The Voice Newspapers, Serving Chicago's West Side

REPORT FROM ALDERMAN EMMA MITTS

Mark Your Calendars & Get Ready for
37th Ward Gospel Fest 2017
Experience Great Music & Family Fun on
Saturday, August 5, 2017 at LaFollette Park
Summer is here and the weather is wonderful - - - sunny, warm and full of seasonal events and activities! Well, now you know what time is drawing close for the 18th Annual 37th Ward Community Gospel Festival!
Mark your calendars and plan to attend this exciting Gospel festival, held on Saturday, August 5, 2017, from 12 noon - 7pm at LaFollette Park, 1333 North Laramie Avenue. This free admission, exciting and high-energy music festival showcases the best in local Gospel music performers. Come join us as we celebrate the rich cultural Chicago roots of the Gospel music art form in our very own LaFollette Park!
As you know, we really do Gospel in the 37th Ward! We will again host traditional choirs and contemporary urban gospel performers. Even better - - the 37th Ward Gospel Festival also features food, fun activities for kids and adults of all ages, as well as a wide array of local vendors and businesses. It’s simply a great day for everyone.
The 37th Ward office will soon announce the event lineup, who will thrill the audience and invigorate everyone with a happy, joyous spirit of soulful sound. It’s truly an event not to miss! Interested in volunteering or exhibiting as a vendor? Call the 37th Ward Office.
CONGRATULATIONS are in order to one of the newest 37th Ward businesses - - The Brown Sugar Bakery, an African-American owned enterprise, who received one of the city’s recent $100,000 Neighborhood Opportunity Grants. They will soon open a second location at 4800 West Chicago Avenue. Welcome!
A BIG CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE 2017 GRADUATES in the 37th Ward!! You are the pride & joy of the community, and we wish you every success in life!

Need assistance or have a question? The 37th Ward Service Office is OPEN AND READY TO SERVE YOU during regular business hours, so feel free to call 773-379-0960 or stop by 4924 W. Chicago Ave. Monday-Thursday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., and Fridays, 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. and Saturdays, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon (except holidays). Thank you! You can also send an email: emitts@cityofchicago.org.

AS I SEE IT By Representative La Shawn K. Ford

Who is Worse – Trump or Rauner?

The Illinois Constitution clearly presents the responsibilities of the state of Illinois to its people:
“We, the People of the State of Illinois - grateful to Almighty God for the civil, political and religious liberty which He has permitted us to enjoy and seeking His blessing upon our endeavors - in order to provide for health, safety and welfare of the people; maintain a representative and orderly government; eliminate poverty and inequality; assure legal, social and economic justice; provide opportunity for the fullest development of the individual; insure domestic tranquility; provide for the common defense; and secure the blessings of freedom and liberty to ourselves and our posterity - do ordain and establish this Constitution for the State of Illinois.”
Governor Bruce Rauner campaigned for governor with the promise to shake up Springfield. He also promised to be compassionate to the residents of Illinois, and to turn Illinois around. Well, Illinois is all shook up, but it’s not being compassionate.
The General Assembly has until the end of May to put in place a complete spending plan - a failure to do so could result in Illinois defaulting on loans and cutting pension contributions, revenue to the universities, and payments to social service providers. We are on a course so that we will have more than $28 billion in unpaid bills by June 2019.
The fight between Democrats and Republicans in Springfield currently continues, while essential services like WIC, child care, LIHEAP-CEDA, Medicaid, summer jobs for youth, senior citizens programs, and many other essential programs and services are very much on the brink in Illinois.
Let’s turn from Illinois to the whole country. What is President Trump proposing in his federal budget? The proposed budget contains cuts to Social Security Disability insurance, which covered over 10 million recipients as of December 2015. It would save about $72 billion through changes to disability programs over the next ten years. Other cuts include $193 billion to the food stamp program (SNAP, or LINK) over the next decade. Trump’s budget director has stated that the overall goal would be to tighten work requirements in order to get able-bodied adults off of social safety net programs. In education, the budget proposes eliminating federal subsidies for student loans while instituting a new income-driven repayment program. The White House projects the combination would save $143 billion over a decade. Some of the savings would go to boosting White House priorities on security and economic investment. The budget would boost defense spending by $54 billion for the next fiscal year and includes another $2.6 billion for new border security measures, including $1.6 billion to build walls and replace existing barriers.
I urge the people of Illinois to rise up and demand a state budget solution immediately and end the state budget impasse. The end of the state budget impasse can be the difference between a person having life, liberty, and the ability to pursue happiness. We also must fight the proposed federal budget cuts that will harm so many of our most vulnerable community members. It is up to all of us to fight for justice in the budget process, both state and federal.

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

Look up and Live

It truly disturbs me that our youth and our young people today are being faced with so much peer pressure to do things outside the lines. Additionally, the bullying and the unbelievable amount of negativity that has permeated our schools and society is truly disheartening. What should be done with this maze of perplexity? We must begin at a greater level to encourage and challenge each other to be greater rather than less than. We continually must look up and live according to the word and the will of God. The challenge becomes within each one of us as God’s children to focus and advance our positive position and help face our challenges so we can become better and not continually be bitter. Look up and live starting with the here and now and allow God to direct your paths. Even if your here and now seems bleak or insurmountable, you can reach the blessings that God has for you by just having the faith that can conquer anything. It starts with each and every person and starts immediately!

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 may be contacted at 773/533/2721.

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

When We Compromise, We All Win

Successfully resolving a conflict of any type takes a great deal of compromise, and in any committed relationship this practice takes on an even greater role. This is primarily due to the belief that this type of relationship is founded upon the concept of give and take. In fact, the principles that govern this concept is intertwined within the definition of compromise itself, which according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary (2016) is, “A settlement of differences by negotiation or by agreement reached by mutual concession.” Within this process, the main goal is not to create an overall individual winner of the disagreement, or to prioritize the wishes, desires, or needs of one individual over another. The main goal within the practice of compromise is to create the avenue or means whereby all parties are mutually satisfied. Nevertheless, the biggest issue that many individuals encounter when attempting to compromise is found in the idea that most of us have a strong desire to gain as much as we can, while simultaneously losing as less as possible. Creating an adverse atmosphere of I win and you lose, which in turn becomes self-inflicted mistake that is both a detrimental and disadvantageous. In the words of Professor E. Wertheim (2008), “People who lose track of their own goals will break off negotiations even if they have achieved their needs because they become more concerned with whether the other side won.”
Consequently, if we approach a disagreement in this manner, we will undermine any and all possibilities of a potential compromise or mutual concession. In fact, if one or both individuals refuse to compromise or negotiate, it will eventually lead to feelings of being hurt, rejected, or taken advantage of within the situation. In the most basic sense, refusing to compromise is equivalent to the act of holding onto old grudges and refusing to forgive someone from their past indiscretions. For this reason alone, when attempting to disarm an unstable situation we must remain focused on not allowing the driving force to become the idea of who wins and who losses. We must also take the necessary precautions to ensure that our disagreements do not become a one-sided argument, where we are only concerned with getting our personal point of view across. Truthfully, it does not matter how bad a situation may seem, the avenue or means for the needs of all individuals to be adequately met still exists. Professor Wertheim (2008) further explained, “Too many negotiations fail because people are so worried about being taken advantage of that they forget to focus on the fulfillment of their mutual needs.”
If we reach a level where we have become unconcerned with seeing mutual needs met, we not only become unwilling to resolve the conflict, but we also become unwilling to continue a conversation concerning the subject. Therefore, we must stay focused on the ideology that either we win together, or we lose together. There is no in-between, and it is as simple as that. Considering these life-changing words of wisdom, always remember the following steps to success:
1. Stay focused on creating a win-win situation.
2. The foundation for a successful resolution is grounded in the concept of give and take.
3. Complete resolution cannot take place without finding a mutual middle ground.
The best of any situation can be found in a shared sacrifice, and in the timeless words of Sir. Ludwig Erhard, “A compromise is the art of dividing a cake in such a way that everyone believes he has the biggest piece.”

By: Charles C. Brown, PhD
drccbrown@gmail.com
Pastor, Professor, Advisee to State Representative LaShawn K. Ford, Illinois 8th District Chair of Higher Education, and the Co-Chair for the 37th Ward Pastors Alliance

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

REMEMBERING THE BASICS

There was a time where you would have never heard a young child talking back to their parents or any adult for that matter. “Yes ma’am” and “No sir” came natural for most. Girls dressed like young girls with knee length dresses. The boys wore belts with their pants. Boys’ pants were around their waist and not sagging down below their behind. And in the event that there was a problem at the school and the teacher called home to speak with the parent, the parent wouldn’t have ever given the teacher a hard time just because their child misbehaved. Back then, parents and teachers worked together and not against one another. When children went to church, they knew how to respect the House of God. Those were the days when high standards were emphasized and not popularity.
By no means were things perfect back in those days. Not by any stretch of the imagination. Nevertheless, basic principles and respect were a universal expectation for everyone. Things have changed tremendously. Most young girls AND adults wish to emulate Beyonce’s images and character. What type of images are those? Whorish and loose tendencies in revealing their bodies carelessly in front of everyone to see. The Empress of Soul, Gladys Knight, stated, “You don’t have to sell sex to make music.” So here comes flamboyancy at its best with the female genders parading around showing their cleavage, showing their behinds and calling each other names that typically start with the letter ‘b’ and I’m not talking about the word ‘beautiful’ either. Quick question. Since when did it become classy to reveal all that you have and refer to one another with derogatory names? Jay Z, Kanye West and several others don’t typically rap about encouraging our young men to go to school or to make an honest living for their families. No. No, it’s not about that. It’s about the fast money and sex and if you have these two things, inevitably power is right behind. So now, we have our young boys and young black men being continuously locked up for trying to emulate a life that ultimately takes their life away altogether. Our youth and even our adults have become so enamored with degradation, vulgarity, profanity and negativity all for the sake of acceptance that anything positive or God-like seems to be outright foreign and repulsive.
So what does God have to do with it? Everything. God warns us about leaving our basics behind and conforming to the ways of the world. It is imperative that we return to the basics. The basics that our grandfathers and our great grandmothers left for us to follow – praying, being respectful, carrying ourselves like men and women with dignity - carrying ourselves like the Kings and Queens that we are. Remember, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind…” Romans 12:2

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.

JESUS FREEWAY EXPRESS

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS Series Con’t
(Exodus 20:1-17)
Number Five: And God said: Honour thy father and thy mother; that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. Matthew 15:4; Eph. 6:2.
Greetings my dear brethren (everyone); hope all is well! The sacred word of God (The Bible) affirmed, train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it (Proverbs 22:6). Further explained: Correct your son and he will give you rest; yes he will give delight to your soul. (Proverbs 29:17). Little children are special gifts from God to parents who must take very good care of the gifts – loving dearly, nurturing, directing in the ways of the Lord (God the creator).
Parents must be good examples to their little children who constantly look and watch what they see their parents do – their spirit beings from heavenly father (God) are spiritually comparing and contrasting heavenly things with their new world (earth) of flesh and blood. A child who notices his parents read the Bible and pray all the time and at peace with one another will be easy to be trained to follow same as they grow up, but a child who is fully aware of his parents always in arguments and fighting will likewise think this is the way of life of his new world and may even be polluted further with violence etc. by his peers in the public. The parents are to blame for the bad foundation; hence the Bible passage aforementioned – Proverbs 22:6. These words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children and shall talk of them when you sit in your house when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the door posts of your house and on your gates. Deuteronomy 6:6-9.
God directs therefore through His word that you fathers do not provoke the children to wrath, but to bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord. (Ephesians 6:4). Children of today will grow up to be adults of tomorrow; they must honour their father and their mother who God place in positions of caring – providing for them and in so doing the children days, months and years may be long on earth. It’s God golden role – His word. This 5th number like others of His 10 commandments must be observed. Jesus loves you and so do I.
Do attend the midday praise, prayer and preaching (Monday, Wednesday and Friday) 12 noon til 2pm. On telephone. The number to call 641-715-0861 - Access code 873110#. You are also reminded of this year 2017 All Christians, All churches Parade for Jesus/Revival scheduled for August 26, 2017 (Sat.). Next planning meeting is June 3rd (Sat.) at 1030 North Mason, Chicago, Illinois at 4p.m. to 6p.m. for more information call me at (630) 965-0256. God bless. In the Vineyard for Christ, Apostle/Prophet Emanuel Dada.

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.”

ST. MALACHY + PRECIOUS BLOOD REQUESTS HELP FOR MOBILE PANTRY

Father Matthew Eyerman, Pastor of St. Malachy + Precious Blood Catholic Church, 2248 West Washington Boulevard, reminds everyone that his congregation hosts deliveries by the Greater Chicago Food Depository Mobile Pantry on the third Tuesday of each month. Volunteers unload the truck, bag the food, and distribute non-perishables, fruits, and vegetables to West Side residents. This food is available to anyone free of charge and without income verification. Each month, St. Malachy + Precious Blood serves more than 250 households representing well over 750 people, regardless of weather conditions.

In past years, the public has donated a pallet mover, tables, and bins. This year, Father Eyerman is requesting help in obtaining items to keep staff and clients dry and warm:

• $500 will install a retractable canopy

• $100 will purchase a pop-up canopy to keep food and volunteers dry

• $75 provides hand warmers for volunteers

• $50 provides single-use rain ponchos for clients & volunteers

For information about the monthly Mobile Pantry at St. Malachy + Precious Blood or making contributions to the program, call Father Eyerman at 312/733-1068 or 312/919-1610.

MT. VERNON BAPTIST CHURCH OFFERING YOUNG ADULT RE-ENTRY PROGRAM FOR EAST GARFIELD

MT. VERNON BAPTIST CHURCH OFFERING YOUNG ADULT RE-ENTRY PROGRAM FOR EAST GARFIELD AND NEAR WEST YOUTH

Mt. Vernon Baptist Church, 2622 West Jackson Boulevard, is providing assessment, support, and referral services as part of its Community Violence Prevention Program (CVPP) Re-Entry Program for East Garfield and Near West youth and young adults being released from Department of Correction facilities.

Any East Garfield Park and Near West juvenile between the ages of 13-28 currently on parole from any Department of Correction facility, or returning to CVPP communities from Department of Correction facilities are eligible to participate in the Mt. Vernon Baptist Church CVPP Re-entry Program. Interested persons should call Denise Harris at 773/826-3295.

Friday, April 20, 2012

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