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NEWS Chicago Bulls hosts “Just Mercy” private screening

In celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, the Chicago Bulls hosted a private screening of the recently released film Just Mercy.

The film, directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, and starred Michael B. Jordan and Jamie Foxx. The film is based on a book by the same name, written by public interest attorney, Bryan Stevenson.

The private screening was hosted by Chicago Bulls players Kris Dunn, Denzel Valentine and Coby White.

The film was followed by a post-discussion led by Xavier McElrath-Bey of Represent Justice. McElrath-Bey told his story about being incarcerated at an early age and the importance of having positive role models. He shared that he felt the justice system didn’t care about him because no one really offered to help him, rather they threw him away stating he would only become worse, judging by his juvenile record. Urban Prep students at the private screening of “Just Mercy” hosted by the Chicago Bulls for MLK Day 2020 Photos: Chicago Bulls Chicago Bulls Chris Dunn, Coby White and Malik Valentine Ranade Johnsonel, Brandon Black, Jalen Chisim and and Tyler Mckenzie from the Bronzeville Campus Tis The Season: Students receive gifts for the holiday

It was days before the NBA-All Stars weekend kicked off and celebrities were giving back by hosting and being a part of events throughout the city. Many of the Pre-NBA All-Star weekend events were attended by Urban Prep students thanks to the companies and organizations that support our schools. On Thursday, February 13th, Miami Heat’s Kendrick Nunn and Showtime’s The Chi star Jacob Latimore stopped by Urban Prep to speak to students from each campus about what it means to be an All-Star in their own lives. The panel of All-Stars also featured Urban Prep Founder Tim King and was moderated by WGCI’s Kendra G, who did an amazing job engaging the attention of students by asking relevant and relatable questions. Latimore encouraged students by sharing that he starts his day early to prepare himself mentally “It helps”, said Latimore. Kendra G posed this question to the panel, “Who in your life would you consider your All-Star and why?”. “I would have to say my Dad. He’s been with me every step of the way. He raised my sister and I as a single father” said Nunn. This is different from Bevel hosts a panel of All-Stars at Urban Prep the story of many students. The entire event was sponsored by Bevel, a Walker & Company brand, that specializes in heath and beauty products, specifically for people of color. Bevel not only sponsored this amazing event for students by bringing All-Stars to Urban Prep, but they showed students that they are invested in our futures by making a substanial donation toward college initatives at our three campuses. Urban Prep students with Kendrick Nunn, Kendra G, Jacob Latimore and Urban Prep Founder Tim King Darrell Johnson (BRZ), Kendrick Nunn, Terrance Byrd (ENG), and Jacob Latimore Malcolm X College offers dual enrollment to students Photos: Bevel

The Urban Prep West Campus, which is currently housed in Malcolm X College has been extended a unique and amazing opportunity. Juniors and Seniors from the campus have been selected to participate in dual enrollment courses. Dual Enrollment is offered at the Englewood and Bronzeville Campus but this opportunity, which was once offered two years ago, has returned to the West Campus. Urban Prep students who participate in the dual enrollment program are able to receive college credit and points toward their grade point average upon completion. This semester students are currently taking Business 111 By Kenneth Mazerat Managing Editor, West Campus and Bio 120. “This is an amazing opportunity for students because they can get a head start on their college career and actually receive college credit” said Marvelas Hare, College Counselor at the West Campus. The business course is taught by Professor David Daniels who has been teaching for over 30 years. Senior, Rashawn Webster, who is currently taking his course expressed that he has enjoyed the course thus far and likes Daniel’s teaching method. Students are able to keep their assignments and course work organized by using the app BrightSpace. “The class is interesting and the course work isn’t bad. I’m grateful for this opportunity and I always look forward to going to class each Wednesday” said Webster.

The largest Starbucks in the world is now located in Chicago on the Magnificent Mile. Last month, Urban Prep students were invited to attend a special luncheon hosted by the Economic Club Chicago. The event featured a guest speaker, the Chief Operating Officer of Starbucks Rosalind Brewer who was instrumental in this expansion. The conversation was moderated by Mellody Hobson, who is the President and Co-CEO of Ariel Investments in Chicago. When students walked in the room you could feel the professional atmosphere. There was talking, laughing and networking with one another before the event was called to order. It was amazing to hear Brewer’s story as a young black woman who has defied the odds by serving in several executive positions as a result of her hard work throughout her career. Fortune ranked Brewer as #28 on it’s 50 most powerful women in business in 2019. Starbucks’ Rosalind Brewer inspires Urban Prep students NEWS During this conversation, Hobson asked about the racial incident that occurred in 2018 at a Starbucks in Philadelphia’s Center City and the insight that Brewer shared was eye opening. Her decision to close all of the Starbucks for racial sensitivity training was a great business move and set the tone for other large companies to do the same. As the mother of a son, Brewer shared that, when she received more information, her motherly instincts kicked in and she thought “What if that was my child? My son looks exactly like those boys and he dresses like them too”. To hear her level of reasoning for why this incident was a problem resonated with Urban Prep students in attendance who, as black young men, are constantly considered a statistic. Overall the experience was extremely inspiring and informative. Students in attendance expressed how much they enjoyed the event. By Kenneth Mazerat Managing Editor, West Campus Georgetown University Law Center visits Urban Prep On Jan. 15, students were selected from each campus to participate in a special presentation given by the Dean of Admissions of Georgetown University Law Center, Andrew Cornblatt. During this event, Cornblatt gave an “Intro to Law” lesson and informed students that GULC would be flying them all out to Washington, DC in April to spend a day learning about the Law Center, meeting professors and touring the Capitol. In his lesson, Cornblatt gave students a real life scenario in which students had to come up with a defense for each client given the circumstance. The scenario detailed a blogger who posted a picture of a coach handing By Tabius Boss Staff Writer, Englewood Campus Urban Prep students with Starbucks Chief Operating Officer Rosalind Brewer at the Economic Club Luncehon Photo: Jessie Mack Students with Andrew Cornblatt after Georgetown Law Presentation money to a player. What they didn’t know was that the photo was manipulated by the publisher. The students then divided into groups to come up with a defense for the two people. This gave students an insight into the type of cases law students study and how to properly make an argument on behalf of a defendant. Photo: Tim King