Austin Weekly News 061219 by Wednesday Journal

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AUSTINWEEKLY news ■

Vol. 33 No. 24

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June 12, 2019

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Regular news on pages 4 -14

austinweeklynews.com

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Also serving Garfield Park

M A T E R N A L

@AustinWeeklyChi

H E A L T H

@AustinWeeklyNews

I S S U E

Chicago expanding home visits from nurses More focus on postpartum care brings new attention (and funds) to home visits By Emeline Posner City Bureau

Nearly four years ago, Cassie Calderone strapped her newborn into a carrier to take the El from Andersonville to the Loop for her first postpartum checkup, just six days after giving birth. Calderone experienced heavy blood loss during delivery and was still passing large blood clots even after several days at home. When she made it to the hospital after the hour-long commute, her midwife told her that she needed to go on bedrest for a week. I n i t i a l l y, Calderone was happy to hop on the train for a follow-up appointment, but started to feel nervous about exposing her newborn to germs on public transit. “[And] after I saw my midwife and she put me on bedrest, that was when I had the ‘What am I doing out here?’ thought,” Calderone remembered. Until recently, post-delivery care was not considered as significant as prenatal care. But with new studies showing that the maternal mortality rate rose 26 percent in the United States between 2000 and 2014, and that more than half of maternal deaths occur postpartum, medical practices and opinions are starting to shift. But nationwide, 40 percent of wom-

Moms matter Welcome to this special Maternal Health Issue of Austin Weekly News, produced by City Bureau. City Bureau is a member-supported, nonprofit civic journalism lab based in Woodlawn. We bring journalists and communities together in a collaborative spirit to produce media that is impactful, equitable and responsive to the public. We embarked on this project because there is a maternal health crisis in America, and Black women are bearing the brunt of it. Through this issue, we hope to showcase their resourcefulness and resilience, along with a look at proposed solutions and communities working together. The stories for this issue were produced by City Bureau Civic Reporting Fellows: Sarah Conway, Janaya Greene, Caroline Olsen, Emeline Posner and Camille Powell. Stories were edited by Bettina Chang. Special thanks to the team at ProPublica Illinois, who shared their data with us. Learn more at www.citybureau.org. en don’t make it to their standard sixweek postpartum checkup, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. That could be because of many barriers to access, including transportation, poor weather or lack of childcare—and it means these women don’t get the essential information they need to care for themselves after childbirth. That’s why public health and maSee NURSES on page 17

Caroline Olsen/City Bureau

Dorothy Bowser, 27, of East Garfield Park, poses with her baby girl after winning the #CoverMama contest hosted this spring by City Bureau and Austin Weekly News. “These little humans we call babies are so powerful and influential; amazing teachers of grace, patience and time management,” she said. Read more on page 17.

State Farm Mutual Automobile • Insurance Company State Farm Indemnity Company • Bloomington, IL • statefarm.com® Larry and his staff are licensed and together have over 75 years of State Farm experience.

Larry Williams,Agent 5932 W. Lake Street Chicago, 60644 (773) 379-9010 larry.williams.b0bk@statefarm.com

Austin Weekly News, June 12, 2019

WWW.BUILDCHICAGO.ORG | 773-227-2880

AUSTIN

OF OPPORTUNITY STREETFEST A S P E C I A L - D AY F E S T I VA L F O R T H E E N T I R E F A M I LY ! L E T ’ S C O M E T O G E T H E R A S A C O M M U N I T Y T O C E L E B R AT E W H AT A U S T I N H A S T O O F F E R I T ’ S C H I L D R E N , Y O U T H A N D F A M I L I E S .

S UM M E R ST R E E T F E ST K I C K- O F F !

F R I D AY, J U N E 2 8 t h

from

1 2 pm- 9 pm

(Harrison & Laramie)

A U S T I N C O M M U N I T Y PA R A D E !

S AT U R D AY , J U N E 2 9 t h

from

1 0 am-1 2 pm

J O I N U S F O R A C O M M U N I T Y P A R A D E ! L I N I N G U P O N C H I C A G O A N D L A R A M I E , S T E P O F F AT 1 0 a m S H A R P !

SUMMER STREETFEST CONTINUES! (Harrison & Laramie) COMMUNITY RESOURCES COMMUNITY PARADE

H E A LT H S C R E E N I N G S

ART & STEM ACTIVITIES

1 2 pm- 9 pm

W E L L N E S S I N F O R M AT I O N

L I V E E N T E RTA I N M E N T

W I T H C O L L A B O R AT I N G PA R T N E R S ( i n f o r m a t i o n )

C A R N I VA L GA M E S & R I D E S

Austin Weekly News, June 12, 2019

AUSTIN WEEKLY news

Mark Moroney Advertising Director Dawn Ferencak Client Engagement Natalie Johnson Inside Sales Representative Mary Ellen Nelligan

“The” Friendship BAPTIST CHURCH Rev. Dr. Reginald E. Bachus, Pastor

5200 W. Jackson Blvd., Chicago, IL 60644 773-378-6600

fbcchicago.org • facebook.com/friendshipbcchicago SUNDAY SCHEDULE 8:30AM 1st Sunday Communion 8:30AM Morning Worship Service 9:30AM Sunday Church School 11:00AM Mid-Morning Worship Service MIDWEEK SERVICES (Wednesday) 12:00PM Noon Bible Study 6:00PM Bible Study 7:00PM Prayer Meeting

Kilborn

Kostner

Pulaski

Van Buren Eisenhower Expressway

BEAT 1131

BEAT 1132

BEAT 1133

California

Franklin BEAT 1123 BEAT 1124 Sacramento

Advertising Designers Debbie Becker,

BEAT 1113

District 11

BEAT 1134

BEAT 1125 Van Buren BEAT 1135

Western

Advertising Design Manager Andrew Mead

BEAT BEAT 1122 1114 Warren BEAT 1115 Jackson

BEAT 1121

Homan

Advertising Production Manager Philip Soell

Lake

BEAT 1112 Huron

Central Park

Javier Govea

BEAT 1111

Pulaski

Editorial Designers Jacquinete Baldwin,

≈ HOW TO REACH US 141 S. Oak Park Ave. Oak Park, IL 60302 PHONE 773-626-6332 FAX 708-467-9066 ONLINE www.AustinWeeklyNews.com TWITTER @AustinWeeklyChi ≈ The Austin Weekly News is published each Wednesday by Wednesday Journal, Inc., an Illinois corporation. It is distributed free of charge at locations across Austin and Garfield Park. Our hours are Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Advertising rates are available by calling our office. Printed entirely on recycled paper. © 2019 Wednesday Journal

Division Kedzie

Editorial Design Manager Claire Innes

District 15

Springfield

Columnists Arlene Jones

Division

Kildare

Social Media Manager Lee Edwards

≈

Publisher Dan Haley Associate Publisher Dawn Ferencak Business Manager Joyce Minich Chairman Emeritus Robert K. Dow

Cicero

Mike Risher

Central Park

IT Manager/Web Developer

Belmont BEAT BEAT 2523 2514 Diversey Diversey BEAT Wrightwood 2521 BEAT BEAT 2524 BEAT Fullerton 2512 2515 BEAT BEAT 2522 2525 Armitage Armitage BEAT 2513 BEAT BEAT BEAT BEAT BEAT 2531 2532 2533 2534 2535 North BEAT 2511

Laramie

AustinTalks, Igor Studenkov

District 25

Central

Contributing Reporters Lee Edwards, Robert Felton,

Staff Photographer Alexa Rogals Circulation Manager Jill Wagner Distribution Coordinator Wakeelah Cocroft-Aldridge Credit Manager Laurie Myers Front Desk Maria Murzyn, Carolyn Henning

Harlem

Senior Editor Bob Uphues

June 2019 Beat Meetings Oriole

Editor Michael Romain

Chicago Police Department

Roosevelt

CAPS 15th District • Commander Ernest Cato III

5701 W. Madison Ave. Phone: 312-743-1495 • CAPS015District@chicagopolice.org Tuesday, June 4 6:30 PM Beat: 1531 & 1532 West Branch Library, 4856 W. Chicago Ave.

Thursday, June 6 6:30 PM Beat: 1512 & 1523 PCC Wellness Center, 5425 W. Lake St.

Wednesday, June 5 6:00 PM Beat: 1522 & 1533 Loretto Hospital, 645 S. Central

Tuesday, June 11 6:30 PM Beat: 1511 & 1524 Hazelnut Park, 5949 W. Huron

Wednesday, June 12 6:30 PM Beat: 1513N Outside at Adams & Menard Thursday, June 13 6:30 PM Beat: 1513S Outside at 1114 S. Mason

CAPS 25th District • Commander Anthony Escamilla

5555 W. Grand Ave. Phone: 312-746-5090 • CAPS025District@chicagopolice.org Wednesday, June 5 6:30 PM Beat: 2512 Shriner’s Hospital 2211 N. Oak Park Ave. Thursday June 6 6:30 PM Beat: 2522 Hermosa Park, 2240 N. Kilbourn

Thursday, June 20 7:00 PM Beat: 2524 Kosciuszko Park - 2732 N. Avers Tuesday, June 25 6:30 PM Beat: 2532 Christ Lutheran, 1511 N. Long

Wednesday, June 26 6:00 PM Beat: 2534 North Grand High School, 4338 W. Wabansia Thursday, June 27 6:30 PM Beat: 2514 St. Ferdinand School, 3131 N. Mason

CAPS 11th District • Commander Darrell F. Spencer

3151 West Harrison St.Phone: 312-746-9841 • CAPS011District@chicagopolice.org Tuesday, June 4 6:30 PM Beat: 1111 Brian Piccolo School, 1040 N. Keeler

Thursday, June 13 6:00 PM Beat: 1122/23 Garfield Park Conservatory, 300 N. Central Park

Thursday, June 6 6:00 PM Beat: 1112/21 Sanctuary Place, 642 N. Kedzie

Tuesday, June 18 6:00 PM Beat: 1133/34 Homan Square Community Center, 3559 W. Arthington

Tuesday, June 11 6:30 PM Beat: 1124/25 JLM Abundant Life Center, 2622 W. Jackson

Thursday, June 20 6:00 PM Beat: 1113/14/15 St. Michael’s MBC, 4106 W. Monroe

Tuesday, June 25 6:00 PM Beat: 1135 Altgeld Park, 515 S. Washtenaw Thursday, June 27 6:00 PM Beat: 1131/32 Eloise McCoy Village Apt., 4650 W. Van Buren

Austin Weekly News, June 12, 2019

A guide to West Side farmers markets

A fresh bloom of farmers markets is flourishing across the West Side By IGOR STUDENKOV Contributing Reporter

As the weather warms up, farmers markets are sprouting all over Chicago and the West Side is no exception. The markets are usually organized by local nonprofits and often with the city’s support. The exact times and frequencies vary a great deal depending on the market. And while in the past, one of the major issues with farmers markets was that they don’t accept LINK and SNAP cards, many now do. The acceptance of LINK and SNAP is particularly important on the West Side, where grocery stores that offer any kind of produce are few and far between.

Forty Acres Market in Austin In Austin, Special Service Area 72 and Forty Acres Fresh Market are teaming up to hold monthly produce markets. While the exact dates for July and August aren’t currently available, this month, the market will take place on June 14 through June 16, at 5051 W. Chicago Ave. On Friday, it will run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. On both weekends, it would end at 4 p.m., but the start times are 8:30 a.m. on Saturday and 11:00 a.m. on Sunday. According to the flier, along with the “large selection of affordable fresh produce,” the market will have cooking demonstrations, free recipe cards and free samples. The flier also notes that they accept LINK cards.

Courtesy Herban Produce

HEALTHY EATS: A community member inspects produce inside of Herban Produce. Bottom left, the Green Tomato Café. Bottom right, Liz Abunaw, the owner and operator of Forty Acres Fresh Market.

Markets in Austin’s parks Starting this July, several weekly farmers markets will pop up throughout Austin area parks on weekdays, from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. In Columbus Park, at 500 S. Central Ave, it will run on Tuesdays, between July 9 and Sept 3. In LaFollette Park, at 1333 N. Laramie Ave, it will run on Wednesdays, between July 10 and Sept. 4. And on Thursdays, a farmers market will be held at Austin Town Hall Park at 5610 W. Lake St.

Garfield Park Farmers Market Meanwhile, in East Garfield Park, the Garfield Park Farmers Market kicks off its summer season at the Hatchery food incubator, which was built on the market’s original lot at 135 N. Kedzie Ave. The summer season officially kicked off on June 8. As in the past, the market will run every second Saturday, from 10a.m. to 2 p.m., and every following Thursday, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. It is currently scheduled to run through October.

Courtesy Green Tomato Café

Herban Produce’s urban farm A little further southeast, at 2900 W. Van Buren St, East Garfield Park’s Herban Produce urban farm will be holding monthly Farm-to-Turntable events. The farm’s website describes them as “daytime dance party meets farmers market,” where shoppers can buy produce grown on the farm, as well as garden plants, food and snacks from local vendors while listening to House music and checking out art installations. Farm-to-Turntable will take place on June 15, July 20, Aug. 17 and Sept. 21. While the exact times for the July through

August events are not clear, the June event will take place from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. There is no indication whether the farm will accept LINK and SNAP cards.

North Lawndale Farm Stand In North Lawndale, Lawndale Christian Health Center is running the Lawndale Farm Stand from its Green Tomato Cafe at 3750 W. Ogden Ave. It will operate every Wednesday, from June 14 through October 11, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The nearby Farm on Ogden will continue to host its own year-round farm stand at 3555 W. Ogden Ave. every Tuesday

Courtesy Forty Acres Market

through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

West Humboldt Park Finally, starting June 26, West Humboldt Park Farmers Market will be held on Saturdays at 3601 W. Chicago Ave., within walking distance of the controversial new Joint Police and Fire Training Center. The market is organized as a collaboration between the city and the Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago non-profit organization. It will run from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., and the final market will be held on Oct. 5. CONTACT: michael@austinweeklynews.com

Austin Weekly News, June 12, 2019

City wonders if bicycling is a priority on the West Side During the Mayor’s Bicycle Advisory Council, an activist explores how biking can be integrated with residents’ higher priority needs By IGOR STUDENKOV Contributing Reporter

On June 6, the Mayor’s Bicycle Advisory Council — a body made up of city transportation officials, regular cyclists, community activists and representatives of cycling-related community organizations throughout the city — met on the 11th floor of City Hall to discuss some of the major biking-related issues on the West Side. In March, the Chicago Department of Transportation restructured the council, dividing the city into eight regions and assigning each a community representative. Each representative is responsible for tackling issues specific to their area, listening to residents’ concerns and bringing residents’ suggestions back to the council. The West Region — which includes the entire West Side, in addition to the Montclare, Belmont-Cragin, and Hermosa neighborhoods further north — is represented by Jose Abonce, a community organizer with Austin Coming Together. During the June 6 meeting, Abonce gave an overview of the major issues in the West Region and what he plans to do to address them. Abonce said that much of the region doesn’t have any bike lanes and that some areas are prone to crashes. He cited the section of North Avenue between Austin Boulevard and Laramie Avenue; the sections of Chicago Avenue between Pulaski Road and Kedzie Avenue and between Central and Cicero Avenues; the section of Lake Street between Lockwood and Hamlin Avenues; and the section of Pulaski Road between Arthington Street and Chicago Avenue. Some of the major streets, Abonce said, are dangerous to cyclists. “Cicero Avenue is one of those streets that connects neighborhoods on the north to the south, but people shouldn’t be bicycling on that,” he said. “It has no bike lanes and the trucks — it doesn’t make [a safe] environment at all.” Pulaski Road, Abonce said, has a similar problem and so do major streets connecting the West Side to the Loop. He said that planners must remember that West Side residents are concerned with earning a living wage, having access to good housing, good education, and safety. The fact remains, Abonce said, that many residents “may not

necessarily have the luxury of bicycling or thinking about bicycling in any other way besides leisure.” He added that too often, residents don’t know about any roadway and bike lane improvements until they actually happen. Abonce also said that the region has several assets it could take advantage of. He pointed to the fact that North Lawndale Community Coordinating Council and Austin Coming Together developed community-wide Quality of Life Plans, and it would make sense to build on the plans that are already there to figure out the best way to improve cycling amenities. The West Side already has a network of strong community organizations, including ACT, NLCCC, Garfield Park Community Council and the Northwest Side Housing Center. The communities have plenty of large and small parks. Abonce specifically cited Columbus Park, Garfield Park and Douglas Park as examples of spaces that offer recreational opportunities. The region is served by three ‘L’ lines and multiple bus routes. And while the large number of vacant lots has been a problem, he said, they also provide opportunities. Abonce said that his first priority would be to engage with West Side regional stakeholders, not only to find out the best way to encourage cycling, but to figure out “whether bicycling is a priority, why or why not.” “I think that’s something we need to define,” he said. Abonce said that he would like to find out how many residents have access to bike infrastructure within half a mile of where they live. He plans to work with local summer races and events to incorporate biking components. David Smith, CDOT’s bicycle and pedestrian programs planner, said that he appreciated the idea of the city building on existing community planning efforts. “I think it’s really crucial to bring in cycling infrastructure.” he said. “There’s been so many efforts that are happening from the ground up and we need to see how we can tap into those efforts. And we look forward to tapping into that.” Smith also praised Abonce for asking whether bicycling is a priority for West Region residents, saying that it was “an honest part of the conversation we need to have.” Smith also mentioned that CDOT is gearing up for a design phase on improvements to the section of Chicago Avenue between Latrobe and Kedzie Avenues. CONTACT: michael@austinweeklynews.com

Austin Weekly News, June 12, 2019

A West Side church’s radical inclusion

New Mt. Pilgrim’s Maafa program restores at-risk men through cultural restoration and community By BONNI McKEOWN Contributor

Marshall Hatch Jr. — the son of Marshall Hatch Sr., the pastor of New Mt. Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church at 4301 W. Washington — said he tried to avoid being a minister for a while, but then came a mission he could not ignore: Maafa. The Kiswahili word means great disaster or great calamity — one that takes years for recovery. It’s applied to American slavery. The conditions for today’s young Black men represent “a cultural death they were born into,” Hatch said. Maafa is a nine-month program for at-risk black men, ages 18 to 26. In the program, formerly incarcerated men who have turned their lives around serve as life coaches for their younger colleagues. Some life coaches are deacons in the church. “We wanted the program to be unique — a faith based residential institute,” said Hatch, adding that about half of Maafa participants are classified as homeless. The young men room in several church-owned houses. “We wanted to give them a secure home place while they learn. I believe in Maslow’s hierarchy of needs — take care of people’s basic needs first and this allows them to move on toward self-actualization.” Dwight McKee, who took part in the Civil Rights movement in the 1960s, helped to start the Maafa program, now in its third year. The young men hear history-rich talks from McKee and take group trips to African American history museums in Alabama, Memphis and Washington DC. They learn about African American identity, financial literary and reading literacy. They also train on the job in construction and landscaping. “This program opened my eyes to lot of things in the community,” said Robert Hall, a member of Maafa who is earning his certification to go into construction work. “I’m getting more involved.” New Mt. Pilgrim has a history of engaging young men who feel alienated by the social and economic conditions around them. In 2013, several deacons started a Bible/basketball program, creating a safe haven during a violent time of the week — Friday nights. Before opening the gym, deacons talk with youth about a passage of scripture and how it relates to daily life. The young men, in turn, talk about their experiences. The first cohort of Maafa young men came from this basketball ministry. Each group recruited the next year’s cohort. “We are intentional about getting the right guys,” Hatch Jr. said. Hatch explained that of the 26 graduates from Maafa (12 in the first cohort, 14 in the second), 82 percent are currently employed, 93 percent of those previously in the criminal justice system have avoided recidivism and all of them earned their GEDs. Many alumni come back and help recruit others. Half of the alumni are now baptized church members. “When you’re baptized into a community like this, you are reconnected to the African American extended family,” Hatch Jr. said. “The congregation sees them as their sons and nephews, and the young men don’t feel judged for how they look and speak.” In the Maafa program, the community responds in a healthy way to oppression, Hatch said. “We should be radically inclusive,” he said. “The key is spiritual. Redemption has to do with physical, spiritual

BONNI McKeown/Contributor

A COMMUNITY TO CALL THEIR OWN: Marshall Hatch Jr. (far right) and Marshall Hatch Sr. (third from left), with the third Maafa cohort outside one of their residential houses on Washington. Below, Hatch Jr. with Maafa participant Robert Hall, left. and mental health. Our mission statement says we cannot redeem our own family until we redeem ourselves. If I’m not connected with the source of all being, I can’t deal with my pain and it comes out as rage. Connection with the divine brings inner peace.” Hatch Jr. said that African Americans overcome oppression through the arts. At New Mt. Pilgrim, a 21st century stainedglass Maafa window depicts Christ in chains, his body shown as a slave ship. Christ is breaking through and trying to rise from a blue-gray tomb. A second rose window honors victims of violence. New Mt. Pilgrim’s stately building is the former St. MelHoly Ghost Roman Catholic Church. The Botti studio, formerly of Evanston and now based in LaPorte, Ind., has been re-doing the stained glass windows. When a Maafa graduate got interested in the craft and helped restore a window, the Botti’s then hired him.

CONTACT: michael@austinweeklynews.com

Austin Weekly News, June 12, 2019

VIEW points

June 12 - 19

BIG WEEK

Two tragedies, two families, two agendas

osing a loved one is hard. Losing a loved one to the senseless violence that occurs in this city is even harder. Almost as hard, for me, is watching the living, especially the activists, attempt to gain some sort of momentum for their agenda from the death. Take the case of Marlen Ochoa. She was the young pregnant teenager who was lured to a house in search of free baby items. Once there, she was strangled, killed, and the baby that she carried was cut from her womb. That was a horrific crime for sure. But as I followed the news about the murder, the husband although thankful that the Chicago Police Department had solved the crime, began to blame “anti-immigration laws” as the reason that CPD took three weeks to solve the case. I am grateful that Superintendent Eddie Johnson responded that solving a murder is not like a television show. And Chicago has myriad murder cases that the detectives have to investigate. While the superintendent didn’t say so, the reality is that language barriers require translators. Thus the detectives are not hearing the subtle verbal nuances that they would pick up on if both people were speaking the same language. The family of Ochoa also want a law that would have any baby born at home DNA tested against the mother. My question is: If the baby never needed hospitalization how does it get enforced? What I do agree with, and stand in

agreement with the family, is their call for the reinstatement of the death penalty. The heinous crime perpetrated on Ochoa calls for the ultimate penalty to be paid by the perpetrators Austin had its own heinous crime of late in the murder of Brittany Hill. She’s the young mother holding her daughter who was gunned down by what turned out to be an uncle and his nephew who traveled all the way here from Urbana to commit carnage. Hill’s family recently held a press conference announcing they were suing CPD because of the unauthorized release of the video of the murder. Anybody who has seen the video, and I admit I have, will have a number of questions that automatically pop up. Those questions, if pursued, can lead to some answers that certain people may not want to give or admit. Amazingly during the press conference, Hill’s father says he forgives the killers. I was astonished at such forgiveness, which occurred even before Hill has been buried. Even more, before the trial has happened where we could learn exactly why those men came all the way to the West Side of Chicago at such an early hour to allegedly commit the crime of which they are accused. Two horrific murders and two very different agendas from the families. It’s going to be interesting to see which family prevails with their agenda.

ARLENE JONES

File photo

BREAKING GROUND: Elected officials, including West Side Ald. Chris Taliaferro (29th), fourth from left, and Cook County Commissioner Richard Boykin (1st), break ground on Austin Veterans Peace Garden on May 24.

Celebrate the grand opening of the Veterans Peace Garden On Friday, June 14, 12 p.m. to 1 p.m., at 5413 W. Madison St., the flag raising and grand opening of the 29th Ward Veterans Peace Garden will take place. RSVP by June 13 by calling (773) 759-5173 or emailing oursana2015@gmail. com.

Attend a fashion show On Friday, June 14, 6 p.m., at Ella Flagg Young School, 1434 N. Parkside St. (auditorium-Waller entrance), third-grade teacher Vanessa Renee will host her annual fashion show for third- through eighth-grade students. Tickets: $5 in advance, $7 at the door. CONTACT: michael@austinweeklynews.com

Proud to partner with Austin Talks

austintalks.org INTERESTED IN ADVERTISING? Contact Dawn Ferencak 708.613.3329

Austin Weekly News, June 12, 2019

Education Enrichment Summer 2019

and

guide

Austin Weekly News, June 12, 2019

PLAY

STAY CONNECTED.

every day every way

Day Camp

June 24 - August 2

*Late Summer Camps August 5-16

(varies by park) *offered at select parks

Online Registration Begins

In-Person Registration

Monday, April 22 (for parks WEST of California Ave.) Begins Saturday, April 27 for most parks Tuesday, April 23 (for parks EAST of California Ave.) Some parks begin on Monday, April 29 Help send a kid to camp! Donate to the camp scholarship fund at www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/donate City of Chicago MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT Chicago Park District Board of Commissioners Michael P. Kelly, General Superintendent & CEO

Financial assistance is available for eligible Chicago residents. Learn more at: www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/day-camp/ For more information about your Chicago Park District visit www.ChicagoParkDistrict.com or call 312.742.7529 or 312.747.2001 (TTY)

ATTENTION PARENTS of pre-K through 4th Graders

COME TO AN

Alain Locke Charter School Informational Meeting June 25, 2019 from 5:30-6:30 p.m. or July 2, 2019 from 5:30-6:30 p.m.

Meet the Principal and staff to find out why Chicago’s #1 Charter School is right for your child right now. There will be refreshments, and applications will be available on site for immediate openings.

Alain Locke Charter School

TOP 15% of

all schools in Illinois for grades K through 8

among all Illinois schools serving African-American Students

3141 W Jackson Blvd | Chicago, IL 60612 | 773.265.7230 Image credit: © Sandra Steinbrecher 2018 |  @sandysteinbrecherphotography |  @sandragoldin

Austin Weekly News, June 12, 2019

Chicago Jesuit Academy A tuition-free, faith-based private middle school for young men. Now accepting applications for rising third through eighth graders for the 2019-2020 school year.

For more information or to apply, visit cjacademy.org, call us at (773) 638-6103 or email apply@cjacademy.org • • • • • • •

Safe, loving environment Small class sizes 11-month school year 9.5-hour school day College prep curriculum High school admissions support Sports, Music and Arts

Austin Weekly News, June 12, 2019

HANDS-ON EXPLORATION. REAL WORLD DISCOVERY. A CPS Level 1 School

The mission of Polaris Charter Academy is to educate students to be self-motivated, creative, critical thinkers, with the ultimate goal of shaping life-long learners and citizens with a strong sense of personal and civic responsibility. • FREE public charter school • FREE healthy breakfast, lunch and Accepting applications for grades snack everyday The mission of Polaris Charter Academy is to educate • Long school day: 7:50AM - 4PM for the 2019-2020 school year • Small class size: 25 students to be self-motivated, creative, critical thinkers, • Student/teacher ratio: 12 to 1 • Music, art, drama & technology

with the ultimate goal of shaping life-long learners and We are located at

citizens with strong sense of personal and civic 620aN. Sawyer Ave. in West Humboldt Park responsibility.

(1 block west of Kedzie, between Ohio & Huron)

Please • FREE publice-mail chartertsandifer@pcachicago.org school

call (773) for an application • Longorschool day: 534-0820 7:50AM - 4PM • Small class size: 25 • Student/teacher ratio: 12.5 to 1 • Music, art, drama & technology

K-8

Austin Weekly News, June 12, 2019

West Side H.O.M.E. Court

Basketball Clinics A partnership between Christ the King Jesuit, Maryville CYO and St. Martin de Porres WHEN:

Saturdays, June 29, July 6, 13, 20, August 3

WHERE:

Christ the King Jesuit, 5088 W. Jackson Blvd.

WHO:

Boys & Girls, 3rd to 8th grades

TIME:

9am—12pm

Help us keep children in the Austin and West Garfield Park Communities safe this summer at our West Side H.O.M.E. Court (Harvesting Opportunities for Motivation & Empowerment) • Skill Development and Teamwork • Positive Coaching and Mentoring • Family Involvement, Fun & Games

Join us for Onsite Registration - June 29 at 8:30am ($5 processing fee required for all applicants) For more information, contact Scott Riley at sriley52@gmail.com or Kimberly Williams at (312) 491-3534, williamsk4@maryvilleacademy.org

Austin Weekly News, June 12, 2019

West Sider appointed to Chicago Lawmaker calls for emergency measures Board of Education Dwayne Truss, a longtime activist, will be sworn in on June 26 By KENDALL POLIDORI AustinTalks

Dwayne Truss, a longtime Austin resident and Chicago Public Schools graduate, has been appointed to the Chicago Board of Education. Truss, who ran unsuccessfully for the 29th Ward aldermanic seat earlier this year, had backed Mayor Lori Lightfoot in her mayoral race. Hours after the new mayor announced the appointments of all seven board members, Truss said he shares Lightfoot’s vision for education in Chicago. “I am blessed to be serving the children and join the hardworking staff of Chicago Public Schools to build upon the success and continue forward,” said Truss, who works as a tax auditor for the state. Truss said he’ll strive to serve all of CPS’ roughly 362,000 students and help rectify what he said have been education shortcomings on the West Side. He said the board needs to make sure the state’s largest school district is serving all areas of the district equitably. He pledged to continue what Lightfoot has started: engaging the community and parents in the education of students. “We are going to tap into educators and principals and see what is needed at the schools,” said Truss, 56. “They know what is needed, and we want to make sure we are doing the proper thing.” Parents must be engaged to help the district assess its needs, he said. “We are going to be fair and transparent.” Lightfoot’s school board appointments come the day after the Illinois General Assembly ended its spring session during which lawmakers considered legislation to create an elected Chicago school board. House Bill 2267, however, stalled in the Illinois Senate after Lightfoot expressed concern about the size being proposed for an elected board (21 members). During her mayoral campaign, Lightfoot repeatedly pushed for an elected school board. Wendy Katten, founder of Raise Your Hand for Illinois Education, has worked closely with Truss since the two met in 2011. He served on Raise Your Hand’s board, attending and speaking at many Chicago Board of Education meetings. “He has always been a huge advocate for public schools and a great community organizer,” Katten said. “He is very knowledgeable about policies and intent on really examining things.” Truss, a strong proponent of public schools who has also served on local school councils, wants all neighborhoods served well by CPS, she said. “The West Side has been neglected,” Katten said. “If you look at previous (school) board members, policies, their impact and the disinvestment, it is completely different from what Dwayne is doing. … It is huge to have someone who really knows the area. Dwayne will be an amazing advocate for the West Side.” Jennie Biggs, communications and outreach director for Raise Your Hand, said Truss will help the board look at things holistically.

He “will help keep the lens on what youth truly need in their communities,” Biggs said. Raise Your Hand praised Truss’ appointment in its newsletter Monday: “He played an instrumental role in shaping our organization and is a phenomenal human and advocate for public schools. Dwayne mentored many of us over the years, and we look forward to working with him.” Truss and the rest of the volunteer school board will be sworn in on June 26; it’s not clear how long their terms will be. Truss said he would not be where he is today or done as much work on the West Side without his wife of 32 years, Cata Truss. They have five sons, all of whom graduated from CPS, and eight grandchildren, some of whom have attended CPS. “His vote will be a vote for the entire community,” said Ira Acree, pastor of Greater St. John Bible Church. Acree has served as Truss’ pastor for years, and both have advocated for education in Austin. Acree said Truss will not back down on any issue he believes is important and that he is a perfect fit for the board because he is not new to the pressing issues facing CPS. Truss isn’t afraid to speak his mind either. Acree remembered a time when the two disagreed on an issue, and Truss wrote an op-ed supporting his side. “There were never any personal feelings,” Acree said. “I always felt respect and admiration towards him for taking a stand in what he believes in.” The alderman Truss unsuccessfully challenged in the February election congratulated Truss in a Facebook post: “Your decades of commitment to our communities and schools is quite evident to all, including Mayor Lightfoot. Thank you for your continued commitment to serving our city,” Ald. Chris Taliaferro wrote. Truss grew up in West Garfield Park and has been devoted to improving life on the West Side, including helping ensure the construction of the George Westinghouse College Prep High School, and renovation of the Austin College and Career Academy High School and the ball fields at Columbus Park. Without commenting directly on Truss’ appointment, Chicago Teachers Union President Jesse Sharkey issued a statement in which he said: “CPS continues to be plagued by the chronic lack of transparency, accountability and democracy that underpins mayoral control — and it’s time for the mayor to keep her campaign promise for an elected, representative school board.” He criticized the mayor for not delivering on her campaign promise before state lawmakers adjourned Sunday. “She refused, instead doing what Rahm Emanuel did for eight years: pushing Senate President Cullerton to derail that legislation while refusing to engage with the very grassroots forces that have been fighting for this most democratic right,” Sharkey said in a statement. At the press conference Monday at which the new board members were unveiled, the mayor said she still supports an elected school board but thinks it’s important to be thoughtful about how the board is constructed. “It’s not just the 21 members, which I think is really setting up any board for chaos,” Lightfoot was quoted

Rep. La Shawn K. Ford said West Side is in state of emergency By WENDELL HUTSON Contributing Reporter

Mother’s Day will never be the same again for Carl Cowans, who lost his oldest son to gun violence in 2017. “I try to spend time with my mom on Mother’s Day but it’s hard to celebrate her because I am thinking about my son, who was gunned down on the street at age 24,” recalled Carl Cowans, a 46-year-old Austin resident. “My son and his best friend were outside walking around and enjoying the day when some guys pulled up in a car and started shooting for no reason. He was a good kid who was not involved in drugs or gangs. To this day his death remains unsolved.” It is stories like Cowans and an uptick in violence and a lack of economic development on the West Side that pushed state Rep. La Shawn Ford (8th) to announce during a recent community meeting with constituents, nonprofit leaders and community activists that the area is in a state of emergency. “The West Side is under attack and we must declare an emergency to get the resources we need to combat crime, drugs and a decline in the local economy,” said Ford. “Unlike other communities that receive assistance from the city, state, county and federal government the West Side is drowning and there are not enough life jackets to go around.” “We need to help the West Side chapter of the NAACP (National Association of the Advancement of Colored People), Good Neighbor Campaign, our churches and yes even our police officers,” added Ford. “I don’t know about you but I am sick and tired of seeing my community look like a secondclass place to live. Shame on us for letting people treat us like secondclass citizens.” The West Side neighborhood is one of Chicago’s largest community areas, but it’s also plagued by poor schools, high unemployment, crime, and low economic development, said Ford.

The community has one of the highest infant mortality rates in the city at 10.5 percent compared to Chicago’s overall rate of around 8 percent, according to the Chicago Health Atlas. The predominately black neighborhood has also become an epicenter of the opioid overdose crisis in Illinois. In 2017, the last year data was available, 67 people died from an opioid overdose, according to the Chicago Health Atlas. And violence is not limited to adults but children too. With the last few years, 10 children at the West Side Child Development Center, 4920 W. Madison St., witnessed their parents get shot, including three this year, according to Tamera Fair, chief executive officer of the development center. “We have an in-house counselor who works with children affected by violence,” said Fair. “These are kids who suffer physiological and emotional damage from these shootings.” And the root cause of so much violence is poverty, said Fair. “A lack of jobs, education and access to capital is hurting ‘our’ people. If we can fix these problems then violence would go down and the economy would improve,” she said. “But until that happens people will remain in survival mode and do whatever they have to in order to provide for their families even if that means illegal activity.” Ford said he plans to mount more pressure on state lawmakers until they give the West Side their fair share of resources that would then allow for more grants for grassroots organizations. “We need to help the West Side chapter of the NAACP (National Association of the Advancement of Colored People), Good Neighbor Campaign, our churches and yes even our police officers,” added Ford. “I don’t know about you but I am sick and tired of seeing my community look like a secondclass place to live. Shame on us for letting people treat us like secondclass citizens.” CONTACT: michael@austinweeklynews.com

Austin Weekly News, June 12, 2019

Fathers Who Care

Promoting Responsible Fatherhood Involvement Fathers Who Care is a non-profit organization that promotes a myriad of programs and initiatives supporting the wellness and development of responsible fathers, families and youth initiatives within the West Garfield Park community. Fathers Who Care Youth Leadership Council engages their peers in leadership development, violence prevention activities and events as well as promotes non-violence lifestyles through a variety of ways.

What We Offer: • Weekly Youth Council Meetings every Monday at 4:30pm • Youth-Led Community Events, Community Healing, Youth Townhalls & Summits • Youth leadership committees tackling issues, strategies and fundraising opportunities for their community • Youth-Led weekly CAN-TV Show on Channel 21 • Recreational Activities

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Austin Weekly News, June 12, 2019

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Austin Weekly News, June 12, 2019

M A T E R N A L

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A note from our cover model(s)...

Caroline Olsen, City Bureau

Cassie Calderone became certified as a doula after undergoing a difficult postpartum recovery. She helps lead a birth class at Illinois Masonic Medical Center, teaching women about their birthing options.

NURSES

New focus on postpartum from page 1 ternal health experts across the country are advocating for home visits: sending nurses to moms who are at high risk for postpartum medical complications or who cannot travel to their postpartum appointments. In October 2018, as part of its first report on the maternal mortality crisis in Illinois, the Illinois Department of Public Health recommended that the state increase its home-visit nurse and doula services for both pregnant and postpartum moms to prevent deaths that occur after delivery. Now, with the help of a state block grant, the Chicago Department of Public Health is expanding its home-visit services to reach about 5,000 families by 2020.

Helping high-risk women Home care for pregnant women and new mothers is nothing new; there are examples of home-visit services for low-income women as far back as the mid-1900s in Chicago. The Chicago Department of Public Health has provided home-visit services for mothers and children for decades, though many

of its current programs focus on newborn health over maternal health. Jacqueline Hoskins Wroten, a public health nurse with the CDPH who has done home visits for pregnant women and new moms for more than 30 years, is helping to coordinate two of the city’s newer home-visit services for moms, funded by the Illinois Department of Public Health. The first, which launched in September 2018, is for new moms with hypertension, a high blood pressure condition that puts pregnant women and moms at risk of having strokes, heart attacks or blood clots after birth. Wroten estimated that so far 40 hypertensive women have received home visits through referrals from Cook County Hospital Network and the University of Illinois Hospital Network. At these visits, nurses check mothers’ blood pressure and make sure that they’re taking their medication. They may also provide lactation and other parenting guidance, as well as connection to local health and childcare resources. They also try to emphasize to partners and families the importance of mom not exerting herself, Wroten said.

Expanding to universal care CDPH’s second—and much larger—initiative is a pilot for a universal, short-term

“Now, with the help of a state block grant, the Chicago Department of Public Health is expanding its homevisit services to reach about 5,000 families by 2020.” postpartum home-visit service called Family Connects. It could reach as many as 5,000 families through five hospitals when it launches later this year, according to CDPH chief program officer Jen Vidis. The service, which was designed for the city of Durham, North Carolina, by Duke University, has been shown to reduce rehospitalization and emergency visit rates for families during the postpartum period, increase show rates for follow-up appointments and reduce emergency health care costs by $3.02 for every dollar invested. Data is limited about how home-visit services impact health outcomes for women in Illinois—especially Black women, who are six times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related condition than white women in the state. But health care experts agree that See HOME VISITS on page 18

“This new life is different and challenging in a way I could never have imagined. At the same time, there really aren’t adequate words for this type of love—it’s kind of just a phenomenon. “I spent so much time over the last two years doing self-work to reset my mindset, but when this little one came, she reset me completely; my values shifted. “I did a lot of physical, mentalemotional and spiritual preparation to prepare to bring her Earth-side naturally & harmoniously—and I achieved that. Access, education and support resources make all the difference, and I wish this for every mother. I am nearly seven months postpartum, but really, I’m just learning the extent and the depth of the support I need within this phase. “Every day reveals more ways in which I am challenged and rewarded by being a first-time mother. “These little humans we call babies are so powerful and influential; amazing teachers of grace, patience and time management. “I’m currently working to launch a coaching business to guide people toward uncovering their identity, purpose and direction in life. “You can find me on Instagram @7UltraMarie talking about motherhood and purpose.” — Dorothy Bowser, 27, East Garfield Park

Austin Weekly News, June 12, 2019

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HOME VISITS

Getting equitable care from page 17 expanding home-visit care will not only improve outcomes for new moms and babies, but will also help improve the city agency’s understanding of what families need in the postpartum period. Hospitals often lose sight of patients after they’re discharged from the hospital, Vidis said. A universal service can change that. Once it’s up and running, regional community boards will meet on a regular basis to review data, so they can see what resources those families need. That information will help both hospitals and home-visit nurses to better serve their patients. “We’ll be more likely to find families that have other needs that are not on our radar and not being met,” Vidis said. “We’ll do a better job at connecting with those families at risk and creating a better safety net.”

Providing equitable postpartum care Home visits are one way to provide sustained support and education to women who are likely to experience health care disparities because of their race, income, age or housing status. Implicit bias in the health care system means that women of color often find themselves stereotyped or have their concerns about their care or symptoms dismissed. Studies have shown, for instance, that doctors prescribe less pain medication to Black patients than white patients with the same reported pain levels due to a mistaken stereotype that Black people are better at withstanding pain than people of other races. In the context of pregnancy-related issues, the dismissal of an ache or pain after delivery could lead to a preventable death. But having a nurse or home visitor around can help at-risk women to better prepare for these risks and to advocate for themselves. That’s especially true for younger mothers. “People see young moms as more being told, not really seeing them as being able to make decisions for themselves,” said Luecendia Reed, assistant director of family supports for New Moms, an Austin-based nonprofit that provides housing, job training and perinatal support for moms between the ages of 16 and 24. In Austin, the rate of teen births is nearly double the citywide rate, according to Chicago Health Atlas. Home visits can “help them to have those conversations with their providers,” she said. New Moms uses Healthy Start, an initiative funded by the Illinois Department of Public Health, and one of a number of homevisit programs available to groups in Chica-

Caroline Olsen, City Bureau

Moms pass around weight models of the baby at different stages of pregnancy. Doulas and nurses can provide essential information like this to women before or after birth. go, to provide home care to their moms from pregnancy up to their child’s fifth birthday. New Moms’ home-visit service also includes a doula through pregnancy and the first two months postpartum. “Black families don’t get the same [maternal health] education as their counterparts, white families,” Reed said. “Most times [our moms have] already been told they’re already gonna get an epidural, and even though it’s really subtle, what if they don’t want an epidural? No one really gave them an option that they could do these things. “I think that’s one of the biggest things families get out of a home-visiting program,” Reed said, “is that they get options and they’re well informed.” Shirley Scott, who is the administrator of the perinatal network at the University of Illinois at Chicago, and who helps to run CDPH’s hypertension home-visit service, said that home visits can help bridge that gap in information. “There’s a whole lot of information that’s given and received during pregnancy during the postpartum period. And the ability for individuals to digest that information varies, especially if you are not a native English speaker,” Scott said. With home visiting, moms benefit from lon-

ger visits and sustained relationships with home visitors. Still, access to longterm postpartum care is a challenge. Many hospital-based programs only offer visits up to seven or eight weeks postpartum. But cardiomyopathy, one of the leading causes of death for Black women after birth, commonly leads to death between seven weeks and one year postpartum—and it’s difficult to detect early on.

“I think that’s one of the biggest things families get out of a homevisiting program, is that they get options and they’re well informed.” LUECENDIA REED

Assistant director of family supports for New Moms

Paying it forward After experiencing how difficult and frightening the postpartum recovery process can be for women of color, Cassie Calderone wanted to help others through the process. She started her doula training to become a birth doula when her son was three months old, and she trained to become a postpartum doula the following year. With home visits, Calderone thinks doulas and home visitors have the ability to communicate the risks women face during pregnancy and the postpartum period to women of color more sensitively than in a medical setting. There’s a way to do it gently and efficiently, she said, and not just in a “scary numbers way.” “I didn’t know that as a Latina I should automatically be scared for my health,” Calderone said, referencing the fact that Black and Latina women are at highest risk of dying

during delivery or facing serious birth-related health issues. “I wish someone had told me all the things I was at risk for.” Looking back on her own experience as a new mom, Calderone thinks that she would have benefited physically and emotionally from a home visit. “I think that having a nurse or midwife come to the home after discharge would be so beneficial,” she said. “Postpartum bleeding can pick up again with even minimal activity,” she said. “A home visit would encourage more time to rest.” This story was produced by City Bureau, a civic journalism lab based in Woodlawn. Learn more and get involved at www.citybureau.org

Austin Weekly News, June 12, 2019

N U T R I T I O N

Nutrition and natural care tips from maternal experts Top suggestions for pregnant and postpartum women By Emeline Posner City Bureau

It can be daunting to keep track of nutrition during pregnancy and after delivery. When pregnant mamas are juggling work and caring for other children, eating—let alone buying and preparing—healthy food may not always feel like a top priority. Even so, eating nourishing food is an important factor to keep mom and baby healthy through pregnancy and “the fourth trimester,” the three-month period after delivery— especially for women who have diabetes. That’s particularly true for women at risk of developing gestational diabetes, such as women of color over the age of 25 who are overweight or who have a family history of diabetes. If untreated, diabetes can cause a number of pregnancy complications, including preeclampsia, perinatal depression and premature birth. City Bureau spoke with birthworkers and nutritionists across the city about plantbased remedies and diet advice.

1. Take folic acid and iron

“I am not sure that I could give any better advice than to start taking care of your baby starting from the minute you know you are pregnant, or before, by adding folic acid to your daily routine,” says Robbin Uchison, director of Family Birth Place at the West Suburban Hospital in Oak Park. “During the ‘fourth trimester,’ moms should increase [intake] of iron-rich foods, keeping in mind that there is usually some blood loss during delivery,” she added. “And if she is breastfeeding, she is still eating for two. If not breastfeeding, [she should] still keep in mind that her body has just gone through another transformation during the birth process, and needs to be continued to be fortified.”

2. Try teas and herbs to heal and nourish your body

Ginger, mint or lemon essential oil can help with nausea and vomiting, said Gina Marcin, a certified nurse midwife at the PCC Birth Center in Oak Park, who is also a certified herbal counselor. More common grocery items like chamomile or ginger tea can also work, she added. “I also recommend different kinds of herbs as nourishing tonics. Nettle leaf tea is

a really nice herb that is not contraindicated [has potential to cause harm] in pregnancy, that has a lot of mineral vitamin content, and is overall a nice nourishing plant that can help support a pregnancy,” she said. “But be aware that there are a lot of herbs and plants out there,” Marcin added. “Just because it’s natural doesn’t always mean it’s safe.”

3. For women with gestational diabetes, breakfast is key

“It’s highly recommended to break your fast in the morning with protein, whether it’s an egg or a handful of seeds or nuts. Protein won’t spike up your insulin, and it keeps it [stable] throughout the day,” said Nahid Kohistani, a certified birth and postpartum doula with Chicago Family Doulas. For women struggling with their blood sugar—as well as any woman hoping to eat well during pregnancy—she recommends nuts and seeds, greens like kale and spinach, as well as chia seeds and flax seeds. “Two teaspoons of chia seeds meet your fatty acid and amino acid [needs], and you can just fill your water up and put a spoonful in the morning, a spoonful in the evening,” Kohistani said. “[All of this] is packed with calcium, iron and protein, and lots of other minerals and vitamins important for mom and baby.”

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4. Watch your vitamins while breastfeeding

“The body will choose the baby over the mother and give whatever’s in the body to the baby first. So the mother is going to have to eat right to replenish herself so that she has energy and is healthy,” said Telika Howard, doula and certified lactation counselor with Chicago Family Doulas and Holy Birth Doula. Moms who are trying to lose baby weight should wait until six weeks after birth before cutting calories. “But make sure she still receives vital vitamins [so] she can breastfeed,” Howard added.

5. Fruits and veggies are essential

Eliza Fournier, program director of Windy City Harvest at the Chicago Botanic Garden, keeps it simple. “Find a vegetable or fruit you like and eat as much of it as you can!” she said. This story was produced by City Bureau, a civic journalism lab based in Woodlawn. Learn more and get involved at www.citybureau.org

Chicago: 5317 W. Chicago Ave www.newmoms.org

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Austin Weekly News, June 12, 2019

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The many faces of birth work in Chicago Women of color in the industry work to support moms in their own communities Photos and text by Caroline Olsen City Bureau

Photos by Caroline Olsen, City Bureau

Birth work, especially in communities of color, can be both emotionally taxing and expensive. As medical providers, midwives must also be Registered Nurses in Illinois in order to practice legally, leaving many midwives of color in debt and unable to work in community midwifery turning to work at hospitals or private agencies instead. Doulas, who typically provide emotional support to a mother and family during the pregnancy year, are not currently covered by Medicaid, one option that would make their services easier for low income families to access. All this is in a state where racial disparities in maternal health are worse than national averages. A recent study of New York women from the Maternal and Child Health Journal found that doula services led to lower rates of low birthweight and mothers reported that they felt doula support gave them a greater voice, while another found that states that have the highest integration of midwives in health care systems have better outcomes for maternal and infant health. “I think people are done being mistreated by our systems and I think that has put a fire into the community,” said Qiddist Ashe, 25, a birth and postpartum doula, childbirth educator, and herbalist. ”People see the need [for birth workers]. And now I think it’s about that culture shift and making more opportunities possible.”

Certified Nurse Midwife Reneau Diallo, 70, (left) examines a patient at Beloved Community Family Wellness Center in Englewood. “I said when I was seven years old, I told my grandmother I’m gonna deliver babies. I’m gonna be a midwife. And I’ve never looked back. In midwifery specifically I’ve been practicing maybe 26 years,” said Diallo, adding that Black people were not allowed in educational programs for birthwork for many years. Diallo recently got her doctorate in nursing.

(Above) Alexis Crump, 22, at home with her 2-week old baby girl talking about her relationship with her doula. Crump worked with a doula throughout her pregnancy and joked that her services extended far beyond the typical package, helping her search for a couch for her new apartment. (Left) Tayo Mbande, 25, founder of Chicago Birthworks Collective, working with her son at her home office. “Being a Black doula working with Black people is very different than being a white doula working with anyone who’s not Black,” she said. “That person is dealing with generations and generations and generations of women that look like them being told, like you’re not in control of your body, and you’re not competent enough to be in control of your body.”

Austin Weekly News, June 12, 2019

M A T E R N A L

(Above) Amber Gates, 28, at home with her son. Gates always knew she wanted to give birth outside of a hospital setting. On her relationship with the midwives at the birth center where she gave birth, Gates said, “They just kind of made me not feel fear. Like yeah, I could do this...So I got somebody who physically was there, I got one person that’s just encouraging me emotionally...and these three women was able to give me a peace of mind.” (Right) Sharlisa Grant, 40, at home with her son Cameron reflecting on her relationship with the midwives and doulas at her fourth home birth, “There’s this trust that they give you to trust yourself and really empower you to do what your body is designed to do. And I’ve never felt more powerful then actually giving birth and getting through that.”

H E A L T H

I S S U E

Photos by Caroline Olsen, City Bureau

(Top right) Qiddist Ashe (right) with her client, Alexis Crump, at a postpartum visit to Crump’s home. “To me, this work is about bringing the power of birthing back into the community, collaborating with providers as needed and when they’re wanted, but really placing the birthing person at the center of any experience,” said Ashe on her philosophy as a doula. (Above) “That was the awesome part about having Qiddist as a doula is that she also knew how to help navigate [the hospital procedures] in ways that I couldn’t think of,” said Crump, who Ashe supported during her labor that lasted as long as a day.

Austin Weekly News, June 12, 2019

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“Almost all creativity involves purposeful play.” ~ Abraham Maslow

Austin Weekly News, June 12, 2019

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Bill to expand maternal health care stalls in Springfield

But the new state budget will allow an additional 10 months of Medicaid coverage for new moms, said Sen. Cristina Castro. By Janaya Greene City Bureau

Studies show moms with doulas have far better health outcomes than those without doulas—but only three states allow Medicaid (which pays for nearly half of all U.S. births) to cover doula care: Minnesota, Oregon and New Jersey. Illinois just missed its chance to become the fourth. A maternal health care bill that would have allowed Medicaid to cover doula services and mental health screenings for new moms, which was proposed by Sen. Cristina Castro and passed the Senate with bipartisan support, stalled in the House as the state legislative session closed last week. However, Castro said that a provision that extends Medicaid coverage of existing postpartum health services from 60 days to 12 months did make it into the Illinois budget, which was signed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker and goes into effect July 1. That’s especially significant since Medicaid covers exactly 50 percent of births in Illinois. Still, maternal health experts say that doula care is an essential part of pre- and post-birth health care. “For me this is an issue of justice,” said Qiddist Ashe, a Chicago-based doula who received her doula training and certification in Oregon, where doula care is covered by Medicaid, “by making sure that Black birthers in particular, regardless of income or access, can have support in this way.” Every year around 700 U.S. moms die from pregnancy-related complications, and Black women are much more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications compared to white women. Nationwide, the ratio is almost three to one. In Illinois, it’s six to one. Even worse, though racial disparities often shrink as people of color gain more income, that’s not the case for maternal health. Regardless of class or education level, Black women are equally as likely to die from pregnancy-related complications as lower-class white women. “The Illinois Department of Public Health revealed last year that there are significant differences in pregnancy mortality rates for women based on their race, ethnicity, age, location of residence, insurance type, et cetera,” said Castro in a phone interview. “We

Max Herman/City Bureau

Community doula Tayo Mbande talks about the experience of having a doula during a class organized by Chicago Birthworks Collective held at The Black Mall on 79th Street on May 2, 2019. do a great job with the baby, but we do a terrible job in taking care of the mother.” Castro’s bill, known as the Improving Healthcare for Pregnant and Postpartum Individuals Act, addressed several recommendations from the Illinois Maternal Morbidity and Mortality report in late 2018, including covering depression screenings before and after birth and creating or expanding doula programs. The greatest challenge, according to Castro, was persuading her colleagues that the provisions were worth the cost in a cash-strapped state. She expects to propose a similar version of the bill again next year. “We’re all concerned about costs on the front end, [but] think about the long run,” said Castro. “You can’t put a price on a life. We could save so much if we could just be more proactive in care versus reactive.” The cost for a doula in Illinois can be upwards of $1,000 (with rates around $30 an hour), based on listings found on doula listing website Doula Match in April and May 2019. But births with severe complications on average cost about four times as much

as those without complications—$73,000 compared to $18,000, according to the state’s maternal health report. From 2016 to 2017, hospital charges related to severe maternal morbidity totaled $107.5 million in the state. Despite outpacing all other countries on health care spending per person, the U.S. maternal mortality rate is the worst among developed nations—and it’s rising as other developed nations’ rates decline. Meanwhile, doula care is gaining more attention nationwide. Since 2009, 12 state bills relating to doula care have been signed into law, while eight have been proposed and haven’t been signed into law, according to the National Health Law Program. (The New Jersey bill was just signed last month.) Six Congressional bills, including the MOMMIES Act by Sen. Cory Booker and the Maternal CARE Act by Sen. Kamala Harris, were proposed in the last session and didn’t pass. Variations of both have been reintroduced in Congress this session. Doulas are birth coaches who advocate for pregnant women. They work with moms to create a birth plan that details who moms want in the room during labor, what medicine the mom prefers, how the mom prefers to birth her child and more. Though doulas

are not medical professionals, the work they do is essential, as it can be difficult for moms to advocate for themselves while experiencing pain during birth. National Institutes of Health studies show doula-assisted moms are two times less likely to experience birth complications involving themselves or their baby, are more likely to breastfeed and four times less likely to have low-birth-weight babies. The studies also show these women can forgo epidurals and avoid cesarean sections, which carry higher risk of complications. In addition to medical benefits, moms with doula support feel less stressed and have increased confidence in navigating their pregnancies. Marillac St. Vincent is a family services organization with centers on the North and West Sides of Chicago, which has offered doula services since 1995. Today, the organization offers doula care at no cost to moms ages 12 to 25 in their pregnant and parenting teens program called Project Hope on the West Side. “[It’s] good to have the doula there as an extra layer of support with the knowledge the doulas have and the emotional support See MEDICAID on page 25

Austin Weekly News, June 12, 2019

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Our challenge: What numbers reveal about Black maternal health in Cook County

These stats don’t tell the whole story, but they do reveal uncomfortable (and important) truths about what we’re up against. By Sarah Conway City Bureau

The health of a community can be measured by the health of its mothers. This spring, City Bureau spent 10 weeks trying to better understand Black maternal health and to discover which communities in Chicago are most impacted by maternal mortality. Nationwide, Black women are three to four times more likely to die in a pregnancy-related death than white women, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We know the state-level statistics on maternal mortality in Illinois. Here, Black women are six times more likely to die of a pregnancyrelated condition than white women no matter their educational background, and Black women are three times more likely to die within a year of pregnancy as women of any other race or ethnicity despite making up just 17 percent of births statewide, according to the Illinois Maternal Morbidity and Mortality Report released last October. It doesn’t have to be this way. The report stated that 72 percent of the pregnancy-related deaths and a whopping 93 percent of violent pregnancy-associated deaths in Illinois are preventable. Racism, including systemic racism and health worker bias, is a driving reason behind health inequity and a barrier to achieving optimal health for all people in Illinois, according to the report. The result: Our group of City Bureau reporters partnered with Austin Weekly News to publish a special issue devoted entirely to Black maternal health. While we intentionally chose an asset-based approach to our coverage, focusing on Black birth workers, resilient moms and other community-based solutions and resources, we could not ignore the stark numbers around maternal mortality in Chicago. We also heard from birth workers, those working closest with moms, who wanted Chicago-specific data on maternal mortality. In Cook County, 52 women died during pregnancy or up to one year postpartum

from December 2014 to May 2019, according to data from the Cook County Medical Examiner, which was shared with City Bureau by ProPublica Illinois. Most of these deaths took place on the South and West Sides of Chicago. City Bureau acknowledges that this is a small snapshot over a short period of time, considering how rare maternal mortality is. (Note: Due to data collection practices at the Medical Examiner’s office, women who are Latinx or Hispanic are often classified as white.) We heard over and over again from Black women that they are aware of the disparities and that knowing the numbers doesn’t solve their problems alone—in fact the data is both disturbing and traumatizing. But we also cannot turn away from these facts. We are intentionally sharing these statistics in this special issue, balanced with stories of resilience, because we want readers to know that there are birth workers and community members who are fighting for their health. Within the data set we received, here are some findings specific to the issues Black mothers face in Cook County that we hope will inspire action.

Black women make up most of the maternal deaths The racial disparity in maternal deaths hits hard. In Cook County, 52 women have died since December 2014, and Black women made up 61 percent of these deaths despite Black residents composing only 24 percent of the population. In Chicago, 38 women have died. A shocking 74 percent of these deaths were Black women, though Black Chicagoans make up 31 percent of Chicago’s population.

Medical complications play a large role in maternal death The most common manner of maternal death in Cook County (22 out of 52) was “natural” or medical reasons (as opposed to homicide, suicide or accident). The most common causes of death were cardiomyopathy, eclampsia, and pulmonary thromboembolism. All three are cardiovascular issues; notably, Black people in America are more likely to be diagnosed with or die from cardiovascular disease than white Americans. See STATS on page 25

Source: Cook County Medical Examiner

Austin Weekly News, June 12, 2019

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For Doula care from page 23 they’re able to provide, not just to the participant but the family members also; it’s appreciated,” said Laronda Castine, Project Hope program manager. In Project Hope, moms receive doula care until six to eight weeks after birth. According to its website, all moms in the program created birth plans with doulas and 90 percent of expecting moms had doula-assisted births. The doula care is funded through a public-private partnership organization, Ounce of Prevention. Ashe, the Chicago-based doula, completed her training in Oregon, which along with Minnesota and New Jersey is one of three states where doula services are covered under Medicaid. (New York state is running a pilot program and Indiana had passed a bill this year, but funding was stripped in the final days of the legislative session.) While not all doulas necessarily welcome government intervention into their work, Ashe said she experienced firsthand how including doulas in the state’s medical system improved access for low-income women. “A lot of how it works is that nurses, social workers, doctors [in Oregon] will now refer their clients to doula groups and I think that is the really beautiful thing,” she said. “Going to births in Portland, there’s a great sense of collaboration and between physicians, midwives, other care providers and birthworkers like doulas… It also allows birthworkers to be able expand their care to people who need it, while still being able to sustain themselves.” In Minnesota, a study published in 2016

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What numbers tell us from page 24

Majority of natural postpartum deaths happened before the six-week checkup More than half of natural-cause maternal deaths (59 percent) occurred after the birth of the child. Three-quarters of these postpartum deaths were within 1 to 42 days after the birth of the child, or before the standard six-week checkup that hospitals recommend to moms. One woman was pregnant within a year of when she died, but the exact timing was unknown.

The South and West Sides are hit hardest The highest concentration of maternal deaths in Chicago occurred on the South and West Sides in neighborhoods like South Shore, West Lawn and Roseland. Social deter-

showed Medicaid beneficiaries with doula support had lower rates of preterm births; cesarean section rates for full-term births were 56 percent lower in the state compared to Medicaid recipients in other states without doula care. In Oregon, Medicaid recipients with doula care have similarly positive birth outcomes, though each state is still adjusting its doula coverage process to better reimburse doulas. Considering racial health disparities, making doula care accessible to women of color is especially important to Ashe, a Black woman. “A big piece of what I wanted to do in my birthwork and in my practice

[is] include education, ritual, healing tools, especially from across the African diaspora so that the people I’m working with are also able to reclaim some of that as their own,” she said, “to change the culture that doulas are not just for rich white women. This knowledge came from us. We have ownership over it, too.” Doula care and Medicaid coverage are just one piece of the puzzle when it comes to lowering maternal mortality rates. So far this year, state lawmakers have introduced more than 80 bills to address the issue. Proposed changes include everything from creating maternal mortality review committees to

uniformly collect maternal death data to establishing state-covered maternal peer support programs. “We always talk about [how] we need to reduce cost, but sometimes in health care we also need to have preventative care and be proactive versus reactive,” said Castro, who proposed the Illinois bill. “In the end we want to do what’s right for the moms and make sure the mom is happy and healthy to raise her child.” This story was produced by City Bureau, a civic journalism lab based in Woodlawn. Learn more and get involved at www.citybureau.org

minants, like housing insecurity, unemployment or lack of grocery stores, affect a woman’s ability to access and receive health care. “We can’t ignore the fact that Chicago is a highly segregated city,” said Shannon Lightner, deputy director of the Office of Women’s Health and Family Services for the state. Lightner remembers women leaving the hospital postpartum against medical advice to drop off rent so they wouldn’t be kicked out of their apartments. “Maternal death is not only what happened when a mom entered or left a hospital room; it’s shifting thinking to what caused her to miss her doctor’s appointments, or taking that medication she needed to stay well. It’s looking at all the systemic issues that impact maternal health outcomes like a lack of affordable childcare or safe transportation,” said Lightner.

this time period were classified by the Illinois Department of Public Health as “violent deaths,” meaning they were caused by suicide (4 percent), homicide (21 percent) or drug overdose (12 percent) with drugs like fentanyl, heroin and benzodiazepine.

pregnancy fit into their deaths. Prenatal records might show if a woman mentioned she was fearful of her home life or community, but maybe not. Researchers are left with only media reports, Google and an autopsy report. “All we can say is that community violence needs to be addressed,” said Lightner. “We absolutely struggle with what to do without police records or investigations.”

About a third of moms die because of violence A total of 37 percent of all deaths during

Gun violence is a part of the story, too While homicides made up only 8 percent of violent deaths in Illinois, according to the Illinois Maternal Morbidity and Mortality report, homicides made up 58 percent of violent maternal deaths in the Cook County Medical Examiner data set. Eighty-two percent of homicide victims in this data set were Black women. Based on available news reports, the homicides were a mixture of intimate partner violence and street violence. Eight of the 11 cases remain unsolved by the Chicago Police Department, according to a police spokesperson. Chicago’s gun violence is a struggle for the Illinois Department of Public Health, Lightner said. With most homicides going unsolved, researchers can’t find out how

Black women disproportionately suffer complications of pregnancy, childbirth and violence in Chicago. Simply put, the health care system and the city need to put a priority on Black women’s health and lives. Let’s start with listening to and valuing Black moms in a Chicago where resources and respect are always there for moms before, during and after pregnancy. This story was produced by City Bureau, a civic journalism lab based in Woodlawn. Learn more and get involved at www.citybureau.org

Austin Weekly News, June 12, 2019

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Beat the baby blues: Here’s where moms can find mental health support From support groups to psychologists to meditation experts

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Sista Afya mental wellness individual therapy and groups

Sista Afya offers monthly support groups, workshops, in-person and online therapy, as well as free community-wide events that support Black women throughout their healing journey. Sista Afya is focused on serving millennial Black women between ages 24 and 35.

Sliding fee scale from $25 to $100 per session based on your income

South Shore (1750 E. 71st St., Suite L)

312-880-9739, info@ sistaafya.com

Healthcare Alternative Systems postpartum depression program

The H.A.S. Postpartum Depression Program provides clinical evaluations, individual and family therapy, psychiatric evaluations, medication monitoring, health education and case management to women experiencing or who are at risk for developing PPD.

Some free programs, accepts Medicaid, sliding fee scale

Belmont Cragin (5005 W. Fullerton Ave.); Brighton Park (4534 S. Western Ave.)

General line 773-292-4242; Belmont Cragin 773-7457107; Brighton Park 773254-5141)

Swedish Covenant Hospital’s new moms group

New Moms Group at Swedish Covenant Hospital helps moms build community while learning their postpartum body, new feeding challenges, dealing with baby blues and more. They meet on Wednesdays 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Babies are welcome.

Free

Ravenswood

773-878-8200 ext. 5300

Beyond the Baby Blues support group

Beyond the Baby Blues in Evanston offers six-week group sessions facilitated by therapists who have worked extensively with perinatal issues. The Core Group is for women with symptoms of postpartum depression or anxiety and their babies, which is usually on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The Prenatal Group is for women who are experiencing emotional distress during pregnancy, which is offered on weeknight evenings. The Loss Group is for women who experienced loss before or after birth. Check the website for updated schedule.

Free

Evanston (3009 Central St. Evanston, IL 60201)

Postpartum Support International

Postpartum Support International promotes awareness, education, prevention and treatment of pregnancy-related mental health issues. It offers anonymous and private phone chat and text lines. “Chat with an Expert” sessions are available for moms on Wednesdays and for dads on the first Monday of every month. (Visit the website for call schedule, as it varies.) These sessions, facilitated by licensed mental health professionals, are informational only and open to the first 15 callers per sessions. You can also leave a voice or text message on the 24-hour helpline and get a response from a trained volunteer.

Free

Phone only

Free

Lakeview (836 W. Wellington Ave.)

Free

Phone only

Free

Online

$5 to $35 depending on service

Chatham (746 E. 79th St.)

Free

West Garfield Park (4133 W. Madison St.)

By Camille Powell City Bureau

About 80 percent of new mothers experience some form of “baby blues,” or unhappiness and fatigue after birth, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. But that doesn’t mean moms need to recover on their own. “If you’re thinking about whether or not you should see a therapist, you probably should” said Camesha L. Jones, founder and therapist at Sista Afya, a mental wellness group in South Shore. According to Healthcare Alternative Systems, which provides behavioral health services at two Chicago locations, 15 to 20 percent of new mothers are affected by postpartum depression, a serious mood disorder characterized by “persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness and anxiety. Whether you need a professional therapist, support group or more information on mental health, there are plenty of free or low-cost programs across the city. Below is a compiled list of top resources. We’ve also included a more comprehensive list of maternal health resources on our website at www.citybureau.org/thecord.

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Advocate Illinois Masonic Hospital’s new moms group

This support group, led by a Registered Nurse, meets in the lobby of the hospital on Tuesdays 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. to discuss pregnancy and life postpartum. The current instructor is Dawn Johnson, a certified childbirth educator and certified breastfeeding counselor.

Northshore University Health System MOMS Hotline

NorthShore’s MOMS Line is a free, confidential, 24/7 hotline staffed by licensed counselors, many of whom are mothers themselves. The group says it offers non-judgmental support where you can ask questions and learn about resources based on your location.

Black Mental Health Directory

The Black Mental Health Directory offers a list of Black mental health practitioners and wellness healers in Chicago created and curated by the Chicago Association of Black Psychologists, Black Lives Matter-Communal Healing, Community of African-American Mental Health Professionals, Sista Afya, Chicago Association of Black Social Workers and Breaking the Silence: Mental Health Foundation.

Haji Salon Black Wellness Classes

Haji Healing Salon partners with Sista Afya and Chicago Birthworks Collective for maternal and mental health-focused events. Instructors, therapists and healers offer yoga, meditation, acupuncture, bodywork, reiki and other classes.

West Side Community Triage and Wellness Center

West Side Community Triage and Wellness Center is a free, walk-in referral center that’s open 24/7, 365 days a year for screenings, assessments and crisis intervention. People will be referred to services based on their needs and insurance, and transportation may be provided. It also offers a crisis help line that’s available at all times.

(5140 N. California Ave. 4th Floor)

847-864-7957, beyondthebabyblues@gmail. com

For mom or dad chats, dial 800-944-8766 code 73162; For 24-hour hotline call 800-944-4773 for English or Spanish, or text 503-8949453

800-3-ADVOCATE

866-364-MOMS

N/A

312-375-7445, hajihealingsalon@gmail.com

833-413-HELP

Austin Weekly News, June 12, 2019

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What you need to know about birth We asked Black women who do birth work for the best advice they could give By Sarah Conway and Camille Powell City Bureau

“Know your options. Know anything that you have going on, like asthma, or blood pressure, and get yourself a doula, absolutely. If you ever encounter someone that you don’t think is creating a culturally safe space for you, leave. If Black women decided to stop seeing particular providers, either they will slowly stop working and close down, or be forced to change.”

“Birth is one of the most powerful situations you can be in during life. [I] had an empowered birth experience where I brought my kids into the world with joy, confidence and power; every parent deserves to feel that during birth. So seek out your tribe to help you tap into that wisdom you already have inside of you.” - ANYA TANYAVUTTI, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF CHICAGO VOLUNTEER DOULAS

JEANINE VALRIE-LOGAN, MIDWIFE “Do everything to ensure that mom is happy. If she is happy, she can go forth with a healthy pregnancy.” RENEAU DIALLO, CERTIFIED NURSE MIDWIFE

“Get your team ready. You need grandma, aunties, your neighbors and your husband, all of them. We now know the importance of Black women to have advocates throughout the entire pregnancy and birth process. If Serena Williams had a buddy there in the hospital to ask for better care, she wouldn’t have had to do it all herself in a near-death situation. Your family, blood or chosen, can be that support team to make sure you are OK.” JENNIE JOSEPH, THE BIRTH PLACE’S FOUNDER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND LICENSED MIDWIFE

“We have this intergenerational trauma around breastfeeding and birth. When you think about slavery and systemic racism and enslavement, Black women often had their babies taken from them when they were born; they were often used for wet nurses. We need to directly support, encourage and cheer on mothers: You got this and you are going to be a great mom. It’s one way to help people heal and break the cycle.” -BRENDA BLASINGAME, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HEALTHCONNECT ONE This story was produced by City Bureau, a civic journalism lab based in Woodlawn. Learn more and get involved at www.citybureau.org

“There needs to be more emphasis on the fourth trimester. Where we begin to lose women in the gap between baby blues and postpartum depression, that is where we need to shed more light.” MARIA FLANAGAN, DOULA APPRENTICE “That whole ‘at least you have a healthy baby’ [comment] isn’t sitting right with everybody today because many moms know that the birth experience does affect you and your baby. A lot of damage can be caused in birth. The baby may be medically healthy but we all know depression in moms affects their babies and children, and that the trauma a woman has experienced is a cycle unless we interrupt it. ” LAKEITA EDWARDS, CERTIFIED NURSE MIDWIFE

“Trust your feelings. You know your body more than anyone. A lot of partners pick up on the mother looking listless, pale, slurring her words; they know something is wrong. Lean on your partner and get your partner some training. Something else that my birth doula says is that every woman has the right to mourn the birth that she wanted but didn’t get.” HEATHER DOBBS, “MAMA, BLACK AND BLUE” BLOGGER AND REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE ADVOCATE

Austin Weekly News, June 12, 2019

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City Bureau public newsroom connects moms with birth workers The May 16 event was organized by the journalists behind this special issue By Ellie MejĂa City Bureau

This comic and event were produced by City Bureau, a civic journalism lab based in Woodlawn. Learn more and get involved at www.citybureau.org

Austin Weekly News, June 12, 2019

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In their words: Preparing for a first child

How this Chatham couple is battling stigma and staying informed Interview by Camille Powell City Bureau

Danielle Mitchell and Royce Lowry of Chatham are expecting their first child. They sat down with Camille Powell of City Bureau to speak candidly about their pregnancy journey, difficulties pursuing their ideal natural birth, the importance of mental and emotional health and the importance of partner support, especially after trauma. What has your pregnancy journey been like so far? Danielle: I found out I was pregnant when I was six weeks in. Mentally, just accepting what that looks and feels like. Physically, the journey’s been, well, I haven’t had any morning sickness or anything like that throughout. I’m 33 weeks now, so it’s just been a growing experience. Royce: It’s been surreal for me. I’m just trying to be a support system that I’ve never seen, to be a present father. I don’t know what that looks like. You know, all my elders

have gone through multiple marriages and I’ve just seen my family structure really deteriorate over the last 20 years. I’m having some real mental, emotional, psychological conflicts. I’m just trying to figure out what kind of father I want to be. I kind of feel like I’m just guessing. I’m just trying to stay ready and prepared. Water can flow or crash. Life works out for people who don’t quit.

What kinds of things have you been doing to prepare? Danielle: Lots of reading and research. We use YouTube for everything. I send him links about different childbirth options, hypnobirthing options, ‘cause I want to have a natural birth. We have been doing a lot of meditation together. Instagram has been a good visual learning place. I send him videos of childbirth all the time. We went to a class at Northwestern about understanding childbirth—just learning as much as we can. This is a first child for both of us. Royce: Just seeking out the wisdom, getting really good advice. The greatest prep of all is just working on that open door of communication so that no matter what comes up, no matter how uncomfortable it is, we

can talk about it. I think that’s where it really starts, is having a good understanding of your partner. I feel like any child can flourish, if you have two parents who are doing well. I think as long as she’s happy and supported and feels secure, that’s just the first step, you know? Is there any information that you have gained so far that you wish you had sooner?

Royce: I wish I had more doula information. I don’t think there’s a lot of support, for real [for having a natural birth]. I’ve seen a lot of pushback just because she doesn’t want to have the baby in the hospital. How do I help her get where she’s trying to go when it seems like the rest of the world keeps trying to push her towards another direction? Danielle: I have an anxiety about hospitals. I don’t see it getting better or solved just because I’m having a child. Royce: These professionals do this for a living and like anybody else, they get fatigued. They have a personal feelings and biases. I just think life is dramatic enough. We don’t

need Phoenix’s first experience with life to be traumatic. Danielle: I want this to happen as naturally as possible and I don’t see why there’s so much friction behind that. I’m trying not to chalk it up as [hospital] folks just want my good insurance, but you know, it’s strange. Royce: As long as she’s comfortable, even if things don’t work out right, we know, OK, at least you did it how you wanted to. It just seems like everybody’s trying to save me from a dead baby and it’s kinda like, can she live first? Can we as the adults make educated decisions and can we get support no matter what kind of decision we make? Especially with her being low-risk, I’m shocked that there aren’t more options. It just seems like no matter where you fall in the spectrum, you get put into the same box with everybody else. What exacerbates pregnancy stress? Royce: Mostly work stuff, which is really becoming an issue for me, as a quote unquote provider. It’s the money factor because everything costs money. The stress is already there, I feel like the baby just makes it more prominent. Trying to keep my problems, my problems, without throwing them on her, has really, really been difficult. I can

Austin Weekly News, June 12, 2019

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Max Herman, City Bureau

see why people say, when you have your kid, things just change. I’m a lot more patient, it puts things in perspective. Danielle: Just trying to make sure that I don’t let my anxieties and overall worries about how she’s going to enter the world become a strenuous situation. I don’t want to put unnecessary stress on her or go into preterm labor. How has Danielle’s mental and emotional state changed over the pregnancy? Royce: She’s a lot more maternal for sure. Danielle: It was almost a year ago that I was in a relationship that ended when my past partner committed suicide. There were days I was in the bed in the middle of the day and Royce wouldn’t let me stay there. I remember one particular day he convinced me to do some yoga to get my mind from within itself. I am just grateful that [Royce] is willing to make the sacrifice for me and my mental status. I want to be able to do the same for him. I still have anxieties and I am just realizing that I need to trust myself. At one point in time, he literally was like, so I want to give you your space but I need to be there for you. So how can we make that work? Royce: I’m also grateful for Phoenix cause she really gave [Danielle] something else to live for and be positive about. I just saw that shift where we’re not thinking about death

because death is irrelevant right now. We’re thinking about life and how we protect new life. The new life is what matters now. We don’t have to get it right. We just have to do our best. What kind of information or resources has been hard to find? Royce: Black midwives and doulas. Natural birth support, especially for our community, is very hard to find. It’s difficult to find a resource that supports intellectual black people, no matter what they’re doing. It just seems like you have to go above and beyond to find them or know somebody that knows them. Danielle: Just knowing that I can fire my doctor and that I don’t have to stick with this choice just because she was my OB/GYN for a couple of years and was close to work. We have options. Royce: Knowing her rights as a human being, dealing with medical professionals, especially, when having a baby. It just seems like mothers take a back seat to the professional when they should be the ones saying, this is how I want to do it. What about mother’s rights? What about mother’s options? What about father’s options? People don’t even talk to me. I’ll be in the room at her appointment and they don’t ask me shit. I just

feel like I’m disregarded. What advice would you give to partners in order to be supportive of one another? Royce: Listen. Like really, really listen. Listen to your intuition. Listen to those vibrations, not all communication is verbal. Check in. Learn how to be diplomatic in your communications and to actually listen and try to build a foundation where y’all can both be happy. I believe in negotiating, I don’t believe in compromising. I don’t want you to compromise who you are, your morals, your boundaries. But we can always negotiate. Keep the queen up top where she belongs, understand that your queen is your most important piece and cherish her and make sure that you protect her as much as you can. Danielle: Just be open to your partner’s communication. Be open to the resolution no matter how that might look. Just use those words that are sometimes difficult to hear. It’s not about creating a conflict. It’s about just being resolution-focused. Is there anything else you would like to add? Royce: In my first marriage, we actually lost a child. So having made it this far there

was a lot of emotional burdens that I had to kind of work through and get out of my system. It was really repressed. That’s why I had to be at every appointment. You know, childbearing can start off really calm and then it really quickly turns into pain. And then agony and sadness and depression is real, it can go bad really, really fast. I still have some fears, as a partner, you know, I fear for her life in this process because I understand that’s ultimately what she’s putting up there. She’s offering up her life to bring another one into this world. And that scares the fuck out of me. The possibility of being a single father or losing both of them. Those are things that anybody that’s planning on being a father should understand, the hard realities that come with parenthood and pregnancy. There’s a lot of psychological and emotional energy that goes into developing this child that she can’t get back. You know, if things go south right now, you got to understand that you might be dealing with someone who might never be the same. Everyone likes the cute baby pictures, but we don’t ever talk about how difficult and stressful this is and how much it takes from you. This story was produced by City Bureau, a civic journalism lab based in Woodlawn. Learn more and get involved at www.citybureau.org

Austin Weekly News, June 12, 2019

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I S S U E

Caroline Olsen, City Bureau

Barbara Belcore is a certified professional midwife and president of the Illinois Council of Certified Professional Midwives who found her calling over ten years ago, but she resides in a state where her certification is still not recognized.

In their words: A midwife fighting for recognition

Why this certified professional midwife says Illinois needs to support her work By Caroline Olsen City Bureau

Certified nurse midwives are registered nurses who are trained in women’s health issues from puberty to geriatric care, while certified professional midwives have more specialized training and education focused on the maternity year, especially for out-of-

hospital births. CNMs are licensed in all 50 states, while CPMs are only recognized by 35 states. Illinois is not one. I met Belcore in her home office on a quiet street in Evanston. Artwork of pregnant women decorates the walls, candles and aromatherapy devices sit on windowsills and a sign reading “the witch is in” sits prominently on her packed bookshelf. I asked about why she chose a certification that wouldn’t allow her to practice legally in her home state and why she fights so hard for Illinois to recognize her certification.

How did you decide to be a certified professional midwife, as opposed to the certified nurse midwife? Becoming a nurse midwife is just not affordable. It can run about $100,000 or more in Illinois. And having that amount of debt is not conducive to community midwifery because it will not pay enough for you (compared to hospital midwifery) to continue to pay your college loans back. I knew I wanted to work [outside] of the hospital. I knew I wanted to work in communities. I knew that home birth was where my heart was. I knew that for me,

learning how to be a good nurse midwife in a hospital was not going to prepare me for the challenges of being an out-of-hospital midwife. So the only program that is exclusively training midwives in out-of-hospital work is a CPM program. How does the certification situation in Illinois affect a CPM like you? It’s a horrible business practice for Illinois. They’re running business out of the state and driving midwives into neighboring states. We had a study done in 2012 that proved that by licensing CPMs, the state can save over $5 million a year in health care costs by just providing CPMs with the ability to bill Medicaid for service.

Austin Weekly News, June 12, 2019

M A T E R N A L In Wisconsin, if I were to transfer with a mom or a family into a hospital, I could walk in, hand the doctor that took over the care the folder of information, discuss their case with the doctor with the clients’ permission and they would see me as a trained professional—we could work together for continuous care. But here in Illinois, that same practice would put a midwife at risk for having a report filed by the doctor, which could lead to anything from being brought before the Illinois State Medical Society, being brought before the licensing committees, or at worst, being prosecuted as a felon. It’s so funny that just across the border, I would be considered an equal professional to any nurse midwife. But here in this state, I’m concerned I would be considered a felon if I did the same thing.

there’s a home birth resolution, which calls for a committee of doctors, midwives and community members to get together and come up with a solution for the lack of resources for home births. [Note: The bill was approved by both houses last month and is waiting for Gov. Pritzker’s signature.] The home birth crisis is real. There are over 1,000 babies born in Illinois at home every year and the number keeps going up. And there are not enough licensed providers to provide services for those people. The state knows what’s happening but they don’t recognize certification, because in their opinion, people just shouldn’t have home births. But that doesn’t matter, right? It happens anyway.

When clients come to you typically, why are they seeking out your services? I’d say half of my clients come to me late in their pregnancies, looking for somebody who will take over their care, because they are not feeling that they are being respected and listened to in the hospital environment. The hospitals have protocols. There’s all these rules that are not necessarily medically founded, they’re not medically research-based. They are liability-based. They are ease-of-use-based. A hospital has a business model of trying to get as many babies in and out of there as quickly as possible, so people don’t feel like there’s individualized care. Because of these hospital protocols, they just say that’s it, I can’t handle it anymore, they won’t let me have this birth experience that I want. They’re seeing my birth as a medical problem as opposed to just a natural part of my life.

Is there a focus among the community of CPMs to serve communities of color in the meantime, until becoming a CPM is a more viable option for people of color? In my experience, in the last maybe five years, the number of families of color who have sought out home birth care has easily tripled. I feel like families of color are feeling safer at home. So the need for midwives of color is extraordinarily high. So I think that CPM are actually filling a huge gap. They’re serving those families and providing better care because they are providing compassionate, whole body care, whole health care, not just, you know, measurements and weights, but emotional and as well as physical support. I do believe that this is a huge part of the answer.

Could you tell me a little bit about the Illinois Council of CPMs and the advocacy work to have Illinois recognize CPMs? The Illinois Council of Certified Professional Midwives is a professional organization that offers membership to certified professional midwives and their students. We are also a chapter of the National Association of Certified Professional Midwives. We have a commitment to diversifying our midwifery membership. I feel like the biggest challenge in Illinois, and I think a lot of the states that don’t have licensure are facing, is diversifying. It’s hard enough to get people to want to practice in a state that considers you a felon, but then the additional risk of that places on person of color, it makes it like a challenge to open up our ranks. Right now in the state legislature

What is the solution to the maternal health crisis in Illinois? I know that we need more compassionate care, we need to face, head-on, racism as it exists socially, and how the medical system is a racist system. And because of that, moms and babies are dying. And so from the top, instead of fighting to keep midwives from practicing, the medical society needs to focus on the problems that they have created. They need more education on their own racism and how it impacts moms and babies. They need to do their own work, recruiting and bringing on more providers of color in communities that deserve to have those professionals. This story was produced by City Bureau, a civic journalism lab based in Woodlawn. Learn more and get involved at www.citybureau.org

H E A L T H

I S S U E

In their words: A traumatic birth

How this Hyde Park couple weathered a scary birth and the postpartum fallout Interview by Camille Powell City Bureau

Stacy Tolbert and Ian Macswain are married with two teenage children living in Hyde Park. They sat down with City Bureau reporting fellow Camille Powell to talk candidly about their birth trauma. Tolbert had a near-death hospital birth experience when her epidural ran out and she could feel everything during an emergency c-section. To combat the pain and complete the c-section, she was given ketamine, a hallucinogenic that also goes by Special K. The couple talks about the experience and the importance of trusting oneself and your partner during birth and postpartum. What happened when you first got pregnant? Stacy: We basically had to make a decision about marriage and family, like in a day. We met that day for lunch and decided on the course of our lives: that we would have this baby, that I would defer from law school, and that we would have a family and just get married. We were married a week and a day later. What mental and or emotional changes did you see during Stacy’s first pregnancy? Ian: Her first trimester hit her like a truck. I mean, she was napping all the time and it was really hard for her to stay awake. She all of a sudden got very sensitive to certain foods. I remember I would come home from work and all the lights would be off and you’d just be on the couch under a blanket. It was strange. It was like everything about who you were and what we did changed, like you were a different person with a different sort of needs and abilities at that time. Stacy: I remember trying to communicate that to you. When I was able to unpack it later on and we figured out that I was pregnant, it was like this other instinct kicked in. I became a mama lion almost right away. We never sit down and tell young women that there may come a time in your life, whether it’s pregnancy or otherwise, where no one is going to be able to guide you but you. To have that sort of absolute trust in oneself, that goes counter to everything about how women live.

Your epidural wore off during your csection. Beyond the terrible physical pain, how did that affect the experience of your son’s birth? Stacy: We went into this experience realizing that things could go wrong, but the thing that never even occurred to me was having that sort of birth experience. Part of what I began to understand during that healing process is that it felt like they were destroying my body. Like I was a husk. I never felt like I was able to give birth to him because it was something entirely different. I remember looking at him and wondering if he was mine at different points because that was not a birth. Maybe we can call it a Cesarean because it sounds very nice, but if you do it without anesthesia, I was cut open and had a baby taken out. Then, I was angry because they had completely destroyed that bond and would not acknowledge it unless I got an attorney. I could not wait to get home to be alone with [Ian] because we needed to talk about it in a safe place and it didn’t feel safe at all in the hospital, like at all. Stacy, you started seeing a therapist right after the birth. What went into making that decision? Stacy: We were lucky we had insurance and that I was not someone who was afraid that other people might question my sanity. I really didn’t give a damn; I knew something was wrong with me. Ian: I knew you’d been through something terrible, but only you knew just exactly what was going on in your head. I think a lot of people don’t have that kind of wisdom coming through a situation like that, certainly not as early as you did, or they just don’t want to talk about it. From the moment you got pregnant, I just became instantly worried about money and that hasn’t stopped. I remember feeling like that was the straw that broke the camel’s back. Like, oh, and now we have to do their therapy too. But, you know, you needed it, and we did what we had to do. Yeah, it was scary. How important was your partnership during this whole ordeal? Stacy: At no point did I feel like we were See STACY & IAN on page 34

Austin Weekly News, June 12, 2019

M A T E R N A L

H E A L T H

I S S U E

Max Herman, , City Bureau

STACY & IAN In their words from page 33 adrift from each other, that’s profound. I always trusted you, you always trusted me, you know, you didn’t question. Even now, we’re 16 years out and there were times where I look back and I’m like, what the hell? That idea of healing and what healing really looks like, learning to trust you, being able to communicate all of those things that nobody talks about. How did your first birth inform your second birth? Stacy: We decided to have the doula the second time. I wanted the doula to not just be support for me and the baby, but that there would be someone who was able to jump in for you. You know what I mean?

Ian: Yeah, just someone who knew what was supposed to happen. Stacy: Yes. And to be able to share that responsibility with you, of never leaving the baby alone. Part of having the doula was really because we needed someone else in there. Family is great, but you know, family is also prone to hysteria. I don’t think that either parental units could see either of us hurting like that and maintain their sanity. What advice would you give to partners who want to be supportive during pregnancy and postpartum? Ian: I did get sort of lucky that Stacy knows herself very well. She was very good at communicating what she thought she needed. And I mostly just had to go along

and try to be supportive and that was fairly straightforward. Stacy: You trusted me, you know what I mean? You didn’t present roadblocks, you didn’t try to fault me. We didn’t turn on each other. I felt like you were supportive of me. You trusted me, you had my back, and you stepped up. You didn’t question me, and there was lots to question, but you trusted who I was as a person.

How do we do better for moms during pregnancy and postpartum? Stacy: My mom was born here in Chicago in the forties at home on the kitchen table, and it was attended by aunts. I think that in some ways having a doula or having women support, we need to bring that back. It was always understood in my family that when

you have a baby, you stay in the house for that first 30 days. Family would come and attend to you, that you have got to give yourself that time to heal. We need to teach our daughters and sons that we have to honor that the body is wise and there’s no question about it. We cannot put all of that faith and trust in the medical profession. It isn’t even warranted: It is a business. And you wouldn’t trust a business to tell you how to take care of your body. Their interest is numbers. We really need our families. We really need our sisters, and it doesn’t have to be a biological family. When you know someone has recently had a child, just go and sit with them, be with them. Husbands too, I don’t think that there is a ritual for men supporting men who have babies. This story was produced by City Bureau, a civic journalism lab based in Woodlawn. Learn more and get involved at www.citybureau.org

Austin Weekly News, June 12, 2019

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CHICAGO TRANSIT AUTHORITY Advertisement for Professional Services SMALL BUSINESS ENTERPRISEM Sealed proposals will be received for the following by Chicago Transit Authority at the Bid Office, 2nd Floor, 567 West Lake Street, Chicago, Illinois 60661-1498, no later than 3:30 P.M. on Friday, June 14, 2019: Req. B19FT04578, Request for Proposals (RFP) for Office Management Services for the CTAâ€™s Red and Purple Modernization Program, RPM Phase One, for a Period of Up to Three Years with Three OneYear Options. A Pre-Proposal Meeting will be held on Thursday, May 23, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. (CST) at 567 West Lake Street, 2nd Floor, Bid Conference Room, Chicago, Illinois 60661. Questions regarding this RFP must be submitted in writing no later than 4:30 p.m. (CST) Thursday, May 30, 2019 via e-mail to: jkerschensteiner@ transitchicago.com. Vendors must submit their written questions in a Word document. Questions will not be accepted after this date and time. For additional information, please contact Jill Kerschensteiner, Procurement Administrator, 312/681-2642. Any contract resulting from this bid is subject to a financial assistance between the Chicago Transit Authority, the United States Department of Transportation and the Regional Transportation Authority. The contractor will be required to furnish certified copies of any and all Insurance Policies required in relation to this contract prior to CTAâ€™s execution.

Contractor will be required to comply with all applicable Equal Employment Opportunity laws and regulations and affirmative action requirements of the Federal Transit Administration and Illinois Human Rights Commission. All bidders will be required to certify that they are not on the Comptroller Generalâ€™s list of ineligible contractors. Chicago Transit Authority hereby notifies all bidders that it will affirmatively ensure that in regard to any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, Disadvantaged Business Enterprise will be afforded full opportunity to submit bids in response to this invitation and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color or national origin in consideration for an award. PLEASE NOTE: When bids are sent by mail, delivery service or delivered in-person to the CTA Bid Office, the bidders shall be responsible for their delivery only to the Bid Office before the advertised date and hour for the opening of the bids. The Bid Office hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Chicago time, except holidays. The right is reserved to accept any bid or any part or parts thereof or to reject any and all bids. All inquiries should be directed to and copies of bid documents obtained from the Bid Office â€“ 2nd Floor, 567 West Lake Street, Chicago, Illinois 60661-1498. CHICAGO TRANSIT AUTHORITY By: Ellen McCormack Vice President, Purchasing & Supply Chain May 9, 2019

Published in Austin Weekly News 6/12/2019

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SMALL BUSINESS ENTERPRISE(SBE) PROGRAM

SMALL BUSINESS ENTERPRISE

Sealed bids will be received for the following by Chicago Transit Authority at the Bid Office â€“ 2nd Floor, 567 West Lake Street, Chicago, Illinois 60661-1498, no later than 2:00 P.M. on Tuesday, June 25, 2019 at which time all such bids will be opened publicly and read aloud: Req. B19FT04580, Spec. No. CTA Various Various Professional Services for the Red and Purple Modernization Program, Categories Including: Court Reporting, Material Delivery Service, Printing Service, Videography Services, and Photography Services, for a Period of 36 Months with 3 One Year Options. A Pre-Bid Meeting will be held on Wednesday, June 5th, 2019 at 1:30 p.m. (CST) at 567 West Lake Street, 2nd Floor, Bid Office Conference Room, Chicago, Illinois 60661. Questions regarding this Bid must be submitted in writing no later than 4:30 p.m. (CST) Tuesday, June 11, 2019 via e-mail to: svillasenor@ transitchicago.com. Vendors must submit their written questions in a Word document. Questions will not be accepted after this date and time. For additional information, please contact Sarah Villasenor, Procurement Administrator, 312/681-2454. Any contract resulting from this bid is subject to a financial assistance between the Chicago Transit Authority, the United States Department of Transportation and the Regional Transportation Authority. The contractor will be required to furnish certified copies of any and all Insurance Policies required in relation to this contract prior to CTAâ€™s execution. Contractor will be required to

comply with all applicable Equal Employment Opportunity laws and regulations and affirmative action requirements of the Federal Transit Administration and Illinois Human Rights Commission. All bidders will be required to certify that they are not on the Comptroller Generalâ€™s list of ineligible contractors. Any contract resulting from this advertisement will be awarded to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder. Chicago Transit Authority hereby notifies all bidders that it will affirmatively ensure that in regard to any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, Disadvantaged Business Enterprise will be afforded full opportunity to submit bids in response to this invitation and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color or national origin in consideration for an award. PLEASE NOTE: Where bids are sent by mail, delivery service or delivered in-person to the CTA Bid Office, the bidders shall be responsible for their delivery only to the Bid Office before the advertised date and hour for the opening of the bids. The Bid Office hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Chicago time, except holidays. The right is reserved to accept any bid or any part or parts thereof or to reject any and all bids. Acceptance of any bid is subject to concurrence by the Regional Transportation Authority and the United States Department of Transportation. All inquiries should be directed to and copies of bid documents obtained from the Bid Office 2nd Floor, 567 West Lake Street, Chicago, Illinois 60661-1498. CHICAGO TRANSIT AUTHORITY By: Ellen McCormack Vice President, Purchasing & Supply Chain May 9, 2019

Published in Austin Weekly News 6/12/2019

CHICAGO TRANSIT AUTHORITY Advertisement for Professional Services SMALL BUSINESS ENTERPRISE Proposals will be received for the following by Chicago Transit Authority at the Bid Office â€“ 2nd Floor, 567 West Lake Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60661-1498, no later than 3:30 P.M. on Tuesday, July 16, 2019: Req. B19FT04582, Request for Proposals (RFP) for Small Business Enterprise Firm to provide Market Research Services for the CTAâ€™s Red and Purple Modernization Program, RPM Phase One, for a period of up to Three Years with Three One-Year Options A Pre-Proposal meeting will be held on Tuesday, June 18, 2019 at 3:00 p.m. at 567 W. Lake Street, Chicago, IL 2nd Floor Bid Office. Vendors should RSVP via e-mail to the Procurement Administrator. Questions regarding this RFP must be submitted in writing no later than 3:30 p.m. (CST) Tuesday, June 25, 2019 via e-mail to: svillasenor@transitchicago.com. Vendors must submit their written questions in a Word document. Questions will not be accepted after this time and date. For additional information, please contact Sarah VillaseĂąor, Procurement Administrator, 312/681-2454. The contractor will be required to furnish certified copies of any and

all Insurance Policies required in relation to this contract prior to CTAâ€™s execution. Chicago Transit Authority hereby gives notice that it will affirmatively ensure that in regard to any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, Disadvantaged Business Enterprise will be afforded full opportunity to submit responses to this invitation and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color or national origin in consideration for an award. PLEASE NOTE: Where proposals are sent by mail, delivery service or delivered in-person to the CTA Bid Office, the bidders shall be responsible for their delivery only to the Bid Office before the advertised due date and hour for the proposals. The Bid Office hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Chicago time, except holidays. The right is reserved to accept any proposal or to reject any and all proposals. All inquiries should be directed to and copies of the documents obtained from the Bid Office â€“ 2nd Floor, 567 West Lake Street, Chicago, Illinois 60661-1498. CHICAGO TRANSIT AUTHORITY By: Ellen McCormack Vice President, Purchasing & Supply Chain May 9, 2019

Published in Austin Weekly News 6/12/2019

Proposals will be received for the following by Chicago Transit Authority at the Bid Office â€“ 2nd Floor, 567 West Lake Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60661-1498, no later than 3:30 P.M. on Thursday, July 11, 2019: Req. B19FT04583, Request for Proposals (RFP) for Media Production Services for the CTAâ€™s Red and Purple Modernization Program, RPM Phase One, for a Period of Up To Three Years with Three OneYear Options. A Pre-Proposal meeting will be held on Thursday, June 20, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. at 567 W. Lake Street, Chicago, IL 2nd Floor Bid Office Conference Room. Vendors should RSVP via e-mail to the Procurement Administrator by Tuesday, June 18, 2019 at 4:30 p.m. Chicago Time. Questions regarding this RFP must be submitted in writing no later than 4:30 p.m. (CST) Thursday, June 27, 2019 via e-mail to: jkerschensteiner@ transitchicago.com. Vendors must submit their written questions in a Word document. Questions will not be accepted after this time and date. For additional information, please contact Jill Kerschensteiner, Procurement Administrator, 312/681-2642. The contractor will be required to

furnish certified copies of any and all Insurance Policies required in relation to this contract prior to CTAâ€™s execution. Chicago Transit Authority hereby gives notice that it will affirmatively ensure that in regard to any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, Disadvantaged Business Enterprise will be afforded full opportunity to submit responses to this invitation and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color or national origin in consideration for an award. PLEASE NOTE: Where proposals are sent by mail, delivery service or delivered in-person to the CTA Bid Office, the bidders shall be responsible for their delivery only to the Bid Office before the advertised due date and hour for the proposals. The Bid Office hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Chicago time, except holidays. The right is reserved to accept any proposal or to reject any and all proposals. All inquiries should be directed to and copies of the documents obtained from the Bid Office â€“ 2nd Floor, 567 West Lake Street, Chicago, Illinois 60661-1498. CHICAGO TRANSIT AUTHORITY By: Ellen McCormack Vice President, Purchasing & Supply Chain May 9, 2019

Published in Austin Weekly News 6/12/2019

PUBLIC NOTICES PUBLIC NOTICE Notice is hereby given, pursuant to â€œAn Act in relation to the use of an Assumed Business Name in the conduct or transaction of Business in the State,â€? as amended, that a certification was registered by the undersigned with the County Clerk of Cook County. Registration Number: Y19001479 on June 5, 2019. Under the Assumed Business Name of FORTY ACRES FRESH MARKET with the business located at: 1510 WEST GRAND AVENUE APT 2W, CHICAGO, IL 60642. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/ partner(s) is: ELIZABETH ABUNAW 1510 WEST GRAND AVENUE APT 2W CHICAGO,IL 60642 Published in Austin Weekly News 6/12, 6/19, 6/26, 2019

REAL ESTATE FORÂ SALE IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENTâ€“ CHANCERY DIVISION U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR THE STRUCTURED ASSET INVESTMENT LOAN TRUST, MORTGAGE PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2005-9 Plaintiff, -v.TINA M. RUBIO AKA TINA MARIE RUBIO AKA TINA RUBIO, CITY OF CHICAGO, STATE OF ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Defendants 17 CH 875 1818 NORTH ST. LOUIS AVENUE Chicago, IL 60647 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on May 30, 2017, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on June 21, 2019, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker Drive, CHICAGO, IL, 60606, sell at a public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 1818 NORTH

REAL ESTATE FORÂ SALE ST. LOUIS AVENUE, Chicago, IL 60647 Property Index No. 13-35-407-0330000. The real estate is improved with a multi-family residence. The judgment amount was $147,564.92. Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance, including the Judicial Sale fee for the Abandoned Residential Property Municipality Relief Fund, which is calculated on residential real estate at the rate of $1 for each $1,000 or fraction thereof of the amount paid by the purchaser not to exceed $300, in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twentyfour (24) hours. No fee shall be paid by the mortgagee acquiring the residential real estate pursuant to its credit bid at the sale or by any mortgagee, judgment creditor, or other lienor acquiring the residential real estate whose rights in and to the residential real estate arose prior to the sale. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in â€œAS ISâ€? condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court. Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale. Where a sale of real estate is made to satisfy a lien prior to that of the United States, the United States shall have one year from the date of sale within which to redeem, except that with respect to a lien arising under the internal revenue laws the period shall be 120 days or the period allowable for redemption under State law, whichever is longer, and in any case in which, under the provisions of section 505 of the Housing Act of 1950, as amended (12 U.S.C. 1701k), and subsection (d) of section 3720 of title 38 of the

REAL ESTATE FORÂ SALE United States Code, the right to redeem does not arise, there shall be no right of redemption. The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information. If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4). If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/ 18.5(g-1). IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW. You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driverâ€™s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales. For information, contact The sales clerk, SHAPIRO KREISMAN & ASSOCIATES, LLC, 2121 WAUKEGAN RD., SUITE 301, Bannockburn, IL 60015, (847) 2911717 For information call between the hours of 1pmâ€“3pm. Please refer to file number 18-089131. THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236-SALE You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales. SHAPIRO KREISMAN & ASSOCIATES, LLC 2121 WAUKEGAN RD., SUITE 301 Bannockburn, IL 60015 (847) 291-1717 E-Mail: ILNotices@logs.com Attorney File No. 18-089131 Attorney Code. 42168 Case Number: 17 CH 875 TJSC#: 39-3127 NOTE: Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you are advised that Plaintiffâ€™s attorney is deemed to be a debt collector attempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose. I3121744 IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENTâ€“ CHANCERY DIVISION LOANDEPOT.COM, LLC; Plaintiff, vs. PATRICIA HARDIN-BEARD; CITIZENS BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FKA ST. PAUL FEDERAL BANK FOR SAVINGS; Defendants, 18 CH 8329 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above entitled cause Intercounty Judicial Sales Corporation will on Tuesday, July 16, 2019 at the hour of 11 a.m. in their office at 120 West Madison Street, Suite 718A, Chicago, Illinois, sell at public auction to the highest bidder for cash, as set forth below, the following described mortgaged real estate: P.I.N. 16-15-220-026-0000. Commonly known as 4348 West Van Buren Street, Chicago, IL 60624. The mortgaged real estate is improved with a single family residence. If the subject mortgaged real estate is a unit of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by

Austin Weekly News, June 12, 2019

CLASSIFIEDS (773) 626-6332 | FAX: (708) 467-9066 | E-MAIL: CLASSIFIEDS@AUSTINWEEKLYNEWS.COM REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

subsection (g-1) of Section 18.5 of the Condominium Property Act. Sale terms: 10% down by certified funds, balance, by certified funds, within 24 hours. No refunds. The property will NOT be open for inspection. For information call Sales Department at Plaintiff’s Attorney, Manley Deas Kochalski, LLC, One East Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60601. (614) 220-5611. 18-018892 F2 INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION Selling Officer, (312) 444-1122 I3122684

The mortgaged real estate is improved with a single family residence. If the subject mortgaged real estate is a unit of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by subsection (g-1) of Section 18.5 of the Condominium Property Act. Sale terms: 10% down by certified funds, balance, by certified funds, within 24 hours. No refunds. The property will NOT be open for inspection. For information call Law Clerk at Plaintiff’s Attorney, The Wirbicki Law Group, 33 West Monroe Street, Chicago, Illinois 60603. (312) 3609455. WA16-0711 INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION Selling Officer, (312) 444-1122 I3122674

The real estate is improved with a two story single family home with a one car garage. Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance, including the Judicial Sale fee for the Abandoned Residential Property Municipality Relief Fund, which is calculated on residential real estate at the rate of $1 for each $1,000 or fraction thereof of the amount paid by the purchaser not to exceed $300, in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twentyfour (24) hours. No fee shall be paid by the mortgagee acquiring the residential real estate pursuant to its credit bid at the sale or by any mortgagee, judgment creditor, or other lienor acquiring the residential real estate whose rights in and to the residential real estate arose prior to the sale. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in “AS IS” condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court. Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale. The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information. If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4). If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/ 18.5(g-1). IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR

(HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW. You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales. MCCALLA RAYMER LEIBERT PIERCE, LLC, Plaintiff’s Attorneys, One North Dearborn Street, Suite 1200, Chicago, IL 60602. Tel No. (312) 346-9088. Please refer to file number 13664. THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236-SALE You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales. MCCALLA RAYMER LEIBERT PIERCE, LLC One North Dearborn Street, Suite 1200 Chicago, IL 60602 (312) 346-9088 E-Mail: pleadings@mccalla.com Attorney File No. 13664 Attorney ARDC No. 61256 Attorney Code. 61256 Case Number: 14 CH 19970 TJSC#: 39-2415 NOTE: Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you are advised that Plaintiff’s attorney is deemed to be a debt collector attempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose. I3121093

THE CERTIFICATEHOLDERS OF THE CWABS INC., ASSETBACKED CERTIFICATES SERIES 2007-BC3 Plaintiff, -v.UNKNOWN HEIRS AND LEGATEES OF BOBBY MOORE A/K/A BOBBY G MOORE, IF ANY, UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NON-RECORD CLAIMANTS, JOHN LYDON, SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DECEASED MORTGAGOR BOBBY MOORE A/K/A BOBBY G MOORE, BOBBY MOORE, JR., DENNIS MOORE, CURTISS MOORE, MELVIN MOORE, THERESA MOORE, CITY OF CHICAGO Defendants 2017 CH 8980 4851 WEST MONROE STREET CHICAGO, IL 60644 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on April 17, 2019, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on July 18, 2019, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker Drive, CHICAGO, IL, 60606, sell at a public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 4851 WEST MONROE STREET, CHICAGO, IL 60644 Property Index No. 16-16-205-018. The real estate is improved with a single family home with a detached two car garage. Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance, including the Judicial Sale fee for the Abandoned Residential Property Municipality Relief Fund, which is calculated on residential real estate at the rate of $1 for each $1,000 or fraction thereof of the amount paid by the purchaser not to exceed $300, in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twentyfour (24) hours. No fee shall be paid by the mortgagee acquiring the residential real estate pursuant to its credit bid at the sale or by any mortgagee, judgment creditor, or other lienor acquiring the residential real estate whose rights in and to the residential real estate arose prior to the sale. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in “AS IS” condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court. Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale. The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information. If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4). If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/ 18.5(g-1). IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW. You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building

and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales. MCCALLA RAYMER LEIBERT PIERCE, LLC, Plaintiff’s Attorneys, One North Dearborn Street, Suite 1200, Chicago, IL 60602. Tel No. (312) 346-9088. Please refer to file number 262546. THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236-SALE You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales. MCCALLA RAYMER LEIBERT PIERCE, LLC One North Dearborn Street, Suite 1200 Chicago, IL 60602 (312) 346-9088 E-Mail: pleadings@mccalla.com Attorney File No. 262546 Attorney ARDC No. 61256 Attorney Code. 61256 Case Number: 2017 CH 8980 TJSC#: 39-2600 NOTE: Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you are advised that Plaintiff’s attorney is deemed to be a debt collector attempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose. I3121347

of 11 a.m. in their office at 120 West Madison Street, Suite 718A, Chicago, Illinois, sell at public auction to the highest bidder for cash, as set forth below, the following described mortgaged real estate: P.I.N. 16-27-421-040. Commonly known as 2836 South Karlov Avenue, Chicago, IL 60623. The mortgaged real estate is improved with a single family residence. If the subject mortgaged real estate is a unit of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by subsection (g-1) of Section 18.5 of the Condominium Property Act. Sale terms: 10% down by certified funds, balance, by certified funds, within 24 hours. No refunds. The property will NOT be open for inspection. For information call Sales Department at Plaintiff’s Attorney, Manley Deas Kochalski, LLC, One East Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60601. (614) 220-5611. 18-020261 F2 INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION Selling Officer, (312) 444-1122 I3123324

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT– CHANCERY DIVISION U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE UNDER POOLING AND SERVICING AGREEMENT DATED AS OF DECEMBER 1, 2006, MASTR ASSET-BACKED SECURITIES TRUST 2006-HE5 MORTGAGE PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2006HE5; Plaintiff, vs. LORETTA ALLEN; JOHN ALLEN A/ K/A JOHN S. ALLEN; CITY OF CHICAGO; ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; UNKNOWN HEIRS AND LEGATEES OF LORETTA ALLEN, IF ANY; UNKNOWN HEIRS AND LEGATEES OF JOHN ALLEN, IF ANY; UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NON RECORD CLAIMANTS; Defendants, 16 CH 15311 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above entitled cause Intercounty Judicial Sales Corporation will on Tuesday, July 16, 2019 at the hour of 11 a.m. in their office at 120 West Madison Street, Suite 718A, Chicago, Illinois, sell at public auction to the highest bidder for cash, as set forth below, the following described mortgaged real estate: P.I.N. 16-05-412-003-0000. Commonly known as 1051 North Menard Avenue, Chicago, IL 60651.

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT– CHANCERY DIVISION WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY, BUT SOLELY AS TRUSTEE FOR MFRA TRUST 2015-1 Plaintiff, -v.JAMES BERNER A/K/A JAMES G. BERNER, ILLINOIS HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NONRECORD CLAIMANTS Defendants 14 CH 19970 1310 NORTH CAMPBELL AVENUE CHICAGO, IL 60622 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on April 16, 2019, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on July 17, 2019, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker Drive, CHICAGO, IL, 60606, sell at a public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 1310 NORTH CAMPBELL AVENUE, CHICAGO, IL 60622 Property Index No. 16-01-219-0410000.

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT– CHANCERY DIVISION AMERIHOME MORTGAGE COMPANY, LLC; Plaintiff, vs. CLIAMALE T. CAMPBELL; UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NONRECORD CLAIMANTS; Defendants, 17 CH 3333 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above entitled cause Intercounty Judicial Sales Corporation will on Friday, July 12, 2019 at the hour of 11 a.m. in their office at 120 West Madison Street, Suite 718A, Chicago, Illinois, sell at public auction to the highest bidder for cash, as set forth below, the following described mortgaged real estate: P.I.N. 16-09-210-029-0000. Commonly known as 5032 West Erie Street, Chicago, IL 60644. The mortgaged real estate is improved with a single family residence. If the subject mortgaged real estate is a unit of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by subsection (g-1) of Section 18.5 of the Condominium Property Act. Sale terms: 10% down by certified funds, balance, by certified funds, within 24 hours. No refunds. The property will NOT be open for inspection. For information call Sales Department at Plaintiff’s Attorney, Manley Deas Kochalski, LLC, One East Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60601. (614) 220-5611. 18-029807 F2 INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION Selling Officer, (312) 444-1122 I3122305 IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT– CHANCERY DIVISION THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, F/K/A THE BANK OF NEW YORK, AS TRUSTEE FOR

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT– CHANCERY DIVISION TOWD POINT MORTGAGE TRUST 2015-5, U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS INDENTURE TRUSTEE; Plaintiff, vs. JAVIER VALADEZ; FELIPE VALADEZ; UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NON RECORD CLAIMANTS; Defendants, 18 CH 13866 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above entitled cause Intercounty Judicial Sales Corporation will on Tuesday, July 23, 2019 at the hour

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT– CHANCERY DIVISION WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A. Plaintiff, -v.CORNELIUS BANKS, DIME COMMUNITY BANK F/K/A THE DIME SAVINGS BANK OF WILLIAMSBURG, CITIFINANCIAL SERVICES, INC., SUCCESSOR IN INTEREST TO ASSOCIATES FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC., F.E. TRONCONE, AS TRUSTEE Defendants 18 CH 8927 1144 NORTH LEAMINGTON STREET Chicago, IL 60651 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on April 24, 2019, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on July 25, 2019, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker

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Austin Weekly News, June 12, 2019

CLASSIFIEDS (773) 626-6332 | FAX: (708) 467-9066 | E-MAIL: CLASSIFIEDS@AUSTINWEEKLYNEWS.COM REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

Drive, CHICAGO, IL, 60606, sell at a public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 1144 NORTH LEAMINGTON STREET, Chicago, IL 60651 Property Index No. 16-04-400-0260000. The real estate is improved with a single family residence. The judgment amount was $130,476.57. Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance, including the Judicial Sale fee for the Abandoned Residential Property Municipality Relief Fund, which is calculated on residential real estate at the rate of $1 for each $1,000 or fraction thereof of the amount paid by the purchaser not to exceed $300, in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twentyfour (24) hours. No fee shall be paid by the mortgagee acquiring the residential real estate pursuant to its credit bid at the sale or by any mortgagee, judgment creditor, or other lienor acquiring the residential real estate whose rights in and to the residential real estate arose prior to the sale. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in “AS IS” condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court. Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale. The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information. If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4). If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/ 18.5(g-1). IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW. You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales. For information, contact The sales clerk, SHAPIRO KREISMAN & ASSOCIATES, LLC, 2121 WAUKEGAN RD., SUITE 301, Bannockburn, IL 60015, (847) 2911717 For information call between the hours of 1pm–3pm. Please refer to file number 18-087064. THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236-SALE You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales. SHAPIRO KREISMAN & ASSOCIATES, LLC 2121 WAUKEGAN RD., SUITE 301 Bannockburn, IL 60015 (847) 291-1717 E-Mail: ILNotices@logs.com Attorney File No. 18-087064 Attorney Code. 42168

Case Number: 18 CH 8927 TJSC#: 39-2666 NOTE: Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you are advised that Plaintiff’s attorney is deemed to be a debt collector attempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose. I3122504

(driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales. For information, examine the court file or contact Plaintiff’s attorney: CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C., 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100, BURR RIDGE, IL 60527, (630) 794-9876 Please refer to file number 14-17-15391. THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236-SALE You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales. CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100 BURR RIDGE, IL 60527 (630) 794-5300 E-Mail: pleadings@il.cslegal.com Attorney File No. 14-17-15391 Attorney ARDC No. 00468002 Attorney Code. 21762 Case Number: 2018 CH 06035 TJSC#: 39-3539 NOTE: Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you are advised that Plaintiff’s attorney is deemed to be a debt collector attempting to collect a debt and any

information obtained will be used for that purpose. I3123064

Property Index No. 16-05-231-0170000. The real estate is improved with a multi-family two story building. Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance, including the Judicial Sale fee for the Abandoned Residential Property Municipality Relief Fund, which is calculated on residential real estate at the rate of $1 for each $1,000 or fraction thereof of the amount paid by the purchaser not to exceed $300, in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twentyfour (24) hours. No fee shall be paid by the mortgagee acquiring the residential real estate pursuant to its credit bid at the sale or by any mortgagee, judgment creditor, or other lienor acquiring the residential real estate whose rights in and to the residential real estate arose prior to the sale. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in “AS IS” condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court. Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a

Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale. The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information. If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4). If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/ 18.5(g-1). IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW. You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identifi-

cation for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales. MCCALLA RAYMER LEIBERT PIERCE, LLC, Plaintiff’s Attorneys, One North Dearborn Street, Suite 1200, Chicago, IL 60602. Tel No. (312) 346-9088. Please refer to file number 265704. THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236-SALE You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales. MCCALLA RAYMER LEIBERT PIERCE, LLC One North Dearborn Street, Suite 1200 Chicago, IL 60602 (312) 346-9088 E-Mail: pleadings@mccalla.com Attorney File No. 265704 Attorney ARDC No. 61256 Attorney Code. 61256 Case Number: 2018–CH-01108 TJSC#: 39-2616 NOTE: Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you are advised that Plaintiff’s attorney is deemed to be a debt collector attempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose. I3121823

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT– CHANCERY DIVISION LAKEVIEW LOAN SERVICING, LLC Plaintiff, -v.LATISHA BENNETT, BERRIE RICHARDSON, CITY OF CHICAGO Defendants 2018 CH 06035 1826 S. SPRINGFIELD AVENUE CHICAGO, IL 60623 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on November 7, 2018, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on July 10, 2019, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker Drive, CHICAGO, IL, 60606, sell at a public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 1826 S. SPRINGFIELD AVENUE, CHICAGO, IL 60623 Property Index No. 16-23-309-0330000. The real estate is improved with a single family residence. Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance, including the Judicial Sale fee for the Abandoned Residential Property Municipality Relief Fund, which is calculated on residential real estate at the rate of $1 for each $1,000 or fraction thereof of the amount paid by the purchaser not to exceed $300, in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twentyfour (24) hours. No fee shall be paid by the mortgagee acquiring the residential real estate pursuant to its credit bid at the sale or by any mortgagee, judgment creditor, or other lienor acquiring the residential real estate whose rights in and to the residential real estate arose prior to the sale. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in “AS IS” condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court. Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale. The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information. If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4). If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/ 18.5(g-1). IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW. You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT– CHANCERY DIVISION JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION Plaintiff, -v.GERALD POTTS, BRENDA POTTS, U.S BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION S/I/I FIRST BANK OF OAK PARK, UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NON-RECORD CLAIMANTS Defendants 2018–CH-01108 5614 WEST DIVISION STREET CHICAGO, IL 60651 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on April 23, 2019, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on July 24, 2019, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker Drive, CHICAGO, IL, 60606, sell at a public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 5614 WEST DIVISION STREET, CHICAGO, IL 60651

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Austin Weekly News, June 12, 2019

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Austin Weekly News, June 12, 2019

Austin Coming Together

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Austin Coming Together (ACT) is hosting its 2019 Membership Awards to recognize some of our members and partners who are making notable contributions to our common agenda, Thrive 2025. Join us as we highlight these leaders, their agency's achievements, and report on the State of Our Collective Impact.

Friday, June 14, 2019 3:00PM - 6:00PM

Keynote Speaker Sean Garrett, President & CEO, United Way of Metro Chicago

El Palais Bu-Sche' 4628 W Washington Blvd. Chicago, IL 60644

2019 Honorees Excellence in Early Childhood Development Natasha-Smith Walker, Project Exploration

Member of the Year Kids First Chicago

Excellence in Neighborhood Safety & Youth Development Sergeant Jermaine Harris, 15th District - CPD

Champion of Collective Impact Wells Fargo

Excellence in Housing & Neighborhood Development Rev. Steve Epting, Helping Our People Excel Excellence in Workforce Development Cara Chicago

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