South Suburban Citizen 2-05-2020

CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Citizen Week of Feb. 5, 2020

| Vol. 39 | No. 11 | www.citizennewspapergroup.com

SOUTH SUBURBAN

AgeOptions will facilitate Take Charge of Your Health and Take Charge of Your Diabetes workshops in the South Suburbs. These interactive, six-week programs are meant to help those with chronic health conditions. Photo Courtesy of AgeOptions Staff.

RESIDENTS IN SOUTH SUBURBS CAN ‘TAKE CHARGE’ WITH HEALTH WORKSHOPS A series of interactive workshops will begin at libraries in the South Suburbs with the goal to help people with health conditions and to take better care of themselves. PAGE 2

ENTERTAINMENT

FASHION

BLACK HISTORY

Beyoncé And Sony/ATV Music Publishing Sign Global Agreement

“Teens for Jeans” Campaign, Donates Jeans to Young People in Homeless Shelters

Chicago’s History Includes Black-Owned Businesses Then and Now

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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

THE NEWS LITERACY PROJECT PARTNERS WITH THE E.W. SCRIPPS COMPANY The News Literacy Project (NLP) recently partnered with The E.W. Scripps Company where they launched a national public awareness campaign on the importance of news literacy and the role of the free press in American democracy. The campaign, which culminated during National News Literacy Week, Jan. 27-31, ran across Scripps’ local broadcast stations, national media businesses and with other journalism media partners.

“News literacy education helps young people become active participants in their communities,” said Alan C. Miller, NLP’s founder and CEO. “This generation is inheriting the most challenging and complex information landscape in human history, and it is incumbent upon us to ensure they know how to navigate it effectively. And once they’re taught, they develop critical-thinking skills and habits of mind that will last them a lifetime and benefit the communities where they live.”

HEALTH

NEW APP FROM US MED-EQUIP SUPPORTS HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS Bracing for the peak of flu season, hospitals now have a new app to ensure they have the medical devices needed. Healthcare providers are securing medical equipment at a moment’s notice from US Med-Equip (USME) to treat the surge of patients in their care. US Med-Equip’s mobile app gives hospital staff the ability to quickly view and rent equipment 24/7, based on the influx of patients in their care at any moment.

“Whether treating patients during the flu outbreak or following a disaster, the demands on hospitals are like they’ve never been before. Healthcare providers are streamlining processes and turning to smarter options to ensure they provide patients the best care possible,” US Med-Equip President Gurmit Singh Bhatia said. “We are working around the clock to provide a faster-than-ever response time so medical staff can focus on their life-saving work.”

LAW & POLITICS

RAOUL, 23 ATTORNEYS GENERAL FILE AMICUS BRIEF WITH SUPREME COURT SUPPORTING COURTS’ ABILITY TO REQUIRE FRAUDULENT ACTORS TO TURN OVER ILLEGAL PROFITS Attorney General Kwame Raoul, leading a bipartisan coalition of 24 attorneys general, recently filed an amicus brief with the Supreme Court arguing that the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) should be allowed to ask courts to require defendants to return money obtained by defrauding investors. The brief, filed in Liu v.

Securities and Exchange Commission, argues that disgorgement, requiring bad actors to return their gains, is critical to redressing harm and deterring future misconduct. According to a press release, in fiscal year 2019, fraudulent actors were ordered to repay more than $3.2 billion in enforcement actions brought by the SEC. “Individuals who defraud investors should not be able to keep the profits they obtain by breaking the law,” Raoul said. “The SEC’s ability to ask courts to force wrongdoers to repay stolen money not only holds defendants fully accountable, but it also serves as a powerful deterrent to those who would seek to engage in securities fraud.”

Residents in South Suburbs can ‘Take Charge’ with health workshops Continued from page 1

BY TIA CAROL JONES

A series of interactive workshops will begin at libraries in the South Suburbs with the goal to help people with health conditions and to take better care of themselves.

These workshops will meet for six weeks and each will last 2 ½ hours. Topics for Take Charge of Your Health include healthy eating, physical activity, stress management, as well as action planning. Topics for Take Charge of Your Diabetes include monitoring, healthy eating, menu planning, as well as medication management.

Take Charge of Your Diabetes will take place from 12:30 to 3 p.m. Wednesdays, Feb. 5-March 11, at Olympia Fields (Ill.) Park District, 20712 Western Ave. Take Charge of Your Health will take place from 1 to 3 p.m.

Tuesdays, March 3-April 7, at South Holland Public Library, 16250 Wausau Ave. AgeOptions, an Oak Park-based non-profit organization, facilitates and trains people for the Take Charge of Your Health and Take Charge of Your Diabetes workshops. Peg Tully is the health education implementation coordinator for Age Options.

Tully said the workshops are evidenced-based health promotion programs

that were developed by Stanford University in the early 1990s.

“The workshops are designed for people with ongoing chronic health conditions which include heart disease, arthritis, diabetes and cardiovascular disease,” she said.

“We’re providing them with information and tools to practice and utilize so they can best manage their health.”

Tully said some of the health outcomes include improved communication with their doctors, as well as a three percent decrease in hospitalizations and a five percent decrease in emergency room visits.

Tully added, weekly goal setting and action planning are important components.

Participants take smaller, more doable goals and decide what action they need to take to achieve that goal.

“We stress the importance of what you can do this week. They set realistic goals so they can be successful,” she said.

Acorn Public Library, 15624 Central Ave., in Oak Forest, will host Take Charge of Your Health from 12 to 2:30 p.m. on Wednesdays, March 25-April 29. An information session will take place at 12 p.m. Wednesday, March 4. Space is limited to 20 people.

Donna Dukes is the manager of adult services at Acorn Public Library. She said

the library gets frequent requests to do workshops on health and aging.

“When we host a health workshop people enjoy it, so they want to see it keep happening at the library,” she said. “We definitely want to establish the library as a vital part of the community. We want to be able to provide these kinds of services.”

Dukes said the library is not just a place where people can check out books, it also is a place where people can gain information to improve their health. “We also host yoga and meditation classes, those are really popular,” she said. “We want to give the people what they want.”

Dukes said when Age Options discussed hosting these events at the library, they wanted to take advantage of the opportunity. “Obviously, we would hope they gain something on leading a healthier lifestyle or how to deal with their stress. The library is a place where they can come to for needs like this,” she said.

To register for Take Charge of Your Diabetes at Olympia Field Park District, call 708-481-7313, ext. 221. To register for Take Charge of Your Health at South Holland Public Library, call 708-527-3160. To register for Take Charge of Your Health at Acorn Public Library, call 708-687-3700.

Gov. Pritzker Signs Executive Order to Fight Opioid Crisis and Reduce Racial Disparities Building on the state’s commitment to address the opioid crisis, Governor Pritzker recently signed Executive Order 2020-02 to better address racial disparities in responding to the opioid crisis by establishing the Governor’s Opioid Overdose Prevention and Recovery Steering Committee.

Illinois is also dedicating $4.1 million state dollars to expand recovery and prevention services for individuals with opioid use disorder in all corners of the state.

This year, Illinois saw the first decrease in five years in opioid overdose deaths. Despite this decrease, opioid overdose deaths among white residents in Illinois decreased 7% in 2018 while deaths among African Americans increased 9.1% and deaths among Latinos increased by 4.3%.

“This executive order begins an effort to achieve social equity as we work to end the opioid crisis in Illinois,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “We will coordinate innovative, evidence-based approaches in partnership with harm-reduction organizations,

establish local systems of care in disproportionately impacted communities, and create a comprehensive statewide opioid plan. I’m equally proud to announce that my administration is increasing our state investment in this fight by over $4 million in this fiscal year.

Illinois has made great strides in responding to the opioid crisis that has swept the nation, but our work won’t be done until all our residents have the opportunity to live their most fulfilling lives.”

The Governor’s Office in conjunction with the state’s Opioid Crisis Response Advisory Council will create an Opioid Social Equity Committee to make policy recommendations regarding how to address social and racial disparities in the opioid crisis response. They will also establish local recovery-oriented systems of care councils in communities that have been disproportionately impacted by the crisis in order to reach out to and engage indi-

CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH

viduals in all stages of recovery.

The Executive Order also focuses on harm reduction strategies that promote safer use of opioids to save lives. These strategies will help reduce both the risks of infectious HIV, HCV and Hepatitis A and fatal overdoses.

This includes supervised consumption sites, where individuals with opioid use disorder are under the supervision of trained staff with the goal of ensuring the safety of both the individual and the general public.

Last year Governor Pritzker signed the Overdose Prevention and Harm Reduction Act (PA101-0356), which also focuses on harm reduction and allows for the establishment and operation of a needle and hypodermic syringe access program or syringe services programs to help prevent the spread of infection and disease. An additional $500,000 will be invested in the syringe services programs.

Saving lives through safer use is an important component of the state’s overall strategy, but

the ultimate goal is to connect people with the treatment they need to fully recover.

The administration will invest $550,000 to encourage doctors to prescribe medication assisted treatment (MAT) for individuals with opioid use disorder.

Another $2.75 million will be invested in overdose prevention. This includes investments in the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program to ensure that first responders and treatment providers can respond in real time when there is a spike in overdoses in a community. This response will include overdose prevention training, local public awareness messages, and the purchase of 50,000 doses of naloxone to put directly in the hands of community residents.

To increase transparency and accessibility of resources, the state will also create a comprehensive online repository that streamlines and makes available all opioid use disorder prevention, treatment and recovery resources.

CITIZEN | South Suburban | Week of Feb. 5, 2020

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NEWS

Funding Opportunity: Healthy Relationships Community Grants Major League Baseball (MLB) and the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) recently announced a $3 million commitment to the “Healthy Relationships Community Grant,” a joint initiative to provide funding in 2020 and 2021 to organizations that advocate for positive relationship practices through critical services for vulnerable populations and those affected by domestic violence, including relationship management skills for the next generation, programs focused on mental health resiliency among vulnerable populations, and critical career & personal services to survivors of domestic violence.

U.S.-based nonprofit and global non-governmental organizations (NGOs) can apply for localized support at MLB.com/HealthyRelationships and MLBPLAYERS.com/ HealthyRelationships throughout the year, with proposals reviewed on a quarterly grant cycle.

Nonprofits and NGOs may apply

for grants of up to $50,000 for general operating or programmatic funding for one or more of the following categories: Healthy Relationship Practices/ Education, Support for Survivors of Domestic Violence, and/or Mental Health Resiliency.

Grant applications will be evaluated quarterly based on assessment of the population served, organization strength, impact, partnerships, sustainability of the programs, and more.

Additionally, MLB Club charities and Major League Players are encouraged to apply for up to $25,000 as part of a gift matching component of the initiative, with grant evaluations based on documentation of direct funding and commitment to the issue.

“This program will support deserving organizations working to build and improve the mental health resiliency and relationship skills of those they serve, with a particular focus on youth, and to provide critical services to help domestic violence survivors rebuild their lives,” said Melanie LeGrande, vice president of social responsibility, Major League Baseball. “This effort reflects Baseball’s desire to invest in strategies that can help change the statistics and norms around domestic violence as well as support those who need help and assistance today.”

“Our players are committed to supporting and promoting healthy relationships,” said Leonor Colón, the MLBPA’s senior director of international and domestic player operations.

“This initiative will allow us to support organizations that raise awareness of domestic violence, assist survivors and promote mental wellness.”

Empowering the next generation to understand the components of a

healthy relationship is intended as a prevention strategy through this initiative. Organizational efforts supported by grant funding may include public education, with a preference for youth populations, on the difference between healthy and unhealthy relationships as it relates to interpersonal violence (e.g., intimate partner, family or teen dating).

Examples of education efforts include creating, producing & distributing public service announcements with relevant content and call to action as well as conferences or events focusing on awareness. Funding can also go toward supporting existing, or introducing new, programming on how to break the cycle of violence.

Efforts toward building and improving mental health resiliency for vulnerable populations may include providing greater access to (a) quality mental health services and wellness programs; (b) preventative programs designed to reduce suicide, suicidal ideations and self-harm; (c) training

programs for mental health professionals; or (d) school or community-based interventions.

Strengthening and providing services to survivors of domestic violence is of critical importance to this grant initiative. Efforts may include (a) capacity building in support of the organizational mission of the nonprofit or NGO; (b) mental health support; (c) professional and life skills workshops as well as additional education and materials to improve employee readiness and workplace development; or (d) advocacy efforts to reduce domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.

The joint donation for the “Healthy Relationships Community Grant” represents an ongoing commitment

by MLB and the MLBPA to provide support to causes that assist vulnerable populations, which has historically included financial assistance toward disaster relief and recovery as well as human trafficking prevention.

COMMENTARY

AI can now read emotions – should it?

BY CHRISTOFFER HECKMAN

In its annual report, the AI Now Institute, an interdisciplinary research center studying the societal implications of artificial intelligence, called for a ban on technology designed to recognize people’s emotions in certain cases.

Specifically, the researchers said affect recognition technology, also called emotion recognition technology, should not be used in decisions that “impact people’s lives and access to opportunities,” such as hiring decisions or pain assessments, because it is not sufficiently accurate and can lead to biased decisions.

What is this technology, which is already being used and marketed, and why is it raising concerns?

Outgrowth of facial recognition Researchers have been actively working on computer vision algorithms that can determine the emotions and intent of humans, along with making other inferences, for at least a decade.

Facial expression analysis has been around since at least 2003. Computers have been able to understand emotion even longer. This latest technology relies on the data-centric techniques known as “machine learning,” algorithms that process data to “learn” how to make decisions, to accomplish even more accurate affect recognition.

The challenge of reading emotions Researchers are always looking to do new things by building on what has been done before. Emotion recognition is enticing because, somehow, we as humans can accomplish this relatively well from even an early age, and yet capably replicating that human skill using computer vision is still challenging. While it’s possible to do some pretty remarkable things with

images, such as stylize a photo to make it look as if it were drawn by a famous artist and even create photo-realistic faces – not to mention create socalled deepfakes – the ability to infer properties such as human emotions from a real image has always been of interest for researchers.

Recognizing people’s emotions with computers has potential for a number of positive applications, a researcher who now works at Microsoft explains.

Emotions are difficult because they tend to depend on context. For instance, when someone is concentrating on something it might appear that they’re simply thinking. Facial recognition has come a long way using machine learning, but identifying a person’s emotional state based purely on looking at a person’s face is missing key information. Emotions are expressed not only through a person’s expression but also where they are and what they’re doing. These contextual cues are difficult to feed into even modern machine learning algorithms. To address this, there are active efforts to augment artificial intelligence techniques to consider context, not just for emotion recognition but all kinds of applications.

Reading employee emotions The report released by AI Now sheds light on some ways in which AI is being applied to the workforce in order to evaluate worker productivity and even as early as at the interview stage. Analyzing footage from interviews, especially for remote job-seekers, is already underway. If managers can get a sense of their subordinates’ emotions from interview to evaluation, decision-making regarding other employment matters such as raises, promotions

or assignments might end up being influenced by that information. But there are many other ways that this technology could be used.

Why the worry These types of systems almost always have fairness, accountability, transparency and ethical (“FATE”) flaws baked into their patternmatching. For example, one study found that facial recognition algorithms rated faces of black people as angrier than white faces, even when they were smiling.

Many research groups are tackling this problem but it seems clear at this point that the problem can’t be solved exclusively at the technological level. Issues regarding FATE in AI will require a continued and concerted effort on the part of those using the technology to be aware of these issues and to address them. As the AI Now report highlights: “Despite the increase in AI ethics content … ethical principles and statements rarely focus on how AI ethics can be implemented and whether they’re effective.” It notes that such AI ethics statements largely ignore questions of how, where, and who will put such guidelines into operation. In reality, it’s likely that everyone must be aware of the types of biases and weaknesses these systems present, similar to how we must be aware of our own biases and those of others.

The problem with blanket technology bans Greater accuracy and ease in persistent monitoring bring along other concerns beyond ethics. There are also a host of general technology-related privacy concerns, spanning from the proliferation of cameras that serve as police feeds to potentially making sensitive data anonymous.

CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH

With these ethical and privacy concerns, a natural reaction might be to call for a ban on these techniques. Certainly, applying AI to job interview results or criminal sentencing procedures seems dangerous if the systems are learning biases or are otherwise unreliable.

There are useful applications however, for instance in helping spot warning signs to prevent youth suicide and detecting drunk drivers. That’s one reason why even concerned researchers, regulators and citizens have generally stopped short of calling for blanket bans on AI-related technologies.

Combining AI and human judgment Ultimately, technology designers and society as a whole need to look carefully at how information from AI systems is injected into decision-making processes. These systems can give incorrect results just like any other form of intelligence.

They are also notoriously bad at rating their own confidence, not unlike humans, even in simpler tasks like the ability to recognize objects. There also remain significant technical challenges in reading emotions, notably considering context to infer emotions.

If people rely on a system that isn’t accurate in making decisions, the users of that system are worse off. It’s also well-known that humans tend to trust these systems more than other authority figures. In light of this, we as a society need to carefully consider these systems’ fairness, accountability, transparency and ethics both during design and application, always keeping a human as the final decision-maker.

Christoffer Heckman is an Assistant Professor of Computer Science, at the University of Colorado Boulder.

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BUSINESS

This page is sponsored by

Survey: Less Than Half Of Employees Say Their Company Provides Remote Work Options; 76% Use This Perk When Offered How common are remote work arrangements? In a new survey from global staffing firm Robert Half, less than half of professionals (47%) said their company provides the option to work off-site.

Of those, 70% take advantage of the perk and work from home; an additional 6% do their job from another location, such as a café or shared office space. For the remaining 24%, not having the right technology (39%) and being less productive due to distractions (38%) are the main deterrents to working outside the office.

Companies today are taking steps to support staff who want more

In a new survey from global staffing firm Robert Half, less than half of professionals (47%) said their company provides the option to work remotely.

Of those, 70% take advantage of the perk and work from home; an additional 6% do their job from another location, such as a café or shared office space.

“IN AN EMPLOYMENT MARKET THAT FAVORS JOB SEEKERS, BUSINESSES NEED TO PROVIDE GREATER WORKPLACE FLEXIBILITY TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN TOP PERFORMERS.” PAUL McDONALD

Senior Executive Director of Robert Half

flexibility. In a separate Robert Half survey of senior managers, more than half of respondents (56%) said their organization has expanded remote work opportunities for employees in the past three years.

“In an employment market that favors job seekers, businesses need to provide greater workplace flexibility to attract and retain top performers,” said Paul McDonald, senior executive director of Robert Half. “This goes beyond giving staff permission to work off-site or during nontraditional hours. Employers should check that professionals have the proper equipment and guidelines to do their jobs effectively outside the office.”

McDonald added, “It’s important for employees to realize that telecommuting isn’t the right solution for every person or every job. Individuals who are offered this perk can set themselves up for success by creating an optimal workspace and keeping in frequent touch with members of their team.”

Additional findings:

l Among the 28 U.S. cities in the survey, San Diego, Austin and Chicago have the most companies that provide remote arrangements. l Employees in Chicago, Phoenix and San Diego are most likely to work from home when given the opportunity. l More men (77%) than women (64%) work from home. About threequarters of working parents (74%) take advantage of this perk versus 64% of those without children. l Atlanta, San Diego and Minneapolis have the most senior managers who said they’ve increased remote work opportunities for employees in the past three years.

The online surveys were developed by Robert Half and conducted by independent research firms. They include responses from 2,800 workers 18 years of age or older and employed in office environments, and more than 2,800 senior managers at companies with 20 or more employees in 28 major U.S. cities.

T. Rowe Price Relaunches Money Confident Kids Website With Five-step Program T. Rowe Price has relaunched its Money Confident Kids® program, a financial education program teaching basic financial concepts to middle school-age children, as a new five-step program with a refreshed website. The five steps outlined on the new site are designed to build on each other and simplify the process of teaching core financial concepts to kids.

Since the launch of its financial education efforts in 2009, T. Rowe Price continues its mission of promoting financial capabilities and working to build confidence not only in kids, but also in adults who might struggle with how to navigate conversations about finances with kids. T. Rowe Price’s 2019 Parents, Kids & Money Survey found that half of parents have some reluctance to discuss money matters with their kids.

The Money Confident Kids program’s content is intended to be administered by an adult and serves as a turnkey solution for teachers, parents, and volunteers to discuss money matters with kids. By creating a more systematic process for adults, the program offers a shelf-ready approach to teaching financial concepts in the classroom and home. Each step has downloadable lessons and activities for kids. The refreshed site also includes games, tips, and other resources.

Over the past 10 years, T. Rowe Price’s financial education efforts have reached 12 million people.

For more information, visit troweprice.com or visit them on Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram, and on Facebook.

CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH

CITIZEN | South Suburban | Week of Feb. 5, 2020

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NEWS

5 Ways to Improve Your Heart Health Family Features - If you worry that you or someone you love will get heart disease or even have a heart attack, it’s understandable.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). Research shows you can lower your risk, particularly if you team up with family, friends or co-workers. This kind of social support may be the key to your success.

To mark American Heart Month, NHLBI, one of the National Institutes of Health, is inviting people across the country to team up and join #OurHearts, a national heart health initiative that encourages people to improve heart health together.

“Studies show that having positive, close relationships and feeling connected to others benefits overall health, blood pressure, weight and more,” said NHLBI’s Dr. David Goff, director of cardiovascular sciences.

Consider these five tips that can help lower your risk of heart disease: Risk: Inactivity Solution: Move more throughout your day. Aim for at least 150 minutes each week of physical activity. Build up to activity that gets your heart beating faster and leaves you a little breathless. If you’re busy, try breaking your daily activity into 10-minute chunks.

Stay motivated: Make walking dates. Join a pickup soccer or basketball game. Join a fitness class with your neighbor. Grab a loved one and dance in your kitchen.

Risk: An unhealthy diet Solution: Consider an option

like NHLBI’s Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) eating plan, which is free and scientifically proven to lower high blood pressure and improve cholesterol levels.

Stay motivated: Invite friends to cook up heart healthy recipes together. Start a lunch club at work and trade recipe ideas.

Risk: Smoking, even occasionally Solution: Quitting can be beneficial to your overall health, even if you’ve smoked for years. Set a quit date and let those close to you know.

If you’ve tried quitting in the past, consider what helped and what made it harder.

Stay motivated: Ask your family and friends for support or join a support group. Find resources and connect with a trained counselor at 1-800-QUIT-NOW or smokefree. gov.

family member in a relaxing activity like walking, yoga or meditation every day.

Learn about heart health and heart

healthy activities in your community at nhlbi.nih.gov/ourhearts. Use #OurHearts on social media to share how you and your friends, colleagues

Fairness and Opportunity for Illinois Construction Workers SB 11407 is Bad for Skilled Construction Workers in Illinois Cons “The Community Builders program changed everything for me. It gave me opportunity where other paths were just roadblocks. I graduated last March and today I'm doing great work and making good money. My future is bright.

Risk: Inadequate or poor-quality sleep Solution: Sleeping 7-8 hours each night helps improve heart health.

Try going to bed and waking up at the same time each day. Getting a 30-minute daily dose of sunlight may also improve sleep.

Stay motivated: Resist that late afternoon nap. Turn off all screens at a set time nightly. Relax by listening to music, reading or taking a bath.

Risk: Uncontrolled stress Solution: To help manage stress, try relaxation therapy and increase physical activity. Talk to a qualified mental health provider or someone you trust. De-stressing may also help improve sleep.

Stay motivated: Join a friend or

or family members are being heart healthy together.

SOURCE: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

It's hard to believe this program is at risk.

How could any politician even think of eliminating this program?”

– Ike

First year electrical apprentice

Call your Representative today to vote “NO” on SB 1407 and preserve access for minorities to a future in the Illinois construction industry.

100 95 75

Find your Representative here: h ps://www.elections.il.gov/

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CFA Citizen HALF PAGE Ad Vert_v02 Wednesday, January 22, 2020 10:10:04 AM

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI).

Research shows you can lower your risk, particularly if you team up with family, friends or co-workers. This kind of social support may be the key to your success. Photo courtesy of Getty Images

CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH

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BLACK HISTORY

Chicago’s History Includes Black-Owned Businesses Then and Now

BY WENDELL HUTSON Contributing Writer

The local economy has gone up and down since 1980 and historians contend it has contributed to the success and demise of blackowned businesses that are forever cemented in Chicago’s rich history.

During the 1980s, the South Side was home to such thriving black-owned businesses like restaurants Army & Lou’s, Izola’s, Catfish Digby’s, and Glady’s on the South Side; Illinois Service Federal Savings and Loan in Bronzeville; Roberts Motels in Woodlawn; Johnson Publishing Company in the South Loop; and Chatham Food Market, Seaway Bank and Trust Co., Independence Bank, and the Chatham Pancake House, all in Chatham.

Today though, many black-owned businesses have either closed or are struggling financially to stay open, said historian Nathaniel Burton, who added this pace would continue until the mindset of black business owners change.

“You have a lot of black-owned businesses that are gone and in large part it is due to what I call ‘old school’ management style,” explained Burton. “You had businesses started by individuals with little to no college education or business experience. Just a dream and a passion to open their own business and not really zero in on how to successfully run a business.”

He added the founders for many blackowned businesses that are now closed did not have a succession plan either.

“There was no long-term thinking with the founders of these companies. It was mostly assumed that in the event of their death, their children or spouse would carry on the business even though they were never trained to do so,” he contends. “Poor planning has hurt black businesses in the past and to a certain degree it has hurt black businesses today too.”

Izola’s, 522 E. 79th St., is an example of a black-owned business that faltered due to poor management, according to its late owner Izola White.

White, who founded the restaurant in 1940 and died April 2018, said she trusted too many people to run her business when she fell ill and left management in the hands of “incompetent people,” she said in an August 2013 interview with DNAinfo Chicago. “I have no money, no family and no bank account. God knows my heart, and he knows I would do more to help myself if I could, but I can’t, and I need help getting back on my feet.”

And despite efforts to raise monies through a series of fundraisers organized by White’s then legal guardian, DeWayne Mason, the restaurant closed in March 2011.

“It hurts my heart to know she died broke and alone. She had many so-called ‘friends’ during the restaurant’s heydays like a few politicians who only came to the restaurant when they wanted a free meal. But in the end,

Despite Seaway Bank and Trust Co. being Chicago’s largest, black-owned bank (based on assets) it closed in 2017. Photo credit: By Wendell Hutson

all she had was a few, close friends (like myself) and Jesus as she made her transition to the next life,” Mason said.

But it wasn’t just black restaurants that closed.

There were also multi-million dollar businesses like Seaway Bank that also folded even though Seaway was Chicago’s largest blackowned, bank (based on assets.)

Melinda Kelly, president of the nonprofit Chatham Business Association, said she remembers when Seaway Bank, Izola’s and other local, black-owned businesses thrived.

“These were two very successful businesses that was supported heavily by the black community and I’m not just talking about here in Chicago but on a national level too,” recalled Kelly. “Prominent blacks would dine at Izola’s because it was known for its soul-food menu.

And Seaway met the financial needs of black individuals and businesses especially those that might not have been able to get a loan anywhere else.”

However, she pointed out that without a succession plan it becomes difficult for any business to transition leadership and stay successful.

“Having a succession plan in place is so important for a business and its future. There was no succession plan in place or family when it came to Izola’s,” added Kelly.

Moving forward, Kelly said while she loves working with black businesses, she would advise any black business to “become a part of a group like the Chatham Business Association that has a common mission of advancing your business interest,” she said. “And you must engage in the global economy because that’s when using technology comes into play.”

She added that one of the biggest blackowned businesses to collapse was Johnson Publishing Company, which published the popular Ebony and Jet magazines.

“Johnson Publishing came at a time when ‘we’ had no media companies. It filled a void that existed in the black community,” said Kelly. “But all publications are suffering today because the industry has changed and Johnson Publishing was no exception.”

Buritt Bulloch is founder and president of the Old Fashioned Donuts shop in Roseland where he still works 40 plus hours every week. Photo credit: By Wendell Hutson

(from left) Clerk of the circuit court of Cook County Dorothy Brown and the entrepreneur Izola White, founder of Izola’s restaurant in Chatham, were good friends until White’s April 2018 death. Photo credit: By Wendell Hutson

In June 2014, JPC published the final print version of Jet magazine before it became a digital publication only. And in 2016, it sold Ebony and Jet magazines to Clear Group View, a black-owned, private equity firm in Texas, only to file for bankruptcy in April 2019. Even its historic headquarters building in the South Loop was sold in 2010 to Columbia College Chicago.

Regardless of the local economy, which economists said is now healthy, some black, business owners said it is imperative that black businesses remain open and continue to be as a viable part of the community.

Spencer Leak Sr., president of Leak and Sons Funeral Homes on the South Side, said he is a staunch believer in black-owned businesses especially family-owned businesses.

“It’s important that ‘we’ look out for each other because we are all we have when it’s all said and done,” said Leak. “God founded my business and I try to use it to bless as many people as possible.”

Leak and Sons was founded in 1933 by the late Rev. A.R. Leak, and after originally being located at 4448 S. State St., it moved to its current location at 7838 S. Cottage Grove Ave. It also has a second location in south suburban Country Club Hills and plans to open a third location on the West Side in the near future.

Nowadays though, in order for small, black-

CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Located in Bronzeville at 4606 S. State St. since its 1919 founding, Parker House Sausage Co., remains a black-owned business. Photo credit: By Wendell Hutson

owned business to stay afloat, it must have access to capital and be open to changes including with its leadership, said Buritt Bulloch, founder and president of the Old Fashioned Donuts shop in Roseland.

“You can’t just sit back and wait on someone to make things happen for your business. The person making things happen should be you,” said Bulloch, who opened his donut shop at 11248 S. Michigan Ave. in 1972.

At 80-years-old, Bulloch still works 40 plus hours a week at the shop but said he plans to scale back his work schedule soon and let his children and grandchildren take the lead.

“I don’t want to call it retirement but I’m getting too old for this and it’s time to hand it off to the next generation,” said Bulloch. “My daughters and granddaughter work here with me and they will be the ones who carry on the family business after me.”

Besides Leak and Sons, there are several black-owned businesses that have withstood economic challenges and that are still operating today. Those longtime businesses include Reggio’s Pizza Inc. in West Chatham; East Lake Management Group Inc., Parker House Sausage Co. and the Chicago Defender in Bronzeville; Old Fashioned Donuts in Roseland; Calahan Funeral Home in Englewood; 50 Yard Line in Park Manor; Wesley’s Shoes in Hyde Park; and WVON AM in the South Loop.

CITIZEN | South Suburban | Week of Feb. 5, 2020

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NEWS Study finds many youth living with undiagnosed chronic fatigue syndrome Most youth living with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) have not been diagnosed, according to a new prevalence study from researchers at DePaul University and Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, published by the journal Child & Youth Care Forum. Leonard A. Jason, a professor of psychology at DePaul University, led the seven-year study to screen more than 10,000 children and teenagers in the Chicago area.

The researchers found that less than 5% of youth in the study who tested positive for ME/ CFS had been previously diagnosed with the illness. Of the children assessed, African American and Latinx youth were twice as likely to be living with undiagnosed ME/CFS. The study was funded by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, one of the National Institutes of Health.

Jason has been studying ME/CFS for more than 30 years and says the illness can affect all aspects of a child’s life, from physical functioning to attending school and participating in extracurricular activities.

“When you’re talking about a condition that’s as debilitating as this one, the health care response has not been good,” said Jason.

“There aren’t that many physicians who are

trained and skilled at diagnosing and treating this illness, and our health care system has not done a great job at trying to help people who are affected,” said Jason, director of DePaul’s Center for Community Research.

Working with Jason as co-principal investigator is Dr. Ben Z. Katz, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago. Katz is also a professor of pediatrics at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. He has collaborated with Jason and his group since the late 1990s.

“Our finding that most youth with ME/CFS have not been previously diagnosed is comparable to findings in adults,” said Katz. “We definitely need better ways to identify people with this illness and to develop effective interventions for them. In particular, we need to reach African American and Hispanic youth, since in our study these groups had higher prevalence of ME/CFS. ” The prevalence of pediatric ME/CFS has been in dispute, so Jason and Katz set out to include a diverse sample of ethnic, socio-economic and demographic backgrounds. Other ME/CFS prevalence studies have drawn from tertiary care centers, which can exclude those without access to health care, explained Jason.

The researchers tailored their approach by including a thorough medical and psychiatric examination, offering access to high-quality screening for those at-risk of having the illness.

Researchers screened a random sample of 10,119 youth ages 5-17 from 5,622 households.

The first stage was a phone interview with parents and caretakers about the health and behavior of their children and teens. Missing school because of fatigue was one of the common symptoms among youth who showed a higher risk of having ME/CFS, and was a red flag for parents, said Jason.

Of those who screened positive over the phone, 165 youth went on to medical and psychiatric examinations. Following evaluations, a team of physicians made final diagnoses. Youth were given a diagnosis of ME/CFS if they met criteria for case definitions. Of the 42 youth diagnosed with ME/CFS, only 2 (4.8%) had been previously diagnosed with the illness.

Prevalence of pediatric ME/CFS was 0.75%, which is a bit less than 1%, with a higher prevalence among African American and Latinx youth compared to their Caucasian peers.

“Clearly people of color do get this illness, and there are some myths that you have to be white middle class to have ME/CFS,” said Jason.

A lack of access to health care, and therefore

less opportunity for an earlier diagnosis, could explain this racial disparity, according to Jason.

“There are barriers to researchers gaining access to underserved populations. They may not trust institutions as easily, and they may not also have time to bring their children into appointments,” said Jason.

And, there is still stigma and misunderstanding about ME/CFS among health care providers. “They may not believe this is a condition, or might attribute it to fatigue,” said Jason.

The findings point to the need for better ways to identify and diagnose youth with this illness, said Jason, who has secured more than $46 million in research grant support during his 45-year professional career at DePaul.

Co-authors of the study are DePaul University graduate students Madison Sunnquist, Chelsea Torres, Joseph Cotler and Shaun Bhatia.

“We’re trying to help people who have this illness have information that could be used to argue for more resources for diagnosis and treatment,” said Jason.

The study, “The Prevalence of Pediatric Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in a Community-Based Sample,” was supported under award number R01 HD072208.

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1/15/20 7:03 PM

FASHION

Young people can visit DoSomething.org/Teens or text TEENS to 38383 to sign up for the campaign. They are guided on how to hold jean drives at their schools and in their communities, and when to drop off their jean donations at their local Aéropostale store.

“Teens for Jeans” Campaign, Donates Jeans to Young People in Homeless Shelters Almost 40% of people experiencing homelessness in the United States are under 18, according to covenanthouse.org. One item they commonly request in homeless shelters is a pair of jeans. Why? Jeans are comfortable in any season and can be worn multiple times between washes. Plus, for a teenager without many belongings, wearing a pair of jeans can provide a sense of security.

That’s why DoSomething.org, the largest organization for young people and social change, and Aéropostale, the specialty retailer of casual fashion apparel and accessories, have teamed up for the ninth time on their marquee “Teens for Jeans” campaign, which, since 2008, has activated young people to donate over 5 million pairs of jeans to local shelters serving young people, with support from celebrities like Demi Lovato, Chloe Grace Moretz, Kristen Bell, and more. “’Teens for Jeans’ is the campaign young people request from us the most, and we’re so proud and excited to bring it back in a massive way with Aéropostale this year,” says Carrie Bloxson, chief marketing officer of DoSomething.org. “In our conversations with leaders at homeless shelters, we’ve learned that jeans are one of the most requested items from young people experiencing homelessness. Students around the country are extremely excited to activate their schools and communities to run denim drives for local young people in need, and that energy is going to drive enormous and lasting impact. ‘Teens for Jeans’ is the country’s largest youth-led denim drive.”

Young people can visit DoSomething.org/Teens or text TEENS to 38383 to sign up for the campaign. They are guided on how to hold jean drives at their schools and in their communities, and when to drop off their jean donations at their local Aéropostale store.

Those who complete the campaign by February 29 will be automatically entered to win a $2,500 scholarship from DoSomething. In addition, Aéropostale will be rewarding a $10,000 grant to the school that collects the most jeans, and a $5,000 grant to the runner-up school.

To help amplify the campaign and encourage young people to get involved and support this important cause, actor Jenna Ortega, best known for her roles in Netflix’s You, Jane the Virgin, and Stuck in the Middle, visited SafeHouse of the Desert, a shelter supporting young people near her hometown of Indio, California.

In a new ‘Teens for Jeans’ PSA video, Ortega talked to the shelter’s director and two young people to learn about about their experiences and how to get involved.

“Youth homelessness isn’t something you can always see. We might not realize it, but for so many of us, our friends and classmates may leave school and go to a shelter, not a home,” said Ortega. “Talking to people who are my age, near my hometown, who have overcome homelessness was powerful and inspiring.

I’m immensely proud to be a part of ‘Teens for Jeans’ and help students make a difference for young people in their communities.”

LA LA LEAF Wins Best Lip Care Award at IBE’s 2019 Best in Show Awards LA LA LEAF, the new CBD skincare company with 100% allnatural ingredients, has just been awarded the 2019 Best in Show- ‘Best Lip Care’ award by Indie Beauty Expo for La La Lips. IBE recently presented LA LA LEAF with the award at IBE - Los Angeles. LA LA LEAF was also nominated in the category ‘Best Product for Athletes’ for its CBD infused Sports Gel, Tru Athlete.

La La Lips won the ‘Best Lip Care’ award for its CBD formulation that helps the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS) to stimulate cells and produce moisture naturally.

La La Lips was recognized over eight other best-in-class nominees and two finalists to win the honor, reviewed by a comprehensive 20-strong judging panel of industry experts.

Altogether, 350 products were

nominated across 40 categories for IBE’s 2019 Best in Show awards.

The nomination committee selects the most innovative and exciting products from companies that exhibit at IBE’s five 2019 shows in Berlin, New York, London, Los Angeles and Dallas, showing the award’s global footprint.

Michael Faiella, CEO & founder of LA LA LEAF, said, “We’re thrilled

to win IBE’s 2019 Best in Show awards for La La Lips in the best lip care category. We went up against some incredible brands, and this award is proof that our hard work in developing the best-quality, CBD-infused products is gaining recognition from consumers and industry experts.”

Since launching in August 2019, LA LA LEAF has been recognized

CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH

for its quality and avant-garde aesthetic, winning various awards and nominations in the industry, including the ‘Market Impact’ packaging by NJPEC in December 2019.

LA LA LEAF’s skincare range packaging was honored alongside beauty greats such as Ulta, Beauty Blender, M.A.C, and L’Oreal. To purchase LA LA LEAF products online, visit lalaleaf.com.

CITIZEN | South Suburban | Week of Feb. 5, 2020

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ENTERTAINMENT Apeman Rex takes readers on a journey of self-discovery, resiliency and finding home

Beyoncé And Sony/ATV Music Publishing Sign Global Agreement Courtesy: Parkwood Entertainment

Beyoncé And Sony/ATV Music Publishing Sign Global Agreement Beyoncé and Sony/ATV Music Publishing recently announced a global agreement covering the music icon’s entire song catalog, including seminal hits from her start with Destiny’s Child, through her unparalleled collection of solo works written throughout her career.

“I am excited for what’s to come with my continued partnership with Jon Platt in his new leadership role at Sony/ATV,” said Beyoncé.

“Jon’s the executive who understands the creative mindset and continues to be both an advocate and protector. It has been an honor working with Jon from the start of my career.”

Sony/ATV Chairman and CEO Jon Platt said, “Beyond all of her well-deserved accolades and accomplishments, Beyoncé is simply one of the most driven and impactful talents I know. I’ve had the privilege of making incredible music with her throughout her career and she continues to set the bar for creative expression in all forms.

Beyoncé inspires generations with her songs and

I am honored to reunite with her at Sony/ATV.” Beyoncé is the most critically-acclaimed music artist of her generation. With a fearless focus on feminism, advocacy and empowerment, Beyoncé has revolutionized the global entertainment industry with singular, culture-shifting albums such as Lemonade and Homecoming. In 2013, with the surprise release of her eponymous visual album, Beyoncé disrupted the music industry’s standard, ultimately impacting the timing of album releases from Tuesdays to Fridays.

Her many career highlights include 23 Grammy Awards, 22 Billboard No. 1 hits, 26 MTV Video Music Awards and 9 American Music Awards, a Peabody Award, among countless prestigious honors. Additionally, Beyoncé stands as the most-awarded artist at the BET Awards and Soul Train Music Awards.

Celebrated for her inventive approach to live performance and video, she has also made an indelible impact beyond music to include

fashion, film, entrepreneurship and the world of philanthropy.

With a prolific output of songs spanning nearly two decades, Beyoncé consistently dominates the world’s music charts, making her one of the best-selling music artists of all time with more than 100 million records sold. She has written or co-written major hits across multiple genres that include No. 1 songs such as Crazy In Love (ft. JAY-Z), Irreplaceable, Independent Women and Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It), as well as Top 10 hits Baby Boy, Formation and Survivor, among many others.

Throughout her career, she has recorded with superstar artists including Ed Sheeran, Drake, Lady Gaga, Kanye West, Nicki Minaj, Missy Elliott and Kendrick Lamar, to name a few. In addition, Beyoncé became the first AfricanAmerican woman and the second woman ever to take home the ASCAP Pop ‘Songwriter of the Year’ Award for her work with Destiny’s Child.

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CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Author Marsalis has released a new children’s book, a story that demonstrates how its protagonist deals with an unexpected major life change. “APEMAN REX,” is about an ape from the Stone Age who finds himself in a robot-dominated 31st century. This book invites all ages on a journey of self-discovery, resiliency and finding home. Although primarily for children, the life lessons and values given can be relatable to adults as well.

The main character, Apeman, is zapped into the future and has to figure out how to get back home. The book follows his journey as readers are left to wonder if he will be stuck in the future forever.

“I wanted to create something that was both fun and reflective.

Something that could entertain children yet also teaches values, lessons, and ideas that will stick with them forever.”

When writing and illustrating the book, Marsalis was inspired by the powerful, unpolished simplicity of prehistoric cave and rock paintings.

“It is one of the few art forms that connects us all,” Marsalis said.

Marsalis was born in 1989. He spent his childhood composing picture epics and giving lectures.

At the age of 17, he published his first novel, MARCH OF THE LIBERTINES, and found refuge in club-hopping. After graduating cum laude from the University of Michigan, Marsalis published works in every literary style and genre.

He is the founder of the pop music blog PARAPHERNALIA and was featured in the 2019 short fiction anthology FIVE MINUTES AT HOTEL STORMCOVE. He loves bubblegum, fast cars, and silent cinema. Marsalis currently lives in Detroit.

The book is $6.00 and available for purchase at: https://www. saintmarsalis.com/apemanrex/.

10 | CITIZEN | South Suburban | Week of Feb. 5, 2020

CALENDAR ON MARCH 14, THE MARCUS ROBERTS TRIO—ROBERTS ON PIANO, RODNEY JORDAN ON BASS, AND JASON MARSALIS ON DRUMS—PAY TRIBUTE TO “PIANO GIANTS” OF THE 20TH CENTURY, INCLUDING LEONARD BERNSTEIN, GEORGE GERSHWIN, THELONIOUS MONK, AND DUKE ELLINGTON.

George Gershwin in 1937

Photo of Leonard Bernstein by Carl Van Vechten (1944)

Marcus Roberts Trio

Thelonious Monk

Art Blakey by Francis Wolff.

Duke Ellington

Music Institute Presents Jazz Double Header At Nichols Concert Hall Marcus Roberts Trio March 14, Tribute to Art Blakey March 28 In two performances honoring jazz legends, the Music Institute of Chicago presents the Marcus Roberts Trio, saluting “Piano Giants” March 14, and “100 Years of Art Blakey,” featuring Jazz Messengers alumni, Tammy McCann and more, March 28. Both performances are at 7:30 p.m. at Nichols Concert Hall, 1490 Chicago Ave., Evanston.

On March 14, the Marcus Roberts Trio—Roberts on piano, Rodney Jordan on bass, and Jason Marsalis on drums—pay tribute to “Piano Giants” of the 20th century, including Leonard Bernstein, George Gershwin, Thelonious Monk, and Duke Ellington.

Known for its virtuosic style and entirely new approach to jazz trio performance, the Marcus Roberts Trio members share equally in shaping the direction of the music with lightning reflexes and imagination. Influenced by the

famous piano trio styles of Ahmad Jamal and Oscar Peterson, the Marcus Roberts Trio builds from that rich foundation to create an everevolving sound all its own that is sure to delight jazz audiences.

On March 28, “100 Years of Art Blakey” pays tribute to the drummer and bandleader who founded the Jazz Messengers, a collective that influenced generations of leading musicians through mentorship and intergenerational collaboration.

Performers include Jazz Messengers alumni trombonist Robin Eubanks, saxophonist Javon Jackson, and trumpeter Charles Toliver; singer and Music Institute artist-in-residence Tammy McCann; and drummer Clif Wallace and his Big Band.

The Music Institute’s 2019–20 season concludes with the Formosa Quartet performing its exclusive collection of music April 4.

The Marcus Roberts Trio performs Saturday, March 14 at 7:30 p.m., and “100 Years of Art Blakey” takes place Saturday, March 28 at 7:30 p.m., both at Nichols Concert Hall, 1490 Chicago Avenue in Evanston.

Admission is $50 for early access seating, $25 for advance purchase, and $30 at the door.

Tickets are available at musicinst. org/nch or by calling 847.448.8326.

All programming is subject to change.

Nichols Concert Hall Noted architect Solon S. Beman designed the First Church of Christ, Scientist, located at 1490 Chicago Avenue in Evanston, in 1912. In 2003, the building was sensitively restored to become Nichols Concert Hall, a state-of-the-art, 550-seat performance space and music education destination, easily accessible to numerous restaurants, on-street and metered parking, and the Davis Street CTA and Metra stations.

The converted building, featuring a fully restored, 1914 E. M. Skinner pipe organ, received the Richard H. Driehaus Award for best adaptive use by the Landmarks Preservation Council of Illinois. Each year, Nichols Concert Hall reaches approximately 15,000 people and hosts a world-class chamber music series, workshops and master classes, student recitals, and special events.

CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Music Institute of Chicago Founded in 1931, each year, the Music Institute of Chicago provides personalized music instruction to more than 2,000 students, regardless of age, level of experience, or financial means, across eight Community Music School locations in Chicago, Downers Grove, Evanston, Lake Forest, Lincolnshire, and Winnetka. In addition, the Music Institute brings music education, arts curriculum integration, and professional development as well as music performance and engagement opportunities to thousands; offers scholarship opportunities to students in the Academy, a nationally recognized training center for highly gifted pre-college pianists and string players; and inspires more than 15,000 visitors annually at Nichols Concert Hall through performances, master classes, and special events.

CITIZEN | South Suburban | Week of Feb. 5, 2020

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CLASSIFIEDS quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff

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REAL ESTATE AC 1-22-2020 IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE OF CVF III MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST II Plaintiff, -v.- CAROLYN F FRYE, TIMESHA A FRYE, UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NON-RECORD CLAIMANTS Defendants 2018 CH 13409 19713 TERRACE AVENUE LYNWOOD, IL 60411 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on May 13, 2019, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on February 18, 2020, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker Drive, CHICAGO, IL, 60606, sell at a public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 19713 TERRACE AVENUE, LYNWOOD, IL 60411 Property Index No. 33-07-112-010-0000 The real estate is improved with a four or more unit building with no garage. Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance, including the Judicial Sale fee for the Abandoned Residential Property Municipality Relief Fund, which is calculated on residential real estate at the rate of $1 for each $1,000 or fraction thereof of the amount paid by the purchaser not to exceed $300, in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. No fee shall be paid by the mortgagee acquiring the residential real estate pursuant to its credit bid at the sale or by any mortgagee, judgment creditor, or other lienor acquiring the residential real estate whose rights in and to the residential real estate arose prior to the sale.

The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or

and in "AS IS" condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court. Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale. The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information. If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4). If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/18.5(g-1). IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW. You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver's license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales.

MCCALLA RAYMER LEIBERT PIERCE, LLC Plaintiff's Attorneys, One North Dearborn Street, Suite 1200, Chicago, IL, 60602. Tel No. (312) 3469088. THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236-SALE You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales. MCCALLA RAYMER LEIBERT PIERCE, LLC One North Dearborn Street, Suite 1200 Chicago IL, 60602 312-346-9088 E-Mail: pleadings@mccalla.com Attorney File No. 267816 Attorney ARDC No. 61256 Attorney Code. 61256 Case Number: 2018 CH 13409 TJSC#: 39-6601 NOTE: Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you are advised that Plaintiff's attorney is deemed to be a debt collector attempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose.

Case # 2018 CH 13409 I3142794 ________________________________________ AC 2-5-2020 IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION PINGORA LOAN SERVICING, LLC Plaintiff, -v.- LESLIE S. HOLMES A/K/A LESLIE HOLMES A/K/A LESLIE JACKSON, ACCION/CHICAGO, INC, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Defendants 18 CH 04127 2015 WALNUT STREETBLUE ISLAND, IL 60406 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN

that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on December 11, 2019, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on March 12, 2020, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker Drive, CHICAGO, IL, 60606, sell at a public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 2015 WALNUT STREET, BLUE ISLAND, IL 60406 Property Index No. 25-31-112-008-0000 The real estate is improved with a single family residence.

The judgment amount was $152,190.05. Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance, including the Judicial Sale fee for the Abandoned Residential Property Municipality Relief Fund, which is calculated on residential real estate at the rate of $1 for each $1,000 or fraction thereof of the amount paid by the purchaser not to exceed $300, in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. No fee shall be paid by the mortgagee acquiring the residential real estate pursuant to its credit bid at the sale or by any mortgagee, judgment creditor, or other lienor acquiring the residential real estate whose rights in and to the residential real estate arose prior to the sale. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in "AS IS" condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court. Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale.

Where a sale of real estate is made to satisfy a lien prior to that of the United States, the United States shall have one year from the date of sale within which to redeem, except that with respect to a lien arising under the internal revenue laws the period shall be 120 days or the period allowable for redemption under State law, whichever is longer, and in any case in which, under the provisions of section 505 of the Housing Act of 1950, as amended (12 U.S.C. 1701k), and subsection (d) of section 3720 of title 38 of the United States Code, the right to redeem does not arise, there shall be no right of redemption. The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information. If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4). If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/18.5(g-1). IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW. You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver's license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales. For information, Alexander Potestivo, POTESTIVO & ASSOCIATES, P.C. Plaintiff's Attorneys, 223 WEST JACKSON BLVD, STE 610, Chicago, IL, 60606 (312) 263-0003. Please refer to file number 226582. THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236-SALE You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales. POTESTIVO & ASSOCIATES, P.C. 223 WEST JACKSON BLVD, STE 610 Chicago IL, 60606 312-263-0003 E-Mail: ilpleadings@potestivolaw.com Attorney File No. 226582 Attorney Code. 43932 Case Number: 18 CH 04127 TJSC#: 39-7984 NOTE: Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you are advised that Plaintiff's attorney is deemed to be a debt collector attempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose. Case # 18 CH 04127 I3144231 ________________________________________ HUD/BANK FORECLOSURES CITY & SUBURBS Call: FRED D. CLINK (773) 294-5870 REALTY SERVICES CONSORTIUM _______________________________________ 3+ Bedroom HOMES FOR SALE SELLER FINANCING Call: FRED D. CLINK (773) 294-5870 REALTY SERVICES CONSORTIUM ______________________________________

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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

WANTED TO BUY Paying Cash For Comics! Top national comic buyer will be in your area, paying cash for vintage comics (1970 & earlier).

Call Will: 866-461-0640 __________________________________ Freon Wanted: We pay CA$H for cylinders and cans. R12 R500 R11 R113 R114.

Convenient. Certified Professionals. Call 312-598-1758 or visit RefrigerantFinders.com __________________________________

ANTIQUES/ COLLECTIBLES GATEWAY GAS & ADVERTISING SHOW

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, Ford Heights, Glenwood, Homewood, Lansing ,Lynwood, Olympia Fileds, Park Forest, Sauk Village, South Chicago and Steger

Feb 13-15. Crowne Plaza Hotel, 3000 S. Dirksen Parkway, Springfield, IL. FREE ADMISSION! Outstanding Room-to-Room & Indoor Vending www.gatewaygas.com 906-250-1618

_______________________________________

Advertising In The Classified Section Can Be Easy As 123.

Here’s where you can sell your professional services, your home, used auto, gently used appearel, rent a apartment or sell your slightly used house hold goods.

You can place your ad for a reasonable price.

Citizen Newspaper Group Inc., (CNGI), Publisher of the Chatham-Southeast, South End, Chicago Weekend, South Suburban and Hyde Park Citizen and Citizen Suburban Times Weekly. Our weekly publications are published on Wednesday’s (publishing 52 issues annually). Written permission is required to reproduce contents in whole or in part from the publisher. Citizen Newspaper Group, Inc. 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 Friday at noon. Deadlines for press releases are Thursdays at 10 am prior to the next week’s edition. Please send information for the calendar at least three weeks prior to the event. Send to: editorial@citizennewspapergroup.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 Suburban | Week of Feb. 5, 2020

WWW.CITIZEN NEWSPAPERGROUP.COM

Publisher Of The:

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

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