Chicago Weekend Citizen 8-19-2020

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 The Citizen: Serving The Black Community For 55 Years Week of Aug. 19, 2020

| Vol. 51 | No. 34 | www.citizennewspapergroup.com

CHICAGO WEEKEND

August is National Immunization Awareness Month Page 2

RB and Lysol Partner with UNCF Page 3

Essence McDowell is the associate director of the Social Justice Initiative at the University of Illinois Chicago. Photo courtesy of Essence McDowell

Study Shows Hidden Impact of Remote Work During the Pandemic Page 4

Tonika Lewis Johnson is a photographer and visual artist whose Folded Map Project led her to create “Belonging: Power, Place, and (Im)Possibilities.� Photo courtesy of Tonika Johnson

EXHIBIT EXPLORES HOW YOUNG BLACK PEOPLE NAVIGATE CITY

Tonika Lewis Johnson is the creator of the Folded Map Project, a visual investigation of the inequity and disparity of the North and South Sides. In that project, Johnson has the residents, who lived on the same streets with similar addresses on different sides of the city, meet each other and talk about race, the city and segregation. PAGE 2

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2 | CITIZEN | Chicago Weekend | Week of Aug. 19, 2020

NEWS briefly EDUCATION POSTGRADUATE PROGRAM, OFFERS GAP YEAR TO RECENT HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES Laurel Springs School, a fully accredited private online school, is offering a new Postgraduate program that allows recent high school graduates to take a gap year with a purpose. Utilizing a framework of academically rigorous courses, college-level seminars, and specialized counseling based on personal interests and career ambitions, students who enroll in the Postgraduate program at Laurel Springs have an opportunity to build a competitive academic record that best positions them for success in college and beyond.

“While the coronavirus crisis presents many challenges for families as they make post-secondary decisions, Laurel Springs is proud to present a solution to high school graduates who are intentional in their choice to wait to pursue a college or university education,” said Jane Ferris, Ed.D., dean of students at Laurel Springs. Postgraduate study at Laurel Springs comprises three key elements including: expert college counseling, dual enrollment courses, Advanced Placement (AP), honors, elective, and World Language courses. For more information, call at 800-377-5890 or visit www.laurelsprings.com

HEALTH

AUGUST IS NATIONAL IMMUNIZATION AWARENESS MONTH Although school will look different this year because of (COVID-19), whether it’s remote learning, in the classroom, or a hybrid, kids should still receive their routine vaccinations.

“While much of our focus is on COVID-19 these days, we must continue to take care of all of our health needs,” said Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike. “Vaccines are one of the safest and most effective methods to protect children from more than a dozen vaccinepreventable diseases. Make sure your children are fully vaccinated so they can be as healthy as possible while facing the ongoing risk of COVID-19.”

IDPH is teaming up with the Illinois Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (ICAAP) on a social media campaign that will raise awareness of the importance of vaccines. The immunization requirements for the 2020-2021 school year are the same as last year. The requirements can be found on the www.dph.illinois.gov under immunizations.

Vaccines are not just for kids, however. Vaccines are recommended throughout our lives. During National Immunization Awareness Month, IDPH is asking everyone to check their vaccination history and talk with their health care provider.

For more information about immunizations, including vaccination schedules for infants, children, teens and adults, visit http://www.dph. illinois.gov/topics-services/prevention-wellness/immunization.

LAW & POLITICS

EEOC RESUMES ISSUANCE OF CHARGE CLOSURE DOCUMENTS The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) recently announced that it will begin issuing charge closure documents that were suspended because of the COVID-19 pandemic. On March 21, 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the EEOC temporarily suspended the issuance of charge closure documents unless a charging party requested them.

EEOC managers and supervisors have started reviewing charge resolution recommendations and the EEOC will begin issuing Notices of Right to Sue (Notices) both for charges that were held in suspense, as well as for charge resolutions that occur on and after Monday, August 3, 2020. The Notices held in suspense will be issued over the course of the next six to eight weeks beginning with those that have been in suspense the longest. All Notices will be issued by mail.

The Department of Justice, which issues Notices in investigations involving state and local governments, referred to them by the EEOC, is also now resuming the issuance of Notices.

Once a charging party receives a Notice, a lawsuit must be filed within 90 days of their receipt of that notice. This deadline is set by law and cannot be changed by the EEOC. A charging party must file a lawsuit within the established timeframe or may be prevented from going forward with the lawsuit. Information about reaching an EEOC field office is available by visiting the following link at https://www.eeoc.gov/ field-office. More information is available at www.eeoc.gov.

Exhibit explores how young Black people navigate city Continued from page 1

BY TIA CAROL JONES

Tonika Lewis Johnson is the creator of the Folded Map Project, a visual investigation of the inequity and disparity of the North and South Sides. In that project, Johnson has the residents, who lived on the same streets with similar addresses on different sides of the city, meet each other and talk about race, the city and segregation.

Now, Johnson is set to debut ‘Belonging: Power, Place, and (Im)Possibilities.’

It explores Black and Brown teenagers and racial profiling. It will debut at the Social Justice Initiative’s Chicago Justice Gallery, located at 1344 S. Halsted. To learn more about the time and date of the debut, visit tonikaj.com Johnson said ‘Belonging,’ is an extension of the Folded Map Project.

She said the teenagers came to the Folded Map Project exhibit and she talked to them and shared her stories about growing up in Chicago and traveling throughout the city to socialize with friends.

“They consistently told me that they don’t really do that. They don’t really go to a lot of different neighborhoods and when they do, they don’t feel comfortable. It was so different from my teenage years in Chicago in the ‘90s. I never thought about how the experience of being a teenager in a city changes,” she said.

Johnson said the young people told her they felt more policed, with loitering laws and curfews. She said she got curious about their experiences.

“It directly connected to Folded Map because regardless of where

these teenagers were coming from, North Side, South side, all of them had a similar story,” she said. I want to do something to capture the stories of these teenagers because they’re going to be our future Chicago residents, if they decide to come back after school. How you get treated in a city as a teenager, really could influence if you want to stay there or not.”

Johnson said it took from 2018 to 2020 to put the project idea together, implement the idea and identify the teenagers she wanted to talk to. She went through Teens Reimagining Art, Community, and Environment, solicited her daughter’s friends and put out a call to get teenagers to share their stories.

Essence McDowell is the associate director of the Social Justice Initiative at the University of Illinois Chicago.

The Social Justice Initiative is a small arm of the University of Illinois Chicago and its aim is to bring the campus community with city-wide communities together to build a bridge between scholarship and activism. “Belonging” is the inaugural exhibit of the Social Justice Initiative’s Chicago Justice Gallery.

McDowell said it is eerie the way the project has increased in importance in this moment, with marches and protests and civil unrest. Social Justice Initiative, in preparation of the exhibit, had an artist create a mural that represents “Belonging.”

“The mural is the scene of a protest. He did that mural in February.

He had no idea a pandemic would happen, Black Lives Matter would re-

surge in the way it had and when you look at that mural, you would think that he made that for this moment and he didn’t,” she said. “A lot of the issues we’re talking about, how young people are feeling like they don’t belong, are feeling like they’re policed and surveilled, these are some of the underlying issues in the Black Lives Matter movement.”

McDowell said the exhibit is timely because young Black people are experiencing the same discrimination and policing that Black and Brown adults are facing.

“How they’re processing it and interpreting it are some of the issues that we’re bringing up through ‘Belonging.’ We’ve done that through the photographs Tonika took, we’re telling their stories through these audio interviews they did to speak to these issues,” she said. “This is happening on a larger structural backdrop of Black Lives Matter. This is happening at a moment where we have the nation’s attention to these issues. ‘Belonging’ posits young people as these leaders in this issue and leaders in this movement and how they decide to address it and how they decide to create spaces for themselves, despite the oppressive forces that are coming at them in many different ways.”

Johnson said she thought “Belonging” is the perfect project to follow-up to Folded Map. “Even though Folded Map is a macro and micro understanding of segregation in Chicago, I feel ‘Belonging’ is a much deeper micro examination of what our youth is experiencing in Chicago,” she said.

Owner of Chicago Tax Preparation Business Charged with Preparing False Returns A federal grand jury in Chicago, Illinois, has returned a superseding indictment charging the owner of a tax preparation business with filing tax returns for herself and clients, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division.

According to the superseding indictment, Eunice Salley owned and operated Tax Research and Resolution Inc., a tax preparation business located in Chicago, Illinois.

From 2016 through 2017, Salley allegedly created false W-2 Forms for clients that reported fake wages and withholdings and then falsified clients’ tax returns accordingly, in order to fraudulently claim refunds. The superseding indictment further alleges that Salley falsified her own 2017 tax return by not reporting all of the income she earned from her business.

In November 2019, Salley was charged in an indictment alleging that from 2010 through 2017, she

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misrepresented to a pension administrator that her relative was still alive and eligible for pension payments, even though the relative was no longer eligible due to her death in 2009. Salley allegedly used the pension funds her own benefit.

If convicted of the charges in the superseding indictment charges, Salley faces a maximum sentence of three years in prison on each count of aiding and assisting in filing a false return and filing a false return.

Salley also faces a maximum of 20 years in prison for the

pension fraud scheme, as well as five years in prison on each count of pension fraud. She also faces a period of supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties.

An indictment or superseding indictment merely allege that crimes have been committed. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Additional information about the Tax Division and its enforcement efforts may be found on the Division’s website.

CITIZEN | Chicago Weekend | Week of Aug. 19, 2020

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NEWS

RB and Lysol Partner with UNCF Reckitt Benckiser (RB), the makers of Lysol, recently announced a strategic partnership with UNCF to provide 100 scholarships for students pursuing studies in public health, nutrition and other STEM related fields, with the goal of supporting each recipient through their four-year matriculation.

The “Reckitt Scholars” will expand Lysol’s current investments in public education and efforts to improve access to health, hygiene and nutrition in the U.S., particularly in underserved communities and those disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Our partnership with UNCF and the launch of the Reckitt Scholars program, is in honor of Sir James Reckitt the son of one of the founders of RB. The scholarship is designed to help address two critical disparities—access to ed-

ucation and public health. We were compelled to take action after observing the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on underserved communities and the lack of representation of the black community in higher education. It is more important than ever that we use our voice and influence as a force for good and look forward to collaborating with UNCF on this effort,” said Ranjay Radhakrishnan, chief people officer, RB. UNCF is the nation’s largest private scholarship provider for students of color, awarding more than $100 million in scholarships to students attending more than 1,100 schools across the country, including 37 historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs).

“At a time when social, health and economic issues are all at the forefront of our national

Reckitt Benckiser (RB), the makers of Lysol, recently announced a strategic partnership with UNCF to provide 100 scholarships.

discourse, we are extremely grateful for support from donors, like RB and Lysol,” said Dr. Michael L. Lomax, UNCF’s president and CEO. “This substantial gift is much needed and will

have a lasting impact on students. Thank you for being a stellar example of what it takes to realize the vision of a nation where all Americans have equal access to a college education.”

COMMENTARY

Why diversity training on campus is likely to disappoint

BY AMNA KHALID AND JEFFREY AARON SNYDER

U.S. colleges and universities will be embracing diversity training with renewed vigor this fall.

In response to the killing of George Floyd, the massive Black Lives Matter protests and pressure from students, dozens of colleges and universities have made public commitments to new anti-racism initiatives.

The University of Florida will require all students, faculty and staff to undergo training on “racism, inclusion and bias.” Northeastern University will institute “cultural competency” and “anti-racism training” for every member of the campus community.

And Ohio Wesleyan University will mandate “universal diversity, equity, and inclusion training.”

Given the vital importance of confronting past and present racism, we believe it is imperative that colleges and universities address racial disparities and discrimination in higher education head-on. However, as scholars who study race and social inequality, we know that diversity training suffers from “chronically disappointing results.” Recent research in psychology even suggests that diversity training may cause more problems than it solves.

What diversity training looks like Called into a typical diversity training session, you may be told to complete a “privilege walk”: step forward if “you are a white male,” backward if your “ancestors were forced to come to the United States,” forward if “either of your parents

graduated from college,” backward if you “grew up in an urban setting,” and so on.

You could be instructed to play “culture bingo.” In this game, you would earn points for knowing “what melanin is,” the “influence Zoot suits had on Chicano history” or your “Chinese birth sign.”

You might be informed that white folks use “white talk,” which is “task-oriented” and “intellectual,” while people of color use “color commentary,” which is “processoriented” and “emotional.”

You will most definitely be encouraged to internalize an everexpanding diversity lexicon. This vocabulary includes terms such as Latinx, microaggressions and white privilege.

It also features terms that are more obscure, like “adultism,” which is defined as “prejudiced thoughts and discriminatory actions against young people, in favor of the older.”

Disappointing results and unintended consequences In terms of reducing bias and promoting equal opportunity, diversity training has “failed spectacularly,” according to the expert assessment of sociologists Frank Dobbin and Alexandra Kalev.

When Dobbin and Kalev evaluated the impact of diversity training at more than 800 companies over three decades, they found that the positive effects are short-lived and

that compulsory training generates resistance and resentment.

“A company is better off doing nothing than mandatory diversity training,” Kalev concluded.

Some of the most popular training approaches are of dubious value.

There is evidence, for example, that introducing people to the most commonly used readings about white privilege can reduce sympathy for poor whites, especially among social liberals.

There is also evidence that emphasizing cultural differences across racial groups can lead to an increased belief in fundamental biological differences among races.

This means that well-intentioned efforts to celebrate diversity may in fact reinforce racial stereotyping.

With its emphasis on do’s and don’t’s, diversity training tends to be little more than a form of etiquette.

It spells out rules that are just as rigid as those that govern the placement of salad forks and soup spoons. The fear of saying “the wrong thing” often leads to unproductive, highly scripted conversations.

This is the exact opposite of the kinds of debates and discussions that you would hope to find on a college campus.

The main beneficiaries of the forthcoming explosion in diversity programming will be the swelling ranks of “diversity and inclusion” consultants who stand to make a pretty penny. A one-day training session for around 50 people costs www.citizennewspapergroup.com

anywhere between US$2,000 and $6,000. Robin DiAngelo, the bestselling author of “White Fragility,” charges up to $15,000 per event.

In this belt-tightening era of COVID-19, should colleges and universities really be spending precious dollars on measures that have been “proven to fail”?

Alternatives to training In our view, instead of pouring money into diversity training, colleges and universities would be better off using their limited resources to provide increased financial aid and better academic support systems for underrepresented students. The increasing number of scholarships and fellowships that have been established in George Floyd’s name are a welcome step in this direction.

We also recommend that schools invest more in expanding the full range of educational opportunities at their disposal to better understand and disrupt systemic racism.

This includes coursework, lecture series, discussion panels, student speak-outs, college-wide teachins, exhibitions, performances and common readings. Such an approach would enable universities to use the extensive knowledge and expertise that their faculty, students and staff already have on issues of race and inequality. It would be far better than relying on the kind of mass-produced, drive-through diversity training provided by outside “experts.”

Campus communities don’t need diversity consultants to lead workshops about terms such as “microaggressions,” “micro-

invalidations” and “micro-insults.”

Instead they should discuss thoughtprovoking works such as poet Claudia Rankine’s book “Citizen,” a personal account that “strips bare the everyday realities of racism.”

Rather than simply declaring that “illegal immigrant” is an unacceptable derogatory term, analyze Jason De Leon’s “The Land of Open Graves,” a vivid portrait that “pushes our understanding of how lives are lived and lost on the U.S.-Mexican border to a new level.”

To explain the concept of “intersectionality,” replace “social identity wheel” exercises with an examination of the 1977 Combahee River Collective Statement, whose Black feminist authors insisted that it was not possible to “separate race from class from sex oppression.”

Facing urgent calls for action, colleges and universities have embraced diversity training to try to prove that they really are doing something to advance racial justice.

But the relevant evidence suggests that in offering ineffective, superficial remedies to the complex problems of prejudice and exclusion, diversity training will shortchange campus communities and short-circuit critical thinking.

If colleges and universities want to effect meaningful social change, they will soon discover that diversity training is no substitute for education.

Amna Khalid is an Associate Professor of History at Carleton College and Jeffrey Aaron Snyder is an Associate Professor of Educational Studies at Carleton College.

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BUSINESS

Walsh Construction completes historic transformation of Chicago’s old Cook County Hospital into dual branded Hyatt hotel Walsh Construction, one of the largest contractors in the City of Chicago and across the United States, has completed the historic rehabilitation of the 104-year-old Cook County Hospital building, converting the building into a dual branded Hyatt Place and Hyatt House hotel, accompanied by the new Dr. Murphy’s Food Hall.

The transformative project is the first phase and anchor for Harrison Square, a new micro-neighborhood that will add residential, office, retail and hotel space in the area immediately surrounding the former hospital within the Illinois Medical District.

The project was directed by the Civic Health Development Group, a joint venture led by Chicago-based Murphy Development Group along with MB Real Estate, Walsh Investors and The Granite Cos. Inc. The 345,000-square-foot old Cook County Hospital was decommissioned in 2002 and remained vacant for more than 15 years, disquieting preservationists, historians, and other concerned citizens that the magnificent Beaux Arts building was at risk of demolition.

Those fears were relieved when it was officially announced in 2018 that the prominent medical institution would be given life once more.

The development converted the former hospital and medical college into a 210-room dual branded Hyatt House and Hyatt Place hotel. The project also delivers medical office and retail spaces and the 10,000-square-foot Dr. Murphy’s Food Hall, named in honor of the renowned surgeon, Dr. John Benjamin Murphy, who studied, practiced and taught within Cook County Hospital and the Illinois Medical District.

Architect Skidmore, Owings & Merrill designed the project to incorporate features highlighting the building’s long history as one of the world’s top teaching hospitals and signifi-

The exterior of the old Cook County Hospital building features a fully restored facade that required more than 4,000 individual pieces of terra cotta to be repaired or duplicated.

cant place in the history of Chicago as its first public hospital.

The building also includes a museum that chronicles the hospital’s noteworthy contributions to the region and to the medical field.

“The old Cook County Hospital is rich in history, having served our community and nation for over a century, while at the same time being a fountain of medical research, innovation, and advancements,” said Dan Walsh, co-chairman of Walsh Construction. “The Walsh Group is proud to have played a leading role in saving and transforming this unique historic structure; and delivering a reborn building that welcomes visitors and economic revival to the Near West Side of Chicago for another 100 years.”

Restoring a Landmark Walsh Construction began renovations at

the top floor and proceeded to work down to ground level, crews removed all interior partitions, leaving a clear floor plate nearly 550 feet long and 70 feet wide. Once the floor plate was cleared, new composite decks were installed.

The original terrazzo flooring was completely refurbished, and the intricate interior moldings were meticulously repaired to its original condition.

On the exterior of the building, masons labored to preserve, repair and recreate the historic $18 million façade, requiring more than 4,160 individual pieces of terra cotta to be repaired or duplicated by Gladding, McBean – one of only two terra cotta manufacturers in the United States.

Built for the Community, by the Community Walsh Construction in partnership with Cook County Government, organized multiple

MBE/WBE general trades outreach events to discuss the project and inform the local trade and subcontracting communities of the project’s employment opportunities.

“This project is based upon community revival and opportunity for the local workforce and the Near West Side community,” said Jeff Pezza, vice president at Walsh Construction. “A tremendous amount of gratitude must be given to our dedicated project team, and especially the elected officials, organizations and individuals like Larry Huggins from The Granite Companies who helped champion this project across Chicago.”

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, Alderman Walter Burnett, Jr., Alderman Jason Ervin, Cook County Commissioner Dennis Deer, Joe Williams from the Target Group and Rachel Ivy from Communities Empowered Through Construction played impactful roles in community participation and outreach.

Throughout the course of renovations, Walsh Construction sponsored two eightweek pre-apprenticeship programs, which allowed candidates to gain construction exposure and experience by participating in the old Cook County Hospital project.

Pre-Apprentices shadowed management staff, superintendents. Industry-based training was also made available, including flagging certification, fall protection, confined space and first aid. After completion of the program, the pre-apprentice candidates were hired directly into local trades.

“The reborn Cook County Hospital will further energize the Medical District and supplement the neighboring healthcare institutions,” said Tom Caplis, vice president of healthcare at Walsh Construction. “This building has been rejuvenated and will serve as a place of history, comfort and hospitality to all who visit.”

Study Shows Hidden Impact of Remote Work During the Pandemic Remote work in the time of the pandemic is having unexpected impacts across America — and different impacts for each generation. A new, national study by global research firm, The Center for Generational Kinetics (CGK), reveals that trust, expectations of leaders, and future employment expectations have been deeply affected in this time of remote work.

The discoveries from The 2020 Study on Leading Multiple Generations Remotely are both compelling and concerning: * Most shockingly, a majority (53 percent) of Americans do not want to work remotely even part-time after the pandemic ends. * 42 percent of Americans do not have the tools they need to successfully work remotely. * Less than half of Americans (48 percent) believe their manager is acting

A new, national study by global research firm, The Center for Generational Kinetics (CGK), reveals that trust, expectations of leaders, and future employment expectations have been deeply affected in this time of remote work.

with integrity during these tough times Gen Z (born from 1996 thru 2015) is the generation whose work has been most impacted by the pandemic.

More than any other generation, Gen Z’s work hours have decreased (45 percent), they have been furloughed (37 percent), the focus of their job has changed (32 percent), and their salary or wages have de-

creased (25 percent).

“The study reveals that the experience of remote work is uneven and rife with anxiety. More importantly, the study showed what leaders need to know and do now,” says Jason Dorsey, acclaimed generational speaker and President at CGK. The top three things that Americans want from their managers right www.citizennewspapergroup.com

now: being honest and candid, communicating clearly, and being caring and empathetic. What they wanted least: showing strength and resilience. In short, candor and honesty trump bravado and bluster.

Going deeper, the study uncovered: * 47 percent of Americans say they’re working completely from home or remotely. * 49 percent of Americans have used Zoom or a video chat platform for the first time ever.

“Each generation is having a different experience during the pandemic.

This is important to understand, as organizations must remotely lead four or five generations simultaneously.

Gen Z’s emergence could herald in a new era of hybrid work that is normal to them and for the youngest members of Gen Z, all they’ve ever known,” says Denise Villa, Ph.D.,

CEO of CGK and author of the new book, Zconomy: How Gen Z Will Change the Future of Business—and What To Do About It. Villa adds the following recommendations: * Reinforce the organization’s guiding principles and mission in creative ways that connect with individual employees in a remote work world. * Offer communication options aligned with each generation’s primary preferences. * Increase the frequency of information that is shared by leadership to keep employees engaged and aligned.

The bottom line: it’s important for organizations’ leaders to understand where each generation is coming from to best engage, support and get the most from their employees in novel ways during this critical time.

CITIZEN | Chicago Weekend | Week of Aug. 19, 2020

NEWS Diversity and Unity within the Community On Friday, August 28th from 10-6pm, the Bolingbrook Black History Awareness Club will lead a March on Bolingbrook in celebration of the 57th anniversary of the 1963 March on Washington. This march will mirror efforts in Washington, DC to both raise awareness on the current police brutality crises, Covid 19 pandemic, voter suppression, and social injustice, as well as honor the legacies of heroes like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the late Congressman John Lewis. To address the ongoing racial disenfranchisement of people of color voter registration will be available.

Black History Month Awareness Club, Inc

Legacy of the 1963 March on Washington In 1963, over 200,000 people marched the streets of Washington in the name of equality, jobs, and freedom.

The event was planned by the “Big Six” leaders of reform organizations, including Dr. King and Congressman John Lewis.

During this event, John Lewis spoke passionately about the change that was needed in America. Later in the program, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his memorable “I Have a Dream” speech, in which he called for civil and economic equal rights and an end to systemic racism in the United States.

is clear that a reminder is needed that "injustice anywhere is injustice everywhere" as stated by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. This peaceful March requires that all participants wear a mask, practice social distancing and proper hand hygiene.

About Black History Month Awareness Club, Inc.

2020 March on Bolingbrook On August 28, 2020, we the people of Bolingbrook will march in solidarity alongside the March on Washington and symbolize that we too stand against systemic racism and injustice in America.

This March comes at a time when it

FAMILY LIVING Parents Guide to Screen Time During COVID-19 (StatePoint) After years of hearing study after study about the negative effects of excessive screen time, parents are now being told to set aside any concerns about limiting device time.

If you’re confused, you aren’t alone.

Life as we know it has taken a 180 and relaxing your screen time rules is an inevitability. Most kids are transitioning to digital learning platforms, and with stay-at-home orders in effect around the world, screens have proven essential components of household life. Even still, establishing consistent and clear structure around screen time rules is as important as ever.

To help you cut through the noise, consider the latest research, expert advice and tips from OurPact a screen time monitoring and scheduling app that allows parents to manage what kids are doing online, create daily screen time allowances, set filters on browsers and block certain applications at certain times of day. To learn more, visit OurPact.com.

With a new reliance on digital devices, parents can continue to take steps to ensure kids are striking a healthy online and offline balance.

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With a mission to spread the awareness and education of black history in the community, Bolingbrook’s Black History Month Awareness Club hosts an annual celebration in February which connects the community with organizations and businesses by providing information that will increase awareness and understanding of African American heritage and culture.

Bolingbrook residents Anita Kontoh Carty, attorney, Felix George, DuPage Township Supervisor, and Bernard Winston, Financial Advisor were the founders of the Black History Month Awareness Club in 1999.

Board members: Anita Kontoh Carty, Executive Director/Treasurer, Bernard Winston, President, Janice Haywood, Vice President and Terri Ransom, Program Director, work year-round to organize the signature event that has now grown to draw hundreds throughout Will County. To learn more visit: www.blackhistoryawarenessclub.com Instagram: bhm_awareness Twitter: month_awareness Facebook: Bolingbrook Black History Month Awareness Club

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ENTERTAINMENT Women of Color Empowerment Institute’s August Hour of Power Soledad O’Brien will be the August 2020 Women of Color Empowerment Institute, Inc.’s “Hour of Power” speaker on Saturday, August 22, 2020 @10:00 a.m.

To register, go here: https:// us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/ WN_o-70Yo2mT3qeIwA5vxouNg After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with the access link.

Soledad O’Brien is an award-winning journalist, speaker, author and philanthropist who anchors and produces the Hearst Television political magazine program “Matter of Fact with Soledad O’Brien.”

O’Brien, founder and CEO of Soledad O’Brien Productions, also reports for HBO Real Sports, the PBS NewsHour, WebMD and has authored two books. She has appeared on networks, Fox and Oxygen and anchored and reported for NBC, MSNBC and CNN. She has won numerous awards, including three Emmys, the George Peabody award, an Alfred I DuPont prize and the Gracie. Newsweek Magazine named her one of the “15 People Who Make America Great.” With her husband, she is founder

Soledad O’Brien

of the PowHERful Foundation that helps young women get to and through college.

Follow her on Twitter: @soledadobrien By creating new educational experiences for kids based on their favorite shows and characters, you can feel good knowing you’re making the most of your child’s screen time.

Extend the fun beyond the screen, create educational experiences based on your child’s favorite shows

Photo credit: Ryan Schaefer

Sony/ATV Signs Worldwide Deal with Jozzy Sony/ATV Music Publishing recently announced it has signed a worldwide publishing administration agreement with Grammy award-winning songwriter and recording artist Jozzy.

Jocelyn Donald, better known as Jozzy, is a celebrated songwriter hailing from Memphis, Tennessee who has collaborated with top talent such as Beyoncé, Pharrell Williams, Timbaland, Missy Elliot, Usher, Summer Walker, Lil Wayne, Coldplay, Ella Mai, 21 Savage, and many more.

Among her most notable work was pioneering a blend of hip-hop and country by writing Billy Ray Cyrus’s verse on Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road Remix.” The track spent a record-shattering nineteen weeks at No.1, gained a Grammy nomination for Record of The Year, and won a Grammy for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance.

Sony/ATV Chairman and CEO Jon Platt said, “Jozzy is an incredibly accomplished songwriter with once in a generation talent.

We are pleased to welcome her to Sony/ ATV, and I am confident we will earn major success as a creative team.”

Jozzy said, “I’m thrilled to be working with Jon Platt and Sony/ATV. There’s no doubt we’ll do great things together. The best is yet to come!”

In addition to her achievements as a songwriter, Jozzy is also now focusing on her career as an artist and recently signed with Columbia records. Her debut track as an artist was the hypnotic “Sucka Free,” featuring Lil Wayne, a longtime collaborator and friend.

Jozzy is currently at work on a forthcoming EP called Soul Therapy: Apartment 215, and released singles including “Let You Down Let You Go” and “I’m Gone” featuring Tommy Genesis. Jozzy has also embraced activism; as an LGBTQ+, woman of color, she has repeatedly spoken out about the issues she faces and her hope for more diverse voices to be recognized in all areas of the music industry.

StatePoint - If your child is all about a particular television show, there are a number of interactive and educational ways to extend the fun beyond the screen. Here are a few ideas: • Play Pretend: Get creative by fashioning character costumes from what you have at home, then have the kids pick out their favorite scenes or invent their own. Stage a play or create a video acting them out.

• Toys and Games: Look for toys and games based on your children’s favorite programming. For example, the new Go! Go! Cory Carson toy line from VTech, based on the hit animated preschool series available on Netflix, lets kids create their own adventures with vehicles based on the show’s characters, and playsets inspired by popular scenes from the show. Technology brings it all to life with fun sounds, phrases and songs to encourage pretend play and maximize fun.

The toys, available exclusively at Target, include DJ Train Trax & the Roll Train, a fun playset that gives kids the opportunity to groove along to music, help the characters dance on stage and even roll DJ Train Trax to light up his rainbow chimney while listening to sounds and phrases from the show. With Freddie’s Firehouse, kids can go on a rescue mission, race down the slide to answer calls or explore all the activities that the firehouse has to offer. And of course, don’t forget the characters themselves. Cory and his little sister Chrissy are toys that talk, sing songs and offer role-play fun and adventure all around Bumperton Hills. For more information,

www.citizennewspapergroup.com

THE TOYS, AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY AT TARGET, INCLUDE DJ TRAIN TRAX & THE ROLL TRAIN, A FUN PLAYSET THAT GIVES KIDS THE OPPORTUNITY TO GROOVE ALONG TO MUSIC, HELP THE CHARACTERS DANCE ON STAGE AND EVEN ROLL DJ TRAIN TRAX TO LIGHT UP HIS RAINBOW CHIMNEY WHILE LISTENING TO SOUNDS AND PHRASES FROM THE SHOW. visit vtechkids.com/corycarson.

• Draw and Paint: The next time kids sit down for arts and crafts, encourage them to draw portraits of their favorite characters or scenery from the show. Experiment with different supplies -from crayons and colored pencils to watercolors and clay. Then create a gallery for kids to display their artwork. And, visit Netflix Jr.’s YouTube channel for some fun D.I.Y. activities inspired by Go! Go! Cory Carson.

• Story Hour: It’s never too early to foster a love of reading, and you can help by selecting books associated with your child’s favorite television series. Spend time reading together (don’t forget the silly voices and character impressions to make it more engaging) and when your child is ready to do so, have them read these same books to you.

By creating new educational experiences for kids based on their favorite shows and characters, you can feel good knowing you’re making the most of your child’s screen time.

CITIZEN | Chicago Weekend | Week of Aug. 19, 2020

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EDUCATION

Prepping for a Successful School Year (StatePoint) Whether heading back to the classroom or back to a digital device this fall, it is important to be prepared. Get your children set up for academic success with the following resources and gear: • Comfortable workstation: A few considerations will improve ergonomics and comfort, for better focus when working at home.

Consider a height-adjustable table or desk as well as an adjustable chair in order to accommodate your growing child’s needs. If possible, select an area for your child to work that gets plenty of natural light. A good desk lamp is also essential.

• Math tools: Did you know that there are free math resources available online that can help to alleviate the challenges posed by remotelearning? Check out Casio’s learning site, available at CasioEducation.com/remote-learning, which provides math activities, YouTube videos, an online calculator and downloadable resources.

The brand also offers a variety of models of scientific and graphing calculators, providing students of all levels with the features they’ll need to make the grade.

• Headphones: With so many dis-

tractions that can derail a student’s attention, a good set of noise-canceling headphones can make all the difference.

• Music instruction: Give kids the tools they need to play music wherever and whenever they’d like. With the ultracompact LK-S250 keyboard, novices can easily learn to play favorite songs using the instrument’s Key Lighting system and library of built-in songs.

By connecting to the free Chordana Play app, they can take lessons further by mastering favorite tunes from downloaded MIDI files. The classcompliant USB port connects to any Mac, PC, iOS or Android device with no drivers needed.

• Functional fashion: The best accessories also serve a purpose. Look for a watch that has a range of features that help students stay on task.

Check out the Pro Trek line of watches. Its different alarm settings can be used to keep a schedule.

Be sure kids are equipped for a successful school year, no matter where or how their learning takes place.

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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.

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