Chicago Weekend Citizen 3-20-2019

COMMENTARY: House Chair Waters leads charge to return consumer protection to CFPB — Page 2

Citizen Week of March 20, 2019

| Vol. 50 | No. 12 | www.thechicagocitizen.com

CHICAGO WEEKEND

DESPITE PROTESTS, CITY COUNCIL APPROVES JOINT PUBLIC SAFETY TRAINING ACADEMY PROJECT

After months of back and forth discussions, Chicago’s City Council recently voted to approve the $95 million Joint Public Safety Training Academy project which has been slated for construction in the city’s West Garfield Park neighborhood.

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Protestors gathered outside of Chicago City Council Chambers recently to protest the $95 million Joint Public Safety Training Academy project. Photo Credit: No Cop Academy

BUSINESS

ENTERTAINMENT

Progress for working women has stalled, according to The Economist’s 2019 glass-ceiling index PAGE 4

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Survey shows teacher shortages growing throughout Illinois

Chicago Sees Groundbreaking Chicago Film, Television and Media Production in 2018

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NEWS briefly EDUCATION

ILLINOIS YMCA YOUTH AND GOVERNMENT CELEBRATES THEIR 70TH YEAR OF TEACHING DEMOCRACY Illinois YMCA Youth and Government recently celebrated their 70th year of teaching democracy through a hands-on learning experience where students across the state took on the actual roles of state government. On, March 15-17, more than 1,000 teens and over 200 volunteers from across Illinois converged on Springfield and “took over” the Capitol and Supreme Court Buildings and ran a model legislative and judicial program where students sat in their counterparts’ actual seats — from the Governor’s office where the Youth Governor held meetings and signed bills, to the House and Senate Chambers where students tried their hand at getting their bills passed and all the way to the Supreme Court where they argued cases and decided on mock appeals. Additionally, students took on the roles of the media, lobbyists and participated in a State Issues Forum to give the experience a complete and well rounded feel.

The Assembly acts as the culmination of the IL YMCA Youth and Government program — a year-round civic engagement and service learning experience that offers high school age teens from across Illinois the opportunity to participate in a student–run model government program.

HEALTH

NATIONAL SLEEP FOUNDATION’S 2019 SLEEP IN AMERICA® POLL SHOWS DISCIPLINED SLEEPERS REAP REWARD The National Sleep Foundation’s (NSF) annual Sleep in America® poll shows that disciplined sleepers can afford the occasional shift of at least one-hour in their sleep schedules without paying the price the following day.

These individuals also scored an average of 6 to 11 points higher on the Foundation’s Sleep Health Index® than those with the most variable sleep timing, indicating notably better sleep health.

The 2019 Sleep in America poll shows a strong correlation between sleep schedule consistency and feeling well-rested the following morning. When contrasting the most disciplined sleepers to those with the most variable sleep schedules, those with the strictest schedules were nearly 1.5 times more likely to report feeling well-rested.

In fact, those with excellent sleep health are nearly 3.5 times more likely to report feeling well-rested on a typical weekday than those with poor sleep health.

LAW & POLITICS

EARLY EVIDENCE SUGGESTS MORE ACCIDENTS OCCUR WHERE MARIJUANA SALES ARE LEGAL U.S. auto insurers are examining how recreational marijuana is impacting motorist behavior and claims-filing patterns, according to a new Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.) white paper. A Rocky Road So Far: Recreational Marijuana and Impaired Driving explores marijuana impairment’s impact on a motorist’s driving abilities, how states deal with marijuana-impaired motorists, and marijuana’s broader implications for U.S. roadway safety.

Early results aren’t promising, the I.I.I. found. There are signs legalizing recreational marijuana pushes accident rates higher, while it can be difficult to detect whether a driver is high on marijuana. There is currently no ‘breathalyzer’ equivalent for marijuana impairment,” write I.I.I.’s Chief Actuary James Lynch and I.I.I.’s Senior Research Specialist Lucian McMahon, the white paper’s co-authors, referring to the device which detects alcohol-impaired motorists. Moreover, when a motorist consumes both alcohol and marijuana, and then drives, that motorist is 25 times more likely than a sober one to be involved in a fatal accident, the I.I.I.’s white paper notes, pointing to a 2017 study in Injury Epidemiology.

Despite Protests, City Council Approves Joint Public Safety Training Academy Project Continued from page 1

BY KATHERINE NEWMAN

After months of back and forth discussions, Chicago’s City Council recently voted to approve the $95 million Joint Public Safety Training Academy project which has been slated for construction in the city’s West Garfield Park neighborhood.

Despite the estimated 300 protestors that gathered at City Hall that day and against requests from both mayoral candidates that council members halt this process, 38 aldermen voted in favor of the project and only 8 voted against it.

When completed, the Joint Public Safety Training Academy will consolidate and replace various Chicago Police Department, Fire Department, and Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC) training facilities into a new campus at 4301 W. Chicago Avenue, according to the Chicago Infrastructure Trust.

“When it comes to economic development for the west side of Chicago, we always

have had a problem and I don’t feel that is right. I am listening to millions of dollars be spent all across the city and yet we can’t get grocery stores,” said 37th Ward Alderman, Emma Mitts.

The Joint Public Safety Training Academy will be constructed in the 37th ward and Mitts said she is in full support of this project and sees it as an opportunity to bring economic development and improved public safety to the community.

“We have a right to have public safety as a priority. I hear my constituents tell me that they don’t feel safe going out of the house and they have to walk their kids to school,” said Mitts.

Mitts went on to say that with this project, Chicago has “an opportunity to get something right when it comes to violence in this city.”

Other westside aldermen, David Moore (17th) and Walter Burnett (27th), spoke at the meeting to share their support for this project. The only alderman to stand and voice his opposition was Alderman Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35th).

“The research shows that the best way to improve public safety is by investing more in after-school programs, jobs programs, education, and mental health. That is something that this council and this administration has consistently failed to invest in. We closed 50 public schools and we closed 6 mental health clinics because we were told that there was not enough money to invest in our neighborhoods and the working class,” said Ramirez-Rosa.

Protestors were present both inside and outside of City Council Chambers to detest the project. The general sentiment of those that were in opposition of Joint Public Safety Training Academy was that the $95 million dollars that will be spent on constructing this new facility could be better spent as funding for education and mental health initiatives.

“The cop academy is just such a misuse of our tax dollars,” said Theron Hawk, a representative from the Garfield Park Community Council. “We on the west side and at the Garfield Park Community Council say no to this cop academy.”

COMMENTARY

House Chair Waters leads charge to return consumer protection to CFPB

BY CHARLENE CROWELL Deputy Director, The Center for Responsible Lending

On March 7, the House Financial Services Committee, chaired by Congresswoman Maxine Waters, marked the first time that the new Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) appeared for a hearing in this capacity. Entitled, Putting Consumers First? A Semi-Annual Review of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau,” the session is the first of two mandated by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Financial Reform and Consumer Protection Act. Twice a year, CFPB’s Director must report to each chamber of Congress.

But before the hearing, other actions signaled that Director Kathy Kraninger would likely be forced to defend both the Bureau’s actions and inactions that occurred at the hands of Trump political appointees. Under Mick Mulvaney, CFPB’s former Acting Director, a series of actions turned the agency’s focus away from consumers, regulation and enforcement to make its policies and structure more

Charlene Crowell is the Center for Responsible Lending’s Communications Deputy Director. She can be reached at Charlene.crowell@responsiblelending.org.

favorable to deregulation and business.

One day before the hearing, Congresswoman Waters and other majority members of the Financial Services Committee held a news conference to announce the reintroduction of the Consumers First Act. Initially filed in 2018 by Waters, the 2019 version has the same intent: to block and reverse the Trump Administration’s anti-consumer agenda.

This year, Waters has the support of co-sponsoring law-

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makers representing 19 states as diverse as California, Florida, Michigan, North Carolina and Virginia. Another boost – the bill is also supported by 51 consumer, civil rights, and labor advocates.

“The bill reverses the harmful structural changes Mulvaney and his deputies made to damage the agency one-by-one,” said Chairwoman Waters at the news conference. “We will be asking all of the questions that our members deem necessary to find out whether or not she is on the road to restoring much of the damage that was done

by Mr. Mulvaney.”

Ohio’s Rep. Joyce Beatty, one of the bill’s co-sponsors, took direct aim at the Bureau’s changed perspective on payday lending adding, “Under Trump’s CFPB director Mulvaney, the CFPB has reduced transparency and accountability, weakened enforcement… and became more interested in helping payday lenders who allegedly misled consumers and charged exorbitantly high interest rates, rather than protecting the American consumers they were sworn to serve.”

Readers may recall that during Black History Month, Director Kraninger announced the Bureau’s intent to suspend the August 2019 effective date of the long-awaited payday rule. After more than five years of public forums, rulemaking, research and thousands of public comments, Director Kraninger still intends to begin the rulemaking process anew.

In response, consumer, clergy, and civil rights advocates received updated information from the Center for Responsible Lending that pinpoints state by state, how current triple-digit interest rates (APRs) continue to harm consumers across the country. Regardless of a state’s population size or average incomes, the cost of borrowing payday loans remains a debt trap. Further, in states where these loans remain legal, lenders continue to squeeze billions of dollars of fees from borrowers whose annual average earnings are $22,500.

Prepared by Charla Rios, a researcher with the Center for Responsible Lending, the updated payday map reveals Continued on page 3

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NEWS

UHS Releases Results of Poll Examining Americans’ Perceptions on Mental Health Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE: UHS), a provider of acute and behavioral health services, recently commissioned a national survey assessing Americans’ views and perceptions on mental health conditions, prevalence and treatment barriers. Major findings include: Widespread agreement (71.1%) that mental and physical health should be viewed as equally important with the top four specific conditions cited as most concerning being cancer, depression, anxiety and heart disease.

Nearly all respondents (96.8%) stated that mental health conditions represent legitimate medical illnesses and, like chronic physical disorders, can be effectively treated and managed (94.4%).

Over 60% of respondents aged 44 and younger (and 69.4% among 18-24 year olds) have suffered from, or care about someone that suffered from, mental illness in the past 12 months. This percentage decreases as age increases (20% among 65+).

Clear majorities reported knowing where to turn for mental health support (70.7%), and stating that they would voluntarily see a mental health professional to get help (72.8%).

Significant pluralities (48.8%) stated that individuals diagnosed with some form of mental illness are still treated differently than individuals with physical illnesses because people generally don’t understand mental illness.

Nearly 55% of respondents identified cost and insurance coverage limitations as the main impediments to mental health treatment, with 25% citing embarrassment and stigma. Among respondents who stated they would voluntarily seek help, approximately 1 in 4 cited lack of access as the primary reason they would not pursue such care.

Approximately 1 in 4 respondents did not believe depression, anxiety, substance use, eating disorders, or autism were a form of mental illness.

“The results of this survey reveal numerous valuable insights on the American public’s beliefs about mental health,” said Karen E. Johnson, senior vice president, clinical services and division compliance officer at Universal Health Services.

“Specifically, our data indicate that mental health is increasingly viewed as critical to overall health

and wellbeing, equal to or even superseding physical health concerns. We must remove existing barriers to treatment, including those related to access, insurance coverage and cost, as well as stigma and stereotypes that continue to prevent individuals from receiving the care they need.”

“This study highlights that Americans recognize that mental health conditions are prevalent, that mental health conditions are as important as physical conditions, and that patients with mental health conditions can respond well to treatment.

However, barriers to care – such as stigma associated with mental health – still exist and need to be addressed,” said Jeffrey S. Akman, MD, vice president for health affairs, dean of the GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences, and associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences. “Research studies in this area will give us a better understanding of how the citizens of our country view mental health conditions. More research will also help to improve access to quality mental health care and reduce the overall burden

of mental health conditions in the United States.”

Methodology: This survey was conducted on behalf of UHS by Research Now in November 2018 using a web-based survey instrument from a demographically representative sample of 1,015 U.S. adults, authenticated to allow one user to complete per IP address. Survey methodology was vetted and approved by Research Now to ensure data and outcomes were considered valid according to research industry norms and practices.

House Chair Waters leads charge to return consumer protection to CFPB Continued from page 2 that in 2019, 31 states charged 200 percent APRs or higher on payday loans. Of these, 18 states have APRs of 400 percent or more, three more – Idaho, Nevada, and Texas charge in excess of 600 percent.

The Lone Star State can rightfully claim one other distinction: its 661 percent APR is the nation’s highest. That claim becomes even more curious when that figure is compared to the actions of more than 40 cities that have adopted some kind of

regulation on these predatory loans.

In 2011, the City of Dallas led the municipal curbs with an ensuing unsuccessful legal challenge. Fortunately, the Texas Supreme Court upheld the city’s restriction.

Despite these disappointing numbers, there have been recent and notable consumer victories on payday lending. Colorado and South Dakota successfully approved by voter referenda 36 percent payday rate caps. In each of these referenda, voters supported rate caps by 75 percent majorities.

“When no rate caps exist, payday lenders become more predatory as they charge even higher triple-digit interest rates that financially bury people in debt,” said Rios. “The 2019 map shows just how much real reform is needed at the state and federal levels.”

Although Director Kraninger announced a plan to suspend the payday rule, changes in how the Bureau operated with regard to these lenders began under Mulvaney. While at CFPB, he urged Congress to repeal the rule and joined a lawsuit brought www.thechicagocitizen.com

by a payday lender that sought to indefinitely suspend the rule.

Earlier and as a member of Congress representing South Carolina, Mulvaney opposed the idea of creating the CFPB and counted payday lenders among his top donors.

The 2017 payday rule was promulgated after five years of hearings from a variety of stakeholders and everyday citizens. There was also extensive research, and a public comment period where literally thousands of statements documented this financial exploitation wrought by

payday loans.

“Eliminating this protection is plain and simple a huge gift to predatory lenders so they can keep borrowers trapped in unaffordable debt with interest rates exceeding 300 percent,” concluded Diane Standaert, a CRL EVP and Director of State Policy.

Charlene Crowell is the Center for Responsible Lending’s Communications Deputy Director. She can be reached at Charlene.crowell@responsiblelending.org.

4 | CITIZEN | Chicago Weekend | Week of March 20, 2019

BUSINESS Progress for working women has stalled, according to The Economist’s 2019 glass-ceiling index Despite growing attention to the gender pay gap, the #MeToo movement and calls to improve opportunities for women in the workplace over the past year, The Economist’s 2019 glass-ceiling index (GCI) suggests that progress for women in the workplace has stalled.

The GCI is a yearly assessment of where women have the best and worst chances of equal treatment at work in countries in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), a group of mostly rich countries.

PRNewsfoto/The Economist

The GCI, which combines data on higher education, labour-force participation, pay,

child-care costs, maternity and paternity rights, business-school applications and representation

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in senior jobs to create a ranking of 29 OECD countries, shows that the Nordic countries are still the best places to work if you are a woman. The Nordics are particularly good at helping women complete university, secure a job, access senior positions, and take advantage of quality parentalleave systems and flexible work schedules.

Turkey, Japan and South Korea continue to rank as the worst places to be a working woman in The Economist’s glass-ceiling index.

Societal norms in Asia still expect women to choose between having a family or a career.

The index does reflect a few bright spots this year, including women in governmental positions of power. Spain’s prime minister appointed the first female-majority cabinet since the country returned to a democracy in 1975. More American women than ever were voted into Congress during the 2018 mid-term elections. Theresa May and Angela Merkel still hold their respective countries’ highest office, which may inspire more women to run for election.

Highlights of this year’s index: The gender pay gap remains largely unchanged at around 14% l The share of women in the labour force has crept slightly higher to 64%, but this is still 16 percentage points below the male average l The share of women in management has flatlined since last year at 32% l Fewer women took the GMAT business-school entry exams, but this is in line with an overall fall in both men and women taking the test l The share of women on company boards slightly increased to 23% This is the seventh year that The Economist has released its glass-ceiling index. When it was launched in 2013 there were five indicators and 26 countries; today it consists of ten indicators including maternity and paternity leave for 29 OECD countries.

To view the full interactive index, please visit: https:// www.economist.com/graphicdetail/2019/03/08/the-glassceiling-index l

The glass-ceiling index 2019 Best and worst OECD countries to be a working woman 21. Germany 11. Canada 1. Sweden 22. Greece 12. Italy 2. Norway 23. Czech Republic 13. Slovakia 3. Iceland 24. Britain 14. Austria 4. Finland 25. Netherlands 15. Spain 5. France 26. Switzerland 16. Israel 6. Belgium 27. Turkey 17. Australia 7. Denmark 28. Japan 18. New Zealand 8. Portugal 29. South Korea 19. Ireland 9. Hungary 20. United States 10. Poland www.thechicagocitizen.com

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NEWS

Survey shows teacher shortages growing throughout Illinois Consequences include larger classes, canceled programs, use of unqualified teachers

BY PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com

SPRINGFIELD – The shortage of teachers in Illinois has gotten more serious over the past year, reaching into virtually every subject area and region of the state, and forcing schools to either cancel programs, enlarge class sizes or use teachers who are not fully licensed in a particular subject area.

Those are the conclusions of a new report released Monday from the Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents of Schools, which was based on survey responses from 527 of the 858 district superintendents in Illinois.

Of those, the report said, 85 percent reported experiencing some level of teacher shortage this year, up from 78 percent in a similar survey conducted in 2017. Nearly one-third (32 percent) reported a “serious” shortage.

Nearly two-thirds of those responding (63 percent) also reported having a “serious shortage” of substitute teachers.

As a result, the report stated, the superintendents who responded to the survey reported a total of 1,032 vacant positions that still had not been filled by the time classes started last fall, or were filled by people who were not fully qualified for the position.

“Ultimately, what’s not really stated in there,

is that there are about 120,000 kids who are being impacted directly by positions that are going unfilled this year,” said Kelton Davis, the regional superintendent for Monroe and Randolph counties, and chairman of the regional superintendents association.

The report said shortages were reported in almost every subject area, with foreign languages, various special education fields and computer science leading the list of classroom subjects. There were also significant shortages of school psychologists and library and media specialists.

Shortages were also reported in every region of the state, although they were more severe in southern and central Illinois than in the suburban districts around Chicago.

In southern Illinois, 94 districts reported seeing “significantly fewer qualified applicants” than they did five years ago. That compares with 90 percent of the districts in central Illinois; 78 percent in northwest Illinois; and only 42 percent in the Cook County and surrounding suburbs.

As a result of those shortages, the report said 99 districts reported canceling a total of 225 course offerings due to a lack of qualified teachers, while 86 districts reported converting more

than 200 classes to online learning because they lacked a qualified teacher for the subject.

Davis, however, said he knows of many districts that have resorted to putting more students into a classroom, or using teachers who are working with a temporary license or an emergency substitute license to fill in gaps.

Nancy Latham, executive director of the Council on Teacher Education at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, said it’s difficult to pinpoint all of the causes of the growing teacher shortage.

One of the factors, she said, is that there are more teachers from the “baby boom” generation now retiring than there are young people graduating from schools of education. And a big part of that, she said, is about money.

She noted that more than 90 percent of the vacancies reported in 2017 were in schools that received “below-adequate” funding and which had been reducing their staff in recent years.

But another factor, she said, is that the teaching profession no longer has the same kind of allure it once enjoyed.

“If you look at the national media reports over the last five years, the profession has taken

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a hit,” she said.

In fact, the report referenced a 2018 poll

by Phi Delta Kappa, a nationwide professional organization for educators, which found that 54 percent of the adults it surveyed said they would not want their children taking up teaching as a career – the first time a majority of respondents said that in the 50-year history of the survey.

Democratic state Sen. Andy Manar, of Bunker Hill, commented about the report on Twitter, saying the report bolsters his argument in favor of a bill he is sponsoring to phase in an increase in the minimum wage for full-time teachers to $40,000 by the 2023-2024 school year.

Davis, however, said there are many districts that could not afford to do that without significantly more state funding, or raising local property taxes.

The report recommends the state take at least three steps to address the shortages: streamlining the process for obtaining substitute teacher licenses, especially for retired teachers who want to go back to work in their old districts; expanding programs for developing new teachers, such as the Grow Your Own Teacher program; and gathering more data to more accurately predict, by district, where shortages will occur and to identify unique challenges facing each district.

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FASHION TransFORM Body Treatment wins 2019 NewBeauty Award

Basic Space Interface

Introducing Basic Space: Discover and Shop from Your Favorite Influencers Basic Space, a curated marketplace where the internet’s most influential creatives sell their own vintage fashion, pre-owned luxury, and new exclusive products, officially announced its iOS and web application launch recently.

Sellers -- including the likes of Sophia Amoruso, Steve Aoki, Love Watts, Pia Arrobio, Emily Oberg, Purienne and Sami Miro -- are selected on an invite-only basis, ensuring quality and authenticity of unique products.

Combined, the first 100 verified sellers boast a global social reach of over 50 million.

Thoughtful curation of the sellers and their product listings, ranging from vintage clothes and limited-edition sneakers to rare vinyl records and mid-century modern furniture,

creates a unique experience that differs from other online retail and marketplaces, according to a press release.

Basic Space was created as a platform to connect true influencers and industry experts with modern consumers who care about discovery, sustainability and something special.

“What makes Basic Space unique is that we have some of the most creative and influential individuals as verified sellers. Think of your favorite musician, artist, designer, director and photographer sharing their favorite personal items. Some may be luxury fashion and rare collectibles, while others are new, exclusive items made just for us. Our goal is to build a trusted ecosystem where the best

in quality and experience can be expertly curated and delivered, globally.” said Jesse Lee, founder and chief executive officer in a press release.

Furthermore, Basic Space provides an important blend of editorial content with personalized collections derived from data analysis and artificial intelligence. Through inhouse trend experts and proprietary algorithm, the platform is able to recommend the best products for each individual user. Social features, such as gifting, will be released over the rest of this year.

Basic Space is currently available as an iOS app and on https://basic.space. Android app can be expected for late 2019.

Ortho Dermatologics Launches 2019 Aspire Higher Scholarship Program For Students With Dermatologic Conditions Ortho Dermatologics, one of the largest prescription dermatology health care businesses, and its parent company, Bausch Health Companies Inc. (NYSE/TSX: BHC), recently announced the opening of applications for its 2019 Aspire Higher scholarship program, which will award $90,000 total in scholarships to nine students who have been treated for a dermatologic condition.

“At Ortho Dermatologics, our passion for dermatology is fueled by our understanding of the tremendous impact the profession can have on patients’ lives,” said Bill Humphries, president, Ortho Dermatologics.

“Every year, we are inspired by

PRNewsfoto/Valeant Pharmaceuticals Interna

the stories we hear from Aspire Higher applicants who have experienced the challenges of living with a skin condition, and about how their dermatologists have played a significant role in helping them navigate their condition. We are proud to support these amazing students and help them continue their education through the Aspire Higher scholarship program.”

To apply for the scholarship, students are required to share an essay about their experience

of living with a dermatologic condition, as well as the role that a dermatologist, physician assistant or nurse practitioner played in helping treat them. Scholarships are open to applicants or current attendees of a two- or four-year college, university or advanced (post-high school) vocational or technical school, and are available in three categories: l Undergraduate Scholar Awards for students pursuing undergraduate degrees l Graduate Scholar Awards for students pursuing graduate degrees l Today’s Woman Scholar Awards for students who are mothers pursuing either undergraduate or graduate degrees

“The Aspire Higher scholarship is incredibly meaningful for me,” said Niki Vora, a 2018 Aspire Higher scholarship recipient. “Not only does it generously aid in my educational pursuits, it has provided me the opportunity to share the experiences I had as an adolescent with skin conditions, which have helped shape me into who I am today.”

Students can apply for the Aspire Higher scholarship through April 26, 2019, and winners will be announced on July 10, 2019. To learn more about the scholarship—including eligibility criteria, terms and conditions— and to see stories from previous winners, please visit www.

AspireHigherScholarships.com.

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ALASTIN Skincare®, Inc., a specialty aesthetics company dedicated to developing and marketing innovative, clinically-tested physician-dispensed skin care products with patented TriHex Technology®, recently announced that the TransFORM Body Treatment has been awarded a 2019 NewBeauty Award in the innovations category.

TransFORM Body Treatment was chosen among a competitive landscape of leading aesthetic companies and is the only cosmeceutical skincare product selected in the innovation category, according to a press release.

TransFORM Body Treatment with TriHex Technology® is a topical body treatment that works in tandem with non-surgical body fat reduction and energybased body skin tightening procedures to complement and optimize results.

When applied post-treatment, it helps to accelerate TransFORM Body outcomes by Treatment supporting the body’s natural repair processes while also supporting the production of elastin and collagen to enhance procedure results, according to a press release.

Additionally, it can be used as a standalone skin tightening treatment to address lax, crepey skin texture associated with aging.

“Patients are always asking what they can do to enhance the results from non-invasive body sculpting or volume reducing procedures,” says Dr. Amy B. Lewis, a cosmetic dermatologist in New York City. “ALASTIN Skincare found a solution to a need previously unmet with TransFORM Body Treatment, which has become an important part of the body sculpting protocol in my office.

TransFORM aids in clearing residual broken-down fat debris in the treated area and also helps recondition crepey loose skin by supporting new collagen and elastin production. Patients continue to use it long term to maintain improved skin texture.”

TransFORM Body Treatment with TriHex Technology retails for $195 and can be purchased from ALASTIN Skincare® aesthetic physicians’ offices.

Visit www.alastin.com for more information and to find a physician retailer near you.

CITIZEN | Chicago Weekend | Week of March 20, 2019

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ENTERTAINMENT MGM Resorts Celebrates Women’s History Month with Lioness Logo Transformation MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM) temporarily transforms the company’s iconic Leo the lion logo into Leona the lioness to recognize Women’s History Month, celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women all over the world throughout the month of March.

MGM Resorts continues to lead gender diversity on the Las Vegas Strip – having appointed the first two women presidents of Strip resorts and the first female Executive Chef in the food and beverage industry on The Strip. In 2019, Ann Hoff, President & COO of

Excalibur Hotel & Casino, was promoted as one of three Group Presidents for MGM Resorts.

You can see Leona firsthand by visiting MGM Resorts International’s social media channels, following their #TakingCenterStage campaign and visiting mgmresorts.com.

Based on 2018 data, MGM Resorts was recognized by Forbes as one of the Best

Employers for Women in 2018, with 50.8% women in their domestic workforce and 43.8% women in their domestic management workforce.

Phyllis A. James, chief diversity and corporate responsibility offer added, “As we look for opportunities to uplift women in 2019, we are thrilled to put our efforts toward our 13th annual Women’s Leadership Conference, one of our country’s premiere conferences dedicated to the development of women for leadership and advancement in all walks of life.

This year’s conference is scheduled for August

5-6 at MGM Grand, Las Vegas.”

Women’s History Month began as a local celebration in Santa Rosa, California. The Education Task Force of the Sonoma County (California) Commission on the Status of Women planned and executed a “Women’s History Week” celebration in 1978.

The organizers selected the week of March 8 to correspond with International Women’s Day. The movement spread across the country as other communities initiated their own Women’s History Week celebrations the following year.

Chicago Sees Groundbreaking Chicago Film, Television and Media Production in 2018 2018 production compared with 2017 by genre:

Film industry summary from 2011-2018: Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the Chicago Film Office at the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) recently announced another record breaking year for film, television and media production in 2018.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the Chicago Film Office at the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) recently announced another record breaking year for film, television and media production in 2018.

Last year, 520 film and media projects took place in Chicago, resulting in an estimated economic impact of more than $474 million in job creation and local expenditures according to data from the State of Illinois.

Since 2011, the Chicago film industry has experienced significant growth, with a total economic impact of more than $2.6 billion, 90,000 jobs created and 3,700 projects produced.

“Chicago’s film and television industry is not just taking off, it is putting down roots,” said Mayor Emanuel. “The city’s local film industry shows no signs of slowing down as we continue creating thousands of new jobs, supporting industry investments across the city and welcoming hundreds of film and television productions to bring their projects to Chicago.”

Record breaking growth in Chicago film, television and media production since 2011 includes: l In 2018, 2,478 permits were issued

to support the 520 individual film and media projects; up from 1,235 permits issued for 404 projects in 2011. l In 2018, more than 13,000 jobs were supported by the film industry; up from approximately 5,000 local jobs in 2011. l In 2018, more than $474 million estimated economic impact was created locally between job creation and production expenditures; up from $150 million in 2011.

The Illinois Film Office awards a 30 percent tax credit to film, television and advertising productions for qualified expenditures on local crew, goods and services. According to recent data, projects in 2018 employed 13,848 non-extra job hires and generated more than $282 million in wages. Women and minority hires made up 46 percent of reported crew employees.

Film, television and media production continued with record level activity in 2018 with 9 full-season series, plus portions of four others, filming throughout the year. NBC’s Chicago Fire, Chicago PD and Chicago Med, FOX’s Empire, Showtime’s The Chi and Shameless (Showtime) renewed for additional seasons.

New series included Proven

Innocent (FOX), Red Line (CBS) and South Side (Comedy Central). The pilot Lovecraft Country (produced

by JJ Abrams and Jordan Peele) was HBO’s largest budgeted pilot to date, filming for 2 months in Chicago and throughout the state.

Additionally, portions of the new series The Second City (USA) and Gotham (CW) were filmed locally.

“NBC and Universal Television are proud to have been part of the new wave of television production in the Windy City when “Chicago Fire” premiered seven years ago, and it’s been thrilling to see our three Chicago series renewed just yesterday for next year,” said Brian O’Leary, senior vice president, NBCUniversal. “We are grateful to the Governor, the Mayor and their teams for making Illinois and the city of Chicago such attractive and economically viable places to create great entertainment.”

Cinespace Chicago Film Studios, located in North Lawndale, is the largest film studio outside of California with 31 sound stages on its 1.45 www.thechicagocitizen.com

million square foot main campus and additional studios under construction at 31st and Kedzie.

Since opening in 2011, Cinespace has helped bring more than 16,000 new jobs to the area. Cinespace is a family-owned company specializing in the development, management and operation of studio space and support facilities for the film, television and digital media production industry.

The feature Beats (Netflix) and several independent features were filmed here in their entirety and continued a six-year trend in the production of home grown content for national distribution.

“I am so proud that Chicago is taking a leading role in America’s film industry, and we really need to give much of this credit to Mayor Rahm Emanuel and his vision for this great city,” said Alex Pissios, president of Cinespace Chicago Film Studios.

“From the creation of more than 16,000 jobs at our studios, to introducing youth from the community to the film and television industry through our Internship program at CineCares Foundation, the opportunities for work in our thriving industry keeps growing,” he continued.

“This year we can add DePaul’s School of Cinematography to our list of film credits. The school has recently been named as one of the top film schools in the country, and we are thrilled to have them right here on our campus.”

The Film Office’s Independent Film Initiative (IFI) – an industry

development program designed to retain and grow the local filmmaker community and increase the number of locally produced independent features, documentaries, shorts and web series – added the Producer Apprentice Program to the portfolio.

The apprenticeship is an opportunity to cultivate the next generation of independent filmmakers and media entrepreneurs through hands-on experience working on an independent production in Chicago.

In a partnership with Cinema Chicago, four emerging filmmakers were selected to take part in a yearlong series of workshops, professional development opportunities and were awarded a cash stipend for working on the productions of the web series The T and the CBS series Red Line.

The 2018 Millennium Park Film Series screened 14 movies JuneSeptember for a total audience of more than 100,000 attendees in the Pritzker Pavilion. Last year’s series was presented in collaboration with Chicago’s film festival community.

Each film was selected in collaboration with a different festival to reflect its distinct mission and curatorial vison. In doing so, the series showcased the diversity and depth of the more than 50 film festivals that take place in Chicago each year. The series also continued its ChicagoMade Shorts Showcase of films by local filmmakers prior to each feature presentation.

For more information, visit cityofchicago.org/dcase.

CITIZEN CITIZEN || Chicago ChicagoWeekend Weekend| |Week WeekofofMarch March20, 20,2019 2019| |99

FOOD

5 WAYS TO REDUCE FOOD WASTE Family Features - Americans waste an average of one pound of food per day, according to research by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Not only does food waste create environmental challenges by depleting landfills, it can have an expensive impact on your household budget.

Adopting some simple habits, like these ideas from the experts at Just Bare Chicken, can help you shop smarter to reduce waste for the better of the environment and your wallet.

1. Plan your meals. Although many people have a general idea of what they’re shopping for when they go to the store, more careful planning can create better food efficiency. For example, if you know that you want salad one night and tacos the next, you can buy one head of lettuce for both meals. Making a list and considering which ingredients can be shared from one meal to the next can help prevent over-buying.

2. Make the most of versatile ingredients.

Part of shopping smart is finding ways to make the most of your ingredients, especially proteins that can be extended over several meals.

For example, rotisserie chicken is a versatile buy, but not everyone knows how to utilize the

whole bird. An option like Pilgrim’s Just Bare Rotisserie Chicken can help you make the most of both your shopping trip and meal planning.

The chickens now feature packaging with a unique QR code you can scan to access experiential tips on how to use a rotisserie chicken, including carving, a meal featuring the breast meat, chicken salad using the rest of the meat and how to make bone broth.

3. Store foods properly. A great deal of waste comes from food that spoils before it is consumed. This is especially true of fresh produce that is improperly stored. Many refrigerators are equipped with specialized cooling zones that create an optimal environment for produce storage. You can also purchase containers that are designed to keep foods fresh longer.

4. Learn to love leftovers. Some dishes taste better the next day, but if the remains of a previous meal aren’t appetizing to you, try repurposing them into something completely new. For example, leftover rotisserie chicken is perfect for topping a salad, or you can add a little seasoning for easy chicken tacos.

5. Be realistic when buying in bulk. A great sale is hard to resist, but if you won’t actually

eat all of what you buy, you may actually end up losing money. If you buy a large quantity of something, immediately repackage it into smaller portions you’re likely to use when you return home and label them with the product

www.thechicagocitizen.com

name, date and weight for future use.

Find more ideas and recipes to take your food purchases further at justbarechicken.com.

Source: Pilgrim’s Just Bare Chicken

10 | CITIZEN | Chicago Weekend | Week of March 20, 2019

CALENDAR Spring Winds to Headline the Chicago Kids and Kites Festival A favorite family event and a harbinger of springtime in Chicago, the 21st Annual Chicago Kids and Kites Festival returns to Cricket Hill at Montrose Harbor (Montrose and Wilson) on Saturday, May 4, from 10am to 4pm. Admission is FREE. The City of Chicago will provide free kite kits, while supplies last, for children to get creative as they build, decorate and fly their own kites.

The Windjammers Professional Kite Team will once again be on hand to thrill the crowd with their synchronized kite flying maneuvers throughout the day, and festival goers can enjoy activities such as face painting, balloon artists, circus arts presented by CircEsteem and crafts. Chicago Kite will also be onsite for kite buyers.

The 21st Annual Chicago Kids and Kites Festival is presented by the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events and sponsored in part by The Boeing Company and the Chicago Tribune. For more information, visit chicagokidsandkites.us and join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@ChicagoDCASE).

About Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events The Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) is dedicated to enriching Chicago’s artistic vitality and cultural vibrancy. This includes fostering the development of Chicago’s non-profit arts sector, independent working artists and for-profit arts businesses; providing a framework to guide the City’s future cultural and economic growth, via the 2012 Chicago Cultural Plan; marketing the City’s cultural assets to a worldwide audience; and presenting high-quality, free and affordable cultural programs for residents and visitors. For more information, visit cityofchicago.org/dcase.

Shedd Aquarium has launched a new series of events for guests 21 and older. Photo credit: ©Shedd Aquarium/Brenna Hernandez

Shedd After Hours Events Launch for Adult-Only Audiences Shedd Aquarium is launching a new series of events for guests 21 and older with special programming and custom food and drink options designed to offer more mature, unexpected ways to look nature in the eye. At ‘Shedd After Hours’ attendees can relax and take in spectacular skyline views – all while in the company of beluga whales and bluegills, stingrays and sturgeons. These evening events will include full access to the aquarium,

including touch experiences and Shedd’s newest special exhibit.

Shedd After Hours: Game Night The enrichment the aquarium offers its animals, from the sea otters to beluga whales, gives them an opportunity for creative play.

These games and toys keep the animals learning and stimulated, so attendees can also stimulate their own brain with Shedd’s game night! Grab a cocktail and challenge

opponents with jumbo Jenga or snag a snack and test one’s wits in some Game Show revelry during this all-access evening.

Wednesday, April 3 from 6-10 p.m.

PRICES: Non-resident: $24.95 Chicago resident: $19.95 Shedd members: Free The Shedd Aquarium is located on 1200 S Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60605 For more information visit, www. sheddaquarium.org or call 312-939-2438.

34th Chicago Gospel Music Festival May 31 & June 1, 2019 Celebrating the great influence of the music genre born in this city more than 80 years ago, the Chicago Gospel Music Festival will present the top gospel artists in the country.

Over the years, the festival has featured traditional choirs to contemporary urban gospel mixed with hip-hop and house music.

Chicago Gospel Music Festival Friday, May 31, noon–4pm Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St. Friday, May 31, 5:30–9:30pm, & Saturday, June 1, 11am–9:30pm Millennium Park, 201 E. Randolph St. The 21st Annual Chicago Kids and Kites Festival returns to Cricket Hill at Montrose Harbor (Montrose and Wilson).

•The full festival schedule will be announced later this spring.

• Free Admission

The Chicago Gospel Music Festival will present the top gospel artists in the country and will take place on May 31 & June 1, 2019.

www.thechicagocitizen.com

CITIZEN | Chicago Weekend | Week of March 20, 2019

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11

CLASSIFIEDS SERVICE

SERVICE

Small colleges such as Drury University in Springfield, Missouri, are on the forefront of offering new programs, in part because they’re able to move more quickly and can provide the kind of one-on-one relationships that students seek.

To that end, Drury is launching a new academic experience called Your Drury Fusion in the fall of 2019 that helps students customize their education while guaranteeing they’ll graduate with credentials in both professional and life interests.

In addition to majors and minors, Drury offers a growing slate of multidisciplinary themed certificates that cross intellectual boundaries, challenging students to prove and apply what they’ve learned. Each certificate is 12 credit hours and consists of three hands-on courses and a capstone project.

For example, a certificate in Graphic Storytelling combines courses in literature, art and publishing, and challenges students to create a graphic novel. Other certificates focus on data analytics, health and wellbeing, and environmental problems. All aim to teach students to think critically about projects or challenges.

Students can use the certificates to create projects that relate to their major area of study and add these to their digital portfolio upon graduation, giving them an impressive list of experiences to show employers and grad schools. The program guarantees that students will engage in at least three real-world projects. The students can even apply for grants to fund these experiences.

The program is based almost entirely in small and highly interactive learning environments. While many small schools boast a low student-to-faculty ratio, this program backs that up with small group discussion and team-based projects.

Mentorship is so vital that Drury gives every student a mentoring squad. A newly founded Compass Center matches students with their very own team of advisors to help with academic, career and educational success.

A 2018 survey of undergraduates by Civitas Learning found that about a quarter had gone more than six months without contacting their advisor—and about 3 percent had never done so. To address this gap, advising at Drury starts before students even hit campus.

Internships, research opportunities, study abroad trips and a vibrant on-campus social scene continue to be a part of the experience at Drury. __________________________________

Darrell Garth

President /Publisher

Janice Garth

Sales Manager General Manager

Editorial

Send news tips, press releases, calendar listing etc to: editorial@thechicagocitizen.com

Advertising

Display Advertising advertising@thechicagocitizen.com or jgarth@thechicagocitizen.com

Classified Advertising call us at

(773) 783-1251

Display Advertising call us at

(773) 783-1251

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EMPLOYMENT - DRIVERS GOT IT? Thanks to a Trucker you have it! $1600 Sign-on Bonus!

EXPERIENCED DRIVERS *Flatbed *Step Deck *Van *LTL Reefer. Pay is 26% Gross Flatbed/StepDeck & up to .53/mile Van/Reefer. Full benefits w/FREE Health & Life Insurance, 6 paid Holidays, + Industry leading Driver Bonus Program! Must have Class A CDL. Call Ruth or Mike at TTI Inc 1-800-222-5732 Apply online ttitrucking.com __________________________________

MISCELLANEOUS HEALTH Attention: Oxygen Users! Gain freedom with a Portable Oxygen Concentrator! No more heavy tanks and refills! Guaranteed Lowest Prices!

Call the Oxygen Concentrator Store: 866-353-2806 __________________________________ JOE MOORE, MASTER PLUMBER All work guaranteed. Over 35 years experience. 773-995-5172 __________________________________

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LEGAL SERVICES NEED LEGAL HELP? Get a FREE referral to an attorney! Call the Illinois State Bar Association Illinois Lawyer Finder The advice you need 877-270-3855 or https://www.isba.org/public/illinoislawyerfinder __________________________________

(NAPSI)—Colleges across the country are adapting to a new landscape in which prospective students are more carefully scrutinizing their choices. High schoolers are savvier than ever—more than a third now apply at nine or more colleges, according to the National Association for College Admission Counseling. Applying to 15 or 20 schools is not uncommon, counselors say.

COLLEGE CORNER

Room for rent Grand Crossing neighborhood no deposit required has laundry facility use of kitchen full bathroom and central air if interested contact Ms. D 312 208 8870 __________________________________

Driven by a desire to make a difference, today’s students want to know they’ll receive a solid foundation for both a successful career and a fulfilling and satisfying life. They’re looking for programs that go beyond the classroom and offer hands-on experiences and real-world projects.

They’re also seeking mentors who will help guide them along the way.

This space can be yours. Place your ad today. Call us at (773) 783-1251.

With all of that in mind, they’re asking college admission reps everywhere a key question: How does your school guarantee graduates will get the most out of the experience and truly be ready for what comes next?

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Here’s where you can sell your professional services, your home, used auto, gently used appearel, rent a apartment or sell your used house hold goods. You can place your ad for a reasonable price. Call for a quote today: (773) 783-1251.

Citizen Newspaper Group Inc., (CNGI), Publisher of the Chatham-Southeast, South End, Chicago Weekend, South Suburban and Hyde Park Citizen and Citizen Suburban Times Weekly. Our weekly publications are published on Wednesday’s (publishing 52 issues annually). Written permission is required to reproduce contents in whole or in part from the publisher. Citizen Newspaper Group, Inc. does not assume the responsibility for nor are we able to return unsolicited materials, therefore they become property of the newspaper and can or will be discarded or used at the newspapers disgratation. Deadlines for advertising is every Friday at noon. Deadlines for press releases are Thursdays at 10 am prior to the next week’s edition. Please send information for the calendar at least three weeks prior to the event.

Send to: editorial@thechicagocitizen.com. For more information on subscriptions or advertising, call us at (773) 783-1251 or fax (872) 208-8793. Our offices are located at 8741 South Greenwood Suite# 107, Chicago, Illinois 60619.

12 | CITIZEN | Chicago Weekend | Week of March 20, 2019

RISE ABOVE I N A CA D I L L AC S U V

2019 X T 5

DURING THE

LUXURY COLLECTION

ULTRA-LOW MILEAGE LEASE FOR WELL-QUALIFIED LESSEES S

A

L

E

S

E

V

E

N

T

$

409

PER MONTH 1

39 MONTHS

$

$

0

4,799

FIRST MONTH’S PAYMENT DUE AT SIGNING AFTER ALL OFFERS

No security deposit required. Tax, title, license, dealer extra. Mileage charge of $.25/mile over 32,500 miles. At participating dealers only.

PLUS, CURRENT ELIGIBLE NON-GM OWNERS/LESSEES RECEIVE AN ADDITIONAL $1500 ALLOWANCE 2 TOWARD THE LEASE OF A NEW 2019 XT5.

1. Example based on national average vehicle selling price. Each dealer sets its own price. Your payments may vary. Payments are for a 2019 XT5 Luxury Collection with an MSRP of $49,490. 39 monthly payments total $15,951.

Payments may be higher in some states. Option to purchase at lease end for an amount to be determined at lease signing. GM Financial must approve lease. Take retail delivery by 4/1/19. Mileage charge of $.25/mile over 32,500 miles.

Lessee pays for maintenance, repair, excess wear and disposition fee of $595 or less at end of lease. Not available with some other offers. 2. Must be a current owner or lessee of a 1999 model year or newer non-GM vehicle for at least 30 days prior to the new vehicle sale. Not available with some other offers. Take retail delivery by 4/30/19. See dealer for details. © 2019 General Motors. All Rights Reserved. Cadillac® XT5®