SOUTH SUBURBAN CITIZEN 12-22-2021

Y O U R S O U R C E F O R C O R O N AV I R U S N E W S

Citizen Week of Dec. 22, 2021

| Vol. 41 | No. 5 | www.citizennewspapergroup.com

SOUTH SUBURBAN

How will churches and ministries look PostPandemic?

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A rendering of Wind Creek Illinois set to be completed in 2023 in Homewood – East Hazel Crest. It will have a casino and 252 room luxury hotel. Image provided

by Jasculca Terman PR

FASHION: Foot Locker, Inc. Announces New Womenswear Brand Cozi Page 5

WIND CREEK ILLINOIS IN HOMEWOOD – EAST HAZEL CREST TO HOLD CASINO LICENSE IN THE SOUTHLAND REGION The Illinois Gaming Board voted that Wind Creek, LLC, is preliminarily suitable for an owner’s license for a casino in the South Suburbs. Wind Creek Illinois, operated by Wind Creek Illinois Hospitality, LLC, will be located in Homewood-East Hazel Crest. PAGE 2

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2 | CITIZEN | South Suburban | Week of Dec. 22, 2021

NEWS briefly SLAUGHTER ENCOURAGES LOCAL HOLIDAY SHOPPERS TO REVIEW 2021 SAFE SHOPPING GUIDE CHICAGO – To help protect children this holiday season, state Rep. Justin Slaughter, D-Chicago, is encouraging local holiday shoppers, parents and guardians to consult Attorney General Kwame Raoul’s annual Safe Shopping Guide.

“For most people, the holiday season is a time to reconnect with family and loved ones, but for others it also presents the perfect time to scam individuals,” said Slaughter. “In addition to not buying recalled products, consumers must also be wary of other hazards like lead paint.”

Attorney General Kwame Raoul’s office recently released their 2021 Safe Shopping Guide, which is the latest in a series of annual lists of recalled and hazardous consumer products that include children’s toys, clothes and games. In addition to consulting the guide, shoppers should be sure to also review the product’s labels or packaging for information about a product’s hazards and safety guidelines. To access the 2021 Safe Shopping Guide, please visit Attorney General Raoul’s website at www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/ consumers/safe_shopping.html.

“Our children are our future, and it’s up to each of us who cares for them to make sure that they are safe and enjoy a holiday season to remember,” said Slaughter. “I encourage anyone who is buying a gift for a child or young person to consult the 2021 Safe Shopping Guide before doing so.”

INTERFAITH CONVENING CALLS TO SUPPORT PROPOSAL TO HOUSE 12,000 CHICAGOANS IN THE NEXT 10 YEARS CHICAGO – “We may have different beliefs, but all of our faiths call upon the moral imperative to end homelessness,” said Reverend Jackie Triche Atkins, a minister with Christ Universal Temple on Chicago’s Southside. Yesterday, Thursday, December 9, 2021, 100 Chicagoans including leaders from the Islam, Bahá’í, Jewish and Christian faiths and members from over 15 faith institutions came together via Zoom to listen, learn, and share about the housing and homelessness crisis in Chicago. A yearly estimate from Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, states over 58,000 are experiencing homelessness on the streets, in shelters or living-doubled-up.

Bring Chicago Home, a campaign endorsed by over 85 organizations in Chicago, proposes to create a new, dedicated revenue stream to fund permanent, supportive housing (PSH) for people experiencing homelessness. PSH, a model that combines affordable housing with wraparound services like mental health supports and job training, plays a critical role in stabilizing and healing people after their traumatic experience with homelessness. The new revenue would come from increasing the real estate transfer tax, a one-time tax on properties sold for over $1 million, impacting less than 5% of property transactions in Chicago. This additional funding could house an estimated 12,000 families in the next 10 years.

After supporting the Bring Chicago Home campaign during her election bid, Mayor Lori Lightfoot has since refused to support a proposal that would both change the real estate transfer tax on high end property transactions and dedicate a portion of the additional resources to homelessness.

“It is incredibly frustrating, but this is a season of hope. I am hopeful. I am hopeful that our Mayor and city council Aldermen can act on this proposal. It’s simply the right thing to do,” ended Reverend Jackie.

Wind Creek Illinois in Homewood – East Hazel Crest to hold casino license in the Southland Region Continued from page 1

BY TIA CAROL JONES

The Illinois Gaming Board voted that Wind Creek, LLC, is preliminarily suitable for an owner’s license for a casino in the South Suburbs. Wind Creek Illinois, operated by Wind Creek Illinois Hospitality, LLC, will be located in Homewood-East Hazel Crest.

“Throughout this process, we have reiterated the belief that we offer the best location in and for the south suburban region – and will deliver on our commitments to job creation, community and economic investment, sustained operational excellence, and a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion in all phases of construction and operation,” Wind Creek Hospitality and CEO Jay Dorris said in a statement. We plan to open the facility in 2023 and look forward to expanding our network of relationships in the Southland, working closely with leaders, organizations and residents to ensure that the benefits associated with this project are felt by the entire region.”

The Poarch Creek Indian Gaming Authority will operate and manage the casino as it does the other casinos under the Wind

Creek Hospitality brand.

Wind Creek Hospitality chose Homewood and East Hazel Crest as the location for the casino because of the strength and stability of both communities, their visionary leadership, as well as the ability for the location to draw out-of-state visitors.

The hope is that Wind Creek Illinois will maximize revenue, not just for Homewood and Hazel Crest, but for the entire Southland region.

The Villages of Matteson, Lynwood and Calumet City also submitted applications for the South Suburban casino license. In October, the Illinois Gaming Board voted for Matteson and Homewood-Hazel Crest as the two finalists for the license.

Wind Creek Illinois will be a AAA Four Diamond Casino destination, with a 70,000 square foot casino floor. It will have more than 1,350 slot machines and 56 table games; 15,800 square foot entertainment center; 35,000 square foot conference and banquet facility; three restaurants, two bars and a skyline lounge. The hotel will have 252 rooms, with an indoor pool and spa.

Rich Hofeld, president of the Village of Homewood, believes the location of Wind Creek, close to I-80, was a determining

factor in the Illinois Gaming Board giving the proposal the license.

“This site will generate the most revenue of all the sites that have been proposed for the Southland,” he said.

“In essence, when you evaluate a site, what you want to see is which site will generate the most revenue and which site will sustain that revenue growth.

Both the gaming board, Wind Creek and ourselves we felt this was the site that would do that.”

During a presentation by Wind Creek Illinois to the Illinois Gaming Board, it mentioned a $156 million in annual gaming revenues.

Wind Creek Illinois will submit final plans to the gaming board in early 2022, with construction to begin once the weather permits. The project is set to be completed in 2023 and 12-18 months for construction of the facility.

Wind Creek Illinois will create 800 casino jobs. Hofeld said in the Southland community, there is a need for good paying jobs.

Local communities will receive, as dictated by the legislation, 2% of the gaming revenues and the South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association membership, which consists of more than 40 communities, will receive 3%.

$182 Million in Education Innovation and Research Grants to Improve Academic U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona announced $182 million in new grant awards to 30 school districts, institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations across the United States as part of the Education Innovation and Research (EIR) program. These grants will support local efforts to develop, implement, and take to scale entrepreneurial and evidence-based projects that have the potential to improve academic achievement for underserved students.

“Especially as students, educators, and school communities continue to heal and recover from the pandemic, we must invest in programs that are innovative and backed by evidence of what works to ensure that our education

system can fully and effectively address the academic and social-emotional needs of our children,” said Secretary Cardona. “These grants will help to offer rich opportunities to accelerate students’ learning and nurture their development. I look forward to seeing how Education Innovation and Research Grants help take promising practices to scale.”

The EIR program helps the field design, scale, and validate programs with the potential to solve education’s most pressing problems. Twenty six of the 30 grantees address at least one of the priorities included in the competition for responding to the impact of the pandemic or promoting equity in student access to high-quality educational

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resources and opportunities.

As a result, the EIR grantees are exploring innovations for potential models for how the nation can address the impact of school closures and lost instructional time resulting from the pandemic, including: increasing student learning in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) by providing tools to support a school-based tutoring program with volunteer tutors; utilizing a literacy intervention for kindergarten through third grade that delivers research-based one-on-one tutoring and family engagement; supporting second-graders’ literacy learning recovery among underserved and rural populations;

increasing the number of students who feel they belong, demonstrate resilience, and build positive relationships through social emotional learning (SEL) instruction and enhanced family therapy and health services.

Within this cohort of grants, the EIR program is supporting: more than $46 million in grants to rural areas; more than $67 million in grants focused on STEM education (including computer science); and more than $73 million in grants supporting SEL projects.

[1] A full list of selected grantees can be found at: https://oese. ed.gov/offices/office-of-discretionary-grants-support-services/innovation-early-learning/.

CITIZEN | South Suburban | Week of Dec. 22, 2021

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NEWS

500 Black State Legislators Address Voting Rights and Other Issues in Atlanta Vice President Kamala Harris, Ghana’s President, and Others Receive Awards Washington, D.C. -- Over 500 Black State Legislators from across the United States left the National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL) Annual Legislative Conference last weekend recommitted to addressing voting rights, health care, education, and other important issues that are impacting African American communities. Presently, more than 20 states have passed laws that will make it harder for millions of Americans to vote.

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris prepared recorded remarks that were shown during the Annual Awards Ceremony for the conference attendees. “We have a White House that looks like America,’ said President Biden. In her remarks, Vice President Harris said, “We must have a national baseline for voting rights.”

“Georgia is ground zero for voter suppression,” said NBCSL President Billy Mitchell (GA). “One of NBCSL’s goals is to ensure that we support and provide the framework needed for Black Legislators to better represent their communities, which is a major reason why we’re creating a Public Policy Research Institute (PPRI),” he said.

The Institute will represent the nation’s only nonpartisan think tank dedicated to providing evidenced-based public policy research to state legislators with a focus on issues concerning the Black community. “In addition, PPRI will provide leadership development and training for legislators to assist them in constructing and analyzing new public policy,” said President Mitchell.

Vice President Harris was presented with the David P. Richardson Jr. National Nation Builder Award for her significant contributions and for laying the foundation for political progress of African Americans. The inaugural

POLITICAL Affairs Belt law removes standardized test requirement for university acceptance starting Jan. 1

A panel comprised civic and social justice leaders discussed “Charting the Course for Our Communities” at NBCSL’s Annual Legislative Conference. Pictured from left to right: Cheryl Pryor, Indiana State Representative; Janice L. Mathis, Executive Director National Council of Negro Women; Carlos Moore, Judge and National Bar Association President; Shavon Arline-Bradley, Principal R.E.A.C.H. Beyond and President, Delta 4 Women in Action; Derrick Johnson, President of the NAACP; Melanie Campbell, President, National Coalition on Black Civic Participation; and Marc Morial, President, National Urban League. National Black Caucus of State Legislators.

2021 International Nation Builder Award was presented to Nana Akufo-Addo, President of the Republic of Ghana.

“President Akufo-Addo’s leadership demonstrates his commitment to public service, the Republic of Ghana, and the global African community,” said Mitchell. “He advocates guaranteeing the rights of Ghanian citizens and is a champion for justice, freedom, and democracy.”

Darnella Frazier, the Minneapolis, Minnesota teenager who recorded the video of George Floyd’s arrest and death in 2020, received the Senator Regis F. Groff Youth Award for her courage and being the catalyst for demonstrations and a worldwide movement to admonish racial and social injustice.

The late Congressman John Lewis was posthumously honored with NBCSL’s Nation Award for his years of service as a civil rights leader and politician, while 92 year-old recently elected Tennessee State Representative Barbara Ward Cooper received the Living Legend Award for her decades - long dedication to youth and the Black community in Memphis. The CROWN Coalition also was a National Nation

Builder Award recipient for the group’s efforts that resulted in the 2019 passage of the CROWN Act in California, legislation that was written to end hair discrimination and expand legal protections for people of color who choose to wear natural hair in the workplace and in public and charter schools.

The CROWN Coalition is a national alliance founded by Dove, the National Urban League, Color of Change, and Western Center on Law & Poverty. To date, 14 states and 29 municipalities have enactedThe CROWN Act, or laws inspired by the CROWN Act. Renee Montgomery, a former WNBA player Allstar, was the Georgia State Recipient of the Nation Builder Award. She is presently one of the owners and Vice President of the WNBA’s Atlanta Dream and operates The Renee Montgomery Foundation which serves the Atlanta community and focuses on voter registration and educating the community on local, state-wide, and national election processes.

In addition, Texas State Representative Senfronia Thompson received the Legislator of the Year Award

while State Representative Jasmine Crockett, also from Texas, was the recipient of the Freshman Legislator of the Year Award. Steve Hightower, President and CEO of Hightower’s Petroleum Company, was given the Corporate Achievement & Image Award.

NBCSL’s Annual Legislative Conference distinguished guest speakers provided input on a wide range of issues that impact black and brown communities from Covid-19 to criminal justice reform, voting rights, health care, the upcoming 2022 mid-terms elections, increasing home ownership opportunities, and social justice.

Speakers included civil rights icon Andrew Young; Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Marcia Fudge; National Urban League President, Marc Morial; NAACP President, Derrick Johnson; National Council of Negro Women Executive Director, Janice Mathis; and National Bar Association President, Judge Carlos Moore.

The 2022 NBCSL Annual Legislative Conference will be held in Las Vegas.

To learn more about NBCSL, visit www.nbcsl.org

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Starting Jan. 1, students who wish to attend an Illinois public college or university will no longer be required to submit ACT and SAT scores when applying, thanks to a law championed by State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Swansea).

“Standardized test scores do not showcase a student’s ability,” Belt said. “Students struggle each year to do well on ACT and SAT tests.

Removing this requirement will help test-anxious students get into college.”

The new law, led by Belt and Representative LaToya Greenwood (DEast St. Louis), creates the Higher Education Fair Admissions Act, which prohibits Illinois’ public universities from relying solely on a student’s ACT or SAT score to make an admissions decision.

Currently, a quarter of the country’s public universities do not require standardized tests scores for admittance. Notably, the University of Chicago recently saw record enrollment of firstgeneration, low-income and rural students after lifting its standardized test requirement.

Admission counselors have been looking more closely at the benefits from adopting test-optional strategies. Other submissions from students, including essays, activities and academic records, bring larger and more diverse applicants to colleges and universities.

“The ACT and SAT create a barrier for underprivileged and disadvantaged students,” Belt said. “When qualified applicants are denied admittance because of a test score, high-caliber students are left out. It’s essential that we continue to protect students and give them every available opportunity to support their future.”

Starting Jan. 1, incoming college students will not be required to submit standardized test scores under Public Act 102-0054.

Simmons law to ban hairstyle discrimination in schools to take effect Jan. 1 Starting Jan. 1, schools will be prohibited from discriminating against natural hairstyles traditionally associated with race and ethnicityincluding locs, braids, twists and afros - thanks to a law championed

by State Senator Mike Simmons (D-Chicago).

“No child should ever be singled out for sporting a hairstyle that authentically expresses their heritage and culture,” Simmons said.

“These policies only serve to humiliate students of color who choose to dress themselves and wear their hair in a style that honors and respects their heritage and ancestry.”

The Jett Hawkins Act prevents school boards, local school councils, charter schools and non-private schools from creating hairstyle-based dress code requirements. Simmons, who wears his hair in freeform locs, championed the law in support of Jett Hawkins, a 4-year old boy who was sent home from school earlier this year for having braids that violated his school’s dress code.

“Kids like Jett deserve to express themselves however they see fit and they shouldn’t have to be restricted by old fashioned and often racist dress codes,” Simmons said. “We need to empower Black children to have the confidence to express themselves naturally, and give them and their families more agency over their personal choices.

We still have more work to do, but I’m pleased that beginning in 2022, Black youth in Illinois will be able to wear their hair naturally in all schools.”

Public Act 102-0360 , which was signed into law by Gov. JB Pritzker on Aug. 13, will take effect Jan. 1 , 2022.

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4 | CITIZEN | South Suburban | Week of Dec. 22, 2021

BUSINESS

Jennifer Epps to take helm of major fund With backing from major foundations, AFL-CIO and SEIU, “LIFT Fund” supports organizations that are pioneering worker community partnerships

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The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts Appoints Eric Pryor as Its Next President PHILADELPHIA PRNewswire -- The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA) is pleased to announce that Eric Pryor has been appointed president of the historic museum and college, beginning Tuesday, January 18.

One of America’s cornerstone cultural institutions, PAFA is poised to move forward into its next significant institutional chapter.

A strategic, creative, and collaborative leader, Pryor is skilled at guiding institutions through transitions and will partner with PAFA’s constituents to reimagine the organization and ensure its long-term sustainability.

“I am profoundly honored to be taking on the leadership of this historic and celebrated institution,” said incoming PAFA President Eric Pryor. “I am eager to work in partnership with the PAFA board, staff, faculty, students, and alumni, and start writing its next chapter together. I’m also delighted to be returning to Philadelphia and its varied communities. It is a city of great art and artistry, with PAFA as one of its crown jewels.”

Eric Pryor brings over 25 years of experience in education, museum administration and community-building initiatives to PAFA. He joins PAFA from the Harlem School of the Arts (HSA), where he has served as president since 2015. During his tenure he secured a significant gift that enabled the school to undertake its first major renovation in 40 years and move toward becoming a cultural hub for the neighborhood.

Previously, he served as Executive Director of The Center for Arts Education, was Executive Director of the New Jersey State Museum, and President of the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey. Pryor began his arts career as Executive Director of the Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation’s Center for Arts and Culture (CAC)

in Brooklyn, New York. He is a graduate of Tyler School of Art, Temple University (Master of Fine Arts) and Wayne State University (Bachelor of Fine Arts, Painting), and Columbia University’s Executive Leadership Program for Nonprofits.

“We unanimously chose Eric Pryor as the next President of PAFA because he has all the qualities we hoped for in our next leader: he is strategic, collaborative, and innovative, with the sensibility of an artist,” said PAFA Board of Trustees Chair Anne E. McCollum. “He will bring a new dynamic to our 216-year old institution that will help us respond to our changing society. I’d like to thank everyone involved in our extensive and inclusive search process resulting in the best possible outcome as we move forward together as an institution.”

“Eric Pryor resonates with PAFA’s shared core values as an institution—its traditions, commitment to diversity and inclusion as well as to education and stewardship, and its foundational bedrock of community,” said Board of Trustees Vice Chair and Board of Governors Chair Reginald M. Browne. “He made a palpable connection with the PAFA community, and I am confident that he will be a passionate advocate for PAFA’s legacy.”

Founded in 1805, the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts is America’s first school and museum of fine arts. A recipient of the National Medal of Arts, PAFA offers undergraduate and graduate programs in the fine arts, innovative exhibitions of historic and contemporary American art, and a world-class collection of American art.

PAFA’s esteemed alumni include Mary Cassatt, Njideka Akunyili Crosby, Maxfield Parrish, William Glackens, Barkley L. Hendricks, Violet Oakley, Louis Kahn, David Lynch, and Henry Ossawa Tanner. Learn more at PAFA.org.

WASHINGTON PRNewswire -- Amidst a global pandemic and ever-increasing worker inequality, the need to effectively organize and uplift worker voices towards better and safer working conditions has become imperative.

Worker centers and labor unions have an opportunity to step up to create unique partnerships that support new forms of worker organizing that ultimately lead to greater and sustained prosperity for workers.

The funders tapped Jennifer Epps as LIFT’s next leader in its fight to build a stronger labor movement across America.

To this end, Labor Innovations for the 21st Century Fund (LIFT Fund), a unique collaborative fund with a decade-long history, aims to ensure that workers are at the center of decision-making as public support for worker organizing increases. Over the past 10 years, LIFT has led the issuance of key grants to support a diverse array of innovative organizing projects, as well as to build trusting relationships within the movement. LIFT has been a vital convener that brings together philanthropy, unions, worker centers and other movement allies; and a thought partner focused on continuous learning for its funders and the field overall.

Backed by some of the largest and most forward-looking philanthropic institutions, including Ford Foundation, James Irvine Foundation, JPB Foundation, Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation, Omidyar Network, Open Society Foundations, Solidago Foundation, Surdna Foundation, TARA Health Foundation, The Unitarian Universalist Veatch Program at Shelter Rock, and W.K. Kellogg Foundation, as well as leading labor organizations, including the AFL-CIO and SEIU, LIFT is working to bring the unity and change that the movement needs.

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The funders recently tapped veteran labor strategist and organizer Jennifer Epps as LIFT’s next leader in its fight to build a stronger worker and labor movement and support innovative and bold strategies being developed by organizers across America.

Epps has worked on the frontlines leading strategies that have led to unionization, improvements in benefits, better working conditions, and raised millions of dollars for workers in the health care and education sectors.

As a former vice president of the largest local union in the world, 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, and as the former executive director of one of the largest teachers’ union locals in the nation, Epps brings more than 15 years of experience organizing and winning for workers to her new role as Executive Director of the LIFT Fund.

As a seasoned organizer and strategic leader with extensive experience building worker power, Epps has helped forge relationships and alliances between labor and community organizations to win major victories.

After a nationwide search, Epps will become the second executive director in LIFT’s 10-year history.

“I’m honored to join LIFT to build on the good work done so far and further its growth, especially in the U.S. South through the Southern Worker Opportunity (SWO) Fund. And I’m eager to help expand the capacity of labor, community and philanthropic organizations in building a future we

all want to see,” said Epps.

The search was led by a hiring committee composed of three funders, the AFLCIO, the Ford Foundation, and TARA Health Foundation, who considered a number of strong candidates.

“Jennifer was selected because she is a creative, visionary, and capable organizational leader who has dedicated her career to building power for working people,” said Fred Redmond, Secretary-Treasurer for the AFL-CIO. “As a founding member of the LIFT Fund, this is an exciting moment for the labor movement.

With more and more workers increasingly taking collective action, this is a moment that represents an opportunity to organize, grow, and build worker power. The LIFT Fund is well positioned to be at the center of this work.”

The AFL-CIO is a co-chair of the LIFT Fund and a seed funder for the SWO Fund.

Epps takes the reins after LIFT’s former Director, Valeria Treves, stepped down to serve as an Advisor for Worker Voice Engagement at the U.S. Department of Labor in February 2021.

“We see tremendous opportunity for change in this moment of increased support for worker voice and organizing, and are thrilled to have Jennifer Epps at the helm to usher the LIFT Fund into a new era,” said Sarita Gupta, director of the Future of Work(ers) program at the Ford Foundation. Ford is a co-chair of the LIFT Fund and a seed funder for the SWO Fund.

Today, LIFT has grown exponentially with the addition of a new initiative, the SWO Fund, a $20 million collaborative vehicle to support the development of a coordinated “ecosystem” of organizations, working on campaigns that can increase the collective power of workers, promote racial and gender justice, and improve the living and working conditions of workers across the South.

CITIZEN | South Suburban | Week of Dec. 22, 2021

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FASHION

Foot Locker, Inc. Announces New Womenswear Brand Cozi Lifestyle Brand Offers Size-Inclusive Apparel Collection Designed to Encourage Women to Embrace Their Individuality and Feel Comfortable in Their Own Skin, Without Sacrificing Style or Comfort

Shop Style Shark Features Massive Christmas Sale

NEW YORK PRNewswire -- Foot Locker, Inc. (NYSE:FL) today announces the launch of its first proprietary womenswear brand, Cozi, that will be available globally and exclusively at Foot Locker and Champs Sports. Following successful controlled brand launches of LCKR and capsule collections by collaborators Melody Ehsani and Don C, Cozi is an apparel brand designed for women who keep up with trends, love sneakers and crave premium wardrobe staples at an affordable value.

Foot Locker, Inc. will launch the new brand with a strong cast of diverse women from around the United States, including singer and songwriter Sy’rai Smith, skateboarder and community organizer Briana King, content creator Ilianna Ayala Garcia, photographer Christina Paik, hooper and video producer Hannah O’Flynn, DJ and creative Amrit and musicians Angel & Dren Coleman, who will all showcase how they style Cozi to match their personalities.

Sy’rai Smith, the 19-year-old daughter of iconic singer-songwriter-actress Brandy, will star as the face of the debut collection. Sy’rai embodies the Cozi lifestyle – from her bold, stand-out style and passion for R&B and pop music to her recent advocacy of mental and physical health for young women.

Cozi marks Sy’rai’s first fashion brand ambassadorship.

“At Foot Locker, Inc., we are always thinking about the consumer. We understand that laid-back apparel isn’t just for lounging anymore, and wanted to bring a female-centric apparel line to the market that is comfortable, affordable and stylish” says Kirta Carroll, Vice President, GMM Global Women’s at Foot Locker, Inc. “The introduction of Cozi allows women to feel confident in pieces that mix and match with their own style and personality.

Just in time for the holidays, the debut Cozi collection is available now globally in-store and online at Foot Locker, Foot Locker

Break Out Online Fashion Retailer Unlike most of our competitors, Shop Style Shark is owned and operated by a woman. Dionne Middlebrooks is the heart of the business, but helping women feel beautiful is at the soul of what they do. From expert tips and trending updates to inspiration for your newest style – Shop Style Shark has something for everyone.

Whether you are looking for great loungewear for that stayhome gig, or you are planning holiday parties with someone special – you will find exactly what you love at Shop Style Shark – and at an affordable price. Stock up for yourself, or take care of some holiday gift shopping with this fantastic sale!

Shop Style Shark founder and owner, Dionne Middlebrooks, believes that great fashion and feeling great doesn’t have to come at a high price point. Shop Style Shark partners with designers to bring customers high-quality, trendy fashion at affordable prices. Visit https://shopstyleshark.com/ to learn more.

BlackPRWire

(Black PR Wire) Woman-owned online fashion retailer Shop Style Shark announces huge Christmas sale event.

At Shop Style Shark, our goal is to help our customers find everything they need in one place. And there is no better time than now to stock up on your favorite hot and trending styles. From Christmas Day to Dec. 29th, Shop Style Shark is offering customers 20% off everything in their online store.

On top of the already affordable prices and low shipping rates (free shipping on orders over $50), the 20% off bonus will help customers save even more on the items they have been longing for, as well as those they haven’t quite discovered yet. It is truly a great season for giving yourself and your loved ones the gift of high-quality, affordable fashion.

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Canada, Foot Locker Europe and Champs Sports, with exclusive styles and colors available at select locations. Ranging between $35 - $50, the premier collection boasts a neutral color palette including buttercream, dusty rose, antique bronze and pesto to name a few. Trend-forward styles including cropped quarter-zip pullover tops and hoodies, wide-leg sweatpants and high-rise joggers are available in inclusive women’s sizing XS - 3X. The “wear-whenever, wherever” brand will release seasonal collections in a blend of spandex and cotton fabric throughout 2022.

For more information about Cozi and to stay up-to-date on the collection releases, follow @footlocker, @footlockerwomen, @footlockercanada, @footlockereurope, @champssports and @champssports.womens.

Silver Jeans Co.™ Releases All-new Infinite Fit Jean

Silver Jeans Co. uses innovative technology and sustainable eco-washes for the Infinite Fit collection.

LOS ANGELES PRNewswire -- The Infinite Fit jean features innovative denim technology, allowing for one size to fit up to four waist sizes, making it a supple, adaptive jean that will fit every day.

The jeans are crafted with a revolutionary fabric with over 90% elasticity, expanding and contracting that adapt to the natural body changes women experience. The jeans feature amazing recovery and retention to enhance the wearer’s natural shape, without the risk of stretching out over time.

“Creating Infinite Fit was a very cool process for us. We used what we learned from the past 30 years and combined that with new technologies available today to create a jean that is as comfortable as it is fashionable,” said Michael Silver, Silver Jeans Co. CEO. “At the same time we simplified the buying process with a jean that comes in only four sizes, yet fits everybody’s size and shape.”

The idea was developed by vice president of design, Janice Marks, due to the stay-at-home order. Finding that getting ready for work each day helped her retain a sense of normalcy, she realized the need for a jean with the fit and function of activewear, but the authenticity of real denim.

“With the changes and fluctuations my body went through, and the difficulty of online ordering, I wanted to incorporate

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this innovative technology into a denim collection where one size fit four sizes,” Marks said. “Not only is it a foolproof option to solve my online shopping conundrum, but I now have jeans that conform and adjust as my body dictates, creating a perfectly slimming skinny jean.” www.citizennewspapergroup.com

The new Infinite Fit also reflects Silver Jean’s progression toward environmental consciousness, using a signature eco wash that results in less water, chemicals and energy expenditure than traditional denim wash methods. Since the line also ebbs and flows with sizing, it can become the closet staple for years, which means less waste.

Size small is suited for sizes 24 to 27; medium sizes 28 to 31; large sizes 32 through 35; and an XL 36 through 39 or dress sizes 16-18.

Infinite Fit retails for $68USD and $88CAD. It’s available now at silverjeans.com, and soon through specialty retailers, including Nordstrom.com and Macys.com in the US, and Mark’s and PSEUDIO in Canada. The brand also has upcoming plans to add silhouettes and expand into men’s.

Established in 1991, Silver Jeans Co.’s heritage is what makes them one-of-a-kind. The brand is known for their expertly crafted denim that’s designed to fit every body type. With a unique design approach and variety of options in rises, leg openings, inseams and washes, Silver Jeans Co.™ is the destination for anyone looking for their perfect fit. Silver Jeans Co.™ products are sold online at silverjeans.com, as well as major department stores and independent retailers.

6 | CITIZEN | South Suburban | Week of Dec. 22, 2021

Moving forward together We’ve been through a lot together and have proved to be resilient. The approaching new year brings with it new possibilities to help our clients, communities and teammates move forward and prosper — safely.

Using our industry-leading digital tools, like mobile check deposits, Erica,® CashPro® and access to Zelle,® individuals and businesses are finding it easier to do their everyday banking. Across the country, the expertise of our specialists and our teammates in financial centers is helping clients meet all their financial needs at every stage of their lives.

In our communities, we continue to collaborate with local partners, business leaders, experts and academics across the public and private sectors to fuel job growth and financial stability. More than $400 million of our $1.25 billion commitment to advance racial equality and economic opportunity is already supporting diverse small businesses and partners, including many recipients here in Chicago who provide job skilling and hiring programs.

We’ve also increased resources to support our teammates’ emotional and financial well-being. Recently, we raised our minimum hourly wage for U.S. employees to $21 per hour, moving closer to our goal of $25 by 2025.

My teammates and I look forward to growing existing partnerships and creating new ones as we work together to make a difference. Have a safe and happy holiday season.

What would you like the power to do? ®

Paul Lambert President, Bank of America Chicago

Learn more at bankofamerica.com/chicago

Zelle and the Zelle related marks are wholly owned by Early Warning Services, LLC and are used herein under license. Bank of America, the Bank of America logo, Erica® and CashPro® © 2021 Bank of America Corporation. All rights reserved. are registered trademarks of the Bank of America Corporation. Bank of America, N.A. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender

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CITIZEN | South Suburban | Week of Dec. 22, 2021

iamBrandon takes his game to the next level with Xfinity Internet. He gets WiFi speed faster than a gig to game and stream for his legion of fans. And, when he’s not runnin’ it online, he kicks back with the ultimate in Black storytelling with the Black Experience on Xfinity. Plus, he enjoys his favorite streaming apps all in one place with his Xfinity Flex 4K streaming TV box, free with Xfinity Internet. Can your Internet do that?

Visit xfinity.com/xFi to learn more.

Restrictions apply. Not available in all areas. Internet: Gig speed requires Gigabit Internet and compatible xFi. Many factors affect speed, including equipment performance, interference, congestion, and speeds of visited websites. WiFi speeds are affected by additional factors, including distance from Gateway, home configuration, personal device capabilities, and others. For factors affecting speed visit xfinity. com/networkmanagement. Flex: Requires post-paid subscription to Xfinity Internet, excluding Internet Essentials. Not available to current Xfinity TV customers. Pricing subject to change. Taxes, fees and other applicable charges extra, and subject to change. Limited to up to 3 devices. 1 device included. Call for restrictions and complete details. ©2021 Comcast.

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Everyday player to award-winning streamer

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iamBrandon Award-Winning Streamer and Twitch Partner

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8 | CITIZEN | South Suburban | Week of Dec. 22, 2021

ENTERTAINMENT

Hallmark Mahogany Launches All-New Writing Community

BlackPRWire

Warner Bros. Hosts ‘The Matrix Resurrections’ DJ Battle (Black PR Wire) - ORLANDO, FL - On Saturday, Warner Bros. sponsored a “Red Pill vs Blue Pill”, Matrix-themed, DJ Battle at Orlando’s Culture Fest in anticipation of the upcoming release of The Matrix Resurrections with thousands in attendance . The battle featured DJ Dr Doom (93.3 The Beat) and DJ D Strong of (104.5 The Beat) along with rappers Ayche (Tampa, FL) and Kevy Dat Deal (Tallahassee, FL). The audience danced and sang to the music with a lighthearted happiness filling the air.Team Red Pill, DJ Dr. Doom and Kevy Dat Deal, were crowned as winners of the battle by the end of the night.

The headlining DJ, D-Nice gave a rousing performance with host Kenny Burns. Mystikal, Lil G from Silk and Jagged Edge also adorned the stage performing their greatest hits. It staged some of

Florida’s greatest DJs such as DJ Kayotic, DJ Emcee, DJ Squirel, DJ Ghostrider, DJ Sir Knight Train, DJ Bo Weezy and more. The festival also featured local talent, CeCe Teneal.

Warner Bros. activation team was onsite giving away t-shirts, caps and glow bracelets, spreading the word about the film and even included Matrix Trivia for the attendees to enjoy. Guests also took pictures in front of the Matrix backdrop with green glow sticks that lit up the night with Matrix green.

This was the first festival of its kind in the Orlando area since the pandemic and the crowd came ready to dance, sing along to the music, enjoy the great food vendors and to have an overall awesome night out.

Many fans came in the early afternoon and stayed the entire day enjoying the festival until sundown.

Sharifah Hardie Launches “Black Guest List” (Black PR Wire) Founded

by Sharifah Hardie, the newly launched platform Black Guest List provides media outlets immediate access to Black influencers, Black thought leaders, Black politicians, Black business professionals, Black authors, Black entertainers, and Black artists interested in locating media opportunities.

Historically it is hard for hosts to find people from diverse backgrounds to interview. Black Guest List makes finding these guests simple, by creating a comprehensive searchable database of potential guests and providing a space for Black people worldwide to share their stories.

“We are not looking to just make a list of Black people. Our aim is to provide access to media opportunities qualified guests otherwise would not be aware of, to increase Black representation in the media and put their distinct views front and center,” says Sharifah Hardie Founder of Black Guest List, Chief Executive Officer of IT TV Network & President of the Southern

BlackPRWire

California Black Chamber of Commerce - Long Beach Area.

“As a talk show host I don’t see many Black guests listed on the websites I use to find new guests. I want to change that. I want to make Black Guest List the go-to platform for Black people of note to find interviews on podcasts, television shows, print publications and radio shows and make it easier for anyone with a microphone to find a fascinating guest without dealing with intermediaries!”

Radio hosts, podcast producers, and television show bookers can use the well-designed interface of

the website to find expert guests for interviews. With so many radio talk show hosts, podcast producers, online radio show producers, satellite radio producers, and television program bookers searching for new interview guests each week, it can be tough to book a suitable one in time. Black Guest List will now make their lives much easier.

Whether the media outlet needs a Black comedian, Black doctor, Black professor, Black athlete, or a Black educator — Black Guest List is the ultimate Black media source for anyone looking for guests for a tremendous enlightening interview. www.citizennewspapergroup.com

KANSAS CITY, Mo., PRNewswire -- Hallmark Mahogany announced today the launch of the Mahogany Writing Community on the all-new Mahogany.com site.

The writing community is a place where Black women can share their personal stories and experiences in their own authentic voices, connect through emotionally meaningful moments, and cultivate sisterhood.

“Through the Mahogany Writing Community, we are thrilled to celebrate Black women and build a place of trust and sisterhood that honors the beauty, diversity, resilience, fierceness, and vibrancy of Black womanhood,” said Alexis Kerr, vice president of the Mahogany brand at Hallmark. “For more than 30 years, Mahogany has been a trusted brand within the Black community. Today, we are building on that trust and positioning our brand to more than ever touch our consumer exactly where she is, through creating culturally authentic and resonant content and, of course, through our beautiful products that speak to her life.”

The Mahogany Writing Community currently includes eight writers with more to join in the coming months. The inaugural group is made up of Black women from a variety of backgrounds and experiences including authors, poets, advocates, activists, content creators and musicians. They will write original content across a range of topics - romantic relationships and friendship, sisterhood and motherhood, fitness and wellness, self-love and self-care, education and work, culture, and heritage, and much more.

“I am incredibly excited to be a part of this community! As a songwriter, I seldom have the chance to share my words in a larger format, and I consider it a privilege to have received this invitation,” said writer Jamie Grace. “I’m also, on a personal note, a ridiculous fan of Hallmark with actual movies on DVD in my home right now. This is wildly exciting!”

“The Mahogany Writing Community is a big part of Mahogany’s growth as a brand,” Kerr said. “We are creating a place where Black women can trust that their unique stories will be told, that their truths will be heard and honored, and their collective culture celebrated through the vibrant spectrum of their individual experiences. We are continuing to create an expressive, connective and reflective brand with and for Black women.”

The newly created Mahogany.com will be the online hub for the Mahog-

any brand where consumers can shop for Mahogany and other specially curated products, engage with and be inspired by original content from the Mahogany Writing Community, and connect with their community across multiple platforms including social media on Facebook and Instagram.

For more than 30 years Mahogany has built a relationship of trust with the Black community by honoring, celebrating, and supporting emotional connections among Black families, friends, and other loved ones. With its bold and culturally authentic voice and beautiful and diverse representations of blackness Mahogany helps our consumers celebrate the uniqueness of Black people, culture, and history; stand in the joys and trials of life together; and envision a hopeful and positive Black future.

Mahogany is committed to serving the evolving emotional needs of Black people, to helping deepen connections by reflecting real and relevant Black experiences, dreams, hopes, and faith, and to always making sure our consumers see themselves as they are – Black and beautiful.

For more than 100 years, family-owned Hallmark Cards, Inc. has been dedicated to creating a more emotionally connected world. Headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri and employing 27,000 worldwide, the approximately $3.5 billion company operates a diversified portfolio of businesses. The Hallmark Global business sells greeting cards, gift wrap and related products in more than 30 languages with distribution in nearly 100 countries and 100,000 rooftops worldwide, including a network of company-owned and independently-owned Hallmark Gold Crown stores in five countries. Crayola® offers a wide range of art materials and creative play toys designed to spark children’s creativity around the globe. Crown Media Family Networks operates three cable channels – Hallmark Channel, Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, and Hallmark Drama – in addition to Hallmark Publishing, a leading publisher of uplifting eBooks, audiobooks, and print editions, and Hallmark Movies Now, a subscription-based streaming service. Crown Center is a real estate development company that manages the 85-acre hotel, office, entertainment and residential campus surrounding Hallmark’s headquarters.

For more information, visit Hallmark. com. Connect on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, LinkedIn and YouTube.

CITIZEN | South Suburban | Week of Dec. 22, 2021

NEWS

How will churches and ministries look Post-Pandemic?

(Black PR Wire) United Theological Seminary Doctor of Ministry Program is offering a new Focus Group entitled, “A Generational Approach for Today’s Urban Ministry in the Next Normal.

This Focus Group is designed for current and emerging senior leaders of local congregations. It will examine implications of “Next Normal” core elements for congregational ministry; ministry paradigm shifting, connecting and leading hybrid multi-generational congregations; plus much more.

The principles of urban ministry, new ministry methodologies and leadership during the Next Normal will also be covered.

Applications currently being

Client: ComEd Campaign: Holiday Lights Print Agency Job #: B1241-019889-00 AD #/AD ID: QEXL1196000 Date Modified: December 6, 2021 2:06 PM CR: AD Round: BlackPRWire

accepted. This group will prepare church and ministry leaders for a new way of thinking and ministering in the “Next Normal.”

For more information contact: https://united.edu/mentor_directory/dr-sheila-l-johnson/

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NOT TO BE USED FOR COLOR APPROVAL P: E.Garber

BM: E. Schmidt

AM: L. Mitchell

MAY YOUR HOLIDAY SEASON BE BRIGHT From the thousands of lights across Chicago to the display on your own front yard, ComEd is here to help power holiday spirit across Chicagoland. Because when neighborhoods shine brighter, communities grow closer.

Learn about holiday light displays in the Chicagoland area at ComEd.com/HolidayLights Happy Holidays from ComEd. © Commonwealth Edison Company, 2021

Region: US Language: English Notes: South Shore Current (AA) West of the Ryan Current (AA) West Side Current (AA)

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10 | CITIZEN | South Suburban | Week of Dec. 22, 2021

GETTING HUNDREDS OF SENIORS VACCINATED DOESN’T TAKE A VILLAGE. IT TAKES A GLORIA.

Gloria helped answer vaccination-related questions for seniors living at the Patrick Sullivan Seniors Building.

If you need someone to talk to about the COVID-19 vaccine, we are here for you.

Call 312-746-4835 Chicago.gov/SeniorVax

Chicago Department of Public Health

CITIZEN | South Suburban | Week of Dec. 22, 2021

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MONEY Ring in the New Year with Three Simple Financial Resolutions * REAL PAPER * REAL INK * REAL NEWS

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Darrell Garth President /Publisher Janice Garth Sales Manager General Manager Tia Carol Jones Managing Editior Editorial Send news tips, press releases, calendar listing etc to: editorial@citizennewspapergroup.com

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(StatePoint) The New Year offers the perfect time for a fresh start and a renewed commitment to getting finances back on track after a season of spending – one where many Americans felt the effects of the pandemic on their wallets even before the onset of the holidays.

In fact, COVID-19 has already prompted consumers to start thinking differently about their finances. According to Lincoln Financial Group’s Consumer Sentiment Tracker, 59% say they are planning to make permanent changes to the way they spend and save due to the crisis. The findings went on to show that consumers’ top three financial concerns in today’s market include emergency savings (41%), having enough income in retirement (40%) and inflation (39%).

“Our research found consumers are especially interested in protection during times of financial uncertainty, which reinforces the need for financial planning,” said Sharon Scanlon, senior vice president, Customer Experience, Producer Solutions and Retirement Operations for Lincoln Financial Group. “Everyone has competing priorities but making a few easy adjustments can help people achieve their financial goals.”

Here are three simple financial resolutions Lincoln Financial recommends for 2022 to help strengthen consumers’ financial outlooks in the new year: 1. Review finances holistically. Ensure you evaluate the big picture – not just where you are spending, but where you are saving and protecting your future too. A simple budget will help you differentiate between needs and wants, enabling you to find areas to cut back or eliminate to find money to meet your financial goals, like retirement or emergency savings. Maximize online budgeting tools,

calculators and other financial wellness resources available through your employer too.

2. Prepare for the unexpected. Without the right protections in place, an unexpected event can derail retirement savings, disrupt your ability to provide for your family or drive you into additional debt. Look into coverages like disability, accident and life insurance that may be available through your employer or consider an individual life insurance policy.

Also, commit to funding your emergency savings account as part of your budget. And don’t forget to think about how you would fund the cost of care if you or a loved one had a long-term care event.

3. Plan for the future. Start with your employer-sponsored retirement plan and commit to save at least up to the match, if available. If you already meet the match, resolve to increase your retirement contributions each year, or with each increase in pay. You don’t just need a retirement plan, though – you need a plan for retirement! Consider diversifying your portfolio with an annuity. Also, inplan guaranteed income options can serve as a powerful tool to protect savings during periods of market volatility, while still benefitting you when the market goes up.

In addition to these resolutions, also consider meeting with a trusted financial professional who can help you identify solutions that best meet your individual needs and situation. Visit www.lfg.com for more tools and resources.

With a few proactive strategies, you can get 2022 started on the right financial foot.

Advertising Display Advertising advertising@citizennewspapergroup.com or jgarth@citizennewspapergroup.com Classified Advertising call us at (773) 783-1251 Display Advertising call us at (773) 783-1251 Coverage Areas: CHATHAM-SOUTHEAST

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SUBURBAN TIMES WEEKLY Bloom Township, Chicago Heights, Flossmoor, Ford Heights, 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, Chicago Weekend, South Suburban and Hyde Park Citizen and Citizen Suburban Times Weekly. Our weekly publications are published on Wednesday’s (publishing 52 issues annually). Written permission is required to reproduce contents in whole or in part from the publisher. Citizen Newspaper Group, Inc. does not assume the responsibility for nor are we able to return unsolicited materials, therefore they become property of the newspaper and can or will be discarded or used at the newspapers disgratation. Deadlines for advertising is every Friday at noon. Deadlines for press releases are Thursdays at 10 am prior to the next week’s edition. Please send press release information to: editorial@citizennewspapergroup.com. For more information on subscriptions or advertising, call us at (773) 7831251 or fax (872) 208-8793. Our offices are located at 8741 South Greenwood Suite# 107, Chicago, Illinois 60619.

12 | CITIZEN | South Suburban | Week of Dec. 22, 2021

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