Austm,may june 2013,ver 2,final,pdf

AFRICA US TODAY MAGAZINE

Poliosocionomics of World Peace

Issue III.XIV www.africaustoday.dotcom.wordpress.com 312/880-7016 May- June 2013 U.S.- $4.99 Canada- $5.99 London- 3 Pounds

SPRING ISSUE

Love Letters to our Mothers Spring Rejuvenation African’s Millionaires Women of Excellence Awards Black Women’s Expo Profile of Success DuSable Museum Night of 100 Stars Equal Work, Equal Pay

RE: ARISE WOMEN OF VIRTUES, ARISE MEN OF WISDOM: REFLECTION

OLAWALE IDREEZ PUBLISHER

It has been said again, and again, “If wishes were horses, even the beggars would ride free.” Almighty God is awesome! Our God is awesome! He always make wishes come to manifestation, especially the ones that will glorify His majestic name. And that is good news for us. I have had a few wishes that came to manifestation in recent years, including when my beloved mother passed ( the best mother in the world ) and came back to me. God answered my prayers in different ways, as daughters and grand-daughters. They all looked just like her. What a mother! Also, when I wished for former Mayor of Chicago, his excellency, Richard M. Daley, to name a street after Queen Oprah Winfrey because of the ways she used to put smiles on thousands of people’s faces on television. Five months later, the petition was granted. I really wish they would bring the ABC television show on again.

Then when I wished the current mayor, his excellency, Rahm Emanuel would win by 55 to 59% of the mayoral votes during the conversation between me and his mom, a very gracious woman. That was after she gave us Dunkin Donuts at the volunteer campaign office in Chicago. The wish came to manifest the next day, February 22, 2011.

The Honorable mayor won by 59%. Two guys saw me at the victory party that night shouted, “ Wally, you called the magic numbers, you called the magic numbers!” My spirit soliloquized, “ God will never share His glory with anyone.” Unless you want the devil to come and have Groupon sales in your backyard. God forbid!

Oh, God is truly awesome. He answers the prayer of the humble, to the glory of His mighty name. I just have to get that out of my system.

Lest I forget one more wish, I really wish the people that would pay full price ( plus sales tax ) to purchase pants in the store, but optionally decide to wear it half-price, would realize you are only short-changing yourselves. Please, please, and please men of wisdom, wear it up, and shine too!

Olawale Idreez is the co-author of “ The Consequences of Non-Intervention in the American Civil War by the European Powers.” Xlibris.com ( Book #81305 ), and Amazon.com. He is also the publisher and founder of Africa-US Today Magazine in collaboration with John E. Smith Jr., Editor-in-Chief.

Happy Father’s day to our readers and well-wishers. Read next publisher’s note in July edition of Africa- US Today Magazine. “God Bless America, God Bless Nigeria, my beautiful and charming ladies.

ARISE AND SHINE!

AFRICA US TODAY 3

CONTENTS

Africa US Today MAGAZINE

SPRING ISSUE

7 MACY’S FLOWER SHOW 8 LOVE LETTERS TO OUR MOTHERS

SPRING ISSUE

10 CHICAGO NEWS 12 Black Women’s Expo 13 EQUAL WORK, EQUAL PAY RALLY 14 NATIONAL NEWS- Caught in between: Story of an LPR ( Legal Permanent Resident ) 18 EVENTS 20 AFRICAN NEWS

4 AFRICA US TODAY

Photography- John E. Smith Jr. 2012, Copyright/ All rights reserved Model.Fashion Stylist, Makeup Artist- April Gayles

AFRICA US TODAY MAGAZINE

SPRING ISSUE

Defender-Women of Excellence

Defender Women of Excellence Awardees

AFRICA US TODAY 5

Robert L. Scott Sr. Photography

Macy’s Flower Show

JOHN E. SMITH JR. EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Spring, a time to rejuvenate Spring is a time to shake off the hibernating way of thinking. All around us we see flowers bloom, grass turn green, life springs anew.

In this issue we celebrate Mother’s Day and how some celebrate it. Take a moment to reflect on the impact Mothers everywhere have on the world teaching lifelong lessons, sharing love, and caring for the family. Take a sign from Mother Nature and rejuvenate your mind, body and soul. Feel rejuvenated!

John E. Smith Jr. Photographs

AFRICA US TODAY 7

Bronx Princess Launches Community Art Project: Love Letters to Our Mothers On May 11th, 2013, Love Letters to our Mothers Mural Project (“LLMP”) will launch its first mural on 1750 Jerome Ave between 175th street and Jerome Avenue. The unveiling ceremony will include a tour of the mural and the neighborhood surrounding it.

LLMP is a community based art project aimed at beautifying neighborhoods in the South Bronx and to increase the visibility of the immigrant community living there. In doing so, LLMP hopes to promote the culture of the steadily growing African population in this area. LLMP also aims to use art to promote awareness of the various immigrant groups in the South Bronx and generate community engagement.

Our first project focuses on Afro-Latino mothers as pillars of their families and their communities. The mural will visually represent their narratives.

The project 's curator, Rockyatu Otoo, is a Ghanaian- American native of the Bronx. She is a creative and community activist. Being the subject of the 2009 documentary Bronx Princess, inspired her passion for strengthening immigrant artistic communities. She initiated LLMP as a public art initiative to highlight immigrant culture.

Love Letters to Our Mothers has been supported by many community leaders and organizations who understand the need for more creative representations in the South Bronx. Mount Hope’s Youth programs such as Project READY has a demonstrated track record of equipping young people with tools to become effective community members. Bronx Community Board #5 Chair Dr. Bola Omotosho stated, "I fully support the Love Letters to Our Mothers Mural Project and hope to continue projects like this that beautify our community and create the arts

programming we need.�

Join us as we launch our mural and celebrate the mothers!

Mount Hope Community Center is located at 55 East 175 th Street between Townsend and Walton Avenues. Mural viewing begins at 12:30pm followed by an RSVP only dedication ceremony from 1:30pm-3:30pm. Refreshments will be served.

For more information and to RSVP please contact lovelettersmural@gmail.com or call 347-541-6419.

Show your support for us on: Facebook.

Finding Inspiration on the Road in your new car

CHICAGO NEWS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 9, 2013 CONTACT: Mayor’s Press Office 312.744.3334 press@cityofchicago.org

John E. Smith Jr. Photographs

CHICAGO NAMED A “PLAYFUL CITY USA” COMMUNITY City is One of 217 Communities Recognized Nationally by the Non-Profit Organization KaBOOM!

The national non-profit organization KaBOOM has named Chicago as a 2013 Playful City USA community for its efforts to provide children with access to a wide variety of safe opportunities for play. This is the first time Chicago has been recognized, and it is one of 217 communities this year.

“Throughout Chicago, we are investing in better public spaces and build stronger communities,” said Mayor Emanuel. “Together, working with parents, neighbors and community leaders, we can ensure that our children have safe and engaging environments to play and learn in every neighborhood.”

A major component of the City’s recognition is the Mayor’s call to ensure that every child in Chicago will live within a ten-minute walk from a neighborhood park. In March, Mayor Emanuel unveiled the new “Chicago Plays” Playground Program, which is a five-year playground renovation project that targets the replacement of equipment at over 300 aging playgrounds throughout the city, including 50 by November 2013. And with the start of this school year, Chicago’s elementary school students are guaranteed recess, a time to relax and recharge, for the first time in almost three decades.

“Kids need to play actively, every day, at home, in school and in their communities, yet play is disappearing,” said Darell Hammond, Founder and CEO of KaBOOM! and author of The New York Times Best Seller KaBOOM!: A Movement to Save Play. “Children spend nearly eight hours a day in front of a screen; almost half of all poor students are deprived of recess; and to make matters worse, only one in five children live within walking distance of a park. Playful City USA communities like Chicago are creating innovative programs and initiatives and deserve recognition because of their efforts to give kids the childhood they deserve and best prepare them for their future.”

KaBOOM!, the national non-profit organization dedicated to giving kids the childhood they deserve by bringing play to those who need it most, created Playful City USA in 2007 to help local

10 AFRICA US TODAY

CHICAGO NEWS

John E. Smith Jr. Photographs

.

AFRICA US TODAY 11

CHICAGO NEWS

BLACK WOMEN’S EXPO

Black Women’s Expo was held at McCormick Place in Chicago, IL catering to the needs, and interests, of Black Women. There were seminars, exhibitors booths, entertainment, fashion shows, booksignings and more.

The Expo was produced by Merry Green Productions John E. Smith Jr. Photographs

12 AFRICA US TODAY

CHICAGO NEWS

Equal Work, Equal Pay Rally A rally supporting Equal Work, Equal Pay for Women was held at Daley Plaza in Chicago, Il. Some of the guest speakers were Monique Carradine, Toni Preckwickle,Cook County Board President and Dorothy Brown, Cook County Clerk of the Circuit Court.

John E. Smith Jr. Photographs

AFRICA US TODAY 13

NATIONAL NEWS

Caught in between: Story of an LPR (Legal Permanent Resident) Prof. Josephine Osakwe, Advanced Legal Research Seminar (Citizenship Class) ( Continued from previous issue. )

This is the story as told by an immigrant woman who was a victim of domestic violence in her marriage.

Section Two My name is Jane, an immigrant from Western part of Africa. I came into the United States on a visitor’s visa as my international passport had a two years visa to the United States. On entering the U.S, I stayed with my U.S. citizen brother and his family in Houston, Texas. It was great visiting with them because I had not seen my brother and his wife in over ten years. Along the line, I got introduced to his friends, neighbors and church members etc. I found myself particularly drawn to one of his longtime friend, called Keshinro. He came to the U.S as a student about the same time as my brother; he had gotten married after his studies and eventually naturalized as a United States citizen. At the time we met he was divorced for almost six years. We began communicating, dating, after a while of courtship, one thing led to another and we eventually got married.

Keshinro was so loving, attentive, sweet, a perfect gentleman, or so I thought at the time but I was fooled into believing I had met my soul mate. For the first couple of months, our marriage was what any woman would dream of having, because Kenshinro was doting, in that he would open the car door for me to enter and exit, pull out chairs for me to sit before taking his own seat, make and serve me beverages. He once bought me a dozen red roses for no particular occasion-just to say, “I love you” he had replied, when I asked what the occasion was. He had told me before we got married he used to be a chain smoker but has now reduced to a couple of sticks a day with the intention to eventually quit. In fact he put up a ‘no smoking’ sign on the door of our apartment to keep his friends and visitors from smoking when visiting. He would not smoke inside the apartment just to show me that he intended to stick to his resolve to quit.

I was introduced to his thirteen year old daughter, Buky, from a previous marriage and his daughter and 14 Africa US Today Magazine

I hit it off instantly. She usually spent the weekend with us and stayed weekdays at her Mum’s. Since she was in elementary school she came directly to our apartment after school every weekday and stayed till late in the evening when her mum picked her up. This arrangement worked perfectly since I had not started work at the time, Buky and I got to keep each other company. Things were very dandy at this time, I was married to the guy I love and who loves me in return and we had our life ahead of us to start implementing all the plans we had made before marriage; like having a child or two, petitioning on my behalf to adjust my status, getting a job, eventually buying our own house, we even had plans to travel to Africa to meet one another’s family and also perform our traditional marriage but alas! This was never to be.

Though keshinro did file a change of status petition for me, the rest of our plans did not happen.

After a couple of months into our marriage, I began to notice some alarming trends with Keshinro. He would snap at me in reply when I ask him questions, he became easily irritated over things I cannot even put my finger on. He began to drink alcohol and spirits, from a shot; he graduated into taking a full glass at a time. He would undermine my authority before his daughter, for instance, on occasions when I have asked her to help out in the kitchen by washing the dishes, he would do the dishes himself before she got to it. Lots of instances he would barge in on me to ask why the garbage was not disposed when it was glaring I was not responsible for filling the garbage bag in the first place, at such times the garbage was usually filled with empty fast food boxes and plastic cups from Buky’s lunch or snack. Keshinro’s behavior was overbearing and controlling. When I called his attention to some of the things he said or did the previous day, he would deny ever saying such. This was scary because it was like living with someone with a double personality. Keshinro would go back to his loving self for a few days and then revert back to his nasty personality. Things took a downward

trend when he decided to stop attending the church he had introduced me to for no reason.

He had presented himself to be a very serious and practicing Christian when we started dating, this had endeared him to me the more because I felt I had found someone who loves God and was willing to serve Him just as I was. At this point, Keshinro took the ‘No smoking’ sign off the door of our apartment and would smoke indoors with utter disregard of how I felt.

Whenever Keshinro got back from work and had dinner all he wanted to do was lie on the couch and watch T.V, and that is on days he does not go out to hang out with friends. A lot of times he would call me names to my face, right in front of his daughter.

When we have the slightest of arguments he would tell me he is tired that he would rather be alone.

This was his subtle way of saying he wants out of the marriage, as the downward progression continued he no longer bothered to hide it, he would openly tell me to get out of his life. He would make rude comments to me right in front of his daughter about my weight and would use demeaning terms at me.

Sometimes he would refuse to talk to me for days on end over very trifle misunderstanding, at such times he would ensure I understood he was referring to his daughter when making an opinion about a T.V show by pointedly calling her name before every statement.

This became so embarrassing that a lot of times I would not sit in the front room to watch T.V shows to avoid these slights.

Keshinro’s attitude and treatment to me made life unbearable for me. The shock of him meting out this type of treatment to me in a marriage that was barely six months old was more than I could bear. I thought relationship experts usually said the honeymoon period in a marriage could usually last two to three years but such was not the case in my marriage. I was married to a guy that had the making of an angel but constantly took trips to explore and express the personality of a demon. The flip back and forth between the Keshinro I fell in love with and the one that despitefully uses me is still appallingly overwhelming. On those days and times he felt the sexual urge he would come unto me without the tenderness I was used and when he had satiated himself, he would leave me feeling less than a woman of easy virtue who had been molested, when I on the other hand indicate the need for emotional or sexual need, he brushes me aside claiming tiredness or not

NATIONAL NEWS being in the mood.

Consequently, I wept at the situation in my marriage anytime I was alone in the apartment or locked up in our bedroom. My health deteriorated and I ended up having severe high blood pressure, which triggered other complicated health issues in me. I was constantly sad and would weep at the drop of a hat, sometimes days would go by without me speaking to anyone face to face because my husband would not talk to me, the alternatives would be conversation with Buky when she was not busy on her phone or computer, or making a phone call or attendance of a church service where I got to communicate with other brethren.

The trend of things in my marriage made me to open up to my Pastors and spiritual counselor and they had invited Keshinro to several reconciliatory meetings.

He had attended two of such meetings but never stayed, he would always leave with an excuse that he had urgent matters to attend to. Sequel to these meetings, Keshinro called the pastors on his own to announce that we had settled whatever difference we had and that he wanted me in his life forever. I did not trust his announcement, I was very well familiar with this yoyo trend of ‘love today’ and ‘hate tomorrow’ situation. As I envisaged this was short-lived because not quite a week of him making the announcement he was back to calling me names. He began to keep late nights and sometimes would not come home at all till the next day. This went on till I just could not take anymore. Further health complications arose, I had breathing difficulty and would wheeze so much, it became so severe at a point in time that I ended up at the emergency room and was diagnosed to have asthma, the doctor warned that I should stay away from enclosed places, ensure I have lots of air and keep away from smoke, which were just a few of the guidelines I had to comply with. A couple of days after, Keshinro lit up smoky smelling incense all over the apartment just to get to me and this aggravated my condition, that I had to stay out of the apartment in the cold till the smell and smoke had dispersed.

At that point in time, i had received my temporal green card as a legal permanent resident from the Department of homeland security, so I was able to apply for social security and got a job. Whilst on the job, being busy kept my mind off my sorrowful AFRICA US TODAY 15

existence, but once I got back home, it was like stepping back into an incarceration of loneliness and gloom. There was always tension in our home even when Keshinro and I are on speaking terms. It was like a situation of walking on egg shells because I just was not sure of what I might do or say that will set him off. Most times when lost in thought over my marital situation I find it difficult to believe that this was the same man I had married.

Sometimes just for the fun of it he would purposely say things that were hurtful to see what my reaction would be. A lot of times he would throw his exwife’s name in my face and declaring that he loves her, other times he would make subtle threats at me about refusal to assist me for the removal of the temporary status on my green card, at other times he would openly ask for divorce.

As this trend persisted, I was gradually losing it. I was getting to that point where I just could not continue living that way for the sake of my sanity. How could someone be so nasty and cruel in one day and be so nice the next day like nothing mean ever came out of their mouth. My sad demeanor attracted me to a social counselor in my church who gave me several sessions of counseling and she directed me to get help in order to overcome depression.

I knew I had to reach a decision fast before I lose my mind. Reaching that decision took me a long time because I was hopeful that keshinro will completely turn a new leaf and I would have back the man I married. As I secretly longed for such a miracle, I also longed to maintain my sanity in what was clearly an abusive, loveless ‘yoyo’ relationship. There was also the issue of adjusting my ‘temporal legal permanent resident’ status to that of a ‘permanent legal resident’ for which I required my husband to petition on my behalf. I was clearly between the devil and the deep blue sea!

As earlier stated, Keshinro and I had planned to have two kids, but I noticed he would always evade the topic whenever I brought it up, and since our sex life was very much like the display of his emotion towards me—‘yoyo’ in nature—the chance of actually takingin was almost nil. My health status did not help matters as my blood pressure was constantly high, I had to strictly comply with taking my high blood pressure medications which to a great extent inhibits pregnancy, hence the dream and hope of having children in our marriage remained exactly that—a

NATIONAL NEWS dream. I never knew that Keshinro was secretly happy about this until he threw it in my face during one of our numerous quarrels, that he never wanted to have another child in his life and that he was okay with the one child he had already.

Next he wanted me to move out else he would get another place and leave me in the old apartment to cope with rent on my own. This time he went as far as telling my brother, his friend that he wanted out of the marriage and that he should advise me to move out else he would change the locks in the apartment.

My brother was shocked at his friend’s behavior and utterances and was disappointed that I did not confide in him even though things had degenerated in my marriage to such an extent.

Before I moved out of our apartment, the usual took place again. Keshinro came home early on this day, completely sober, he went on his knees and begged me earnestly and passionately to forgive him and not to move out. He stated that he takes full responsibility for the way he has treated me in our marriage and promised to turn a new leaf and make it up to me.

I knew this trend, though I was still very much in love with him, I thought of my health, my immigrant status and how he uses it to wield power over me in our marriage and I decided I would stay only if he promised we were going to get help by submitting to marriage counseling and also that he will have to pay me the non-refundable deposit I had paid on the apartment I rented. He of course promised but never lived up to it. During this period, he threw a lot of tantrums, would break down in tears, resorted to smashing stuff—there was a day he took a pot of beans that was still cooking on the stove and threw it into the sink in anger knowing I was only a couple of feet away, the glass lid of the pot got smashed and the splinters flew at me, I had bleeding spots on the back of both hands. These events only strengthened my resolve to move out like he had asked me to. This latest trend spurred me into action and I decided to move out and get an apartment of my own. Though financial limitation was a huge setback, I managed to rent a small studio apartment with the little savings I had coupled with a soft loan from a friend and I continued my counseling appointments. ( To be continued in following issue )

AFRICA US TODAY 17

EVENTS THE DUSABLE MUSEUM & PNC BANK presents

“A NIGHT OF 100 STARS”

Award Ceremony for 2013 Honorees held at South Shore Cultural Center in Chicago, IL. The guests included a number of Dignitaries including Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and various business, & television personalities.

18 AFRICA US TODAY

John E. Smith Jr. Photographs

NATIONAL NEWS

Event: MEDIA/LAUNCHING FUNDRAISING FOR INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE. Date:SATURDAY JUNE 15TH, 2013 (PRE-FATHER'S DAY, A NIGHT TO REMEMBER Time: 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., PROMPT! Location: ONE STOP PRODUCTIONS STUDIO, 340 N. Ogden AVE. (Carroll St.), Chicago, IL Ticket: $15/SINGLE, $25/ COUPLE (REGISTER ONLINE) LIVE MUSIC PERFORMANCE, RAFFLES, AWARDS OF RECOGNITIONS, VENDORS TABLES, AND LOTS OF FUN! FOOD! AND MORE FUN! THANK YOU FOR YOUR POSITIVE CONTRIBUTIONS

Publisher- Olawale Idreez- 224/306-8411, 872/223-9994 Editor-in-Chief- John E. Smith Jr. Email; usafriglo@yahoo.com

AFRICA US TODAY 19

PROFILE OF SUCCESS

(Courtesy of)

Ravens rookie offensive lineman Kelechi Osemele found peace after complicated past 20 AFRICA US TODAY

Ravens rookie offensive lineman Kelechi Osemele credits a complicated past with opening up his future

PROFILE OF SUCCESS

Osemele has become tighter with his family as he focuses in on a starting job August 25, 2012 | By Jeff Zrebiec, The Baltimore Sun

They gathered in the living room at their mother's Northwest Houston home the way they did so many times growing up. But for Kelechi Osemele, this April night was all about moving forward rather than looking back.

The sibling rivalry he endured with his three older sisters had helped prepare him for this moment. His relationship with his mother was turbulent at times, but he now knew why Imelda Osemele had always been so strict and demanding. His father was not present for his big night, nor had he been around for much of his life. By now, Kelechi Osemele (kah-LETCH-ee oh-SEM-uh-lee) had come to grips with that.

Ravens rookie offensive lineman Kelechi Osemele answers questions‌ (Karl Merton Ferron, Baltimore‌)

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Osemele's goal, first as an offensive lineman at Langham Creek High in Houston and then at Iowa State, was to make sure that every guy he lined up against remembered his name. On April 27, his name scrolled on the television after the Ravens selected him in the second round of the 2012 NFL draft .

"The thing that was really special about me getting drafted was it brought the family together," said Osemele, who returned to Houston to watch the draft with his mother, sisters and other family members. "We had all pretty much gone our own ways and had a little animosity toward one another because of things that happened growing up.Football really brought us together, especially in college because they'd come to games and it was a common thing for us to talk about.

Everybody was in a good mood, and they pretty much just fed off my dream, and my successes were their successes."

After watching a "Monday Night Football" game when he was 8 years old, Kelechi Osmele determined that he would play in the NFL . But before he could get there, before he could emerge as a potential rookie starter on the Ravens' offensive line and one of their most impressive preseason performers, Osemele was tried and tested.

There were the recruiting analysts who didn't think he was good enough and the colleges that didn't want him. There was the challenge of carving out his turf in a house with three older sisters and a mother who spent hours upon hours at work and would come home tired and testy. There was the reality that his father lived in Nigeria, and their relationship would have to be built through phone calls, not bedside chats or afternoons on athletic fields.

AFRICA US TODAY 21

Ten African Millionaires To Watch In 2013 Comment Now

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Three millionaires who were featured in last year’s list of the 10 African millionaires to watch made it onto Forbes’ new list of Africa’s 40 Richest: Naushad Merali ofKenya, Isabel Dos Santos of Angola and Said Salim Bakhresa ofTanzania.

Here are ten more millionaire Femi Otedola, C redit: Pius Utomi/AFP/Getty Images African business people to watch closely. They missed the cut for the list of Africa’s 40 Richest this year, but some of them may be strong contenders for future membership.

Femi Otedola, Nigeria Source: Energy

The African Billionaires 2012 Mfonobong Nsehe C ontributor

(reprinted from Forbes0

The Nigerian diesel marketer was briefly abillionaire in 2009 but dropped off FORBES rankings following a steep fall in the share price of his petroleum marketing company, African Petroleum (now Forte Oil) and his very high debt profile.

Otedola had been one of Nigeria’s biggest debtors for the past few years with non-performing loans reported at close to $1 billion. In October, theNigerian media reported that Otedola had cleared his debts, albeit in unclear circumstances.

He’s making a bold attempt at a comeback. In October he was part of a consortium that won a bid for a government-owned power plant; his Zenon Petroleum Company is still the dominant supplier AFRICA US TODAY 23

(reprinted from Forbes0

24 AFRICA US TODAY

(reprinted from Forbes0

AFRICA US TODAY 25

GOD’S FIRST ANNUAL AWARD BREAKFAST at Chicago Hilton Hotel in Chicago, IL

John E. Smith Jr. Photographs

26 AFRICA US TODAY

Chicago Defender WOMEN OF EXCELLENCE AWARDS at the Hyatt Regency in Chicago, IL

John E. Smith Jr. Photographs AFRICA US TODAY 27

Wild Indigo Nature Explorations The Audubon Society, the Forest Preserve District of Cook County and Eden Place Nature Center present Wild Indigo Nature Explorations. Wild Indigo Nature Explorations promotes healthy bodies, healthy communities, and a healthy planet through free outdoor field trips and activities.

Participants have the chance to see the natural beauty of the Calumet Region and play an active role in restoring the prairies and forests to their natural conditions.

Wild Indigo Nature Explorations Goals: Nita and Nam bii

Showcase local nature as a friendly, accessible place Build healthy bodies and healthy natural habitats Celebrate the miracle of creation Discover beautiful wild places on Chicago’s south side Appreciate natural treasures close to home Promote stewardship Our explorations provide fun and easy outdoor activities for all adults, and for families with children aged 8 and older. We will safely enjoy nature and help it at the same time.

Our activities: Birding Nature walks Seed Collecting Seed planting ‌And more!

Contact us at wildindigosouth@gmail.com for information about coming field trips, indoor programs, or partnering with us.

Check out our calendar to see our upcoming events.

872-223-9994

WRITER’S PROFILE

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Born in Lagos Island, Nigeria, Olawale M. Idreez moved to seek a better life in the United States of America. He went to complete his studies for a degree in Accounting

32 AFRICA US TODAY

in Chicago. During this time, he heard Harold Washington speak to the students during his run for re-election as mayor. Idreez found himself captivated by the political nature of Washington’s words and how well he spoke English.

This experience is what motivated Idreez to switch from continuing his education in accounting to political science. Although Idreez imagined himself as a well-to-do politician, it was this academic path that steered his love towards writing through the work he put into his thesis. He fell in love with the craft of writing and followed his heart forward from there. He was involved with the production of two papers post-college: The African Voice and Afrique. Idreez is a smartly dressed man who chuckles easily and speaks pointedly about what he believes in. He hoped that instead of writing for other people,

he would be able to start his own publication. Idreez is now the Publisher/Founder of Africa-US Today Magazine. He hopes to make it a internationally recognized publication.

AuthorsWinkk And Olawale M. Idreez

John E. Smith Jr. Photography

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