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M A R C H 18 - M A R C H 24, 2009
YOUR CITY FROM THE STREETS
ThinkWise From fear to faith
Are you being pushed by fear or propelled by faith? You can’t have it both ways – at least not at the same time. Think about the last time you listened to the news. It’s difficult not to hear something that kicks up fear: Could my job be at risk? Will I have enough money to retire? Is it safe for me out on the streets? What if there’s a terrorist attack? Could I catch this disease or that? And, the list goes on…. Most of us have heard the famous quote by Franklin D. Roosevelt, “We have nothing to fear but fear itself.” Easy to say - but perhaps not so easy to do when confronted with that which we fear – a job loss, illness, financial challenges, etc. We know – we’ve been there! We teach these concepts, and yet when confronted with challenges, we too have had sleepless nights or moments of waking up feeling frightened or stressed. We all seek a bedrock approach, a capacity for dealing with these feelings. The thing we desire is the capacity of faith. We’re talking about faith in a Higher Power, something greater than ourselves – whatever you call that
Executive Director/Publisher Michael Speer
mspeer@streetwise.org
Editor in Chief
Suzanne Hanney suzannestreetwise@yahoo.com
Higher Power or Intelligence - which carries us across the chasm from fear to faith. An acronym for fear is “False Evidence Appearing Real.” While the things we fear seem to have power, the true power is always in our ability to see past the “false” evidence of appearances to a greater Truth. While we often cannot change appearances, we can ALWAYS change our thoughts about them, and in so doing, move from victim to victor. We think it’s helpful to affirm, “I am not moved by appearances, therefore, appearances move for me.” There is a Native American story about a troubled youth who went to his tribal elder and said “I keep having a very bad dream. In my dreams, there is always a white dog and a black dog fighting each other. I sense that the white dog is good and the black dog is evil, and I am troubled because I don’t know which one will win.” The elder replied, “The white one will win.” The youth asked,“How do you know this is to be true?” The elder simply smiled and said, “Because that is the dog you will feed.” The key here is to turn towards faith and away from fear – to feed the white dog. Which dog will you feed? Which dog are you feeding? The choice is yours. —Mary Beth & Michael Speer Mary Beth Speer and Michael Speer are the Spiritual Leaders of The DuPage Center for Spiritual Living in Glen Ellyn, IL. Contact them by e-mail at revmaryb@speerit.com or visit their Web site at www.dupagecenter.org
Director of Distribution Greg Pritchett
gpritchett14@yahoo.com
Production & Marketing Manager Ben Cook
bcook@streetwise.org
Director of Advertising & Corporate Development Grace Federighi grace@streetwise.org
Advertising Sales Executive Michael Montes
Advertising Sales Executive Mary Faith Hilboldt
Proofreader
Robert Cass
Board of Directors Rob Federighi President
ChicagoBroker.com
Pete Kadens Vice President SoCore Energy
Judd R. Horwitz Treasurer
Judd R. Horwitz & Co. P.C.
Ray Gillette Secretary
Downtown Partners Chicago
Bruce Crane
StreetWise’s headquarters relies on the goodwill and hard work of volunteers to strengthen our mission and services to those in need.
To find out more about how you can help, e-mail Pam Frye at pamfrye1@comcast.net
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Lee Barrie
Kurman Communications, Inc.
The following are current volunteer positions available at our office: •Donated Clothing Coordinator •Office and Office File Organizer •Kitchen and other supply organizer •Computer Guru •Tutoring/Mentoring •Fundraising Events support •Advertising Researcher •Grant Writer or Researcher •Sell Subscriptions to Corporations/Businesses
President Emeritus
•Outreach/Recruitment of new vendors •Distributor of StreetWise flyers to those in need •Heating/Cooling Service person •Writer for StreetWise Magazine
Note For volunteers working at the StreetWise office, hours are Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Occasionally, on Wednesdays and Thursdays, a staff member is present at which time you can work until about 7 p.m. Volunteers need to communicate the times they are planning on working at the office to make sure the appropriate people are available to assist and so that we can notify the front office person that you are expected.
W W W. S T R E E T W I S E . O R G
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Vendor Representative
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Mission Statement: To help people help themselves to self-sufficiency through gainful employment. StreetWise is published weekly and is sold by the poor and homeless of Chicago. StreetWise is a registered 501 (c)3 non-profit organization and is a member of the North American Street Newspaper Association.
1201 W. Lake Chicago, Illinois 60607 Office: 312-829-2526 Fax: 312.829.2623
M A R C H 18-M A R C H 24, 2009
INSP Stem Cells: the Holy Grail of Medicine? The Big Issue Scotland takes a look at stem cell treatment and the patients willing to fly across the world to receive its benefits.
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Event Calendar
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Hopefest for Chicago Coalition for the Homeless Nancy Gerstein shows that yoga isn’t just for the rich, Fourth Annual World Festival, the history of castrati, and Blue Note Records turns 70.
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Rookie of the Year Meet Craig B. StreetWise spotlights our rookie of the year. Read how StreetWise and his loyal customers allowed Craig to find his entrepreneurial drive.
page
Grow stronger in hard times
Personal trainer Staci Boyer shows you the S.M.A.R.T way to take care of your health, and explains how fulfilling Maslow’s hierarchy of needs will make you stronger. page
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news
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INSP page 5 This Week in Chicago page 6 Cover Story page 12-13
the playground page 14 vendor profile page 15
Ginny & The Chef page 8 Health & Fitness page 9 Events Calendar page 10
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M A R C H 18-M A R C H 24, 2009
W W W. S T R E E T W I S E . O R G
full listings online at www.streetwise.org
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Guest Editor: American Dietetic Association
Eating right can be easy and cost effective
When money is tight and time is short, it may seem difficult to maintain a healthy diet. But during National Nutrition Month®, the Chicago-based American Dietetic Association reminds consumers that mealtime doesn’t have to be costly when trying to eat right. According to a recent ADA consumer survey, the majority of people consider convenience to be the biggest factor in selecting a meal. However, the economic recession has affected Americans’ mealtimes as well, including limiting the amount of money people are spending at restaurants. “A healthy meal doesn’t have to be a big expensive production,” says registered dietitian and ADA spokesperson Bethany Thayer.
“With just a little bit of planning, meals can be convenient, healthy and inexpensive.” Thayer suggests ways to save money and still maintain a healthy diet: Even small amounts of advance planning pay off: “Search online for easy one-pot recipes,” says Thayer. “Many recipe Web sites offer nutrition information and grocery lists for their meals. You can find dinner options that can last for more than one night.” Use coupons: Only half of those surveyed by ADA said they clip grocery coupons and look for price specials. Clipping coupons or printing them from Web sites can save you 10 percent to 15 percent on your grocery bill. Also consider joining your supermarket’s shopper’s club for price specials. Follow portions for protein: 42 percent of those surveyed said they were limiting the amount of meat purchased to save on grocery expenses. “You can still keep your costs low when shopping in the meat section. Remember that a portion of meat is the size of a deck of cards. A pound of chicken breasts could last for two meals if you follow portion control,” says Thayer. Make a meatless meal: Beans are an excellent source of protein and are also an inexpensive way to create a healthy meal. Think outside the crisper: Frozen or canned fruits and vegetables will last longer than fresh versions from the produce department and are equally nutritious. Don’t throw money away: Keep leftovers safe by refrigerating them quickly: use them before they go bad and you can stretch one meal into a few. “Rice and pasta can help
A healthy meal doesn’t have to be a big expensive production... ...with just a little bit of planning, meals can be convenient, healthy and inexpensive. —Bethany Thayer
stretch out a small amount of leftovers,” says Thayer. “Leftover chicken can be mixed with rice for a stir-fry or mixed with a pasta sauce over spaghetti.” “You don’t have to completely overhaul your kitchen to eat right,” says Thayer. “Remember that just a few small changes can help you and your family eat right.” The American Dietetic Association is the world’s largest organization of food and nutrition professionals. ADA is committed to improving the nation’s health and advancing the profession of dietetics through research, education and advocacy. Visit the American Dietetic Association at www.eatright.org.
Contributing Writers John Godoy is a Chicago-based wellness consultant and personal trainer with a leading prevention-based, integrative health and wellness provider. Ginny & The Chef: Originally a professional chef, Chef J now writes a syndicated weekly newspaper column on food and fitness in Chicago. J is the president of the Chicago Research Chefs LLC and president emeritus of the Chicago Nutrition Association. Ginny has written nutrition and fitness articles for several local and national publications, such as the Chicago Tribune and OnHealth magazine. Ginny has a bachelor’s degree in nutrition science and dietetics and a master’s degree in nutrition communications & marketing. Julie Cameron has over 16 years experience in the fashion and retail industries. She is also president of Urban Shop Guide, a Web site that has been featured
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in publications such as Daily Candy, Elle UK and American Airlines’ In Flight magazine. Urban Shop Guide explores the city’s best neighborhood shopping secrets with tours for both residents and visitors. She is a member of The Fashion Group International, the Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau and she participates in local neighborhood merchant associations. Jim Memolo is a member of WGN’s 720 Sports Central, where he can be heard from 7 to 9 p.m. weeknights and weekend afternoons. Memolo previously hosted morning drive on Sporting News Radio and was morning drive co-host for five years on WSCR. He also served as producer for Howard Cosell's shows on ABC Radio. Nancy Gerstein is a certified hatha yoga teacher with the Himalayan Institute of Yoga Philosophy and W W W. S T R E E T W I S E . O R G
Science, wellness workshop facilitator, and author of Guiding Yoga’s Light (Human Kinetics, 2008). Nancy can be reached at nancygerstein @yahoo.com. Staci Lynn Boyer is an award-winning Master Trainer with a Master of Fitness Sciences certified through the ISSA and ACE. She is also an author, fitness educator, motivational speaker, figure competitor, wife and mother! Her experiences span from 12 years as a Navy Hospital Corpsman to 20 years in the fitness iIndustry as a personal trainer, media representative, group exercise instructor, and general manager for Bally Total Fitness. Now owning her own business, Motiv8n U Personal Training, she is pursuing a Master’s in Social Work while preparing for her motivational book due out through Medallion Press in 2010.
M A R C H 18-M A R C H 24, 2009
International Network of Street Papers (INSP)
By Thomas Quinn, The Big Issue Scotland orget all the talk of medical breakthroughs and Nobel Prizes. For people like Audrey Hynd-Gaw, the much-trumpeted stem-cell revolution isn’t about groundbreaking academic research. It’s simply a matter of life and death. At first glance, Audrey, who lives in Ayrshire, is a typical, if rather attractive, 40-something with a lovely 10-year old boy, Cameron. But after she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in the early 1990s, her life changed dramatically. When her son was 2, she recalls not being able to run after him when he wandered away from her at a supermarket. These days she still drives, but she also uses a wheelchair. Her only real hope for halting the illness, let alone an improvement in her condition or a cure, lies with stem-cell therapy.“I’ve run out of other options,” she says starkly. Long considered controversial, stem-cell research has enjoyed a burst of positive publicity in recent weeks with a string of clinical trials and research grants being announced both in the United Kingdom and in the US. Call it the Barack Obama effect. One of the new president’s first acts was to overturn George W Bush’s 2001 executive order, which severely restricts federal funding of research involving embryonic stem cells. The list of diseases that could be cured is as long as your arm: diabetes, heart disease, Parkinson’s, MS, to name a few. But as yet, research has remained largely in the lab, being tested on mice, rather than in clinics, helping patients. Except that in fact it hasn’t. Despite the lack of official recognition from the US and UK medical establishments, dozens of private companies have sprung up in Europe, China, Thailand and elsewhere, offering “stem-cell therapies” to anyone with the cash to pay for them. The medical establishment is deeply skeptical. The MS Society, for instance, advises that “anyone with MS who is thinking about paying for injections of stem cells should think again.”
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Yet, last year it is estimated some 150,000 Britons left the UK to undertake medical treatments abroad, twice the number who did so in 2006, while 750,000 Americans did the same. A significant and growing proportion of these are thought to have paid for stem-cell treatments. Among them was Audrey Hynd-Gaw, who has to date spent nearly £20,000 on stem-cell treatments from foreign clinics. Far from discouraged, she is already saving up for more. “The problem is, they are cowards in the UK,” Audrey says bluntly. “The UK and the US are too conservative and as a result stem-cell treatments are taking years and years to come into the clinics. What they forget is that people like me don’t have years.” Audrey believes her first stem-cell treatment stopped her MS progressing and hopes her latest injections, in Cologne, Germany, will be of similar benefit. Another MS sufferer, Moira Ogilvie, from Dundee, wasn’t so lucky. A former skier and mountain biker, 53-year-old Moira has suffered a dramatic change in her quality of life since being diagnosed with MS in 1997; she was forced to retire from teaching eight years ago. A year ago, she underwent stem-cell therapy in China – her friends and family carried out a sponsored walk up Ben Nevis to help pay for it. She left China deeply impressed by the facilities but has yet to see any marked improvement. That said, she won’t hesitate to pay for similar treatment again. “They really, really want to help and totally believe in what they are doing,” Moira points out. “There are no drugs available to help me: stem-cell therapy is the only thing that might work. I’ve read about the risks, but I’ve got MS: so why should I be worried about cancer?” One Scot who has seen a dramatic improvement in his condition is Brian McNeill, 38, a former forestry worker from Argyll, who suffers from ataxia SCA1, a rare degenerative brain condition that is passed on genetically. It has already claimed the lives of his mother and two of his three sisters, while his other sister also has the illness.
The UK and the US are too conservative and as a result stem-cell treatments are taking years and years to come into the clinics. What they forget is that people like me don’t have years
“Unfortunately, there hasn’t been any properly designed trials of the efficiency of these treatments,” says Dr Julie Greenfield, research project manager of the health charity Ataxia UK. The clinics have attracted bad press too. Back in 2005, one Scottish MS sufferer, Amanda Bryson, then 19, gleefully revealed she had suddenly been able to walk again after £12,000 worth of stem cells in Holland. A year later, BBC Two’s Newsnight cast serious doubt on the safety of the cells being used by the same clinic, run by a South Africa-based company, Advanced Cell Therapeutics. Bryson, from Inverness, came forward again, this time admitting all her previous gains had evaporated and her faith in stem cells had been shattered. With stories like this, it is no wonder that officials warn of “stem-cell fakery” and that the treatments are dismissed as snake oil confidence tricks.
M A R C H 18-M A R C H 24, 2009
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Ataxia causes slurred speech, lack of balance and a reduction in muscle control. Like MS, it is a progressive illness – it gets worse over time. Sufferers ultimately lose the ability to walk and to swallow. Cruelly, those who die from it tend to do so from the effects either of malnutrition or other illnesses such as pneumonia caused by the related breakdown in their immune system. “You get no help with ataxia,” says Brian.“The doctors can’t really do anything for you, and I have two children who have a 50-50 chance of having what I’ve got. So I went and scoured the internet and I found the Beike Foundation in China.They said they could help.We emailed back and forth and finally I realized this was what I needed to do.” Brian’s friends and neighbors rallied round and raised £12,000 for him to go to China for a fourweek course of treatment, and the result was dramatically positive. “My speech got better almost W W W. S T R E E T W I S E . O R G
PHOTO COURTESY NEWSROOM.STEMCELLS.WISC.EDU
Stem cells: the Holy Grail of medicine?
straight away and for the first time in ages I was able to ride a bike, my balance had improved so much,” he says. Dr Kara Zhang, who treated Brian, is dismissive of concerns over stem cells creating tumors, and points out that they do not use the morally contentious embryonic cells. “We are using cord blood stem cells and it is nearly impossible to find any scientists out there, even a critic, who actually knows what they are talking about, to say that our cord blood stem cells could cause cancer,” he insists. “We have a lot of safety data on both animals and humans. The animal safety studies give doses of thousands of times the actual treatment amount and no cancer is found. Many western physicians who come through to visit with us are amazed at how little negative effects there are relative to taking standard drugs. “The key for these diseases is to get treated early before serious damage has been done.This is one of the reasons we believe it has helped Brian so much because he had the treatment early.” Brian has since been back twice more to China to get further treatments. However, he has been left puzzled and disappointed by UK doctors’ lack of interest. “I would be travelling two hours to see a consultant in Glasgow for 10 minutes, who would say he could do nothing for me,” says Brian. “Now I’ve gone to China and there have been all these improvements, yet no one has asked me about them or appears interested in studying what they are doing out there. I don’t understand why they can do these things in China but not in Britain.” With a new man in the White House, and a flood of westerners willing to experiment with “untested” treatments, it is surely only a matter of time before they will. —Reprinted from The Big Issue in Scotla nd Courtesy of SNS News Service
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This Week in Chicago: 50 Years Ago PHOTO COURTESY OF PRO.CORBIS.COM
Ike poses in the White House with Black leaders, following their conference on problems of school integration and other matters. Shown (L to R) are: Lester B. Granger, Secretary of the National Urban League; Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., of the Southern Leadership Conference; E. Frederic Morrow, White House Administrative Officer; President Eisenhower; Asa Philip Randolph, Vice President of the AFL-CIO; Attorney General William P. Rogers; Rocco Siciliano, Assistant to President. and Roy Wilkins, NAACP Executive.
By Suzanne Hanney & Sylvester Quast StreetWise editor-in-chief & vendor volunteer #6908
50 years ago this week... Before Michelle Obama, Chicago produced two of the nation’s 10 best-dressed women, according to the National Association of Fashion and Accessory Designers. “Simple lines, elegant fabric, beautifully tailored and finished are to me the essence of being well-dressed,” said Mrs. Catherine (E. Frederic) Gordon Morrow, wife of President Dwight Eisenhower’s administrative assistant for special projects, in the March 19, 1959, Chica go Defender .
Meanwhile, Mrs. Truman K. Gibson Jr. “must be prepared to travel with her boxing official husband at a moment’s notice to New York, London or the Virgin Islands, which means her wardrobe must have that extra ‘packable’ quality,” the Defender noted. There was more to both husbands than revealed in the “society page” story. Morrow was the first African-American to reach an executive position in the White House and the first black vice president of the Bank of America, which at the time was the world’s largest privately owned bank, according to his 1994 obituary in The New York Times. A major in the Army at the end of World War II, he was
From the Sports Desk
Baseball steroid scandal weighs heavy By Jim Memolo StreetWise Contributor While the favorite national pastime struggles with the shadow of steroid use, the public is indulging in the second-favorite national pastime, which is assigning blame. The exposure of Alex Rodriguez as a steroid user has shaken the fans' trust in baseball just when the sport's leadership started to believe the public had become jaded to the scandal. Previous to A-Rod's mea culpa, the Lords of Baseball had relied on the vilification of previous steroid users to insulate the reputation of the sport and the business of baseball. After all, how could the owners and Commissioner Bud Selig be blamed when someone of Barry Bonds’s "ilk" was clandestinely using the banned performance enhancer? It was easy for the average baseball fan and media member to blame the individual player, especially when Bonds was established as the poster child for cheating. But when the last player anyone would suspect got his hand caught in the steroid cookie jar, the focus of blame shifted. Baseball is much like a well-respected family that escapes scrutiny when the "black sheep" sibling goes astray, but whose reputation is revisited when the golden child of the clan also falters. So now, with a list of usual suspects ranging from Bonds to A-Rod, Bud Selig's culpability comes out of the cold case file. And Bud is not happy about it. Selig wants the baseball public and the baseball
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customer to believe that he knew little of steroid use in baseball before it surfaced on the front page and that his ensuing action to snuff the problem was stymied by the Players’ Union's resistance. Conspiracy theorists will claim Selig at least minimized the steroid problem-if not covered it up, to save baseball when the sport was struggling with a fan/customer base disillusioned by a series of labor disputes. Indeed, to this day, one could argue the average fan was more incensed by baseball's labor situation in the ’90s than the steroid situation in the 2000s. There is some merit in Selig's self defense. The Baseball Players’ Union doesn't want you to remember they balked mightily at the proposal of any testing, claiming it was a violation of privacy. On the other hand, any owners' suggestion of steroid testing was more of a bargaining chip, at the time, than a serious reform measure. The reality is Bud Selig never wanted steroids in baseball, never approved of steroids and has similiar disdain for users thereof. But his push for reform years back was more a gentle nudge, given strength only by governmental pressure, and his lack of awareness around the turn of the century sounds more like plausible deniability. When it comes to blame, Bud Selig is not the bad guy, just maybe a bad boss. W W W. S T R E E T W I S E . O R G
an executive in the Commerce Department before Eisenhower named him to the post in 1955. He was also a speechwriter who “publicly urged the White House and the Republican party to champion racial integration and equal rights,” according to the Times. His memoir, Bla ck Ma n in the White House (1963), was candid about the party leaders who snubbed him personally and professionally. Gibson served in the “black Cabinets” of both Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry S Truman during World War II, where he was instrumental in ending segregation in the U.S. Army. A University of Chicago Law School graduate, he represented real estate developer Carl Hansberry in his successful battle to overturn the covenant that kept African-Americans out of the Washington Park neighborhood; Lorraine Hansberry, the developer’s daughter, wrote the 1959 Pulitzer Prize-winning play, A Ra isin in the Sun, about the experience. Later, Gibson, James Norris and Arthur Wirtz ran the International Boxing Club,“which ruled the sport until declared a monopoly by the courts in 1959,” according to his 2005 obituary in the Chica go Sun-Times. A story in the March 18, 1959, Defender said ex-“policy king” George Jones was under arrest in Cuba for attempting to smuggle in pesos. After the fall of the Fulgencio Batista dictatorship on Jan. 1, 1959 and the takeover by Fidel Castro, fugitives had brought millions of dollars in pesos to the United States. Unable to return to Cuba, the refugees sold the pesos for anywhere from half their value to pennies. American buyers, in turn, converted the pesos into dollars at the full exchange rate or invested them in Cuban hotels and real estate. Jones had served a prison term for income tax evasion and had lived in Mexico for 13 years since his release. His older brother, Edward, had also fled the U.S. about the same time, after he had been kidnapped by gangsters and released for ransom. The brothers still held South Side property, which had grossed $10 million annually during the 1930s and ’40s heyday of the numbers game. Classified advertising in the March 18 Defender showed a range of housing starting at $8.50 weekly. The midrange was two rooms with one bathroom for $78 a month. A large advertisement displayed the high end: new split level and ranch homes, all brick with oak floors, four bedrooms and two baths “in beautiful new section” at 8401 S. Park Ave., in what is now Chatham. The neighborhood was less than one percent black in 1950 but 63.7 percent black by 1960, largely due to scare tactics by real estate agents, according to the online Encyclopedia of Chica go. Still, because of its strict property standards, “Chatham has the distinction of being perhaps the only neighborhood in Chicago that developed from a European American middle-class community into one composed of middle-class African Americans.” The community maintains this identity today.
M A R C H 18-M A R C H 24, 2009
Volunteer Network StreetWise
Time commitment: 1-year commitment
Contact: Michael Speer at 312. 829.2526 Address: 1201 W. Lake St. Chicago Tasks: Aid in adult education, including computer assistance, GED studies and job readiness training. Time commitment: Flexible Become a Vendor. Prescreening 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Ask for Michael or Greg.
Metropolitan Tenants Organization
The Illinois Hunger Coalition Chicago Radio Personality The Illinois Hunger Coalition is seeking a volunteer to work at our downtown Chicago office. We are a statewide non-profit organization that combats hunger and poverty through education and advocacy. We also run a Hunger Hotline (1.800.359.2163) that provides a number of services including: referrals to food pantries and free and reduced-price clinics, referrals to the WIC program, and referrals to programs that help cover the cost of utilities and housing. We also prepare food stamp applications and applications for free medical insurance over the telephone. Please contact Diane Doherty at 312.629.9580 or email dianedihc@aol.com with subject titled “VOLUNTEER” if you are interested in this opportunity.
The Chicago Recovery Alliance Contact: Dan Bigg, cra@att.global.net Address: Many sites throughout the city Tasks: Syringe exchange, medical care, overdose program, safe sex/injection education, substance abuse and shelter referrals, legal assistance (training included for all services). Time commitment: Flexible; site visits last 2 hours. Website: www.anypositivechange.org
Community Health Contact: Kelly Jordan, kjordan@community health.org www.communityhealth.org or call 773.395.9901 ex. 23 Address: 2611 W. Chicago Ave. Tasks: Community Health is a free health clinic offering free primary and specialty care as well as medication. We are looking for volunteer Polish and Spanish interpreters. Interpreters need not know medical terms, but must be at least conversational in either Spanish or Polish. We are also in need of Volunteer Physicians and Specialists. Volunteer Physicians and Specialists must be licensed in Illinois. Volunteers are needed for day, evening and Saturday clinics. Time commitment: Generally 1-2 times per month.
VITAS Healthcare Contact: Beverly Carnes-Brinson, Volunteer Services Manager, 773.533.2890 Address: 700 N. Sacramento Tasks: Patient care at home or in a nursing home, inpatient unit, administrative, bereavement. Training: VITAS Healthcare in Chicagoland Central is offering free hospice volunteer training as a community service to persons interested in providing support to the terminally ill and their families. In this comprehensive session, you will gain knowledge and experience on the hospice philosophy, death and dying issues, grief and bereavement. Time commitment: Flexible
Court Appointed Special Advocates Contact: LaDora Robinson-Locke, 312.433.4928 Address: 1100 S. Hamilton St. 8 West Tasks: Act as a nonlegal advocate and friend for a child in the court system (training provided.)
M A R C H 18-M A R C H 24, 2009
Contact: Rebecca McDannald, 773.292.4980 ext. 223 Address: 1180 N. Milwaukee Ave. 1st Fl. Tasks: Work on Tenants’ Rights hotline, data entry. Time commitment: 8-hour training session, but hours are flexible. Website: www.tenants-rights.org
Due to limited space, StreetWise will be cycling various volunteer contacts throughout the month. For a full listing, please visit the new StreetWise Web site at www.streetwise.org Marillac House
Access to Recovery Contact: Vince Gillon, 773.407.9030 Address: 113 Custer, Evanston Tasks: Assist with office duties pertaining to ATR clients. Help with computer tasks, such as creating resumes, employment search and online applications. Time commitment: Flexible Email: carepoint@ameritech.net Website: www.carepointoutreach.org
Albany Park Community Center Contact: Michelle Fleming, 773.433.3737 Address: 5121 N. Kimball Ave. Near CTA Brown Line Kimball stop. Tasks: Tutor immigrants and new readers in English and literacy skills. Training provided. Time commitment: 2-4 hours per week.
Blue Gargoyle Adult Learning Program Contact: 773.955.4108 Ext. 308 or email volunteer@bluegargoyle.org Address: 5638 S. Woodlawn Tasks: Tutor adults in reading, writing and/or math, and/or job skills and computer skills. Time commitment: Minimum 2 hours per week after completing training.
Erie Neighborhood House Contact: Susana Ortiz, 312.563.5800, sortiz@eriehouse.org Address: 1347 W. Erie St. 312.432.2257 Tasks: Tutor adults in English as a second language, Language Exchange Spanish/English, GED reading, writing and Math, literacy in Spanish, Citizenship exam preparation. Time commitment: months, hours, once or twice a week.
Freedom Ambassadors Become a Freedom Ambassador! Inspire people to be informed, active citizens and protect their rights. Ambassadors share information and provide assistance to visitors at the new Freedom Museum. For more info, call (Nathan N. Richie Education Programs Manager McCormick Tribune Freedom Museum 435 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 754, 312.222.3211nrichie@freedommuseum.us
Gads Hill Center Contact: Adriana Moreno Nevarez, 312.226.0963 ext. 244, Address: 1919 W. Cullerton Tasks: Tutor/mentor teenagers for a college prepatory program in Pilsen, tutor for homework in after school program, newspaper club tutor, sports teacher. Time commitment: 2 hours a week for 2 months.
Literacy Chicago Contact: Zaundra Boyd, 312.870.1100 ext. 108, zboyd@literacychicago.org Address: Multiple sites throughout Chicago Tasks: Community Adult Learning Centers-Volunteer tutor training-AL-ESL W W W. S T R E E T W I S E . O R G
Contact: Maureen McGrath , 773.722.7440 Address: Chicago’s West Side Tasks: Please consider giving two hours, one day a week to help with one of our tutoring programs: • Adult tutoring in reading, writing and math, as well as courses in preparation for GED • Tutoring school-age children (3-5 p.m. M-F) Help with homework, etc. • Tutoring and mentoring youth 13-16 (3 – 5 p.m. M-F), help with homework/cultural field trips/sports/arts and service projects. Enabling clients and the community to attain their full potential is a value we embrace, but we need a network of friends to make it happen. We need YOU! Visit www.marillachouse.org.
Parkway Community House Contact: Joanne Jones, 773.493.1306 Fax: 773.493.9392, email jjones@hullous.org Address: 500 E. 67th St. Tasks: Tutor adults in reading, writing, math & computer skills. Time commitment: 2 hours a week, (flexible) after 12hour training.
South-East Asia Center Contact: Peter Porr, 773.989.6927, Fax: 773.989.7755 Address: 5120 N. Broadway Tasks: ESL VOLUNTEER TUTORS NEEDED Time commitment: Volunteers needed to teach English or citizenship to adult immigrants in Uptown. Free 12hour training and on-going professional support provided. Work one-on-one with your student for 2/hrs a week. Phone Carol Williams, ESL Coordinator, 773.989.6927, or email seacesl@yahoo.com for more information.
Youth Service Project Contact: Gina Zuniga-Baldwin,773.772.6270, Fax: 773.772.8755 Address: 3942 W. North Ave. Tasks: Tutor young adults preparing for the GED exam. Training provided. Time commitment: 1.5 hours per week, daytime or evening hours.
Austin People’s Action Center Contact: Carolyn Williams, 773.473.7270 Fax:773.378.8773 Address: 5125 W. Chicago Ave. Tasks: Maintenance on shelter, groundwork. Time commitment: Flexible
Hope House Contact: Clarola Scott, 773.521.0529 Address: 3551 W. Roosevelt Tasks: Administrative, professional services and food preparation/service. Time commitment: Flexible; minimum of 4 hours per month.
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FoodWise with Ginny & the Chef
A look at real retro food By Ginny & The Chef StreetWise Contributors, www.ginetics.org
few generations ago our grandparents were growing up during the “Great Depression.” They lived in a world where the economy and unemployment were far worse than they are today. was in much worse shape. The planet was at the edge of a “World War. ” The future looked frightening. People were saying “the sky is falling!” Well, our grandparents made it through that difficult time, and they’re still here to talk about it! The sky did not fall. After all was said and done, their hard work and determination won the day. And things got better. Interestingly enough, in many ways people were eating better during those dark days. Our great-grandmothers knew the best way to pinch a penny. Many families had to feed not only their own four or five children, but also their grandparents and other relatives. How did they do it? First of all, everyone pitched in when it came time to eat.The cornerstone of many meals started with lots of fresh vegetables, and small amounts of meat. They built colorful, satisfying dinners using nature’s gifts of fruits, vegetables and grains. Potatoes and rice were often a part of every meal. Root vegetables brought color, texture, and nutrients. This was the best way to feed a big family on a tight budget. It still is. Beans and pasta were the big “treats” of the week. In most households, milk was the beverage, and sodapop was for special occasions. Were people healthier back then? We know that obesity was
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practically non-existent. Food allergies were not something doctors even spoke about. There is something to be said for eating a more “plantbased” diet. When the media talks about “retro food,” many will mention Spam and frozen dinners. Chef and I take it one step further, back to a food comparison, that of the Great Depression. Bread, milk, and cheese were the foundations of the American diet, and processed foods were not yet in the mainstream food chain. As far as diet-related diseases were concerned, most folks were trying to prevent malnourishment. Today’s economic crisis is a blip on the American lifestyle radar. We still see people traveling, shopping at Wal-Mart, and eating out at McDonald’s. Yes, we are experiencing some restructuring of economical and political greed, and we shall come out of it better and stronger just as our grandparents did!
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Five Color Black Beans ~ serves 6 ~ Shopping List: • 16 oz. canned black beans. • 1/8 c. sweet red pepper [chopped]. • 1/8 c. sweet yellow pepper [chopped]. • 1/8 c. sweet orange pepper [chopped]. • 1/2 c. fresh green beans [trimmed & chopped]. • 1 Tbs. low sodium chicken stock. • 1 garlic clove, minced. • 1 tsp. olive oil. • 1/8 tsp. ground black pepper. • sea salt [ to taste ] Ginny’s cook ing instructions: • Preheat medium sauce pan to medium / hot. • Add olive oil. • Sauté peppers until just beginning to brown • Add garlic, sauté until garlic starts to brown. • Add green beens to pan. Sauté two minutes. • Add pork chops back into pan. • Add black beans and chicken stock. Stir gently. • Cover Pan. Reduce heat to low. Allow beans and peppers to simmer at least 10 minutes. • Enjoy with rice, c hicken or other lean protein.
N u t r i t i o n a l I n f o
M A R C H 18-M A R C H 24, 2009
Health & Exercise
10 surefire steps to great personal presentation By John Godoy StreetWise Contributor
10 seconds - that’s about all the time it takes for someone to form a lasting opinion of you. Long before you utter your first words – right from the moment you walk into someone’s line of view, they are forming an impression of you. Everything from the type and color of clothes you wear, your physical appearance, how you walk, how you hold your head, how you shake hands, how you smell, if and how you smile – all these are visual inputs that help shape the all- important impression of any person that you come in contact with. Countless studies have shown that how we present ourselves can greatly influence how we are treated. Improving personal presentation is paramount to success in life, love and work. The following are 10 surefire ways to better improve your chances of making a strong personal presentation time and time again. 1) Dress smartly and for the occasion - power combo: navy blue suit, white dress shirt, burgundy tie. 2) Get plenty of strength training and aerobic exercise so you exude health, confidence and strength. 3) Eat and hydrate well so your skin and over-
all essence send out healthy signals The healthier your insides are, the healthier your outsides will appear. 4) Walk tall with your chest out, head up, eyes forward, and shoulders back. (You will look taller and exude command presence.) 5) Smile as often as you can. Smiles are contagious – try it. 6) Practice good grooming. Guys, shave; women, keep the makeup modest. 7) Enunciate every word you say. In other words, speak clearly. 8) Avoid conversational fillers such as “uh,” “you know,”“so,”“like.” 9) Focus on and remember people’s names, and use them in conversation. (There is nothing more sacred to a person than the sound of their own name). 10) Be confident. Confidence comes from knowing you are important. Confidence comes from being healthy and feeling physically strong. Confidence comes from knowing that life is not a test run, you only have one shot.
DineWise: Ina’s Ina's 1235 W. Randolph St. Chicago, IL 60607-1517 Phone: (312) 226-8227 www.breakfastqueen.com Hours: Monday, 7 a.m.-3 p.m., Tuesday-Friday; 7 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday; 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday; 8 a.m.-2 p.m. (breakfast only on Sundays). Breakfast entrée price range: $8-$11 BREAKFAST AT PINKNEY’S Ina’s has become such a breakfast institution in the West Loop that we just had to tell newcomers and Chicagoans who have not yet visited this café: Go there for breakfast. You won’t be sorry, and you’ll be back. Ina’s is the culinary treasure house of inimitable chef/owner Ina Pinkney. She’s gregarious and a delight to know. The Web site says it all:
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www.breakfastqueen.com. But we think “lunch queen” and “dinner queen” would work just as well. Any time of day, Ina’s has something wonderful to offer. There are so many good breakfast things at Ina’s we hardly know where to start. So here are the basics: Prices are extremely reasonable. There is a free parking lot next door. The Intelligentsia coffee, served by the pot, is great. The room is quiet enough to hold a conversation, making it perfect for a business breakfast. The service is courteous, prompt and professional. In warm weather, there is a nice outdoor eating area. The quality of the food is excellent, portions are large but not overbearing and the baked goods are fresh and tasty. Ina is very committed to sustainability, so many of the ingredients are locally produced and organic. What to order? We need go no further than to say Heavenly Hots, which are Ina’s signature pancakes, made with fresh eggs, sour cream and just a bit of flour. They are light and delicious, topped with fruit compote (or ask for the real maple syrup). Order with a side of Boar’s Head bacon or one of three styles of W W W. S T R E E T W I S E . O R G
sausage and you’ll be sustained for hours. Similarly, you’ll enjoy the Vanilla Bean Waffle, Buttermilk Pancakes, Whole Wheat Oatmeal Pancakes and Baked French Toast. If you’re in a savory mood, there are many specialty Omelets, a delicious vegetarian Frittata, Huevos Rancheros and the special Pulled Pork Hash. Ina’s is a “cell phone free zone,” so as you finish your meal and head out to face the day, you’ll be surprisingly refreshed—and glad that you stopped by.
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Calendar for March 18-March 24 Thursday Thaw Melting Point-The Links Hall 30th Anniversary Benefit. Featuring performances by Andy Braddock, Aurora Tabar, J’Sun Howard, Ayako Kato, Josh Berman, Julia Mayer, Erica Mott, Michelle Tupko, The Moving Architects, Same Planet Different World Dance Theatre, and the Synapse Arts Collective. 5:30-9:30 p.m. 1444 W. Chicago Ave. $30 benefit ticket includes liquid cheer, sustenance and all performances. Purchase tickets online now at www.linkshall.org.
Friday Blue Note Records 70th Anniversary-Join Bill Charlap, Peter Bernstein, Ravi Coltrane, Lewis Nash, Nicholas Payton, Peter Washington, Steve Wilson. 8 p.m. Tickets are $20-$49. Box office 312-2943000. Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave.
Saturday 18th Annual Hopefest: A concert to benefit the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless. The Freddy Jones Band headlines—their rock and blues fusion has drawn comparisons to the Allman Brothers Band and the Dave Matthews Band. With funk-soul music by Lubriphonic, and live and silent auctions. At the Park West, 322 W. Armitage Ave. Doors open at 7 p.m.; concert begins at 8 p.m. $30 in advance, or $40 day of show; VIP reserved seating available for $75; 312-435-4548 or www.chicagohomeless.org.
Sunday Monsters and Prodigies: The History of the Castrati- Mexico City's Teatro de Ciertos Habitantes blends music and physical comedy in a theater-opera about the 18th Century Roman practice of castration, which preserved the soprano range of boys' voices and propelled them from poverty to stardom. Performed in Spanish with English supertitles. 3 p.m. For more information, call 312-397-4010 or visit www.mcachicago.org. Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E. Chicago Ave. $25.
Monday Fourth Annual World Festival- "Top Chef: Chicago" champ Stephanie Izard, Food Network host Tyler Florence, chef Art Smith (Table Fifty-Two) and other top toques whip up global cuisine for this year's culinary benefit. Other participating chefs: Graham Elliot Bowles (Graham Elliot), Giuseppe Tentori (Boka), Bill Kim (Urban Belly) and Koren Grieveson (Avec). Also features cocktails, live multicultural entertainment and silent and live auctions offering culinary-related items, weekend getaways and sports tickets. A VIP package ($500) includes a late-night Moet reception at The James Hotel with a special performance by Grammy Award-winning singer Mya. Proceeds go to Common Threads, which provides programs supporting health education for Chicago youth. 6 - 9 p.m. Tickets: $250500. For more info, visit commonthreads.org or call 312-752-2680. Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E. Chicago Ave.
ShopWise
By Julie Cameron StreetWise Contributor Fashion Week in New York kicked off Friday, February 13. Many were curious how the struggling economy would affect the usual lavish affair, over-the-top parties, and the typically dramatic designs. The Bryant Park tent schedule was a bit smaller, and many designers chose a more intimate presentation in their studios or downtown loft spaces. Some editors complained of running all over town for the shows, but agreed that having the smaller spaces allowed for even more creativity in presentation. The parties were a bit subdued, but overall, there were exciting looks that emerged from both veteran and new designers. Trends that emerged from the fall shows included: Ethnic Prints Boho chic was a common description at many of the fall shows. Designers like Rebecca Taylor, Anna Sui and Marc by Marc Jacobs showed many laid-back ethnic prints in loose, casual styles. Mixed Textures Designers such as Diane Von Furstenberg mixed many fabrics, prints and textures in their
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fall looks. Heavy knits with metallic pieces or striped jackets with multi-print underpinnings were common across many collections. Christian Siriano, of Project Runway fame, showed an elegant collection of textured camels, with beautiful draping and shapes. Neutrals Designers Alberta Ferretti and Vera Wang showed a primarily neutral palate for Fall 2009. Layers of crème, khaki, camel and white gave an understated but rich feel to fabrics and designs. Jason Wu, hot off of designing Michelle Obama’s inauguration dress, wowed his guests with a beautiful palate of neutrals, with a few pops of color.
Rocker Finally, many of the collections reflected a dark, rock and roll feel and sometimes gothic look. This trend carried over from spring and has a modern edgy vibe. Accessories that also transcended from spring were spiked, gladiator heels, and heavy chained jewelry. Alexander Wang and Charlotte Ronson’s collections showed rocker looks. Ripped leggings, lace, ruffled skirts and off shoulder knits added to the 1980’s influences that were evident at designers like Rag and Bone. W W W. S T R E E T W I S E . O R G
M A R C H 18-M A R C H 24, 2009
Calendar Special Feature
Taking yoga to the people By Nancy Gerstein StreetWise Contributor
Chicago’s affluent areas are rife with yoga studios that offer exquisite bodies and stressfree, enlightened spirits. Just the thought of yoga practitioners brings to mind young, flexible women and men dressed in the latest athletic attire sitting in the lotus position at these modern, minimalist, glossy wood-floored studios. While these Zen-like cultures work well for many, yoga teacher Joanna Faso’s mission is to teach the forgotten yogis, the people in underserved communities—shelters, transitional houses, retirement homes, and prisons. Faso recognizes that people who are ill or in low-income urban areas may have never witnessed yoga’s healing modalities. As a result, people who need yoga the most are the ones who have the least access to it. "Yoga is another means of healing, both physically and emotionally, and everyone could benefit by it,” says Faso. Faso’s first stop is Deborah’s Place on Jackson. Her weekly one-hour classes began March 11 and will alternate volunteer teachers from week to week. Juanita Brown, educational services program coordinator at Deborah’s Place, expects the residents will learn how to relax and become centered in their bodies. “We’re creating opportunities for residents who wouldn't normally get the chance to enjoy the benefits of yoga," she says. The classes revolve around basic yoga postures and meditation with students concentrating on becoming more "mindful" of the
moment. Faso asks her students to keep their eyes closed and to feel their breath. Retirement home and Cancer Wellness Center yoga teacher Jayne Alenier agrees. “It gives these groups a sense of community and helps with loneliness. The movement itself helps lift their moods.” Alenier finds many of the retirement home students are open to the spiritual part of the classes. “They’re getting close to the end of their life, and the practice calms them.” She adds that yoga students undergoing cancer treatment enjoy yoga practice because it gives them a sense of empowerment. “They may not have control over their disease but they do have control over how they’re doing the posture. And by staying in the present they can let go of their fear of the future.” With yoga and meditation, visualization is fundamental to healing. Students use the feeling and focus of the breath to create confidence, practice acceptance, and sense their own energy. From a physiological standpoint, meditation practice can improve respiration, blood pressure and heart rate. Faso is asking other yoga teachers to donate their time to these communities and has eight other volunteer teachers on board so far. If you’re a yoga teacher and would like to volunteer, contact Joanna Faso at joannafaso@hotmail.com. Ultimately, what does Faso want her students to learn? “I’d simply want them to get a sense of peacefulness, self-awareness and the knowledge that we all have sacred space within ourselves.”
Yoga teacher Joanna Faso is a volunteer yoga teacher at Deborah’s Place.
Low-cost fitness programs Fitness programs for all ages – toddlers to seniors – are available at little or no cost through the Chicago Park District, whose next sessions run March 30 to June 7. You can sign up now online or go to your local park if a class is closed and you want to be on the wait list, according to spokesperson Marta Juaniza. Among 60 fitness centers throughout the city, there are 40 yoga programs, including: Daley Bicentennial Plaza on East Randolph St.; Berger Park, 6205 N. Sheridan Rd.; Gill Park, 825 W. Sheridan Rd.; and Sheil Park, 3505 N. Southport Ave. Cost ranges from free to $32. There are also chair exercise programs for people starting at age 50, all free except for one at $11. Parks with fitness centers include: Daley Bicentennial Plaza; Clarendon Park Community Center, 4501 N. Clarendon Ave.; Austin Town Hall Park, 5610 W. Lake St.; Lake Shore Park, 808 N. Lake Shore Drive; Taylor Park, 39 W. 47th St.; Washington Park, 5531 S. Martin Luther King Dr.; Welles Park, 2333 W. Sunnyside Ave.; and Broadway Armory Park, 5917 N. Broadway. Some have free hours for seniors. The district’s 34 martial arts programs include karate for both pre-teens and high schoolers, as well as general martial arts and tae kwon do, at costs up to $25. Check out Chase Park, 4701 N. Ashland Ave.; Kosciuszko Park, 2732 N. Avers and the Lincoln Park Cultural Center, 2045 N. Lincoln Park West. There are also 20 drop-in programs for kids under 14, primarily on the South and West Sides, free-$62. The Park District’s 365 early childhood programs make fitness an easy habit to start early. There are “Art and ABCs” programs for 18- to 36month-olds; “Moms, Pops and Tots” interaction, starting at one year; and play groups starting at 10 to 17 months old as well as story-time sessions. -Suzanne Hanney contributing
M A R C H 18-M A R C H 24, 2009
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StreetWise Feature Stacy Kvernmo, left, and Staci Lynn Boyer train together for the Miss Fitness Universe pageant in 2007. Kvernmo took top 10 overall and Boyer was first runnerup in Bikini Universe classic division. Kvernmo recently won Miss Fitness America Midwest and is executive director of the Miss Chicago/America pageant.
Grow
stronger in hard times
By Staci Lynn Boyer StreetWise Contributor
ere we are-already moving through the year so fast. It is the perfect time to reevaluate the S.M.A.R.T. – Specific/Measurable/Attainable /Realistic/Timebound -- goals that you set back in January. Ask yourself if you bit off more than you could chew. Did you try to do too many "new" things at once? Maybe, but should we give up? NO, NO, NO!
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Go back to where you wrote your goals down. WHAT? You did not write them down? OK, here is your first step. Write ONE down. YES, just one. Now pick it apart, and pick it apart again... break it into small little teeny bites.... ones that almost melt in your mouth. See my drift? Now, get busy and enjoy the success of each little controllable bite! But, ONLY one at a time - don't stuff yourself - you want this to be enjoyable, don't you? If the "bite" is NOT definable by this method, it’s not a bite, it’s A WHOLE BAG OF GROCERIES! Yikes! Too much to handle! In this economy, as we struggle to pay bills, put food on the table, pay college tuition, while continuing to invest in health insurance, life insurance and retirement funds and…and...and... Most of the time, our health
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and wellness just does not take precedence. Even beyond financial burdens, the emotional ones can be just as taxing. Perhaps you are serving your country, or you have a family member deployed. Maybe injury or illness are causing your priorities to turn away from YOU. However, how we treat ourselves today - right now - at this very moment really does dictate our tomorrow. With that said, fitness and nutrition can be thrust at the needy but unwilling. They are unwilling; not by virtue of unwanting, but more because of unknowing. Maybe you have heard that “insanity” is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. Have you ever seen a toddler trying to put a square peg into a round hole? Well, some of us continue to do this later on in life as well. Let us focus for a moment on taking a look back, and restructuring steps. There may be "other" basic fundamentals in your life that need to be addressed in order for you to become ready for fitness changes! You may not even know that the peg you are trying to put in the round hole is square! I am a dual believer in goal setting and Maslow (see above graphic). As a motivational speaker, I have put a lot of thought into my delivery and the research behind the theories that I support. Everyone is different, and some people are intrinsically motivated (yes, most are extrinsically moti-
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M A R C H 18-M A R C H 24, 2009
vated). This is where I look to Maslow’s “need hierarchy.” As you can see in the graphic, the oh-so-important yet basic physiological needs are the foundation of our identity. Often we will try to achieve outside of our realm of knowledge far too quickly. Not to say this is an impossible task, but most babies learn to crawl, walk, then run, as is our concept here. We see an illustration of what one needs to achieve in order to reach self-actualization, which in turn leads to true intrinsic motivation. This is very hard to come by, but there is much validity in this theory. There really are basic components in our lives that must be present in order for us to move forward. (Or move wholehog into our New Year’s resolutions without falter.) One example is the need for a roof over our head, and food on our table. Companionship, sex, self-esteem all follow. Often personal motivation and drive is lacking, because the individual is at a stalemate, due to missing a very significant fundamental component, perhaps something very simple - like a home. As we try to focus on fitness AND before we are too incredibly hard on ourselves, let’s define a few key words to help us better understand our plight. What is MOTIVATION? Something that energizes, directs, and sustains behaviors. What really is INTRINSIC MOTIVATION? Internal desires to perform a particular task. People do certain activities because it gives them pleasure, it develops a particular skill, or it’s morally the right thing to do. What is EXTRINSIC MOTIVATION? Factors external to the individual and unrelated to the task they are performing. Examples include money, good grades, and other rewards. Abraham Maslow concluded that before we can be intrinsically motivated we must first satisfy our more basic human needs. Here are descriptions of what Maslow meant within each of the five basic levels of human needs. 1. Physiological needs.
We are motivated to satisfy needs that ensure our physical survival. Needs in this group include food, water, air, shelter, clothing and sex. Most people have satisfied their physiological needs, allowing them to concentrate on higher-level needs. For some, though, physiological needs are dominant and are the biggest needs in their lives. 2. Safety needs.
Once physiological needs are met, one can concentrate on bringing safety and security to his life. Safety and security needs include: order, stability, routine, familiarity, control over one’s life and environment, certainty and health. 3. Social needs or love and belonging needs.
These needs include love, affection, belonging and acceptance. People look for these needs in relationships with other people and are motivated for these needs by the love from their families.
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Intrinsically motivated people are bound to do much better in any given activity, because they are just more willing and eager to learn new material. Their learning experience is more meaningful, and they go deeper into the subject to fully understand it. Whether that new activity is a new job, a new child, or a new exercise – all of these activities are comparable and relevant
in Maslow’s philosophy. That is, if the basic foundation has not been placed and the first four components have not been met, one cannot preceed full steam ahead. If a baby jumps up to run and has never stood solidly on his own two feet, he will fall. The square peg will also never fit into that round hole.
4. Esteem needs.
Maslow does explain that self-actualization is difficult to achieve, even as adults. But as a society we can help ourselves, our children and each other, to satisfy our first four basic needs in order to move on to self-actualization. Intrinsic motivation will not occur until we are well-fed, safe in our environment, and can love and respect each other. From there on, motivation, desire, and willingness to embark on new fitness programs, nutrition plans and life goals will be far more realistic to achieve.
All people have a need for stable, firmly based, (usually) high evaluation of themselves for self-respect or self-esteem and for the esteem of others. These needs may therefore be classified into two subsidiary sets. These are, first, the desire for strength, achievement, adequacy, mastery of competence, confidence, independence and freedom. Second, we have what we call the desire for reputation or prestige (defining it as respect from other people), status, fame, glory, dominance, importance, recognition, dignity or appreciation. 5. Need for self-actualization.
This level of hierarchy is concentrated on an individual being able to reach their full potential as a human being. Once someone has satisfied the first four levels of needs then they have the ability to concentrate on functioning to their highest potential. But even if all these needs are satisfied, we may often still expect that a new discontent and restlessness will soon develop, unless the individ ual is doing what they are fitted for. Musicians must play music, or artists must paint, if they are to be at peace with themselves. What humans can be, they must be. They must be true to their own nature. W W W. S T R E E T W I S E . O R G
Finally I leave you with this thought: Strength is NOT defined by the absence of moments of weakness, but more in our ability to overcome those moments. First, you must recognize what those moments are, take responsibility and accountability for them. Set goals to get past those bumps in the road, but only one bump at a time. Promise me, you will be proud of each bump you overcome. Take a moment to bask in that triumph and continue forward, for your destiny is your choice.
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The Playground crossword
Ask Eugene Each week StreetWise’s own Eugene answers life’s toughest questions. If you can’t take the answer, don’t ask the question. Dear Eugene: I just love your articles in the StreetWise newspaper. So I respect your comments. Please help me with this particular issue. My tolerance level is at an all time low. Is it because I’m getting old, or is it just the result of a crochety personality? I try to conduct myself in a professional manner at all times. I am a year and a half away from retirement. What is wor king my nerves is that there are some employees in my work area that really need to shut up. There is so much idle chatter! When I am on the phone dealing with customers I have been asked if there was a party going on. The employees are all over 40. This has previously been brought to my manager and the solution by him for me was to go to an isolated area if I didn’t want to be bothered. It is bad enough that th e microwave is a few feet behind me along with the Xerox,
etc. The only time I am at ease is when I’m not there. Any suggestions? -Can’t wait to retire
Dear Can’t Wait: I only hope that my response can reach you before I see you under a helicopter floodlight on the nightly news. It sounds like each sequential event of your day rattles your nerves like a crescendo-ing gong. I highly doubt that your co-workers or your do-nothing manager are going to realize the error of their ways and make any worthwhile changes in themselves, so you have to change your strategies. Adapt. First, switch to decaf. If you currently drink decaf, try adding some Nyquil to your morning routine. If this doesn’t help, then you should tear a phone book in half in front of everyone so they know how you feel. Sometimes it is better to be feared than loved.
You can send Eugene your questions at 1201 W. Lake, Chicago, IL or e-mail him at supreme_eugene@yahoo.com
sudoku medium difficulty
last week’s answers
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M A R C H 18-M A R C H 24, 2009
Entrepreneur of the Week
StreetWise Rookie of the Year By Ben Cook StreetWise staff “When I found out that I was voted StreetWise Rookie of the Year, I was flabbergasted. It’s a goofy word, ‘flabbergasted,’ but it’s what I felt. I just pushed myself, and felt like I was having a pretty good year. I just have something about me where I make things happen. I believe there’s a direct connection between your outcome and your input. I feel like a locomotive. I have these magazines and I got to make a dollar-I’ve got to pay rent. That’s where it all begins; I got to pay rent.” Craig came to StreetWise in December 2007. At the time he was undergoing extensive rehabilitation at Jeff Clark’s Family Center at Kedzie and Fulton. Craig recounts, “The first 60 days of rehab were free thanks to a grant, but after that I had to pay my keep for the remaining four months of the program.” Being named Rookie of the Year is the second award that Craig is bringing home this year. “They [Jeff Clark’s Family] gave me a trophy cup for achieving 90-90. That’s where you make 90 drug/alcohol related meetings in 90 days. If you miss a day, you have to start all over.” The flexible hours of selling StreetWise was essential for Craig to make the $120 a week needed for rent while still making all of his appointments. “I had to be in Jeff Clark’s for the first four months by 7:30 p.m., so I could only sell StreetWise part-time. Sometimes I had to make a 6 o’clock function, so it really cut into my work time. There were a lot of days where I would hop off the ‘L’ and just start running in order to make a meeting. I don’t think any other job would have worked for me because my schedule was so difficult.” He tried telemarketing, but he never could fully dedicate himself to it. “It did teach me some great sales skills, but I didn’t believe in the product. It’s morally and ethically difficult to do something for long that you don’t believe in.” Craig doesn’t credit one secret to his success—he employs as many as he can. In addition to having 135 hours of college credit (in subjects varying from greenhouse operations, socio-anthropology and Spanish), he works every day, works out at a gym, and takes care of himself. Craig also insists on treating people with respect at all times. “Some peo-
M A R C H 18-M A R C H 24, 2009
ple have attitudes and there’s nothing you can do to brighten their day—it’s ruined from the get go. All of my life I’ve been the kind of guy where if I have something go wrong with me, I don’t take it out on another person. Maybe it’s because I was an abused child that I see how pointless it is to snap out at people.” You can find Craig working at the Chicago Stock Exchange Plaza near the Metra station Monday through Friday from 2-9 p.m. Craig likes to work the later shift because he has found that people are more amiable on the way home. “I feel that when people are going to work in the morning a lot of them haven’t had their coffee, haven’t had their breakfast so they don’t want to be confronted.” Craig loves to work with people. Being a driven man with a clear goal for his time, he doesn’t like it when someone tries to come between him and his customers. “I’ve had people come right in front and start panhandling while I sell my magazine. This is offensive to me. So I started a new sales pitch where I said, ‘StreetWise, StreetWise, creating opportunity for homeless or potentially homeless individuals. Eventually eliminating mere cup shaking…’ The oncoming people were laughing because I’m loud and articulate with what I was saying. The cup-shaker was looking around and saw what was happening. He cussed me out and left. Anytime someone comes around and has the audacity to park close to me trying to cut me off from my customers, I’ll alter my pitch to include them in on the fun.” For the second year as a vendor Craig will be focused on improving, even more. “I’m concentrating on my client base. I’d like to do more for myself through StreetWise by showing that there are a lot of positive StreetWise vendors who are really trying to grow and expand and better themselves. There’s a lot of stereotypes about people like myself. People need to understand that StreetWise is our life-raft.” To his customers he would like to say “Thank you for the support you give by purchasing StreetWise from me. By doing so, you have given me the gift of self-sufficiency, and allowed me to tap my entrepreneurial abilities!”
Meet: Craig B.
‘There’s a lot of stereotypes about people like myself. People need to understand that StreetWise is our life-raft.’
Look for the Badge! Please purchase your copy of StreetWise from badged vendors only. For questions or comments regarding our vendor force please contact Greg Pritchett at (312) 829-2526 or at gpritchett14@yahoo.com
Where the money goes... Vendors buy StreetWise for 75 cents and the remaining $1.25 goes directly to the licensed StreetWise vendor.
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