECTED TO WHAT YOU DO NEXT.” RESHAY THOMPSON 2018|19 EmpowerYouth! program student

with the guidance of the professional artistic staff, that will tell the story of their lives and how they deal with issues that are pertinent to them. Music — including singing, rap, acting, and dance — will all play a prominent role in the final performance.

EmpowerYouth! is a program jointly planned and administered by Lyric Opera of Chicago and the Chicago Urban League. This year’s production represents the continued commitment of Lyric and the Chicago Urban League to offer exposure to the performing arts for Chicago Black youth, as well as a deeper understanding of the value and impact of their collective voices.

In addition to the intensive weekly sessions, EmpowerYouth! students will also attend theater and music productions across the city, including

www.citizennewspapergroup.com

attending The Barber of Seville on Lyric’s own main stage.

“The Chicago Urban League serves about 1,300 youth each year, and one of the things we often see is limited access to opportunity, including in the arts,” said Barbara Lumpkin, interim president and CEO of the Chicago Urban League. “This partnership with Lyric provides an amazing opportunity for high school students in the neighborhoods we serve to be exposed to new experiences, meet and learn from leaders in Chicago’s theater community, and draw from their own experiences to showcase their talents.

We are deeply grateful to Lyric for this ongoing collaboration.”

“I’m more confident, I’m able to branch out more [because of this program],” said Reshay Thompson, a 2018|19 EmpowerYouth! program student. “Once you do EmpowerYouth!, they make sure they stay connected to what you do next.”

“It is exciting to see the third year unfold for this incredibly special program,” said Cayenne Harris, vice president of Lyric Unlimited. “EmpowerYouth! participants have exceeded all of our expectations these past two years, through the process of creating an original opera. We all look forward to see where our 2019/20 program students will take EmpowerYouth! this year.”

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CLASSIFIEDS HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED

HOLIDAY SEASON Tips for Hosting Houseguests Over the Holidays (StatePoint) Hosting houseguests over the holidays? For happier guests and hosts alike, you’ll want to be sure you’re equipped to accommodate all your overnighters. Here are a few pointers: Special Considerations You’ll likely know of any special considerations you will need to make for individual guests, but if you aren’t sure, ask in advance. For older guests, be sure the floor is free of tripping hazards and that walkways are well-lit. For families, offer a room away from noise so small children can sleep undisturbed at their regular bedtimes. Anticipating and accommodating allergies, dietary restrictions and mobility issues can help keep guests healthy, happy and safe during their stay with you.

Better Bedding Whether you are hosting one guest or many, it’s important to ensure that everyone under your roof has a comfortable place to sleep. Thanks to the latest updates in air mattress technology, that’s easier than ever these days. Before the holidays, get equipped with compact, high-quality air mattresses -- which are a must-have for travelers who need to pack a car compactly, as well as hosts who want to store guest bedding between uses. One such option is the Intex PremAire ThermaLux airbed with Fiber-

Tech interior construction, which inflates in 4-5 minutes. Made from a Microcell contour top designed to insulate in cold weather and absorb moisture on warm nights, it even contains a USB port for charging and built-in storage for cords and small personal items. Other models from Intex -- which come in various sizes and supports -- offer such luxuries as headboards, raised bed heights and plush air pillowtop systems.

A Stocked Bathroom Not only will a well-stocked bathroom help avoid last-minute trips to the store, it will make guests feel comfortable and welcome upon arrival. You’ll always want to provide a set of linens for each guest, as well as shampoo, conditioner and soap in the shower. Having a few additional items on hand -- disposable razors, cotton swabs, combs, toothbrushes and toothpaste -- is a nice touch. For many reasons, guests often arrive without certain essentials. Maybe they forgot an item at home. Maybe TSA made them toss something in the trash. Whatever the reason, you’ll want to prepare for this common occurrence.

A full holiday house does not need to be overwhelming. With a few considerations, you can create a joyful holiday experience for you and your houseguests.

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5 Tips for a Merry Holiday Home (StatePoint) A merry holiday season starts at home. Here are some nice ways to add cheer to the rooms and spaces where people gather.

• Light a Fire: It may be the most primitive technology in existence but lighting a fire is still one of the best ways to create a rich holiday atmosphere.

Bonus: use aromatic firewood such as pine, fir or cedar.

• Project a Movie: Decorating for the holiday season can be as easy as setting up a projector and playing seasonal movies on a loop. From classics like “Miracle on 34th Street” to contemporary favorites like “Elf,” these films provide the perfect backdrop to the holiday season. With the ability to run all day, the LampFree Projectors in Casio’s Slim Series are ideal for this purpose.

• Bake Cookies: Make the whole house smell amazing (and become everyone’s favorite person) by popping cookies and other desserts in the oven that include spices evocative of the season, like nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon and vanilla. For a lighter option, you can get the same effect

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by brewing tea with these same ingredients.

• Host a Sing-a-Long: Securing yourself a digital piano with an authentic concert grand sound may just be the best gift you give your family this holiday season. The Casio GP-500 reproduces the threedimensional sound field generated by an acoustic grand to fill a room with rich, complex sound, making it a great place to gather for holiday sing-a-longs.

The piano itself can also be a decoration destination -- think garlands and candles. Be sure to set out sheet music and other instruments like tambourines or bells so that guests can join in the fun.

• Add Flora: Spruce up your living spaces – literally. Holly, Christmas cactus, poinsettias and spruce add color and vibrancy to mantels, staircases, coffee tables and other nooks and crannies. What’s more, many of these plants will continue to thrive long after the lights and tinsel come down.

The holidays come but once a year.

Make the most of the season by turning your home into a winter wonderland.

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