South Suburban Citizen 03-22-2023

CITY OF HARVEY RECEIVES FUNDS FOR IMPROVEMENTS

Congresswoman Robin Kelly’s Office recently presented two checks to the City of Harvey. The first check was awarded to the City of Harvey Fire Department which it will be used to purchase a new fire engine.

Mayor Christopher J. Clark welcomed representatives from the Office of Congresswoman Robin Kelly to the city council meeting on Monday, March 13, to present two ceremonial checks.

CONGRESSWOMAN ROBIN KELLY CELEBRATES THE INCLUSION OF CTA RED LINE EXTENSION INVESTMENTS IN PRESIDENT BIDEN’S BUDGET

WASHINGTON, DC – Rep. Robin Kelly celebrated the inclusion of the long-awaited CTA Red Line extension in President Biden’s budget proposal. This $350 million investment in the south side of Chicago will bring much-needed transportation access and economic opportunities to many historically under-resourced communities.

Rep. Kelly secured $1.5 million to fund workforce development efforts to support the CTA Red Line extension in 2021.

President Biden’s budget prioritizes People

Over Politics, building on the economic gains made over the last two years, lowering costs, and creating good-paying jobs. The inclusion of the CTA Red Line Extension in President Biden’s budget is a welcome investment in the people of the Second District of Illinois. This investment will not only improve transportation access but also create jobs, stimulate economic growth, and strengthen communities.

“I am thrilled that President Biden recognized the importance of expanding transit access to the south side of Chicago,” said Rep. Robin Kelly (IL-02). “For communities that too often feel forgotten, President Biden’s budget shows that this administration will not allow our district to be left behind. This extension will accelerate economic growth, create jobs, and strengthen our neighborhoods. I look forward to continuing to work closely with the administration to ensure that our communities have the resources they need to thrive.”

CHICAGO BLACK DANCE LEGACY PROJECT

PRESENTS: SANS PAREIL

Sat, Mar 25, 7pm / Sun, Mar 26, 2pm (Youth Show) & 6pm Logan Center Performance Hall / 915 E 60th St [map]

Tickets: $25 General | $10 Students and Seniors (62+)

Following sold out shows at the Logan Center, Millennium Park and more, the Chicago Black Dance Legacy Project returns with Sans Pareil, a dazzling display of the power of Black dance our city.

Sans pareil: French for “unparalleled.” Join the Chicago Black Dance Legacy Project for the first concert from its second cohort. Ten dance companies present signature and new choreographic works on the Logan Center Performance Hall stage. Juxtaposing forms ranging from ballet to modern to tap to traditional African dance, to Chicago-born footwork and more, the concert promises to live up to its name delivering an incomparable demonstration of the depth and breadth of Chicago’s Black dance community. Named with a nod to Chicago’s first non-indigenous settler – the Haitian fur-trader, entrepreneur, and proponent of multi-culturalism known as the founder of Chicago, Jean Baptiste Pointe DuSable — this concert will combine dance and technology to evoke Chicago Black dance’s past, revel in its present, and shine a light toward its bright future.

The 2023 cohort includes: The Chicago Multicultural Dance Company, Deeply Rooted Dance, Forward Momentum Chicago, Joel Hall Dancers & Center, M.A.D.D. Rhythms, Move Me Soul, Muntu Dance Theatre, NAJWA Dance Corps. Praize Productions, and The Era Footwork Collective. Learn more about the Chicago Black Dance Legacy Project and the 10 companies involved at ChicagoBlackDanceLegacy.org.

City of Harvey receives funds for improvements

Continued from page 1

BY TIA CAROL JONES

The second check will be used to acquire and demolish blighted and vacant buildings, as well as for streetlight improvements.

The check presentation took place on Monday, March 13th, during the Harvey City Council Meeting. The first check, in the amount of $527,272.72, came from FEMA/ Homeland Security – Assistance to Firefighters Grant. The second check was in the amount of $2.25 million. The second check was part of Kelly’s recommendation for community project funding.

“This funding could not have come at a more crucial moment for our city, and we acknowledge Congresswoman Kelly’s dedication to Building a Better Harvey. This funding will enable us to acquire our first new engine in 18 years, a significant step towards improving our city’s infrastructure. Furthermore, this funding will aid in our ongoing efforts to reduce blight, which is vital to transforming how our residents perceive our city. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with Congresswoman Kelly to drive positive change in our community,”

City of Harvey Mayor Christopher Clark said in a release.

According to the City of Harvey, funds will be used to implement revitalization strategies including investing in infrastructure, demolishing vacant properties, incentivizing housing rehabilitation and new residential development, enabling equitable transit-oriented development, investing in “Complete Streets” and activating the city’s parks and open spaces.

Kelly has been meeting with Mayors in her District and has plans to meet with other entities to inform them about the community projects. From there, entities can apply for the funds. With the Community Project Funding, each member of Congress can put up to 15 projects forward to receive funding. Congress members prioritize the projects. Projects also must have community support. Last year, all of Kelly’s projects were approved for Community Project funding.

“This will help save the Villages money. Help Villages improve their plight. We’ve helped improve healthcare facilities, starting STEM education, given resources to work on gun violence prevention. We’re really proud that we’ve been able to do this,” Kelly said.

Kelly has been working closely with Mayor Clark. Kelly took a tour of Harvey when Clark was first elected. She saw the needs of the city in regards to the lighting and blighted houses. Both of these issues are part of Clark’s Harvey Improvement Plan. Kelly acknowledges without the funds from the federal government, a lot of these communities would not be able to make these improvements on their own.

“The street lighting is a public safety and it makes the city look better. For the demolition, they can demolish the houses that have no hope of being saved and give them the opportunity of starting new or sell the land or have other business move in,” Kelly said. “It’s great to be able to help some of these communities that don’t have the money to completely help themselves. It’s great to be able to bring money back to communities to help them.”

Urban Gateways Welcomes Poet, Activist and Published Author Leslé Honoré as CEO

March 14, 2023 (CHICAGO, Illinois) -Urban Gateways announced recently that Leslé Honoré will be their new CEO, becoming the first woman of color to hold the position in over two decades. Since its founding in 1961, Urban Gateways has provided Chicago youth with equitable access to arts experience and education in order to support their personal development, social well-being and passion for lifelong learning. Honoré, a member of Elevated Chicago’s Steering Committee, has a strong track recording of infusing her expertise in poetry and art into youth engagement, leadership style and into governance and programming. Her past work threads seamlessly into Urban Gateways’ mission to inspire creativity and impact social change.

Honoré was publicly welcomed to her new role at a celebration and fundraiser event at the Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom Law Firm downtown. The event showcased the current work Urban Gateways has been doing, while also providing a look at what future programming. Guests were treated to wine and hors d’oeuvres by Skadden’s award-winning chef and were given the opportunity to bid for tickets to some of the biggest arts events Chicago has to offer.

The highlight of the night was two youth performers; 13-year-old poet Khalil Taylor and 22-year-old hip-hop and spoken word artist Solomon Xavier Lee, graced the event with a live rendition of their work. Taylor, an aspiring doctor who loves to cook, wowed the crowd with an emotional poem titled The Fighter. “Books are my inspiration and I’d like to be an author”, said the middle schooler. “This experience opened my eyes to poetry and made it more appealing and enjoyable for me.”

Lee, who performs under the name ‘Xavier Battles’, per-

formed his song City Pain, a heartfelt reflection of his experiences and life. “I want to make timeless music that’s impactful. When people think of me, they’ll think of my artistry.” said Lee. Especially fond of the audio and video editing programs, he attributes his improvement in writing and performance to his mentors at Urban Gateways.

In addition to the live performances, attendees got a look into Urban Gateways’ current programs that inspire young Chicagoans to use their creativity. Street Level, a youth digital media center, teaches audio and video editing, while Teen Arts Pass gives kids the chance to experience arts and culture events throughout Chicago at an affordable low price. Mild Sauce is a zine created, edited and distributed by its youth participants, teaching valuable journalistic skills. Each program is 100% free to participants and is delivered by experienced professional artists and staff.

With Leslé Honoré as the new CEO, Urban Gateways is set to create even more opportunities to expose Chicago’s Black and Brown youth to the arts. Already reaching over 80,000 young people across approximately250 locations annually, the organization will continue to provide arts education, mentoring and arts events.

“The arts teaches us to connect,” said Honoré. “All young people deserve access to the arts, no matter what their zip code, their school’s budget or what they do during the day,” Urban Gateways engages young people in arts experiences to inspire creativity and impact social change. We envision a world where everyone’s creative spirit thrives. Our organizational values are the pillars that guide our work and hold us accountable to the people we serve.

Honoring the Life & Legacy of A Great Chicagoan and Black Business Giant Edward G. Gardner Passes Away at 98

Edward G. Gardner was a humanitarian, a philanthropist, and a successful businessman, who loved the city of Chicago and Chicago loved him in return. Edward Gardner passed away peacefully Monday March 20, 2023, surrounded by family, and loved ones. He was 98 years old.

Ed Gardner was a well-known and admired businessman. In 1964, he left a career as a popular teacher and assistant principal to start haircare company, Soft Sheen Products, Inc. with his wife Bettiann. He often stated his primary reason for establishing Soft Sheen Products, Inc., was to create employment opportunities for young Black and Brown

men and women. In that same spirit, he continued his commitment to support the livelihood of professional cosmetologists by ensuring that his most popular product system, Care Free Curl, was solely available for purchase and application by them. Throughout his ownership of the company, he continued to offer exclusive products for his beloved salon customers.

From a young age, his four children, Gary, Terri, Guy, and Tracy, along with his wife Bettiann, were intricately involved in the business. Soft Sheen Products, Inc. based on Chicago’s South Side, evolved into one of the nation’s largest Blackowned businesses.

new innovations and new ideas propelled Soft Sheen’s remarkable success, yet, while keeping an eye on his business, his heart was always with the people – especially the youth.

Often a newspaper article would touch his heart. Whether it was purchasing a home for the family of a young Chicago girl who was victim to gun violence, to pitching in after a tragic event in The Robert Taylor Homes, to giving tens of thousands to causes like the Atlanta child murders, he was there, making a difference in the lives of people in need.

POLITICAL AFFAIRS

HARRIS MEASURE TO IMPLEMENT DIVERSITY REPORTS TO IMPROVE SMALL BUSINESSES

HARVEY – State Senator Napoleon Harris is leading a measure to require insurance companies to submit diversity reports.

“Small businesses should have the support they need to accurately reflect the diversity of the state,” said Harris (D-Harvey). “There are many veteran-, minority-, and women-owned businesses throughout Illinois and we must ensure they are fairly and accurately represented.”

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ELIZABETH “LIZZIE G” ELIE

LICENSED REALTOR

“He was my father, my hero, my teacher. I looked up to him” Gary Gardner stated on Wednesday. “I feel blessed to have had Ed Gardner as my father. He was the embodiment of the hard-working, family-focused, responsible Black father. He taught me the value of a strong work ethic. He got up early in the morning, telling us “We’re not going to make it this way” meaning let’s get to work. If he wasn’t at work, he was home with family. If you saw Ed Gardner out after work or on weekends, he had us, his children, in tow. As the oldest, I think I spent the most time with him as a child. He taught me to fish. He taught me to garden. He taught me how to build, how to fix things, how to drive, and how not to drive. At twelve, he took me to work with him on Saturdays, where I learned to make hair products. I was his assistant when he made product deliveries. He also taught me how to make mistakes. Most importantly, he taught me how to engage all people with humanity and humility,” said Gary Gardner.

Continued Gary Gardner, “Yes, he was a distinguished role model and businessman, as well as prominent civic organizer. A mentor to me and countless others. He enjoyed sharing his views that responsibility was the definition of manhood. His exceptional work ethic was one of his greatest gifts and I have passed that on to my sons.” New products,

Ed Gardner’s greatest contribution to the city he loved was doing everything he could to help Chicago elect its first Black Mayor, Harold Washington, in 1983. He loaned his creative staff, along with significant advertising dollars, to create the signature voter registration campaign, “Come Alive October 5”.

Blitzing the city with banners, print and radio advertisements, the campaign registered over 200,000 new voters and helped secure Harold Washington’s victory. In 1992, his in-house communication agency, led by his daughter Terri, created a second highly successful voter registration campaign in partnership with Project Vote, led by Barack Obama.

According to Terri Gardner, “One of my dad’s greatest qualities was his perseverance. He believed in himself and his ability to not just hope things worked out, but to make sure things worked out. It’s an entrepreneurial quality that allowed him to create a business despite the challenges of institutional and individual racism. Unfortunately, those challenges never went away - - in spite of his tremendous business success.”

She emphasized his values. “He knew that our community needed to use its muscle to affect positive social and political outcomes in Chicago. He believed in the power of our vote and funded efforts to register people in record numbers.”

Adds Terri, “His goals for the business always included a social goal. He saw the untapped potential of his community. He challenged every employee to “do their job so well,

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Senate Bill 2381 requires licensed or accredited insurance companies within the state to submit a diversity program report annually. This report would provide insight to how many companies accept or recognize minority-owned, women-owned, or veteran-owned businesses. The diversity report would help determine ways to improve and better serve various groups of businesses.

“As someone with experience in the insurance industry, I know how necessary it is to prop up small and diverse businesses with the resources needed to thrive in this economy and dismantle disparities,” said Harris. “I am committed to making an effort to support the research to do just that.”

Senate Bill 2381 passed the Senate Insurance Committee last Wednesday and will head to the floor for further deliberation.

JOYCE ENCOURAGES JOB SEEKERS TO APPLY FOR SEASONAL CONSERVATION WORK

To help job seekers find employment, State Senator Patrick Joyce is encouraging people to apply for seasonal conservation work at Kankakee River State Park in Bourbonnais.

“As the weather is warming up, we see a need for more workers in our state parks,” said Joyce (D-Essex). “This is a great opportunity for local residents or college students to take advantage of temporary work, while working in a beautiful natural environment.”

Conservation workers perform routine maintenance and custodial duties, such as mowing, landscaping, painting, cleaning, loading and unloading vehicles, cutting firewood and more. Other responsibilities include assisting in preparing locations for hunting and fishing, preparing sites for programs, assisting in the care of cover crops and food plots, maintaining tools and equipment, and performing basic vehicle maintenance.

Kankakee River State Park is surrounded by both sides of the Kankakee River that sits six miles northwest of Kankakee, consisting of approximately 4,000 acres. Illinois Route 102 lies north of the park, and Route 113 frames the south side of the park. More information about Kankakee River State Park can be found here.

“These are excellent summer jobs for people who enjoy being outdoors and are excited to help visitors enjoy Illinois’ beautiful state parks and historic sites,” said Paula Martel, director of IDNR’s Office of Land Management. “Seasonal workers gain valuable professional experience and a unique understanding of what it takes to operate these sites.”

To learn more about the positions, qualifications, deadline for applications, and instructions for applying, visit https://bit.ly/ IDNRjobs.

Edward G. Gardner

Laguna Candles Celebrates 20 Years As Global Luxury Supplier

LAGUNA BEACH, Calif., PRNewswire -- Twenty years ago, Laguna Candles opened for business, fueled by a love for the calming effects of beautiful home fragrance and a desire to be on the cutting edge of a growing consumer appetite for cleaner burning candles. Founded by Sharie Hendricks, the company had humble beginnings in her family’s kitchen and garage, a hub for experimenting with various fragrances, wax blends, packaging and more. Before long, Laguna Candles emerged as a premiere Black and woman-owned business, now enjoyed globally at the finest luxury hotels, spas and specialty stores with thousands of hand-poured, bespoke candles sold around the country and beyond.

The company has weathered storms, including intentional efforts from a sizeable retail company to diminish Laguna Candles’ trademark rights. Laguna Candles was victorious in United States trademark court and has been supported by retailers including Amazon to only sell the original Laguna Candles line. Founder Sharie Hendricks calls the experience harrowing and is now focused on the future of the company and sharing their journey with other entrepreneurs.

“We are proud to celebrate the 20-year mark as a family-run Black and woman-owned business,” Hendricks says. “We fought hard to protect what we’ve

EDWARD G. GARDNER Continued

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that it would create a job for someone else.” That was the clarion call for us all.

“My dad lived the formula for his success. He believed that with access to opportunity, hard work, a quality education and safe neighborhoods, there is nothing we can’t achieve. He walked his talk and cared passionately about his beloved community,” concluded Terri.

Dismayed by the level of violence in the community, in the 1980s he created the non-profit organization, Black On Black Love. He firmly believed promoting self-love and self-respect could change hearts, and the organization created No Crime Day to celebrate those principles and promote peace. It expanded its offerings to a myriad of social services including after-school programs and employment training. Throughout the decades, Ed’s faith in God and humanity, and his belief in the power of the written word to stop the violence, persisted. In 2007, after 16-year-old Blair Holt was shot and killed while riding the bus home from school, Ed Gardner purchased thousands of dollars’ worth of billboards with messages about Black-on-Black Love.

His and his wife’s love of theater inspired him

built. Even when it was tough and our trademark case went on for years, we did not stop. With much prayer and perseverance, we prevailed. We hope to inspire other business owners that when faced with Goliath-like obstacles, be prepared and determined not to let it break you.”

Throughout the past two decades, Laguna Candles has made its mark with accessible and sustainable luxury, personalized customer service and bespoke, quality candles across North America, Europe, Asia and other markets.

The company is well positioned for the next chapter of success with three generations of the family working in the business, which includes the company’s founder Sharie, her husband Clarence who acts as both Sales Director and Lead Artisan, their three daughters, granddaughter, son-inlaw and additional staff.

This year Laguna Candles will celebrate its 20th anniversary with several special events and surprises for their loyal customer base.

Started and run by a Black family of entrepreneurs – Laguna Candles is the culmination of five generations of African American entrepreneurs. As the granddaughter of two entrepreneurs, founder Sharie Hendricks always desired to run her business - and give her three daughters the option of entrepreneurship. “From the first day we opened Laguna Candles for business we have remained committed to

our vision of luxury products with sustainable ingredients,” Hendricks shares. She started the company with a love of candles, no experience making them and support from her husband Clarence. The family learned along the way - turning their kitchen into a candle factory before growth led them to their bustling headquarters. They have produced thousands of candles, and continue to grow.

Sought after and featured by ELLE Decor, Allure, Ellen DeGeneres and more– Laguna Candles has proven itself as an industry favorite in home and luxury having been featured by many media outlets including ELLE Decor, New York Magazine, the Los Angeles Times, Allure and more. With its private label candle services, the company works closely with entrepreneurs at every stage from new founders to household names to provide candles, including creating 16,000 candles for Ellen DeGeneres’ Be Kind candle collection.

Survived a Trademark Attack with Trial Victory– The Hendricks Family faced every entrepreneur’s worst nightmare: a large company trying to attack your brand. After three years of litigation, the United States Patent and Trademark Office upheld the Hendricks family company’s trademark rights, and its registration is now incontestable.

Founded in 2003 by Sharie Hendricks, Laguna Candles creates luxuriously scented, hand-poured candles that can be enjoyed globally at the finest luxury hotels, spas and specialty stores. A Black and woman-owned, family run business, Laguna Candles is the culmination of five generations of entrepreneurs. As a certified Green Business, the company prides itself on its commitment to a sustainable environment and has provided private label candle collections, hotels and businesses. All products are made with a proprietary blend of natural waxes and essential oils of the highest quality.

Learn more and view the entire Laguna Candles collection at www.lagunacandles.com.

to re-create one of Chicago’s most historic entertainment venues, the Regal Theater. The New Regal Theater brought major acts like Gladys Knight and newcomers like Kanye West and Tyler Perry to audiences on the city’s South Side. In 2000, Ed converted an 84,600 sq. ft. warehouse at 95th & Cottage Grove into House of Kicks, a family entertainment and educational complex. With amusement rides, bowling, mini-golf and an interactive learning center, the complex boasted the only roller coaster in Chicago at that time.

In the 1980s, Ed and his wife Bettiann became co-owners of the Chicago Bulls basketball team, cementing their love for Chicago and its award-winning franchise. He served on the boards of Chicago United and The Chicago Urban League.

In September 2012, at the age of eighty-seven, Edward Gardner led over a thousand demonstrators protesting the lack of Black workers on local construction crews. Ed Gardner proudly walked arm-inarm at the front of the line with his long-time colleagues, Manford Byrd, Lerone Bennett and Timuel Black.

A lifelong resident of Chicago, Edward George

Gardner was born February 15, 1925, in the city’s West Chesterfield neighborhood to Frank Gardner and Eva (Brown) Gardner. He and his older brother, Frank, graduated from Fenger High School. After serving in the US Army in World War II, Ed earned his B.A. from Chicago Teachers’ College and an M.A. in Education from The University of Chicago. He pursued a career in education and worked part-time selling beauty supplies to local hair salons. In 1964, he and his wife Bettiann started hair care company, Soft Sheen Products.

For more than half a century, the family has shared their husband, father, father-in- law, uncle, grandfather, and great-grandfather proudly and unselfishly with the world. And now his work is done; he belongs to the ages. He leaves a legend of love and a powerful life for the world to remember. Words of remembrance and condolences are invited at Edward Gardner In Memoriam Facebook Group page https:// www.facebook.com/groups/3117330031746372

A private family service is planned. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Chicago State University, https://www.csu.edu/foundation/donate.htm

Please note: In Memory of Edward Gardner

Founder Sharie Hendricks, her husband Clarence, their daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter. Laguna Candles.

Aetna Better Health® of Illinois Receives NCQA Health Equity Accreditation

DOWNERS GROVE, Ill., – Aetna Better Health of Illinois®, a CVS Health® company (NYSE: CVS), was awarded Health Equity Accreditation from The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA).

“Our team is committed to advancing health equity and ensuring our members have access and availability of health care resources,” said Rushil Desai, CEO, Aetna Better Health of Illinois. “Earning NCQA’s Health Equity Accreditation underscores our work to provide diverse populations with access to personalized care and a simplified health care experience.”

NCQA awards accreditation to organizations that meet or exceed its rigorous requirements for health equity. NCQA’s Health Equity Accreditation evaluates how well an organization complies with standards in the following areas:

· Organizational readiness

· Race/ethnicity, language, gender identity and sexual orientation

· Access and availability of language services

· Practitioner network cultural responsiveness

· Culturally and linguistically appropriate services programs

· Reducing health care disparities

“Earning Health Equity Accreditation shows that an organization is making a breakthrough in providing excellent health care to diverse populations. I congratulate any organization that achieves this level of distinction,” said NCQA President Margaret E. O’Kane. “Eliminating racial and ethnic disparities in health care is essential to improving the quality of care overall.”

The NCQA Health Equity Accreditation for Aetna Better Health of Illinois is valid until December 2025.

One of the ways Aetna Better Health of Illinois has been working to improve the health of under-resourced communities in the state is by leading more than 100 statewide COVID-19 vaccination distribution and education efforts. Aetna Better Health of Illinois collaborated with the state in a COVID-19 vaccine incentive campaign, which included reward cards and outreach to members. Aetna analyzed population health data to establish priority areas of focus based on vaccination status and hard to reach populations.

In 2022, the COVID-19 vaccination rate among Aetna Better Health of Illinois members, age 12 and up, increased from 29.4% overall to 48.4%.

Aetna Better Health of Illinois offers access to

CHICAGO NONPROFIT SHOWING YOUTH A WORLD OUTSIDE AUSTIN’S NEIGHBORHOOD

After gun violence in Chicago stole her grandson from her grip just days after his 18th birthday, Crystal Dyer knew she must do everything in her power to keep others from such unbearable grief. Soon after, she set her sights on Chicago’s Austin neighborhood just steps from where her grandson Devin was killed and set up shop. In 2015, Chicago Austin Youth Travel Adventures, Inc. (CAYTA), was born out of a grandmother’s grief. Today, the organization is thriving, reaching at-risk children, youth, and young adults through a variety of programs aimed at showing them a world outside their neighborhood, a world many have never seen.

“After I lost my grandson to gun violence in Chicago, I vowed to do everything within my power to ensure no other family experiences such a tragedy. Through CAYTA, we can get our youth off the streets and show them the world on an international stage,” says Crystal Dyer, Founder, and CEO of Chicago Austin Youth Travel Adventures, Inc.

Why travel? That was an easy decision for Dyer. An accredited and Certified Travel Advisor (CTA), she opened the first African American-owned travel agency in Chicago Austin’s community where she also resides. Every year, she takes youth and young adults aged 14-23 on a genealogy journey through their family’s roots at the city’s 15th police district. The big payoff, a chance to travel to Ghana, Africa, where their ancestors once lived. This year’s trip is set for July 30th through August 11th.

In addition to CAYTA’s popular genealogy program, the nonprofit also runs a Teen Reach Afterschool Program. The program is offered six days a week and allows youth aged 11-17 to receive help with their studies in a safe environment at Dyer’s travel agency, Gone Again Travel & Tours.

For those looking for job training, CAYTA along with Choose Chicago offers workforce training for youth interested in its’ tour guide program which will also be teaming up with the Obama Presidential Library once it’s complete. In addition, a community clean campaign offers stipends to youth who embody pride and teamwork while working to reduce crime in their neighborhood.

“Our goal through the workforce training program is to show kids that there are other ways of making money instead of selling drugs,” adds Dyer. “The payoff for me? The success stories. One young man came to me and said, ‘Ms. Crystal, my whole family was selling drives but now I am driving a bus for the city, thanks to you.’ If I can change just even one life, that is what gets me up in the morning.”

For more information about CAYTA, visit their website at: https://www. caytaworld.org/.

quality, affordable health care to individuals through the state’s HealthChoice Illinois Medicaid program. The health plan serves over 420,000 members in 102 counties. For more information about Aetna Better Health® of Illinois, visit our website, www. aetnabetterhealth.com/illinois-medicaid.

Aetna Medicaid Administrators LLC (Aetna Medicaid), a CVS Health company, has over 30 years of experience managing the care of the most medically vulnerable, using innovative approaches and a local presence in each market to achieve both successful health care results and effective cost outcomes. Aetna Medicaid has particular expertise serving high-need Medicaid members, including those who are dually eligible for Medicaid and Medicare. Currently, Aetna Medicaid owns and/or administers Medicaid managed health care plans under the names of Aetna Better Health and other affiliate names. Together, these plans serve approximately 2.8 million people in 16 states, including Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia. For more information, see www. aetnabetterhealth.com.

MARIE CLAIRE LAUNCHES IDENTITY ISSUE WITH PARTNERS NORDSTROM AND BANK OF AMERICA

NEW YORK, PRNewswire

-- Global digital publishing

powerhouse Future Publishing announced that Marie Claire’s Identity Issue just went live across Marie Claire’s digital platforms and is available on newsstands. This issue’s theme explores the complexities of what identity means in 2023, whether that means changing, reinventing, or even losing who you are.

“With this issue, I want to give readers the space to think about how they define themselves,” said Sally Holmes, Editor-in-chief of Marie Claire US. “Our editors went into the metaverse, found a group of senior citizens you’ll want to take fashion advice from, got real with women about how money affects their self-worth—all to explore how different parts of our lives influence who we are and how the world sees us. And who better to demonstrate that than our amazing star, Kerry Washington, who is prioritizing herself as the lead

character of her own story after making a career out of being other people.”

Look for deep-dive stories into the ramifications of being able to choose your virtual identity, an essay from a New York Times bestselling author about what it means to share your truth with others, an interview with a lawyer who defends victims of online identity theft, and pages of beautiful fashion that show how clothes play a huge role in self-expression.

Nordstrom and Bank of America have partnered with Marie Claire for the Identity Issue.

“We’re excited to be partnering with Marie Claire as they introduce their Identity Issue,” shares Betsy Poirier, VP, Digital Marketing & CRM, at Nordstrom, Inc. “We have long believed in the value of self-expression and celebrating people for being exactly who they are. This Issue shares insightful stories

St. John Announces Shonda Rhimes in #OwnYourPower for Spring 2023 Campaign

IRVINE, Calif., PRNewswire -- After six decades of dressing the world’s most esteemed women, St. John proudly introduces the #OwnYourPower campaign featuring Shonda Rhimes to celebrate a unique sisterhood of incredible women doing extraordinary things. The partnership coincides with St. John’s Spring 2023 Collection, a new season of great American design from the iconic knitwear fashion house.

The St. John brand has grown through evolving trends, social moments, and changes in creative direction. The company is successful because women love, trust, and rely on the brand’s apparel and accessories to help them feel confident, polished, and ready for anything. St. John’s elegant, timeless, easy-to-wear pieces with unsurpassed quality and craftsmanship enable women to feel their best every day. This focus on empowerment resonates deeply with Rhimes, who embodies this philosophy as she gracefully navigates personal and professional demands in style.

Rhimes is an award-winning television creator, producer, author, and CEO of Shondaland. She was the first woman to create three television dramas that hit the 100-episode milestone and has produced award-winning shows such as Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal, How to Get Away with Murder, Bridgerton, and Inventing Anna. Other accolades include a New York Times bestseller, Year of Yes, a Peabody award, and an induction into the Television Academy Hall of Fame. As a CEO, mother, and storyteller, she is a powerful force in a competitive, male-dominated, industry, brilliantly reflecting the world through powerful narratives and captivating characters.

A longtime fan of St. John, Rhimes has gravitated to the chic, comfortable designs so she can effortlessly dress for her busiest days, feeling focused

and confident. Like all St. John women, she makes each look her own, adding her unique perspective to each outfit. After Rhimes selected a St. John sweater for her cover of TIME Magazine, conversations began about women’s empowerment and the collaboration was organically born.

Global CEO Andy Lew shared, “We believe Shonda represents St. John so well. As a loyal client she was an organic brand ambassador, and through her career she perfectly represents what all our clients do. St. John is more than a fashion label, we are growing, supporting, and uniting a network of incredible woman doing extraordinary things. Our clothes empower global audiences and Shonda does the same.”

Rhimes added, “St John is a brand that I have worn and loved for years. It’s rare to find clothes that are this comfortable and well-made. I can look professional while feeling relaxed enough to be creative. Discovering the motivation behind this partnership and the discussion around connection to women’s empowerment was exciting, and made the choice to align with St. John a simple one for me.”

St. John is an American luxury house founded in 1962 on the premise of a simple, elegant, and versatile knit dress. The brand has evolved over the years, but the foundation of the collection remains the same today as it did from the very start – great American design, understated and timeless elegance, unsurpassed quality, and craftsmanship. The company, headquartered in Southern California, employs more than 1,000 people and is vertically integrated with workshops, stores, and offices around the world. Its collections are sold in high-end specialty retailers in 16 countries, 49 St. John stores and through the brand’s ecommerce site stjohnknits.com. Instagram:

of real people who are bravely navigating their own identities and sharing what they’ve learned along the way. We’re honored to be a part of it.”

“We are very excited to partner with Marie Claire on their Identity Issue, which highlights the significance of individuality and self-expression in business ownership,” said Carol Lee Mitchell, Head of Small Business Strategy at Bank of America. “We’re thrilled this issue shares stories of small business owners and those in the industry who challenged the status quo, embraced their identities and positioned themselves for success. We believe in empowering our clients and teammates to define themselves and unleash their potential as leaders.”

MarieClaire.com is committed to celebrating the richness and scope of women’s lives. The digital platform is known for its award-winning features, thoughtful essays and op-eds, deep commitment to sustainable fashion, and buzzy interviews and reviews. Reaching millions of women every month, MarieClaire.com is an internationally-recognized destination for celebrity news, fashion trends, beauty recommendations, and renowned investigative packages. For more information, visit www.marieclaire. com

@StJohn Lanvin Group, formerly known as Fosun Fashion Group, is the leading global luxury fashion group rooted in China, managing iconic brands worldwide including Lanvin, Sergio Rossi, Wolford, St. John Knits, and Caruso. Harnessing the power of its unique strategic alliance of industry-leading partners in the luxury fashion sector, Lanvin Group strives to expand the global footprint of its portfolio brands and achieve sustainable growth with strategic investments, operational support, and an intimate understanding of the fastest-growing luxury fashion markets in the world.

Kerry Washington cover for Marie Claire Identity Issue March 2023. PRNewsfoto/ Future Publishing.

PRNewsFoto

Biden-Harris administration launches initiative to promote equal opportunity for federally funded jobs

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor announced the launch of an initiative to promote equal opportunity by federal contractors in the construction trades on large federally funded projects, helping to bring more underrepresented communities into the workforce as the President’s agenda to Invest in America continues creating millions of good-paying jobs.

Established by the department’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, the newly launched “Mega Construction Project Program” will focus the agency’s efforts to bring the public and private sectors together on a select group of projects known as “Megaprojects” to provide a diverse pool of qualified workers with access to good jobs in the construction trades. Megaprojects are large federal construction projects valued at $35 million or more – some part of which must be federal funding – and that last more than one year.

For the initial group of designated Megaprojects, OFCCP will partner with the General Services Administration and the Department of Transportation – two Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding agencies – and provide extensive and no-cost compliance assistance to contractors and subcontractors to strengthen recruitment, hiring, and fair employment practices, with a particular focus on getting more underrepresented communities, including women, into the construction workforce.

For each Megaproject, OFCCP will provide free, continuous, on-the-ground assistance to help project owners with stakeholder outreach and information sharing, providing connections to recruitment sources

in the community so that projects can fully use the local workforce to get the needed talent. From the earliest stages of a designated Megaproject, OFCCP will engage a wide range of stakeholders in the community – including worker advocates, community-based organizations, and local recruitment sources – to remove barriers to opportunity and foster strong connections and build trust with the community. In addition, OFCCP will conduct compliance reviews to evaluate contractors’ anti-discrimination and equal opportunity practices.

The Mega Construction Project Program supports the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to building the middle class from the bottom up and middle out by advancing accessible pathways for all workers to the construction trades. In doing this work, OFCCP supports successful implementation of the administration’s historic investments made in the BIL, CHIPS and Science Act, and Inflation Reduction Act by aiding construction contractors in recruiting, hiring, and retaining all available talent to advance the success of infrastructure projects across the nation. Megaprojects are a key tool that help create entry into good, family-sustaining careers for underrepresented workers, like women, who are more likely to be concentrated in low-wage work. By providing women with access to good-paying construction jobs and helping to create equitable workplaces where they can advance, the Mega Construction Project Program will help close gender and racial wage gaps.

This announcement follows actions announced on Feb. 28, 2023, by the Department of Commerce to help expand opportunities for women in the semiconductor

manufacturing and construction workforces by better meeting families’ child care needs. To meet increased demand for chip manufacturing and construction labor, the Commerce Department announced that companies seeking more than $150 million in direct funding from the CHIPS Incentives Program, authorized by the CHIPS and Science Act, must submit a plan to provide access to childcare that reflects the childcare needs of their workers in communities where they plan to build. The Department of Labor’s Good Jobs Initiative and Women’s Bureau supported the Commerce Department to make this requirement actionable for grantees.

OFCCP looks forward to designating more Megaprojects in the future, potentially including projects funded by the Department of Commerce through the CHIPS and Science Act, and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law projects funded by the Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency. The robust participation in this program by a range of federal agencies demonstrates the whole-of-government approach that the Biden-Harris administration is taking to combat discrimination and advance equal opportunity for all communities.

“Right now, America is taking on some of the most ambitious infrastructure projects in living memory, and we cannot succeed if we leave any talent on the table,” said Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg. “The infrastructure we’re building today will strengthen our economy, keep our citizens safe, and create a generation of good jobs that can lift millions to new levels of prosperity and financial security.”

Mega Construction Project Program joins public, private sectors to remove barriers for underrepresented communities in the construction workforce

Illinois Earns Credit Upgrade from Moody’s Investor Service

Illinois’ Eighth Credit Upgrade and Second Major Rating Agency to Return Illinois to ‘A’ Category Under Gov. Pritzker

SPRINGFIELD -- Governor JB Pritzker

hailed Moody’s Investor Service upgrade of Illinois bonds to A3, the second major rating agency to return Illinois’ credit to the ‘A’ category. The action also represents the eighth upgrade in less than two years under Governor Pritzker following eight downgrades under the previous administration.

The continued fiscal progress by the state of Illinois was achieved due to continued strong fiscal leadership by Governor Pritzker and Democrats in the General Assembly.

Moody’s said Illinois’ improving governance was a key consideration in the action. “We consider improving governance to be a key consideration in this action.” Illinois, it said, is “displaying improved management of its budget by making conservative revenue assumptions and applying surplus revenue towards the payment of debt and growth in reserves.”

“This credit upgrade, our second one this year, is the result of the steps we’ve taken in Illinois to put ourselves on firm fiscal footing. We have balanced our budget, paid our bills on time, cleared out decades

of debt, made extra pension payments, and saved billions for a rainy day,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “There’s more work to be done, but it’s clear we have undone decades of damage and ushered a new era of fiscal responsibility in Illinois. I look forward to building on this record by working with the General Assembly to pass the state’s fifth straight balanced budget later this spring.”

Moody’s Investor Service announced a ratings upgrade to A3 (stable outlook) from Baa1 for Illinois’ General Obligation bonds, its third upgrade of Illinois’ bonds since June 2021. The last time Illinois had an A3 rating from Moody’s was prior to September 2015. Moody’s also upgraded Build Illinois sales tax bonds to A3 (stable outlook) from Baa3 (stable outlook).

S&P Global Ratings announced a ratings upgrade to A- for Illinois’ General Obligation bonds last month, its third upgrade of Illinois’ bonds since July 2021. Fitch Ratings upgraded Illinois’ bonds by two notches last spring, the first Fitch upgrade for Illinois’ General Obligation bonds since June 2000. Illinois received two upgrades from Moody’s Investor Service

in two separate actions in April 2022 and June 2021.

The upgrades follow the unveiling of the Governor Pritzker’s proposed fiscal year 2024 budget which builds on four years of historic progress with balanced budgets, a Budget Stabilization Fund on track to hit $2.3 billion, elimination of the state’s bill backlog and reaching $1 trillion GDP. The proposed spending plan maintains the Governor’s commitment to fiscal responsibility while growing Illinois into an economic powerhouse and making transformative, generational investments in education and efforts to fight poverty.

The rating of a state’s bonds is a measure of their credit quality. A higher bond rating generally means the state can borrow at a lower interest rate, saving taxpayers millions of dollars.

Between 2015 and 2017, the State of Illinois suffered eight credit rating downgrades and sat at the top of many analysts’ lists of the worst managed states in the nation. At its worst, Illinois’ bill backlog hit nearly $17 billion.

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GOSPEL

GREATS TAMELA AND DAVID MANN AND DR. BOBBY JONES TO BE HONORED AT THE 2023 BMI TRAILBLAZERS OF GOSPEL MUSIC AWARDS

ATLANTA, PRNewswire -- BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc.) will honor Gospel superstars Tamela and David Mann and Dr. Bobby Jones at its 22nd Annual Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards to be held at Flourish Atlanta on March 30th. The inspirational ceremony will recognize the impact that the three legendary entertainers have made on the genre and beyond and pay tribute to the songwriters and publishers behind the best in Gospel music. The private event will be hosted by BMI President & CEO Mike O’Neill and BMI Vice President, Creative, Atlanta, Catherine Brewton.

“BMI is thrilled to be back in Atlanta celebrating the best in Gospel music,” said Brewton. “We’re extremely proud to honor powerhouse couple Tamela and David Mann for their incredible contributions to the Gospel community, the enduring legacy of Dr. Bobby Jones and the songwriters and publishers behind the top Gospel songs of the previous year. Through song and praise, they deliver inspirational messages of hope, faith and goodwill to music lovers around the world.

We feel truly blessed to bring these trailblazers together in fellowship and celebrate their creative works.”

Throughout the ceremony, BMI will also recognize the songwriters, producers and music publishers of the past year’s 25 most-performed Gospel songs in the United States.

The BMI Gospel Song, Songwriter and Publisher of the Year will also be named during the event.

Together, Tamela and David Mann have become staples in the Gospel community and have flourished across radio, television, film and stages around the world. The iconic couple began their professional music careers in the ‘90s after joining the Gospel group Kirk Franklin and the Family and toured the globe. They went on to develop successful solo careers and joint ventures as a couple in music and beyond, creating Tillymann Entertainment in 2005, a home for all of their many projects in entertainment. In 2018, David and Tamela released Us Against the World, their first collaborative album as a duo. The companion book of that album won an NAACP Image® Award for Outstanding Literary Work, and the album’s singles have topped the charts, including the Urban AC track “Ups & Downs.” Most recently, The Manns embarked on the acclaimed “Overcomer Family Tour,” a mixture of music and comedy, featuring their son David Jr, and their daughters La’Tia and Tiffany Mann.

As a solo artist, Tamela has released six studio albums and has received a GRAMMY Award, BET Award, Billboard Music Award and multiple NAACP Image, Stellar Gospel Music and GMA Dove Awards. She was also the first Gospel lead artist in Billboard Gospel radio chart history to score three consecutive No.1 singles from her

album Best Days. Beyond music, The Manns have appeared in numerous Tyler Perry plays, films and television shows, including I Can Do Bad All By Myself, Meet the Browns and Madea Goes to Jail, among others, and the pair also starred in their own sitcom, Mann & Wife, and the docuseries, It’s a Mann’s World.

In addition, the esteemed singer, TV host and radio broadcaster Dr. Bobby Jones will be celebrated, honoring his illustrious career spanning more than 40 years. For more than 35 years, he was the host of Bobby Jones Gospel on BET, which was the highest rated show on the network and longest running original cable show in history. Jones is credited for giving Yolanda Adams, Kirk Franklin, Mary Mary and many others their first national exposure on television.

An established Gospel singer and songwriter, Jones has received a GRAMMY Award for Best Soul Gospel Performance by a Duo or Group in 1984 for “I’m So Glad I’m Standing Here Today” with Barbara Mandrell. He has also received a Dove Award, three Stellar Awards and a presidential commendation from President George W. Bush, among several other awards and accolades. He currently serves as a UNICEF Ambassador and was inducted into the Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame (BMEWOF) in February 2023.

Celebrating over 80 years of service to songwriters, composers, music publishers and businesses, Broadcast Music, Inc.® (BMI®) is a global leader in music rights management, serving as an advocate for the value of music. BMI represents the public performance rights in over 20.6 million musical works created and owned by more than 1.3 million songwriters, composers, and music publishers. The Company negotiates music license agreements and distributes the fees it generates as royalties to its affiliated writers and publishers when their songs are performed in public. In 1939, BMI created a groundbreaking open-door policy becoming the only performing rights organization to welcome and represent the creators of blues, jazz, country, and American roots music. Today, the musical compositions in BMI’s repertoire, from chart toppers to perennial favorites, span all genres of music and are consistently among the most-performed hits of the year. For additional information and the latest BMI news, visit bmi.com, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @BMI or stay connected through Broadcast Music, Inc.’s Facebook page. Sign up for BMI’s The Weekly™ and receive our e-newsletter every week to stay up to date on all things music.

For more information on the BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards, visit www.bmi.com/ genres/gospel and use hashtag #BMIGospel on social.

CHICAGO – When one is a true and genuine king of comedy, it doesn’t ever have to be glaringly declared or announced. These singular talents tend just quietly assume their thrones leveraging hard work, raw skill and dues paid, and rule the scene without all of the noise and fanfare.

One real king of comedy in our midst, blazing a path to success that is uniquely all his own is actor, comedian and renowned impressionist “Reggie Reg.” Although his ascent to the heights of legend has been a relatively calm and measured one, those who are most knowledgeable about him know that the last laugh will be all his.

Granted, there are no overnight successes in show business, but Reggie Reg is one person who has been consistently yet selectively working the comedy and acting circuits large and small for many years now, charting a respected name for himself across the entertainment world. Iconic greats such as television talk-show legend David Letterman sing his praises, as he has twice appeared on Letterman’s top-rated former show, “Late Night.”

Reg additionally has appeared in films, most notably the critically acclaimed biopic Remember the Titans, and on the small stage in theatre productions that have cast him alongside celebrated actors Billy Dee Williams, Leon and other luminary thespians. Born in Chicago but reared in Brookhaven, Mississippi, Reg began his career progression at the tender age of six when he won a local talent show impersonating the late comic impresario Flip Wilson.

Further developing and honing his act from that point, he went on to create unforgettable impressions of characters he saw on some of the popular television sitcoms of the time, such as “Sanford & Son,” “Starsky & Hutch” and numerous others. The gifted actor and comic though he certainly was, it was his impressions that quickly emerged to become his bread and butter, mesmerizing audiences from coast to coast.

Today, he is most widely revered for his expansive repertoire of over 60 depictions of characters that would be the hardest for most to faithfully mimic. Namely, Academy Award-winning actors Denzel Washington, Morgan Freeman and Al Pacino, Presidents Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, George Bush, Ronald Reagan and Donald Trump, former California Governor and seven-time Mr. Olympia Arnold Schwarzenegger, fellow comics Chris Rock, Chris Tucker and the late Bernie Mack, several a-list broadcast media personalities and others too numerous to list.

Since first bringing the house down on Letterman, Reg has scored unforgettable guest appearances on BET’s “Comic View” and HBO’s “The Bad Boys of Comedy,” plus he’s become a virtual household name on the comedic circuits in Chicago, throughout the Midwest and across the United States. He has performed at such career-important comedic venues as Chris Tucker’s Comedy Café, the Uptown Comedy Corner and Punch Line Comedy Club in Atlanta, as well as Los Angeles’ Comedy Union, The Laugh Factory and The Improv.

Nonetheless, as the late John Witherspoon used to say, “You can’t stop there; you’ve got to keep going.” Currently, Reggie Reg, a self-described “urban cowboy” is keeping himself as busy as ever. He’s staying fully engaged in perfecting his craft, including working on developing a series of film shorts, studying and creating film scene reenactments, recording monologues and audio books and vetting more stand-up comedy and acting opportunities that continue to come his way nationwide.

“Reggie Reg” (Muhammad) is one of the nation’s foremost and most revered African American impressionists, and acting and comedic stage talents. He is currently available for large-scale special guest appearances, corporate and business functions, voiceover opportunities and is reviewing scripts, sponsorship and endorsement proposals for calendar year 2023-24. For more information on Reggie Reg, please visit his website, and be sure to connect with him on his Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok pages.

Towering stage and screen comedic talent is one of Chicago’s finest exports, with an uncanny flair for also delivering spot-on impressions

2023 BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Music honorees Tamela & David Mann and Dr. Bobby Jones. PRNewsfoto/Broadcast Music, Inc.

Photo provided by Ronnie E. Childs

cookcountyclerkil.gov

OFFICIAL NOTICE OF ELECTION, CONTESTS,REFERENDA/QUESTIONS OF PUBLIC POLICY & POLLING PLACES

AVISO OFICIAL DE ELECCIONES, CONTIENDAS ELECTORALES, REFERENDOS/CUESTIONES DE POLÍTICA PÚBLICA Y LUGARES DE VOTACIÓN

OFFICIAL NOTICE: IS HERBY GIVEN, by Karen A. Yarbrough, Cook

County Clerk

that the Consolidated Election will be held in Suburban Cook County on:

Tuesday, April 4, 2023

Martes 4 de Abril 2023

The Consolidated Election will be held in election precincts under the jurisdiction of the Election Division of the Cook County Clerk's Office.

La Elección consolidada se llevará a cabo en distritos electorales dentro de la jurisdicción de la División de Elecciones de la Oficina del Secretario del Condado de Cook.

The Polls for said Consolidated Election will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Locations are subject to change as necessity requires. En dicha Elección consolidada se podrá votar entre las 6 a.m. y las 7 p.m. Los lugares de votación están sujetos a cambios según la necesidad.

At the Consolidated Election the voters will vote on the following contests and referenda questions. Referenda/Questions of Public Policy will be voted upon in those precincts of Cook County under the jurisdiction of the Cook County Clerk in which a Unit of Local Government has requested the County Clerk’s Office to place said referenda/questions of public policy on the ballot.

En la Elección consolidada, los votantes emitirán su voto en las siguientes contiendas electorales y preguntas de referendos. Los referendos/cuestiones de política pública serán votados en aquellos distritos electorales del Condado de Cook dentro de la jurisdicción del Secretario del Condado de Cook en los cuales una Unidad de gobierno local le haya solicitado a la Oficina del Secretario del Condado que incluya en la boleta dichos referendos/cuestiones de política pública.

TOWNSHIP OF THORNTON

EducationUnexpired 2-Year Term Vote for One Lansing School District 158

Member of the Board of EducationFull 4-Year TermVote for not more than Three Brookwood School District 167

Member of the Board of EducationUnexpired 2-Year TermVote for not more than Two Brookwood School District 167 Member of the Board of EducationFull 4-Year TermVote for not more than Three Thornton Township High School District 205Member of the Board of EducationFull 4-Year TermVote for not more than Three Thornton Fractional Township High School Dis. 215

of the Board of EducationFull 4-Year TermVote for not more than Three Homewood-Flossmoor Community High School Dist. 233

of the Board of EducationFull 4-Year Term Vote for not more than Four South Suburban Community College District 510Member of the Board of TrusteesFull 6-Year TermVote for not more than Three South Suburban Community College District 510Member of the Board of TrusteesUnexpired 4-Year Term Vote for One Prairie State Community College District 515Member of the Board of TrusteesFull 6-Year TermVote for not more than Three Bloom Township 35N, Range 14E Township School Trustee Full 6-Year Term Vote for One Thornton Township 36N, Range 14E Township School Trustee Full 6-Year Term Vote for One Thornton Fractional 36N, Range 15E Township School Trustee FractionalFull 6-Year Term Vote for One

continued from previous page

OFFICIAL NOTICE OF REFERENDA/QUESTIONS OF PUBLIC POLICY

OFFICIAL NOTICE OF POLLING PLACES

The voting will be conducted at the following polling places for each of the aforesaid election precincts selected by the Cook County Clerk. Las votaciones tomaran lugar en cada de los antedichos precintos de elección seleccionados por el Cook County Clerk.

NOTE: The letter (N) following the polling place address denotes that the polling place itself is not accessible to the handicapped although other parts of the facility may be accessible. An exemption has been granted by the State Board of Elections and signs are posted indicating if the whole building is accessible or if there is a special entrance.

NOTA: La letra (N) después de la dirección de un lugar de votación indica que el lugar de votación en sí mismo no es accesible para personas discapacitadas, aunque otras partes del edificio pueden ser accesibles. La Junta Electoral del Estado ha concedido una exención y hay carteles publicados que indican si todo el edificio es accesible o si hay una entrada especial.

Dated at Chicago, Illinois this 23rd day of March 2023

Karen A. Yarbrough Cook County Clerk cookcountyclerkil.gov

Harold Colbert Jones Memorial Community Center Receives $13,500 Grant from Comcast to Support Digital Skills Training, Upgrades to its “Lift Zone”

Chicago Heights, IL (March 16, 2023) – Comcast joined Illinois Second Congressional District Representative Robin Kelly, Chicago Heights, IL, Mayor David Gonzalez and Cook County District 5 Commissioner Monica Gordon today to announce a $13,500 donation to the Harold Colbert Jones Memorial Community Center to support digital skills and workforce development training. The grant also was used to purchase new furniture and additional technology at the organization’s “Lift Zone,” which Comcast opened onsite in January 2021. Lift Zones are WiFi-connected safe spaces where students can get online to do schoolwork and adults can get online to build digital skills, search forjobs and access an array of services.

Comcast also announced the donation of 75 new laptops to the Jones Center, as well as Mentoring Youth Through Technology and Southland Ministerial Health Network, as part of its ongoing efforts to promote digital equity in South Suburban Cook County. The initiatives in Cook County stem from Project UP, the company’s $1 billion, 10-year commitment to making digital equity a reality.

“I appreciate Comcast’s continued investment in our south suburban communities and its long-term efforts to close the digital divide,” said Illinois Second Congressional District Representative Robin Kelly. “Partnerships between government, community-based organizations and the private sector are critical to making digital equity a reality across our state.”

“Digital equity is one of the most pressing

current social justice issues,” said Jones Center Executive Director Cheryl Roop. “Comcast’s continued support will help the kids and families we serve succeed in today’s increasingly digital world.”

The Jones Center Lift Zone is one of more than 1,250 Lift Zones throughout the country and more than 90 in this region alone. Other South Suburban Lift Zones are located at the Cornerstone Community Development Corporation in Ford Heights and the Richton Park Public Library. The Lift Zones complement Comcast’s Internet Essentials program, a low-cost Internet adoption program for low-income families, which has helped more than 10 million people in America –1.6 million in Illinois – connect to the Internet at

Comcast donates 75 laptops across three south suburban community-based organizations

home since it was launched in 2011.

“Through Internet Essentials and our partnerships with elected officials, school districts, libraries and community-based organizations across the state, Comcast has helped hundreds of thousands of Illinois households cross the digital divide,” said Carl Jones, Jr., Comcast’s Regional Vice President of Government and External Affairs. “I’m proud that Comcast was a pioneer in closing the digital divide early on and continues to make investments and offer solutions that further our commitment to the communities we serve through Project UP.”

Jones also noted that the federal “Affordable Connectivity Program” (ACP) provides eligible low-income households a credit up to $30 a month toward the cost of their Internet and/or mobile phone service, including all of Comcast’s Xfinity Internet and Xfinity Mobile plans, as well as Internet Essentials. Jones added that ACP would cover the full cost of Internet Essentials. For more information, visit www.xfinity.com/acp.

Lift Zones connect students to the Internet for schoolwork and adults to the Internet to build digitalskills

Plant-Forward Picnic Recipes Perfect for Spring

(Family Features) Between the welcome warmth of the sun’s rays and a nearly universal desire to get outdoors, springtime is a beloved season for enjoying an al fresco meal. Add in fresh produce to heighten the flavors of family favorites and the table is set for a delicious picnic.

Whether your warm-weather adventures take you to a nearby park, a neighbor’s patio or simply your own backyard, satisfying those spring cravings often starts with plant-forward dishes. From tomatoes and onions to mushrooms, Brussels sprouts and other fruits and veggies, you can rely on Mother Nature to give picnic recipes a boost.

For example, these fresh ideas from Aramark’s Feed Your Potential program offer easy solutions to take your loved ones outdoors for a meal all can enjoy. As a popular springtime lunch, sandwiches provide the opportunity to customize servings according to each person’s preferences.

These Portobello Mozzarella Sandwiches are a plant-forward version loaded with grilled mushrooms, fresh mozzarella, pesto mayo, arugula and a balsamic glaze on ciabatta rolls. For an added touch of freshness, a homemade tomato bruschetta topping combines tomatoes, red onions, basil and more to capitalize on a peak produce season.

No picnic is complete without a side that perfectly complements the main course. For a delicious solution that’s fast and easy to make, try a new twist on an al fresco classic: coleslaw. A healthy accompaniment to the sandwiches, this Apricot Brussels Sprouts Coleslaw is an ideal spring dish that calls for less than 10 ingredients and requires simple prep so you can make it fresh before heading out the door.

Visit Aramark’s Feed Your Potential website, fyp365.com, to find more picnic-worthy recipe ideas.

Portobello Mozzarella Sandwiches

Recipe courtesy of Aramark

Servings: 4

Tomato Bruschetta Topping:

1/4 pound fresh plum tomatoes, cored and diced

2 tablespoons red onion, peeled and minced

2 tablespoons fresh basil leaves, thinly sliced

1 teaspoon olive oil

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

1 pinch ground black pepper

1 pinch fresh garlic, peeled and finely minced

Apricot Brussels

Sprouts

Coleslaw

Recipe courtesy of Aramark

Servings: 4

2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

1 tablespoon honey

1 tablespoon granulated sugar

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon ground black pepper

2 cups trimmed and shredded

Brussels sprouts

1 cup dried apricot, diced

1 cup red onion, trimmed and diced

Combine mustard, honey, sugar, salt and pepper. Mix well.

Add Brussels sprouts, apricot and onion; toss to coat.

Sandwiches:

1 pound fresh portobello mushrooms, cleaned, stems removed, sliced thin

3 tablespoons olive oil

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper

1/4 cup mayonnaise

2 1/2 tablespoons prepared basil pesto

4 ciabatta rolls (4-by-4 inches), split in half

4 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced small

4 ounces tomato bruschetta topping

2 ounces fresh baby arugula

1/4 cup balsamic glaze

To make tomato bruschetta topping: In bowl, combine tomatoes, onion, basil, olive oil, salt, pepper and garlic. Set aside.

To make sandwiches: Preheat grill pan or grill to medium heat.

Toss sliced mushrooms with olive oil, garlic powder, salt and pepper.

Grill mushrooms until fork-tender, 3-4 minutes on each side. Let cool.

Mix mayonnaise with pesto until combined. Spread 2 tablespoons pesto mayonnaise on cut sides of each roll. For each sandwich, layer 1/4 of grilled mushrooms, mozzarella slices, tomato bruschetta topping, arugula and balsamic glaze.

Top with other roll halves. Cut diagonally in half to serve.

LEGALNOTICE/ PUBLIC NOTICE

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS 6 MUNICIPALDISTRICT

Michael Outley v. Brian Miller, Shari Miller

Line No. 7 No. 2022-M6-2659 TRIALCALLORDER

Present before the Court: Plaintiff(s) THIS MATTER having come before the Court, the Court having jurisdiction and being fully advised, ITIS

HEREBYORDERED:

4213: Alias Summons to Issue for BRIAN MILLER, SHARI MILLER

4406: Set for STATUS

All parties must appear 4-62023 at 10:00 a.m. Room 208 9207: It being further agreed that installment payments be made as follows:

POSTING & PUBLICATION

Judge Carrie E. Hamilton (Feb. 16, 2023) Circuit Court- 2144

STATE OF ILLIINOIS CIRCUIT COURT COOK COUNTYSMALLCLAIMS SUMMONS

Plaintiff: MICHEALOUTLEY

v. MR. BRIAN A. MILLER AND MRS. SHARI MILLER

CASE NUMBER: 22M6002659

AILAS SUMMOONS

1. Defendant/Respondent address and service information

a. Defendant/Respondent's primary address/information for service

Name: BRAIN A. MILLER Telephone: 773-580-2885

b.

3.

4.

This is a federally-funded project, and the Public Information Meeting is being held in compliance with National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements and the Illinois Department of Transportation's public involvement policy. For more information contact: Taylor Van Nortwick, Chicago Dept. of Transportation, Taylor.VanNortwick@cityofchicago.org,

State, Zip: ________________________

b. Attend court: _________________________ On: 4-6-2023 at 10:00 a.m. in courtroom# 208

In-Person at: 16507 KEDZIE AVE., MARKHAM, ILLINOIS 60428

Witness this date: FEB 17, 2023 CLERK OF COURT: IRIS Y. MARTINEZ STATE OF ILLINOIS, CIRCUITCOURT COOK COUNTY

PROOF OF SERVICE OR SUMMONS AND COMPLAINT/PETITION

PLAINTIFF/PETITIONER: MICHAELOUTLEY

V. BRIAN MILLER & SHARI MILLER CASE NUMBER: 22M6002659

ALIAS SUMMONS

Public Information Meeting

Scheduled by the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) for the Englewood Nature Trail Project Grow Greater Englewood (GGE) in partnership with the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) and Department of Planning and Development (DPD) will host a Public Information Meeting on the proposed improvement of the Englewood Nature Trail between Hoyne Avenue (west) and Lowe Avenue (east), and 58th (north) and 59th Streets (south). This meeting is a part of a multi-year effort by the City of Chicago to convert a former railroad right-of-way into a community trail.

Date: Tuesday, March 28, 2023

Time: 6:00 to 7:30 PM Location: Evening Star MB Church 2050 W. 59th Street Chicago, IL, 60636

All persons interested in this project are invited to attend this meeting. There will be a presentation detailing the existing conditions, preliminary design, maps and aerial photography, and a tentative construction schedule. The public will have an opportunity to review exhibits, submit comments, and provide feedback directly with CDOTand DPD representatives after the presentation during an open house format. Interested persons can review exhibits and ask questions.

The meeting room is accessible to persons with disabilities. Anyone needing special accommodations should inform the contact person listed in this notice by March 23, 2023 to make arrangements for participating.