Chicago Weekend Citizen 10-30-2019

Citizen PepsiCo Beverages North America & ESSENCE Launch “She Got Now” — Page 3 Week of Oct. 30, 2019

| Vol. 50 | No. 44 | www.thechicagocitizen.com

CHICAGO WEEKEND

Ladies of Virtue is preparing to host the Leading with Virtue Cocktail Reception on Nov. 7 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Venue Six10, 610 S. Michigan Ave., as a way of celebrating its 8th anniversary and to honor women in Chicago who embody their values. Photo Credit: Mike Jue

MENTORING ORGANIZATION FOR YOUNG WOMEN PREPARES TO CELEBRATE 8TH ANNIVERSARY

Ladies of Virtue, a nonprofit mentoring organization for girls, will soon celebrate its 8th anniversary by hosting the Leading with Virtue Cocktail Reception on Nov. 7 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Venue Six10 located on 610 S. Michigan Ave. During the event, Ladies of Virtue will honor seven professional women who represent the ideals that the organization aims to instill in young women. PAGE 2

NEWS

NEWS

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Forever stamp honors Esteemed Journalist Gwen Ifill

ENTERTAINMENT Black News Channel (BNC) TV Launches in America

Third Consecutive Year, Condé Nast Traveler Names Chicago As Best Large City To Visit

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advertising@thechicagocitizen.com thechicagocitizen@thechicagocitiz www.facebook.com/durrell.garth.9 www.thechicagocitizen.com

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NEWS briefly EDUCATION

NLRB EXTENDS TIME FOR SUBMITTING COMMENTS ON PROPOSED RULE CONCERNING STUDENTS The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has extended the time for submitting comments on its proposed rule concerning the definition of “employee” under Section 2(3) of the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA). The proposed rule would exempt from the NLRB’s jurisdiction undergraduate and graduate students who perform services for financial compensation in connection with their studies. The original notice of proposed rulemaking was published at 84 FR 49691. The submission window will remain open and interested parties may now file comments on or before Monday, December 16, 2019. Comments replying to the comments submitted during the initial comment period must be received by the Board on or before Monday, December 30, 2019.

The additional time will allow parties the opportunity to respond to a technical correction within the NPRM’s Regulatory Flexibility Act analysis.

The correction was posted to the Federal Register recently. Public comments are invited on all aspects of the proposed rule and should be submitted either electronically to www.regulations.gov, or by mail or hand-delivery to Roxanne Rothschild, Executive Secretary, National Labor Relations Board, 1015 Half Street S.E., Washington, D.C. 20570-0001.

HEALTH

SC JOHNSON LAUNCHES GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP TO FIGHT OCEAN PLASTIC AND POVERTY SC Johnson, an industry-leading manufacturer of household consumer brands, and Plastic Bank recently launched a global partnership to stop plastic waste from entering the ocean and fight poverty.

The three-year effort creates recycling infrastructure on a massive scale across five countries and pays residents to collect plastic in exchange for digital savings and rewards. Once the plastic is collected and exchanged, it will be recycled into the first-ever 100% Social Plastic® bottle, which SC Johnson will use for its iconic Windex® line beginning in February 2020.

LAW & POLITICS

HARPER SPOTLIGHTS PROGRAM TO REPAY OVERDUE TAXES State Rep. Sonya Harper, D-Chicago, is spotlighting an Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR) tax amnesty program that is offering local taxpayers the opportunity to eliminate delinquent taxes that may be owed to the state without penalty.

The Harper-backed law, Senate Bill 689, created the IDOR’s Tax Amnesty Program to give consumers and businesses the chance to pay back taxes without penalties and interest. To be eligible for the program, the tax liability must have occurred between July 1, 2011 and June 30, 2018 and a taxpayer must pay their entire outstanding tax liability from the period covered by the amnesty. Additional information on liabilities that qualify for amnesty and payment options can be found at tax.illinois.gov.

“Anyone who owes overdue taxes to the State of Illinois should use this opportunity to pay back what they owe without interest or penalties,” Harper said.

“I encourage any local taxpayer who may have a tax debt to check their eligibility and take advantage of the Tax Amnesty Program.”

Mentoring Organization For Young Women Prepares To Celebrate 8th Anniversary Continued from page 1

BY KATHERINE NEWMAN

Ladies of Virtue, a nonprofit mentoring organization for girls, will soon celebrate its 8th anniversary by hosting the Leading with Virtue Cocktail Reception on Nov. 7 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Venue Six10 located on 610 S. Michigan Ave. During the event, Ladies of Virtue will honor seven professional women who represent the ideals that the organization aims to instill in young women.

Ladies of Virtue is an organization that targets young women from the south and west sides of Chicago to provide them with mentors, career-readiness training, character-building exercises, and opportunities for civic engagement. Over the last eight years, Ladies of Virtue has been able to serve over 1,000 girls from Chicago and the nearby suburbs, according to information provided by Ladies of Virtue.

“Ladies of Virtue is a mentoring and leadership program for girls, specifically black girls primarily coming from the

south and west side of Chicago,” said Jamila Trimuel, founder and CEO of Ladies of Virtue. “What Ladies of Virtue does is that we literally stand in the gap for girls who may not have positive role models to help steer and guide them along the way. We prepare them for leadership in three ways, and that’s through character development, career readiness, and civic engagement.

Our purpose is to make sure that our girls can really become confident and purpose-driven leaders in today’s society.”

Trimuel grew up in South Shore and said that she was lucky to have parents who encouraged her to follow her passions and live a purpose-driven life but she noticed at a young age that some of her friends didn’t have great role models at home.

While in college, Trimuel began mentoring and said that she often wondered what some of her childhood friends would have been able to achieve if they had access to more positive role models in their lives.

“I had friends whose parents may have been in the home but not in a positive way

and I saw how their lives took a totally different path,” said Trimuel. “I started mentoring as a sophomore in college to help freshman girls navigate their way through college at the University of Illinois and honestly I haven’t looked back and I’ve been mentoring ever since then.”

Ladies of Virtue launched in 2011 with six girls and over the last eight years, the organization has grown to serve 150 girls per year. The girls participate in 9-months of programing that was created to instill purpose, passion, and perseverance in them. The program includes a mentor for each girl, leadership development training, career exploration opportunities, college tours, community service activities, and summer job placement.

“Our girls start in September and throughout the nine month program, our girls know that they’re preparing to build a healthy character in terms of becoming a lady of virtue,” said Trimuel.

To learn more about Ladies of Virtue, visit www.lovchicago.org.

New Research: Increase health benefits of exercise by working out before breakfast According to a new study, published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, health scientists at the Universities of Bath and Birmingham found that by changing the timing of when you eat and exercise, people can better control their blood sugar levels.

The six-week study, which involved thirty men classified as obese or overweight and compared results from two intervention groups (who ate breakfast before / after exercise) and a control group (who made no lifestyle changes), found that people who performed exercise before breakfast burned double the amount of fat than the group who exercised after breakfast.

They found that increased fat use is mainly due to lower insulin levels during exercise when people have fasted overnight, which means that they can use more of the fat from their fat tissue and the fat within their muscles as a fuel. To test proof-of-principle the initial study involved only men, but future studies will look to translate these findings for different groups including women.

Whilst this did not lead to any differences for weight loss over six weeks, it did have ‘profound and positive’ effects on

The new findings suggest that exercising before breakfast had ‘profound’ and ‘positive’ effects on health.

their health because their bodies were better able to respond to insulin, keeping blood sugar levels under control and potentially lowering the risk of diabetes and heart disease.

Building on emerging evidence that the timing of meals in relation to exercise can shift how effective exercise is, the team behind this study wanted to focus on the impact on the fat stores in muscles for individuals who either worked out before or after eating and the effect this had on insulin response to feeding.

Dr Javier Gonzalez of the Department for Health at the University of Bath explained: “Our

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results suggest that changing the timing of when you eat in relation to when you exercise can bring about profound and positive changes to your overall health.

“We found that the men in the study who exercised before breakfast burned double the amount of fat than the group who exercised after. Importantly, whilst this didn’t have any effect on weight loss, it did dramatically improve their overall health.

“The group who exercised before breakfast increased their ability to respond to insulin, which is all the more remarkable given that both exercise groups lost a similar amount of

weight and both gained a similar amount of fitness. The only difference was the timing of the food intake.”

Over the six-week trial, the scientists found that the muscles from the group who exercised before breakfast were more responsive to insulin compared to the group who exercised after breakfast, in spite of identical training sessions and matched food intake. The muscles from those who exercised before breakfast also showed greater increases in key proteins, specifically those involved in transporting glucose from the bloodstream to the muscles.

For the insulin response to feeding after the 6-week study, remarkably, the group who exercised after breakfast were in fact no better than the control group.

Co-author Dr Gareth Wallis of the University of Birmingham added: “This work suggests that performing exercise in the overnight-fasted state can increase the health benefits of exercise for individuals, without changing the intensity, duration or perception of their effort. We now need to explore the longer-term effects of this type of exercise and whether women benefit in the same way as men.”

CITIZEN | Chicago Weekend | Week of Oct. 30, 2019

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NEWS

PepsiCo Beverages North America & ESSENCE Launch “She Got Now” PepsiCo Beverages North America, in partnership with ESSENCE, recently introduced “She Got Now” – a multi-tiered platform that celebrates, supports and honors young Black women aspiring to and attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) across the country. The platform launch commences with a multi-campus tour honoring the homecoming traditions unique to four major HBCUs, culminating with the inaugural Allen McKellar Jr. Internship Program, named in honor of one of the first Black professionals to enter the corporate workforce, through a job at PepsiCo. “We are honored to partner with ESSENCE to launch ‘She Got Now,’ a platform that celebrates the innate entrepreneurial spirit of young Black women and shines the spotlight on the fantastic culture of our nation’s top HBCUs,” said Hampton University graduate, Derek Lewis, president, south division, PepsiCo Beverages North

America. “To be able to honor PepsiCo’s very own Allen McKellar Jr., a remarkable individual in Black history, who reflects the values and

ideals PepsiCo still holds today, and simultaneously honor these young women is incredibly special.”

“For generations, HBCUs

have served Black students – particularly Black women – having graduated trailblazing women from Oprah Winfrey to Alice Walker.

As today’s student body builds upon this legacy, we are excited to continue to empower the next group of emerging leaders,” noted

Michelle Ebanks, chief executive officer, ESSENCE Communications. “’She Got Now’ will serve as an extension of ESSENCE’s nearly 50-year mission to celebrate and support Black women; and together, with PepsiCo, we will continue to deepen this commitment.”

The “She Got Now” platform came to life recently with a multi-campus tour and kickoff at Florida A&M University, which was followed by stops at Howard and Hampton Universities.

The last stop will be at Norfolk State University on November 2 and will be hosted

by Doug E. Fresh and feature a bevy of today’s stars across music and entertainment.

Starting mid-November, the “She Got Now” Allen McKellar Jr. Internship Program will be open to all young Black women aspiring to or attending one of the participating HBCUs. Applicants should follow Pepsi’s and ESSENCE’s Twitter pages for more information and updates on “She Got Now” platform.

South Side Tap Dancer To Receive $25,000 Grant From 3Arts

BY KATHERINE NEWMAN

3Arts, a Chicago-based nonprofit organization, will soon give 10 Chicago artists $25,000 each in unrestricted grants during the 12th Annual 3Arts Awards Celebration.

The event will take place on Nov. 4 at the Museum of Contemporary Art and among the artists receiving awards that night, Jumaane Taylor, a professional tap dance artist, will be one of five African American artists to accept the award.

Growing up on the south side of Chicago in Hyde Park and in the south suburbs, Taylor feels lucky to have been exposed to tap dance at a young age and said that he instantly felt passionate about tap dance as an art form. He went to primary school in the Hyde Park area and attended Kenwood Academy briefly before transferring to Sammy Dyer School of the Theatre where he was connected with teachers and peers who helped him hone his craft.

“My mom had me and my sisters at a school called the Sammy Dyer

School of the Theater. They had me doing tap dancing and acrobatics but I would say really, as soon as I started tap dancing at the Sammy Dyer School, I was pretty addicted to the art form. I started tap dancing at seven years old and by 10, just three years in, I was pretty serious about tap dancing,” said Taylor.

During that time, Taylor did everything he could to learn how to tap dance to the best of his ability.

His perseverance led to several notable accolades including receiving a Chicago Dancemakers Forum 2017 Lab Artist Award, performing at the Museum of Contemporary Art and the Jazz Institute of Chicago, creating his own tap dance production, and becoming a tap dance teacher at several institutions including the Sammy Dyer School of the Theatre and the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University.

“Teaching has played a big role for me as far as being able to make a living tap dancing in Chicago and that kind of all expanded about five years

ago,” said Taylor. “These teaching opportunities that I have were kind of unknown as far as tap dancing is concerned, a tap dancer teaching in a ballet school, a tap dancer teaching in a modern dance-based school, or even a tap dancer teaching at Roosevelt University without a degree for the musical theater majors was unknown to me so it’s just been a blessing,” said Taylor.

The $25,000 that Taylor is receiving from 3Arts is unrestricted and he said that being awarded this grant means that it’s time for him to start creating. He plans on using the money to collaborate with other artists, host tap dance performances, create original artwork, and overall, just uplift tap dance as an art form in Chicago and increase people’s exposure to tap dance.

“When I see that $25,000, I’m thinking that I just gotta get to work, I gotta do some things and I have to create,” said Taylor. “I’m looking forward to going to work and seeing who’s willing to accept more from this art form.” www.thechicagocitizen.com

Jumaane Taylor (pictured) is one of 10 Chicago artists who will soon be accepting a $25,000 grant to support his professional tap dancing endeavors. Photo Credit: William Frederking

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BUSINESS The National Black MBA Association® Announces the 42nd Annual Conference and Exposition to Be Held in Washington, D.C. During Its 50th Anniversary Year September 22-26, 2020 #NBMBAA The National Black MBA Association® recently announced Washington, DC as the home for their 42nd Annual Conference and Exposition, taking place September 22-26, 2020. The organization will also celebrate a major milestone as it commemorates its 50th anniversary year.

The NBMBAA® just concluded another successful conference in Houston, Texas where the organization helped 9,000 attendees explore career opportunities and interview for valuable internships with companies including FedEx Corporation, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Johnson and Johnson, Liberty Mutual Insurance, Marriott International, Microsoft, Nationwide and a number of other leading Fortune 500 companies. Attendees were exposed to an array of informative sessions and workshops around professional growth, leadership development and entrepreneurship.

The NBMBAA® provided undergraduate and graduate students the opportunity to compete for academic scholarships with the execution of its annual business case competitions. The competition allows student teams to analyze a multifaceted business case and use their problem-solving skills to present their findings before a panel of the nation’s top thoughtleaders. The NBMBAA® awarded over $150K combined for scholarships and funding of start-up businesses who placed in their annual Scale Up Pitch Challenge

sponsored by FedEx Corporation.

“This year’s conference was an incredible experience,” said Kay Y. Wallace, NBMBAA’s new president and CEO. “As we enter into our 50th anniversary in 2020, the National Black MBA Association® will continue to curate dynamic and innovative programming throughout the year culminating with the annual conference in September in Washington, DC – an important election year. I’m inspired and focused on making 2020 a memorable and impactful year for our members, stakeholders and sponsors.”

To learn more about the National Black MBA Association® and how to get involved, please visit www.nbmbaa.org.

About National Black MBA Association® NBMBAA® is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) professional member-based organization which leads in the creation of educational, wealth building and growth opportunities for black professionals. Representing more than 14,000 members within 39 professional chapters, 33 Leaders of Tomorrow® chapters and over 280 corporate and university partners, the organization is dedicated to developing partnerships that create intellectual and economic wealth in the Black community through its five channels of engagement: career, education, entrepreneurship, leadership, and lifestyle.

Real Estate Investors Benefit as Competition Eases Hard Money Lending Terms

BY CHRISTOPHER G. COX Managing editor and publisher of www.realesavvy.com

In the wake of the housing crash that shook the U.S. economy in the mid- to late 2000s, real estate investors had few borrowing options as financial institutions severely tightened lending practices. According to Nathan Trunfio, president of Lending for Pennsylvania-based Direct Lending Partners (DLP), this led to the rise of so-called hard money lending, where those willing to make real estate loans could demand returns of 15-20 percent and four to five points.

As a result of the bursting of the housing bubble, there were a lot of properties that needed to be foreclosed on, Trunfio said.

“They were foreclosed on, but people were still in them or banks were holding them on their books and they needed to find a way to dispose of them,” he continued.

This created opportunities for investors to buy low, Trunfio explained. Many of these properties needed to be renovated and banks did not have the infrastructure to handle the renovations themselves. “Real estate investors needed a source of capital,” he said, “so they would turn to hard money loans, which were largely based on the value of the asset.”

Although the term “hard money lending” is still in common use, this lending practice has evolved to show a softer side. Trunfio notes that for many years a hard money loan was viewed as a “bad news loan,” one associated with some sort of “distressed situation where someone needs to pull equity out of a property.” These loans, he continued, typically reflected “some type of turmoil or big need that isn’t necessarily going to result in a good situation.”

In the current lending

environment, Trunfio said, people are looking to utilize a loan for the purpose of “navigating a business plan on a piece of real estate.”

“I call it soft money,” Trunfio notes, “because the approach that is taken is a combination of the analysis of the strength of a real estate investor and the asset. We are in the business of providing short-term bridge loans to experienced real estate investors.”

Asked why a borrower would seek one of DLP’s bridge loans as opposed to a more traditional loan from a bank, credit union or other lending institution, Trunfio says there are a number of reasons. “The main reason,” he notes, “is that nowadays banks have credit policies that are too tight. They can’t move quickly enough, and they won’t lend on an asset that needs renovation, or that needs a tenant, or something along those lines.”

Trunfio notes that DLP works with a wide array of investors from singular individuals and small teams to organizations of 20-50 people. “Our loans are to real estate investors – I call them serial investors – who invest in real estate as a way to make their money, whether it’s a primary or secondary focus.”

For about the last 10 years, Trunfio said, more and more institutional investors have begun to recognize that there are many financially savvy borrowers with sound investment plans. This has led to increased lending competition which allows investors to find loans requiring 8-12 percent interest and one to three points, as opposed to tougher terms in the immediate wake of the crash.

“Hard money has evolved into opportunistic money for real estate investors,” said Trunfio, “which helps the economy in a number of ways by providing more housing where there is currently a housing shortage.”

FOR ABOUT THE LAST 10 YEARS, MORE AND MORE INSTITUTIONAL INVESTORS HAVE BEGUN TO RECOGNIZE THAT THERE ARE MANY FINANCIALLY SAVVY BORROWERS WITH SOUND INVESTMENT PLANS. THIS HAS LED TO INCREASED LENDING COMPETITION WHICH ALLOWS INVESTORS TO FIND LOANS REQUIRING 8-12 PERCENT INTEREST AND ONE TO THREE POINTS, AS OPPOSED TO TOUGHER TERMS IN THE IMMEDIATE WAKE OF THE CRASH. www.thechicagocitizen.com

CITIZEN | Chicago Weekend | Week of Oct. 30, 2019

Eighth Ward RDO Celebrates its 50th Year Annual Dinner Dance

Photos by Jerome Simmons Photography

8th ward Alderman Michelle Harris poses for a photo with Secretary of State Jesse White.

Alderman Michelle Harris and Guest are all smiles for the camera during the Regular Democratic Organization Annual Dinner Dance.

Pictured left to right: Kimberly E. McCulloughStarks, Judge Freddrenna M. Lyle, Angel Perez.

Pictured left to right at the 8th ward 50th Year Anniversary celebration are: Larry Huggins, 8th Ward Alderman Michelle Harris and guest.

Justice Nichole Patton Holds Fundraiser in Southland

Il. State Rep. Nicholas Smith Pose for a photo with the President of MWRD, Kerri Steele and her sister.

Pictured left to right: Todd Stroger, 8th Ward Alderman Michelle Harris, Kim Foxx, Cook County States Attorney, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and Senator Elgie Sims.

Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. Hosted Fundraiser at Riddles Comedy Club

Photo by Kimberly Mitchell

Justice Nichole Patton recently hosted a fundraiser in the Southland kicking off her bid for re-election to the Circuit Court 15th Judicial SubCircuit. Pictured with Judge Patton is Matteson Mayor Sheila Chalmers- Currin.

Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. recently hosted a Fundraiser at Riddles Comedy Club featuring Comedians Damon Williams as host and "J" Deep" and Correy Bell were the Funny Men on Stage entertaining the audience.

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NEWS

Forever stamp honors Esteemed Journalist Gwen Ifill With 2020 rapidly approaching, the U.S. Postal Service recently revealed several of the new Forever stamps and others to be issued next year.

Since 1847, the Postal Service stamp program has celebrated the people, events and cultural milestones unique to the history of the United States.

“These miniature works of art offer something for everyone interested in American history and culture,” said U.S. Postal Service Stamp Services Acting Executive Director William Gicker.

“From notable figures such as golf legend Arnold Palmer and esteemed journalist Gwen Ifill to the cultural phenomenon of hip hop to a celebration of the great outdoors, this program is wide-ranging and adds to the history of our great nation as recorded through the U.S. stamp program.”

The 43rd stamp in the Black Heritage series honors Gwen Ifill (1955–2016), one of America’s most esteemed journalists. The stamp features a photo of Ifill taken in 2008 by photographer Robert Severi. Among the first African Americans to hold prominent positions in both broadcast and print journalism, Ifill was a B:10” trailblazer in the profession. Art director Derry Noyes designed T:10” the stamp.

“The U.S. Postal Service’s 2020 stamp program has something for everyone, including Forever stamps honoring legendary golfer Arnold Palmer and esteemed journalist Gwen Ifill.”

S:10”

A DREAM HOME

Whether you’re buying your first home or your next home, Associated Bank is dedicated to guiding you through all phases of homeownership. Our experienced professionals work with you and your situation to develop a solution that makes your dream a reality. So you can focus on the excitement of taking the next step.

Find out if you qualify for up to $4,000† in grants. Contact us today.

Visit AssociatedBank.com/Home or call 800-270-7721.

† The Associated Bank PATH Program offers grant assistance of $4,000 to qualified borrowers for down payment and closing costs on first mortgage purchase and construction transactions. First-time homebuyers will need to complete a Homeownership Educational Program. Other offers may be available, consult your lender for details. Exclusions apply. Associated Bank reserves the right to discontinue the program at any time without notice. * The Leading Lender in the Midwest designation is based on information gathered from the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data compiled annually by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The results of the data were obtained through the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Mortgage Database (HMDA), June 2018.

Loan products are offered by Associated Bank, N.A., and are subject to credit approval and involve interest and other costs. Please ask about details on fees and terms and conditions for these products. Property insurance and flood insurance, if applicable, will be required on collateral. Member FDIC. (08/19) 14577

Proof #:

JOB #: 64001 CLIENT CODE: ASBA01

Print Scale: None Version: None

Bleed: None Trim: 10” x 6.5”

Cyan Yellow

Date: 8-8-2019 10:36 AM User Name: Hortsch, Marc

VE

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GCD: None

T:6.5”

S:6.5”

DOESN’T HAVE TO BE A DREAM.

CITIZEN | Chicago Weekend | Week of Oct. 30, 2019

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NEWS

Third Consecutive Year, Condé Nast Traveler Names Chicago As Best Large City To Visit Condé Nast Traveler www.cntraveler.com, recently announced that its readers have voted Chicago as the best large city in the U.S. “This wonderful recognition not only reflects the beauty and excitement of our great city, but also our tourism industry’s dedicated efforts to attract people from across the country and around the globe,” said Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot. “Chicago will always roll out the welcome mat for visitors, and continue showcasing the sights and sounds of our world-class institutions and cultural life throughout our dynamic neighborhoods and communities, as well as in our magnificent downtown.”

According to a press release, Condé Nast Traveler’s 2019 Readers’ Choice Awards are the longest-running and most prestigious recognition of excellence in the travel industry. This year, more than 600,000 Condé Nast Traveler readers across the globe submitted a recording-breaking number of responses rating their travel experiences to provide a full snapshot of where and how we travel today. The “Best Large City” category was first added in 2015 with New York nabbing top spot in 2015 and 2016. Chicago was first voted “Best Large City” in 2017, repeating the selection in 2018 and

Condé Nast Traveler www.cntraveler.com, recently announced that its readers have voted Chicago as the best large city in the U.S.

has now won for a third year in a row.

“Chicago being named best large city to visit is a true accolade for all of us in Chicago’s hospitality and meetings industry,” said Glenn Eden, chair of Choose Chicago’s Board of Directors. “This recognition validates the momentum that we have been able to build upon these past few years but further underscores the City’s impact on the

nation and world as a destination that everyone should experience.”

The award comes as the city continues to be recognized for its world-renowned culinary scene, including a growing number of Michelin-starred and James Beard award-winning restaurants, the buzz created by the expanded Riverwalk, top rankings of numerous Chicago museums, attractions and tours, a thriving entertainment scene, including the ongoing celebration of the Year of Chicago Theater and the city’s international acclaim for architecture and music.

Adding to this momentum, Chicago has opened no fewer than 26 additional hotels in the past four years, including many that are located in emerging neighborhoods, further adding to the breadth and impact of the visitor industry, according to a press release.

“It’s always significant when a leading travel publication and its savvy and knowledgeable readers vote you the number one large city destination in the nation,” said David Whitaker, president and chief executive officer of Choose Chicago. “But to be selected now for a third year in a row speaks volumes about the kind of city and

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destination that Chicago is becoming and the incredible potential that we have to further build on our emerging reputation. It’s also a tribute to the overall effort and investments of so many in our community who are working hard every day to invite, serve and welcome the world to our home.”

The recognition from Condé Nast readers coincides with a strategic decision three years ago to expand the focus to attract more leisure visitors to Chicago from major feeder markets throughout the United States as well as a concerted effort to garner more overnight visitors. According to hotel occupancy reports generated by Smith Travel Research, leisure room demand (rooms consumed) has grown 14% in the past three years, with the majority of this growth generated from visitors outside of Chicago’s traditional market of nine neighboring states. This growth trend has continued in 2019 as leisure room demand (rooms consumed) is up 4.7% for the first eight months of the year.

Choose Chicago’s recently redesigned website, www.ChooseChicago.com, has generated more than 6.3 million site visits in the first 8 months of 2019 representing a year- over-year increase of 10.7%, a press release further stated.

8 | CITIZEN | Chicago Weekend | Week of Oct. 30, 2019

FASHION Drs. Kline + Green™ Launch New Website For Nail Health & Repair Products Drs. Kline + Green (www. doctorsklineandgreen.com), a nail restoration company recently launched a new website to better educate dermatologists and consumers on their clinically proven nail health and repair products, Clear + Restore and Hydrate, according to a press release.

The clinically proven, top selling products have their individual benefits.

Clear + Restore was developed to revive damaged nails, while also alleviating the symptoms of nail fungus.

In 1999, Drs. Kline + Green was issued two patents, making huge strides in the nail care industry, a press release stated. With the launch of their new website, they can now showcase their products, benefits, results, clinical trial information and the portfolios of Doctor

Mitchell Kline, MD, FAAD, and Doctor Jeremy Green, MD. Their digital landscape also captures product achievements with the use of reviews, before and after graphics, and educational resources, such as information on nail fungus.

According to CEO Lora Drasner, “We have been serving individuals on our website and Amazon, high-end spas, and leaders in the healthcare field with seamless service and top of the line, clinically proven products. Our new website conveys our comprehensive offerings and educates the marketplace.

Our sales and reviews say it all.”

For more information on Drs. Kline + Green™ products, please visit https:// doctorsklineandgreen.com or call 1-800-CLRNAIL (257-6245).

2019 Neiman Marcus Fantasy Gifts Presented by Award Winning Actress Rachel Brosnahan

Neiman Marcus Unveils The 93rd Edition Of The Iconic Christmas Book And Legendary Fantasy Gifts

Latuza

Latuza Uses Bamboo Viscose Fabric to Minimize Environmental Impact and Maximize Comfort Eco-friendly clothing brand, Latuza, takes an innovative approach to fashion sustainability by creating pajamas and basics with bamboo viscose fabric.

Bamboo is the fastest growing plant in the world, and plastic waste is one of the fastest-growing problems in the world. Latuza has recognized the untapped power of this renewable resource and its potential to move fashion towards a sustainable future.

According to a press release, much of the world’s clothing is made from viscose, acrylic or polyester; all of these fancy ways to say “plastic”. When these clothes are washed, tiny plastic fibers break off and enter the world’s water supply, eventually ending up in the

ocean. Latuza is using bamboo viscose to reduce the amount of plastic that ends up in the ocean and reduce their reliance on nonrenewable materials.

The eco-friendly nature of bamboo viscose is not its only benefit, the press release further stated, but Bamboo viscose also wicks away moisture, prevents odor, and regulates temperature. Latuza carries primarily pajama sets as well as some closet staples such as The Women’s Summer Flowy Tunic Top For Leggings.

Latuza aims to promote an ecofriendly and sustainable lifestyle. To make purchases from Latuza’s line or to learn more about their bamboo viscose material, please visit https://www.latuza.com.

Neiman Marcus recently unveiled the 2019 Christmas Book, a curated selection of nearly 800 extraordinary holiday gifts for everyone on the customers’ wish lists.

Included in the Christmas Book are the legendary Neiman Marcus Fantasy Gifts, which celebrate their 60th anniversary and were unveiled recently at an event in Neiman Marcus at Hudson Yards.

“The Neiman Marcus Christmas Book and our Fantasy Gifts are a tradition that customers look forward to year-after-year,” said Lana Todorovich, president and chief merchandising officer, Neiman Marcus. “For the 60th anniversary of Fantasy Gifts, we’ve pulled out all the stops – both with the gifts themselves and the way we’re unveiling them to customers.”

The 2019 Fantasy Gifts will delight customers this holiday season through a series of videos starring award-winning actress Rachel Brosnahan, according to a press release.

“Rachel perfectly brings our Fantasy Gifts to life and truly reveals them in a magical way to our customers,” said Todorovich. The series, which will be promoted through Neiman Marcus’ social channels, introduces each gift in a whimsical way that evokes the feeling of holiday nostalgia. In addition, for every Fantasy Gift purchased with a Neiman Marcus credit card, purchasers will receive an InCircle membership to the President’s Circle; subject to credit approval.

This year’s Christmas Book also presents an assortment of extraordinary holiday gifts across a broad range of categories and price points. A few notable and exclusive gifts include a Neiman Marcus-edition Moët & Chandon Vending Machine ($35,000, page 29), a Versace Punching Bag ($1,550, page 184), a Bey Berk Cigar Humidor ($165, page 205), and a Funboy Holiday Inflatable Snowmobile ($99, page 227), to name a few.

First published in 1926 as a 16-page booklet, www.thechicagocitizen.com

2019 Neiman Marcus Fantasy Gifts

the Neiman Marcus Christmas Book was initially intended as a Christmas card to the store’s best customers. Over the years, the book has evolved into a legendary source for alluring and spectacular gifts while maintaining its personal and timeless touch.

Gifts That Give Back Neiman Marcus has a history of giving back and community outreach has always been an integral part of the company’s core values. In 2018, the efforts of The Heart of Neiman Marcus Foundation impacted more than 2.5 million children. As in years past, a portion of every Fantasy Gift is donated to the foundation, bringing art-enriching experiences nationwide.

This year, Neiman Marcus continues its three year partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, an organization committed to offering resources to help benefit 4.3 million kids and teens nationwide to reach their full potential as productive, caring and responsible citizens. Neiman Marcus has pledged a $750,000 financial commitment over three years to focus both on local and national programs aimed at bringing meaningful art experiences to communities in need.

CITIZEN | Chicago Weekend | Week of Oct. 30, 2019

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ENTERTAINMENT

Black News Channel (BNC) TV Launches in America

BY STACY M. BROWN NNPA NEWSWIRE CORRESPONDENT @StacyBrownMedia

In a joint teleconference broadcast live from the Four Season’s Hotel in New York’s Financial District, the Black News Channel (BNC) and the National Newspaper Publishers Association recently announced the official launch date and time for the nation’s first 24-hour, 7-days a week allnews TV channel that will focus on African American news.

The new channel promises to inform, educate, and empower nearly 50 million African Americans now living in the United States.

The potential for the network appears almost limitless.

BNC will immediately have the potential to reach 33 million households daily in all the major media markets across the nation.

Combined with the millions of readers who consume information from NNPA’s Black-owned newspapers and media companies each week, the BNC could quickly become the top destination for all who want to consume African American news on TV and on mobile devices.

BNC, which officially launches at 6 a.m. on Friday, November 15, 2019, has agreements with Charter Communications, Comcast and DISH TV. The network already has commitments for carriage in major African American hubs like Atlanta, New York City, Chicago, New Orleans, Houston, Philadelphia, Detroit, Washington, DC, Baltimore and Los Angeles.

Tallahassee, Florida, houses BNC’s headquarters, and the network will have news bureaus around the country, including Washington, D.C. and New York City.

Former Republican U.S. Congressman J.C. Watts is chairman of BNC, which is backed financially by business mogul and Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan.

“This platform will create a venue for the African American community to have a dialogue to talk about news, education and cultural things,” stated Watts, who added that the network has been in the planning stage for many years.

NNPA President and CEO Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr., who participated in the teleconference,

NNPA President and CEO Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr. (pictured at right), who participated in the recent teleconference, said the NNPA’s partnership with the BNC is a profound win-win for Black America. (Also pictured are Former Republican U.S. Congressman J.C. Watts, chairman of BNC (left) and Jacksonville Jaguars owner, Shad Khan, who is a primary investor in the new network (center).

said the NNPA’s partnership with the BNC is a profound win-win for Black America.

“This year marks the 192nd year of the Black Press of America. Black Americans striving for excellence in all fields of endeavor give life to our culture that attracts and impacts all people. We set trends for ourselves and others,” Chavis stated.

“We’re not a cursed people, and we are a blessed people. We continue to strive for excellence, and to have Shad Khan announced as a primary investor for the launch and sustainable development of the BNC is of major significance,” Chavis noted.

“We’re not looking to be Republican or Democrat. There will be current affairs, but we are culturally specific to the African American community. MSNBC, Fox News, CNN may have African American faces on their news shows, but they are not necessarily covering the community from a cultural perspective,” Watts stated. “We’re not looking to be left or right. We will be authentic and true to enriched and diverse African American experience.”

“THIS PLATFORM WILL CREATE A VENUE FOR THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY TO HAVE A DIALOGUE TO TALK ABOUT NEWS, EDUCATION AND CULTURAL THINGS.”

David Rooney

K. Austin Collins

“A SUPERHERO ORIGIN STORY” ROGER EBERT Robert Daniels

T H E U N BE L I E VA BL E T RU E S T ORY OF H A R R IET T U BM A N STORY BY

GREGORY ALLEN HOWARD SCREENPLAYBY GREGORY ALLEN HOWARD AND KASI LEMMONS DIRECTEDBY KASI LEMMONS

© 2019 FOCUS FEATURES LLC.

STARTS FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1 IN THEATERS EVERYWHERE CHECK LOCAL LISTINGS FOR THEATER LOCATIONS AND SHOWTIMES

J.C. WATTS

Former Republican U.S. Congressman

www.thechicagocitizen.com

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CALENDAR UPCOMING CONFERENCES ON THE CALENDAR

Women Of Color In Pharma Expands Reach With Annual Conference Women of Color in Pharma (WOCIP) recently announced its third annual conference, The Power of You: Own Your Story, Live in Your Power at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, N.J., Nov. 1 – 3, 2019.

Speakers include Joetta Clark Diggs, fourtime Olympian and entrepreneur; Robin Washington, executive vice president and chief financial officer, Gilead; Quita Highsmith, head of alliance, advocacy relations, and government affairs, Genentech; Trudy Bourgeois, chief executive officer, Center for Workforce Excellence; and Denice Torres, chief executive officer, The Ignited Company.

The Power of You features tailored workshops, laboratory and business sessions, and networking opportunities. Sponsors include Bristol-Myers Squibb, Gilead, GSK, Sanofi, Abbvie, Boehringer Ingelheim, Covance, Genentech, Lilly, and Otsuka.

WOCIP was founded in 2015 to meet the unique professional and personal development needs of Black and Latina women in the pharmaceutical and life sciences industry.

“Research shows that women of color are not well represented in S&P 500 companies.

WOCIP aims to empower women of color to develop and use their voices more effectively,” said Patricia L.N. Cornet, M.A., co-founder and vice president, WOCIP. The conference caps a year of global expansion and recognition for WOCIP. Cornet was a featured speaker at the 2019

United Nations Empowering Women & Girls Summit in New York City, where she addressed the underrepresentation of women of color in leadership roles across industries, and the connection between WOCIP’s mission and the U.N. 2030 sustainability goals. On May 9, 2019, WOCIP held its first European event in the United Kingdom. The society seeks to increase its network of 1,300 dynamic women in the pharmaceutical industry.

“WOCIP’s vision is to strengthen leadership competencies globally and enable all stakeholders to take ownership of barriers to development of women of color,” said Charlotte Burton-Jones, M.D., M.S., cofounder and president, WOCIP. “Our annual conference will connect thought leaders and influencers in an engaging and nurturing milieu.” This year’s event will also feature a preconference mind-body-soul primer.

For conference registration, visit: https:// wocip.org/third-annual-conference/ About Women of Color in Pharma (WOCIP) WOCIP is a 501(c) (6) non-profit organization that promotes the development and advancement of women of color in the pharmaceutical industry. WOCIP has a network of more than 1,000 members and followers representing more than 65 bio-pharmaceutical and contract research organizations in the United States and Europe. Visit https://wocip. org/ /Facebook/LinkedIn/Twitter/Instagram.

THIS IS AN EDUCATIONAL CONFERENCE THAT WILL FEATURE PROMINENT KEYNOTE SPEAKERS, AND INSPIRING AND MOTIVATIONAL SESSIONS. INSTRUCTIONAL WORKSHOPS WILL BE CONDUCTED ON PRACTICE, SOCIAL POLICY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUES THAT AFFECT THE EVERYDAY LIVES AND DESTINY OF BLACK INDIVIDUALS, BLACK FAMILIES AND BLACK COMMUNITIES.

The National Association of Black Social Workers Extends Invitations To Its 52ND Annual Conference in April, 2020 The National Association of Black Social Workers invites you to Save the Date for the 52nd Annual Conference, April 14-18, 2020 at the Detroit Marriott – Renaissance Center, Detroit, Michigan. This year’s theme is “Ma’at: African-Centered Values as Practical Healing Tools.”

A personal invitation has been extended to you to take part in a broad array of workshops, institutes and symposiums; as well as to celebrate 52 years of advocacy in the interest, development and strengthening of the Black community.

This is an educational conference that will feature prominent keynote speakers, and inspiring and motivational sessions.

Instructional workshops will be conducted on practice, social policy and social justice issues that affect the everyday lives and destiny of Black individuals, Black families and Black communities.

Chapter presidents and finance committee representatives will be supported through roundtables and workshops designed to provide support on the local

and national levels.

The conference location is in Detroit, a comeback city which is on the rise with more than $24 billion invested in its revival.

It offers numerous attractions outside of the conference for you to explore.

Conference early bird registration will open in February, so put NABSW on your calendar!

The association invites you to join them in this important discourse as warriors for social justice for people of Black African ancestry.

They want to hear your input as professionals and social work students as they seek to impart African-centered values as practical healing tools.

For more information, visit the National Association of Black Social Workers website at www.nabsw.org or call (202) 678-4570. www.thechicagocitizen.com

The National Association of Black Social Workers invites you to Save the Date for its 52nd Annual Conference scheduled to take place on April 14-18, 2020 in Detroit. The association invites you to join them in this important discourse as warriors for social justice for people of Black African ancestry.

CITIZEN | Chicago Weekend | Week of Oct. 30, 2019

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CLASSIFIEDS SERVICE

Skill Share

SERVICE

Is your child struggling in one class and excelling in another? Before coughing up the cost of a tutor to get your child up to speed, consider a skill share as a free and friendly alternative. There is likely a student in your child’s class who possesses the opposite strengths and challenges.

Encourage your child to team up with that student and become cooperative study buddies.

Online Calculators All-in-one web-based mathematics resources can eliminate the expense of a calculator and other math supplies. For example, ClassPad.net, free to educators and students, is a tool geared toward K-12 and beyond that exceeds the functionality of a calculator. A user-friendly tool that’s also offering educators an innovative way to share lesson plans, among its many features are a virtual protractor and compass, and a math-based text editor that provides a rich assortment of mathematical templates.

This web-based calculator is designed to be equally usable by keyboard and mouse as with touch-based platforms and gives users the ability to create folders, organize and share work. To register, or for more information, visit ClassPad.net.

Organize a Fundraiser From band uniforms to chess club fees, participation in extracurricular and after school activities frequently comes with a price tag. To reduce or eliminate such expenses for not only your child, but for every club or team member, consider spearheading a fundraiser and getting everyone involved. From car washes to silent auctions, fundraisers do more than the name implies, building team spirit among participants and community awareness of the club’s goals and accomplishments.

With a few tricks and some new tech, your family can save significantly on the cost of school. __________________________________

LIVING 4 Ways to Make Turning Back the Clocks a Cinch (StatePoint) Daylight Saving Time may end like clockwork each fall, but that doesn’t make the transition any easier. Here are four ways to avoid scheduling snafus, missed appointments and lost sleep.

• Revamp Evenings: Time changes are best handled when you’re well-rested.

Encourage plenty of sleep in the weeks ahead. Before bed, avoid activities that make sleep more evasive, such as looking at bright screens, consuming caffeine or indulging in too much alcohol. A vigorous workout, while great for your cardio health, is best performed at least several hours before lights out.

Tidy Housekeeping & Laundry Services 773-782-1414 NOW SERVING IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD Affordable- Reliable www.tidyhousecleanlaundry.com

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MISCELLANEOUS TRAINING/EDUCATION AIRLINE CAREERS FOR NEW YEAR BECOME AN AVIATION MAINTENANCE TECH. FAA APPROVED TRAINING. FINANCIAL AID IF QUALIFIED - JOB PLACEMENT ASSISTANCE. CALL AIM 800-481-8312 __________________________________

RENTAL Newly decorated 4 room, 2Br apt. 5200 block S Racine, $650/mo., stove and refrigerator Ask for Mr. Lambert 773-370-7744 __________________________________

DRIVERS FALL INTO A GREAT NEW CAREER AT TTI! $1600 Sign-on Bonus! EXPERIENCED DRIVERS *Flatbed *Step Deck *Van *LTL Reefer. Pay is 26% Gross Flatbed/Step Deck & up to .53/mile Van/Reefer. Full benefits w/FREE Health & Life Insurance, 6 paid Holidays, + Industry leading Driver Bonus Program! Must have Class A CDL. Call Ruth or Mike at TTI Inc. 1-800-222-5732 Apply online ttitrucking.com __________________________________

PUBLIC NOTICE

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 A Cohen, Pastor Telephone (773) 993-9796. __________________________________

EDUCATION Great Ways to Make Education More Affordable (StatePoint) As most parents know, even a free public school education comes with certain expenses that over the course of a school year can really add up. While many of these expenditures feel unavoidable, there are certain ways that families can save money on the hidden costs of schooling.

• Connected Tech: You don’t necessarily need a smartwatch to avoid the hassle and potential risk of forgetting to wind watches back. Instead, consider a connected watch that updates automatically when Daylight Saving Time starts or ends or when traveling to a different time zone. For example, the shock-resistant, solar-powered GShock GSTB100XA-1A is equipped with Bluetooth that lets it connect with a smartphone to receive time information from an internet time server. Likewise, the Casio Edifice EQB1000D-1A, a new high-spec super-slim model with phone linking capabilities can keep you further on track with a daily alarm, full auto-calendar and stopwatch.

• Avoid Anxiety: The anxiety caused by a time change can ironically make it harder to function. Make a point of engaging in some stress-reducing activities like meditation, yoga or relaxing with a book. These activities can also serve to create a calming bedtime routine.

• Think of the Family: Time changes can be especially difficult on young children and pets who don’t understand why bedtimes and feeding schedules have changed.

Ease kids and furry creatures into the time change by shifting their schedules 10-15 minutes each day.

While “falling back” is a time-honored tradition, it can take its toll on schedules and health. With some smart strategies, you can set your clocks back with ease. __________________________________

Darrell Garth

President /Publisher

Janice Garth

Sales Manager General Manager

Editorial

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

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

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Connected To Us Can’t Get Any Easier. .

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