Chicago Weekend Citizen 10-21-2020

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 Oct. 21, 2020

| Vol. 51 | No. 43 | www.citizennewspapergroup.com

CHICAGO WEEKEND

Illinois Department of Public Health Issues COVID-19 Halloween Festivities Guidance Page 2

A newly release study shows that fewer dentist nationwide were found to be COVID-19 Page 3

Hello Alice has joined forces with the NAACP to create the Black-owned Business Center Page 4

Mayor Lori L. Lightfoot joined business leaders and partners from the philanthropic community to announce the Together We Rise initiative. The goal of the initiative is to help in the economic recovery of those affected by COVID-19 in the Black and Latinx communities. Photo courtesy of Heidi Zeiger

NEW INITIATIVE SEEKS TO MAKE RECOVERY EQUITABLE Chicago Community Trust has announced a new initiative which is meant to assist those who have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 recover through equitable and just means. PAGE 2

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2 | CITIZEN | Chicago Weekend | Week of Oct. 21, 2020

NEWS briefly EDUCATION ZETA PHI BETA SORORITY, INCORPORATED ANNOUNCES LEADERS AS NOMINEES FOR HONORARY MEMBERSHIP Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., a 100-year-old historic women’s service organization, announced that Chaka Khan, GRAMMY™ award-winning music icon and philanthropist; Vivica A. Fox, award-winning actress, producer and entrepreneur; Archbishop Mary Floyd Palmer, the first African-American woman nondenominational archbishop in the United States; and Dr. Linda L. Singh, the first African-American and female adjutant general of the Maryland National Guard (retired) as 2020 honorary member candidates during the sorority’s Virtual Grand Boule held Oct. 3 – 4, 2020. They will be inducted into the sisterhood in November 2020.

Recently, Zeta released Wave 2 of its “In Our Voices” research study, which examines the issues that matter most to Black women and identifies opportunities for bridge-building with allies. Also, an upcoming virtual town hall will examine voter engagement on (Oct. 22). Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated was founded in 1920 on the campus of Howard University and is headquartered in Washington, D.C. For more information about the virtual townhall, and to download the “In Our Voices,” research study and “Get Out the Vote” toolkit, visit www.zphib1920.org.

HEALTH

ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUES COVID-19 HALLOWEEN FESTIVITIES GUIDANCE As we head into the holiday season, starting with Halloween, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is issuing guidance to help people celebrate safely as we continue to battle the COVID-19 pandemic. Guidelines include following the 3 W’s – Wash your hands. Watch your distance. Wear your mask.

“One of the hallmarks of holidays and celebrations is gathering with friends, family and loved ones,” said IDPH Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike. “We are still in a pandemic, and unfortunately, this year, that means the safest way to celebrate is to stay home and plan virtual gatherings. That said, IDPH recognizes that [there are] some who will choose to gather together anyway, and instead of denying that reality, we are issuing guidance and recommendations for safer ways to celebrate together in person. Remember, we know what our best tools are: wearing our masks, keeping our distance, limiting event sizes, washing your hands, and looking out for public health and each other.”

If you think you could have COVID-19 or have been exposed to someone who has COVID-19, do not participate in any in-person Halloween activities.

IDPH Halloween guidance can be found on the IDPH website at http://www.dph.illinois.gov/covid19/community-guidance/ halloween-guidance

LAW & POLITICS

UH LAW CENTER AND SMU DEDMAN SCHOOL OF LAW HOST BLACK LAWYERS MATTER CONFERENCE 2020 Lawmakers, leaders in legal education, and legal professionals serving in a variety of roles will gather for a day-long virtual symposium titled, “Black Lawyers Matter: Strategies to Enhance Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.” The event will be held via Zoom on Oct. 30. Co-conveners are the University of Houston Law Center and SMU Dedman School of Law. Topics throughout the conference include increasing Black enrollment in law schools; the role of historically Black law schools; the LSAT, socioeconomics and U.S. News & World Report; hiring for firms and corporate positions; and increasing diversity in law faculty hiring, the judiciary and judicial clerkships.

The Bracewell LLP Distinguished Lecture in Racial and Social Justice Keynote Speaker is David B. Wilkins, the Lester Kissel Professor of Law at Harvard Law School, vice dean for Global Initiatives on the Legal Profession, faculty director of the Center on the Legal Profession and the Center for Lawyers and the Professional Services Industry.

For registration information, visit https://www.law.uh.edu/blmc/

Damion Heron, head of Chicago Community Engagement for JP Morgan Chase, during the announcement of the Together We Rise initiative. JP Morgan Chase has committed to helping close the racial wealth gap with a number of programs geared towards helping Black and Latinx communities on the South and West sides of Chicago. Photo courtesy of Heidi Zeiger

New initiative seeks to make recovery equitable Continued from page 1

BY TIA CAROL JONES

Chicago Community Trust has announced a new initiative which is meant to assist those who have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 recover through equitable and just means.

Together We Rise is a more than $25 million initiative from Chicago Community Trust, along with philanthropic commitments and corporate commitments from PepsiCo and JP Morgan Chase.

The goal is to ensure communities that have felt the impact of COVID-19 worse, Black and Latinx communities, are able to recover economically, in hopes that they will become stronger and more resilient.

“There is no greater time than now for us to reimagine our future as we rebuild stronger by focusing on inclusive, resilient growth that places Black and Latinx communities, historically left behind, at the center of our recovery,” said Helene Gayle, president and CEO of Chicago Community Trust.

“As the region’s community foundation, we stand committed to working alongside diverse stakeholders to reimagine systems that perpetuate racial and ethnic wealth inequity.”

JP Morgan Chase has introduced a new program to help entrepreneurs in underserved areas gain access to coaching, technical assistance and capital. The goal is to provide more than 1,500 Black and Latinx small businesses with one-on-one mentorship and digital education to help them grow.

JP Morgan Chase also has committed to increasing homeownership among 3,000 Black and Latinx families in the Chicagoland area, by extending an additional $600 million in home lending to families in those communities throughout the next five years.

Damion Heron is the head of Chicago Community Engagement for JP Morgan Chase. Heron said JP Morgan Chase is making a $30 billion commitment to advancing racial equity and this announcement with Together We Rise, was just part of the broader announcement from the company.

Heron said JP Morgan Chase

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wanted to get involved in Together We Rise because it recognizes there is a racial wealth gap and some of the changes Chase is suggesting can close that gap and provide more opportunities for more people on the city’s South and West sides.

Heron said the process of deciding to make this commitment to communities in Chicago involved roundtable conversations with input and feedback with subject matter experts across the city, in partnership with foundation partners and the city of Chicago.

“What you’re seeing is the culmination of months of listening and gathering input and we brought that back to the senior most leaders within the firm and decided to make an investment worthy of this great city and the residents of the South and West sides,” he said.

According to Heron, the investments will help more South and West side homeowners afford homes and save money through refinancing, which translates into “money in their pockets at the end of the day.”

CITIZEN | Chicago Weekend | Week of Oct. 21, 2020

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NEWS

$7.1M grant to review opioid alternatives to treating sickle cell disease pain Researchers at the University of Illinois Chicago will lead a $7.1 million, five-year national study to determine the effectiveness of acupuncture and guided relaxation for people with chronic pain from sickle cell disease, or SCD. Ardith Doorenbos, a UIC professor of biobehavioral nursing science, will lead a team of researchers on the National Institutes of Health grant that is part of its Helping to End Addiction Long-term Initiative, or NIH HEAL. The initiative aims to improve prevention and treatment strategies for opioid misuse and addiction and to enhance pain management.

“The opioid crisis in the U.S. is very severe, and some states have had more deaths from opioid overdoses than from car accidents. We’re trying to do what we can to reduce opioid use in the sickle cell disease population who have high pain levels and opioid use. If we can find ways to manage their pain and get them off opioids, it’s going to be fabulous,” Doorenbos said.

Sickle cell disease affects as many as 100,000 people in the U.S., and at least 20 million worldwide, according to researchers. The disease is an inherited defect of the hemoglo-

bin that causes the red blood cells to become crescent-shaped. These cells can lyse and obstruct small blood vessels, depriving the body’s tissues of oxygen. The disease can cause extreme pain and damage the lungs, heart, kidneys and liver. Stroke and other complications can be life-threatening. In the U.S., the genetic disorder strikes mainly African Americans. Dr. Robert Molokie, UIC assistant clinical professor of medicine, and co-principal investigator on the project explained there are many things that can cause issues and trigger a pain crisis for those with SCD, including stress and even changes in the weather.

Pain is SCD’s hallmark symptom and the leading cause of almost 200,000 annual emergency department admissions. It is also the leading cause of hospitalization for those with SCD, with an estimated $2.4 billion in annual U.S. health care costs, according to the American Journal Hematology. Pain, both acute and chronic that is so severe that it requires opioids to attempt to keep it to tolerable levels, is a constant companion to those living with SCD. Doorenbos and her team will conduct a

hybrid type 1 effectiveness implementation trial to assess the effectiveness of acupuncture and guided relaxation on people with SCD while observing and gathering information on implementation in three health systems: University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System, University of Florida Health and Duke University Health Systems. Each serves a large population with SCD and uses EPIC as their electronic health record, which will facilitate data gathering and analysis.

For the study, 360 SCD patients will receive acupuncture twice a week for five weeks. Judy Schlaeger, associate professor in the UIC Department of Human Development Nursing Science, who developed an SCD treatment plan, determined that the time frame allows for a successful impact on pain. Also, patients will be asked to use guided relaxation techniques at least once a day. These techniques, which patients access via smartphone or computer, were developed by Miriam Ezenwa, a University of Florida associate professor in biobehavioral nursing science. Both acupuncture and guided medication were proven effective in pilot stud-

ies on SCD pain management.

One aim of the study is to discover which non-pharmacological pain management interventions work best for SCD patients and how to make these treatments regular practice at the three research health systems involved in the study.

Because SCD is genetic, many patients are diagnosed in childhood or young adulthood. Managing their pain is critical to their development.

“What makes the pain so problematic is it causes a lot of missed school days. If we don’t manage the pain, that can affect their education,” said Doorenbos, who added that the pain often continues to impact their working life as adults.

“If we can better manage the pain, we could impact the quality of life and change the possibilities for SCD patients. They can have a plan for activities and have a more productive work situation. Pain management can change so many things in their life,” Doorenbos said.

The researchers will be working with patients with sickle cell disease in the fall of 2021, pending additional approvals from the UIC Institutional Review Board.

A newly release study shows that fewer dentist nationwide were found to be COVID-19 Although assumed to be at high risk for COVID-19, fewer than one percent of dentists nationwide were found to be COVID-19 positive, according to a first-of-its-kind report in the U.S. based on data collected in June 2020.

The result is far below that of other health professionals in the U.S. In addition, 99 percent of dentists are using enhanced infection control procedures such as screening protocols and enhanced disinfection practices when treating patients. The report, published online ahead of print by The Journal of the American Dental Association, is the first large-scale collection and publication of U.S. dentists’ infection rates and infection control practices related to COVID-19.

“This is very good news for dentists and patients,” said American Dental Association (ADA) Science and Research Institute Chief Executive Officer Marcelo Araujo, D.D.S., M.S., Ph.D., the senior author of the report.

“This means that what dentists are doing – heightened infection control and increased attention to patient and dental team safety – is working.”

Dr. Araujo added that the authors of the report, researchers from the

ADA Science and Research Institute and Health Policy Institute based in Chicago, are continuing to collect and will report infection rate data on dentists and have added hygienists to their ongoing survey, in collaboration with the American Dental Hygienists Association.

This report focused on nearly 2,200 dentists in June, finding that 82 percent of dentists were asymptomatic for one month prior to the survey and 16.6 percent reported getting a COVID-19 test. Those who tested positive were not clustered in any particular geographic region. Among those not tested, less than one percent (0.32) were given a probable COVID-19 diagnosis by a physician. The authors weighted the results to align with U.S. dentists demographically and geographically and found an estimated prevalence of less than one percent (0.9) with a margin of error of 0.5 percent.

“Understanding the risks associated with COVID-19 transmission in the dental setting is critical to improving patient and dental team safety,” said Dr. Araujo. “This study brings us another step forward in understanding what works. Dentists

are following ADA and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance, and it’s helping to keep the dental team and their patients as safe as possible.”

In March, The New York Times listed dentistry as one of the professions at highest risk of COVID-19 based on data from O*NET, a database maintained by the U.S. Department of Labor. It was presumed that virus transmission could occur because of the close proximity between dental professionals and patients and because many dental procedures generate aerosols that may contain viral particles from infected individuals.

This newly-published report, with the extremely low rate of COVID-19 infection among dentists, supports the effectiveness of the recommendations from the CDC and ADA in preventing virus transmission.

The ADA’s guidance calls for the highest level of personal protective equipment (PPE) available—masks, goggles and face shields. The ADA’s interim guidance also calls for the use of rubber dams and high velocity suction whenever possible and hand scaling when cleaning teeth rather www.citizennewspapergroup.com

Since the COVID-19 Pandemic fewer people are comfortable with making their annual routine appoints with their Dentist or other physicians. A recent report found that the COVID-19 Rate Among Dentists is Less Than 1 Percent which is a sure sign that Dentists are taking proper measure to avoid the spread of the disease. Photo credit: Adobe Stock

than using ultrasonic scaling to minimize aerosols.

“In light of the revelations from this groundbreaking ADA study, there is no better time than now to encourage patients to schedule a visit,” adds Illinois State Dental Society President Dr. Alice Boghosian.

“Resuming regular dental visits is important because treatment, as well as prevention of cavities and other issues, helps keep people healthy.”

“The fact that dentistry was named one of the most at-risk professions for infection, but has a far lower prevalence of infection compared to other health professions, is not a coincidence,” said Chief Economist

and Vice President of the ADA Health Policy Institute Marko Vujicic, Ph.D. “The profession has taken this issue extremely seriously, and it shows.

We will continue to track the rate of COVID-19 among dentists and other facets of the pandemic affecting dentistry so it can help inform the dental profession and other industries as well.”

The report is set to be presented at the ADA FDC Virtual Connect Conference, a joint meeting of the ADA and Florida Dental Association, held Oct. 15-17. To request an advanced copy of the report, contact mediarelations@ada.org. For more information on COVID-19 and dental visits, visit MouthHealthy.org.

4 | CITIZEN | Chicago Weekend | Week of Oct. 21, 2020

BUSINESS

Hundreds Of Companies Join Forces, Make Time For Workers To Vote In 2020 Election - A coalition of U.S. companies representing more than 2 million workers has come together for a nonpartisan movement called Time to Vote. The goal is to increase voter participation in the Nov. 3, 2020 general election.

There is no shortage of hurdles to voting, but no one should have to choose between earning a paycheck and casting a ballot. Time to Vote companies have an important role in supporting their employees’ ability to make sure they are registered to vote and have time to study their ballots and perform their civic duty.

By joining Time to Vote, CEOs and business owners commit to making accommodations for workers that help enable them to vote, such as paid time off on Election Day, making Election Day a day without meetings or

BY JOINING TIME TO VOTE, CEOS AND BUSINESS OWNERS COMMIT TO MAKING ACCOMMODATIONS FOR WORKERS THAT HELP ENABLE THEM TO VOTE, SUCH AS PAID TIME OFF ON ELECTION DAY, MAKING ELECTION DAY A DAY WITHOUT MEETINGS OR PROVIDING RESOURCES FOR MAIL-IN BALLOTS AND EARLY VOTING. TIME TO VOTE IS NONPARTISAN AND THERE IS NO COST FOR COMPANIES TO JOIN. providing resources for mail-in ballots and early voting. Time to Vote is nonpartisan and there is no cost for companies to join.

To date, 383 companies employing workers in every state in the country have signed up for Time to Vote. Time to Vote members include Best Buy, DICK’S Sporting Goods, Farmers Insurance, Gap Inc., Glossier Inc., Hewlett Packard Enterprise, JPMorgan Chase & Co., Kaiser Permanente, Levi Strauss & Co., Lyft, PayPal, Patagonia, REI Co-op, Target,

VF Corporation, Walmart, Warby Parker and hundreds more.

“When the business community comes together to take a stand on issues that affect all Americans, it sends a powerful message,” said Michael Waldman, president of the Brennan Center for Justice, a leading nonpartisan voice on voting rights and elections. “Ultimately, a culture shift will meaningfully boost voter participation, and business leaders can help drive that shift.”

The Time to Vote movement began ahead of the 2018 midterm elections, when 411 companies representing all 50 states and a variety of industries joined. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 53% of eligible voters cast ballots. This was the highest turnout for a U.S. midterm in four decades. But 53% is not enough.

This year, the Time to Vote movement aims to more than double in size and again contribute to an increase in voter participation. Even with local election offices offering a variety of ways for citizens to vote, including mail-in ballots and early voting, time to vote and taking the time to learn what’s on the ballot can still be an issue for many American workers.

Businesses interested in joining Time to Vote can visit maketimetovote.org.

NAACP Announce A Long-Term Partnership To Deploy Over Four Million Dollars In Grants And Resources Through The Black-Owned Business Center As part of a continued commitment to uplift New Majorityowned small businesses across the United States, Hello Alice has joined forces with the NAACP to create the Black-owned Business Center to ensure the growth and advancement of small business owners.

The center will deploy over $4 million USD in grants to Blackowned small businesses and provide mentorship to all who join. In addition to expanding economic opportunity for all Black and New Majority-owned businesses, all applicants will have full access to resources available on the Hello Alice platform, which includes small business how-to-guides, mentorship, digital support communities, and additional funding opportunities.

Owners can access these dedicated resources and apply for the grant series by visiting blackbiz.helloalice. com.

This partnership reinforces the collective mission to secure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights for all persons, and also acknowledges that by percentage, Black women are the fastest growing group of entrepreneurs in the United States.

Additionally, research proves that the pandemic’s impact has significantly

disproportionately hurt Blackowned small businesses, making this commitment critical for ensuring the recovery and overall prosperity of America’s Black small business community.

“This is a powerful partnership that will help alleviate the most vexing challenges our entrepreneurs face when starting and growing a business,” said Derrick Johnson, president and CEO of the NAACP. “Specifically, the initiative will help provide access to capital and address the implicit bias in capital decisions.

We are excited to bring together thousands of Black entrepreneurs in collaboration with Hello Alice.”

In addition to providing funding access through the grants program, the initiative will also engage small business owners and policymakers on priority issues critical to small business growth ahead of the 2020 presidential election through Hello Alice x NAACP’s Vote Small Biz platform, which seeks to elevate the collective opinions on what owners

need to be successful in the next four years. Prompting owners to advocate, lead and learn, this platform will help the 93% of small business owners who vote to make their voices heard this election season. From supporting employees with time to vote -- to speaking up about the policies that matter to their business -- the platform gathers everything needed to ensure the #SmallBizVote rings loud this year.

“Investing in Black businesses and expanding and increasing access and opportunity is essential for the long term prosperity of the New Majority small business community,” said Elizabeth Gore, co-founder of Hello Alice. “The NAACP and Hello Alice are investing in the fastest growing group of entrepreneurs in this country. Through the Black-Owned Business Center, we must ensure Business For All through access to capital, mentors and resources.”

In August, Hello Alice released their “Impact of COVID-19 on Black Business Owners” data report, www.citizennewspapergroup.com

THE CENTER WILL DEPLOY OVER $4 MILLION USD IN GRANTS TO BLACK-OWNED SMALL BUSINESSES AND PROVIDE MENTORSHIP TO ALL WHO JOIN. IN ADDITION TO EXPANDING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL BLACK AND NEW MAJORITY-OWNED BUSINESSES, ALL APPLICANTS WILL HAVE FULL ACCESS TO RESOURCES AVAILABLE ON THE HELLO ALICE PLATFORM, WHICH INCLUDES SMALL BUSINESS HOW-TO-GUIDES, MENTORSHIP, DIGITAL SUPPORT COMMUNITIES, AND ADDITIONAL FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES. OWNERS CAN ACCESS THESE DEDICATED RESOURCES AND APPLY FOR THE GRANT SERIES BY VISITING BLACKBIZ.HELLOALICE.COM. uncovering significant inequities faced by Black-owned small businesses during the pandemic. To better understand Black business owners’ current needs and to identify opportunities to support, Hello Alice collected and compiled demographic information, funding requirements, and operational challenges from 28,985+ Black owners, who applied for COVID-19 Business for All Emergency Grants. The resulting data report highlights: * 69% of Black applicants for COVID-19 Business for All Emergency Grants identified as women * 92% of Black entrepreneurs called on the government to step up and give them access to more

emergency grants, ranging from $10k-$25k. * Grants of that size would be put toward many things, including lost sales, as 68% of Black entrepreneurs said that was their biggest hurdle during this time of social distancing. * Owners did not anticipate COVID-19 affecting their businesses for more than four months.

Additionally, the Payment Protection Program (PPP) was designed to help owners for only two and a half months when it was launched.

Visit Hello Alice’s Black Owned Business Resource Center at http:// blackbiz.helloalice.com to apply for the grant series and to access a growing resource of networks and opportunities.

CITIZEN | Chicago Weekend | Week of Oct. 21, 2020

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NEWS CityXones finds your early voting place wherever you are

Dr. Eric Whitaker is the co-founder of doctor-founded, Black-led Zing Health, a startup insurance company with a focus on improving health outcomes for Black and Brown communities. It provides Medicare Advantage HMO plans. Photo courtesy of Dr. Eric Whitaker

Black-led insurance company provides Medicare option

BY TIA CAROL JONES Open enrollment lasts until Tuesday, Dec. 15. Zing Health, a doctor-founded startup insurance company, is offering Medicare Advantage HMO plans.

Dr. Eric Whitaker is co-founder of Blackled Zing Health. Its goal is to provide access to underserved seniors in Black and Brown communities. Zing Health was founded in 2019 by Whitaker and Ken Alleyne.

“Because we’re doctor-founded, we put the doctor and the patient back into the middle of the equation,” Whitaker said.

Whitaker said, because of the background of the founders of Zing, there has been a lot of work around the social determinants of health – transporta-tion, education and other things that are important that make a difference to the health of people that go beyond clinical care. It also includes preventative services, dental and vision.

“Traditional Medicare, doesn’t include dental, it doesn’t include vision, it doesn’t include transportation,” he said. “When you do Medicare Advantage, it opens the door to a whole host of supplemental services that aren’t available, which we think are important. We’ve designed this plan so that the benefits can be used.”

Whitaker said in some plans, people have the benefits, but they are hard to use.

With the Medicare Advantage plan offered through Zing Health, there is no co-pay for dental services and first dollar coverage up to $2,500.

“We want people to use our services because at the end of the day, we want communities of color to be healthier,” he said. “I’ve wanted to do work to improve the health of Black communities, particularly Black men, my entire career.”

This is the third insurance company venture for Whitaker. He said he thought he would be able to improve the health of Black communities by working with the government and with not-for-profits.

He said a reliance on philanthropy and on government grants, put limits on what he could get done. He said, moving into The for- profit sector, being able to take his experience and viewpoints,

and using them to access capital to develop a new product and new company, make a big impact.

“This is the third go-round. Every time I’ve started a company with a group of people, I’ve learned some things. This is the culmination of what I’ve learned from the last two insurance companies that I’ve been a part of starting,” he said.

Whitaker said he has been intentional about using the business to build econom-ic development in Black and Brown com-munities. He said it is important to have a Black-led, doctorfounded insurance company to deal with health disparities, especially in the midst of a pandemic.

“A lot of large companies stay away from the population that I’m seeking,” he said.

Whitaker said, because it was a startup, they had to start from scratch and the goal for the investors is to create Black wealth. He said there have been a lot of hard-learned lessons, but it was worth it.

“I wouldn’t be able to build this company the way we have without having had those hard lessons from the previous two,” he said.

Zing Health is moving into Michigan and Indiana in January 2021, and has ambitions of expanding into Missouri, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Ohio in January 2022.

“We’re growing rapidly. It would be nice if we could have an impact on Cook County. I want to have an impact on Black and Brown communities through-out the Midwest, if not the nation,” he said. “You have to be properly capi-talized to do that. You have to have a team that knows how to scale and take the systems you did on one little county last year and be able to expand it to 12 counties in 2021 and many more coun-ties after that. We want to be a company, when you mention Aetna, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois or Humana, that Zing is right in the mix.”

For more information on Zing Health, visit www.myzinghealth.com.

CityXones, LLC, a software company that provides hyperlocal and community information has launched an easy online early voting product.

It uses your real-time location, anywhere in Cook County, to let you immediately find a polling place or official ballot drop-off location near you at any time.

Now, you don’t need to plan to vote early. You can vote whenever it is convenient for you by simply using the CityXones tool on your computer, tablet or mobile phone.

CityXones brings together the most trusted local and community news, information and data into a format that is easy for users to incorporate into their daily lives. CityXones has previously partnered with Crain’s Chicago Business and The Hyde Park Herald on several local journalism projects, and with an events company for an interactive community experience. This is the first purely technology driven local product for the company.

“There is a lot of information out there, but it can be timeconsuming and unrealistic for the average person to find it, synthesize it and use it effectively in their daily lives,” says Marisa Bryce the CoFounder and new CEO of CityXones. “The goal is to get local users the information they need, when they need it and in a way they can immediately use it.

Voting is fundamental to our communities. Voting early should be made as easy as possible.”

The Knight Foundation notes 100MM Americans still don’t vote. There are many reasons why. Some include apathy, disillusionment or lack of a connection to any of the candidates. Another reason? It isn’t convenient.

According to the Pew Research Center, only about 50% of registered voters expect that voting in the November 2020 election will be easy. The coronavirus, concerns about mail-in voting and the anticipated strong voter turnout are expected to make this election season more chaotic and, likely less convenient, than usual.

Lack of convenience isn’t new.

Juggling schedules can affect everyone including professionals, parents, essential workers or students. For example, as reported by Vox, only about 46% of those between 18-29 vote. A

contributing factor includes conflicting or unstable school or work schedules.

“Our students want to be civically active,” says Marla Krause, the Faculty Advisor for The DePaulia at DePaul University and an early adopter of CityXones. “They understand the importance of voting and how it directly impacts their future.

But, the nature of student life means they often have time limitations; they have paid jobs and internships on top of their school course load. We wanted to make sure those limitations didn’t keep them from voting by giving them the ability to vote whenever they found some free time.”

The CityXones product lets early voting fit neatly into anyone’s ever-changing schedule.

“Our lives can get busy or unpredictable,” says Bryce. “We want to ensure that voting doesn’t fall off your “To-Do” list. Now you can vote any time you have an opening in your day. If you are at your home, workplace, school, gym, out running errands or just somewhere in between, you can quickly, and even spontaneously, work early voting into your day.”

Find your early polling place here. You can also go to www.cityxones.com and click on the Early Voting Cook County tab. The product will show you how to turn on your real-time settings and also gives quick access to some of Cook County’s other voting information.

Marillac St. Vincent Family Services Hosts 13th Annual Beacon of Hope: A Virtual Event on October 23 Emceed by NBC5 Chicago’s LeeAnn Trotter Marillac St. Vincent Family Services’13th Annual Beacon of Hope is a celebration and benefit for Marillac St. Vincent Family Services (MSV), a comprehensive human services organization serving Chicago communities since 1914. The event will be held virtually on Friday, October 23 from noon-1 pm.

This year, the Beacon of Hope is presented by sponsors Vince and Pat Foglia and will honor the 2020 MSV Outstanding Partner Awardees, The Greater Chicago Food Depository (GCFD), with an award acceptance by Kate Maehr, GCFD Executive Director and CEO. The theme of this year’s Beacon of Hope event is hunger and food insecurity. MSV Reports a 43 percent increase in first-time visits by guests in their two food pantries since March, while GCFD has seen 120 percent more people in need in recent weeks, compared to January 2020.

The Beacon of Hope event will include a panel discussion on hunger and food insecurity moderated by NBC5 Chicago’s LeeAnn Trotter, with guest panelists Kate Maehr, and MSV President and CEO, Peter Beale-DelVecchio.

“We are excited about this year’s event and are

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thankful to LeeAnn Trotter for giving her time to help make this impactful and special,” said BealeDelVecchio. “Since we cannot meet in-person, we pivoted to a virtual format that will honor an important partner, The Greater Chicago Food Depository.”

MSV and GCFD’s partnership, which goes back 40 years, has strengthened in response to the Coronavirus, with MSV among the 75% of GCFD’s network of community-based partners to remain open throughout the pandemic. GCFD has offered MSV’s pantries practical guidance, removed all fees on purchased food, provided emergency food boxes for MSV pantry guests, and supported the organization through a grant to offset new and emerging operation costs.

The event will also premiere a short video showcasing the organization’s mission in action and stories from the community members MSV serves. To register for this FREE event go to http://beaconofhopeluncheon.org, scroll to the tickets and sponsorships form at the bottom of the page, and register as an individual or an organization.

6 | CITIZEN | Chicago Weekend | Week of Oct. 21, 2020

NEWS

Illinois Gaming Board Expected to Meet In The Coming Days To Grant a Southland Town A Gaming License Village Of Matteson Primed And Ready For Stretch Drive Of Pursuit Of Southland Gaming License Sheila Chalmers-Currin- Village President of Matteson, IL and the Matteson Village Board of Trustees are expressing joy concerning the monumental improvements made to the town as they prepares to present their case to the Illinois Gaming Board in hopes of landing the South Suburban Cook Gaming license.

The Illinois Gaming Board is expected to meet soon to select a southland town to granted an Illinois Gaming License.

Last fall, the Village administration was joined by South Suburban Development and representatives of The Choctaw Nation as they entered the offices of the Illinois Gaming Board to officially submit the plans for a casino in Matteson. This followed the action of the Matteson Village Board of Trustees who unanimously approved the plans for a casino in Matteson. The casino plan was approved 6-0 by the Village Board. “We felt the team led by the South Suburban Development and Choctaw Nation provided an excellent combination of experience, vision, community engagement, and a financially feasible plan” noted the Village President.

The 200,000 member Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma is the third largest federally recognized Indian tribe in the U.S. and the operator of 22 casinos, 10,000 slot machines, 35 food and beverage venues, and nearly 1,000 hotel rooms.

Janie Dillard, the tribe’s senior executive officer in charge of its multiple businesses said, “We’re honored with the chance to match our team’s experience with the community of Matteson and to create jobs and opportunity across the south suburbs.” Choctaw’s casino enterprise is one of the largest gaming enterprises in the world led primarily by female executives.

“I want to thank the Village Board of Trustees for their full support for a casino. This isn’t just about the Village of Matteson, but it’s also about the entire Southland region.

We can now seriously discuss the possibilities of taking a portion of our gaming revenues to address the severe shortage of screening and preventive care in the Southland,” says Village President Chalmers-Currin.

The casino will be deeply integrated within the Market Square Crossing (MSC) at the northeast corner of Lincoln Highway and Cicero Avenue in Matteson, featuring 2,000 gaming positions, a high-end restaurant, food hall, a 200room hotel and a 36,000 square foot convention space available for concerts, banquets and community use.

Community engagement and partnerships with minority business enterprises (MBE) will be a cornerstone of this casino development. The team has already partnered with two MBE firms to operate an indoor golf facility and a family entertainment facility adjacent to the casino in the MSC development. The upscale food hall will include venues operated by local MBE eateries. The casino will also include a historical exhibit chronicling the multi-cultural history of Matteson, home of the 10th Governor of Illinois, Joel Matteson. The infusion of the casino into the MSC creates another opportunity as a destination for the south suburban region where the former Lincoln Mall once stood.

The development will resonate with many Chicagoans who were regulars at the former Lincoln Mall during its glory days and capture new memories for years to come with the entertainment and sporting that this Urban Renewal project brings.

Much of Village President Chalmers-Currin’s efforts have been finding a resolve to the former Lincoln Mall site.

In 2018, the Village President and the Village Board were joined by the master developer of the site, The Lord Companies LLC, U.S. Congresswoman Robin Kelly, Illinois State Senator Michael Hastings, Illinois State Representative Debbie Meyers-Martin, Community Leaders and residents to announce the major new development plans for the former Lincoln Mall site.

Photo provided by Village of Matteson

The Village of Matteson owns the 60-acre site in which the master developer, The Lord Companies, LLC of Chicago created a flexible development plan with 14 lots positioned throughout the four-quadrant framework sectioned by roadways, bike, and walking paths. The redevelopment plan outlines housing units (condominiums) built into four-story buildings with commercial use at the ground levels. The redevelopment plan also calls for entertainment uses such as outdoor theater performance, concerts as well as indoor/outdoor sports tournaments. A master redevelopment plan was a top priority of Village President Chalmers-Currin upon being sworn into office in May of 2017, Market Square Crossing will be a diverse form of economic development that will bolster the viability of not only Matteson and the Chicago Southland.

Village President Chalmers-Currin stated,” There is no doubt that our proposed site is the absolute best location in the southern Cook County for this project. It borders neighboring Will County and offers the total convenience of motorist through its unique access to I-57 and I-80”.

Keith Lord added, “A casino will be a wonderful addition to Market Square Crossing. Market Square Crossing is becoming a true community revitalization development with retail, community, sports/recreation and residential components. It will draw from Matteson, the entire south side and from other states. The casino will be an amenity, draw and community enhancement. Imagine coming with your athlete to Market Square Crossing for a multi-state high school sports tournament weekend. When your kids are at player only meetings, or mandatory “lights out”, the opportunity to have an adult entertainment option is a huge benefit. The casino will also add jobs, and tax income to help the Village long term.”

The proposed location of the casino site is accessible from two access points, Lincoln Highway and Cicero Avenue into Matteson off Interstate 57. Matteson is centrally located in the southern suburbs and 30 minutes away from other IL and competing casinos. The project is near other destination entertainment venues such as the Hollywood Amphitheater, Olympia Fields Golf Country Club, and Governor State Performance Theater, creating a hub for entertainment and a destination in the south suburban region.

The Village of Matteson has been experiencing an economic boom of sorts in its quest to change the economic landscape of the town. Earlier this summer, Village President ChalmersCurrin, Governor JB Pritzker, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and Amazon representatives announced the giant distribution company would launch a new state-of-the-art fulfillment center in Matteson that will create more than 1,000 new, fulltime jobs, with industry-leading pay and comprehensive benefits starting on day one. This fulfillment center in Matteson will be the first of two facilities located in Cook County to feature Amazon’s innovative robotics

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technology.

“The Village of Matteson is thrilled to welcome Amazon to our town. As a global leader of the rapidly growing distribution industry Amazon will now have access to our exceptional regional workforce, a very vibrant business climate and our continuing commitment to attract diverse forms of economic development. This particular project is clearly an economic engine that will attract hundreds of jobs to our town.” said Matteson Village President Sheila Chalmers-Currin.

It has been nearly a decade since the Village of Matteson has had its own full-scale grocery store. However, in 2018 the Village President and the Village Board of Trustees announced that Pete’s Fresh grocery store will locate and renovate the former Dominick's store on Lincoln Highway. The grocer is scheduled to open later this year!

When the Sam’s Club left the community, the Village board was bombarded with various media reports concerning the closing of the store. But the Village President refused to take “NO” for an answer. The Village President directed her team to get Sam’s Club back to the table. It was then after very intense negotiations that administration convinced Sam’s Club to not only return to the Village of Matteson but return with a more modern and diverse approach to doing business with an ecommerce facility. The Village of Matteson and Sam’s Club jointly announced the all new Sam’s Club E-Commerce Distribution Center that serves a 200-mile radius from the center to serve online shoppers. A year after the announcement of the new facility, a 125,000 sq. ft. expansion into the adjacent former Walmart building grew their operations and added more jobs to the community.

In addition, the Village has attracted other logistical companies and large expansions that are adding to the economic growth of the Village. But, not only are businesses finding Matteson attractive, so are individuals looking to purchase their first or second home. “It is extremely encouraging to know that there is a high volume of residents throughout Cook County who desire to reside in the Village of Matteson, stated Village President Chalmers-Currin. Just north of the Matteson Village Hall, the Village experienced the completion of a 300 single family and multi-residential project that was built ahead of schedule with a waiting list earlier this year. Currently, two other residential developers are building in the community as well as several other developers who have expressed interest in building more residential development in the community.

These developments with more on the horizon, promote a sense of pride throughout the south suburban communities by displaying opportunities to rebuild what was lost. The south suburban region can begin flourish into vibrant communities with more to offer through revenue sharing that will help build communities. These efforts combined with the casino places Matteson in a very unique position to qualify for a South Suburban Gaming License.

CITIZEN | Chicago Weekend | Week of Oct. 21, 2020

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7

NEWS

Don’t Risk A Ticket. Avoid Parking In Spots Reserved For People With Disabilities NAPSI — In the harried competition for close-in spots, normally courteous drivers engage in all kinds of parking taboos, many involving the use of parking spaces designated for the more than 30 million Americans with mobility-impairing disabilities. Fortunately, there are people doing something about it and you can help.

Who’s Doing What Through the nonprofit Accessible Parking Coalition (APC), established by the International Parking and Mobility Institute, a national effort is underway to eliminate disabled placard abuse and make accessible parking more accessible.

What You Can Do Here are seven reminders for every driver: 1. Remember that marked accessible

parking spots are for people with disabilities (the term “handicapped” is outdated and offensive to many).

2. Unless authorized, never park in an accessible parking space—not even for a minute.

3. Never infringe on van-accessible parking spaces, which are designed for ramp- or lift-equipped vehicles. They are marked by signs that say, “Van Accessible” with the international symbol for accessibility. Many drivers using wheelchairs have nightmarish examples of waiting hours for the owners of a car parked too close to return so they could get in their vehicle.

4. Never park, block or leave a shopping cart in the cross-hatched, access aisle zones next to accessible parking spots.

5. Don’t borrow others’ disabled parking placards or use yours after it has expired or is no longer truly needed.

6. Follow the rules, but don’t be a park-

ing vigilante. If you suspect illegal use of a spot, take a photo of the license plate and contact local law enforcement.

7. Remember that not all disabilities that affect mobility are apparent. Don’t assume someone is parking in an accessible spot illegally. A person with a respiratory or other ailment that makes walking difficult, for example, may be entitled to a disabled placard.

Eighty percent of people with parking placards agree accessible parking fraud is widespread. Disabled placard abuse and illegal use of accessible parking spaces are crimes that carry penalties. Many jurisdictions are cracking down, increasing fines—some more than $1,000 per violation—and setting up sting operations to catch offenders.

For further facts, news and advice on this topic, visit www.accessibleparkingcoalition.org.

People with disabilities need access to parking to lead an independent life, a national survey found.

Lonely Planet Announces 2nd Edition Of Bestselling Ultimate Travel List Book Twenty-nine of the world’s best travel experiences are in the United States, according to leading global travel authority Lonely Planet’s Ultimate Travel List released recently.

Lonely Planet’s Ultimate Travel List is the 2nd edition of the travel powerhouse’s bestselling coffee table book. It’s the definitive wish-list of the 500 most thrilling, memorable and interesting travel experiences in the world – ranked in order of brilliance.

“We’ve all got a list of places that we want to see for ourselves: places friends have enthused about, places we’ve read about, dreamed about.

This is our list,” says Lonely Planet.

The second edition adds more than 200 new destinations. According to Lonely Planet, the experiences and destinations are “a mix of knock-out new openings, sights that have upped their game, or places more relevant to the way we travel now.”

“We also changed the way we calculated the list,” says Lonely Planet’s VP of Publishing Piers Pickard. “For this edition, we awarded extra points to destinations and attractions that are managing tourism sustainably.”

The Top 10 travel experiences on Lonely Planet’s Ultimate Travel List 2nd edition are: Petra, Jordan – Channel your inner adventurer and explore the enigmatic “lost city.”

The Galápagos Islands – See the islands that changed the course of science.

Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park,

Australia – Take life lessons from the traditional owners of world’s most dramatic rock.

Okavango Delta, Botswana – Experience slow travel on the sprawling flooded ecosystem.

Yellowstone National Park, USA – Sniff out geysers and grizzlies in the world’s largest geothermal area.

Lake Bled, Slovenia – Emulate erstwhile pilgrims by journeying to the planet’s most photogenic lake.

Iguazú Falls, Argentina-Brazil – Marvel at the astounding power and furious force of this natural wonder.

Temples of Angkor, Cambodia – Find nirvana at a sprawling monument to Hindu devotion.

Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia – With clouds above and clouds below, strike out on the salt of the earth.

Annapurna Circuit, Nepal – Take a classic Nepalese teahouse trek.

There’s a decidedly outdoorsy flavor to Lonely Planet’s list, with nine National Parks included — and three falling inside the overall top 20; Yellowstone National Park (#5), Grand Canyon National Park (#13) and Yosemite National Park (#20).

Also featuring heavily in the list is a fantastic array of cultural and art institutions including the highest new U.S. entry onto the list: The National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C. Lonely Planet also lists The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, the Art Institute of Chicago and the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum

amongst the world’s must-do cultural experiences.

How did Lonely Planet rank the 500 best places in the world?

The long list was compiled from all the highlights found in every Lonely Planet guidebook over the years. Each attraction and sight recommended by Lonely Planet authors was included, before being whittled down to a shortlist. Everyone in the Lonely Planet community was then asked to vote on their 20 top travel experiences. With hundreds of votes cast, they ended up with a score for each entry and a definitive ranked list of the top 500 places to see around the world.

Did you take into account those places managing tourism sustainably?

During the scoring process, Lonely Planet used the Sustainable Destinations Top 100 list and cross referenced the site or destination against it. If it was recognized on that forum, the nomination received bonus points. Additionally, Lonely Planet maintains an in-house list of over-touristed places and sites and any places on that list had a percentage subtracted from their total.

“After seven months of staying at home, now’s the perfect time to start thinking about where and how to travel once normality returns,” Pickard said. “In putting together this book, we were excited by changes in both the ‘where’ and the ‘how’. We added 200 new entries into our list www.citizennewspapergroup.com

of the world’s Top 500. And we were both surprised and reassured by just how many of the Top 500 are working hard to create more sustainable visitor experiences.”

In addition, Lonely Planet will be giving users of its travel app Guides

by Lonely Planet access to free destination content to over 100 locations featured on Lonely Planet’s Ultimate Travel List. Guides by Lonely Planet is available for download on iOS and Android. For more information, visit www.lonelyplanet.com/guides.

8 | CITIZEN | Chicago Weekend | Week of Oct. 21, 2020

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CITIZEN | Chicago Weekend | Week of Oct. 21, 2020

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9

ENTERTAINMENT

Youtube Announces New Original Content Slate Focused On Racial Justice, Amplifying Black Voices And Elevating Black Culture YouTube recently announced a global slate of new and returning projects, dedicated to amplifying Black voices. The announced titles continue YouTube’s long-standing commitment to celebrate a broad and diverse set of perspectives on its platform. This includes new projects that have come directly out of the recently announced $100M #YouTubeBlack Voices Fund, including a documentary series from Patrisse Cullors, co-founder of Black Lives Matter, and a HBCU Homecoming (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) livestream special.

“YouTube is committed to spotlighting community-driven storytelling and the important issues that people of color and other marginalized communities face everyday,” said Susanne Daniels, global head of original content for YouTube Originals.

“Now more than ever, it’s essential that we develop, support, and elevate content that is created by and for the Black community.”

“Race has never been an easy issue to confront, but the events over the last few months have opened up doors of dialogue and action that had once seemed closed,” says Malik Ducard, YouTube’s vice president, content partnerships. “Across YouTube, we have a tremendous opportunity and responsibility to contribute to these conversations about racial justice in a meaningful way. Through our $100 million content fund and other initiatives, we are continuing the important work of amplifying Black voices, making YouTube a better place for Black creators, educating people on the diversity of the Black experience, and centering Black people as the messengers of their own stories.

The #YouTubeBlack Voices Fund is a $100M fund dedicated to amplifying and developing the voices of Black creators and artists and their stories. Over the next three years, this global fund will be used to acquire and produce YouTube Originals programming, and to directly support Black creators and artists to help them thrive on YouTube.

Here are the new and returning YouTube Originals from the fund: Resist - Series premieres October 2020 This 12 episode documentary series follows the grassroots work of multicultural/intersectional organizations fighting the Los Angeles county’s $3.5 billion jail expansion plan in 2018 and examines the issues of cash bail, unlawful arrest, over-policing of Black and brown neighborhoods, and mass incarceration.

The series is an emotional look into the motivations and daily struggles of the movement workers on the ground, featuring incredibly inspiring stories from Patrisse Cullors (co-founder of Black Lives Matter), members of JusticeLA including Jayda Rasberry of Dignity and Power Now, Helen Jones of Dignity and Power Now and Black Lives Matter Los Angeles, Bamby Salcedo of TransLatina Coalition, and Johnathan Perez of Immigrant Youth Coalition. The docuseries is produced by Blackpills and Pulse Films. Executive Producers are Patrisse Cullors, Dream Hampton, Mervyn Marcano, Thomas Benski, Marisa Clifford, Robin Frank, Tani Ikeda, Kai Bowe, Davey Spens, Clara Levy and Philipe Haim.

HBCU Homecoming 2020: Meet Me On The Yard - Livestream Premieres October 24; Watch the first teaser on YouTube.

With HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) across the country cancelling their annual Homecomings due to the global pandemic, YouTube in partnership with Jesse Collins Entertainment and Live Nation Urban will take the momentous celebration virtual. This two-hour livestream will be filled with

homecoming traditions to raise funds for the United Negro College Fund who plan to split 50% with Thurgood Marshall College Fund. Expect musical performances, band performances from Jackson State University’s Sonic Boom of The South, and FAMU’s Marching 100, Step performances, as well as appearances from students, alumni, YouTube creators and inspirational video packages representing the legacy of HBCUs. Executive Producers of “HBCU Homecoming 2020: Meet Me On The Yard” are Jesse Collins, Shawn Gee, Dionne Harmon, Brandon Pankey, and Chris Wagner.

Bear Witness, Take Action Part Two (working title) - Livestream Premieres December 2020 Following the success of the first “Bear Witness, Take Action” special, which was the first YouTube Originals project to come from YouTube’s $100M Black content fund, Part Two will again inspire the platform’s global community to take action for racial justice uniting YouTube creators, public figures, and influential voices. In addition to the livestream, “Bear Witness, Take Action” Part Two will feature unique voices from the Black community producing short form content to share their perspectives and experiences on racial inequity, which will live on YouTube. Viewers will be encouraged to donate to racial justice initiatives directly on the YouTube livestream. The special is produced by the SpringHill Company, Fly On The Wall Entertainment, and Byron Phillips. Reginald Hudlin serves as Executive Producer and Showrunner.

Onyx Family Dinner - Premieres Early 2021 Join the Onyx Family (6M+ combined subscribers) This new Kids & Families series gathers the multi-generational family for fun and open conversations about life and what’s going on in the world over dinner. Produced by pocket.watch in association with Shine Global, “Onyx Family Dinner” stars the Onyx Family and is executive produced by Keith Brown, Albie Hecht, the Onyx Family, and Chris M.Williams.

Barbershop Medicine (working title) - Premieres 2021 In Barbershop Medicine YouTube aims to put the “public” back in Public Health, exploring the impact race and socioeconomic status have on healthcare and longevity. The barbershop has long been a center of community, as captured in the landmark clinical trial of blood-pressure reduction that delivered education and care in barbershops. Drawing from this concept of community medicine, the special will bring together musicians, renowned physicians, creators and community members in a storied barbershop to discuss today’s most pressing health concerns and raise awareness - from vaccines to diabetes, cancer to mental health, and beyond. The special will be executive produced by Charles D. King, Marta Fernandez, Jelani Johnson, and Alisha Corpas Wynn for MACRO Television Studios.

Below are the upcoming and returning YouTube Originals titles that were developed prior to the launch of YouTube’s Black Content Fund, but which also center on the global Black experience and address racial justice: Together We Rise - Streaming Now on GRM Daily’s YouTube Channel Eleven years ago, Grime Daily was just a YouTube channel started by two young entrepreneurs who were focused on providing a platform for emerging Black hip hop and rap artists in the UK to showcase their work. Fast forward to present, GRM www.citizennewspapergroup.com

Daily is one of the largest media platforms in the UK, complete with a recording label and awards show. This four-part series focuses on the journey from YouTube channel to media empire.

Executive Producers are Kate Shepherd, Laura Collins and Post, produced by Warner Music Entertainment.

BookTube - Special Episode Premieres October 22 The monthly learning series featuring the world’s most renowned authors is back with a special October episode spotlighting #1 New York Times bestselling author, Jason Reynolds (“Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You”). This special episode will feature videos from popular BookTube and YouTube creators, an interview with author Jason Reynolds, and a special appearance by Dr. Ibram Kendi, who wrote “Stamped from the Beginning”, which Reynolds “remixed” to bring us “Stamped: Racism, Antiracism and You.” This episode of BookTube is directed by Nadia Hallgren (“Becoming,” “After Maria”) and the Director of Photography is Hans Charles (“13th,” “1 Angry Black Man”). The series is produced by Boardwalk Pictures.

The Outsiders - Premieres February 2021 In this 4 part series, Simon Frederick (Black is the New Black, They Gotta Have Us) uses his signature style to explore the voices of the young Black visionaries who to date have been excluded and marginalised by society because of the color of their skin. Viewers will learn how these young Black visionaries have turned the tables on the very same society that excluded them in the first place, to become the luminaries of our time: the writers, artists, performers, athletes, scientists, politicians, entrepreneurs and business leaders who have made it against the odds and are shaping their new cultural reality landscape.

“The Outsiders” is produced by Atelier Frederick AFL Films and directed by Simon Frederick.

Glad You Asked Season 2 - New Season Premieres February 2021 YouTube Originals has greenlit a second season of the Emmy-nominated series, “Glad You Asked” - an ensemble-led exploration of topics driven by our curiosity about the world around us. Using Vox’s signature explainer format, season two will examine timely questions around racial justice and the impact of systemic racism in our communities and daily lives - from how our zipcodes determine our futures, to race and A.I., education inequity, and food deserts. Bringing a number of diverse and varied backgrounds together, this season will spotlight guest hosts and the world’s foremost experts to offer an experiential journey that empowers audiences to better understand their world. The series is produced by Vox Media Studios.

Lockdown - New Episodes Premiere November 19 YouTube Originals has ordered an additional 6 episodes of the award winning scripted Kids & Families series that follows six friends as they work together to solve a mystery in their neighborhood during the social distancing era. Shot entirely via webcam and smartphone, new “Lockdown” episodes will explore timely issues on racial injustice, activism, and life’s frustrations during a pandemic. The series is created and produced by Toronto-based Sinking Ship Entertainment (“Dino Dana,” “Endlings,” “Odd Squad”) and these new episodes feature a diverse roster of writing and directing talent led by showrunners Aaron Bala and Lisa Codrington.

10 | CITIZEN | Chicago Weekend | Week of Oct. 21, 2020

HOME

3 healthy home projects to improve indoor environmental quality (BPT) - How healthy is your house? After spending more time at home due to quarantine and social distancing, many homeowners are asking themselves this question.

This has inspired an increase in home improvements that go beyond aesthetic enhancements. Homeowners want eco-friendly upgrades that improve indoor environmental quality (IEQ), which means improvements that support the health and wellness of the people who live in the home.

If you're curious how to improve your home's IEQ, here are three key projects to consider: 1. Hydronic radiant heating systems Conventional forced-air systems push heated air through ductwork in the walls and ceilings. There are many drawbacks to this type of system. First, they are inefficient because hot air blows out vents and rises rather than staying lower to keep people comfortable.

Second, it circulates dust, allergens and pollutants that lower the indoor air quality. Third, they can be noisy, turning on and off all day.

For a healthier home, consider hydronic radiant heating.

This technology works by warming water at a heat source and circulating it through piping made of a special polymer called PEX that is installed beneath the floor.

Uponor has been providing these systems in the United States longer than any other company. In fact, Uponor offers several innovative methods for installing radiant systems efficiently and effectively in any area of a home from basements to bathrooms or even garages. For example, Uponor Fast TrakÂŽ is a simple-to-install, knobbed-mat system that adheres to a concrete slab for quick radiant tubing installation. Learn more about this unique solution at www.uponor-usa.com/radiant.

A hydronic radiant system can dramatically improve a home's IEQ. There is no fan to circulate dust, pollen and odors, so you can breathe easier. Because it's in the floor, it keeps the heat low - where you and your family actually live - without hot and cold spots. You can easily heat in zones to save money, plus, because the system is near-silent, you'll enjoy a more peaceful home.

2. Natural light and daylighting Beautiful sun shining through a window is a welcome sight on any day. Natural light increases the comfort of a home and can have a positive psychological impact on the people who spend time there. That's why, when choosing home-improvement projects, use daylighting strategies to improve IEQ. Daylighting is a method you can use to welcome more natural light into your home. There are many improvements that support daylighting. Adding windows strategically to brighten spaces throughout the day is a smart first step. Adding skylights to bring in light where traditional windows are not possible or logical, such as in

a bathroom, also supports daylighting.

Daylighting can be controlled for comfort and privacy with shades, blinds and plants. In spaces where windows and skylights are not possible, adding reflective surfaces to the room design can provide internal lighting by maximizing the sunlight. For example, glossy tile or mirrors throughout a room can help brighten the space and align with daylighting goals.

3. Clean air and proper ventilation Airflow is an important part of any healthy home, helping to remove contaminants and bring in fresh air. Proper ventilation prevents mold and mildew growth, removes common pollutants from appliances and other household items, improves indoor air quality and boosts IEQ. To improve your home's ventilation, always open windows and skylights when weather and conditions allow to let in fresh air. Remember to turn on ventilation fans when bathing or showering to remove excess humidity. In addition, use fans in the kitchen to remove smoke and heat while cooking. Finally, maintain filters on items such as air purifiers, humidifiers and your HVAC system.

If you have a radiant heat system, continue to use it, as it helps to eliminate the circulation of microscopic particles that can spread germs and trigger allergy symptoms.

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Considering Americans spend on average 90% of their time indoors, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, prioritizing indoor air quality is essential.

IEQ is getting increased attention, as people look to improve their homes and make them healthy for their families, while also boosting their bottom line at resale.

These three key areas will help you create a space centered on health and well-being. For more information, visit www.uponor-usa.com.

CITIZEN | Chicago Weekend | Week of Oct. 21, 2020

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11

CLASSIFIEDS SERVICE

SERVICE

Business Name of NDGO STUDIOS with the business located at: 7753 S. MERRILL AVE., CHICAGO, IL 60649. The true and real full name (s) and residence address of the owner (s) / Partner (s) is: Owner/Partner Full Name: NATE DAVIS, Complete Address: 7753 S. MERRILL AVE., CHICAGO, IL 60649, USA ________________________________________ 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: Y20004817 on October 8, 2020. Under the Assumed Business Name of FAST PACE MOVERS with the business located at: 6617 INGLESIDE, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60637. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner (s) /partner (s) is: Owners/Partner Full Name MAURICE LOWRY, Complete Address, 6617 INGLESIDE, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60637, USA. ________________________________________

WANTED TO BUY FREON WANTED: We pay $$$ for cylinders and cans.

R12 R500 R11 R113 R114.

Convenient. Certified Professionals.

Call 312-598-1758 or visit RefrigerantFinders.com ______________________________________

Darrell Garth

PUBLIC NOTICE

President /Publisher

The annual return of The Love and Unity Prayer Circle church is available, at the address noted below, for inspection during normal business hours, by any citizen who so requests within 180 days after publication of this notice of its availability.The love and Unity prayer Circle 1153 E.82nd Street Chicago, Il 60619-4513537.The principal manager is Cynthia ACohen,Pastor Telephone (773) 993-9796.

Sales Manager General Manager

Janice Garth

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LEGAL NOTICE Notice is hereby given, pursuant to “An Act in relation to the use of an Assumed Business Name in the conducr 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: Y20004525 on September 23, 2020 Under the Assumed Business Name of MAXIMIZE THIS LIFE with the busienss located at: 61 EAST 98TH STREET, CHICAGO, IL 60628. The true and real full name (s) and residence address of the owner (s) / partner (s) is: Owner/Partner Full Name: MCCLINTON E. PORTER, Complete Address: 61 EAST 98TH STREET, CHICAGO, IL 60628. USA __________________________________ 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; Y20004582 on September 23, 2020 Under the Assumed

ACROSS 1. Muscular contraction 6. D.C. mover and shaker 9. “That was close!”

13. Blood circulation organ 14. FEMA provisions, e.g.

15. Not bob, to a boxer 16. Like a whistle?

17. UN labor org.

18. Speck in the ocean 19. *Fallen South Vietnamese capital 21. *War movie and Oscar-winner 23. Once around 24. Hippocrates’ promise 25. Ribonucleic acid 28. Bakery unit 30. Foliage vein 35. In fine fettle 37. Scoop or skinny 39. Nephew’s sister 40. “Metamorphoses” poet 41. *ABBA’s genre 43. Thailand money 44. Temporarily ban 46. Way to fry 47. Jamie Fraser of “Outlander” 48. *”The Gods Themselves” author 50. Romanov ruler 52. Give it a go 53. It prevents objectivity 55. Brewed beverage 57. *First U.S. space station 60. *Mr. Jefferson 63. Nest for an eagle 64. Between Fla. and Miss.

66. Cold cream brand 68. Does like some coffee makers 69. Tasseled hat 70. Not snail mail 71. Back talk 72. *Nicklaus’ peg 73. Smartly dressed DOWN 1. Anatomical pouch

2. Plural of #6 Across 3. ____ 51, Nevada 4. *”____way to Heaven” 5. Feed beet 6. Some have a high tolerance for it 7. *1973 ____ crisis 8. *Oliver Sacks’ “Awakenings” drug 9. Boll weevil, e.g.

10. Saintly sign 11. Like never-losing Steven 12. Kind of nurse 15. Not outside 20. Egg-shaped 22. Cash dispenser 24. Compensating equivalents 25. *”The Mary Tyler Moore Show” spin-off 26. Center of a church, pl.

27. Defendant’s excuse 29. Black tropical cuckoo 31. “I call first ____!”

32. Undergo a chemical reaction 33. Blood of the Greek gods 34. *First Lady, familiarly 36. Dutch export 38. South American wood sorrels 42. Talk like Demosthenes 45. Paso ____, CA 49. By means of 51. Go back into business 54. Behind a stern 56. Pleasant odor 57. Serum, pl.

58. *Cheryl Ladd on “Charlie’s Angels” 59. Golfer’s dread 60. Fixed look 61. Flying biter 62. Blue pencil mark 63. Internet pop-ups 65. *”Enter the Dragon” star 67. *”Rocky” star’s nickname

Lake Meadows, Oakland, Prairie Shores, Douglas, Grand Boulevard, Kenwood, Woodland, South Shore and Hyde Park.

CHICAGO WEEKEND

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 Oct. 21, 2020

The all-new Hyundai ELANTRA. Tech-savvy, sleek and seriously dripping.

Designed for the young at heart, this sleek compact sedan offers a fully integrated tech experience with flavor you can savor right at your fingertips. Imagine a Digital Key that locks, unlocks, and starts your ride along with a 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen. Mix in Dynamic Voice Recognition that allows you to roll down your windows, pop your trunk, and control the temperature with your voice. Suddenly you have an intuitive, tech-savvy car designed for better living without breaking the bank. Now that’s dripping.

Preproduction model shown with optional features. Near Field Communication (NFC) digital smartphone key requires a compatible Android smartphone and an appropriately equipped 2021 Elantra. Not all Android devices are compatible. The Elantra must be equipped with smart key with push button start, wireless device charging, and Audio Video Navigation System 5.0 (or newer) or Display Audio 2.0. Lock/unlock functionality works on driver’s door only. See your Owner’s Manual for details and limitations. Dynamic Voice Recognition varies by unit. Speak in a normal voice and minimize background noise for best results. See Owner’s Manual for details and limitations. Hyundai is a registered trademark of Hyundai Motor Company. All rights reserved. ©2020 Hyundai Motor America.