Chicago Weekend Citizen 4-28-2021

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

Citizen Week of April 28, 2021

| Vol. 52 | No. 18 | www.citizennewspapergroup.com

CHICAGO WEEKEND

VEGAN CHEF DIVINELY PREPARES FOOD

IDOC Resumes In-Person Visitation for Incarcerated People and their Loved Ones

Sheila Brown’s health journey led her to becoming a vegan, and then becoming a vegan chef. In 2015, Brown found herself at a crossroad. She was nearly 300 pounds and found she had difficulty sleeping, staying motivated and experiencing shoulder pain.

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Wells Fargo Invests in Five Additional Black-Owned Banks

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Redefining ‘Summer School’ Page 7

the Most High to Eat Healthy” Sheila Brown, author of “Sometimes Raw, Sometimes Cooked, Always Divinely Prepared: 21 Vegan Dishes to Inspire Daughters of people to embrace a encourages and food soul around thinking the change to wants Greens,” Collard Starring Recipe d Ancestor-Inspire An and “Divinity Soup: vegan lifestyle. Photo provided by Sheila Brown

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2 | CITIZEN | Chicago Weekend | Week of April 28, 2021

NEWS briefly EDUCATION TWO HOPE FOR ADDICTION EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED TO STUDENTS BY RECOVERY CENTERS OF AMERICA Recovery Centers of America (“RCA”) has announced that two deserving students from diverse backgrounds have each been awarded a $1000 college scholarship for students recovering from addiction or affected by the addiction epidemic and who are pursuing a degree that will assist individuals and families struggling with addiction. Nearly 150 eligible students from all over the country applied for this year’s prestigious Recovery Centers of America Hope for Addiction Scholarships.

The 2020-2021 RCA Hope for Addiction Scholarship winner is Danielle Caldwell, from Hillsboro, Oregon.

Caldwell attends Purdue Global University and is majoring in Psychology with a focus on Addiction Studies. She is also taking classes to obtain licensure as a certified drug and alcohol counselor and hopes to earn a doctorate degree in clinical psychology when she enters graduate school. Caldwell battled addiction for decades and is now over five years into her recovery.

The second Hope for Addiction Scholarship, the Recovery Centers of America/Mothers Against Prescription Drug Abuse Scholarship, was awarded to Pamela Launius from Bois D’ Arc, Missouri. Launius is pursuing an associate’s degree in Behavioral Health Support from Ozarks Technical Community College. She plans a career as a drug and alcohol counselor.

HEALTH

DR. GLORIA THOMAS ANDERSON BRINGS AWARENESS TO END-OF-LIFE DECISION MAKING DURING APRIL’S NATIONAL MINORITY HEALTH MONTH Advance Care Planning (ACP) expert and educator, Gloria Thomas Anderson, PhD, LMSW, is urging Black Americans to prepare advance healthcare documents in April—in recognition of National Minority Health Month (NMHM)—and shine light on the importance of formalized end-of-life healthcare decision-making.

Many people aren’t aware of available end-of-life healthcare options until or unless presented with them in emergency situations when pressure is high and time is of the essence. Circumstances like this can create tension, leading to rush judgment calls and disagreements among family members and medical decisions being made without input from patients, who may be unable to speak for themselves.

“We’d like to see more people having conversations about end-of-life care plans and emergency healthcare planning,” Dr. Anderson, who survived a sudden near-death experience just one year after writing her ACP resource book, stated.

“It’s important to talk about it, and to get your paperwork in order while you can—before you have a need.”

LAW & POLITICS

IDOC RESUMES IN-PERSON VISITATION FOR INCARCERATED PEOPLE AND THEIR LOVED ONES The Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) is resuming in-person visitation at its correctional facilities, affording incarcerated people the opportunity to see their loved ones for the first time in more than a year. With most people in IDOC custody now vaccinated, the Department’s Office of Health Services and Operations Unit worked closely with the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) to develop a multi-phase plan for resuming in-person visits in the safest manner possible. To prevent the potential for COVID-19 infection spread, IDOC, after consultation with IDPH, suspended visitation on March 14, 2020.

More information on the resumption of in-person visitation is available on the Department’s website at https:// www2.illinois.gov/idoc/facilities/Pages/VisitationRules.aspx

Vegan Chef divinely prepares food Continued from page 1

BY TIA CAROL JONES

Sheila Brown’s health journey led her to becoming a vegan, and then becoming a vegan chef. In 2015, Brown found herself at a crossroad. She was nearly 300 pounds and found she had difficulty sleeping, staying motivated and experiencing shoulder pain.

She came across a documentary about a man from Austria, who lost 90 pounds from doing a juice cleanse in 60 days. She did the juice cleanse and lost 57 pounds. She said as a result of the cleanse, she lost her desire to eat meat and consume sugar and salt. She said she de facto became a vegan after that.

“I basically ended up having this newfound, interest in more plant-based foods and vegetables, I just kept up with it and never turned back,” she said. With Brown becoming a vegan, she needed to find things that were reminiscent of soul food, but with a vegan twist. She remembered eating cabbage, but it had smoked turkey necks in it, something she couldn’t eat as a vegan.

What Brown realized was it was a connection to eating her grandmother’s food, which was really important to her, specifically the collard greens and cabbage she

cooked. “She just had a way of cooking that kept me feeling grounded and connected to some kind of an unspoken culture,” she said. “When I started to examine that many of us had so many similar foods and that we were collectively calling soul food, I want to figure out how can I keep what my grandmother gave me, without betraying my new sense of this vegan lifestyle.”

Brown said she started to explore spices and ways to combine vegetables and seasonings and herbs and opening up her palate. She said, out of it, there was a recipe for collard greens, called “Divinity Soup.” The star of the recipe of “Divinity Soup” was collard greens.

Brown said the essence of soul food is what they were cooking and why they were cooking it, not the foods they were cooking. “It wasn’t something that they considered an honor. It was a circumstance. And, it wasn’t culture, it was survival,” she said. “But, in honor of their skills, in honor of their creativity and ingenuity, what we can do is take the best of what they had and turn it into what we now know works for our bodies, works for our tastebuds, and works for the perpetuation of what I call, divine health.”

Brown said, for her, soul food has more to do with the intention, the desire to cook the best way and the best food the enslaved woman cook had available to her. She said she shifted away from the notion of limiting herself from a specific set of ingredients and opening up to a broader range of ingredients.

“Keep the ingenuity, keep the creativity, scrap the stuff that causes heart disease, cancer, diabetes and stroke. And, focus on what is beautiful in the earth that we have,” she said.

Brown said she became familiar with the nature and flavor of different spices in her cooking and replacing the animal byproduct that she believed created the flavors of her food. One of the concepts Brown embraces is what she calls “divinely prepared meals.”

She said it is about being intentional in the food you cook and how you prepare food.

The recipe book, “Sometimes Raw, Sometimes Cooked, Always Divinely Prepared: 21 Vegan Dishes to Inspire Daughters of the Most High to Eat Healthy,” costs $20.

“Divinity Soup: An Ancestor-Inspired Recipe Starring Collard Greens” is available for free on Brown’s website, www. sheilabrownspeaks.com. You can also purchase the recipe book on the website.

COMMENTARY D.C. Statehood is a Voting Rights Issue… and Racial Justice Issue

BY BEN JEALOUS

Washington, D.C. has a higher percentage of Black residents than any state in the country, and they have no voting representation in Congress. This is systemic racism in action. It is long past time to give Washington’s 712,000 residents the representation they deserve by making D.C. our 51st state.

It is shameful that people who live in the nation’s capital have no say in Congress. And it is unacceptable that local laws and budgets passed by D.C. elected officials can be overturned by members of Congress who decide to meddle in local decision-making. That explains why Washington, D.C.’s license plates include the slogan, “End taxation without representation,” a rallying cry by American colonists against the tyranny of British rule.

The disenfranchisement of hundreds of thousands of D.C. residents is fundamentally un-American and there is no good reason to allow it to continue. There are bogus reasons to oppose statehood, and some Republicans in Congress have been trotting them out now that legislation to admit Washington, D.C. as a statehood bill is moving forward in Congress.

Some claim that Washington, D.C. is too small to be a state. But D.C. has more residents than either Vermont or Wyoming.

There are currently six states whose population is less than a million. D.C. pays more federal taxes than 21 states—and more federal taxes per person than any state.

Some make the false claim that it would

require a constitutional amendment to make Washington, D.C. a state. Not true.

The Constitution clearly gives Congress the authority to admit new states.

That’s how every one of the 37 states that were not initially part of the U.S. have joined the country. The original District of Columbia was created out of land from Maryland and Virginia. In 1846, a good chunk of D.C. was returned to Virginia. No constitutional amendment was required then, and none is required now to admit Washington, D.C. as a new state. Some objections are so idiotic, frankly, that they must be a cover for pure partisanship or worse.

In March, a Heritage Foundation legal fellow testifying before Congress said that D.C. residents shouldn’t get representation in Congress because they can already influence congressional debates by placing yard signs where members of Congress might see them on their way to work. One Republican congressman said (wrongly) that D.C. would be the only state without a car dealership. Another said that D.C. doesn’t have enough mining, agriculture, or manufacturing. Mitch McConnell said the plan to make D.C. a state was evidence of “full bore socialism on the march.”

At least some Republicans are honest about their real reason for opposing statehood: they just don’t want to let D.C. voters elect Democratic officials who will support progressive policies supported by the majority of the American people.

But that is not a principled position.

None of the objections to D.C. statehood

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hold water, especially when weighed against the basic injustice of disenfranchising hundreds of thousands of people.

Washingtonians have fought in every U.S. war. About 30,000 D.C. residents are veterans. But D.C.’s mayor does not even have the ability that governors have to mobilize its own National Guard—a fact that proved to be deadly during the Jan. 6 Capitol Insurrection.

The bottom line in this: how can we hold ourselves out as a model of democracy when we are the only democratic country in the world that denies representation and self-governance to the people who live in its capital? We can’t.

As the Biden administration recognized in announcing its support for D.C. statehood, it is long past time to correct this injustice. The House of Representatives voted on April 22, to admit Washington, D.C. as a state. Senate leaders must not allow filibuster rules or Republican resistance to prevent Congress from righting this wrong.

Ben Jealous serves as president of People For the American Way and People For the American Way Foundation. Jealous has decades of experience as a leader, coalition builder, campaigner for social justice and seasoned nonprofit executive. In 2008, he was chosen as the youngest-ever president and CEO of the NAACP. He is a graduate of Columbia University and Oxford, where he was a Rhodes Scholar, and he has taught at Princeton and the University of Pennsylvania.

CITIZEN | Chicago Weekend | Week of April 28, 2021

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NEWS

Man Who Set Fire to Chicago Police Vehicle During Civil Unrest Pleads Guilty In Federal Court A man recently admitted in federal court that he threw a lit firework into a Chicago Police vehicle during a period of civil unrest in downtown Chicago last May. Jacob Michael Fagundo, 23, of Chicago, pleaded guilty to one count of interfering with a law enforcement officer during the commission of a civil disorder. The charge is punishable by up to five years in federal prison. U.S. District Judge Robert W. Gettleman set sentencing for July 14, 2021, at 10:00 a.m.

The guilty plea was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Kristen deTineo,

Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and David Brown, superintendent of the Chicago Police Department. The Chicago Fire Department provided valuable assistance. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney John D. Cooke.

Fagundo admitted in a plea agreement that on the evening of May 30, 2020, he and other individuals approached the unoccupied CPD vehicle in a garage at 30 E. Kinzie St. in the city’s River North neighborhood. After Fagundo and the other individuals shattered the vehicle’s rear windshield, Fagundo lit a firework and threw it

through the open window, the plea agreement states. The vehicle became engulfed in flames and the Chicago Fire Department was called to extinguish the blaze.

CPD officers had parked the vehicle in the garage while engaged in their official duties during a period of civil disorder in the city. In addition to setting fire to the vehicle, Fagundo spray-painted another Chicago Police vehicle earlier in the day, the plea agreement states.

Fagundo admitted that he bought the fireworks, lighter fluid, and other products a day earlier at a department store in Chicago so that he could bring them to the planned protests downtown.

Real Vaccination ID Waiver Cards Proving your COVID-19 vaccination status may be one of the easiest ways to return to school, clinical rotations, and everyday life as many colleges and universities across the country implement vaccine mandates. But what happens to the millions of Americans who can’t receive the vaccine? To those with underlying medical complications or closely held religious and philosophical beliefs who are unable to be vaccinated?

To help these students, faculty and staff safely and responsibly communicate their status, CastleBranch has created the Real Vaccination ID COVID-19 Waiver Card, a driver’s license-sized card that provides validated physical and digital proof of an individual’s legally permissible waiver status. The offering builds upon the company’s previous release of the Real Vaccination ID COVID-19 Vaccination Card, which helps individuals prove their COVID-19 vaccination status.

According to a study printed in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, more than 1.6% of the United States population, or over 5.23 million individuals, have reported a prior anaphylactic reaction, which can include a potentially life-threatening response to medication such as vaccines. For these cases, and many like them, all 50 states in the U.S. recognize the need to grant a medical waiver to protect those with underlying conditions in certain education and employment sectors.

Likewise, 47 states recognize religious waivers, while 18 states permit exemptions for personal or philosophical beliefs. But with each state operating under its own set of regulations, it becomes increasingly difficult for individuals and organizations to understand their rights, responsibilities, and legal paths forward.

CastleBranch’s Real Vaccination ID COVID-19 Waiver Card was designed to help colleges and universities navigate this complex landscape, enabling them to take the appropriate safety precautions when providing the cardholder with access to school facilities, clinical rotations and resources.

For many schools, finding a solution to accommodate waivers is nothing new. A majority of colleges and universities require student immunizations, such as flu, hepatitis B or meningitis, prior to coming on campus or to attending offsite

externship experiences, including nursing students in a clinical setting.

But a patchwork of state laws dictates that schools must accommodate certain waiver requests for vaccinations and immunizations. The procedure is often complex, requiring careful adherence to process and policy while protecting sensitive private data in accordance with federal regulations such as Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).

At present, over 70 percent of healthcare education programs in the country already rely on CastleBranch to help manage vaccination and waiver status, with the company having reviewed over 35 million medical records and waiver documents over the last two decades. With RealVaccinationID. com cards, students will now be able to prove their status not just on campus, but off campus as well, helping them to responsibly communicate their status to third parties as they see fit.

According to a press release, to obtain a waiver card, students, faculty and staff will be asked to provide documentation to prove their legally permissible waiver request. Once validated, a card featuring highly sophisticated anti-fraud technology will be issued to the individual that includes their name, address, date of birth, physical identifiers, photo, and a QR code. Using the QR code on the back of the card, along with a unique access code and PIN number, third parties presented with this information can access digital copies of primary-source waiver documentation to confirm status.

However, it is completely up to the cardholder when and with whom this data is shared. Private data gathered for the RealVaccinationID.com cards will never be shared or collected in a database and distributed to third parties by CastleBranch, ensuring a “Nothing About Me Without Me™” approach that empowers individuals to maintain control of their own digital information and identity, the press release reported.

CastleBranch is an infectious disease screening and nationally accredited consumer reporting agency with 20+ years of experience, and is the leading provider of vaccination, immunization and waiver tracking in the United States.

The company has tracked, reviewed, and/or stored over 35 million medical documents—in-cluding

complex vaccination and waiver documentation—for a majority of healthcare education programs in every state across the nation. CastleBranch’s review services are currently used to gain entry to highly secure operating rooms, healthcare facilities and nearly every hospital in the country. As a consumer reporting agency, Cas-tleBranch handles all sensitive medical documents while maintaining com-pliance with HIPAA, FERPA, FCRA, GDPR, CCPA and other relevant state and federal privacy regulations. * Over 533 million Faebook users were recently reminded just how critical it is that we protect our personal, private information in the wake of a widespread data breach at the company,” said Brett Martin, CEO of CastleBranch. “For too long, personal and medical data has been hijacked, monetized and mishandled by big tech, exposed or misused for corporate gains as opposed to bettering the lives of the individual.

We believe individuals –

The CastleBranch Real Vaccination ID COVID-19 Waiver Card provides validated physical and digital proof of an indi-vidual’s legally permissible waiver status.

not corporations, governments or search engines – should control their own identities, their own data, and their own destinies. Our Real Vaccination -ID.com cards give people the power to declare

their COVID-19 status without compromising their rights, autonomy or personhood.”

For more information on Real Vaccination ID Waiver cards, visit RealVaccinationID.com.

HOWARD UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT DR. WAYNE A. I. FREDERICK TO DELIVER REMARKS ON ADVANCING HEALTH EQUITY IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR TO RARE DISEASE ORGANIZATIONS Rare Disease Diversity Coalition Observes National Minority Health Month; Continue

Work to Advance Racial Health Equity Informed by Experts

In observance of National Minority Health Month, the Rare Disease Diversity Coalition (RDDC) announced today that its steering committee meeting will feature a keynote address by and discussion with scholar, surgeon, and president of Howard University Dr. Wayne A.I. Frederick.

Composed of influential health experts and patient advocacy executives, including leaders from the Black Women’s Health Imperative, other ethnic minority health groups, rare disease organizations, and medical associations, the Rare Disease Diversity Coalition (RDDC) was formed in 2020 to help address the extraordinary challenges faced by rare disease patients of color.

During its April 27 steering committee meeting, the RDDC will continue its work to create solutions to impact the significant health disparities faced by communities of color, with a special emphasis on the inequities that rare disease patients of color experience. The group will www.citizennewspapergroup.com

discuss its efforts to increase the participation of communities of color in rare disease research and clinical trials by addressing regulatory flexibility.

The meeting will discuss the coalition’s ongoing work to implement the priorities outlined in its 2021 “Charting the Path Forward for Equity in Rare Diseases” report and action plan, aimed at the barriers that rare disease patients of color face.

“I, along with my fellow RDDC steering committee members, look forward to hearing Dr. Frederick’s remarks on advancing health equity for communities of color. His robust body of research focusing on narrowing racial, ethnic, and gender inequities in cancer care outcomes, coupled with his sickle cell anemia patient experience and advocacy, will enable him to present a uniquely substantive and empathetic perspective with the RDDC on April 27,” said Linda Goler Blount, president and CEO of Black Women’s Health Imperative.

The Rare Disease Diversity

Coalition supports the work of HBCU medical schools, such as Howard University, in helping to bring about systematic policy changes to address the racial inequities experienced by people of color with rare diseases.

About the Rare Disease Diversity Coalition More than 30 million—or 1 in 10—Americans have a rare disease. For rare disease patients of color, racial disparities have caused a crisis.

The Black Women's Health Imperative launched the Rare Disease Diversity Coalition to address the extraordinary challenges faced by rare dis-ease patients of color. The RDDC brings together rare disease experts, health, and diversity ad-vocates with industry leaders to identify and advocate for evidenced-based solutions to alleviate the disproportionate burden of rare diseases on communities of color. To learn more, visit: www.RareDiseaseDiversity.org About the Black Women's Health Imperative The Black Women's Health Imperative is a national non-profit organization dedicated to advancing health equity and social justice for Black women across generations, through policy, advocacy, education, research, and leadership development. The organization identifies the most pressing health issues that affect the nation's 22 million Black women and girls and invests in the best of the best strategies that will accomplish its goals. www.bwhi.org

4 | CITIZEN | Chicago Weekend | Week of April 28, 2021

BUSINESS

Leading Women’s Empowerment Brand BLACK GIRLS ROCK!® Joins Forces With Microsoft For A Multi-year Partnership Tech leader Microsoft and Beverly Bond, founder and CEO of the award-winning women’s empowerment, lifestyle, and philanthropic brand BLACK GIRLS ROCK!®, have announced a strategic partnership to build technology infrastructure and empower more Black girls to become leaders through access to culturally relevant programs, leadership development, and STEM skills. The goal of this alliance is to strengthen the transformative work of BLACK GIRLS ROCK!® with the technology and scale of the Microsoft’s ecosystem.

“It’s remarkable to be championed by a towering institution like Microsoft to propel the work we’ve been doing at BLACK GIRLS ROCK!® to educate, empower and inspire the next generation,” said Beverly Bond. “This partnership gives BLACK GIRLS ROCK! the support necessary to expand our work to help more girls find their voices, define their truths, and forge the futures they envision.”

BLACK GIRLS ROCK!® has been dedicated to inspiring, elevating and celebrating Black women and girls since 2006 through content, advocacy and events which elevate women’s voices and engage Black girls in critical conversations. The organization is committed to mentoring, enriching, and educating the next generation of young women leaders by giving girls the tools needed to develop leadership skills, refine critical thinking,

educate and inspire the next generation of innovators,” said Marcie Nymark, director of strategic partnerships for Microsoft.

Microsoft continues to facilitate innovation and technology solutions with nonprofits and social entrepreneurs around the world, enabling them to drive greater impact for the causes and communities they serve. The company will bring a variety of resources, programs, and tech solutions to support three key initiatives:

BLACK GIRLS ROCK Book Club

and increase civic engagement. This new collaboration with Microsoft will enable the brand to scale and launch new programs designed to affirm Black girls and cultivate their leadership potential.

“Microsoft shares BLACK GIRLS ROCK’s commitment to empowering women and girls.

We also recognize the challenges facing women, especially Black women, are complex – no one organization can solve them all. That’s why we’re excited to partner with Beverly and BLACK GIRLS ROCK! to bring together our efforts to

BLACK GIRLS ROCK! Book Club The BGR! Book Club is a new initiative designed to promote community, empowerment, literacy and leadership. Each month, the book club will select an inspirational thought-provoking text to read and discuss. The author will participate in a live virtual interview conducted by a BLACK GIRLS ROCK!® alumna and powered by Microsoft Teams. Microsoft Store will host each book club event which will be followed by an interactive virtual workshop designed for students and inspired by the book’s core themes and motifs.

BLACK GIRLS ROCK 15-year Anniversary Fundraising Gala - JUNE The BLACK GIRLS ROCK fundraising gala will be a core component of the 2021 BGRFEST! featuring a number of musical performances

including The Queen of Funk - Chaka Khan.

Microsoft will be the presenting sponsor of the event and will be extending the fundraisers’ efforts through its Give with Bing program. BLACK GIRLS ROCK! will be featured through Give with Bing allowing fans and supporters to give to the nonprofit simply by searching.

BLACK GIRLS LEAD Leadership Conference - JULY The BLACK GIRLS LEAD conference brings together teen girls to participate in workshops, panel discussions, and lectures led by world-class educators, artists, business moguls, scientists, entertainers and other influencers. Historically a weeklong, in-person event, demand for the BLACK GIRLS LEAD conference has always surpassed capacity.

Powered by Microsoft Teams, the conference can scale exponentially, serving more girls and creating a connected community of youth leaders.

The partnership officially kicked-off with the launch of the first BLACK GIRLS ROCK!® Book Club and workshop on April 14 and featured Bond’s book BLACK GIRLS ROCK! Owning Our Magic. Rocking Our Truth! It was facilitated by BLACK GIRLS ROCK alumna Kathie Duperval.

For more information https://www.microsoft.com/inculture/black-girls-rock?ocid=AID3031648_QSG_524438

Wells Fargo Invests in Five Additional Black-Owned Banks Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) has announced equity investments in five African American Minority Depository Institutions, or MDIs, as part of its March 10, 2020, pledge to invest up to $50 million in Black-owned banks.

As part of the equity capital investment, Wells Fargo is also offering access to a dedicated relationship team that can work with each MDI on financial, technological, and product development strategies to help each institution strengthen and grow.

“The country’s MDIs are vital to minority communities, but over the last two decades, many have declined or have closed. The capital investment we are announcing is important, but it’s our relationship approach that will make the difference in their futures.

We want to be a partner to these important institutions and, in turn, have a positive effect on local communities,” said William Daley, vice chairman of public affairs at Wells Fargo.

The announcement includes investments in the following institutions: * Carver State Bank in Savannah, Georgia * Citizens Trust Bank in Atlanta, Georgia * First Independence Bank in Detroit, Michigan * Liberty Bank in New Orleans, Louisiana * Unity National Bank in Houston, Texas

These investments follow Wells Fargo’s Feb. 8, 2021, announcement regarding its investments in six African American MDIs and takes the company’s total investment to 11 MDIs to date. In addition, Wells Fargo will be making its nationwide ATM network available for customers of these 11 MDIs to use without incurring fees.

“Guided by our founding principles to promote financial stability and equality for all communities, Citizens Trust Bank is proud to partner with Wells Fargo in expanding these efforts. The partnership enhances our ability to deploy more capital in our markets and beyond. We appreciate Wells Fargo for its commitment and alliance in providing solutions to the very important challenge of addressing inequalities that disproportionately impact communities of color,” said Cynthia N. Day, president and CEO of Citizens Trust Bank.

Wells Fargo’s financial commitments are in the form of critical equity capital, which is foundational to the MDIs’ ability to expand lending and deposit-taking capacity in their communities. The investments, primarily non-voting positions, are designed to enable the banks to maintain their MDI status. Wells Fargo is also supporting each MDI’s development through a banking relationship in the form of a single touchpoint coverage model that will help them access Wells Fargo’s expertise and pursue strategic

priorities like entering new markets, expanding locations, designing new products, and hiring staff to support loan growth.

External partners that assisted Wells Fargo include the National Bankers Association and Sullivan & Cromwell.

External advisory committee members are Kim D. Saunders, president and CEO of NBA; Aron Betru, managing director of the Center for Financial Markets at Milken Institute; and John W. Rogers Jr., chairman, co-CEO, and CIO of Ariel Investments.

Wells Fargo’s financial commitment complements additional initiatives that aim to serve all of its customers and communities: * On March 30, 2021, Wells Fargo closed on a $5 million patient capital loan to Hope Enterprise Corporation (HOPE), a 501(c)(3) and a certified Community Development Financial Institution that is dedicated to strengthening communities, building assets, and improving lives in the Delta and other economically distressed areas of the Deep South. HOPE plans to use the funds as secondary capital for its credit union, providing financial services to underserved markets and people in the Deep South. Based in Jackson, Mississippi, HOPE serves Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee * On March 25, 2021, Wells Fargo was one of several U.S. banks and payment technology companies named as investors in Greenwood, the digital www.citizennewspapergroup.com

banking platform for Black and Latino individuals and business owners, as part of Greenwood’s $40 million of Series A funding. Greenwood is partnering with FDIC-insured banks to give customers the ability to spend and save securely and will feature best-in-class online banking services, innovative ways to support minority-owned banks, and give-back programs focused on Black and Latino causes and businesses. * Wells Fargo was one of the first banks to sign the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency’s Project REACh MDI Pledge, which encourages banks to develop meaningful partnerships with MDIs to help them remain a vibrant part of the economic landscape and better promote fair, equal, and full access to financial products and services in their communities. * The company’s Open for Business Fund donates all gross processing fees it received from the Paycheck Protection Program in 2020 — approximately $420 million — to nonprofits helping small businesses navigate the pandemic, with an emphasis on small businesses owned by Black, African American, and other small business owners of color. * The Wells Fargo Diverse Community Capital program is a $175 million program with Community Development Financial Institutions, or CDFIs, to provide capital and technical assistance for diverse small business owners in the U.S. Approximately 75%

of awardees are led by leaders from underrepresented communities. The DCC program has enabled CDFIs to lend nearly $350 million to Black and African American small business owners across the country since the program launched in 2015, according to Opportunity Finance Network. * According to a press release, in the 10 years spanning 2009 to 2018, Wells Fargo was the No. 1 financier of home loans to African Americans and originated more mortgages to help Black home buyers purchase homes than the four other largest bank lenders combined. * In 2017, the company pledged to create 250,000 Black homeowners by 2027 through lending $60 billion for home purchases, increasing the diversity of the sales team, and supporting homebuyer education and counseling.

In the first three years of the commitment, 60,527 African American homeowners have been created with $15.2 billion in financing. * Wells Fargo is donating $5.4 million in grants to 15 legal assistance organizations across the U.S. that work to keep people and families housed through services and advocacy efforts.

This first-of-its-kind effort seeks to enable these nonprofit organizations to provide free or low-cost legal representation to people at risk of eviction.

These organizations have track records of serving, on average, more than 60% people of color.

CITIZEN | Chicago Weekend | Week of April 28, 2021

Moving forward together

in Chicago

Over the past year, we’ve all been challenged in one way or another by this health crisis — physically, emotionally, financially. And while questions remain about what lies ahead, we know one thing for certain: The only way to move forward is together. To that end, Bank of America remains fully committed to supporting the health and economic recovery of our clients, communities and teammates.

We know that small businesses, so critical to our local economy, have been greatly impacted. Through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), to date we’ve delivered 478,731* PPP loans — totaling nearly $34.5 billion* in funding — to help our clients continue to operate and pay their employees. Importantly, more than 99% of those loans went to companies with fewer than 100 employees.

Partnering with local nonprofits, we’ve distributed more than 27 million masks for vulnerable populations as part of our ongoing efforts to address health-related disparities accelerated by the coronavirus.

We’ve offered new and expanded benefits to help our employees balance family and work, including over 3.7 million days of back-up child and adult care. That’s an investment of more than $370 million in child and adult care reimbursement.

I’m so proud of the way our community has come together to help those who need it most. And I’m certain that Chicago has the power to be stronger than ever as a result.

Helping Chicago move forward: • Delivered PPP funding to over 10,988 of our small business clients for more than $883 million in relief • Distributed 660,640 masks through our local partners including: – Alivio Medical Center – Children First Fund • Expanded benefits for our employees to include additional child and adult care services plus virtual medical and behavioral health consultations at no cost

Paul Lambert President, Bank of America Chicago

Go to bankofamerica.com/chicago to learn more about the work we are doing with our incredible partners.

*PPP data as of 04/04/2021 Bank of America, N.A. Member FDIC. Equal Credit Opportunity Lender. © 2021 Bank of America Corporation. All rights reserved.

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FASHION

Love Delivered raises awareness about the Black Maternal Health Crisis Carol’s Daughter, a brand built on the love between a mother and daughter, and its founder, beauty pioneer Lisa Price, recently announced Love Delivered, with partner the Mama Glow Foundation and its founder, the world-renowned doula Latham Thomas.

Love Delivered is focused on raising awareness of the Black Maternal Health Crisis in the United States and the importance of advocates and doulas at the times when Black birthing people and babies are most vulnerable---before, during and after birth.

Maternal mortality in the United States is at an all-time high, with Black people being disproportionately affected, regardless of age or level of education.

In fact, Black mothers/ birthing people are between 3 to 4xs* more likely to die due to childbirth or childbirth related causes than their white counterparts– with 60% of these deaths classified as preventable.

Because of the disproportionately damaging effects on the Black community, Love Delivered will work over the next 3 years, to positively impact the lives of Black birthing people and babies by raising awareness about Black Maternal Health amongst 100 Million people and directly engaging 10,000 people to be advocates.

“I was blessed to have a doula who recognized my needs and spoke to me AND up for me in so Love Delivered is helping to combat the Black maternal health crisis. many ways. The experience support and show love to Black “The movement for Black lives showed me the importance birthing people and babies when has to start before birth because of advocacy, because so many times Black women are not heard there are forces working against us they need it most through robust outreach programing including: before we are born. In addition to during such a crucial moment * Access to online resources and demanding systemic change, for in their lives,” explained Price. maternity experts for expectant us to truly make a difference, we “With Love Delivered, and and new families need to empower birthing people through the partnership with * Access to doula support and along the childbearing continuum Latham and the Mama Glow information on doula services in with resources, guidance and adFoundation, we have an opportheir area vocacy tools to support their birth tunity to start to turn the tide on * Resources and tools for village and the larger community,” this crisis. Latham is someone partners and supporters to create stated Thomas. “Birth is meant to I’ve known and admired for positive birthing experiences for be a joyful and transcendent exyears and I love that we can Black birthing people perience, we have the opportunity come together as Black women, * Community building events to work together to restore safety, and take a stand for other Black and forums for expectant and women, ensuring their voices are dignity and strive towards equity new families and their allies for in birth.” heard, their needs are addressed, sharing joyful, inspiring, birthing Love Delivered will empower, and their lives are saved.”

experiences * Amplifying the stories of those who have had challenging experiences, in an effort to educate and prevent these near-misses from happening to others * Love Delivered self-care deliveries * Scholarship opportunities and information for upcoming Mama Glow Professional Doula Training programs Become an Advocate Join Carol’s Daughter in the fight for Black Maternal Health and head to www.carolsdaughter.com/lovedelivered to become an advocate and learn more.

Also, follow @CarolsDaughter and @MamaGlow on Instagram for program announcements and information.

About Carol’s Daughter In 1993, encouraged by my mother, Carol, I began creating high-quality products made with love in my Brooklyn kitchen. As family and friends experienced how these products transformed their hair and skin, I knew that I was onto something good. I needed a name for my company, so I made a list of everything I was and everything I wanted to be, and I realized that the most special thing that I am is Lisa, Carol’s Daughter.

-Lisa Price, Carol’s Daughter Founder About The Mama Glow Foundation Mama Glow Foundation is a 501c3 non-profit organization committed to advancing reproductive justice through Education, Advocacy and The Arts. The Mama Glow Foundation was founded by Latham Thomas, a world-renowned doula and Oprah Super Soul 100 member. For more information, visit www.mamaglowfoundation.org About Mama Glow Mama Glow is a global maternal health company that is transforming the landscape of birth. It’s home to a community of doulas from every corner of the USA and 6 continents. For more information, visit www.mamaglow.com

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Dion Michaels - Skin Care For Men Product

Women of Color Launch Skincare Line for All Men Dion Michaels, a skincare line for multi-ethnic men, has officially launched. Founders Simone Randle and Tammie Sykes created the line to tackle the top skin challenges that were impacting the men in their lives – from razor burns to dry beards. They quickly realized that these challenges played a significant role in confidence too.

Dion Michaels is a subscription-based skincare line that provides men with two simple products, a grooming cream and a skin balm. The skincare line is designed to not only improve and protect men’s skin, but to also boosts their confidence.

“We feel that the male population in the skincare industry is an underserved market,” said Randle. “Men want an effective product and they want a simple regimen.”

According to a press release, early testers of the product reported drastic improvements in 14 days. Most of the respondents said that they noticed an unmistakable “glow” on their skin as their complexion started to even out.

The grooming cream is a cleanser, a moisturizer, and a shaver for both the face and men who have bald heads. The skin balm also works as an additional moisturizer and aftershave. Designed to be a brand for all, Dion Michaels is available to all men-regardless of skin type, color, and facial hair texture. Spending many years on research and development, the outcome has been a formula that has proven successful among ethnically diverse test groups.

Randle and Sykes created the line to provide men with simple, effective products to improve the health and appearance of their skin.

For more information, visit: Website: www.dionmichaels.com Facebook – dionmichaelsformen Instagram – dionmichaelsformen Pinterest - @dionmichaelsformen

CITIZEN | Chicago Weekend | Week of April 28, 2021

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NEWS Redefining ‘Summer School’: How Year-Round Learning Can Shape K-12 Education

BY MEGAN O’REILLY PALEVICH, M.Ed.

(NAPSI)—Each day, as people across the country wake up and check their phones, turn on their morning news broadcast, or unfold their local papers, one clear message stares back at them: the COVID-19 pandemic is changing the trajectory of education. Fortunately, whether that change is for better or for worse can be decided by families and students themselves—and year-round learning is one trending approach that may be here to stay.

Year-round learning is not a new concept in K-12 education and the benefits are noteworthy.

Students who stay academically engaged over the summer can get ahead in challenging subject areas, explore or expand upon their interests and build the confidence that they need heading into a new school year.

As the nation recovers from a global pandemic and the subsequent shockwaves it sent through the education system, these benefits are particularly compelling: many students need an opportunity to catch up, reengage or solidify critical skills that may have been jeopardized during the academic fallout of the COVID-19 crisis.

Kelsey Lichtenstein, founder of Aspen Learning Lab in Los Angeles, Calif., has been serving families in Southern California and throughout the United States for nearly 20 years. Lichtenstein noticed widespread concerns about learning loss due to the pandemic but she is confident that summer learning opportunities can serve as one solution for many students and families.

“In some places students have not gone back to school in person yet,” Lichtenstein said. “As a result, many students need to catch up, or for younger students, get extra help building key foundational skills in reading and math.”

Engaging students as they build those early skills in reading and math is paramount: they provide the foundation for the rest of a student’s academic career and shape them well into their adult lives. Lichtenstein says that the primary challenge for educators is generating that engagement in the first place, and finding a program with a wide variety of courses and engaging content is crucial to achieving that goal.

“Engagement comes in many forms, and one of the ways we engage students is through content and connection. We have to ask ourselves, ‘How does this curriculum relate to real life? How does it connect?’,” Lichtenstein said.

For students in middle school and high school, year-round learning can also help them overcome unique academic gaps. Angela Ling, 16, of Rockville, Md., is a junior at Laurel Springs School who enrolled in the school’s summer program because she had recently moved to the United States from Canada. The curricular differences between the two countries meant she was technically behind in the areas of science and math.

“In Canada, science and math classes are taught generally, rather than by topics such as biology or calculus,” explained Ling. “As a result, in 10th grade, I was behind in a few courses in the U.S. curriculum. Thankfully, I had the ability to take

Honors Geometry and Honors Chemistry over the summer, and I caught up for 11th grade.”

For other students, the opportunity to get ahead in their studies drew them to summer learning. Mia Hanflig, 16, of East Falmouth, Mass., is an emerging performing artist who aspires to become a professional dancer. Through her year-round approach to learning, Hanflig aims to graduate early.

“I can work at my own pace and complete additional courses in the summer to get ahead before the next school year,” said Hanflig. “By taking summer classes, I have the potential to graduate early while still finishing all the mandatory credits. The extra time I have gained from being a student at Laurel Springs let me more easily attend prestigious intensives and competitions furthering my performance experiences in preparation for a career. ” Encouraging students like Hanflig to pursue their passions and interests is a cornerstone of Laurel Springs’ philosophy and another unique benefit of year-round learning as a whole: exploring new subject areas, especially through electives.

“We are always trying to spark curiosity and foster discovery, which is a huge benefit of learning over the summer,” said Lichtenstein. “It provides students with opportunities to explore other subjects and interests that they might not be exposed to during the traditional school year, keeping things fresh in their minds, engaging them in their learning and encouraging discovery, which are all very important. It doesn’t necessarily have to be geometry or physical science: There are

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other ways to stay academically engaged and continue learning, and that’s what I’d like to inspire in students.”

As year-round learning becomes a more common practice following the pandemic, students may also find it helps them foster self-advocacy and important social-emotional skills that will help them both in school and in their professional lives.

Olivia Manson, 14, of Chicago, Ill., says: “Online school allowed me to grow more independent and responsible for my work ethic and the accelerated summer courses I took last year helped me with time management. By making my own decisions, I feel a great sense of achievement.”

Incorporating summer courses into the larger picture of K-12 education should no longer be seen as a punishment or remediation effort but as an opportunity to stay academically engaged without sacrificing the rest, relaxation and recreation that normally accompanies the summer season.

With a strong foothold in their coursework and ownership of their learning as they venture into the next grade level, students may find that learning beyond the traditional school year will let them adapt to, and advance in, a swiftly changing educational landscape.

Megan O’Reilly Palevich, M.Ed., is head of school at Laurel Springs School. She is an award-winning educator, administrator, and thought leader with more than 25 years of experience in public and private PreK-12 education.

8 | CITIZEN | Chicago Weekend | Week of April 28, 2021

ENTERTAINMENT Terron Brooks Releases New Single “Tomorrow” Available May 7 Terron Brooks, two-time NAACP Award nominated singer-songwriter, actor and writer recently announced the release of his new inspirational single “Tomorrow,” available for download May 7.

The beloved anthem from Annie, written by Charles Strouse and Martin Charnin, comes as the world heals and looks ahead.

“Today we are on the verge of coming out of a dark, uncertain time. ‘Tomorrow’ is a song that epitomizes hope. Hopefully, listeners experience a fresh take on an iconic song, and they will journey with me as the sun

shines again,” Brooks says.

“Tomorrow” is the first single from Brooks’ forthcoming album The Soul of Broadway from Mercia Records with distribution through SONY MUSIC/The Orchard Internationally. Due this fall, the album reimagines Broadway songs, taking them out of the theater and bringing them to new audiences for everyday life.

The album’s title comes from the critically acclaimed concert production co-created by and starring Brooks.

In addition to new music, on May 18, Brooks is launching

his podcast, Honest Answers, which he calls a “space for discovery and inspiration.”

“I wanted to create a platform where my guests, who are creative forces in the world, could have an opportunity to reveal parts of their story they never shared before,” Brooks says. “I believe we are strongest when we are honest.”

Throughout his career, Brooks has traveled all over the world, performing with Phil Collins, Matthew Morrison and national symphony orchestras.

He is widely recognized for his critically acclaimed role as the

great Eddie Kendricks in the Emmy Award-winning NBC mini-series The Temptations.

On stage, Brooks received an Ovation Award nomination for his role in Sweet Charity. He also delighted audiences on Broadway in Disney’s The Lion King and Hairspray. With the innate need to give back and motivate, he released his first book, Something GoOD on the Table: Practical Proverbs for the Soul in 2018.

While Brooks celebrates and honors his past accomplishments, his focus is on creating new art and inspiration for “Tomorrow.”

HONEST ANSWERS WITH TERRON BROOKS Guests include: Rhona Bennett (En Vogue) Melinda Doolittle (American Idol) Stephanie J. Block (Tony Winner) Michael Swanson (Emmy Award Winning Studio Executive NBCUniversal) Shoshana Bean (Recording Artist/Broadway Star) LEON (TV’s The Temptations, The Five Heartbeats, Waiting to Exhale) Matt Cusson (Award Winning

“Tomorrow” Cover Art available for download everywhere on May 7th, 2021.

Singer/Songwriter) Crystal Lewis (3x Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter) TERRON BROOKS Instagram: terronbrooks Twitter: @terronbrooks terronbrooksofficial.com

COMMENTARY: Life After the Village: Tales from an Ex-Village People Cop What’s on Miles’ Mind?

By Miles Jaye, For Texas Metro News & Garland Journal

Until you’ve reached the chapter called The End, there is always a next chapter to your life story. Many people get so caught up in the automation of their day-to-day existence as one thing or another, a schoolteacher, an accountant, a nurse, or physician, that they fail

to consider what may come next.

It’s as though that vocation, career, or profession you chose in your twenties may last forever. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Only a debilitating illness, accident or death itself can preclude a next chapter in your life story. That is why retirement comes with such a devastating blow, for so many of us.

This is a tale of the chapters fol-

lowing my years with a group known as the Village People. I was the “Cop” and lead singer from 1982-1984. To be clear and accurate, I was the third Village People “Cop” after Victor Willis, the original and composer of many of the group’s biggest hits, and Ray Simpson, Victor’s replacement and younger brother of hit singer/ songwriter Valerie Simpson of Ashford and Simpson fame.

Red Line Extension Virtual Community Meetings: Wednesday, May 5 (2:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.) and Thursday, May 6 (6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.)

The CTA is hosting two identical virtual meetings to get your feedback on the draft vision statements developed with guidance from the community for the areas around the new stations!

The project team will share what we learned from the community at the four station area meetings earlier this year and community members are encouraged to provide their feedback. The meetings will also include a planning exercise to brainstorm different types of potential future development near each station. The same information will be presented at both meetings, so please attend the one that works best for you.

For more information about the TSD Plan, please visit transitchicago.com/RLE/TSD. For questions about the RLE Project and/or the TSD Plan, please contact the project team at RedExtension@transitchicago.com.

Registration is required to attend meetings.

Please register at: transitchicago.com/RLE/engage.

Attendees will receive information to join via Zoom or telephone. If you require assistance to register, call us at 1-888-968-7282 at least three [3] days before the meeting you plan to attend.

You can also watch live on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/CTARedExt. **Presentation audio available in Spanish if joining through Zoom only. Closed captioning and sign language interpretation are also available on Zoom for participants who are Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing.** After the meeting, the meeting recording and presentation will be posted online at transitchicago.com/RLE/TSD Do you require a reasonable accommodation?

Sign language interpreters and captioning will be available during the virtual presentations via Zoom only. If you require other reasonable accommodations to participate, please contact Amy Serpe, ADA Compliance Programs Manager, by Tuesday, April 27 at 1-312-350-2301 or aserpe@transitchicago.com.

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I was a new kid on the block. It wasn’t long after a 5-year stint in the U.S. Air Force and a year or two of surfing the New York jazz club scene and Europe’s jazz festivals that a musician buddy of mine, Bashiri Johnson, Michael Jackson’s percussionist, turned me on to an audition for a group looking for a new lead singer.

As much as I hated auditions… I was game. I had a wife, a young son, and a daughter on the way for motivation, so I went, not knowing it was for the Village People. I was the most unlikely candidate for the VP gig and, to this day, I don’t know if I would have even gone to the audition had I known what it was all about. I always thought of myself as a jazz guy. My father and brother were jazz men. They both played sax. I was a classically trained violinist, so I had a classical head, but a heart for jazz. I grew up listening to my brother’s Trane, Miles, Bird, and Monk albums.

My sister’s love was R&B. She actually took me to my very first concert at the Apollo in Harlem. The show headlined an R&B icon named Billy Stewart, singing hits like “Summertime” and “Sitting in the Park.”

R&B touched my soul.

Growing up in the church, I heard more than my share of gospel music.

To this day, it’s gospel music that speaks to my spirit. So, with a head for classical, a heart for jazz, R&B enriching my soul and gospel igniting my spirit, where did Village People music fit in? In short, it didn’t!

Much like the John Phillip Sousa military music I played for five years in the U.S. Air Force Band, it served its purpose as a means to an end.

If I had to choose, I would venture to say I had a greater appreciation for the Air Force Band music than the VP music. First of all, the AF Band played a surprisingly wide variety of music from the typical military marches to classical concert band

repertoire to the pop Top Ten list.

I played flute and piccolo in the band. It’s when I was shipped out to the Philippines that I began my singing career, if you can call it that. What I will say about VP music is one — it is very well arranged and produced, and two — it was quite a challenge to a relatively new singer… me!

More than sharing my personal experiences in that two year stretch with one of the most widely recognized names in music entertainment, singing some of the most popular songs of all times, including “YMCA,” “Macho Man,” and “In the Navy”, consider this — I have no idea how I ended up there.

I would never have guessed it, and I’m sure that I wouldn’t have chosen it, but there I was on stages all over the world, singing to sold out crowds, at break-neck speeds in keys way too high for me, but somehow, I did it — I survived it.

So, I survived Brooklyn, the Air Force, and the Village People, what could possibly be next? Teddy Pendergrass of course. Okay, you can’t make this stuff up. The point I’m making is that life is filled with unforeseeable twists and turns.

I’m writing a book called “Life After the Village People – Tales From an Ex-Village People Cop.” In it, I share some of the uglier, more painful, make you wanna give up twists and turns.

In times of doubt and despair, having lost all reason to care, among other things, I remembered the famous Winston Churchill quote, “Never give in — never, never, never, never, in nothing great or small, large or petty, never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense. Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.”

He also said, “Success is not final, failure is not fatal, it’s the courage to continue that counts.” Smart guy!

Website: www.milesjaye.net, Podcast: https://bit.ly/2zkhSRv

CITIZEN | Chicago Weekend | Week of April 28, 2021

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HOME

Lighten up! 5 designer tips for transforming your home lighting (BPT) - When it comes to choosing beautiful, functional lighting, the selections can appear endless and may be leaving you with no idea where to start.

If so, you're not alone. Many homeowners mistakenly believe any fixture will do the same job, when in fact effective lighting design is something of an art. The right lighting elements can make your home more relaxing or energizing, boost your sense of well-being and make daily tasks easier, all while reflecting your personal taste. According to Statista, the desire for such improvements motivated 63% of U.S. consumers to plan changes to their home lighting over 2020-2021.

To assist such forward-thinking homeowners, Erin Hoover, director-design, Luxury Space for Kohler Co., offers the following suggestions on choosing ideal home lighting.

Factor in function. Ask yourself what you'd like your lighting to accomplish in the room you're addressing. How is the room used? Do you need a main source of illumination for the space, or do you need to supplement that with decorative accents?

Where do you need direct and indirect light?

Consider existing architecture. Even if you like an eclectic look (Pinterest and Instagram can be inspiration), you'll want to at least partially align each fixture with the rest of your space in terms of form, line and/or color. In general, high ceilings work well with pendants, chandeliers and linear-style lighting and lower ceilings work better with flush or semi-flush fixtures and sconces. Your furniture layout may guide placement of chandeliers, linear style designs or pendants.

Stay savvy in the kitchen. Since most kitchens feature multiple light sources, Hoover recommends designating one fixture as your statement or focal piece, then choosing other functional and decorative accent pieces that align. "The other

lighting doesn't have to match, but should be a little simpler," she says. "Make sure it's the correct scale for your space and ceiling height," Hutton continues. "Pendant or linear lighting is a good choice for kitchen islands and bars, and mixed metals are on trend with or without black or white accent finishes." For added design flexibility, she notes, choose lighting that can be raised or lowered to easily adjust the height above bar areas, counters and islands. KOHLER Lighting also exclusively offers finishes that perfectly color match Kohler and Kallista fixtures and faucets.

Introduce style to your bathroom. Depending on your daily routines, you may want your bath to offer both bright, functional lighting (for grooming) and mood lighting (for relaxation). Popular layouts feature 7- to 9-inch sconces mounted on each side of a vanity mirror, or a larger single sconce placed on the wall overhead. In powder rooms where steam isn't an issue, Hoover likes decorative Kohler sconces that feature linen-look woven shades; she also recommends installing dimmer switches. "If you have the ceiling height, I love a chandelier in a bathroom," she adds. "A 20- to 24-inch chandelier may be better than a 30- to 36-inch one unless you have a very spacious bath with a ceiling height of more than nine feet. A larger pendant of 15 to 18 inches makes a statement over a freestanding tub if ceiling heights allow.

Fit out your foyer. Hoover recommends considering the height and depth of these important, first-impression rooms before deciding on the pendant, pendant cluster or chandelier that will make the right statement. "A single pendant can look stunning in a foyer that's nine feet wide, whereas a 36- inch chandelier or two-tier chandelier is perfect in a grand foyer," she advises.

Since your lighting design is so important to the www.citizennewspapergroup.com

beauty, functionality and overall mood of your home, it should never be an afterthought. Take time to choose from the wide variety of bright, beautiful styles available, then invest in the fixtures that will truly transform your living spaces. Find more information about KOHLER Lighting at us.Kohler.com.

CITIZEN | Chicago Weekend | Week of April 28, 2021

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CLASSIFIEDS SERVICE

SERVICE

REAL ESTATE

RENTERS INSURANCE

3+ Bedroom HOMES FOR SALE SELLER FINANCING Call: FRED D. CLINK (773) 294-5870 REALTY SERVICES CONSORTIUM ____________________________________

Renters Insuance provides cash when you need it the most, in the event of a fire or thief you will received cash to replace your furniture, clothes, and food as well as cash for an emergency hotel stay and transportation and policies start at just $18.75 per month. For more information call Agent George Trent at (773) 640-8357. _______________________________________

LEGAL NOTICE Notice is hereby given, pursuant to “An Act in relation to the use of an Assumed Business Name in the conduct or transaction of Business in the State,” as amended, that a certification was registered by the undersigned with the County Clerk of Cook County. Registration Number; Y21006572 on APRIL 8, 2021. Under the Assumed Business Name of UNITING FAMILIES TOGETHER with the business located at: 50 W 71st STREET APT 603, CHICAGO ILLINOIS 60621. The true and real full name (s) and residence address of the owner (s) /partner (s) is: Owner/Partner Full Name JERLENE WARD Complete Address: 50 W. 71ST STREET APT 603, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60621, USA _______________________________________

WANTED TO BUY FREON WANTED: We pay $$$ for cylinders and cans. R12 R500 R11 R113 R114. Convenient.

Certified Professionals. Call 312-291-9169 or visit RefrigerantFinders.com _______________________________________

Advertise Your Business Here Call Us At (773) 783-1251

PETS

Summer Safety Tips for Your Pet

CALL JOHNNY BARNES @ 773-875-0536 * ONE -ON-ONE * MEAL PLANS * WEIGHT TRAINING

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REAL ESTATE HUD/BANK FORECLOSURES CITY & SUBURBS Call: FRED D. CLINK (773) 294-5870 REALTY SERVICES CONSORTIUM ____________________________________

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THERE IS NO NEED TO KEEP THE UNWANTED POUNDS GAINED DURING COVID-19?

TRY A PERSONAL TRAINER. . .

(StatePoint) From heat waves to fireworks, summer can take a toll on pets’ emotional and physical wellness. According to some pet experts, the heart of relief for a number of common seasonal pet woes is CBD. Here are some insights into how to use it, plus additional measures you can take for a safe, healthy summer with pets.

• Fireworks and Thunder: Unexpected noises can be extremely frightening for pets, causing what’s known as situational stress. If possible, try administering Calming CBD-infused Edibites, which contains soothing and relaxing properties, about an hour before you expect fireworks or thunderstorms to occur. (Helpful hint: it can also be used to relieve situational stress associated with travel, guests, etc.)

Exercise also helps. Whether you take an extra long walk or play fetch, wearing your pet out earlier in the day might help them stay calm or even sleep through noise disruptions.

Additionally, you can prepare by setting up a quiet space for your pet, full of their favorite blankets and toys. Finally, be mindful that pets often react to loud noises by running away. According to the ASPCA, one-in-five pets that go missing run off after hearing loud noises like fireworks.

Bring cats indoors during storms and fireworks. If you must take a dog outside, keep them securely leashed. Microchips and up-to-date ID tags can help you safely reunite with your pet should they go missing.

• Heat: If you’re sweating, there’s a good chance your pet is too. Keep pets hydrated by constantly refilling their bowls with fresh, clean water. Choose mornings or evenings for exercising with dogs to avoid the hottest part of the day. On scorchers, avoid paw-to-pavement contact, letting your dog walk in the grass instead. If your pup’s paws do get affected by the hot pavement, applying a topical CBD solution such as Canna Care from Pet Releaf can help relieve the burn.

Finally, beat the heat with regular grooming -- however, don’t shave your pet’s fur -- their coat protects them from sunburn.

• Allergies: Allergies can wear pets down in numerous ways, including weakening their immune system. CBD hemp oil however can offer an immunity boost by activating the body’s two-way communication system between the brain and the immune system.

A common allergy symptom is rash, which can cause pets to scratch and bite their skin, only worsening irritation. To treat rash, consider using CBD hemp oil to support a healthy inflammatory response and ease stress, along with a topical CBD product to soothe skin irritations.

• Hip and Joint Discomfort: Summer may mean an uptick in nature hikes and long days at the dog park. As a result, your dog may experience hip or joint discomfort. Consider adding a beneficial supplement to their everyday regimen, like Hip & Joint Edibites, which contains fullspectrum hemp extract with naturally occurring CBD, along with glucosamine and chondroitin, a combination known to help maintain normal healthy cartilage and joint function, as well as support joint flexibility and mobility. Depending on your pet’s health needs, you may want to upgrade to a higher potency pet CBD product like a hemp oil that you camassage onto their joints.

Unsure which CBD solution will work best for your pet? Check out Pet Releaf’s Product Finder tool at petreleaf.com/product-finder, which factors in age, weight, level of discomfort and wellness needs. Use the code RELEAF25 through July 31, 2021 to receive 25% off and free shipping.

With the right tools and knowledge, you can support your pet’s wellness this summer and protect them from common seasonal health and safety hazards.

Darrell Garth

President /Publisher

Janice Garth

Sales Manager General Manager

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Chicago Westside Communities, Austin and Garfield Park

SUBURBAN TIMES WEEKLY Bloom Township, Chicago Heights, Flossmoor, Ford Heights, Glenwood, Homewood, Lansing ,Lynwood, Olympia Fileds, Park Forest, Sauk Village, South Chicago and Steger Citizen Newspaper Group Inc., (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@citizennewspapergroup.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 April 28, 2021

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