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Citizen Week of May 2, 2018

| Vol. 1 | No. 38 | www.thechicagocitizen.com

HELP WITH SUBSTANCE ABUSE, MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND EDUCATION SERVE AS KEY FACTORS IN REDUCING RECIDIVISM RATES Marcus King, senior community outreach administrator for the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) signs off on community service hours for one of Aurora University’s criminal justice students who participated in a recent IDOC Summit of Health. The summit sought to engage parolees in the reentry process by connecting them to health providers who discussed resources in the community.

See more on Page 3

Art Scene: Free Street Welcomes FEMelanin as Guest Artists-in-Residency - Page 2 Politiscope: Trump’s Exports-Good, Imports-Bad Trade Policy, Debunked by an Economist - Page 3 |

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Photo: Urbanized Music

SUBURBAN TIMES WEEKLY

2 | CITIZEN | Suburban Times Weekly | Week of May 2, 2018

ART SCENE

TRAVEL

Free Street Welcomes FEMelanin as Guest Artistsin-Residency CHICAGO – This Spring, Free Street welcomes

the performance collective FEMelanin to present “Epic Tales from the Land of Melanin,” a joyful and participatory performance aimed at audiences ages 5 and up. Epic Tales is presented as part of Free Street’s In/House residency program, a project that supports the creation of new work by underrepresented artists in Chicago. A quest from learning self defense sequences to battling hula hoop force fields, Epic Tales follows the adventures of 3 girls of color - warriors, explorers, and friends - as they take you on a funny and poignant journey to change the world.

Performances are Fridays at 6pm and Saturdays at 1:30pm and 3:30pm from May 11th to May 26th at Free Street Theater in Pulaski Park.

All Free Street productions are free or PayWhat-You-Can at the door. To reserve a seat, you can purchase a ticket in advance at https:// epictales.brownpaperticket.com ABOUT THE SHOW In a time where the world is in emotional turmoil, where respecting - let alone celebrating - others’ identities, cultures, and histories is seemingly unimportant to some, FEMelanin invites you to experience an original participatory TYA play based on the histories of real-life women of color (both famous and family) and non-Eurocentric fairytales. EPIC TALES invites young people to help envision the world they want to see. Broaching topics of gentrification, colonialism, and the power of one’s ancestry, the show’s fierce young heroes are challenged to reclaim power that was stolen from them and their people. Audiences are invited to assist the heroes in reaching their goals, activating the forces of community support and action, while understanding themselves as part of the journey. EPIC TALES takes audiences through a narrative in which young people of color can identify themselves and where all people can envision women of color as tenacious leaders.

Founded in 1969, Free Street Theater has been committed to defying Chicago’s racial and economic segregation by creating original performance by, for, and with a wide range of participants; to challenging ideas of where theater belongs and who belongs in a theater; and to using theater to ask questions, prompt dialogue, and build community.

Road trips can be a fun, inexpensive, and even educational way to enjoy and explore new places, or return to favorite spots.

Prep Your Ride for the Ultimate Summer Road Trip (NewsUSA) With summer coming up, it’s time to think about hitting the road! Road trips can be a fun, inexpensive, and even educational way to enjoy and explore new places, or return to favorite spots.

Wherever your road trip takes you, the key to having a great experience starts with proper preparation; that means taking care of the driver, passengers and your ride.

Here are some easy tips to help you plan a road trip and make your summer adventure one to remember:

• SAFETY FIRST: The driver focuses on driving. If the driver needs to check the phone, take a break, have a snack, or anything else, wait for a rest stop, or pull over to the side of the road.

• CHECK YOUR RIDE: A complete car check before a road trip should include checking the fluid levels,

wiper blades, lights (including brights) and tires.

• OPTIMIZE YOUR ENGINE: After only a short period of time, you might see changes in your vehicle’s performance and this shouldn’t be ignored.

Before you hit the road, a simple way to troubleshoot performance issues is to use a fuel injector cleaner such as 104+ Fuel Injector Pro. Fuel Injector Pro is a fuel system cleaner formulated to break up heavy carbon deposits that can keep your car’s engine from working its best.

To make sure your car is at its top performance and getting the best fuel economy before you hit the road, pour the product into your gas tank and you’ll see an immediate improvement.

• RIDE IN STYLE: A clean car makes any trip more pleasant, especially a summer road trip. Spills are inevitable on a long ride, so make sure to

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prepare your ride for the unknown.

Simply spray 303 Automotive Stain Guard to help protect the carpet and car seat fabric against messes caused by coffee, soda, pets, dirt, mud and more. The product is easy to apply, non-flammable and safe for car seat upholstery, carpeting and fabric floor mats.

• RESIST THE ELEMENTS: On your trip, you may hit some inclement weather or encounter other elemental irritants, so make sure to protect the metal areas of your car and trailer with a coat of rust prevention spray.

STA-BIL Rust Stopper is a rust treatment designed to help protect any exposed metals from rust and corrosion, and help prevent water erosion and markings.

Visit goldeagle.com for more information about keeping your car clean, comfortable, and performing at its best this summer and year round.

CITIZEN | Suburban Times Weekly | Week of May 2, 2018

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COMMUNITY

Help with substance abuse, mental health services and education serve as key factors in reducing recidivism rates Continued from page 1

BY LISETTE GUSHINIERE ccording to the Bureau of Prisons, there are 207,847 people incarcerated in federal prisons. Roughly half (48.6 percent) are in for drug offenses. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, there are 1,358,875 people in state prisons. Of them, 16 percent have a drug crime as their most serious offense.

Moreover, data from a national study in five major American cities indicated that at the time of arrest, 63% to 83% of people had drugs in their system.

Among researchers and policy makers, a general consensus exists which shows in some way, drug use is linked to criminal behavior and recidivism.

But other data, including a 2009 report released by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), highlights the fact that when offenders receive help with substance abuse while in prison and even when they get out, statisticians report a “substantial reduction” in recidivism rates among returning citizens.

A

In 2000, an Illinois Probation Outcome Study, which included 3,017 individuals discharged from probation in the state from October 30 through November 30, 2000, reported, drug abuse is also prevalent among probationers in Illinois. In total, 64% of the study sample had a prior history of substance abuse. The study also found that, “probationers with a history of drug abuse were 1.2 times more likely to be arrested in the four years following discharge and 1.3 times more likely to be arrested on a drug-related charge.”

An Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) Summit of Health, designed to engage parolees in the reentry process, was recently held on April 24 in Aurora, Illinois.

By connecting parolees and probationers to health related resources, organizers hoped to give former prisoners a successful chance at reintegrating back into society. Services at the summit included health screenings and information about mental health and substance abuse. Participants also made important connections with health care providers in the community.

These are “valuable,” resources said Marcus King, senior community outreach

administrator for IDOC, who added, Illinois has been holding the summits since 2010– about 12 events per year. Vendor participation was at 100%, King added, and healthcare providers included VNA Health Care, Chicago Behavioral Hospital and Public Health, among others. Three hundred and fifty parolees were invited to attend, over half showed up and about 80 students from Aurora University’s criminal justice program participated.

While Illinois has 27,000 parolees, according to King, he added the recidivism rate in the state is 43%, down from 51% five years ago.

Even though the rate is going down, the cost in Illinois for recidivism is still a heavy price to pay. Each instance of recidivism, costs, on the average, approximately $118,746. according to a 2015 report by the Illinois Sentencing Policy Advisory Council, hence, reducing recidivism ends up playing an important role in strengthening both households and the economy.

Besides programs like the Summit of Health, education programs can also be transformative in reducing recidivism rates.

A 2013 federal report affirmed this stating,

“on average, inmates who participated in correctional education programs, had 43 percent lower odds of returning to prison than inmates who did not.”

The Bard Prison Initiative or BPI, which has an exceptionally low recidivism rate, is one example of a program that seems to be working. The college is spread across six interconnected prisons in New York State, enrolls over 300 students and organizes a host of extracurricular activities to replicate the breadth of college life and inquiry.

Yun Qin, a language educator who taught Mandarin through the Bard Prison Initiative in 2012, wrote in the Washington Post, that teaching students who were imprisoned was a lesson for him as well.

“The experience provided me with an education, too,” Qin wrote. “Consumed with grading exams and creating lessons, teachers can lose sight of their goals. But when you see men confined to lives behind bars suddenly inspired by life outside of it, you realize the true impact of your work. With the potential to reduce the prison recidivism rate from 50 percent to four percent, you can’t help but acknowledge the power of education,” he said.

POLITISCOPE

Trump’s exports-good, imports-bad trade policy, debunked by an economist Others include: abandoning the TransPacific Partnership trade deal, threatening to abandon NAFTA and the tariffs he’s imposing on imported steel and aluminum.

The U.S. has historically led the global trade system, which I’d argue has benefited the nation economically overall, even if researchers estimate that the U.S. lost 985,000 manufacturing jobs to Chinese competition between 1999 and 2011. Why is this administration apparently willing to undermine a half-century-old system of rules governing the international exchange of goods and services?

The short answer is Trump’s “America First” ideology, a term that among other things rests on a guiding principle of economic nationalism.

BY IAN SHELDON

P

resident Donald Trump’s trade policy leaves international economists like me scratching our heads.

His apparent desire to start a trade war with China is only one example on a long list of what I see as poor trade policy choices.

MODERN MERCANTILISTS I can describe this trade policy’s logic, even if I can’t understand why his administration embraces it.

Trump essentially subscribes to a modern version of mercantilism, a school of thought most economists believe Adam Smith extinguished after he published his landmark

book “The Wealth of Nations” in 1776.

Mercantilism rests on a key idea: Exports are good and imports are bad. People who believe in mercantilism therefore see global trade as a zero-sum game.

Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Peter Navarro – a presidential aide with multiple titles and roles – advise Trump on trade. This trio who I’d label modern-day mercantilists is carrying out trade policies that Trump espoused while running for president.

Navarro, a former University of California, Irvine associate professor, is the only economist with a Ph.D. of the bunch. But when I scanned Navarro’s scholarship it surprised me to find that he has not published on this topic in a leading academic economics journal. One sign that he’s outside the mainstream on trade: The Economist magazine dismissed him as a “China-bashing eccentric.”

It didn’t take Ross long to live up to his reputation as “Mr. Protectionism.” Under his leadership, the Commerce Department took the lead on slapping tariffs, taxes levied on

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imported goods, on steel and aluminum from other nations.

Lighthizer is a lawyer with decades of experience litigating anti-dumping cases on behalf of American steelmakers that accuse foreign manufacturers of selling here at prices below what customers have to pay in their own countries. He is highly critical of the World Trade Organization, especially the process through which it handles trade disputes over dumping.

Until former Goldman Sachs President Gary Cohn resigned as Trump’s chief economic adviser in March, there was at least one strong supporter of free trade inside the White House. Now that he’s moved on, the mercantilists are clearly in charge.

Although Cohn’s replacement Larry Kudlow has criticized the steel and aluminum tariffs, he has expressed support for Trump’s hard line on trade with China.

His background as a television pundit with no formal training in economics suggests he will have a hard time pushing back on the mercantilist rhetoric, making it unlikely Continued on page 4

4 | CITIZEN | Suburban Times Weekly | Week of May 2, 2018

LIFESTYLE

Millennials Want to Say ‘I Do’ to High-Tech Wedding Registries (StatePoint) Once upon a time, wedding registries were created so newlyweds would have all the basic essentials to establish their first home. But as technology has evolved, so too has the registry.

Gone are the days where registries only include dishware and candlesticks. Couples can now incorporate modern must-haves, like connected lightbulbs, voice assistants and smart showers.

Leading faucet manufacturer, Moen, commissioned a survey conducted online by Harris Poll in March 2018, which investigated what smart products would top the list when it comes to millennial (ages 18-34 at time of survey) wedding registries and how this tech-savvy generation may be reinventing the process of registering.

add smart lightbulbs/light switches, smart thermostats (42 percent) and a digital shower (32 percent).

“Tech is trending when it comes to wedding wish lists,” says Andrea Maher, senior marketing communications specialist, Moen.

“Our survey found that just as many millennial would-be brides would put smart home products on their registries (43 percent) as glassware (44 percent), with products like a robot vacuum cleaner (65 percent) and a hands-free faucet (39 percent) being some of the most wanted items among those who would want smart home products on their wedding registry.”

“After all, with the great gear available today, why would you limit yourself to towels and serving trays?” adds Maher.

THE GIFT OF TECHNOLOGY

REGISTRY REBOOT

It may have once been a no-no to ask for anything except traditional household goods. But young nearlyweds are modernizing registries by embracing the gift of technology: • More than two in five millennials (42 percent) would want to include smart home products on their registry if they were registering today, with digital voice assistants (66 percent), such as Amazon Alexa and Google Home, topping their lists of desired smart products.

• Would-be grooms in particular seem to love tech – nearly half (48 percent) of male millennials who would want smart home products on their wedding registry would

Across the country, young couples aren’t just bending nuptial gift list rules, they’re rewriting them. With emerging technology, it’s not just the presents that are being modernized, the registries themselves are too.

Moen’s survey found that of millennials who have ever had a registry, over two in five (43 percent) registered at online-only retailers, such as Amazon or Jet. com, while 23 percent used a honeymoon registry, which allows couples to request donations to use toward honeymoon experiences, and 18 percent used a universal registry, where newlyweds-to-be can seamlessly link gifts from

Smart showers and voice assistants are becoming popular wedding registry items.

multiple retailers. Of millennials who have ever had a registry, only one in five (21 percent) registered at a brick and mortar store without an online option.

“Recent CDC research found that young people are getting married later and living with partners before tying the knot, meaning they may already have glassware, blenders and toasters,” says Maher. “As a

result, gifts like a hands-free faucet for the kitchen or money toward honeymoon excursions are what couples really want and need.”

Online tools like Zola and Honeyfund have made creating a modernized registry easy and can help ease the minds of traditionallyminded guests, as they’re able to see exactly where their money is going.

“From high-tech wedding

presents to donations for snorkeling excursions, millennials are bucking many age-old gifting customs,” says Maher. “Though traditionalists may find these new registry customs strange, couples shouldn’t be afraid to craft a list full of things they’ll be excited about receiving – even if they are a little unconventional by your grandmother’s standards.”

POLITISCOPE Continued from page 3 that the administration will adopt a more mainstream trade policy anytime soon.

THREE COUNTS Like nearly all economists, I believe that contemporary mercantilism is wrong on three counts. First, trade is not a zero-sum game.

Second, imposing new and higher tariffs on imports won’t make the U.S. trade deficit go away. Third, reciprocity in trade negotiations does not require all countries to cut their tariffs to the same level.

Actually, every one of my students at The Ohio State University can explain why trade is a positive-sum game. Most of the exchanges that occur, such as when the U.S. sells China soybeans and China sells the U.S. sneakers, are efficient uses of a country’s resources.

Overall, trade boosts national incomes and consumer purchasing power.

All Macroeconomics 101 classes taught in America should quickly impart an appreciation of the underlying cause of the U.S. trade deficit. Currently, the value of goods and services the U.S. produces adds up to less than the total value of the nation’s consumption, investment, government spending and exports. Due to low household savings and high federal expenditures, the U.S. runs a trade deficit, imports making up the difference between consumption and production.

Given this macroeconomic imbalance, raising tariffs and pulling out of trade deals will not tame the trade deficit. Any reduction in imports from, say, China, would be matched by new imports from elsewhere. A more effective policy would encourage U.S. households and businesses to consume less and save more while cutting federal spending.

Thanks to global trade diplomacy, the average tariffs developed countries apply to

their imports have been falling since WWII and most now average between 10 and 15 percent.

As you might suspect, trade negotiations are not politically feasible if they strongly favor one country over another. Some 167 countries belong to the WTO, an organization through which they conduct multilateral trade negotiations and resolve trade disputes. With the exception of developing countries, its members must offer to cut their tariffs when other countries cut their own.

The standard approach is for WTO members to reduce their tariffs by the same percentage, as opposed to reducing them to the same level. For example, at the start of a round of trade negotiations, tariffs applied to agricultural commodities may be higher in Japan than the U.S., but the reciprocity norm does not require Japan to reduce its tariffs to the same level as those in the U.S. Instead, Japan and the U.S. agree to reduce their tariffs

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by the same percentage.

Trump seems to favor a new approach to reciprocity that would, in this example, require Japan to bring its tariffs to the same level as America’s, essentially forcing it to make a bigger concession. As a result, Japan would likely walk away from the negotiating table.

In short, I believe that the Trump administration’s trade policy is grounded in an ideology that was debunked long ago, lies outside mainstream economic thinking, and isn’t backed by any credible empirical evidence. This mindset could possibly push the U.S. into a full-blown trade war and undermine the established rules of the global trading system, endangering the global economy.

Ian Sheldon is the Chair in Agricultural Marketing, Trade and Policy at Ohio State University.

CITIZEN | Suburban Times Weekly | Week of May 2, 2018

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6 | CITIZEN | Suburban Times Weekly | Week of May 2, 2018

NEWS

Advocate Trinity Hospital honors 55 volunteers for valuable contributions CHICAGO – Advocate Trinity Hospital

celebrated National Volunteer Week on April 18 by honoring the hospital’s 55 volunteers at its annual Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon.

Over 60 guests attended, including Advocate Trinity’s longest serving volunteer Martha Wilson, 88, who has shared her time and talents with the hospital for 27 years. Also among the honorees were Florence Burns, 86, a 20-year volunteer and Dale Benniefield, 73, who joined the hospital’s volunteer force four months ago.

“When it comes to finding ways to spend their days after retirement, we know our seniors have options. We’re grateful that they choose to spend time with us,” said Jackie Rouse, Director of Community Health and Community Health Workers.

Volunteers assist hospital team members in numerous ways. They file records, prepare paperwork in hospital units, deliver mail, help with cafeteria duties and greet patients.

Together, these volunteers contributed over 23,000 hours and community benefits valued at more than $250,000 in 2017.

As part of the celebration, staff of hospital departments benefitting from volunteers– including Medical Records, Laboratory, Emergency, Cardiology, Radiology and Physical Therapy–attended the celebration and presented volunteer team members with a small gift.

“Every day, we see our volunteers’ hard work and dedication that helps to make

Advocate Trinity Hospital celebrated National Volunteer Week on April 18 by honoring the hospital’s 55 volunteers at its annual Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon.

Advocate Trinity a happy and peaceful setting,” said Community Health Coordinator

Rukiyat Lawal.

And while the hospital sees value in its

volunteers, the men and women who donate time feel the benefits as well.

Benniefield explained that at one time he made social calls to Advocate Trinity’s lobby because the people were friendly. When a staff member noticed his visits were becoming more frequent, she invited Benniefield to become a volunteer. He has served as a front lobby greeter ever since.

“It’s something to do. I love it and when people come in, I make them feel good,” he says.

Burns, who helps with paperwork in the Same Day Surgery Unit said she keeps coming back because she enjoys the atmosphere.

However, the unit’s charge nurse, Renee James, RN, explained that Burns plays an important role in making her work environment pleasant.

“Any time anyone comes in feeling down, they can always go talk to Ms. Florence. She always gives good words of wisdom.,” James said.

Perhaps Wilson, who volunteers in the hospital mailroom and is known throughout the hospital for her wry sense of humor sums-up her experience best. “I’ve been here for 27 years and I’ve seen a lot of changes,” she said. Then with a wink she added “I hope they never fire me. I love it here.”

If you would like to volunteer at Advocate Trinity Hospital, please call the Volunteer Services Department at (773) 967-3447 or complete and return an online application.

Chicago Heights Joins Greenest Region Compact

BY KATHERINE NEWMAN

C

hicago Heights Mayor, David Gonzalez, recently announced that the city of Chicago Heights would join more than 90 other Chicago-area communities in the Greenest Region Compact. Gonzalez has committed to promoting environmental sustainability and economic development within his community and across the region.

The Greenest Region Compact (GRC) is an initiative of the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus and promotes sustainability in Chicago communities across the region with an emphasis on building strong and vibrant communities, according to the GRC. “The agreement represents consensus goals that build vibrant and strong communities, and sustain healthy environments

for people and nature,” said Gonzalez in a press release. “The ten areas of the initiative include climate, economic development, energy, land, leadership, mobility, municipal operations, sustainable communities, water, waste, and recycling.”

The GRC operates under the GRC Framework which provides 49 high-level goals based on the ten areas of the initiative. The goals provide a resource for communities to refer to as they continue to build their green communities.

Some of the goals include reducing greenhouse emissions, promoting innovation and a competitive workforce, reducing energy consumption, sustaining beautiful landscapes that provide ecosystem services, promoting public and sustainable transportation, and diverting waste from landfills. For a complete list of the 49 goals of the

GRC visit mayorscaucus.org.

While communities are free to choose their own priority areas, studies conducted by the GRC stated that land stewardship, sustainable communities, water, mobility, and energy issues were the most commonly addressed by sustainable communities.

The GRC has stated on their website that the Chicago region is already working towards going green, with 81 percent of all communities working towards greater sustainability. Because of these existing efforts, the GRC comes into play as a valuable tool in helping these communities evaluate and build on what they are currently working on to create more sustainable Chicago.

“Mayors and community leaders really put their heads together to come up with the Greenest Region Compact,” said Edith www.thechicagocitizen.com

Makra, Director of Environmental Initiatives at the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus, in a press release.

“Now, communities of all sizes can benefit from this collaborative planning effort and leap ahead to take meaningful actions.”

The Metropolitan Mayors Caucus was founded in 1997 and is a membership organization of the Chicago region’s 275 cities, towns, and villages. The Caucus provides a forum for Mayors from across metropolitan Chicago to collaborate on common problems and work toward a common goal of improving the quality of life for the millions of people who call the region home, according to the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus.

To learn more about the GRC visit http://mayorscaucus.org/ initiatives/environment/rec. To get involved in Chicago Heights visit www.cityofchicagoheights.org.

Photo: City of Chicago Heights

Chicago Heights Mayor, David Gonzalez, recently announced that the city of Chicago Heights would join 90 other Chicago-area communities in the Greenest Region Compact. Gonzalez has committed to promoting environmental sustainability and economic development within his community and across the region.

CITIZEN | Suburban Times Weekly | Week of May 2, 2018

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NEWS

Blue Island native is part of Navy’s “Silent Service”

BY KAYLA TURNBOW, NAVY OFFICE OF COMMUNITY OUTREACH PEARL HARBOR – A Blue Island, Illinois,

Photo: Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Jesse Hawthorne

Petty Officer 2nd Class Moises Perezcortez works as a machinist’s mate (auxiliary) serving aboard the Pearl Harbor-based submarine, one of 56 fast-attack submarines in the U.S. Navy.

native and 2009 Dwight D. Eisenhower High School graduate is serving in the U.S. Navy aboard one of the world’s most advanced nuclear-powered submarines, USS Greeneville.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Moises Perezcortez works as a machinist’s mate (auxiliary) serving aboard the Pearl Harbor-based submarine, one of 56 fast-attack submarines in the U.S. Navy.

A Navy machinist’s mate (auxiliary) is responsible for producing oxygen on board the boat and maintaining the diesel generator that provides emergency power and ventilation.

“Growing up, I learned perseverance through adversity,” said Perezcortez. “My football coaches always battered that into my head. That trait really helps to build character while I serve in the Navy.”

Jobs are highly varied aboard the submarine. Approximately 130 men and women make up the submarine’s crew, doing everything from handling weapons to

maintaining nuclear reactors.

Attack submarines are designed to hunt down and destroy enemy submarines and surface ships; strike targets ashore with cruise missiles; carry and deliver Navy SEALs; carry out intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions; and engage in mine warfare. Their primary tactical advantage is stealth, operating undetected under the sea for long periods of time.

“Our submarine teams are small, elite, and rely heavily on extraordinary individual performance,” said Rear Adm. Daryl L. Caudle, commander, Submarine Forces, U.S. Pacific Fleet. “It is no surprise that our sailors continue to set the standard for excellence, and the country continues to be well served by their service and sacrifice. I couldn’t be more proud to lead this professional fighting force.”

According to Navy officials, because of the demanding environment aboard submarines, personnel are accepted only after rigorous testing and observation. Submariners are some of the most highly trained and skilled people in the Navy. Regardless of their specialty, everyone has to learn how everything on the ship works and how to respond in emergencies to become “qualified

in submarines” and earn the right to wear the coveted gold or silver dolphins on their uniform.

“I have learned brotherhood and camaraderie while serving aboard the submarine,” said Perezcortez “I have to depend on the guy next to me if something happens. That builds trust among the crew.”

Perezcortez also has military ties with family members who currently serve and is honored to begin a family tradition.

“Me and my cousins are first in our generation to serve in the military,” said Perezcortez. “It’s been an experience to serve in the military. It has provided us the opportunity to understand the term sacrifice.

It comes full circle after studying history in college to see that what we are working for has a purpose.”

Challenging submarine living conditions build strong fellowship among the elite crew, Navy Officials explained. The crews are highly motivated, and quickly adapt to changing conditions. It is a busy life of specialized work, watches and drills.

“Serving in the Navy has provided me the opportunity to travel and see countries I never thought I would see,” added Perezcortez.

South Suburban College Offers Free Adult Education Classes

BY KATHERINE NEWMAN

T

he Adult Education program is in full swing at South Suburban College and has already graduated 60 students with their high school equivalencies this school year. The program offers a variety of courses for adults seeking a high school diploma or GED, adults with skill levels below ninthgrade, and English as a Second Language classes.

South Suburban College is a community college in Chicago’s south suburbs. The main campus is located in South Holland and there is a second campus in Oak Forest.

Both campuses offer the Adult Education Classes classes.

“The Adult Education program at SSC is a grant-funded initiative that serves Illinois adults who are basic skills deficient (grade level equivalency 0.0- 8.9), lacking a high school diploma, Non-native speakers of English. The people who benefit from our Adult Education program are the residents of South Suburban College District 510,” said Matthew Beasland, dean of the adult education program at South Suburban College.

There are several courses offered within the Adult Education program. The Adult Basic Education (ABE) courses are for students

Photo: South Suburban College

The Adult Education program is in full swing at South Suburban College and has already graduated 60 students with their high school equivalencies this school year. The program offers a variety of courses for adults seeking a high school diploma or GED, adults with skill levels below a ninth-grade level, and English as a Second Language classes.

whose skill levels are below a ninthgrade level. Students in the ABE program work to improve their reading, writing, and math skills, according to the press release from SSC. After that, students can choose to enter the High School Equivalency

(HSE/GED) program where they develop the necessary skills to pass the High School Equivalency or GED exams. The HSE program includes studying reasoning through language arts, social studies, science, mathematics, and the US and Illinois Constitutions, www.thechicagocitizen.com

according to the press release from SSC. The third component of the Adult Education Program is the English as a Second Language (ESL) courses.

These courses focus on improving English skills helping beginners to those studying more advanced

levels.

“Our programs serve as an opportunity for our residents to obtain valuable educational and job skills. We have many people that attend our program so they can help their children with their homework, and many of our English language learners are in the program so they can be active participants in their children’s education. We have many participants that come through our program that want to attend college, and we give them the skills to be successful in the college environment,” said Beasland.

The Adult Education classes are available free of charge to residents of the South Suburban College District 510 which stretches east from S. Harlem Ave. to the Indiana state line in-between 139th St. and 183rd. The boundary is not a perfect rectangle, and to see if you are within the district, visit www. ssc.edu/admissions-registration/ residency.

“We are able to provide these services for free through an Illinois Community College Board grant.

These funds allow us to provide free Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language classes for free to all of our constituents throughout Community College District 510,” said Beasland.

8 | CITIZEN | Suburban Times Weekly | Week of May 2, 2018

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