South Suburban Citizen 6-7-2023

In His Hands Resource Center was founded by Nykoa Farmer, who has an affinity for helping the senior community. PHOTO PROVIDED BY NYKOA FARMER.

Photo provided by Nykoa Farmer.

CLASSES BEGIN AT NEW GREEN JOB TRAINING CENTER IN CHICAGO

CHICAGO, PRNewswire -- The Sustainability Hub, a new Chicago job training center jointly developed by Power52’s Ecademy and 548 Enterprise (548), has proudly welcomed the first twenty trainees to its clean energy job training program.

With funding from Summit Ridge Energy (SRE), the Sustainability Hub is providing comprehensive job training and employment opportunities to local Illinois job seekers eager to start a career in the clean energy economy. Over the next ten years, the program will train 10,000+ residents, focusing on Veterans, Returning Citizens and high school educated residents from underserved communities.

Located in the West Side of Chicago, the Sustainability Hub will provide trainees with the skills needed to thrive in Illinois’ expanding solar industry. The participants will graduate from the program with solar technician certification and knowledge of how to design, construct, operate and maintain solar energy projects. The program also covers life skills such as conflict resolution and financial literacy, as well as basic construction skills like using power tools, soldering and pipe bending.

After completing the program, graduates will have the opportunity to participate in on-the-job training at solar projects located across Illinois, including more than 100 rooftop projects located in inner-city Chicago developed and owned by SRE, as well as projects developed by 548.

Ecademy, a Power52 Company, prepares individuals for a career in the Renewable Energy industry.

For more information visit https://power52.org.

Cook County to Consider Cracking Down on ICE Data Purchasing

Nonprofit Founder’s One Stop Resource Shop Helps Those in Need

Continued from page 1

BY TIA CAROL JONES

Farmer describes In His Hands Resource Center as a one-stop shop for resources. It is her way of tapping into her passion of what she loves to do. One of her favorite sayings is, “When you learn better, you do better.”

Farmer has learned the value of true partnership. She believes true partnership can maximize what is provided to the community. She started the Farmers to Families program during the pandemic. For the family, which provides food to families in need, she was able to partner with other community organizations and churches and was able to feed more than 100,000 families during the pandemic.

In His Hands also is an Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Community Navigator, which helps small business owners access grants, assist with financial planning, marketing outreach and technical assistance. The goal of the program is to reduce the barriers and alleviate the issues under resourced businesses face applying to relief programs.

Farmer lives and breathes everything that she does. She remembers standing in the line with her mother for food, waiting in long lines for hours, only to receive subpar food. She wanted to change that, so she applied for grants that would enable In His Hands to provide food for people. Every month on the third Wednesday and Thursday, In His Hands Resource Center feeds 200 families. It is part of the

CHICAGO – Mijente announced the introduction of a new amendment to Cook County’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainer ordinance that would limit the disclosure of personal information to immigration agents. The amendment, introduced by Commissioner Alma E. Anaya (7th District), would bring accountability to the unchecked data broker industry and protect Cook County residents’ personal information from being shared with ICE.

Private-sector data brokers, such as LexisNexis, provide access to data points on over 276 million U.S. residents that include highly sensitive personal information from financial records, property records, motor vehicle records, criminal records, cell phone data, addresses, and more. Under its $22.1 million contract, ICE has used the LexisNexis database to conduct millions of searches nationwide and target people for deportation. In 2021 alone, ICE’s Chicago Field Office made over 13,000 searches during a seven month period. The new amendment builds on last year’s first-of-its-kind hearing by Cook County commissioners, which investigated LexisNexis’ irresponsible sale of sensitive personal data and marks a new chapter in the ongoing investigation into ICE’s violation of regional sanctuary protections.

Chicago’s sanctuary record reaches as far back as 1982, and both city and Cook County officials have passed ordinances asserting their ability to reject federal authorities’ detention requests and to prevent police from holding people based only on their suspected immigration status. ICE uses its contracts with data brokers to obtain critical personal data – including highly sensitive information, like home addresses, location data, and physical characteristics – to circumvent Chicago’s Sanctuary City status, which guarantees that the City will not detain residents for ICE or otherwise assist in immigration enforcement.

The advocates anticipate a formal vote by the Cook County Board of Commissioners to vote on the amendment next month.

Build Healthy program, which partnered with Top Box Foods to provide the boxes for the families. Farmer wants to provide the resources with dignity and pride.

When Farmer first started In His Hands, she helped people with funeral and burial costs. People needed assistance, especially during the pandemic, where people couldn’t afford to bury their loved ones. She is still providing that service for people in need.

To start her organization, Farmer began networking, doing more listening and less talking. She was advised to start her own website. She did that. She became certified and started to facilitate workshops for non-profits, also on the advice of someone who wanted to help her. “It took strangers to help me get to where I am. So, when it was time, my hands were open to receive all the blessings God had for me,” Farmer said.

Farmer helps business owners get in alignment -- get an EIN, grants and a business bank account. She was connected with Discover Customer Care Center and Amazon. She wants to make a change in someone’s life, the way someone made a change in her and her mom’s lives. She has created a life that is best for her and her mom.

Farmer wants people to tap into what they know and lean on it and everything will keep moving. She also wants people to take time for themselves, breathe and take it all in. For more information, visit www. ihhresources.com, call 1-312-768-3871 or email ihh. nfp@gmail.com.

Dolton 149 School Board Elects New President, VP, Spotlighting Both

Calumet City, Ill. – South Suburban Dolton School District 149 on May 4th chose a “fresh and experienced leadership” team as the seven-member board unanimously elected a new Board President, Lolita Crisler-Liggons, Board Vice President, Teresa Jemine, and reelected Board Secretary Bertha Jolly.

Crisler-Liggons first took her board seat in 2005; Jolly, joined in 2004, while Jemine was elected in 2021.

Two new Board Members, Cassandra Elston and Shonda De Vasher-Williams, were sworn in during the May 4 special board meeting and Darlene Gray-Everett, who joined the board in 1994, and Wilbur Tillman, elected in 2015, returned for a new term.

Dolton School District 149 is in the middle of district-wide transformation program to improve student education outcomes, and the new board decided to both embrace experienced stewards, Lolita Liggons and Bertha Jolly, as well as a fresh leader, Teresa Jemine, to guide that transformation. In fact, earlier this year Dolton 149 announced that student math and reading scores growth exceeded mid-year expectations.

Dolton School District 149, K through 8th grade students achieved overall reading and math growth of 2% and 3%, respectively, on the national Measures of Academic Progress Test (MAP) at midpoint in the school year, reaching beyond the district’s target of 1.5% growth. For average and above average students, the reading growth was 5% and math, 10%.

After being elected President by her colleagues, Lolita Crisler-Liggons paid tribute to one of her predecessors, Darlene Gray Everett, who was reelected to another term on the board on April 4.

“Let me take this opportunity to recognize and thank, Darlene Gray Everett for introducing me to this arena of public service,” said President Crisler-Liggons. “This is an opportunity for the board to work together for the advancement of the students, stakeholders and taxpayers.” opportunity to address inequity, support leaders of color, spur innovation, and build nonprofit capital through trusted intermediary partners, Echoing Green and New Profit. Their proven approaches recognize that proximate, representative leadership is essential and that diverse leadership teams achieve better outcomes.”

A NEW AMENDMENT WOULD DRAMATICALLY LIMIT THE AGENCY’S ABILITY TO SEPARATE IMMIGRANT FAMILIES

During the pandemic, In His Hands Resource Center fed more than 100,000 families through the Farmer to Family program, sending weekly trucks to churches and organizations throughout Illinois. PHOTO PROVIDED BY NYKOA FARMER.

ORDINANCE AMENDMENT PROHIBITING SALE OF FLAVORED LIQUID NICOTINE PRODUCTS IN COOK

COUNTY PASSED BY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

COOK COUNTY, Ill. -- The Cook County Board of Commissioners passed an ordinance amendment introduced by Commissioner Donna Miller banning the sale of flavored liquid nicotine products in unincorporated Cook County. The legislation, supported by Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart and the Cook County Department of Public Health prohibits the sale of the types of products that studies find are hooking a new generation on nicotine, putting children at risk and threatening decades of progress in reducing youth tobacco use. Flavored products, especially e-cigarettes, are driving youth use and also increasing instances of severe respiratory illnesses and hospitalizations amongst youth and adults.

possible suspension or revocation of their tobacco license. This ordinance follows in the footsteps of similar measures in several states and counties across the country, including the City of Chicago.

“I am grateful that the Cook County Board of Commissioners has taken this step to address this urgent public health issue,” Cook County Sheriff Thomas J. Dart said. “The Sheriff’s Office is ready to support the enforcement of this ordinance and protect our kids.”

LIGHTFORD ENCOURAGES ILLINOIS TO CELEBRATE JUNETEENTH

SPRINGFIELD – Senate Majority Leader Kimberly

A. Lightford championed legislation in 2021 to ensure that the people of Illinois understood that Black history is American history. This year she is building upon that monumental measure by encouraging people to celebrate Juneteenth and reminding them of the reason for the holiday.

“Juneteenth being a state holiday reminds us that freedom and racial equality have always been a hard-fought battle for Black Americans,” said Lightford (D-Maywood). “This day gives everyone an opportunity to celebrate Black culture, Black achievements, and learn more about Black history.”

CHATHAM-SOUTHEAST

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

SOUTH END

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

SOUTH SUBURBAN

Serves communities in Harvey, Markham, Phoenix, Robbins, Dixmoor, Calumet Park, Blue Island,SouthHolland,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

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

Citizen Newspaper Group Inc., (CNGII), Publisher of the ChathamSoutheast,South End, ChicagoWeekend,South

“This measure is a crucial step towards protecting people in Cook County from the detrimental effects of nicotine and tobacco use, especially our youth and young adults. Tobacco companies have known for years that flavored products increase their appeal, especially to young people, which has hooked a whole new generation on nicotine,” said Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller. “I’m grateful to the Board for ratifying this ordinance amendment and to Cook County Sheriff Dart, Dr. Hasbrouck and the Cook County Department of Public Health, and other advocates for their support. This legislation will have a real impact on improving outcomes for cardiovascular and respiratory health in Cook County and protecting our young people for generations to come.”

“This measure is a crucial step towards protecting people in Cook County from the detrimental effects of nicotine and tobacco use, especially our youth and young adults. Tobacco companies have known for years that flavored products increase their appeal, especially to young people, which has hooked a whole new generation on nicotine,” said Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller.

According to the CDC, tobacco and nicotine use are associated with higher instances of respiratory illness in youth and adults, have detrimental impacts on mental health, and can impact brain development in children and teens. Commissioner Miller introduced the ordinance as part of her work on combating disparate health outcomes in South Suburban Cook County and beyond, especially when it comes to cardiovascular health.

“For many, e-cigarettes are a gateway to traditional cigarettes, rather than an off-ramp,” said Dr. LaMar Hasbrouck, Chief Operating Officer of the Cook County Department of Public Health. “Even in small doses, flavored liquid nicotine products expose users to high levels of toxins. This amendment will help prevent tobacco-related diseases and save lives.”

In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which established that all enslaved people in Confederate states were forever free. However, it was not until two years later in June of 1865 that federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas to enforce the proclamation freeing the last of slaves in the United States.

In 2021, Lightford championed House Bill 3922, which established June 19 as a state holiday for Juneteenth National Freedom Day. It is now a paid day off holiday for all state employees and a school holiday.

Today, Juneteenth has grown from the celebration of the abolition of slavery into a celebration of Black arts, culture, and the impacts of the civil rights movement throughout the country.

“The struggle for our people to achieve full equity in Illinois and across the nation continues still to this day,” Lightford said. “Juneteenth recognizes our accomplishments, our achievements, our culture, and reminds us that our fight is not over.”

SEN. BELT & REP. HOFFMAN: BUDGET ENSURES FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND OPPORTUNITY FOR THE METRO EAST SPRINGFIELD

– Continuing their work to uplift families across the Metro East, State Senator Christopher Belt and State Representative Jay Hoffman supported a financially responsible state budget plan that provides services for those who need it most and makes crucial investments for the next generation.

“I made sure the Metro East was not forgotten in the budget process. I wanted to ensure that the municipalities that comprise the 57th District received their fair share,” said Belt (D-Swansea) “That’s why there is a $15 million allocation for Veterans Property Tax Relief Reimbursement Pilot Program, which will reimburse St. Clair County for every property tax deduction, exemption and freeze they provide for our veterans.”

Belt, Chair of the Senate Appropriations - Public Safety & Infrastructure committee and Vice-Chair of the Senate Transportation Committee was deeply involved in budget negotiations for the Senate. He was proud to support a budget gives the Metro East’s infrastructure and education institutions the funding it needs.

The Cook County Department of Public Health will be responsible for enforcing the ordinance with cooperation from the Cook County Sheriff’s Office, which takes effect in 60 days. Businesses found to be in noncompliance with the ordinance are subject to fines ranging from $500 to $5,000, as well as the

According to the 2022 National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS), over 2.5 million U.S. kids used e-cigarettes in 2022 and almost 85% of youth users report using flavored e-cigarettes. From 2017 to 2019, e-cigarette use among high school students more than doubled to 27.5%, which led the U.S. Surgeon General and other public health authorities to declare the problem an “epidemic.” 81% of youth who had never used a tobacco product started with a flavored product.

“I also wanted to make sure that students in the area receive the same opportunities that students in Chicago and suburbs get,” said Belt. “The budget includes a $350 million in new funding toward the evidence-based funding model for K-12 education and increases needbased tuition assistance by $100 million – to a total of $701 million, which will help keep property taxes from rising and ensure that our students have access to great schools.”

This increased funding allows nearly all community college students at or below median income levels to have their tuition and fees covered through MAP and Pell Grants, which is good for Southwestern Illinois College and surrounding communities.

“This is a responsible and compassionate state budget that prioritizes investment in the issues families are facing,” Hoffman said. “We’re dedicating significant resources for our public safety efforts, while also increasing funding for childcare and early childhood education. If we want to build a stronger Illinois, we need to support the next generation and ensure that every individual in the Metro East has an opportunity to succeed. I appreciate the advocacy from Sen. Belt, Rep. Katie Stuart and all of the local leaders who used their voice to help put together a strong budget that will help our community.”

Once signed into law, the FY 24 Budget will take effect July 1.

Commissioner Donna Miller, Cook County Sheriff first introduced ordinance amendment to protect youth, improve health outcomes in Cook County

UNCF Launches Expansion of Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship to Help HBCU Students Pursue Business Ownership

(Black PR Wire) Entrepreneurship and innovation are the ways forward to growing wealth in the Black and other communities of color and to advance the progress of the nation.

With that focus, UNCF (United Negro College Fund), the nation’s largest and most effective minority education organization, announced the expanded development of its Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) to support students at historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and other institutions to pursue and fulfill their entrepreneurial dreams.

“The center’s ongoing mission is to develop the next generation of talented BIPOC entrepreneurs and innovators to create impactful business and design solutions to address society’s greatest challenges,” said Larry Griffith, UNCF senior vice president, programs and student services.

“We are committed to creating opportunities for synergy and collaboration among Black and other students of color and educators, institutions and partners to establish and grow wealth and increase social impact within communities of color. As more college students and graduates of diverse backgrounds pursue interests in business ownership and entrepreneurship, the UNCF Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship is designed to help facilitate their interests and achieve success in their economic and social impact endeavors,” said Griffith.

A social entrepreneur is a person who explores business opportunities that have a positive impact on their community and society in general. Social entrepreneurship will be an important part of the work of the center. It’s the process by which individuals, startups and entrepreneurs develop and fund solutions that directly address social issues.

The center’s objectives are to build, grow, support and nurture partner ventures through a multi-prong approach of education, development, mentoring and

financial support through scholarships, grants and business funding for innovators and entrepreneurs.

The center will:

Build a dynamic community of entrepreneurs and innovators

Administer business and social entrepreneurship and innovation-focused scholarship programs

between 1996 and 2010. This generation’s identity has been molded by the digital age, climate anxiety, a shifting financial landscape, greater awareness of social equity and personal identity and the impact of COVID-19. Gen Z is currently the second-youngest generation, with millennials before and Generation Alpha after.

According to Forbes magazine, “Over 10% of Gen Z students recently polled have expressed interest in starting or developing their own business in the next six months. This generation brings creativity and a fresh perspective to the table—a table that now has open seats for those embracing this new world of work. This doesn’t always mean college or even trade school. What once seemed like the only path now has been divided up into many. They’re keen on making money to support themselves and entrepreneurship is a way to do that.”

“It’s also clear that Gen-Z is eager to carve a work path outside of the only historical option: a corporate 9-5. Instead, they want balance, fulfillment and to be extremely passionate about the work behind their paychecks. One way they are considering taking charge of that passion is by starting their own business,” according to Forbes.

Promote access to fellowships and internships

Define HBCU ecosystem to identify, inform and align partners for collaborative capacity building

Expand online community engagement through community-oriented activities and events

Train intrapreneurs, company managers who promote innovation, and develop curriculum

Foster development of businesses through the entrepreneurial venture studio model

The center is tapping into the wave of entrepreneurship and innovation that is sweeping HBCU campuses among students and recent graduates, who fall in the category of Gen Z, comprising people born

“We seek to change the story of entrepreneurship for years to come. Being able to wake up each day, knowing that you created something worthwhile for the next generation is a goal for CIE,” said Devon Corbin, director, Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, UNCF.

“We want to create a space that supports freedom of choice. A space to create, with no pressure of fully launching businesses. We also want to create a space to sustain, where creators can ideate their goals to fully launch ventures that will scale and grow,” said Corbin.

The UNCF Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship is tapping into the trend and providing the necessary support to help student innovators, especially those students of color who may not have had exposure or resources, to achieve business success.

To learn more about UNCF’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, contact cie@uncf.org.

Opportunity Fund Launches Fund 2 to Continue Investing in Outstanding Black and Latinx Founders

(Black PR Wire) With the launch of the $100 million SB Opportunity Fund in June 2020, SoftBank Group (SoftBank) made an unprecedented commitment to invest in founders who have been marginalized and overlooked by venture capital. In less than three years, SoftBank successfully incubated the Opportunity Fund and deployed the initial $100 million into 75 Black- and Latinx-led companies. In addition, two of SoftBank Group’s core growth funds— Vision Fund 2 and the Latin America Fund—separately invested nearly $600 million in Opportunity Fund portfolio companies, for a total of nearly $700 million invested across SoftBank’s funds.

Ahead of the third anniversary of the fund, the Opportunity Fund is formally changing its name to Open Opportunity Fund, which symbolizes an evolution to open access to other LPs and organizations to invest in the fund. Open Opportunity Fund also announces the launch of Fund 2, with a $150 million target.

Paul Judge, Ph.D, will assume leadership of the fund as Chairman after serving as a Founding Investment Committee member. Judge and affiliated entities have entered into an agreement to acquire an ownership stake and become co-owners of the Open Opportunity Fund. This exemplifies diverse participation at

all levels: ownership, management, team, and portfolio. Fund 2 will deploy the same strategy of investing in outstanding Black- and Latinx-founded companies.

SoftBank remains committed to building a community of diverse founders and continues to support the fund as the founding LP and an investor in Fund 2.

The Open Opportunity Fund team has been working together for nearly three years and includes Chad Harris, Dami Osunsanya, and Jeff Asiedu.

“SoftBank proved that the Opportunity Fund model works for increasing access to capital for founders who have been traditionally overlooked, and we remain committed to the fund and its mission,” said Brett Rochkind, Managing Partner of SoftBank Investment Advisors. “Paul Judge is a seasoned leader strongly positioned to take the Fund into its next chapter as we invite new partners to join SoftBank in our commitment.”

“I applaud SoftBank’s commitment to supporting diverse founders by creating this fund almost three years ago and continuing to invest in it,” Judge said. “Diverse founders have an unwavering spirit and inge-

nuity that allows their unique perspective to successfully solve problems and build meaningful companies. I am excited to welcome new partners to join us in this work of supporting diverse founders.”

The Open Opportunity Fund portfolio includes Atomic, Brex, Career Karma, Cityblock Health, Eight Sleep, Esusu, Greenwood, Lendtable, Mayvenn, Paystand, PlayVS, Praxis Labs, QuickNode, Squire, and Subject. The fund has had seven exits

BlackPRWire

BlackPRWire

Geoffrey Good’s Hex Collection Explores the Beauty of Sacred Geometry

New York, NY -- The potential for life is a prominent symbol of the familiar and ancient hexagon. An awe-inspiring shape throughout nature, its symmetrical six sides create balance and harmony: connecting angles, edges, and vertices in a variety of combinations. A classic shape, the hexagon is strong—it fills the area given with no wasted space and holds much weight. This attribute of strength has made the hexagon a staple for the construction of perfect vessels. An homage to the hexagon, its geometric sublimity has inspired the Geoffrey Good Hex Collection.

Fine Jewelry Designer and Goldsmith, Geoffrey Good, says, “The hexagon is prevalent in the natural world in things such as crystal structures, yet also used extensively in the man-made industrial world. I can’t think of a better example of form and function meeting perfectly.”

The Hex Collection takes inspiration from classic diamond looks, modifying and reimagining to incorporate and celebrate the hexagon shape. The Hex Bevel Diamond Pendant Necklace has a 1 ct. round diamond set within a hexagon-shaped setting, featuring 24 diamonds in a halo, and an 18 in. chain with a lobster clasp is available in either 18K yellow gold or platinum. It offers an unexpected edginess to the classic pendant necklace. The Hex Bevel Diamond Studs complement the pendant necklace, as a timeless staple meeting modern design. With an 8 mm width, each half carat center diamond of each earring is outlined with 18 smaller diamonds, in a bevel set hexagon, approximating 1.21 cts. for the pair, available in either 18K yellow gold or platinum. The Hex Bevel Stacking Rings have a hexagon shape, with diamond pave set along the side of the rings. Comfortable for everyday wear, the higher the stack, the more provocative the look. One ring can be worn solo, or multiple rings can be piled, depending on one’s mood.

Reinterpreting space to create minimalist luxury, Geoffrey Good developed Hex Collection jewels with heft— hexagonal cross-section pieces, with a bezel set diamond within an open hex end shape. Unisex and sexy, the rings are luxurious and inviting. The Original Hex Stacking Ring has an angled notch with 1.5 mm of fine diamonds, three slightly separated bars, and is 2.5 mm width, available in either

18K yellow gold or platinum. Good’s modified ring celebrates the unification of the hexagon’s creation and perfection through its geometric features. The Hex Bar Eternity Band Narrow (7mm) consists of hex bars forged together with 44 fine diamonds on each mitered end, and is available in either 18K yellow gold or platinum. The Hex Bar Eternity Band Wide (14mm) also consists of hex bars forged together with 44 fine diamonds on each mitered end, and is available in 18K yellow gold or platinum. Both eternity bands are a symbol of strength, with hexagon bars encircling the finger. The Hex Bar Diamond Bracelet has an elongated hex bar that elegantly envelopes the wrist, spring-loaded on the side, featuring a single diamond on each terminal. From the office to a cocktail party, Hex is innovative, while still wearable and comfortable.

“From a philosophical perspective the six sides of the hexagon represent perfection, symbolizing divine power, wisdom, majesty, love, mercy, and justice. Jewelers are always chasing that ever elusive (and frankly unattainable) idea of perfection. The hexagon is also an impossible shape to draw freehand perfectly, which is a small but constant lesson in humility,” says Geoffrey Good.

The Hex Collection embodies the strength and structure of the hexagon with contemporary design. As a symbol of balance and harmony, the pieces are perfect for a commitment or wedding jewelry, as for celebrating a milestone or oneself. Timeless and true, the Hex Collection allows for individuality to meet luxury.

Geoffrey’s eclectic aesthetic fuses rebellious creativity with unparalleled craftsmanship; discovery is balanced by respect for the past and the legacy of his classical training. Dedicating years on Madison Avenue to refine his skills, Geoffrey Good created jewelry for celebrated firms and institutions, before founding his own workshop. The atelier develops commissions for award shows, collaborates with fashion designers, partners on one-of-a-kind private clients, and has signature collections featured nationally in select retailers. Geoffrey Good’s vibrant flagship is located downtown, in the art scene destination of Hudson, New York.

To learn more about Geoffrey Good, call 212-625-1656 or visit https://www.geoffreygood.com/.

With “Together We Shine,” Coppertone and GirlTrek Partner to Promote Sun Safety and Wellness for Black Women

New Initiative advances

sun

(Black PR Wire) Stamford, CT – Coppertone, a trusted name in sun protection, is proud to announce, “Together We Shine,” a sun health literacy and engagement program designed to meet the needs of multicultural consumers. Coppertone is partnering with GirlTrek, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting health and wellness through walking for Black women and girls. Together, they will promote a ‘wellness while walking’ message, improving sun safety and skin health awareness, while also advocating for physical activity in Black communities.

With a shared commitment to community empowerment and wellness, “Together We Shine” will focus on increasing awareness and education around the importance of sun protection for Black women who are at risk of developing sun damage and skin cancer. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, Black patients are more than 3x as likely to be diagnosed with melanoma at a late stage than non-Hispanic white patients. The partnership will also encourage and support outdoor physical activity through the GirlTrek movement, which promotes walking as a simple, accessible form of exercise that can improve overall health and well-being.

“We’re thrilled to partner with GirlTrek at the start of sun season to raise awareness among Black women about the importance of sun protection,” said Rachael Field, Senior Brand Manager, Coppertone. “By offering new Every Tone sunscreen and dermatological health resources, we hope to have a positive impact on the journey of Black women’s health.”

GirlTrek Co-Founder Vanessa Garrison added, “We’re excited to see our community of Black women and girls continue to embrace sunscreen use as they’ll, in turn, influence others to adopt this healthy habit. We appreciate Coppertone’s support which will allow us to provide resources and education to our community around sun safety and physical activity, two critical areas.”

Coppertone is committed to designing inclusive, innovative products that meet a wide range of needs so that everyone can feel encouraged to seize the sun and see why It’s Great Outdoors. “Together We Shine” pro motes sun safety in multicultural communities in partnership with non-profit organizations who share Coppertone’s mission and vision. For more information, please visit www.coppertone.com.

Geoffrey Good

Coppertone’s mission of inclusivity so everyone can seize the

Biden-Harris Administration Takes Action to Help Schools Deliver Critical Health Care Services to Millions of Students

On the Mental Health Awareness Day of Action, the Biden-Harris Administration took bold action to make it easier for schools to provide critical health care services, especially mental health services, for millions of students across the nation. These three significant actions support President Biden’s comprehensive national mental health strategy and deliver on his commitment to tackle the nation’s mental health crisis as part of his Unity Agenda. Through a series of new announcements from the U.S. Departments of Education (ED) and Health and Human Services (HHS), the Administration is continuing to take a whole-of-government approach to meet families where they are and ensure that children have access to the health care they need – especially mental health services.

Specifically, ED is proposing a new rule that would streamline Medicaid billing permissions for students with disabilities. ED predicts of the 500,000 new students who are found eligible under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part B each year, nearly 300,000 are likely to be eligible for Medicaid and impacted by this rule. HHS is issuing new guidance to make it easier for schools to bill Medicaid. HHS also is approving requests from New Mexico and Oregon to expand health care services that schools can deliver to Medicaid enrolled students.

IDEA Act Notice of Proposed Rulemaking

ED is releasing a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking under IDEA that would streamline consent provisions when billing for Medicaid services provided through a student’s individualized education program (IEP). This would result in a uniform process applicable to all Medicaid enrolled children, regardless of disability.

Many children with disabilities receiving services under the IDEA are also enrolled in Medicaid either due to their disability status and/or based on their family income. Children with disabilities and are more likely to have low income, and those covered by Medicaid are more likely to have greater health care needs than those who are covered by private insurance. Further, the COVID-19 pandemic reduced access to critical services for children with disabilities and other vulnerable populations. To meet the Administration’s goal of increasing access to health and mental health services, and in fulfillment of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA) provision of expanding access to crucial school-based services for mental health and other care needs, it is crucial to remove barriers for schools so they can more easily provide Medicaid covered services to their students enrolled in Medicaid..

Importantly, the proposed changes announced today do not alter any of the critical parental consent provisions required by IDEA nor do they impact the parental consent obligations under the Family Educational Records and Privacy Act (FERPA). Additionally, the proposed rule does not alter the requirement that IEP services must be delivered at no cost to the child’s family, the requirement that IEP services cannot diminish other Medicaid-reimbursable services, nor Medicaid’s position as payor of first resort for IEP and Individualized Family Service Plan services. Rather, this regulatory change would help cut unnecessary red tape that schools and districts face in billing Medicaid and meet their obligations to ensure students with disabilities receive a free, appropriate public education in accordance with their IEP.

Guide to Expand School-Based Services for Millions of Students

HHS, through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is releasing a comprehensive guide for Medicaid school-based services to make it easier for schools to deliver and receive payment for health care services to millions of eligible students. Developed in consultation with ED, the Comprehensive Guide to Medicaid Services and Administrative Claiming represents an important part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s implementation of the BSCA.

Medicaid and CHIP cover more than half of all children in this country. That’s more than 41 million children spending over 30 hours weekly in school during most of the year. This comprehensive policy guide helps states and schools leverage Medicaid and CHIP and offers a roadmap of how they can build a bridge between education and health care, including mental health care, to support children enrolled in these programs and help them thrive.

The guide clarifies, consolidates, and expands on a wealth of CMS guidance on how schools can receive payment for providing care for Medicaid- and CHIP-enrolled students, and how states can ease the administrative burden on school-based health providers to promote their participation in Medicaid and CHIP while meeting federal statutory and regulatory requirements. This includes helping states and schools operationalize:

How payments can be made for school-based services under Medicaid and CHIP;

How states can simplify billing for school-based services, including in rural and small or under-resourced communities, where care may be particularly challenging.

Examples of approved methods that state agencies have used to pay for covered services; and

How to enroll qualified health care providers to participate in Medicaid and furnish services within school settings.

In the months to come, CMS plans to release more resources to help ensure states can optimize children’s access to school-based services. As outlined by BSCA, these resources include $50 million in grant opportunities and a school-based services technical assistance center, in partnership with ED. For more information on the guide, visit Medicaid.gov.

These announcements collectively are part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to addressing the nation’s mental health crisis by providing more school-based resources and supports to help address students’ mental health needs. This announcement comes on the heels of ED’s announcement earlier this week on the latest tranche of awards to train school-based mental health professionals through the Mental Health Service Professionals demonstration program, which provided another nearly $100 million in awards as part of an overall appropriation of $1 billion in BSCA for school-based mental health services and supports.

The Pattis Family Foundation and the Newberry Library Announce 2023 Chicago Book Award Recipient

CHICAGO, PRNewswire -- The Newberry Library and The Pattis Family Foundation are pleased to announce the winner of the second annual $25,000 Pattis Family Foundation Chicago Book Award. Toya Wolfe, author of Last Summer on State Street, will receive the award, which celebrates works that transform public understanding of Chicago, its history, and its people.

“Toya Wolfe’s debut novel is an endearing, memorable, and page-turning work with broad appeal and deep ‘Chicago heart,’” said Daniel Greene, former President and Librarian of the Newberry and Pattis Award jury member. “Set during an important turning point in the history of public housing in Chicago, Last Summer on State Street is a compelling story of friendship, community, and home.”

“It is such an incredible blessing to receive the Pattis Family Foundation Chicago Book Award,” said Toya Wolfe. “Last Summer on State Street is my debut novel, and to win a prestigious award for my first literary endeavor is wildly affirming and will support me as I begin writing a new novel and TV pilots. I am so grateful to The Pattis Family Foundation and the Newberry Library for establishing this award; on behalf of Chicago writers, thank you for all the ways in which you lift us up and cheer us on!”

The Pattis Family Foundation Chicago Book Award is open to writers working in a variety of genres, including history, biography, social sciences, poetry, drama, graphic novels, and fiction—all relating to Chicago. Dawn Turner received the inaugural Pattis Award in 2022 for Three Girls from Bronzeville.

In addition to awarding Toya Wolfe, the juried panel also recognizes Heather Hendershot as the shortlist award recipient for authoring When the News Broke: Chicago 1968 and the Polarizing of America. Hendershot will receive an award of $2,500.

Mark and Lisa Pattis of The Pattis Family Foundation commented: “The purpose of our series of book awards is to shine a spotlight on exemplary books and to enhance

public understanding of various subject matters. We are delighted to continue our partnership with the Newberry Library in order to engage Chicagoans with authors and works that transform understanding of our city, its history, and its people. The selection of Toya Wolfe’s poignant debut novel, Last Summer on State Street, is a terrific fit with the prize’s goal. Our congratulations to Toya and our gratitude to the Newberry and the committee members.”

The presentation of the 2023 Pattis Family Foundation Chicago Book Award takes place at a free, public event

Chicago Housing Authority. She and two other girls from the housing project form a tentative trio and carve out for themselves a simple life of double Dutch and innocence. As their beloved neighborhood falls down around them, so too do their friendships and the structures of their families. Decades later, as she remembers that fateful summer — just before her home was demolished, her life uprooted, and community forever changed—Fe Fe tries to make sense of the grief and fraught bonds that still haunt her and attempts to reclaim the love that never left.

Profound, reverent, and uplifting, Last Summer on State Street explores the risk of connection against the backdrop of racist institutions, the restorative power of knowing and claiming one’s own past, and those defining relationships which form the heartbeat of our lives. Interweaving moments of reckoning and sustaining grace, debut author Toya Wolfe has crafted an era-defining story of finding a home—both in one’s history and in one’s self.

at the Newberry Library on Saturday, July 15, 2023. Toya Wolfe will receive the award and discuss Last Summer on State Street with Gail Kern Paster, Interim President and Librarian at the Newberry. The event will also serve as a celebration of the power of storytelling and Chicago, featuring a roster of speakers whose work in the city strives to change our communities for the better.

Felicia “Fe Fe” Stevens lives with her loving mother and older brother in Chicago’s Robert Taylor Homes. It’s the summer of 1999, and her high-rise is to be torn down by the

The Newberry Library—free and open to the public—fosters a deeper understanding of our world by inspiring research and learning in the humanities and encouraging conversations about ideas that matter to diverse audiences. The Newberry’s extensive collection includes maps, city directories, printed histories, newspapers and periodicals, and archival materials documenting business, journalism, publishing, activism, and the arts across Chicago and the Midwest. Every year, thousands of writers, artists, scholars, teachers, and students visit the Newberry, contributing to its diverse community of learning.

With a history originating from book and magazine publishing, The Pattis Family Foundation actively supports programs that elevate the value of the written word and intellectual inquiry. In addition, The Pattis Family Foundation supports various health, educational, and cultural initiatives as well as programs that help bridge the opportunity gap for talented students with limited financial resources.

BLACK GIRLS ROCK!® Creator Beverly Bond Introduces BLACK GIRLS BOND®

NEW YORK, PRNewswire -- Renowned founder and CEO of BLACK GIRLS ROCK!®, Beverly Bond, heralds a new era with the grand unveiling of BLACK GIRLS BOND®, an innovative daily digital publication curated for audacious, wellness-conscious, fashion-forward, stylish, enterprising women of color.

As Bond nears the conclusion of her three-year development deal with Black Entertainment Television (BET), she is poised to catapult her illustrious BLACK GIRLS ROCK! brand into a new digital media powerhouse with the launch of this venture that aims to broaden avenues for the visibility of Black women. BLACK GIRLS BOND® is a digital oasis, delivering content ranging from skincare and beauty to health and wellness, style trends, business insights, technological breakthroughs, and pop-culture news. The online hub also boasts captivating digital covers, fashion spreads, and in-depth profiles of game-changing women. Monthly features on Black Hollywood, Black Girl Magic and the entertainment business is where the ‘BOND’ perspective truly shines, with coverage and con-

versations on representation both on-screen and behind the scenes. The recurring ‘More Black, More Beautiful’ cover issue is a testament to the trailblazing Black women shattering boundaries and making a difference in diverse fields. BLACK GIRLS BOND® also features weekly horoscopes, monthly playlists, and signature podcasts that include Bread & Bond, a dinner and conversation series featuring inspirational women sharing stories, and Who Rocks Next? spotlighting emerging talent across disciplines.

“The underrepresentation of Black women in media ownership contributes to a scarcity of diverse experiences and perspectives of Black women across digital and broadcast mediums,” said Beverly Bond. “Having personally witnessed the substantial impact that representation can make, I am thrilled to inaugurate a digital media publication that provides a daily trove of informative and aspirational content that caters to the multifaceted lifestyles of our readers, providing them with the resources necessary to forge balanced and fulfilling lives. I am equally thrilled to harness my vast experience and expertise in fashion, music, and entertainment to build this space. As we launch BLACK GIRLS BOND®, we’re joining an

escalating wave of voices that are magnifying the need for Black-owned and black women-owned media. I feel humbled and privileged to be among those leading this critical evolution.”

BLACK GIRLS BOND® stands proudly as an integral component of the flagship BLACK GIRLS ROCK!® brand carrying forward the esteemed legacy of the movement by nurturing our established community while championing a new generation of dynamic and driven women of color. BLACK GIRLS ROCK!’s expansive portfolio also includes the annual BGR!FEST, The BGR! FILM FESTIVAL, and the critically acclaimed, highly anticipated BLACK GIRLS ROCK!® AWARDS which is set to make a triumphant return in March 2024 during the International Women’s Day Weekend in Washington DC. This prestigious awards show will be broadcasted in collaboration with an exciting new media distribution partner (to be announced) and showcased on the eagerly awaited BGR!TV streaming Network.

BLACK GIRLS BOND® is poised to provide advertisers with fully integrated 360-degree media solutions and has enlisted ad network and technology company Hero Media. ackgirlsbond.com and stay connected with BLACK GIRLS BOND® on social media to receive updates, stories, and exclusive event announcements: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn.

To learn more about BLACK GIRLS BOND visit: https://blackgirlsbond.com/about-us/

Toya Wolfe, Pattis Award Winner for Last Summer on State Street. The Newberry Library.

BlackGirlsBond.com May 2023 cover.

Black Girls Rock!.

2022 ACLS Digital Justice Seed Grantees work on a podcast for their project “Building an Institute for Empathic Immersive Narrative” at Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University. American Council of Learned Societies.

Mellon Foundation Awards $3.3 Million to American Council of Learned Societies

NEW YORK, PRNewswire -- The American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) has been awarded a $3.3 million grant by the Mellon Foundation to continue its Digital Justice Grant Program. The extension grant will support the program for an additional three competition cycles, beginning with the next competition which will start accepting applications in September 2023.

Launched in 2021, the ACLS Digital Justice Grant Program supports digital projects across the humanities and interpretative social sciences that engage with the interests and histories of people of color and other historically marginalized communities. Specifically, the program addresses persistent inequities in access to tools and support for digital work among these scholars, those working with non-traditional materials, and those based at higher education institutions with fewer resources available to support humanists working with digital techniques. This new iteration of the program will also seek to fund projects that engage in capacity building efforts, including but not limited to: pedagogical projects that train students in digital humanities methods as a key feature of the project’s content building practice; publicly engaged projects that develop new technological infrastructure with community partners; and trans-institutional projects that connect scholars across academic and cultural heritage institutions.

“The ACLS Digital Justice Grant Program provides critical support and resources to scholars in fields that challenge the historical legacies of settler colonialism, racial capitalism, and heteronormativity,” said Keyanah Nurse, ACLS Program Officer for Higher Education Initiatives. “These grants stimulate more inclusivity within digital humanities by extending the opportunity to a broader assemblage of scholars and projects, many of whom navigate weak infrastructural support. With an added emphasis on capacity building, we hope this new iteration gives reviewers a more nuanced understanding of the contexts in which scholars at less resourced institutions pursue their work.”

The ACLS Digital Justice Program will continue to offer both Seed and Development

Foot Locker Foundation Announces $4.5 Million for Community Grants through LISC

NEW YORK, PRNewswire -- Foot Locker, Inc. and its U.S. grant-making partner, the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), are building upon their collaboration to empower youth in underserved communities with $4.5 million in new funding. The funding will support three annual grant application rounds for U.S.-based nonprofits delivering youth programming in the areas of community mentoring, career development, and health and wellness activities.

The Foot Locker Foundation Community Empowerment Program was launched in 2021 as part of Leading in Education and Economic Development (LEED), the company’s $200 million commitment focused on education and economic development within the Black community. It also connects to LISC’s broad-based work on economic opportunity, including its decade-long Project 10X strategy to promote racial justice. Through its first two years, the competitive grant program has awarded $2.7 million in grants to 36 organizations.

Grants to promote and provide vital resources for projects that diversify the digital domain, advance justice and equity in digital scholarly practice, and contribute to public understanding of racial and social justice issues. For exploratory, experimental, and other early-stage work, Digital Justice Seed Grants will offer $10,000-$25,000 to support planning workshops, prototyping, and testing of projects. For projects that have advanced beyond the prototyping or proof-of-concept phase, Digital Justice Development Grants of $50,000 to $100,000 will support activities to enhance impact and promote uptake and engagement among targeted communities of users. As in its pilot year, grantees can also opt into tailored coaching from the Nonprofit Finance Fund to plan for the long-term stewardship and growth of their projects.

Formed a century ago, the American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) is a nonprofit federation of 79 scholarly organizations. As the leading representative of American scholarship in the humanities and interpretive social sciences, ACLS upholds the core principle that knowledge is a public good. In supporting its member organizations, ACLS utilizes its $155+ million endowment and $37 million annual operating budget to expand the forms, content, and flow of scholarly knowledge, reflecting our commitment to diversity of identity and experience.

ACLS collaborates with institutions, associations, and individuals to strengthen the evolving infrastructure for scholarship. In all aspects of our work, ACLS is committed to principles and practices in support of racial and social justice.

The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation is the nation’s largest supporter of the arts and humanities. Mellon believes that the arts and humanities are where we express our complex humanity, and that everyone deserves the beauty, transcendence, and freedom to be found there. Through its grants, Mellon seeks to build just communities enriched by meaning and empowered by critical thinking, where ideas and imagination can thrive. The Foundation makes grants in four core program areas: Arts and Culture; Higher Learning; Humanities in Place; and Public Knowledge.

Questions? Contact digitaljustice@acls.org.

The application for the next round of funding in the U.S. (for one-year grants expected to be awarded in 2024) is open now through Wednesday, August 30, 2023. Community-based nonprofits in select cities can apply for grants of $25,000 to $100,000. The program prioritizes grassroots organizations that are in a pivotal developmental stage where the funding and available technical assistance support through LISC can help them reach the next level of sustainability and program delivery excellence. Organizations based in and serving the following cities are eligible to apply for these competitive grants: Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, New York City, Newark, Oakland, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Washington, D.C.

Applicants should have a track record of impact in one or more of the program’s key objectives: community outreach, particularly focused on youth health and wellness; mentoring around life skills, academics, and conflict resolution; and career development to build skills and pathways to employment.

“As part of our LEED initiative, the partnership with LISC has created tangible results for communities where Foot Locker, Inc. operates,” said Tai Neal, vice president for LEED Strategy at Foot Locker, Inc. “In the first two years of the program, we’ve witnessed the number of young people served increase by nearly 50 percent, with 3,800 impacted in the first round of funding and more than 7,000 in round two,” she continued. “This program disrupts the status quo – unlocking the potential that exists in young people and giving them, their families, and their communities a bridge to a brighter future.”

The Community Empowerment Program responds to clear and persistent racial disparities, including a gap in philanthropic funding for Black-led organizations. For example, research from Bridgespan and Echoing Green found that the unrestricted net assets of Black-led organizations are 76 percent smaller than those of similarly situated white-led groups. Disparities are even more pronounced among organizations that specifically focus on improving life outcomes for Black men and boys: revenues are 45 percent less than they are for white-led organizations and unrestricted net assets are 91 percent smaller—even when white-led organizations have a similar mission.

“These disparities are, in part, the result of decades of overt racism,” said Lisa Glover, LISC CEO. “But there is also an unconscious bias at work, and it has a stranglehold on opportunity for tens of thousands of BIPOC families, organizations, businesses and communities. That’s why this program is so important,” she continued. “It is specifically designed to address these systemic gaps in ways that not only benefit young people, but strengthen the organizations that serve them as well.”

Foot Locker, Inc. is a leading footwear and apparel retailer that unlocks the “inner sneakerhead” in all of us. With approximately 2,700 retail stores in 29 countries across North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand, and a franchised store presence in the Middle East and Asia, Foot Locker, Inc. has a strong history of sneaker authority that sparks discovery and ignites the power of sneaker culture through its portfolio of brands, including Foot Locker, Kids Foot Locker, Champs Sports, WSS, and atmos. For more information, visit footlocker-inc.com.

LISC is one of the country’s largest community development organizations, helping forge vibrant, resilient communities across America. We work with residents and partners to close systemic gaps in health, wealth and opportunity and advance racial equity so that people and places can thrive. Since our founding in 1979, LISC has invested $29.7 billion to create more than 489,000 affordable homes and apartments, develop 81.4 million square feet of retail, community and educational space and help tens of thousands of people find employment and improve their finances. For information on grant guidelines and how to apply, visit tinyurl. com/y5m8mx7n.

Lupus Awareness Campaign Empowers Black/African American and Hispanic/Latina Women to Stop Ignoring Symptoms That Could Be Lupus-Related

WASHINGTON, PRNewswire -- The Lupus Foundation of America (LFA) launched the rebranded Be Fierce.Take Control.™ campaign during Lupus Awareness Month with rebranded imagery to connect with young Black/African American and Hispanic/Latina Women at greater risk of developing lupus in their lifetime. The campaign empowers women to take control of their health, highlights common lupus symptoms and encourages those that may be experiencing symptoms to talk to their healthcare providers.

Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease where the immune system can’t tell the difference between healthy tissues and foreign invaders. This can cause pain, inflammation and tissue damage to any organ in the body, and it impacts each person differently making it difficult to diagnose.

Be Fierce. Take Control.™ is a digital awareness campaign that aims to reach young, undiagnosed, Black/African American and Hispanic/ Latina women who may be experiencing common lupus symptoms such as:

Joint pain or swelling

Extreme exhaustion

A rash across the face

Recurring sores in the mouth

The primary goal of the Be Fierce. Take Control. campaign, which is funded in part by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is to ultimately reduce the average time for diagnosis of six years from when a person first notices symptoms. Lupus

is two-to-three times more prevalent in Black/African American and Hispanic/Latina women. Because of these disparities and the impact of lupus on the body, the LFA encourages women experiencing these symptoms to stop ignoring them and talk to their healthcare provider. Early diagnosis and treatment

lupus warrior and Be Fierce. Take Control. campaign ambassador. “Not knowing what my future holds worries me sometimes, but I prioritize my health and take control of the condition and the effects it has on me. ‘Be Fierce. Take Control.’ is my personal slogan as well.”

The campaign website and digital advertising has been rebranded with powerful imagery of real women with lupus and women who have a personal connection to lupus. Like Selena, these women also share details of their personal lupus journey, providing a sense of connection for women learning more about common lupus symptoms and wondering if they have lupus.

The LFA encourages women experiencing symptoms to visit befiercetakecontrol.org and learn more about lupus, what questions to ask yourself, and how to have a conversation with your healthcare provider.

are critical to preventing long-term consequences of the disease and improving quality of life.

“Six months prior to my diagnosis, I had recurring skin infections and a rash across my cheeks that I mistook for sunburn. I was also experiencing hair loss and body swelling. I was finally diagnosed with lupus nephritis after an ER visit, three doctors visits and a kidney biopsy,” said Selena Colon,

The Lupus Foundation of America is the national force devoted to solving the mystery of lupus, one of the world’s cruelest, most unpredictable and devastating diseases, while giving caring support to those who suffer from its brutal impact. Through a comprehensive program of research, education, and advocacy, we lead the fight to improve the quality of life for all people affected by lupus. Learn more about the Lupus Foundation of America at lupus.org. For the latest news and updates, follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Black Women’s Health Imperative Celebrates 40 Years of Empowering Black Women with inaugural State of Black Women Science Summit and Homecoming Tour

ATLANTA, PRNewswire -- In celebration of its forty years as the only national organization focused on Black women’s health and wellness, BWHI will return to its local chapter roots this fall, hosting large-scale “homecoming”-themed celebrations designed to educate, empower, and advocate on behalf of Black women and girls’ health and wellness.

These events will be a true celebration of everyday Black women, their achievements and contributions, and a reflection on the continued work necessary to improve the health outcomes of Black women.

“Our organization has dedicated itself to eliminating barriers to health and wellness for Black women nationwide for 40 years. We will celebrate our four decades of work by bringing some of the leading women of color in the fight for health equity to your doorsteps with our upcoming multi-city tour. We are truly honored to have sustained and grown since our founding and are excited to continue to raise awareness, provide programs, tools, and resources, as well as empower and inspire our nation’s Black women and girls,” said Linda Goler Blount, MPH, President of BWHI.

The BWHI “homecoming” celebrations, with the theme “40 Years of Loving Black Women,” will take place from Sept. 22-Oct. 20, 2023, featuring in-person gatherings for the BWHI community in Atlanta, Boston, Detroit, Washington

DC/Philadelphia Metro region, and Los Angeles.

This milestone is a testament to the unwavering commitment of BWHI’s team, partners, and supporters toward achieving health equity for Black women. The tour will serve as an opportunity to reflect on the organization’s accomplishments and highlight the ongoing work of improving health outcomes for Black women. We invite all our supporters to join us in celebrating this remarkable milestone as we continue to work towards a healthier future for all.

Each event will bring together a large number of past and present board members, staff, grass-roots activists, participants in BWHI signature programs, renowned musicians, actors, and entertainers, as well as BWHI’s esteemed founder, reproductive justice and civil rights trailblazer, Byllye Y. Avery.

As part of its 40th anniversary celebrations, BWHI plans to hold its inaugural health and wellness summit for Black women, called the State of Black Women (SOBW). The summit will occur at Spelman College in Atlanta, where BWHI was founded. This conference will feature keynote speakers from the scientific and medical communities, and select panel discussions. The panels will cover various topics related to Black women’s current status and where they can go in the future, including discussions on the economy, politics, health, and education. BWHI’s State of Black Women convening aims to bring togeth-

er experts to discuss and address the challenges and opportunities facing Black women today.

Spelman President Dr. Helene D. Gayle will make the opening comments.

“We are proud to be the founding home of such a reputable and life-changing organization as BWHI,” Spelman President Dr. Helene D. Gayle states. “Spelman College has a goal to provide the best education and resources for women of color, and our partnership with BWHI on its inaugural State of Black Women Symposium aligns with our core mission to help lead the charge towards educating, preparing, uplifting, and empowering Black women.”

Established originally as the National Black Women’s Health Project in 1983, the Black Women’s Health Imperative is the first and only national non-profit organization created for and by Black women dedicated to improving the health and wellness of our nation’s 21 million Black women and girls—physically, emotionally, and financially. BWHI’s core mission is to advance health equity and reproductive and social justice for Black women across their lifespan through policy, advocacy, education, research, and leadership development. For more information, please visit www. bwhi.org.

Registration for science summit and homecoming events available at: http://bwhi. org/tickets

Newly rebranded campaign includes powerful imagery of real women with lupus who share their story

PRNewsFoto/Lupus Foundation of America

South Suburban & Weekend Classified

Classifieds

SAFETY

Don’t Let Battery Chargers Ignite a Disaster: Top Fire Prevention Tips

(StatePoint) According to the National Fire Protection Association, local

U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated 1.35 million fires in 2021 – an average of every 23 seconds. These fires resulted in 3,800 civilian deaths and 14,700 reported civilian injuries, but the devastation didn’t stop there. They also resulted in an estimated $15.9 billion in property damage loss.

Fires can affect not just the health and safety of family, friends and community, but also take a major financial toll on homeowners and businesses. The International Code Council’s 2023 Building Safety Month campaign focuses on general building safety awareness, including how to recognize and practice fire prevention strategies and be aware of potential risks in your home or business.

Potential Dangers of Lithium-Ion Batteries and Chargers

Over the years, lithium-ion batteries and chargers have caused many fires with sometimes devastating consequences. Found within common household products such as electronic toys, small and large appliances, headphones, cellphones, laptops and more, their popularity has grown thanks to their high-energy density and longer lifespan. But with this growth comes the need to learn how to properly handle these products.

Below are actionable steps and fire prevention tips from Beth Tubbs, chief fire protection engineer for the Code Council, to help ensure lithium-ion batteries and chargers are used and stored safely. These are general safety tips, so you will need to refer to each device’s owner manual for specific safety and maintenance instructions.

Buyer Beware: Only purchase an appliance or device with a lithium-ion battery and charger from reputable manufacturers to ensure it’s designed, manufactured, tested and maintained according to applicable safety standards. This is a critical first step in battery fire prevention.

Use an Approved Battery Charger, Correctly: When charging a lithium-ion battery, use a proper charger that is manufacturer-approved or listed as acceptable on the device. Lithium-ion batteries are highly sensitive to charging conditions and using an incorrect charger, or using it incorrectly, can result in the battery overcharging. When a battery overcharges, it can overheat, catch fire and, in the worst-case scenario, explode.

(StatePoint) During allergy season, having a safe haven from the triggers that make you sneeze and wheeze is essential. While you can’t completely control your surroundings in the great outdoors, you can take steps at home to reduce allergens and feel your best.

Never charge lithium-ion batteries when you aren’t home to supervise it. If a potentially dangerous situation does arise, you can act quickly to rectify it by unplugging the battery, using a portable fire extinguisher or calling your local fire department for help. When charging appliances, such as micromobility devices (scooters and e-bikes), plug them directly into the electrical receptacle, not through multiplug adaptors or extension cords. Follow the manufacturer’s guidelines, including the recommended charge time. This will increase the safety and performance of your battery.

HEALTHY LIVING

Location, Location, Location: When it comes to safety, where you use a lithium-ion battery device or charger is extremely important.

Because these batteries can pose a significant fire risk, it is crucial that they aren’t located in front of an exit or escape route. If the battery is mishandled or exposed to extreme conditions and a fire erupts, you will need an unobstructed escape route.

Store batteries in a cool, dry environment to maintain their performance and safety. It is recommended to store batteries indoors, away from direct sunlight,excess heat, combustibles and potentially flammable substances.

Follow Maintenance GuidelinesReputable manufacturers provide instructions on how to best maintain the performance and safety of their batteries, often found online or in the device or appliance’s maintenance guide.

Some common maintenance tips include:

• Regularly inspecting the battery and charger for visible damage

• Routinely checking the battery’s charge status

• Observing and noting the runtime of your battery (and any changes in this time)

• Disconnecting the battery from the charger once it reaches full capacity.

Resources for Fire Prevention

Lithium-ion battery fires can start in a matter of seconds; it’s important to use them safely.

The Code Council’s Building Safety Month website has several resources to help you understand and implement key fire prevention measures and protect your home or business. Access these resources by visiting iccsafe.org.

Brilliant Ways to Fight Allergens This Season

• Fresh, cool air: The right air conditioning unit can help you breathe better indoors. For example, the Midea U delivers a cold airflow that can be felt up to 20 feet away and features full DC inverter technology to rapidly cool a room. Its removable and washable air

filter is easily cleaned to help reduce dust and pet allergens in the air. And thanks to its U-shaped design, you can easily open and close your windows even when the unit is installed, giving you more control of your indoor air quality and environment. Bonus -- it’s compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant and is Energy Star-certified and ultraquiet.

• Smart steps: When you get home from spending time outdoors, take off outer layers that have made contact with pollen, such as jackets and shoes. Having a mud room or other area to remove and store these items, preferably attached to or close to your laundry room, will help you avoid tracking and spreading allergens throughout your home.

• Screened doors and windows: Even if you suffer from allergies, you may enjoy throwing open your windows on a nice day for a cross breeze. Just be sure all the screens on your windows and doors are in good condition and free of tears and holes. Special pollen-blocking screens are easy to install and go a step further than standard insect screens to keep out smaller, particulate matter, including pollen, dust and other small irritants and allergens.

• Whole-home cleaning: Regular vacuuming will make a world of difference in the way you feel. For maximum relief, use a vacuum with complete seal HEPA filtration. This means it’s EPA-certified to do the job, based on the standard test method, which indi-

cates it can trap 99.9% of dust, dander and allergen particles 0.3 microns and larger. The Innova Upright Vacuum, for example, targets these particles and facilitates whole-home cleaning. Thanks to its detachable accessories and components, and LED user interface, you can optimize your cleaning for every surface, including hard floor, carpet and upholstery, curtains, the space under furniture and stairs. And if you’re a pet parent, you can expect a deeper, more efficient clean and longer operation due to its dual-action brush roll that

actively prevents pet hair tangles and clogs from forming while concentrating air flow. It also has a motorized anti-tangle pet tool that effectively removes hair and debris from stairs and upholstery. There is no need to suffer in your own home this season. With some smart strategies and the right tools, you can keep allergens at bay indoors.