CHICAGO WEEKEND CITIZEN 12-22-2021

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

Citizen Week of Dec. 22, 2021

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

CHICAGO WEEKEND

Tracy Powell and Nikki Bravo are the founders of Momentum Coffee & Coworking. The coffee and coworking space opened a location in Millennium Park in November. Photos provided by Christi Love

CAFÉ AND COWORKING SPACE PROVIDE ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT Tracy Powell and Nikki Bravo have opened the successful Momentum Coffee & Coworking at Millennium Park located at 11 N. Michigan. This new location builds upon the business owners’ mission to grow and develop new and emerging businesses in the Black community. PAGE 2

How will churches and ministries look Post-Pandemic?

FASHION: Foot Locker, Inc. Announces New Womenswear Brand Cozi

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2 | CITIZEN | Chicago Weekend | Week of Dec. 22, 2021

NEWS briefly SLAUGHTER ENCOURAGES LOCAL HOLIDAY SHOPPERS TO REVIEW 2021 SAFE SHOPPING GUIDE CHICAGO – To help protect children this holiday season, state Rep. Justin Slaughter, D-Chicago, is encouraging local holiday shoppers, parents and guardians to consult Attorney General Kwame Raoul’s annual Safe Shopping Guide.

“For most people, the holiday season is a time to reconnect with family and loved ones, but for others it also presents the perfect time to scam individuals,” said Slaughter. “In addition to not buying recalled products, consumers must also be wary of other hazards like lead paint.”

Attorney General Kwame Raoul’s office recently released their 2021 Safe Shopping Guide, which is the latest in a series of annual lists of recalled and hazardous consumer products that include children’s toys, clothes and games. In addition to consulting the guide, shoppers should be sure to also review the product’s labels or packaging for information about a product’s hazards and safety guidelines. To access the 2021 Safe Shopping Guide, please visit Attorney General Raoul’s website at www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/ consumers/safe_shopping.html.

“Our children are our future, and it’s up to each of us who cares for them to make sure that they are safe and enjoy a holiday season to remember,” said Slaughter. “I encourage anyone who is buying a gift for a child or young person to consult the 2021 Safe Shopping Guide before doing so.”

INTERFAITH CONVENING CALLS TO SUPPORT PROPOSAL TO HOUSE 12,000 CHICAGOANS IN THE NEXT 10 YEARS CHICAGO – “We may have different beliefs, but all of our faiths call upon the moral imperative to end homelessness,” said Reverend Jackie Triche Atkins, a minister with Christ Universal Temple on Chicago’s Southside. Yesterday, Thursday, December 9, 2021, 100 Chicagoans including leaders from the Islam, Bahá’í, Jewish and Christian faiths and members from over 15 faith institutions came together via Zoom to listen, learn, and share about the housing and homelessness crisis in Chicago. A yearly estimate from Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, states over 58,000 are experiencing homelessness on the streets, in shelters or living-doubled-up.

Bring Chicago Home, a campaign endorsed by over 85 organizations in Chicago, proposes to create a new, dedicated revenue stream to fund permanent, supportive housing (PSH) for people experiencing homelessness. PSH, a model that combines affordable housing with wraparound services like mental health supports and job training, plays a critical role in stabilizing and healing people after their traumatic experience with homelessness. The new revenue would come from increasing the real estate transfer tax, a one-time tax on properties sold for over $1 million, impacting less than 5% of property transactions in Chicago. This additional funding could house an estimated 12,000 families in the next 10 years.

After supporting the Bring Chicago Home campaign during her election bid, Mayor Lori Lightfoot has since refused to support a proposal that would both change the real estate transfer tax on high end property transactions and dedicate a portion of the additional resources to homelessness.

“It is incredibly frustrating, but this is a season of hope. I am hopeful. I am hopeful that our Mayor and city council Aldermen can act on this proposal. It’s simply the right thing to do,” ended Reverend Jackie.

Tracy Powell is the co-founder of Momentum Coffee & Coworking, along with his wife Nikki Bravo. Photos provided by Christi Love

Nikki Bravo is the co-founder of Momentum Coffee & Coworking, along with her husband Tracy Powell. Photos provided by Christi Love

Café and coworking space provide economic empowerment Continued from page 1

BY TIA CAROL JONES

Tracy Powell and Nikki Bravo have opened the successful Momentum Coffee & Coworking at Millennium Park located at 11 N. Michigan. This new location builds upon the business owners’ mission to grow and develop new and emerging businesses in the Black community.

The business, which sits right under the Cloud Gate sculpture, has been doing robust business since it opened in November.

In 2017, Powell and Bravo opened their first coworking space Blue Lacuna, located at 2150 S. Canalport. The space is dedicated to creating opportunities for entrepreneurs who are people of color and from under resourced communities. It offers offices, an open coworking space and a small event space.

Ignite Technology and Innovation is the nonprofit organization run by Powell and Bravo. Its mission is to accelerate small businesses and it offers classes and workshops to youth in technology and entrepreneurship.

The next step for them was to figure out

how to go into other neighborhoods, with a focus on what is feasible. They decided that having coffee in the coworking space was a good fit. While people like to work in coffee shops, they aren’t often equipped with all the resources small business owners need.

In 2019, Powell and Bravo opened the first location of Momentum Coffee & Coworking at 2115 S. State St. That location, in the South Loop, offers huddle spaces, a conference room and an open coworking area. The idea was to branch out from the 14,000 square feet Pilsen location and have smaller locations with a maximum impact on the neighborhoods.

There are two other locations currently in construction. One in Englewood and another in North Lawndale. The goal is to open both at the end of the first quarter of 2022. Powell hopes that Momentum Coffee & Coworking will be able to open more locations in other communities.

For Bravo and Powell, it is not just about the buildings their coffee and coworking spaces are located in, even though it is the place where they start creating spaces.

“Before that, there weren’t any great

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spaces for people to accelerate their businesses, to start their businesses, or to have programs and meetings in our neighborhoods. Folks were going outside our neighborhoods to have meetings and I felt like if we were going to have a viable community, having spaces in those neighborhoods makes sense,” Powell said.

It helps the neighborhood and people in the community because Momentum bases its programs on entrepreneurship and building businesses. The aim is to accelerate new businesses and start up businesses in that space. There is an afterschool coding program, in partnership with the Chicago Urban League, as well as a weekend robotics program for the youth.

The coworking space works on a monthly membership, or a daily memberships.

Monthly memberships cost $125 and daily memberships cost $25. People can also rent conference rooms and huddle spaces.

For more information about Momentum & Coworking, visit www.momentumcoffee. org. For more information about Ignite Technology and Innovation, visit www. ignitetechnology.org.

CITIZEN | Chicago Weekend | Week of Dec. 22, 2021

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NEWS

Ellume COVID-19 Home Test to Allow Users to Send Results to Healthcare Providers FREDERICK, Md. and BRISBANE, Australia PRNewswire -- In anticipation of the U.S. Food & Drug Administration’s (FDA) granting emergency use authorization to two new antiviral treatments for COVID-19, digital diagnostics company Ellume today announced that its COVID-19 Home Test (ECHT) will soon allow users to connect directly with telemedicine providers, which builds on the test’s existing capability to share their result directly to healthcare providers. This direct, digital connection to telemedicine providers, currently in development, will help ensure patients have quick access to the new antiviral treatments, which typically must be taken shortly after infection to be most effective.

“With growing concern about the threat from the new Omicron variant, people are increasingly turning to rapid at-home COVID-19 tests to help keep themselves and their families safe. By combining these tests with the new antiviral drugs, we have a powerful tool that can help better manage the pandemic and provide peace-of-mind to everyone concerned about catching or spreading the virus,” said Dr. Sean Parsons, Founder and Chief Executive of Ellume.

The new antiviral therapy coming on the market will be most effective when taken five days or less after symptoms develop, meaning that consumers need to receive a positive test and be connected to a doctor who can prescribe treatment in a short window. The advanced digital capabilities in Ellume’s ECHT will address this need by allowing users to connect directly to a medical professional following a positive test. Upon receiving test results, the information is automatically transmitted to the user’s smartphone and able to be reported in real time to healthcare providers, or other organizations as needed.

More than one-quarter of Americans don’t have a primary care doctor, so Ellume’s test will provide the option of connecting to your own healthcare provider, if you have one designated, or allowing you to choose from a selection of telemedicine providers in the area. To truly take advantage of new medications, early, accurate diagnostics can help facilitate timely treatment measures.

With its innovative telehealth capabilities, Ellume is empowering consumers with the information they need to navigate the pandemic and the confidence that receiving treatment if needed will be as easy-as-possible.

In developing the Ellume COVID-19 Home Test (ECHT), Ellume took a different approach than many other antigen

detection products on the market – one that provides increased sensitivity without the cost, complexity and accessibility issues of a laboratory-based molecular (PCR) test. The ECHT is the only rapid home antigen test that uses fluorescent technology, which provides superior sensitivity and has previously been used exclusively by healthcare professionals. The ECHT was the first rapid home antigen test to receive an EUA and is one of the few home tests clinically proven for symptomatic and asymptomatic use without requiring serial testing. The test’s swab enables deeper sample collection, offering the best compromise between sample quality and patient comfort. The test’s app guides the user through the test steps and displays the results in words within 15 minutes ensuring easy result interpretation. The test also includes a sample integrity control system to identify if an insufficient sample was collected which minimizes the risk of false negative results. The ECHT was awarded a TIME Best Inventions of 2021 award and a Popular Science Best of What’s New for 2021 award.

This product has not been FDA cleared or approved; but has been authorized by FDA under an EUA; This product has been authorized only for the detection of proteins from SARS-CoV-2, not for any other viruses or pathogens; and, This product is only authorized for the duration of the declaration that circumstances exist justifying the authorization of emergency use of in vitro diagnostics for detection and/or diagnosis of COVID-19 under Section 564(b)(1) of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, 21 U.S.C. § 360bbb-3(b)(1), unless the declaration is terminated or authorization is revoked sooner.

Ellume is a digital diagnostics company that develops, manufactures, and commercializes high-performance, connected products for healthcare professionals and consumers. It is at the forefront of accurate, rapid and accessible testing that is integral to today’s COVID-19 response and will help ensure the world is prepared for the next infectious disease pandemic. Ellume’s key focus is on the detection of common infectious diseases which affect the global population across all diagnostic settings; at-home, point-of-care and in-laboratory. Ellume has a global COVID-19 and TB partnership with QIAGEN, and a range of professional products under its ellume·lab brand. Ellume is committed to developing high-quality digital diagnostics that the world can rely on in a health crisis.

Further information can be found at ellumehealth.com.

Always Giving Back Foundation and Walmart Give Holiday Cheer in Ashburn and Auburn-Gresham On Saturday, Dec. 11, Christmas came early for 200 children during The Always Giving Back Foundation’s 2nd Annual Bike Giveaway at 7545 S. Western Avenue in Chicago’s Ashburn community. Residents with children living in the 60620 zip code received one free bike ranging from 12-20 inches intended for kids 2-10 years of age.

In partnership with Walmart and a generous $5,000 grant, the charitable arm of AGB Innovative Security Solutions, the Always Giving Back Foundation purchased twice as many bikes as last year, 200 compared to 100. In order to accommodate a larger age group of children, a wider assortment of bikes also were purchased including 12 inch, 16 inch and 20 inch bikes.

“I know what it’s like to grow up in a home without disposable income, and bikes aren’t inexpensive,” said John Griffin, Jr. CEO of AGB Innovative Security Solutions. “It broke my heart to turn families away last year after we gave out the last bike, so I’m thrilled for the partner-

ship with Walmart to not only double our efforts but also buy bikes for older kids.”

Last year, 80% of bikes were distributed to Black or African American families as part of the nonprofit’s mission to disrupt the cycle of poverty through workforce development, financial wellness, and philanthropy. The event was hugely popular and put smiles on the faces of many deserving children living in underserved communities within Chicago.

“It’s heartwarming to play even a small part in making a child’s day by receiving a bike. I’m excited Walmart could partner with AGB to make this event a success,” said Keith Wyche, Vice President of Community Engagement and Support of Walmart.

Chicago’s premiere Black Santa “Dreezy Claus” helped spread the holiday cheer and distributed holiday favorites - candy canes and hot chocolate, as well as snapped selfies.

Many volunteers made up of AGB and Walmart employees as well as neighboring organizations were on hand to

ensure the success of the event.

To help reduce the spread of COVID and minimize physical contact as much as possible, the Bike Giveaway was a drive-thru event. Accommodations were made for individuals without vehicles.

Participants had to present a valid form of government-issued identification and reside within the 60620 zip code. One bike per family was distributed.

The Always Giving Back Foundation provides resources and opportunities for those in underserved communities. In 2012, the AGB Foundation was established to help minority high school students, young adults and families in struggling communities improve their financial security and quality of life. It is missioned to disrupt the cycle of poverty through workforce development, financial wellness, and philanthropy.

The AGB Foundation serves inner city neighborhoods on the South side of Chicago, where people of color have long experienced economic inequality.

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POLITICAL Affairs Belt law removes standardized test requirement for university acceptance starting Jan. 1 Starting Jan. 1, students who wish to attend an Illinois public college or university will no longer be required to submit ACT and SAT scores when applying, thanks to a law championed by State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Swansea).

“Standardized test scores do not showcase a student’s ability,” Belt said. “Students struggle each year to do well on ACT and SAT tests.

Removing this requirement will help test-anxious students get into college.”

The new law, led by Belt and Representative LaToya Greenwood (DEast St. Louis), creates the Higher Education Fair Admissions Act, which prohibits Illinois’ public universities from relying solely on a student’s ACT or SAT score to make an admissions decision.

Currently, a quarter of the country’s public universities do not require standardized tests scores for admittance. Notably, the University of Chicago recently saw record enrollment of firstgeneration, low-income and rural students after lifting its standardized test requirement.

Admission counselors have been looking more closely at the benefits from adopting test-optional strategies. Other submissions from students, including essays, activities and academic records, bring larger and more diverse applicants to colleges and universities.

“The ACT and SAT create a barrier for underprivileged and disadvantaged students,” Belt said. “When qualified applicants are denied admittance because of a test score, high-caliber students are left out. It’s essential that we continue to protect students and give them every available opportunity to support their future.”

Starting Jan. 1, incoming college students will not be required to submit standardized test scores under Public Act 102-0054.

Simmons law to ban hairstyle discrimination in schools to take effect Jan. 1 Starting Jan. 1, schools will be prohibited from discriminating against natural hairstyles traditionally associated with race and ethnicityincluding locs, braids, twists and afros - thanks to a law championed

by State Senator Mike Simmons (D-Chicago).

“No child should ever be singled out for sporting a hairstyle that authentically expresses their heritage and culture,” Simmons said.

“These policies only serve to humiliate students of color who choose to dress themselves and wear their hair in a style that honors and respects their heritage and ancestry.”

The Jett Hawkins Act prevents school boards, local school councils, charter schools and non-private schools from creating hairstyle-based dress code requirements. Simmons, who wears his hair in freeform locs, championed the law in support of Jett Hawkins, a 4-year old boy who was sent home from school earlier this year for having braids that violated his school’s dress code.

“Kids like Jett deserve to express themselves however they see fit and they shouldn’t have to be restricted by old fashioned and often racist dress codes,” Simmons said. “We need to empower Black children to have the confidence to express themselves naturally, and give them and their families more agency over their personal choices.

We still have more work to do, but I’m pleased that beginning in 2022, Black youth in Illinois will be able to wear their hair naturally in all schools.”

Public Act 102-0360 , which was signed into law by Gov. JB Pritzker on Aug. 13, will take effect Jan. 1 , 2022.

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4 | CITIZEN | Chicago Weekend | Week of Dec. 22, 2021

BUSINESS

Jennifer Epps to take helm of major fund With backing from major foundations, AFL-CIO and SEIU, “LIFT Fund” supports organizations that are pioneering worker community partnerships

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The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts Appoints Eric Pryor as Its Next President PHILADELPHIA PRNewswire -- The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA) is pleased to announce that Eric Pryor has been appointed president of the historic museum and college, beginning Tuesday, January 18.

One of America’s cornerstone cultural institutions, PAFA is poised to move forward into its next significant institutional chapter.

A strategic, creative, and collaborative leader, Pryor is skilled at guiding institutions through transitions and will partner with PAFA’s constituents to reimagine the organization and ensure its long-term sustainability.

“I am profoundly honored to be taking on the leadership of this historic and celebrated institution,” said incoming PAFA President Eric Pryor. “I am eager to work in partnership with the PAFA board, staff, faculty, students, and alumni, and start writing its next chapter together. I’m also delighted to be returning to Philadelphia and its varied communities. It is a city of great art and artistry, with PAFA as one of its crown jewels.”

Eric Pryor brings over 25 years of experience in education, museum administration and community-building initiatives to PAFA. He joins PAFA from the Harlem School of the Arts (HSA), where he has served as president since 2015. During his tenure he secured a significant gift that enabled the school to undertake its first major renovation in 40 years and move toward becoming a cultural hub for the neighborhood.

Previously, he served as Executive Director of The Center for Arts Education, was Executive Director of the New Jersey State Museum, and President of the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey. Pryor began his arts career as Executive Director of the Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation’s Center for Arts and Culture (CAC)

in Brooklyn, New York. He is a graduate of Tyler School of Art, Temple University (Master of Fine Arts) and Wayne State University (Bachelor of Fine Arts, Painting), and Columbia University’s Executive Leadership Program for Nonprofits.

“We unanimously chose Eric Pryor as the next President of PAFA because he has all the qualities we hoped for in our next leader: he is strategic, collaborative, and innovative, with the sensibility of an artist,” said PAFA Board of Trustees Chair Anne E. McCollum. “He will bring a new dynamic to our 216-year old institution that will help us respond to our changing society. I’d like to thank everyone involved in our extensive and inclusive search process resulting in the best possible outcome as we move forward together as an institution.”

“Eric Pryor resonates with PAFA’s shared core values as an institution—its traditions, commitment to diversity and inclusion as well as to education and stewardship, and its foundational bedrock of community,” said Board of Trustees Vice Chair and Board of Governors Chair Reginald M. Browne. “He made a palpable connection with the PAFA community, and I am confident that he will be a passionate advocate for PAFA’s legacy.”

Founded in 1805, the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts is America’s first school and museum of fine arts. A recipient of the National Medal of Arts, PAFA offers undergraduate and graduate programs in the fine arts, innovative exhibitions of historic and contemporary American art, and a world-class collection of American art.

PAFA’s esteemed alumni include Mary Cassatt, Njideka Akunyili Crosby, Maxfield Parrish, William Glackens, Barkley L. Hendricks, Violet Oakley, Louis Kahn, David Lynch, and Henry Ossawa Tanner. Learn more at PAFA.org.

WASHINGTON PRNewswire -- Amidst a global pandemic and ever-increasing worker inequality, the need to effectively organize and uplift worker voices towards better and safer working conditions has become imperative.

Worker centers and labor unions have an opportunity to step up to create unique partnerships that support new forms of worker organizing that ultimately lead to greater and sustained prosperity for workers.

The funders tapped Jennifer Epps as LIFT’s next leader in its fight to build a stronger labor movement across America.

To this end, Labor Innovations for the 21st Century Fund (LIFT Fund), a unique collaborative fund with a decade-long history, aims to ensure that workers are at the center of decision-making as public support for worker organizing increases. Over the past 10 years, LIFT has led the issuance of key grants to support a diverse array of innovative organizing projects, as well as to build trusting relationships within the movement. LIFT has been a vital convener that brings together philanthropy, unions, worker centers and other movement allies; and a thought partner focused on continuous learning for its funders and the field overall.

Backed by some of the largest and most forward-looking philanthropic institutions, including Ford Foundation, James Irvine Foundation, JPB Foundation, Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation, Omidyar Network, Open Society Foundations, Solidago Foundation, Surdna Foundation, TARA Health Foundation, The Unitarian Universalist Veatch Program at Shelter Rock, and W.K. Kellogg Foundation, as well as leading labor organizations, including the AFL-CIO and SEIU, LIFT is working to bring the unity and change that the movement needs.

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The funders recently tapped veteran labor strategist and organizer Jennifer Epps as LIFT’s next leader in its fight to build a stronger worker and labor movement and support innovative and bold strategies being developed by organizers across America.

Epps has worked on the frontlines leading strategies that have led to unionization, improvements in benefits, better working conditions, and raised millions of dollars for workers in the health care and education sectors.

As a former vice president of the largest local union in the world, 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, and as the former executive director of one of the largest teachers’ union locals in the nation, Epps brings more than 15 years of experience organizing and winning for workers to her new role as Executive Director of the LIFT Fund.

As a seasoned organizer and strategic leader with extensive experience building worker power, Epps has helped forge relationships and alliances between labor and community organizations to win major victories.

After a nationwide search, Epps will become the second executive director in LIFT’s 10-year history.

“I’m honored to join LIFT to build on the good work done so far and further its growth, especially in the U.S. South through the Southern Worker Opportunity (SWO) Fund. And I’m eager to help expand the capacity of labor, community and philanthropic organizations in building a future we

all want to see,” said Epps.

The search was led by a hiring committee composed of three funders, the AFLCIO, the Ford Foundation, and TARA Health Foundation, who considered a number of strong candidates.

“Jennifer was selected because she is a creative, visionary, and capable organizational leader who has dedicated her career to building power for working people,” said Fred Redmond, Secretary-Treasurer for the AFL-CIO. “As a founding member of the LIFT Fund, this is an exciting moment for the labor movement.

With more and more workers increasingly taking collective action, this is a moment that represents an opportunity to organize, grow, and build worker power. The LIFT Fund is well positioned to be at the center of this work.”

The AFL-CIO is a co-chair of the LIFT Fund and a seed funder for the SWO Fund.

Epps takes the reins after LIFT’s former Director, Valeria Treves, stepped down to serve as an Advisor for Worker Voice Engagement at the U.S. Department of Labor in February 2021.

“We see tremendous opportunity for change in this moment of increased support for worker voice and organizing, and are thrilled to have Jennifer Epps at the helm to usher the LIFT Fund into a new era,” said Sarita Gupta, director of the Future of Work(ers) program at the Ford Foundation. Ford is a co-chair of the LIFT Fund and a seed funder for the SWO Fund.

Today, LIFT has grown exponentially with the addition of a new initiative, the SWO Fund, a $20 million collaborative vehicle to support the development of a coordinated “ecosystem” of organizations, working on campaigns that can increase the collective power of workers, promote racial and gender justice, and improve the living and working conditions of workers across the South.

CITIZEN | Chicago Weekend | Week of Dec. 22, 2021

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FASHION

Foot Locker, Inc. Announces New Womenswear Brand Cozi Lifestyle Brand Offers Size-Inclusive Apparel Collection Designed to Encourage Women to Embrace Their Individuality and Feel Comfortable in Their Own Skin, Without Sacrificing Style or Comfort

Shop Style Shark Features Massive Christmas Sale

NEW YORK PRNewswire -- Foot Locker, Inc. (NYSE:FL) today announces the launch of its first proprietary womenswear brand, Cozi, that will be available globally and exclusively at Foot Locker and Champs Sports. Following successful controlled brand launches of LCKR and capsule collections by collaborators Melody Ehsani and Don C, Cozi is an apparel brand designed for women who keep up with trends, love sneakers and crave premium wardrobe staples at an affordable value.

Foot Locker, Inc. will launch the new brand with a strong cast of diverse women from around the United States, including singer and songwriter Sy’rai Smith, skateboarder and community organizer Briana King, content creator Ilianna Ayala Garcia, photographer Christina Paik, hooper and video producer Hannah O’Flynn, DJ and creative Amrit and musicians Angel & Dren Coleman, who will all showcase how they style Cozi to match their personalities.

Sy’rai Smith, the 19-year-old daughter of iconic singer-songwriter-actress Brandy, will star as the face of the debut collection. Sy’rai embodies the Cozi lifestyle – from her bold, stand-out style and passion for R&B and pop music to her recent advocacy of mental and physical health for young women.

Cozi marks Sy’rai’s first fashion brand ambassadorship.

“At Foot Locker, Inc., we are always thinking about the consumer. We understand that laid-back apparel isn’t just for lounging anymore, and wanted to bring a female-centric apparel line to the market that is comfortable, affordable and stylish” says Kirta Carroll, Vice President, GMM Global Women’s at Foot Locker, Inc. “The introduction of Cozi allows women to feel confident in pieces that mix and match with their own style and personality.

Just in time for the holidays, the debut Cozi collection is available now globally in-store and online at Foot Locker, Foot Locker

Break Out Online Fashion Retailer Unlike most of our competitors, Shop Style Shark is owned and operated by a woman. Dionne Middlebrooks is the heart of the business, but helping women feel beautiful is at the soul of what they do. From expert tips and trending updates to inspiration for your newest style – Shop Style Shark has something for everyone.

Whether you are looking for great loungewear for that stayhome gig, or you are planning holiday parties with someone special – you will find exactly what you love at Shop Style Shark – and at an affordable price. Stock up for yourself, or take care of some holiday gift shopping with this fantastic sale!

Shop Style Shark founder and owner, Dionne Middlebrooks, believes that great fashion and feeling great doesn’t have to come at a high price point. Shop Style Shark partners with designers to bring customers high-quality, trendy fashion at affordable prices. Visit https://shopstyleshark.com/ to learn more.

BlackPRWire

(Black PR Wire) Woman-owned online fashion retailer Shop Style Shark announces huge Christmas sale event.

At Shop Style Shark, our goal is to help our customers find everything they need in one place. And there is no better time than now to stock up on your favorite hot and trending styles. From Christmas Day to Dec. 29th, Shop Style Shark is offering customers 20% off everything in their online store.

On top of the already affordable prices and low shipping rates (free shipping on orders over $50), the 20% off bonus will help customers save even more on the items they have been longing for, as well as those they haven’t quite discovered yet. It is truly a great season for giving yourself and your loved ones the gift of high-quality, affordable fashion.

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Canada, Foot Locker Europe and Champs Sports, with exclusive styles and colors available at select locations. Ranging between $35 - $50, the premier collection boasts a neutral color palette including buttercream, dusty rose, antique bronze and pesto to name a few. Trend-forward styles including cropped quarter-zip pullover tops and hoodies, wide-leg sweatpants and high-rise joggers are available in inclusive women’s sizing XS - 3X. The “wear-whenever, wherever” brand will release seasonal collections in a blend of spandex and cotton fabric throughout 2022.

For more information about Cozi and to stay up-to-date on the collection releases, follow @footlocker, @footlockerwomen, @footlockercanada, @footlockereurope, @champssports and @champssports.womens.

Silver Jeans Co.™ Releases All-new Infinite Fit Jean

Silver Jeans Co. uses innovative technology and sustainable eco-washes for the Infinite Fit collection.

LOS ANGELES PRNewswire -- The Infinite Fit jean features innovative denim technology, allowing for one size to fit up to four waist sizes, making it a supple, adaptive jean that will fit every day.

The jeans are crafted with a revolutionary fabric with over 90% elasticity, expanding and contracting that adapt to the natural body changes women experience. The jeans feature amazing recovery and retention to enhance the wearer’s natural shape, without the risk of stretching out over time.

“Creating Infinite Fit was a very cool process for us. We used what we learned from the past 30 years and combined that with new technologies available today to create a jean that is as comfortable as it is fashionable,” said Michael Silver, Silver Jeans Co. CEO. “At the same time we simplified the buying process with a jean that comes in only four sizes, yet fits everybody’s size and shape.”

The idea was developed by vice president of design, Janice Marks, due to the stay-at-home order. Finding that getting ready for work each day helped her retain a sense of normalcy, she realized the need for a jean with the fit and function of activewear, but the authenticity of real denim.

“With the changes and fluctuations my body went through, and the difficulty of online ordering, I wanted to incorporate

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this innovative technology into a denim collection where one size fit four sizes,” Marks said. “Not only is it a foolproof option to solve my online shopping conundrum, but I now have jeans that conform and adjust as my body dictates, creating a perfectly slimming skinny jean.” www.citizennewspapergroup.com

The new Infinite Fit also reflects Silver Jean’s progression toward environmental consciousness, using a signature eco wash that results in less water, chemicals and energy expenditure than traditional denim wash methods. Since the line also ebbs and flows with sizing, it can become the closet staple for years, which means less waste.

Size small is suited for sizes 24 to 27; medium sizes 28 to 31; large sizes 32 through 35; and an XL 36 through 39 or dress sizes 16-18.

Infinite Fit retails for $68USD and $88CAD. It’s available now at silverjeans.com, and soon through specialty retailers, including Nordstrom.com and Macys.com in the US, and Mark’s and PSEUDIO in Canada. The brand also has upcoming plans to add silhouettes and expand into men’s.

Established in 1991, Silver Jeans Co.’s heritage is what makes them one-of-a-kind. The brand is known for their expertly crafted denim that’s designed to fit every body type. With a unique design approach and variety of options in rises, leg openings, inseams and washes, Silver Jeans Co.™ is the destination for anyone looking for their perfect fit. Silver Jeans Co.™ products are sold online at silverjeans.com, as well as major department stores and independent retailers.

6 | CITIZEN | Chicago Weekend | Week of Dec. 22, 2021

Moving forward together We’ve been through a lot together and have proved to be resilient. The approaching new year brings with it new possibilities to help our clients, communities and teammates move forward and prosper — safely.

Using our industry-leading digital tools, like mobile check deposits, Erica,® CashPro® and access to Zelle,® individuals and businesses are finding it easier to do their everyday banking. Across the country, the expertise of our specialists and our teammates in financial centers is helping clients meet all their financial needs at every stage of their lives.

In our communities, we continue to collaborate with local partners, business leaders, experts and academics across the public and private sectors to fuel job growth and financial stability. More than $400 million of our $1.25 billion commitment to advance racial equality and economic opportunity is already supporting diverse small businesses and partners, including many recipients here in Chicago who provide job skilling and hiring programs.

We’ve also increased resources to support our teammates’ emotional and financial well-being. Recently, we raised our minimum hourly wage for U.S. employees to $21 per hour, moving closer to our goal of $25 by 2025.

My teammates and I look forward to growing existing partnerships and creating new ones as we work together to make a difference. Have a safe and happy holiday season.

What would you like the power to do? ®

Paul Lambert President, Bank of America Chicago

Learn more at bankofamerica.com/chicago

Zelle and the Zelle related marks are wholly owned by Early Warning Services, LLC and are used herein under license. Bank of America, the Bank of America logo, Erica® and CashPro® © 2021 Bank of America Corporation. All rights reserved. are registered trademarks of the Bank of America Corporation. Bank of America, N.A. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender

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CITIZEN | Chicago Weekend | Week of Dec. 22, 2021

iamBrandon takes his game to the next level with Xfinity Internet. He gets WiFi speed faster than a gig to game and stream for his legion of fans. And, when he’s not runnin’ it online, he kicks back with the ultimate in Black storytelling with the Black Experience on Xfinity. Plus, he enjoys his favorite streaming apps all in one place with his Xfinity Flex 4K streaming TV box, free with Xfinity Internet. Can your Internet do that?

Visit xfinity.com/xFi to learn more.

Restrictions apply. Not available in all areas. Internet: Gig speed requires Gigabit Internet and compatible xFi. Many factors affect speed, including equipment performance, interference, congestion, and speeds of visited websites. WiFi speeds are affected by additional factors, including distance from Gateway, home configuration, personal device capabilities, and others. For factors affecting speed visit xfinity. com/networkmanagement. Flex: Requires post-paid subscription to Xfinity Internet, excluding Internet Essentials. Not available to current Xfinity TV customers. Pricing subject to change. Taxes, fees and other applicable charges extra, and subject to change. Limited to up to 3 devices. 1 device included. Call for restrictions and complete details. ©2021 Comcast.

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Everyday player to award-winning streamer

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iamBrandon Award-Winning Streamer and Twitch Partner

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8 | CITIZEN | Chicago Weekend | Week of Dec. 22, 2021

ENTERTAINMENT

Hallmark Mahogany Launches All-New Writing Community

BlackPRWire

Warner Bros. Hosts ‘The Matrix Resurrections’ DJ Battle (Black PR Wire) - ORLANDO, FL - On Saturday, Warner Bros. sponsored a “Red Pill vs Blue Pill”, Matrix-themed, DJ Battle at Orlando’s Culture Fest in anticipation of the upcoming release of The Matrix Resurrections with thousands in attendance . The battle featured DJ Dr Doom (93.3 The Beat) and DJ D Strong of (104.5 The Beat) along with rappers Ayche (Tampa, FL) and Kevy Dat Deal (Tallahassee, FL). The audience danced and sang to the music with a lighthearted happiness filling the air.Team Red Pill, DJ Dr. Doom and Kevy Dat Deal, were crowned as winners of the battle by the end of the night.

The headlining DJ, D-Nice gave a rousing performance with host Kenny Burns. Mystikal, Lil G from Silk and Jagged Edge also adorned the stage performing their greatest hits. It staged some of

Florida’s greatest DJs such as DJ Kayotic, DJ Emcee, DJ Squirel, DJ Ghostrider, DJ Sir Knight Train, DJ Bo Weezy and more. The festival also featured local talent, CeCe Teneal.

Warner Bros. activation team was onsite giving away t-shirts, caps and glow bracelets, spreading the word about the film and even included Matrix Trivia for the attendees to enjoy. Guests also took pictures in front of the Matrix backdrop with green glow sticks that lit up the night with Matrix green.

This was the first festival of its kind in the Orlando area since the pandemic and the crowd came ready to dance, sing along to the music, enjoy the great food vendors and to have an overall awesome night out.

Many fans came in the early afternoon and stayed the entire day enjoying the festival until sundown.

Sharifah Hardie Launches “Black Guest List” (Black PR Wire) Founded

by Sharifah Hardie, the newly launched platform Black Guest List provides media outlets immediate access to Black influencers, Black thought leaders, Black politicians, Black business professionals, Black authors, Black entertainers, and Black artists interested in locating media opportunities.

Historically it is hard for hosts to find people from diverse backgrounds to interview. Black Guest List makes finding these guests simple, by creating a comprehensive searchable database of potential guests and providing a space for Black people worldwide to share their stories.

“We are not looking to just make a list of Black people. Our aim is to provide access to media opportunities qualified guests otherwise would not be aware of, to increase Black representation in the media and put their distinct views front and center,” says Sharifah Hardie Founder of Black Guest List, Chief Executive Officer of IT TV Network & President of the Southern

BlackPRWire

California Black Chamber of Commerce - Long Beach Area.

“As a talk show host I don’t see many Black guests listed on the websites I use to find new guests. I want to change that. I want to make Black Guest List the go-to platform for Black people of note to find interviews on podcasts, television shows, print publications and radio shows and make it easier for anyone with a microphone to find a fascinating guest without dealing with intermediaries!”

Radio hosts, podcast producers, and television show bookers can use the well-designed interface of

the website to find expert guests for interviews. With so many radio talk show hosts, podcast producers, online radio show producers, satellite radio producers, and television program bookers searching for new interview guests each week, it can be tough to book a suitable one in time. Black Guest List will now make their lives much easier.

Whether the media outlet needs a Black comedian, Black doctor, Black professor, Black athlete, or a Black educator — Black Guest List is the ultimate Black media source for anyone looking for guests for a tremendous enlightening interview. www.citizennewspapergroup.com

KANSAS CITY, Mo., PRNewswire -- Hallmark Mahogany announced today the launch of the Mahogany Writing Community on the all-new Mahogany.com site.

The writing community is a place where Black women can share their personal stories and experiences in their own authentic voices, connect through emotionally meaningful moments, and cultivate sisterhood.

“Through the Mahogany Writing Community, we are thrilled to celebrate Black women and build a place of trust and sisterhood that honors the beauty, diversity, resilience, fierceness, and vibrancy of Black womanhood,” said Alexis Kerr, vice president of the Mahogany brand at Hallmark. “For more than 30 years, Mahogany has been a trusted brand within the Black community. Today, we are building on that trust and positioning our brand to more than ever touch our consumer exactly where she is, through creating culturally authentic and resonant content and, of course, through our beautiful products that speak to her life.”

The Mahogany Writing Community currently includes eight writers with more to join in the coming months. The inaugural group is made up of Black women from a variety of backgrounds and experiences including authors, poets, advocates, activists, content creators and musicians. They will write original content across a range of topics - romantic relationships and friendship, sisterhood and motherhood, fitness and wellness, self-love and self-care, education and work, culture, and heritage, and much more.

“I am incredibly excited to be a part of this community! As a songwriter, I seldom have the chance to share my words in a larger format, and I consider it a privilege to have received this invitation,” said writer Jamie Grace. “I’m also, on a personal note, a ridiculous fan of Hallmark with actual movies on DVD in my home right now. This is wildly exciting!”

“The Mahogany Writing Community is a big part of Mahogany’s growth as a brand,” Kerr said. “We are creating a place where Black women can trust that their unique stories will be told, that their truths will be heard and honored, and their collective culture celebrated through the vibrant spectrum of their individual experiences. We are continuing to create an expressive, connective and reflective brand with and for Black women.”

The newly created Mahogany.com will be the online hub for the Mahog-

any brand where consumers can shop for Mahogany and other specially curated products, engage with and be inspired by original content from the Mahogany Writing Community, and connect with their community across multiple platforms including social media on Facebook and Instagram.

For more than 30 years Mahogany has built a relationship of trust with the Black community by honoring, celebrating, and supporting emotional connections among Black families, friends, and other loved ones. With its bold and culturally authentic voice and beautiful and diverse representations of blackness Mahogany helps our consumers celebrate the uniqueness of Black people, culture, and history; stand in the joys and trials of life together; and envision a hopeful and positive Black future.

Mahogany is committed to serving the evolving emotional needs of Black people, to helping deepen connections by reflecting real and relevant Black experiences, dreams, hopes, and faith, and to always making sure our consumers see themselves as they are – Black and beautiful.

For more than 100 years, family-owned Hallmark Cards, Inc. has been dedicated to creating a more emotionally connected world. Headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri and employing 27,000 worldwide, the approximately $3.5 billion company operates a diversified portfolio of businesses. The Hallmark Global business sells greeting cards, gift wrap and related products in more than 30 languages with distribution in nearly 100 countries and 100,000 rooftops worldwide, including a network of company-owned and independently-owned Hallmark Gold Crown stores in five countries. Crayola® offers a wide range of art materials and creative play toys designed to spark children’s creativity around the globe. Crown Media Family Networks operates three cable channels – Hallmark Channel, Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, and Hallmark Drama – in addition to Hallmark Publishing, a leading publisher of uplifting eBooks, audiobooks, and print editions, and Hallmark Movies Now, a subscription-based streaming service. Crown Center is a real estate development company that manages the 85-acre hotel, office, entertainment and residential campus surrounding Hallmark’s headquarters.

For more information, visit Hallmark. com. Connect on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, LinkedIn and YouTube.

CITIZEN | Chicago Weekend | Week of Dec. 22, 2021

NEWS

How will churches and ministries look Post-Pandemic?

(Black PR Wire) United Theological Seminary Doctor of Ministry Program is offering a new Focus Group entitled, “A Generational Approach for Today’s Urban Ministry in the Next Normal.

This Focus Group is designed for current and emerging senior leaders of local congregations. It will examine implications of “Next Normal” core elements for congregational ministry; ministry paradigm shifting, connecting and leading hybrid multi-generational congregations; plus much more.

The principles of urban ministry, new ministry methodologies and leadership during the Next Normal will also be covered.

Applications currently being

Client: ComEd Campaign: Holiday Lights Print Agency Job #: B1241-019889-00 AD #/AD ID: QEXL1196000 Date Modified: December 6, 2021 2:06 PM CR: AD Round: BlackPRWire

accepted. This group will prepare church and ministry leaders for a new way of thinking and ministering in the “Next Normal.”

For more information contact: https://united.edu/mentor_directory/dr-sheila-l-johnson/

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NOT TO BE USED FOR COLOR APPROVAL P: E.Garber

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AM: L. Mitchell

MAY YOUR HOLIDAY SEASON BE BRIGHT From the thousands of lights across Chicago to the display on your own front yard, ComEd is here to help power holiday spirit across Chicagoland. Because when neighborhoods shine brighter, communities grow closer.

Learn about holiday light displays in the Chicagoland area at ComEd.com/HolidayLights Happy Holidays from ComEd. © Commonwealth Edison Company, 2021

Region: US Language: English Notes: South Shore Current (AA) West of the Ryan Current (AA) West Side Current (AA)

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10 | CITIZEN | Chicago Weekend | Week of Dec. 22, 2021

GETTING HUNDREDS OF SENIORS VACCINATED DOESN’T TAKE A VILLAGE. IT TAKES A GLORIA.

Gloria helped answer vaccination-related questions for seniors living at the Patrick Sullivan Seniors Building.

If you need someone to talk to about the COVID-19 vaccine, we are here for you.

Call 312-746-4835 Chicago.gov/SeniorVax

Chicago Department of Public Health

CITIZEN | Chicago Weekend | Week of Dec. 22, 2021

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MONEY Ring in the New Year with Three Simple Financial Resolutions * REAL PAPER * REAL INK * REAL NEWS

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Darrell Garth President /Publisher Janice Garth Sales Manager General Manager Tia Carol Jones Managing Editior Editorial Send news tips, press releases, calendar listing etc to: editorial@citizennewspapergroup.com

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(StatePoint) The New Year offers the perfect time for a fresh start and a renewed commitment to getting finances back on track after a season of spending – one where many Americans felt the effects of the pandemic on their wallets even before the onset of the holidays.

In fact, COVID-19 has already prompted consumers to start thinking differently about their finances. According to Lincoln Financial Group’s Consumer Sentiment Tracker, 59% say they are planning to make permanent changes to the way they spend and save due to the crisis. The findings went on to show that consumers’ top three financial concerns in today’s market include emergency savings (41%), having enough income in retirement (40%) and inflation (39%).

“Our research found consumers are especially interested in protection during times of financial uncertainty, which reinforces the need for financial planning,” said Sharon Scanlon, senior vice president, Customer Experience, Producer Solutions and Retirement Operations for Lincoln Financial Group. “Everyone has competing priorities but making a few easy adjustments can help people achieve their financial goals.”

Here are three simple financial resolutions Lincoln Financial recommends for 2022 to help strengthen consumers’ financial outlooks in the new year: 1. Review finances holistically. Ensure you evaluate the big picture – not just where you are spending, but where you are saving and protecting your future too. A simple budget will help you differentiate between needs and wants, enabling you to find areas to cut back or eliminate to find money to meet your financial goals, like retirement or emergency savings. Maximize online budgeting tools,

calculators and other financial wellness resources available through your employer too.

2. Prepare for the unexpected. Without the right protections in place, an unexpected event can derail retirement savings, disrupt your ability to provide for your family or drive you into additional debt. Look into coverages like disability, accident and life insurance that may be available through your employer or consider an individual life insurance policy.

Also, commit to funding your emergency savings account as part of your budget. And don’t forget to think about how you would fund the cost of care if you or a loved one had a long-term care event.

3. Plan for the future. Start with your employer-sponsored retirement plan and commit to save at least up to the match, if available. If you already meet the match, resolve to increase your retirement contributions each year, or with each increase in pay. You don’t just need a retirement plan, though – you need a plan for retirement! Consider diversifying your portfolio with an annuity. Also, inplan guaranteed income options can serve as a powerful tool to protect savings during periods of market volatility, while still benefitting you when the market goes up.

In addition to these resolutions, also consider meeting with a trusted financial professional who can help you identify solutions that best meet your individual needs and situation. Visit www.lfg.com for more tools and resources.

With a few proactive strategies, you can get 2022 started on the right financial foot.

Advertising Display Advertising advertising@citizennewspapergroup.com or jgarth@citizennewspapergroup.com Classified Advertising call us at (773) 783-1251 Display Advertising call us at (773) 783-1251 Coverage Areas: CHATHAM-SOUTHEAST

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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., (CNGII), Publisher of the ChathamSoutheast, 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 press release information to: editorial@citizennewspapergroup.com. For more information on subscriptions or advertising, call us at (773) 7831251 or fax (872) 208-8793. Our offices are located at 8741 South Greenwood Suite# 107, Chicago, Illinois 60619.

12 | CITIZEN | Chicago Weekend | Week of Dec. 22, 2021

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