The Voice Newspapers, Serving Chicago's West Side

REPORT FROM ALDERMAN EMMA MITTS

Alderman Mitts Celebrates All 2020 Graduates

A Message to Our 2020 Graduates:

“Hello! This is Alderman Emma Mitts! - - sending greetings and saluting the Graduating Class of 2020!
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OUR 2020 GRADUATES. Remember to Celebrate All of your ACHIEVEMENTS!
YOU MADE IT! Despite difficult circumstances created by the worldwide COVID-19 crisis and the recent local and national civic unrest and community activism following the tragic deaths of Georgia’s Ahmaud Arbery, Louisville’s Breonna Taylor, and Mr. George Flynn in Minneapolis.
In many ways, the world as we know it has been turned upside down. But this is still YOUR TIME TO SHINE! You have proven that EDUCATION MATTERS! Treasure the legacy of Dr. King’s Dream by turning YOUR DREAMS into ACTION! The world is full of dreamers! Be a DOER instead. Why? Because OUR SOCIETY needs STRONG, HARD-WORKING, TALENTED VISIONARIES like YOU. At this critical point in history, your PASSIONATE COURAGE, DRIVE and THOUGHTFULLY-INSPIRED ACTIVISM is shaking up the racially-divided status quo and opening wide new pathways to diverse opportunities.
Never Forget! If you BELIEVE it, you can ACHIEVE it. You are Today’s INNOVATERS, CHANGE-MAKERS and Tomorrow’s GAME CHANGERS!
Finally - - I know that YOU CAN and WILL Be SUCCESSFUL, SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE, TRULY HAPPY and POWERFUL, by DOING what you love, ACHIEVING your goals and CHANGING the world. I am extremely excited about your bright future. Best wishes, good luck, and the greatest of success in everything that you do!”

Other News….
A big 100th Anniversary shout-out to the former Negro National League, which this year celebrates the centennial birthday of its founding in 1920, when pitcher Andrew ‘Rube’ Foster, known as ‘the Father of Black Baseball’ founded the Negro National League (1920-1931) with eight teams: Chicago American Giants, Chicago Giants, Cuban Stars, Dayton Marcos, Detroit Stars, Kansas City Monarchs, Indianapolis ABCs and the St. Louis Giants. Because racism in the U.S. prevented Black athletes from joining minor and major baseball leagues, many formed their own professional teams by the 1880s. Among the Negro Leagues’ greatest alumni: Satchel Paige, Josh Gibson, “Cool Papa” Bell and Jackie Robinson, of the Kansas City Monarchs, who broke the major leagues color barrier with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947.

Have a Safe 4th of July!

The 37th Ward office, 4924 West Chicago Avenue, is giving out PPE masks on a first-come, first-served basis to local 37th Ward residents, Monday-Friday, from 10:00am – 2:00pm. Contact the 37th Ward Office at 773-379-0960 or ward37@cityofchicago.org. You can also follow Alderman Mitts on Twitter: @EmmaMittsAld371

AS I SEE IT By Representative La Shawn K. Ford

Responding to President Trump’s Letter to Chicago

On June 26, 2020, President Trump wrote a letter to Governor Pritzker and Mayor Lightfoot pointing out the violence Chicago has been experiencing. Trump said, “Violence and death, which are disproportionately harming young African Americans, are tragic and unacceptable, particularly on such a shocking scale.” I agree with this statement.
But, Trump went on to say, “But to succeed, you must establish law and order,” which to many of us is code for the ‘get tough on crime’ policies which just haven’t worked and have saddled too many black men with criminal backgrounds, making it almost impossible for them to find a job. In his letter, Trump says,” If you are willing to put partisanship aside, we can revitalize distressed neighborhoods in Chicago, together.” But, if the Trump administration is serious about tackling gun violence and other issues in Chicago, how will furiously attacking elected leaders like Governor Pritzker and Mayor Lightfoot in a published letter help to decrease the bipartisanship that Trump himself says needs to be put aside?
According to the Chicago Tribune, homicides in Chicago are up about 25% for the year so far. On Father’s Day weekend, one of the victims was three-year-old Mekhi James, killed on Central Avenue in Austin on the West Side. A Chicago Tribune editorial on June 29 suggested that Governor Pritzker and Mayor Lightfoot call the president on the issue and pursue the offer of help.
If we could get beyond the personal attacks and partisanship, what could the federal government do to help us here in Chicago? Illinois is a donor state when it comes to taxes – we contribute more in taxes than we receive back in support. Our congressional delegation should fight to bring more federal revenue back to Illinois.
Here are five areas where the federal government could help us in Chicago:
1. We need more cooperation with the feds to help solve murder cases and improve the true murder clearance rate. This requires success in true police reform.
2. We need to strengthen, not eliminate, the Affordable Care Act to protect the health of families. To address violence, we recently announced the formation of the West Side Behavioral Health Task Force to bring in mental health care and trauma support to those who need it. Violence is a result of poverty, and must be addressed with human services and support. Limiting access to food stamps (SNAP) must be reversed.
3. We need more federal job recruitment efforts, along with community-based violence reduction interventions that have been shown to work.
4. We need great amounts of additional capital to truly rebuild our communities and put our communities back to work.
5. We need the Department of Housing and Urban Development open more housing grants for Illinois.
Many options are open to us if we have the will to get beyond attacks and get to work.

For more information, contact one of Ford’s Constituent Service Offices: 816 S. Oak Park Avenue in Oak Park at 708-445-3673, 4800 W. Chicago Avenue in Chicago at 773-378-5902 or in the Stratton Office Building in Springfield at 217-782-5962, or visit www.lashawnford.com.

What Does God Have To Do With It? Who’s Running It?By Angie Mims

FATHERHOOD AWARDS with
CONGRESSMAN DANNY K. DAVIS

On Saturday, June 20, 2020, Cherita Logan, District Director for the Office of Congressman Danny K. Davis, did an outstanding job spearheading an auspicious event dedicated to fathers and male mentors. With hundreds of fathers and male mentors being recognized from near and far, Congressman Danny K. Davis made sure that the community knew the significance and role of men in Black America. He and other men, while safely practicing social distancing, gathered and proudly explained to press media that Black men made a difference and that their lives mattered.

Friends and family were proud to nominate the men in their lives who had made contributions in ways that they did not want to forget. Recipients such as Channel 7’s photojournalist, Derrick Robinson, Chicago Police Department’s Deputy Chief, Enest Cato, Illinois Baptist Laymen Fellowship’s President, Deacon John Whitehead Jr., I AM MY LIFE COACH’s CEO and Founder, Adonius Johnson and Co-Founder of Parents for Peace and Justice, Robert Torres, were only some of the many recipients that received this prestigious honor.
Sponsored by organizations such as Safer Foundation, West Section Club, Westside Ministers Coalition and many others, men were able to come together and be honored by receiving their Fatherhood Award along with other gifts.
So, what does God have to do with it? Everything. With such a huge initiative, it was important for the community and it’s surrounding areas to see that there are men who are still accepting the call of action, duty and responsibility to ensure that our families are well represented. When men step up, expect a change. “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord and he delighted in His Way.” Psalms 37:23

Angie Mims is a radio personality for the Promoting Precision Radio Show. She has interviewed many greats on her show such as NBC 5’s Art Norman, CLTV News Dr. Garrard McClendon, Dr. Jamal Harrison Bryant, Ebony Magazine’s Senior Editor, Lynn Norment, the former president of Nigeria, General Olesugun Obasanjo, NBA players and many others. Visit her online at www.promotingprecision.com. Angie loves to meet new people and is in a constant attempt to unite people from all over the world. If you have a great story, don’t hesitate! Email her at AngieMims@PromotingPrecision.com today! You may also call (708)-612-4864. Support The Austin Voice Newspaper and let them know your thoughts about her column.

REACHING BEYOND THE WALLS By Reverend Dr. T.C. Thomas, Sr. Pastor

“Just Ridiculous!”

Grace and peace to you all! Juneteenth is a historical and a celebrated tradition among African American people for now 99 years. Tulsa, Oklahoma on Juneteenth when the Greenwood District better known as Black Wall Street was looted, ransacked and over 300 African Americans were killed by white mobs. These mobs were not only envious of the progress of African Americans but sought to exude the continued racism that the country was facing during this desegregated time in American history. The president decided to hold his rally on this day and after backlash, he moved his rally to the next day on June 20th. Additionally, he stated that he made Juneteenth famous because no-one knew about the day. He had to ask an African American secret service member about this day and its significance.
This continues to showcase this administration’s lack of knowledge, care and sensitivity of history and the major vicissitudes we face as a nation regarding the electoral race in 2020. Moreover, the President has aborted any real conversations, plans and care towards what the nation is facing, yet he discusses how he has done more for African American people. To steal a line from Janet Jackson, “what has he done for us lately?” I guess I missed what he has done over the course of this presidency or even as a billionaire running the Trump Empire. Now is our time! We must continue to march, protest and mobilize everyone to vote, vote for change from the archaic mindset of him and his republican band. They do nothing but lie and showcase their lack of care for the issues, only wanting to be re-elected regardless of the cost. He even makes racial epithets disgracing anyone who does not agree or who won’t do what he wants them to do. We have been paying the price for 3.5 years and this November our bill should be paid in full! If we protest, but do not vote, we will have protested in vain. We cannot protest and not vote! We must use our voices and our efforts as we continue to the polls in major numbers!

We must not lose focus, we must not lose hope and we must be strong in the voting come November!

Don’t stop, keep moving onward and upward!

Rev. Dr. T.C. Thomas is the Pastor of Walls Memorial C.M.E. Church, 200 S. Sacramento Blvd., on Chicago’s west Side. He is a strong advocate for children, education, healthcare and most of all the people of God “being better and not bitter.” Rev. Thomas is the author of the young reader series: “Who Am I Really?” and “Me and My Crew, Change is Coming.” Copies may be purchased by contacting the church office. Rev. Dr. Thomas may be contacted at 773-533-2721.

A Call To Action: By Reverend Charles C. Brown, Ph.D. - Pastor, New Heaven Christian Church

Substance Abuse Disorder: Building Relationships During and After the Recovery Process

The ability to trust is both one of the strongest and most fragile emotions that we can experience. Although it takes time to build, it can be broken or utterly destroyed in mere seconds. As it relates to socialization, both humans and animals alike, use trust to establish bonds, create families, and to determine friend from foe. For the most part, trust is not built entirely upon words, and it is impossible to forever turn a blind eye to the actions that cause our trust to be questioned. Arguably, to trust means to have complete confidence in the character, ability, skill, strength, or promise of someone or something. Trusting means being open. It means being vulnerable. It means being emotionally exposed, and it means believing that your delicate state of defenselessness will not be taken advantage of by the one whom you trust dearly.
At times, trusting others is like walking a fine line, and when substance abuse is involved that fine line is crossed multiple times. If not properly addressed, the hurt, pain, shame, anger, guilt, and remorse that develops when trust is broken may last for a lifetime. In the words of German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, “I’m not upset that you lied to me, I’m upset that from now on I can’t believe you anymore.”
Unfortunately, during the times of substance abuse, loved ones, family members, and close friends may have felt betrayed, letdown, or deceived on countless occasions. Some may even equate this period in life as being on an emotional rollercoaster, where the fear for the worse, the hope for the best, and the fact that you truly never know what to expect is always there. Adding to the volatility or instability of the situation is the fact that relapse during recovery is a common occurrence, and during this time, broken promises tend to be an ever-present staple within the relationship.
Substance abuse disorder is a disease that effects the entire family, and over the years it can slowly erode all signs of trust within the family bond. Quite often, family members are constantly being lied to or disappointed by the individual that is dealing with substance abuse, until no matter how much they may desire to do so it becomes extremely difficult to believe anything that he or she says or does. However, if we foster the right amount of love, patience, and effort, the bonds within the relationship can be restored. Yet, we must understand that it took an action to break the trust, and it will also take an action to rebuild it. This is a simple concept that can be practiced by adhering to the following principles or precepts:
1. Be willing to communicate: Although some individuals may be hesitant to talk about their past deeds or actions, this is a conversation that must take place. Hearts have been scarred, feelings have been hurt, and things have transpired that must be discussed. Therefore, before the bonds of trust can be reestablished, the bonds of communication must first be rebuilt.
2. Keep Your Word: Without a shadow of a doubt, it was broken promises that dissolved the bonds of trust in the beginning, and keeping your promises is the main ingredient in rebuilding the bridge of trust and the lines of communication. It is important to know that family members and loved ones need to know that your word is your bond, and that you will stand by your convictions. It’s not that people do not want to believe you because they do. In fact, they have believed you many times in the past, and they just do not want to be disappointed again.
3. Create a normal routine: The sense of normalcy creates a sense of stability, and overtime, a sense of stability will create a sense of trust. Family members, friends, and loved ones witnessed the downward spiral, the out of control behaviors, and the unpredictable outcomes that are direct consequences of substance abuse. Now, in order to offset or counter this damaging view, an atmosphere that is reinforced by a sense of regularity must be developed. This does not mean that every moment of the day must be accounted for. This means that others should be able to see a constant change in your behavior that is built on consistency and takes place over time.
Trust is a very fragile concept, but with the right focus and mindset, even the worse situation can be repaired. However, while in the process of doing so the focus must be kept on doing what you say and saying what you mean, for in the words of Desmond Tutu, “Once lost, trust can only be regained if we are as good as our word.”

Pastor of New Heaven Christian Church, Professor of Psychology, Advisor to State Representative LaShawn K. Ford, Illinois 8th District Chair of Higher Education, Co-Chair for the 37th Ward Pastors Alliance, member of the New Baptist Ministers Fellowship, and Board of Directors for the Chicago Low-Income Housing Trust Fund.

Dr. James Poulos Presents:

Teeth Grinding

“Keep a stiff upper lip” or “get a grip!” That’s often the advice we get—and give—on how to cope with stress. If you take it literally, the result could be grinding your teeth or clenching your jaws. It’s called bruxism, and often it happens as you sleep.
Teeth grinding can be caused not just by stress and anxiety but by sleep disorders, an abnormal bite or teeth that are missing or crooked. A study in the November 2016 issue of the Journal of the American Dental Association suggests that teeth grinding is also associated with alcohol and tobacco use. People who drink alcohol and smokers are approximately twice as likely to grind their teeth.

The symptoms of teeth grinding include:
• dull headaches
• jaw soreness
• teeth that are painful or loose
• fractured teeth

Your dentist can fit you with a mouth guard to protect your teeth during sleep. In some cases, your dentist or physician may recommend taking a muscle relaxant before bedtime. If stress is the cause you need to find a way to relax. Meditation, counseling and exercise can all help reduce stress and anxiety.
Teeth grinding is also common in children. However, because their teeth and jaws change and grow so quickly it is not usually a damaging habit that requires treatment and most outgrow it by adolescence.
Although in adults teeth grinding is often the result of stress, the same is not always true with children.

Other possible causes of teeth grinding in children include:
• irritation in the mouth
• allergies
• misaligned teeth

If you’re concerned about your child’s teeth grinding, ask your child’s dentist about the potential causes and, if necessary, the possible solutions.

James Poulos, DDS, leads a team of dental specialists at Madison Pine Dental Clinic, 5470 West Madison Street, Chicago. Kidzone is a part of Madison Pine Clinic providing care to children and teenagers in a comfortable, nonthreatening setting. The clinic provides orthodontic care, braces, implants, and cleaning, in addition to fillings, crowns, and dentures for patients of all ages. Madison Pine accepts Medicaid patients and most insurance plans. For an appointment, call (773) 287-2277.

COMMENTARY - Rev. Mitchell Johnson

$200 million to fund our community’s needs – the case for safe and legal sports wagering.
With underfunded health care facilities and schools in our communities crying out for resources, it is essential that we look for new state revenue sources that can address these challenges – immediately.
There is now a simple and responsible way to generate $200 million to help our state meet its budget needs. A recent US Supreme Court decision effectively allowed all 50 states to legalize, regulate and tax wagering on sports if they so choose.
Other states are already bringing in millions to address their budget needs by legalizing sports wagering – and they are helping their residents by taking the market out of the shadows where it was dominated by unethical black-market operators and unregulated offshore websites. As a talk show host, resident, and community organizer who works with blighted communities, I have seen the negative impact that dangerous and illegal operators have had preying on our community. Change is sorely needed.
If Illinois acts quickly and implements a simple and fair sports wagering policy, it can almost immediately start generating revenue for key state services without further burdening taxpayers, while creating jobs and better protecting its residents. Every day that Illinois waits to legalize, regulate and tax sports wagering, significant amounts of money go to other states, which have already done so -- or to the illegal black market.
There is a big difference between legalizing sports wagering and other gaming expansion proposals such as building new casinos. Most importantly, legalized sports wagering can begin generating significant revenue for the state almost immediately after its enactment and implementation. Alternatively, the process of licensing and building new casinos will take many years and can be fraught with unforeseen challenges and delays. Illinois has pressing budget needs – particularly for education and health care – that cannot wait for years to be met.
Illinois already has ten operating casinos and over 30,000 video gaming machines in 6,000 locations. Expansion of casinos may simply further cannibalize an existing and saturated industry, forcing communities and casinos to fight for smaller slices of the same pie. This could put at risk the jobs of 6,200 employees at the existing casinos. Alternatively, legalized responsible sports wagering will bring an entirely new market out of the shadows and generate revenue and jobs without harming existing businesses. The large demand for sports wagering in Illinois is already clear; residents already wager on sports through offshore websites, through the large black market, or by traveling to the states that have already successfully legalized sports wagering. These wagers currently generate zero dollars for our community’s needs.
The creation of a legal and responsible sports wagering system in Illinois – run by experienced and qualified operators - will dramatically reduce the reach and impact of unethical and dangerous black market operators who prey on our communities, while helping us fund vital services and projects.
Illinois should pass a simple and responsible sports wagering legalization plan in to law as soon as possible. It is the right thing to do for our budget, our residents and our communities.

MONEY RUN By Kevin Pearson

Plan to Plan

Have you ever wondered why do I need a business plan? One may say to ones self “ I know what I want to sale. Can I just open my doors and start making money.” This is a thought that has crossed many entrepreneur minds, but having or not having a business plan can be the beginning or the end of ones business.
In early 2001, you all may know I published a hip-hop magazine that circulated in Chicago and two other major cities. The idea to start the magazine came over night. I can remember sitting on the floor in my brother’s room flipping through some old magazines. I looked him right in the eye and said, “ I want to start a hip-hop magazine.” Neither of us had writing experience and definitely no publishing experience, yet he was all in. Our entire business plan was fluttering in our imaginations.
Finally in 2003, after hundreds of hit or miss (only by the grace of God) we put out a full color glossy magazine. The hip-hop community loved the publication. We were on the media list of major music labels; we got passes to just about every hip-hop event. So what was wrong with that you ask? NO MONEY. We had zero revenue coming in, and no strategy in place to get any. We were the new guys on the block, and no ad agency would touch us. Also, big hip-hop publications where adding online versions of them selves, called e-zines, yet we still owed the printer. We hung on for a few years but closed shop in 2006.
In the end, we had a great product and tenacity, but no plan to execute anything. Today I plan everything, ever phone call, email, I even wrote a plan to write this column. “Remember no business has ever been totally successful with out a plan in place to make it successful.”

Want to increase your customers and profit, but don’t know where to start? Let us help, contact the Voice Newspapers at Ph: 773-889-0880 or email: austinvoiceads@gmail.com

PCC WELLNESS CENTER By Alexandra T. Chavez, Development Coordinator

PCC Offers Care Centered Around You
Pregnant and struggling with addiction?

With growing heroin use on the west side of Chicago, PCC Community Wellness Center (PCC) has started a chemical dependency program that offers combined prenatal care and substance abuse treatment for pregnant women. In this program, the treatment of heroin, alcohol, and prescription drug abuse is offered right in the doctor’s office.
PCC’s goal is to meet patients where they are in their recovery and help them to set goals without judgment. PCC can help improve the patients’ health and the health of their babies. Patients in this program receive safe, medication-assisted treatment with buprenorphine and counseling. They visit weekly, are given ultrasounds, and deliver their babies at West Suburban Medical Center with a PCC doctor.
Services are available at our Chemical Dependency Clinic, located inside PCC Walk-In Wellness Center at West Suburban Medical Center at 1 Erie Court, Suite 1300, Oak Park, IL 60302. Pregnant women and their families in this program may continue to receive primary care, pediatric care, and behavioral health care at a nearby PCC location.
PCC accepts Medicaid, Medicare, and many health plans and also offers a sliding fee program for patients without insurance. They do not deny services because of inability to pay.

CANCER SOCIETY WARNS WOMEN OF THREAT FROM RADON EXPOSURE

A new report finds a statistically significant positive association between high levels of residential radon and the risk of hematologic (blood) cancer in women. This study is the first prospective population-based study of residential radon exposure and hematologic cancer risk, leading the authors to caution that it requires replication and whether it truly differs by sex.
Radon is a naturally-occurring byproduct of the decay of radium and is a known human lung carcinogen, the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. Modeling studies show that radon delivers a non-negligible dose of alpha radiation to the bone marrow and therefore could be related to risk of hematologic cancers. More than 171,000 new cases of hematologic cancer and more than 58,000 deaths are expected in the United States in 2016. Hematologic cancers are the most expensive cancers to treat per quality-adjusted life year gained.
For the current study, researchers led by Lauren Teras, Ph.D., of the American Cancer Society used data from the American Cancer Society Cancer Prevention Study-II Nutrition Cohort established in 1992, to examine the association between county-level residential radon exposure and risk of Hematologic cancer. The analysis included 140,652 participants among whom there were 3,019 hematologic cancers during 19 years of follow-up. They found women living in counties with the highest mean radon concentration had a statistically significant 63% higher risk of hematologic cancer compared to those living in counties with the lowest radon levels. They also found evidence of a dose-response relationship.
The authors say men may have a higher baseline risk, possibly because of more exposure to occupational or other risk factors for hematologic cancer, reducing the impact of any additional risk from residential radon. In women, who have a smaller baseline risk, residential radon exposure might be a larger contributor to overall risk. Another reason may be that the women of this generation spent more time in their homes, so had more residential exposure than men.
According to Dr. Teras, “Radon is already associated with lung cancer and if other studies confirm the link to blood cancers, we think it would warrant strengthened public health efforts to mitigate residential radon risks.”

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