by La Risa Lynch
On April 1st a group of Chicago youth want to drape the city in orange as part of an anti-violence awareness campaign, called Project Orange Tree.
The group wants youth and adults throughout the city to wear orange to symbolize unity against gang and gun violence that has claimed so many young lives. The effort is under the auspices of the Lupe Fiasco Foundation.
The youth chose orange because hunters wear that color in the woods to prevent from being shot by fellow hunters.
“What we want is people to realize that violence is a serious issue and violence has been brushed off,” said Vernita Bediako, 18, a youth member of Project Orange Tree. “On April 1st we are getting people to realize that I’m wearing this orange so you don’t shoot me.”
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This article has been updated to correct the date of an upcoming forum held at Bethany Lutheran Church on February 19, 2013.
Mel Reynolds who once held the Second Congressional District seat and then left it under controversy, wants his old job back. He attended a candidates' forum in Dolton Jan. 12th.
by La Risa Lynch
Dolton -- Fifteen of the 22 individuals seeking the vacated seat of former Cong. Jesse L. Jackson Jr. attended a candidates’ forum at a south suburban church Saturday, January 12th. The forum, hosted by Developing Communities Project, a community development organization, was moderated by WVON’s Cliff Kelley.
The forum’s topics ran the gamut of issues from jobs, foreclosure, to youth violence. The responses varied as much as the candidates themselves as to how they would address these issues that are impacting the Second Congressional District.
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By La Risa Lynch
Here’s a math question for you: How many Black-owned Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurants are in the Chicago area. The answer will surprise you.
Oak Park resident Maggie Anderson, who along with her husband, John, took on a bold challenge to shop Black-owned businesses for a year has penned a book on their bold experiment. The book called “Our Black Year” details the family’s struggle to find basic necessities to keep a household running just by shopping at Black-owned retailers and stores.
Their experiment drew headlines as well as criticism – some labeling the family as racist for shopping Black. But for Anderson the goal was to spark a debate about self-help economics and Black conscious consumerism that harkens back to Marcus Garvey.
The reason for this discussion is simple. Black America has an unrealized capital gain in their collective buying power that tops a $1 trillion. Of that money that Black people spend only about six percent stays in the Black community or touches Black-owned retailers. The remaining hard-earned cash that Black Americans make line the pockets of other ethnic groups who open businesses in Black communities rarely giving anything back.
Anderson calls that lopsided fiscal austerity a “racial divided economy.” Do you agree? So in 2013 make an effort to at least shop Black four times a month. Sounds like a New Year’s resolution to me. Listen to an excerpt of Anderson’s speech given at the Oak Park Library on Nov. 18th. Read the full article here.
Our Black Year by neighborhoodscribe.com
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Ald. Anthony Beale (9) has officially formed a political committee to run for the 2nd Congressional District seat left vacant by the resignation of Jesse Jackson Jr. last week. The 9th Ward alderman filed electronically, this afternoon, with the Illinois State Board of Elections organizing Beale For Congress, according to a press release from Beale’s publisit.
Beale, who has served in the City Council since 1999, was the youngest alderman to be elected at that time. The 9th Ward is one of seven Chicago wards that make up the 2nd Congressional district. The district also covers parts of Cook and Will counties and all of Kankakee.
by La Risa Lynch
CDOT's Scott Kubly speaks at a community forum about the city's bike share program. Bronzeville activists raised concerns how the program will boost economic development and tourism.
The new protected curbside bike lanes cropping up across the city is part of Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s grand plan of creating a bike friendly Chicago.
As part of that plan, the city is establishing a bike share program that allows individuals to pick up and drop off bikes at kiosks planted throughout the city for a fee. The program cost $75 for a yearly membership, but allows daily passes for $7 for 30 minute trips. The city hopes to get the bike share program off and rolling next spring in 26 city wards.
City officials speaking at a November 7th community meeting at the Charles Hayes Center, 4859 S. Wabash Ave., touted the program as a healthy low-cost transportation option that can be tied to job creation. City officials contend the bike share program will create 150 permanent jobs in addition to temporary construction jobs. The program will be self-sustaining through membership fees and sponsored advertising.
But Bronzeville community activists want to know how this program will boost economic development and tourism in the gentrifying neighborhood. Part of the program’s footprint reaches into that community. The program will be implemented in densely populated and affluent areas. It stretches into Hyde Park and encompasses the Near West and North Sides.
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Derrick Smith
by La Risa Lynch
Former State Rep Derrick Smith won re-election to the same House seat he was expelled from three months ago.
Smith handily won his race over third party candidate Lance Tyson, who ran under the Unity Party banner. With 98 percent of the precincts reporting, Smith received 23,807 of the votes or 62.61 percent compared to Tyson’s 14,215 or 37.39 percent.
Che "Rhymefest" Smith speaks at youth summit
by La Risa Lynch
Che “Rhymefest” Smith spoke October 20th about the music industry’s influence over rap music and his own inner struggles at redemption during a youth summit held at a far south side church.
Smith said he could not have achieved success as a Grammy award winning songwriter until he let go of past disappointments and demons in what he calls his resurrection.
“Everybody here is faced with a struggle. Nobody is perfect,” Smith told a mixed group of 7th through 12th graders at Christ Universal Temple, 11901 S Ashland Ave. “Everybody is dealing with some form of death right now, but it is time for your resurrection.”
Smith’s resurrection came from an unlikely source. It came in the form of an epiphany while penning the lyrics for Jesus Walks with Kanye West. Rhymefest on Kayne West by neighborhoodscribe.com
Seeking to unseat Annazette Collins as state senator of West Side’s 5th District
by La Risa Lynch
Annazette Collins
Patricia Van Pelt-Watkins
A long shot best described Patricia Van Pelt-Watkins when she ran for mayor last year. But this time around, the community activist may have some political weight behind her.
Van Pelt Watkins is being backed by Secretary of State Jesse White in her attempt to unseat state Senator Annazette Collins (D-5) in the March 2012 Primaries.
The backing may come as a surprise since White, the 27th Democratic Ward committeeman, nominated Collins to replace then state Senator Rickey Hendon last year.
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by La Risa Lynch
Emotions ran high at a public hearing held January 20th by Chicago Public Schools regarding the proposed closure of Crane High School on the city’s Near West Side.
The inclement weather that dump nearly six inches of snow on the city during rush hour traffic did not stop scores of students, parents, teachers and those favoring the school’s closure from packing an auditorium at Malcolm X College, 1900 W. Van Buren.
Students chanted "Save our school" and booed any speakers who support closing Crane High School, 2245 W. Jackson Blvd. The Chicago Public Schools proposed phasing out Crane over the next few years as part of a massive school action plan to reform chronically failing schools.
And adding insult to injuries, students and parents were upset over CPS’s decision to have the charter school Chicago Talent Development High School, 4319 W. Washington, share facilities with Crane.
But students’ passions nearly turned into a skirmish. A throng of students angrily surrounded a speaker supporting CPS actions to close poor performing schools, including Crane. Security dispersed a crowd of teens — some who jumped over seats to confront the man. Chicago Police were called and remained for the rest of the hearing.
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Dec 11
17
Minority firm buys Moo & Oink brand
Stores' piecemeal sale bittersweet for employees
By La Risa Lynch
Moo & Oink, the shuttered retail meat company, will live on in name only as a minority owned company acquired the former store’s brand and other intellectual property for $530,000 during a December 14th public sale of the 30-year-old company.
Robert Beavers, chairman and CEO of Best Chicago Meat, purchased Moo & Oink’s iconic logo, name, website, catchy commercial jingle as well as the company’s recipes for several of its meat products. Best Chicago Meat, 4649 W. Armitage Ave., makes several well-known local meat products, including Jemm burger and sausage, Red Hot hotdogs and Scala’s, an Italian meat and seasoning product.
"We are extremely proud to have Moo & Oink join our stable of brands," Beavers said. "It’s a brand that is very well-known in the African-American community. Now it will be truly minority owned."
Pix on Flickr
Conscious hip hop artist Lupe Fiasco
hip hop artist Lupe Fiasco speaks at St. Sabina Church
Lupe Fiasco plays one of his tracks during a speech at St. Sabina Church.
Tim Black honorary street sign near DuSable High School
Tim Black at street sign dedication
Ald. Pat Dowell and Tim Black
Walter Mosley book discussion
Author Walter Mosley reads
Walter Mosley
Mosley reads excerpt from upcoming Easy Rawlins book
Walter Mosley at book signing
Sylvia Ewing interviews Walter Mosley
Author Walter Mosley
West and Smiley
Cornel West
Tavis Smiley
Smiley & West
Smiley & West share a laugh
From The New York Times
