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Citizen Week of May 30, 2018

| Vol. 1 | No. 42 | www.thechicagocitizen.com

BOUND BY CHEMISTRY

Terin D’amico (left) and Dreyvon McCray (right) who majored in chemistry while students at Governors State University (GSU) share a friendship reminiscent of a chemical reaction that is capturing headlines. During GSU’s recent

graduation ceremony, the two men walked across the stage together as D’amico escorted McCray. At the age of 14, McCray was beaten and kicked in the head multiple times by three boys who wanted his cell phone. After spending six

months in the hospital—three of them in a coma—he developed scoliosis as a result of his injuries and required intensive therapy to learn how to walk again.

See more on Page 3

Politiscope: Amnesty For Drug Traffickers? That’s One Mexican Presidential Candidate’s Pitch to Voters - Page 3 Food: Eat Well On-the-Go: Perfectly Portable Watermelon Dishes - Page 4 |

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Photo: Courtesy of Governors State University

SUBURBAN TIMES WEEKLY

2 | CITIZEN | Suburban Times Weekly | Week of May 30, 2018

ART SCENE

Last Stop on Market Street Extended Through Saturday, June 9

D

ue to popular demand, Chicago Children’s Theatre’s new hip-hop, heart-thumpin’, toe-tappin’ joy ride Last Stop on Market Street, a world premiere musical based on the 2016 Newbery-winning, Caldecott-honored children’s picture book

by Matt de la Peña, has been extended through Saturday, June 9.

Countless kids, parents and teachers already know and love Peña’s warm-hearted story about 7-year-old CJ and his wise Nana who teaches him to find beauty on a Sunday afternoon bus ride through the city.

Nationally acclaimed playwright Cheryl L. West (Akeelah and the Bee) adapted Peña’s award-winning book for the stage. CCT’s new family musical is driven by an original hiphop, gospel and R&B score by Motown legend Lamont Dozier and son Paris Ray Dozier.

Here’s the story: young CJ has been dropped off by his parents for a four-day visit with his grandmother Nana, and finds himself confronted with an urban landscape far different from the suburban world he’s used to. CJ’s negative reactions to loud city noises, strange Cuban-American cuisine and scary

looking neighbors test his grandmother’s patience to the point she takes away his smart phone and tablet, “because Nana says so.”

Dragged on a Sunday bus ride to a surprise destination, but guided by his veritable force of nature, Nana, CJ travels a little closer to his roots, learns that things are not always what they look like, and finds people are not always who they may seem.

Chicago Children’s Theatre has transformed the former 12th District Police Station, located in the heart of Chicago’s West Loop neighborhood at 100 S. Racine Avenue, into its first permanent home.

The new Chicago Children’s Theatre, The Station, celebrated its grand opening in January 2017, and now serves as a mixed-use performing arts, education and community engagement facility that welcomes all Chicago families.

Last Stop on Market Street is recommended for ages 6 and up. Single tickets start at $35 including fees. For tickets and information on group rates, visit chicagochildrenstheatre. org or call Chicago Children’s Theatre Guest Services, (312) 374-8835.

Photo: Charles Osgood

(Pictured, from left) Melanie Brezill, Kirra Silver, E. Faye Butler (as Nana), Kei Rawlins (as CJ) and Jesse Bhamrah in Chicago Children’s Theatre’s world premiere of Last Stop on Market Street.

TRAVEL

Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony Signifies Commitment to Create Ultimate “Luxury of Choice” Destination

Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony Signifies Commitment to Create Ultimate “Luxury of Choice” Destination

A

recent Rosewood Baha Mar Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony on May 22, 2018 signified a truly momentous occasion in The Bahamas as Baha Mar marked the completion of the phased opening, and the fulfilment of the resort development’s commitment

to create the ultimate “luxury of choice” destination in the Caribbean.

In its inaugural year, Baha Mar has delivered on the timely arrivals of the three global hotel brands on property, Grand Hyatt, SLS and Rosewood Baha Mar,

which debuts this month. Marking its completion, Baha Mar looks towards the future as the pioneer property establishing the next generation of leading destination resorts in global travel and luxury hospitality.

Across the three global hotel brands, Baha Mar now offers 2,300 rooms, suites and villas, as well as the largest casino in the Caribbean; flagship ESPA spa; world-class dining with over 40 restaurants, bars and lounges; marine life experiences at The BEACH Sanctuary; Bahamian art and culture at The Current; luxury and locally-inspired shopping destinations; the stateof-the-art Performing Arts and Convention Center and the highest levels of tennis and golf at the Peter Burwash International Baha Mar Racquet Club and the 18-hole Jack Nicklaus-designed Signature Royal Blue golf course.

“We are elated to announce the completion of Baha Mar, and celebrate Rosewood Baha Mar’s opening,” said Graeme Davis, President of Baha Mar. “We are proud to introduce to the world Baha Mar’s complete guest offerings: a truly one-of-a-kind resort destination, celebrating the beauty of the Caribbean, combined with your choice of luxurious accommodations, and Bahamian hospitality.

Baha Mar provides guests with unprecedented experiences, www.thechicagocitizen.com

activities, and amenities, elevating the island vacation experience through a passionate dedication to community, culture and conservation.”

In addition to the openings on property, Baha Mar made significant investments in The Bahamas during its first year.

Through The Baha Mar Resort Foundation, Baha Mar dedicates resources towards ensuring a strong future for The Bahamas, focusing specifically on conservation, community and cultural initiatives.

Throughout 2017 and 2018, Baha Mar sponsored the National Men’s Basketball Team; Fourteen Clubs, the youth golf organization in Nassau, and The Valley Boys, one of the leading Junkanoo bands in The Bahamas. The Current at Baha Mar has evolved into Nassau’s leading arts and culture hub, sponsoring five Artists in Residence to create original works of art in the Baha Mar studios for guests to view and enjoy.

In 2018, Baha Mar joined The Reef Rescue Network, a network of organizations and businesses in The Bahamas committed to the creation and management of coral restoration; partnered with Bahamas National Trust, the authority on wildlife protection and wetland conservation throughout the Bahamas, on significant longterm initiatives and programs; and joined the leading conservationists

in the nation to host the 2018 Bahamas Natural History Conference at Baha Mar. Set on the white sands of Nassau’s Cable Beach, Rosewood joins SLS Baha Mar and Grand Hyatt Baha Mar in celebrating the spirit of The Bahamas. A sanctuary of exclusivity within the stunning Baha Mar enclave, Rosewood Baha Mar boasts 237 rooms and suites, as well as four luxurious beachfront villas, featuring elegant British Colonial architecture and interior décor specifically designed to highlight Bahamian culture. Baha Mar will also welcome Rosewood’s signature dining outlets, the farm-to-table Commonwealth with a private rum room, and the contemporary coastal Mexican option, Costa.

As a leading employer in the Bahamas, Baha Mar currently employs more than 4,000 associates, and plans to increase that number throughout 2018. Over the next few years, it is projected that Baha Mar will contribute 12% of The Bahamas’ GDP. Airlift to the destination has also increased substantially throughout the last year, as top airlines add additional direct flight markets, seat count and frequency of flights from the United States and Canada. Since the opening of Baha Mar resorts, Lynden Pindling International Airport in Nassau, Bahamas has reported the highest number of passenger arrivals in the last decade.

CITIZEN | Suburban Times Weekly | Week of May 30, 2018

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COMMUNITY

Bound by Chemistry one last collaboration—walking across the stage together.

Student Disability Services worked with commencement marshals to make sure that McCray had a seat on the end of the aisle and easy access to his walker when his name was called. At that time, D’amico escorted McCray across the stage.

Before the graduation, McCray said he expected the sight of him and D’amico to draw attention, but had hoped it was the right kind. “We don’t want people to see our race.

We want people to see our friendship,” he said.

Continued from page 1

T

erin D’amico and Dreyvon McCray are recent graduates of Governors State University (GSU) who majored in chemistry. The two men share a friendship reminiscent of a chemical reaction that is capturing headlines.

D’amico is White, in his early 50s, and has the disposition and gait of a military record of service: McCray is African American, in his mid-20s, has an easy smile and infectious laugh, and walks with a walker following a violent attack 11 years ago.

“They have more of a covalent bond of shared interests,’’ said GSU Professor John Sowa, who mentored them both in their pursuit of a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry.

A love of atoms and molecules and ions and protons is the source of their bond. The initial attraction was more superficial.

“I saw Dreyvon sitting with his friends, and asked if I could join their table,’’ said D’amico, retired Army staff sergeant and the father of three. “He reminded me of my fourth son.’’

Today, the friends share inside jokes, shared lab projects and rides home three times a week after late classes while attending GSU. Formerly an upper division institution that primarily enrolled students whose

DREYVON’S JOURNEY

Photo: Courtesy of Governors State University

Photo: Courtesy of Governors State University

Dreyvon McCray

Terin D’amico

average age was 33 and who attended school part time in the evening, GSU now is a fouryear institution that provides an intersection for unlikely friends, such as D’amico and McCray, colleagues, and classmates to meet.

A fixture in the Student Success Commons,

D’amico and McCray spent the last days leading up to graduation working on graduate program applications for McCray. Meanwhile, D’amico prepared to head to Notre Dame to study chemistry on a full doctoral scholarship.

Before they parted ways, the friends had

At the age of 14, McCray was beaten and kicked in the head multiple times by three boys who wanted his cell phone.

After spending six months in the hospital— three of them in a coma—he developed scoliosis as a result of his injuries and required intensive therapy to learn how to walk again. Chicago media outlets reported his journey.

The rehab cost McCray his entire sophomore year of high school, but McCray remained focused on his long- and short-term goals.

The Dolton resident graduated high Continued on page 7

POLITISCOPE

Amnesty For Drug Traffickers? That’s One Mexican Presidential Candidate’s Pitch to Voters

BY LUIS GÓMEZ ROMERO

W

ith over 29,000 murders, 2017 was the deadliest year in Mexico since modern record-keeping began.

Nearly two-thirds of Mexicans say crime and violence are the biggest problems facing their country.

A main cause of the bloodshed, studies show, is the Mexican government’s violent crackdown on drug trafficking. Launched in 2006 under President Felipe Calderón, this military assault on cartels has left 234,966 people dead in 11 years.

While numerous drug kingpins have been jailed, cartels fractured under law enforcement pressure, competing for territory and diversifying their business.

Kidnapping and extortion have surged. Mexico is now one of the world’s most violent places.

Now one presidential candidate in Mexico is hoping to win over voters with a novel response to the country’s security crisis: amnesty for criminals.

JUSTICE NOT REVENGE The idea, first floated by leftist front-runner Andrés Manuel López Obrador in August 2016, is undeveloped and quite likely quixotic. López Obrador has yet to even indicate precisely what benefit the Mexican government would get in exchange for pardoning felons.

Still, as a law professor who studies drug policy, I must give López Obrador some credit for originality. His three competitors have mostly frustrated voters this campaign season by suggesting the same tried-and-failed law enforcement-based strategies.

López Obrador, founder and

leader of Mexico’s MORENA Party, is a rabble-rousing politician who delights in challenging the status quo. In this, his third presidential bid, he has on several occasions suggested that both members of organized crime groups and corrupt politicians could be pardoned for their crimes.

When pressed for details on the amnesty plan, López Obrador has simply responded that “amnesty is not impunity” or that Mexico needs “justice,” not “revenge.”

Former Supreme Court Justice Olga Sánchez Cordero, López Obrador’s pick for secretary of the interior, has offered a few additional hints about the plan. She says that voters should think of amnesty not as a security policy but as a kind of transitional justice. It would be an instrument used to pacify Mexico.

The opportunity would be timewww.thechicagocitizen.com

limited. Criminals would lose their immunity after a specific date if they have not met certain conditions – though these conditions remain undefined. It would also exclude serious crimes such as torture, rape or homicide.

All presidential pardons would need to be approved by Congress, in accordance with the Mexican Constitution.

AMNESTY IN COLOMBIA Sound vague? That’s because it is.

López Obrador says that his amnesty idea is still in development, and that his team will work with religious organizations, Pope Francis, United Nations General Secretary António Guterres, Mexican civil society groups and human rights experts to develop “a Continued on page 4

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4 | CITIZEN | Suburban Times Weekly | Week of May 30, 2018

FOOD Photo: Courtesy of National Watermelon Promotion Board

Eat Well On-the-Go

Perfectly Portable Watermelon Dishes (Family Features) A packed schedule often leads to less meals around the table. Between balancing family, friends, work and activities, it can be easy to reach for a pre-packaged snack on-the-go that lacks important vitamins and nutrients.

Instead, when looking for portable, grab-and- go foods, think about a multipurpose treat like watermelon. Not only can watermelon be diced, sliced, balled or blended, it also provides numerous health benefits. Watermelon contains higher levels of lycopene than any other fresh fruit or vegetable and is a source of vitamins A and C, as well as vitamin B6 and potassium.

Thinking beyond traditional slices, chunks or balls, there are many ways to incorporate watermelon into some of your favorite to-go meals, whether as a side dish or a key ingredient in beverages, salads or wraps.

For example, these recipes for Watermelon and Bulgur Wheat Salad and Watermelon Collagen Creamsicle from the National Watermelon Promotion Board can help satisfy your sweet tooth and provide necessary nutrients while tackling the next task on your to-do list.

Find more watermelon recipes perfect for an on-the-go lifestyle, such as these Watermelon Breakfast Push Pops, at watermelon.org/watermelononthego.

WATERMELON AND BULGUR WHEAT SALAD SERVINGS: 4 DRESSING:

In large serving bowl, combine watermelon, bulgur wheat, arugula, grape tomatoes and chopped mint.

To make dressing: In liquid measuring cup, whisk olive oil, vinegar, garlic, honey, salt and pepper until well combined.

Just before serving, pour dressing over salad and toss to combine. Top with shaved pecorino and season, to taste. Serve immediately.

WATERMELON COLLAGEN CREAMSICLE SERVINGS: 1

In blender, combine watermelon, collagen and heavy cream; blend. Pour into glass to serve.

WRAP IT UP Wraps are a perfect on-the-go snack and are easily customizable. Get started with one of these varieties from the National Watermelon Promotion Board or create your own combination. Start with a spread to help the fillings stick together. Place toppings in the center of a tortilla and a watermelon spear on top. Roll the tortilla over the watermelon

spear to tuck in all ingredients. Fasten with a toothpick, if needed.

chive cream cheese, ham, watermelon, watercress GREEK WRAP: Tortilla, plain Greek yogurt, feta cheese, watermelon, black olives LATIN: Watermelon Wrap: Flour tortilla, guacamole, ham, watermelon, pepper jack cheese, cilantro, scallions, jalapenos SOUTHWEST CHICKEN WRAP: Corn or flour tortilla, guacamole, chicken, watermelon, salsa, bacon ranch dressing, pepper jack cheese, romaine lettuce WATERMELON CAPRESE WRAP: Flour tortilla,

pepperoni, watermelon, pesto, mozzarella cheese, basil THAI PEANUT CHICKEN WRAP: Corn tortilla, chicken, watermelon, Thai peanut sauce, Bibb lettuce, carrots, cilantro SOUTHWEST VEGGIE WRAP: Spinach tortilla, guacamole, watermelon, barbecue ranch dressing, swiss cheese, cucumber, cilantro MID-EASTERN VEGGIE WRAP: Corn tortilla, Hummus with pine nuts, watermelon, mint, cucumber slices GINGER CHICKEN WRAP: Wheat wrap, chicken, watermelon, teriyaki ginger sauce, sweet chili and ginger sauce, Bibb lettuce, Brussels sprouts HAWAIIAN WRAP: Spinach wrap, pineapple cream cheese, ham, watermelon, sweet chili and ginger sauce, cilantro.

Journalist and historian Héctor Aguilar Camín has described voters’ current mood as “melancholic.” Rampant corruption, government repression and bloody violence have made them skeptical of politics. But, as Aguilar Camín says, people also need desperately to believe that change is possible.

This discontent has given López Obrador a virtually unbeatable lead in the lead-up to the July election.

To paraphrase the prominent MexicanAmerican Univision reporter Jorge Ramos, all Mexicans want from their next president is to keep them from being killed. So they’re open to unusual ideas.

During two presidential debates, the only candidate other than López Obrador to propose a radical new crime-fighting tactic is Governor Jaime “El Bronco” Rodríguez, an independent from Nuevo Leon state. He promised “to cut off the hands” of corrupt politicians and criminals, a suggestion that left moderator Azucena Uresti – and most of the country – aghast. The Mexican Constitution prohibits punishment with mutilation and torture.

suggestion, has questioned whether aggressive law enforcement should even be the core tenet of Mexican security policy.

His competitors have attacked the idea, calling it “madness” and “nonsense.” Some accused López Obrador of being “a puppet of criminals.”

Alfonso Durazo, whom López Obrador’s would nominate to be Mexico’s secretary of security, believes that an amnesty law could end the “cycle of war” in Mexico by setting in motion a process of national reconciliation.

Meanwhile, to actively combat crime, López Obrador says he would merge the police and the military into one unified national guard under direct presidential command.

Maybe forgiveness and justice is what Mexico needs. But, for now, presidential pardons seem like little more than a hollow campaign promise. As Mexican pundit Denise Dresser has put it, López Obrador’s amnesty plan is merely “a blank page on the table, with multiple scriveners working on it.”

WATERMELON SANDWICH WRAPS TOPPINGS:

ENGLISH TEA SANDWICH WRAP: Flour tortilla,

POLITISCOPE Continued from page 3 plan to achieve peace for the country, with justice and dignity.”

Colombia offers one example of how amnesty can be used as an instrument for peace.

In 2016 the Colombian government signed an accord with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, ending the Marxist group’s violent 52-year rebellion.

In exchange for laying down their weapons, FARC fighters were offered protection from prosecution for political crimes committed during the conflict.

The amnesty law is extremely controversial.

Colombian conservatives and the United Nations alike have criticized it for prioritizing the rights of guerrillas over those of their victims. Colombia’s peace process has also been fraught by delays, flare-ups of violence and political opposition.

Still, according to the Conflict Analysis Resource Center, a think tank, conflict-related deaths among both civilians and combatants dropped over 90 percent in 2016.

Would amnesty work in Mexico?

Mexico is not Colombia.

López Obrador is proposing amnesty in

a different conflict carried out by radically different actors – drug kingpins, corrupt politicians and security forces who for 11 years have waged war with virtual impunity.

It’s unclear, for example, why drug traffickers would abandon their US$40 billion illicit industry – which supports around 500,000 jobs in Mexico – in exchange for a preemptive pardon from authorities.

It is also difficult to reconcile López Obrador’s vows for honest government with his proposal to pardon corruption, though he has committed to finishing all ongoing investigations into public officials accused of corruption.

López Obrador claims to seek a new “moral constitution” for Mexico. He maintains that forgiveness is necessary to construct a “república amorosa” – “loving republic” – in which Mexicans “live under the principle that being good is the only way to be joyful.”

A SIMPLE EXPECTATION Mexicans don’t feel joyful right now.

According to a recent IPSOS poll, 89 percent of Mexicans believe the country is on the wrong track. Almost 70 percent disapprove of President Enrique Peña Nieto’s performance.

ELECTORAL ADVANTAGES OF AMBIGUITY Only López Obrador, with his amnesty

www.thechicagocitizen.com

Luis Gómez Romero is a Senior Lecturer in Human Rights, Constitutional Law and Legal Theory at the University of Wollongong.

CITIZEN | Suburban Times Weekly | Week of May 30, 2018

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6 | CITIZEN | Suburban Times Weekly | Week of May 30, 2018

NEWS

Airbnb’s Home Sharing Business Model Makes its Impact in Illinois

BY LISETTE GUSHINIERE

‘S

hare and share alike’ may be an old adage, but new technology and innovations like Airbnb’s home sharing business model is having a positive impact on communities who like to share.

In Illinois, residents earned about $90 million in supplemental income through Airbnb in 2017,” said Ben Breit, Airbnb Chicago public affairs manager. And while many of the college commencement ceremonies in Illinois are now over, Airbnb continues to capitalize on the college market from graduations yet to come.

During Northwestern University’s June 22 Commencement located in Evanston, Airbnb released data showing a total host Income of $55,000, representing figures just for that period. On the other end of town at the University of Chicago’s upcoming June 9th Commencement (specifically in the Hyde Park neighborhood), Airbnb is reporting a total host income of $50,000.

Supplemental income for a typical host during Northwestern’s Commencement is $311 while in the Hyde Park neighborhood, the supplemental income for a typical host during the University of Chicago’s Commencement is a reported $256.

In a new development, Northwestern

University, Airbnb and the city of Evanston recently announced an agreement authorizing the platform to collect the Evanston Hotel/ Motel Tax on behalf of its hosts and remit the revenue to the city.

Airbnb also collects the Illinois hotel tax on all Airbnb bookings, remitting the revenue directly to the state.

During special events like graduations, Airbnb maintains that the company offers parents an affordable and convenient choice.

Rather than paying pricey hotel rates and having to travel miles to the graduation’s venue, an Airbnb host may be a short distance away from the event, all at an affordable cost.

As a strong opponent of hotel price gouging, the company addressed the issue in a recent report saying, while Airbnb is saving millions for consumers, the hotel industry relies on price-gouging in order to its boost profits.

In Part I of the report called, Airbnb: Fighting Hotel Price-Gouging, Saving Millions for Consumers and according to UBS​, hotels make anywhere from 35 percent to 70 percent more revenue per available room increasing prices on the so-called “compression nights,” and ​Reuters​noted that they contribute 25 percent to 30 percent to hotels’ annual profits.”

While the company is making its presence known in Illinois’ college market, seniors

are also cashing in. “In Chicago, we see a significant number of seniors turning to Airbnb to help supplement their retirements or fixed incomes,” Breit added. “Chicago seniors earn the most income, host most often and get the best ratings of any other host demographic in the city,” he said.

“We have also met quite a few Chicago hosts who use their Airbnb income in order to fund their own non-profits,” Breit continued. “Some, including a few hosts from Englewood, host in order to dispel stereotypes about their neighborhoods and shine a positive light. But overall, the narrative we hear most often from hosts is that they share their homes in order to help pay the bills and make ends meet.”

In 2017, Airbnb and the NAACP launched a landmark partnership designed to help spread the economic benefits of home sharing to more communities.

Under the partnership, Airbnb and the NAACP agreed to conduct targeted outreach to communities of color to help more people use their homes to earn extra income.

By increasing the number of travelers to communities of color, one of the the goals of the partnership is to spread the economic benefits of tourism.

The partnership includes a unique revenue sharing model: Airbnb will share 20 percent

of its earnings from this partnership with the NAACP. The NAACP and Airbnb are also collaborating on a series of projects to support Airbnb’s ongoing efforts to increase workforce diversity, as well as to support Airbnb’s supplier diversity goals.

In Chicago, Breit said the company is seeing the, “fastest growth on the West Side and South Side,” of the city. “These are areas of the city that by and large do not have any hotels and therefore have not traditionally been able to take advantage of the economic benefits of tourism,” he added.

“We are hopeful to catalyze that positive economic impact. When guests are able to stay and authentically experience neighborhoods on the South Side and West Side, that’s obviously helpful income for the hosts, but there’s also a trickle-down effect for neighborhood merchants and small businesses who benefit from the additional foot traffic,” said Breit.

The success of Airbnb’s business model is also benefiting the homeless. Fifty percent of Airbnb tax revenue in Chicago funds homeless support services administered by the city, which added up to $2.9 million in 2017.

Outside of Chicago, Breit said, cities where the company is seeing a, “really positive impact of home sharing include Rockford, Carbondale, Champaign/Urbana and Peoria.”

Duckworth, Durbin Highlight Illinois Priorities Included in Water Resources Development Act Reauthorization WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S.

Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW) and Ranking Member on the Fisheries, Wildlife and Water Senate Subcommittee, and U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) applauded the inclusion of several of their priorities that will help Illinois in the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) that passed the EPW committee recently and that now heads to Senate floor for final consideration. The legislation includes provisions that will empower regional Army Corps officials who better know their local communities to make decisions about Corps projects, enhance public participation in Corps decisions, increase urban flooding prevention and response, reinforce protections for the Great Lakes, and expand water infrastructure funding

across Illinois and the nation.

“I’m proud to have worked to secure these provisions that will benefit our state’s economy, protect public health and create jobs through investments in water infrastructure. This legislation will help improve Army Corps programs, protect the Great Lakes and safeguard our environment,” said Duckworth. “I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate to send it to the President’s desk.”

“This legislation is important to the commerce that moves on the Great Lakes, the Mississippi River, the Illinois River, and other Illinois waterways; to those communities and towns throughout our state that rely on the Army Corps of Engineers to protect them from flooding and other storm damage; and to the natural resources that our rivers, streams, and wetlands

represent,” said Durbin. “I am pleased that EPW was able to work in a bipartisan manner on this bill and I look forward to working to get this important legislation to the finish line.”

The Committee-passed legislation includes the following Duckworth/ Durbin priorities: • Improve U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) projects in Illinois by increasing transparency, enhancing effectiveness and reducing costs.

This includes promoting districtlevel decision making, providing additional input opportunities for state, local and regional stakeholders, and modernizing USACE benefit-cost analysis to support the advancement of regionally significant projects like the Navigation and Ecosystem Sustainability Program (NESP) on the Upper Mississippi and www.thechicagocitizen.com

Illinois Rivers.

• Support efforts to combat urban flooding by studying USACE regulations to facilitate more active federal participation in urban flooding events. The bill also promotes local management best practices to help Illinois communities develop innovative solutions that address storm water runoff, prevent flooding, reduce groundwater depletion and mitigate water quality impairments.

• Extend the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) pilot program through 2021 by $100 million annually to accelerates water infrastructure investment by providing longterm, low-cost supplemental loans for regionally and nationally significant projects.

• Protect the Great Lakes and our environment by increasing

funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative by $30 million in FY19, $60 million in FY20 and $90 million in FY21.

The legislation also authorizes the Great Lakes Coastal Resiliency Study, which will be coordinated by the USACE, NOAA, USGS, FEMA, and EPA and lead to recommendations on how to best manage and protect the Great Lakes coastline. The bill also reinforces efforts to protect the Great Lakes from invasive species like Asian Carp.

• Prioritize the completion of the McCook Reservoir project, which is a flood damage reduction project that is currently 91 percent complete. This project will provide $114 million in annual flood damage reduction benefits to five million residents of Chicago and 36 surrounding suburban communities.

CITIZEN | Suburban Times Weekly | Week of May 30, 2018

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NEWS

Bound by Chemistry Continued from page 3 school with his class in 2010 and went on to college— first at South Suburban College then at Governors State. McCray graduated this spring with a major in chemistry and minor in mathematics.

“I had a plan, and I was going to achieve that plan no matter what happened.”

The key to his success? Asking for help when he needed it, lots of study time at the GSU Student Success Center, and building relationships with people like D’amico, whom McCray counts as a best friend.

Though the two will take different paths after graduation, they plan to stay in touch and visit often.

Now that he’s graduated, McCray plans to earn a master’s degree. Eventually, he’d like to be a college professor.

For now, he’s happy to have been able to cross the stage with his friend, whom he says has inspired him to stare down the obstacles.

“I look at it this way: People go through adversity and the adversity you go through is supposed to make you stronger. Each day I wake up and it’s like, ‘OK, what are you goanna’ do today?’”

TERIN’S STORY

Photo: Katherine Newman

Thornton Township and South Suburban College (SSC) recently held their seventh annual collaborative job fair at the SSC Fitness Center.

South Suburban Job Fair Boasts Variety of Employers

BY KATHERINE NEWMAN

T

hornton Township and South Suburban College (SSC) recently held their seventh annual collaborative job fair at the SSC Fitness Center. Seventyfive businesses were present to conduct interviews with nearly 1,000 employmentseekers who attended the job fair.

“We do a really good job of marketing and preparing students and employees for the job fair, we do resume training, interview training, and we make sure people are dressed professionally and come here ready to do on the spot interviews,” said Ernst Lamothe, community relations manager for Thornton Township.

Though not all employers were doing on-the-spot interviews at the event, several were. Others were in attendance to establish a connection with potential employees and encourage them to take information and fill out applications.

“We do have a good amount of employers

who are willing to do interviews right there on the spot. Other employers will require them to apply online, but they want to get a sense of what kind of people are here and get a sense of the skill set of this community,” said Lamothe With over 75 businesses willing to set up tables at the job fair, there was a great variety of employers who offered an even wider variety of job opportunities. Employers like UPS, Roseland Community Hospital, Secure Home and Automation, and Amtrak all participated to provide opportunities for entry-level workers all the way up to highly skilled professionals in many different fields.

Secure Home and Automation, a residential security provider based out of South Holland, is in the process of doing a major expansion and was at the job fair to meet with potential employees. Secure Home and Automation will continue to hire until they are fully staffed for their expansion.

“The benefit and the reason why I like coming to these types of events is that it

allows us to have a first-hand conversation and create a little bit of a rapport with the applicant and put a face with a name,” said Stacey Chauncey, president of Secure Home and Automation. “We are looking for a lot of people at all different levels. We have openings for entry-level positions, people that have experience doing installations, customer service, the whole nine-yards because we are a full-service provider.”

Over the last seven years, unemployment has lessened across the nation, but Lamothe said that the job fair has continued to grow by diversifying the types of jobs that are available each year.

“Even though the unemployment rate has decreased, we are still increasing and the reason why is that there are certain types of jobs that are more popular now than before. As the different skill sets have changed, different industries have gone up and down. How we’ve grown is that we want to make sure we have a variety instead of just two or three kinds of jobs for the community,” said Lamothe.

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As a 27-year military man, D’amico served in infantry, intercepted guided missiles, and jumped from airplanes during his career.

He retired his rucksack in 2012 and decided to follow in the footsteps of his younger brother Derin Ph.D., an accomplished organic chemist.

After graduating high school in Wenatchee, Washington, Terin headed to boot camp (inspired by the “Rambo” movie franchise) while Derin headed to school.

Terin D’amico’s service was interrupted twice.

In 1988, he left the Army briefly to go to school. He left the second time in 1999 for seven years. During that time, Terin went to work at what is now telecommunications giant Verizon, where he supported the information technology team and designed software. He’s even named on a couple patents.

In 2007, Terin returned to the Army and spent most of his time overseas— Afghanistan, Haiti, Tunisia, Jordan—until he retired in 2012.

Terin and his family settled into Country Club Hills to be closer to his wife’s family. Two years later, he started at GSU. He worked with the Veterans Resource Center to find a grant that would cover tuition and fees. D’amico was even able to secure a work study job as the primary chemistry tutor and work one-on-one with McCray.

They have spent hours, sometimes days, studying formulas and equations. Now, after graduating, D’amico said sharing a last walk across the stage was an appropriate way to sum up their time together at GSU. “A journey is better shared.”

8 | CITIZEN | Suburban Times Weekly | Week of May 30, 2018

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