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Citizen Week of May 23, 2018

| Vol. 1 | No. 41 | www.thechicagocitizen.com

SUBURBAN TIMES WEEKLY

Photo: South Suburban College

SOUTH SUBURBAN COLLEGE RECEIVES AWARD FOR 90-YEAR ANNIVERSARY DISPLAY

South Suburban College (SSC) recently received a Certificate of Excellence award from the Illinois State Historical Society for their 90-Year Anniversary Historic Wall Display that preserves and showcases the history of SSC. See more on Page 3

Politiscope: Tax Law’s ‘Opportunity Zones’ Won’t Create Opportunities for the People Who Need it Most - Page 3 Food: Molly Yeh Joins Food Network With Brand-New Series “Girl Meets Farm” - Page 4 |

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2 | CITIZEN | Suburban Times Weekly | Week of May 23, 2018

ART SCENE

First Public Art Installation of Lawrence Weiner’s ‘OUT OF SIGHT’ T

he Chicago Park District recently announced the opening of OUT OF SIGHT, a public art installation based on the popular outdoor game hopscotch, on Saturday, June 9 at Maggie Daley Park, located at 337 E. Randolph St., at 11 a.m. Pioneering American conceptual artist Lawrence Weiner’s inspiring participatory work will be unveiled during an engaging outdoor event featuring speakers, performances, activities, and giveaways.

OUT OF SIGHT invites the public to explore the outdoor installation and think creatively about the direction of their lives as they encounter the floor-based work. The installation combines wit and whimsy in

a game-like format, encouraging learning through the use of graphical phrases embedded throughout the work such as: “One Can Only Imagine the Powers that Be,” “The Destination is Straight On,” and “Assuming a Position.”

“The Chicago Park District is proud to host OUT OF SIGHT, a creative work that combines art and recreation as well as provides a welcoming and safe opportunity for individuals of all ages to play, learn, contemplate and become inspired at a neighborhood park,” said Chicago Park District & CEO Michael P. Kelly.

“A person coming in with whatever situation they find themselves in, the minute

they have any thoughts about themselves going FROM HERE TO THERE, they will be able to stand in front of the marelle (French for hopscotch) and realize they first have to imagine themselves doing it, that’s assuming a position,” said the artist, Lawrence Weiner.

By being able to stand, walk, or jump from one position to the next, OUT OF SIGHT inspires visitors to consider the importance of recognizing how to accomplish their life’s goals.

Guest curator and collaborator Larry Warsh shared his enthusiasm for the project, “Can you imagine if we all learned how to catch the feelings of inspiration, exuberance, and visualization and made that part of our daily

lives? Wow, that would be amazing.”

Walsh Park, located at the East end of the 606 Trail, will also host the OUT OF SIGHT installation in both English and Spanish and will connect the community to the ideas, thoughts, and inspiration of the piece. The outdoor public installation will be part of the annual 606 Block Party on Saturday, June 23, and will be on display through the fall. Additional Park District sites, including Hamilton, Humboldt, and Berger Park Cultural Centers, will host workshops about the artwork and guided public interactions and activities for all ages throughout the installation.

For exact tour dates and locations, visit www.chicagoparkdistrict.com.

TRAVEL

Photo: PRNewsfoto/Cunard

Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 Kicks Off 2018 Transatlantic Season

O

n May 17, 2018 Cunard’s flagship ocean liner Queen Mary 2 returned to her homeport of New York for her 2018 Transatlantic Season.

Following another successful World Cruise season, QM2 resumes her

regularly-scheduled service across the Atlantic, a route that began 178 years ago.

Now more than ever, Queen Mary 2’s Transatlantic Crossing offers travelers a unique and precious escape from day to day

life. Traveling leisurely by sea between New York and England, for seven nights in the North Atlantic, passengers have the time and luxury to dive deeper into their passions and crafts, to explore creative expression, and to hone personal www.thechicagocitizen.com

and professional projects that range from journal writing and sketching, to polishing screenplays, musical scores, and more.

Celebrities, writers and artists who have made the most of QM2’s Transatlantic Crossings include songwriter, music producer, and actor Ed Sheeran who sailed from New York to England and wrote parts of his latest hit album “Divide;” filmmaking director and screenwriter Wes Anderson, who wrote much of his movie “Isle of Dogs;” and legend Francis Ford Coppola who boarded the liner to put the final touches on his book “The Godfather Notebook.”

“Over the past year, Cunard has seen an incredible demand for our product and experience from regions around the world, with double-digit growth within the North American market,” said Josh Leibowitz, senior vice president of Cunard North America. “The unique opportunity to step away from day to day life and feel inspired, enriched, and revitalized is one of the reasons passenger feedback continues to be among the best in the industry.”

Not only are celebrities and artists fans of Cunard, but royalty has an affinity for QM2 as well.

Christened by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 2004, Queen Mary 2 has hosted numerous royals on board and has played an integral role in rising tourism to the UK this summer as travelers head to London to get a glimpse of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding site,

tour St. Mary’s Hospital, where the newest prince was just born.

Passengers find plenty of room to unwind and feel rejuvenated as they encounter new, surprising pursuits, people, and places. Guests can choose from a multitude of fascinating activities onboard Cunard’s three Queens, from wine tasting and cocktail mixology, to painting, fencing, and ballroom dancing lessons, to exploring the largest library afloat, or pondering the mysteries of the universe in the only planetarium at sea.

Cunard’s Insights program offers experts from various industries on every voyage, holding workshops and Q&As throughout the trip.

This year, Cunard is offering extraordinary special event Crossings throughout the season including collaborations with Ancestry.com, NY Fashion Week, and International Space Week.

QM2 passengers are also thrilled at the opportunity to travel with their four-legged companions onboard the Queen Mary 2, the only ship with kennels on board for dogs and cats.

Queen Mary 2 will embark on 24 Transatlantic Crossings from May through December this year with fares from $999 and up to $1,400 free onboard credit per stateroom and free drinks plus free gratuities in the Princess Grill and Queens Grill suites.

For more information about Cunard, or to book a voyage, contact your Travel Consultant, call Cunard Line at 1-800-728-6273 or visit www.cunard.com.

CITIZEN | Suburban Times Weekly | Week of May 23, 2018

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COMMUNITY

South Suburban College Receives Award for 90-Year Anniversary Display Continued from page 1

BY KATHERINE NEWMAN

S

outh Suburban College (SSC) recently received a Certificate of Excellence award from the Illinois State Historical Society for their 90-Year Anniversary Historic Wall Display that preserves and showcases the history of SSC. The display features photos and memorabilia from the past 90 years that SSC has been operating and offering higher education opportunities to South Suburban communities.

“Last year, since it was our 90th anniversary, I thought it would be an opportune time to do a wall about the college because we have such a long history. We were one of the very first community colleges in the country in 1927. Along with the wall, we did a history book and that tells the whole story,” said Debbie Lamoureux, administrative assistant in the publication department at SSC. The short history book chronicles the story of SSC year-by-year noting significant achievements and events, past presidents of the college, and how courses and enrollment

“Last year, since it was our 90th anniversary, I thought it would be an opportune time to do a wall about the college because we have such a long history. We were one of the very first community colleges in the country in 1927. Along with the wall, we did a history book and that tells the whole story.”

DEBBIE LAMOUREUX

have grown or changed over the years.

The 90-Year Anniversary Historic Wall Display at SSC received it’s Certificate of Excellence in the Special Project category, meaning that their specific project increased awareness of state and local history.

“The [SSC] project provides its audience with both an immediate and long-lasting recognition for the significance of this milestone anniversary. The timeline book and community activities were well-planned,

thus ensuring the college’s anniversary was celebrated by past and future graduates,” said the Illinois State Historical Society on their website. “The college has a tradition of creating individual walls to display the history of the various towns they serve. How appropriate that the college dedicates a wall for their own story.”

Although Lamoureux has only been working at SSC since 2001, she has had the opportunity to dive deep into the 90-year history of the college which was originally

known as Thornton Junior College. Over the years, many significant changes have taken place at SSC, including changing the name three times, but overall she said that the students have changed the most.

“We’ve seen a lot of history in the last 90 years and so much has changed. I think the students have changed the most. We have a different type of student now, it’s not just kids coming right out of high school. We have a lot of people going back to school and starting new careers. We have a lot of older students now rather than the 18-year-olds,” said Lamoureux.

Another major change that SSC has weathered is advancements in technology.

In 1980 the college purchased 25 IBM typewriters, according to the SSC history book, and today there are computers all over the school.

“We used to have just a few computers in the library, but now we have computers everywhere for student use and so much more is done online. I think technology has exploded and SSC has kept up along with each change and each new innovation,” said Lamoureux.

For more information. visit SSC.edu.

POLITISCOPE

Tax Law’s ‘Opportunity Zones’ Won’t Create Opportunities for the People Who Need it Most

BY TIMOTHY WEAVER

T

he latest federal effort to revitalize impoverished parts of the country using tax incentives is beginning to take shape. Unfortunately, if history is a guide, it won’t work.

New York, New Hampshire and Florida are among the latest

states to nominate low-income neighborhoods for the new Opportunity Zone program, created as part of the tax law passed late last year. They hope to join the 18 states already in the program, which offers investors a big tax break in exchange for plowing money into areas designated as opportunity zones.

The program’s backers claim this will reduce poverty, increase employment and spur growth.

However, research conducted by myself and others shows that this approach tends to fail.

AN OLD APPROACH At the heart of the Opportunity Zone program is the simple idea that tax incentives for investors will transform declining areas into thriving economic hubs.

This is based on the faulty notion

that urban or rural deterioration results from excessive taxation undermining capital investment.

Specifically, the program lets investors avoid the usual tax on capital gains by putting their profits into so-called opportunity funds, an incentive that lasts until 2026.

At least 90 percent of the assets in such funds must be invested in designated low-income zones, which are based on statistical geographic subdivisions known as “census tracts.” Other incentives kick in if the investment is held for at least 10 years.

This approach is nothing new.

In the 1980s, Margaret Thatcher’s government first tested the idea by creating 11 “enterprise zones” in the U.K. that offered a range of tax breaks and regulatory relief.

The most famous of these was in London’s dilapidated docks – www.thechicagocitizen.com

including Canary Wharf – which soon after underwent a dramatic transformation and is now home to many of the country’s major financial institutions.

Because it showcased the apparent virtues of the free market, the enterprise zone idea quickly crossed the Atlantic and attracted the interest of conservative politicians and thinkers in the United States, such as Brookings Institution policy analyst Stuart Butler – formerly of the Heritage Foundation – and then President Ronald Reagan.

More than 40 U.S. states eventually created these zones, which offer a range of incentives, such as tax relief and job training.

Although Democrats were generally skeptical at first, over time Continued on page 4

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4 | CITIZEN | Suburban Times Weekly | Week of May 23, 2018

FOOD

Molly Yeh Joins Food Network With Brand-New Series “Girl Meets Farm”

M

olly Yeh is well-known for her popular blog my name is yeh and bestselling cookbook, and this summer she is bringing her charm, unique background and spin on comfort food to Food Network with the brand-new series Girl Meets Farm.

A transplant from city to farm life who has embraced her new home, Molly welcomes viewers to her cozy farmhouse on the Minnesota/ North Dakota border and shares her love for the country life. The series celebrates the very best of Molly’s food, with recipes inspired by her Jewish and Chinese heritage and a taste of the Midwest. With fresh, tasty ideas and food that’s both delicious and beautiful, the sevenepisode series brings inspiration and fun into kitchens across the country. Girl Meets Farm premieres Sunday, June 24th at 11am ET/PT. “Molly is full of life and her unlikely journey from the big city to a food-centered life on a Midwest farm is fascinating,” said Courtney White, Executive Vice President, Programming, Food Network and HGTV. “Her passion for food, her family and farm life are front and center in all of her recipes, which are truly written from the heart.”

In the premiere episode, Molly makes a delicious buffet for her

sister-in-law Anna’s baby shower.

On the menu, there’s Fish Tacos with Crunchy Cabbage Slaw and Cilantro Dressing, Pigs in a Blanket with Harissa Ketchup and Honey Mustard and Molly’s signature Meatball Sliders with a Twist. Then Molly’s Baked Donuts with Rhubarb, Blood Orange and Blueberry Glaze take center stage on the dessert table. Upcoming episode themes include family visits, girl’s brunch, farm supper and a special anniversary celebration, along with Molly’s recipes for Garlic and Onion Challah, Dark Chocolate Scone Loaf with Marzipan and Scallion Pancakes with Maple Carrot Slaw.

Molly Yeh is the author of the International Association of Culinary Professionals award-winning cookbook “Molly on the Range.”

She is the creator of the criticallyacclaimed and highly popular food and lifestyle brand my name is yeh, which has been recognized by the likes of the New York Times, Food & Wine, New York Magazine, Saveur (“Blog of the Year”) and Yahoo (“Food Blog of the Year”). She was also on Forbes’ “30 Under 30” list for 2017. Molly grew up in the Chicago suburbs with a Chinese father and Jewish mother, followed by a posthigh school life in New York City studying percussion at Juilliard.

Molly Yeh, Host of Food Network’s Girl Meets Farm

She then got married and started her food blog, relocating with her husband to a sugar beet farm in the upper Midwest where she currently

resides.

Watch video exclusives with Molly and get how-to’s on cake decorating and making your favorite

childhood snacks at FoodNetwork. com/GirlMeetsFarm Join the conversation on social media using the hashtag #GirlMeetsFarm.

POLITISCOPE Continued from page 3 more became sympathetic to pro-market solutions to the problem of urban decay.

The Clinton administration, for example, created a related program in 1994 that set up “empowerment zones.”

Both programs have since expired.

DO THEY WORK? Numerous efforts have been made to assess the effectiveness of such zones, both in the U.S. and the U.K. On the whole, scholars have reached the strikingly similar conclusion that the programs did not work, at least not as hoped.

In their exhaustive study of 75 enterprise zones in 13 states, Alan Peters and Peter Fisher, professors of urban and regional planning, found that the tax incentives had “little or no positive impact” on economic growth.

In my own research on Philadelphia, I found that the effect of empowerment

zones was negligible. The places inside the empowerment zone boundaries actually fared worse in terms of income and employment growth when compared with similar census tracts. They were only marginally better in terms of reducing poverty, which was still more than a third of the city’s households in 2007, over a decade into the program.

Opportunity zone advocates, meanwhile, have pointed to states like New Jersey and Indiana as examples of success. However, one study suggested that increased economic activity in zones in New Jersey came at the expense of non-zone areas nearby, while an analysis of the Indiana program suggested that the incentives encouraged a switch to less productive forms of economic activity.

In the U.K., supporters of the enterprise zone program highlight the London Docklands, which went from a derelict port to a thriving financial services hub. Yet government studies showed that relatively

few jobs were created and that each one cost US$35,000 to $45,000 in spending and lost revenue. And my own research shows that despite these gains the area is still home to some of the most “income deprived households” in the U.K. The goverment’s recent effort to revive the program created 29,000 jobs as of 2017, just half the number it promised, at a cost of about $3 billion.

HELPING THE POOR Despite the lackluster performance of the tax incentive approach in terms of job creation and poverty reduction, the idea continues to attract support on both sides of the Atlantic and across the political divide.

Sadly, these policies almost inevitably result in tax giveaways for investment that would have occurred anyway, as we’re beginning to see with opportunity zones.

Under such circumstances, displacement from gentrification is the likely result.

For example, in Louisville, Kentucky,

www.thechicagocitizen.com

the central business district and the fastgentrifying tracts of Nulu, Butchertown and Portland were deemed opportunity zones despite having already seen major capital investment in recent years, yet seven of the 18 poorest tracts were not.

We see the same pattern in New York where places like Sunset Park, Brooklyn, have been targeted despite having already attracted substantial private investment. The New York Times even identified Sunset Park as one of the city’s “hot new neighborhoods.”

So what might work to revitalize poor neighborhoods and help the 40.6 million Americans in poverty? While there’s no panacea, I argue policies that enhance what I call urban social citizenship and empower people to invest in their communities would be far more successful than tax breaks for investors.

Timothy Weaver is a Professor of Urban Policy and Politics, University at Albany, State University of New York.

CITIZEN | Suburban Times Weekly | Week of May 23, 2018

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NEWS

Rep. Robin Kelly Hosts Round Table to Discuss Financial Strains in South Suburbs

BY KATHERINE NEWMAN

C

ongresswoman Robin Kelly from Illinois second district recently hosted a panel discussion with Congressman Dan Kildee (MI-05) to discuss the communities in Chicago’s South Suburbs, and across the country, who are facing significant financial stress and who are looking for a way the federal government can help. Several government and community leaders from South Suburban Communities were present to give their thoughts on the matter.

This forum was part of The Future of American Cities and Town, a federal initiative lead by Kildee to spark policy discussion around the unique challenges that many older, industrial communities are currently facing.

Originally from Flint, MI, Kildee believes that there is room for the federal government to get more involved locally and realizes that it is in everyone’s best interest if these struggling communities survive.

“The federal government’s interest begins with the notion that the people who live in these regions are not just Homewood residents or Illinois residents, they are residents of the United States of America and they have a right to see the tools that the federal government has at its disposal used to maximize the potential of the community that they live in,” said Kildee.

Congresswoman Kelly agreed with Kildee and reiterated the importance of having these conversations at the local level.

“Federal and State policies set the stage and provide funding for many decisions on how best to deliver services, but strategic planning, economic growth, keeping our communities safe, protecting our health and environment, and educating our children all start at the local level and that’s why it’s so important to have these conversations and engage local leaders, both elected staff and community leaders, so federal policymakers can be better partners

Congresswoman Robin Kelly from Illinois second district recently hosted a panel discussion with Congressman Dan Kildee (MI-05) to discuss the communities in Chicago’s South Suburbs, and across the country, who are facing significant financial stress and who are looking for help from the federal government.

in your efforts especially when it comes to economic development,” said Kelly.

Many community leaders spoke

at the forum and noted that they are not receiving the financial support they need from the state or the county.

“In Illinois, not only do we have a situation where funding that we used to receive has been cut back, but they are also reaching into our pockets and taking our dollars,” said John Ostenburg, Mayor of Park Forest.

The Mayor of Matteson, Sheila Chalmers-Currin also spoke about her own community that has recently experienced the closure of several big-box stores and is trying to find new ways of generating income to support the middleincome community.

“We need the services and the help to make sure that the community gets what it needs.

We do not get the support that we need from our county or state and we are hoping that we can get more support from federal,” said Chalmers-Currin. “I can tell the residents firmly that I am working full-time calling people every day to make sure that we can move the village forward, but If we don’t get the support, then we are not going to get anywhere.”

6 | CITIZEN | Suburban Times Weekly | Week of May 23, 2018

NEWS

BTC CEO, Co-founder discusses helping black teachers and students

BY LISETTE GUSHINIERE

I

f you speak to Hiewet Senghor, cofounder and chief executive officer of Black Teacher Collaborative (BTC), her passion for educating black children rings clear like a morning school bell.

As the nation recently took time during Teacher Appreciation Week to celebrate the impact teachers are having on the lives of their students, BTC saw it as an opportunity to shine a light on the unique relationship between black teachers and black students.

Senghor, who’s organization works to help black teachers succeed, draws from her own personal experiences and the teachers who helped her.

“I came out of a black high school in Atlanta, Georgia where teachers saw genius and beauty in black children and specifically in me,” she said.

“They saw me, fostered my unique voice, and encouraged my interest. When I had to confront the realities of America’s ongoing struggle with race, they masterfully guided me through those moments in a way that was honest, candid, but also empowering.”

By holding her to an “enormously high standard” while nurturing and protecting her development all at the same time, Senghor said her teachers were a critical part of her “village.”

“They modeled dignity, discipline, and service and reinforced the messages, values, and beliefs of my family and by extension, affirmed and validated my identity,” she said.

“The teachers helped me move into the world fully confident in my ability to perform at any level.”

Today, Senghor uses those experiences to support other black teachers and black students through BTC, an organization she founded along with Dr. Howard Fuller, a civil rights activist and education reform advocate.

The mission of BTC is to engage, develop, and support a collective of black educators

who will ensure black children achieve at high levels academically. Currently in its pilot stage, BTC offers a three-year fellowship program that involves training sessions, oneon-one coaching, blended-learning models, and the completion of a capstone project.

BTC prepares black teachers to leverage Shared Racial Identity Learning Environments (SRILE™) to transform their schools. SRILE™ schools are those in which the black student population is 85 percent or more and the black teachers represent 65 percent or more of the teaching staff.

Senghor says one of the challenges facing the educational system is the ability to retain black teachers. Black teachers are more often than not serving in our nation’s, “most under resourced and high needs schools,” she said.

Many of the challenges that schools confront are often, “tied to issues of institutionalized racism and historic inequity,” she added.

However, BTC’s goal is to help continue diversifying America’s teaching force while ensuring black teachers are equipped with the tools and insights they need to best serve their students.

Senghor adds, “the absence of black teachers will make it ever more challenging to create an educational experience that is relevant and meaningful for black children.,” she stated.

“Black teachers being engaged at both the classroom and innovation level is necessary for black values, beliefs, and culture to be a part of the educational experience of black children.”

Funded by The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and New Profit, BTC currently works with 50 teachers serving over 2,700 children in K-12 partner schools in Atlanta, Baton Rouge, and New Orleans, but Senghor says the organization is working to expand its reach.

“We hope to launch a series of professional development workshops and community

Hiewet Senghor

“I came out of a black high school in Atlanta, Georgia where teachers saw genius and beauty in black children and specifically in me.”

HIEWET SENGHOR

building conversations in a few additional cities during the 2018-19 academic year that will be available for teachers outside of the Fellowship. In addition, we are working

on establishing an online portal to allow engagement with a larger community,” she said. To learn more, visit (www. blackteachercollaborative.org),

Proposal Would Allow Victims of Human Trafficking to Seal Court Records SPRINGFIELD – Victims of human trafficking

would have the ability to seal their criminal records under a proposal advanced this recently by State Senator Toi Hutchinson (D-Chicago Heights).

“We know most victims of trafficking are being forced to commit crimes by their trafficker,” Hutchinson said. “Allowing the sealing of criminal records gives survivors more ability to move past their abuse and exploitation and towards recovery and a chance at a normal life.”

House Bill 5494 would create a petition process that would allow trafficking victims

to petition for the immediate sealing of criminal records upon completion of their sentence. Currently, only charges that result in an acquittal or dismissal are eligible for immediate sealing.

In the first six months of 2015, 215 victims of human trafficking in Illinois were reported to the National Human Trafficking Hotline.

While Chicagoland accounts for a majority of these cases, trafficking occurs in small towns and suburban communities across the state.

“When someone is exploited sexually or physically, hope and aspirations vanish and are replaced with fear and pain,” Hutchinson

said. “These are survivors who have endured situations we can’t even fathom. Ensuring these victims have the tools available to rebuild their lives is the very least we can offer.”

House Bill 5494 passed the Senate Criminal Law Committee recently without opposition and will now head to the Senate floor for further debate. House sponsors of the bill include: Representative Ann M. Williams (D) 11th District, Representative Barbara Wheeler (R) 64th District; Representative Kelly M. Cassidy (D) 14th District; Representative Frances Ann Hurley (D) 35th District; Representative Lou Lang

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(D) 16th District, Deputy Majority Leader; Representative Camille Y. Lilly (D) 78th District; Representative Michael J. Zalewski (D) 23rd District and Representative Will Guzzardi (D) 39th District. Senate Sponsors include: Senator Toi W. Hutchinson (D) 40th District; Senator Jacqueline Y. Collins (D)16th District, Majority Caucus Whip; Senator Karen McConnaughay (R) 33rd District, Republican Caucus Whip; Senator John F. Curran (R) 41st District and Senator Don Harmon (D) 39th District, President Pro Tempore.

CITIZEN | Suburban Times Weekly | Week of May 23, 2018

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NEWS

Lawmakers Question EPA on Declared Monitoring & Testing of Air Emissions CHICAGO – U.S. Senators

Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth, and U.S. Representative Robin Kelly (D-IL02) recently raised concerns at the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) failure to consistently require companies to monitor and test their air emissions for manganese air pollution—a known neurotoxin—

on the Southeast Side of Chicago.

The members pressed EPA to use its full authority under the Clean Air Act to protect human health and the environment.

The letter to EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt follows an article in the New York Times, which highlighted that in the first five months of 2017, investigators sent

14 requests requiring monitoring or testing using the EPA’s Clean Air Act authority, similar to the same period in 2016. However, in the five months after, only one request was sent.

“EPA must fulfill its mission to protect the public from harmful pollution. Therefore, we urge EPA to equitably enforce the law by

requiring other facilities that may be contributing to higher levels of manganese pollution to install filter-based monitors,” the members wrote.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, high levels of manganese dust exposure can cause serious neurological effects, learning

difficulties, and memory loss.

Recent studies have shown a link between manganese exposure and lower child IQ scores. Researchers at University of Illinois at Chicago’s School of Public Health found that children in Southeast Chicago have higher levels of manganese in their toenails than children in other parts of the City.

Thornton Township Assessor Cassandra Holbert Awarded “2018 Woman of the Year” SOUTH HOLLAND, IL – Cassandra

Holbert received the 2018 Woman of the Year Award from The Society of Mannequins. The Society of Mannequins hosted its 18th annual presentation luncheon at the Tuscany Falls Banquets and Events in Mokena, Illinois.

Holbert said, “It made me feel special.

This award was given to so many other women who have made significant contributions to our communities. I’m honored to receive this award.”

In 1990, while employed with the Cook County Assessor’s Office, Holbert became a Certified Illinois Property Assessing Officer (CIAO) and a member of the Illinois Property Assessment Institute. In 2013, Holbert was elected to the position of Assessor for Thornton Township. Holbert is currently the Assessor for Thornton Township. In this capacity, she represents 17 distinct municipalities with a population of over 168,000.

Her life began as a public servant in 1973 under Chicago Alderman Bennett M. Stewart of the 21st Ward. Stewart later became the Congressman of the 1st Congressional District in the State of Illinois.

Under the tutelage of Chicago Alderman Eugene Sawyer of the 6th Ward, Holbert demonstrated an enhanced degree of leadership and organization by taking her skills, talents, and character traits with her into the Chicago Mayor’s Office. Sawyer was selected as the 42nd Mayor of Chicago, Illinois after the sudden death of then Mayor Harold Washington - the first African American Mayor of the City of Chicago. Sawyer was the second African

American to serve as Mayor of Chicago in 1987.

Holbert received recognition for youth mentoring from the late Alderman Bennett M. Stewart of the Chicago 21st Ward. Under the late Mayor Harold Washington, she was awarded the key to the City of Chicago for outstanding leadership and community involvement. Under the late Mayor Eugene Sawyer, Holbert was also recognized for outstanding achievement in organizing block clubs and community organizations in the 6th Ward.

The Society of Mannequins is an Illinois not-for-profit organization which was formed 18 years ago to continue the vision of its parent organization, The Association of Mannequins. The Association of Mannequins established in 1939 by Ms. Emma Beck, was formed to bolster the spirit of Negro Women who aspired to be models. The Association of Mannequins was the first group of Negro models.

The mission of the Society of Mannequins is 1) to award scholarships to needy and talented African American students; and 2) recognize and honor impeccably groomed African American women who are exemplary role models and outstanding leaders in their fields and communities.

Also honoring Holbert and other women are Thornton Township Supervisor Frank M. Zuccarelli and Thornton Township Board of Trustees.

The 2018 Best Dressed AfricanAmerican Women of Chicago are: Chicago Alderwoman Carrie Austin; Carol Bell; Lisa Coope; Mayor Vivian

Cassandra Holbert

“It made me feel special. This award was given to so many other women who have made significant contributions to our communities. I’m honored to receive this award.”

CASSANDRA HOLBERT

Covington, University Park, Illinois; Interim President for Olive Harvey City College Felicia Davis; Publisher Hermene Hartman; Dyanna Lewis;

www.thechicagocitizen.com

Illinois State Senator Kimberly Lightford; Denise Little; Debbie Meyers Martin; Dr. Kimako Patterson; and Dominique Jordan Turner.

8 | CITIZEN | Suburban Times Weekly | Week of May 23, 2018

CHEVROLET AND NNPA JOIN TOGETHER TO OFFER HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY STUDENTS A $15K FELLOWSHIP! The National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) is excited to partner with the all-new 2018 Chevrolet Equinox to present Discover the Unexpected (DTU) – an amazing journalism fellowship.

Selected DTU Fellows from Historically Black Colleges and Universities earn a $10,000 scholarship, $5,000 stipend and an exciting summer road trip in the all-new 2018 Chevrolet Equinox.

Join our DTU Fellows on this multi-city journey as they discover unsung heroes and share stories from African-American communities that will surprise and inspire. DTU is back and better than ever! Are you ready to ride? #ChevyEquinox, #Chevy, #NNPA

#DTU2018