The Voice Newspapers, Serving Chicago's West Side

REPORT FROM ALDERMAN EMMA MITTS

Get Useful Financial Tips During
Chicago’s 17th Annual “Money Smart Week®” – April 21-28
Now that Tax Day 2018 is over, this is a good time to get our financial houses in order for the rest of the year. Guess what - - the good news is, help if available! Hundreds of free financial education classes and seminars for consumers will be held throughout the Chicago metropolitan area April 21-28 during the 17th Annual Chicago Money Smart Week®. These convenient classes are open to citizens of all ages and income levels at businesses, financial institutions, schools, libraries, community organizations and government agencies throughout Chicago. The Money Smart Week® classes focus on helping consumers make better decisions about their personal finances. Even more exciting, they’re being offered in partnership with a broad coalition of local and regional organizations.
Chicago Money Smart Week® is a public awareness campaign designed to help consumers better manage their personal finances. Started in 2002 in Chicago, it has since expanded significantly across the city. The educational seminars cover a wide variety of money-management topics including saving money and building wealth, using credit wisely, and financial education for children. Interested? A complete list of Chicago-area classes is available at Chicago public libraries; an online calendar of classes in the Chicago area is also available at www.moneysmartweek.org.

Citywide Clean and Green Day is Fast Approaching on Saturday 4/21!

Did you know that April 21st is Citywide Clean and Green Day? That’s right! Chicago’s annual Clean and Green Day of Service is Saturday, April 21st. Come out, bring some friends and join local community organizations, your neighbors, businesses and local non-profits to clean up and beautify the neighborhood. If you are interested in registering or volunteering, please call 311. The City can provide brooms, rakes, shovels and bags for your Clean and Green event.

Got a question or concern? For more information, contact the 37th Ward Alderman’s Office at 773-379-0960.

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.

AS I SEE IT By Representative La Shawn K. Ford

The Importance of Local School Councils (LSCs)

I am a strong supporter of Article X of the Illinois Constitution, and I believe that, by law, Illinois must provide a free and efficient system of high-quality public educational institutions and services. Local School Council (LSC) members are strong leaders in the community. We must increase the number of students meeting and exceeding state standards, the number of students reading at or above grade level, and the number of students graduating and moving on to higher education. With the support of the community and other elected officials, Local School Councils can be empowered to reshape the failing schools in our community.
LSCs were established in 1988 when the Chicago School Reform Act was passed. By law, LSCs play a role in decision-making at the local school level. . LSCs members have the responsibility of working on school improvement, school budgets, principal evaluations, and principal retention and selection. These are the keys to quality of each school.
This week, Chicago Public School parents, neighbors and school staffers will elect Local School Council members from more than 5,000 candidates. The 2018 local school council elections in Chicago will take place on Wednesday, April 18, 2018 for elementary schools and Thursday, April 19, 2018 for high schools. The term is for two years starting on July 1, 2018.
According to the Chicago Sun-Times, more than half of the schools will have at least one empty seat after votes have been cast. Some 290 CPS schools, or 57 percent, don’t have enough candidates to fill the 12 positions on a typical LSC — 6 parents, two community members, two teachers, one staffer who isn’t a teacher — plus the principal.
And 241 of those schools, about 47 percent of the total, couldn’t attract enough parents to run for the council. Please check with your local schools to inquire about any vacancies. It’s still possible after the election to fill a vacancy at your community school.
In 2014, it was my honor to be elected as Community Representative and to serve a two year term on the Local School Council of George Rogers Clark Elementary School in the South Austin. Our LSC worked hard to support the principal, teachers, and staff to improve the quality of education at Clark School.
LSCs play a major role in shaping the future of schools and communities. If we are going to allow them to continue to run our schools, we have to support them and demand progress. Let’s turn out to vote and to support our schools by electing great people for our LSCs, or run yourself and help your local school.

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.

Dr. James Poulos Presents:

Crowns
If you want a smile that’s your crowning glory, you may need a crown to cover a tooth to help restore it to its normal shape and size. A crown can make your tooth stronger and improve its appearance.
A crown can help strengthen a tooth with a large filling when there isn’t enough tooth remaining to hold the filling. Crowns can also be used to attach bridges, protect a weak tooth from breaking or restore one that’s already broken. A crown is a good way to cover teeth that are discolored or badly shaped. It’s also used to cover a dental implant.
If your dentist recommends a crown, it is probably to correct one of these conditions. Your dentist’s primary concern, like yours, is helping you keep your teeth healthy and your smile bright.

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.

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

Morning Coffee

Recently, I have seen an increase of coffee ads on the television. The coffee companies are discussing how their coffee is the best and gets you going in the morning. Now let’s be honest. No amount of coffee will ever make me move if I am exhausted when I awake. It becomes a marketing plan to delve into your psyche and get you to purchase their brand of coffee. While some coffee may be better than others, you still are faced with this coffee decision. As usual, the coffee ads and marketing got me thinking. How often do we awake and pause to greet our redeemer and our Lord with a good morning? Our coffee may be a daily ritual, but how much more are we placing emphasis on coffee than we are looking unto God telling Him good morning. I submit to all my readers that we must be diligent to allow our daily movement to include a morning meditation where God can get the glory out of our day’s beginning. Let’s make a pact that starting here, starting now, we will not move into our day or even move from our bed position without thanking God for a brand-new day. A day that will allow you the chance and opportunity to realize the new mercies that He has in store for us all!

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

Your Vote Is Your Voice, And Your Silence Is Unacceptable

“A vote is like a rifle: its usefulness depends upon the character of the user” (Franklin D. Roosevelt). As the battle for social justice and equality rages, far too many of us simply do not realize that the most power weapon we have is our right to vote. It is our collective voice, ensured by the United States’ Constitution, and empowered by the words that are found therein. It is the vehicle that drives social change, and makes the guarantee that voices, sentiments, and concerns of the people will be heard. It is the only way to provide assurance to the common man that the allocation of resources will be fairly and justly distributed among all citizens. It addresses the interests of the people, while also providing a platform to discuss the social ills that plague our nation.
It serves as the conduit by which an atmosphere of accountability is shaped for our governing body, while refortifying the idea of we the people by the people. More importantly, voting is our civic duty, and it lays the foundation for future generations by providing a basic framework by which a stable society may be produced. Voting places individuals, who represent the community at large, in a position to craft policies, create laws, and draft bills that are beneficial for all members of society. It is a persuasive tool that brings the nation together for one purpose, and that is to elect our leadership. Nevertheless, a large portion of our society tends to be absent at the polls, which causes their voices to remain unheard. This is in direct contradiction to the sacrifices that many freedom fighters made to ensure that on Election Day every voice would be heard, and every vote would be counted. Not too long ago, to vote you had to be a white male landowner, and when they voted they did so in favor of their own interest and intentions. However, voting should be the process by which the communal beliefs of a group are counted or tallied to specify their approval or disapproval of a proposal, motion, or candidate for office. This process should be shared by all of us, and when individuals refuse to partake in the process their silence becomes the approval for unfit candidates.
I understand the reason why many people of color refrain from voting, but I cannot understand why those who do not vote complain when things remain the same. Although minorities by large feel disenfranchised by the current political environment, we must somehow become engaged within the voting process even if we feel as though politics does not interest us. Pericles, the Greek statesman, said it best when he stated, “Just because you do not take an interest in politics, does not mean politics will not take an interest in you.” People will vote, decisions will be made, and they will favor those who voted.
Our vote is our collective voice, and if we do not speak at the polls our voice will not be heard. This does not mean that we must remain loyal to any certain party. We must make political fight for our votes. As a matter of fact, African Americans are the only voters who overwhelmingly favor one party, and this has caused our voice to become stifled. Therefore, we must become conscious voters that are not swayed by campaign promises, but informed individuals who know the background and platform of the candidates who are running for office. Above all else we must vote, for in the words of George Jean Nathan, “Bad officials are elected by good citizens who do not vote.”

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

SINGLE PARENTS

My son has somewhat of a peculiar personality. There are days where he can talk your ears off and other days when he’s into his video games and friends. On rare occasions, he will discuss his “inner” feelings. Apparently, he’s either been in the business world too much with his mom or plainly put, he’s just wise.
Instead of Junior coming out and saying what had been bothering him all weekend, he asked me, “Mom, am I going to get a new dad?” I replied, “Huh?” He said, “Well, are you going to get married to a man who loves me?” Obviously, my heart sunk. He went on to express his mixed emotions about his father/son relationship. While he expressed more of his concerns, I had made up in my mind to be fair, perhaps defend, but most importantly, to be fair. The end result was still the same – my heart was broken. Not so much for me, but rather for my son.
How many times have we, as single parents, fought to do everything in our will power to provide for our children only to discover that our children are still wrestling with issues that we can’t immediately fix? If you’re anything like me, it is the most difficult place to be. As single parents, it almost becomes innate to go into over-drive – to be the protector, the provider, the nurturer and the list goes on. While mature parents make up their minds to handle adult matters as adults, if we’re honest, every blue moon with orange poka-dots, an old nature rises up if we feel our children’s well-being is in danger. To put it mildly, we can become a force that shouldn’t be reckoned with.
So, what does God have to do with it? Everything. As Junior and I continued on our way home from our car talk, my mind had already spun in several different directions to how I could continue to protect my son’s well being and how I could make him feel better. He had come in the house, eaten his dinner, his homework was already done and he was allowed to interact with his friends on his video game. Meanwhile, I was in my room trying to put two and two together. I hadn’t even realized that time had gone by so quickly that he had already taken his shower, brushed his teeth, put his uniform in the dirty clothes and was ready for bed. I was taken completely out of my thoughts when I heard, “Mom, mom, come on, hurry up so we can pray…I’m sleepy.” When we got on our knees to pray at his bed side, his prayer went a little something like this: “God, thank you for changing my perspective at school. Lord, thank you for my papa, my grandma, my cousins and all my friends. I sure would like it if you could bless me with that Lamborghini Sesto Elemento too! But in the meantime, thank you so much for giving me a great mom who provides me with everything I need and a lot of what I want. Keep us both safe. Amen.”
Fighting back tears of course, I went back to my room. I had become so full and emotional – not because Junior complimented me but rather because God felt the heaviness that I was determined to keep Junior from seeing! While I know that I had done a good job in trying to be fair verbally, the heaviness that laid in my heart for my son was immense. Within two hours’ time, I had gone from a complete worry wart to having a peace that far surpassed my understanding. God had provided me with reassurance through my son with both comfort and thanks.
So, for single parents who are still trying to keep the pieces together, know that God is the one who can keep our children safe far better than we ever could. God knows our hearts and what I love most is that God is our Jehovah Jireh and He will provide. Don’t give up – God’s got you.

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

SEEK YE THE LORD WHILE HE MAY BE FOUND, CALL UPON HIM WHILE HE IS NEAR (ISAIAH 55:6)

Let God fight for you. We do not wrestle with flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers of Darkness in high places. Whether you are winning this spiritual warfare depends a lot on how much faith you have in God.

Greetings my brethren in the Lord:
The true enemy of man is the devil (Satan) – not your brother or sister that gets on your nerve, lied to you or even gossip about you wrongly. It is the enemy that is working on them. Pray for them, forgive them and if possible help them to change.

Satan is always seeking whom he can devour – he runs around like a roaring lion seeking whom to devour. We are in a battlefield and the enemy is the devil. Let’s not be vessel for the enemy. Let’s not gossip about our fellowman, let’s not be jealous of our brethren. These are devices of the devil. He uses these devices – gossiping, lying cheating, stealing to take our brethren and us to hell with him. We can overcome these devices of the enemy by praying and believing that God is for you and not against you. The Battle is the Lord’s.
The Bible states cast down imaginations and everything that exalts itself against the knowledge of God. The next time someone gossips about you, lie on you – pray for them. The Bible states if our enemy asks us to forgive him – we should forgive him 7 x 70. In other words we should not be able to keep count of how many times we have to forgive them, because forgiving others should come easily to the children of God.
Just think how many times God forgives us – everyday he forgives us numerous times over and over again if we sincerely ask him too and repent. We sin knowingly and unknowingly and he constant forgives us when we ask Him to in earnesty. Likewise we have to forgive our brethren that the enemy is working through. We must remember that love covers a multitude of sins and all the commandments of the Bible can be summed up into two commandments that thou should love the Lord thou God with all their heart, body and soul and their neighbors as themselves.
The next time we are tempted to hold a grudge and not talk to someone because of something we feel they have done to us – let us take a moment and think of all the time God has forgiven us. Let’s be compassionate and love in spite of. Jesus said on the cross “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.” Likewise – we have to be compassionate and forgive others for they are sometimes unaware that they have become a vessel for the enemy.
In keeping with our Lord’s command - let us not hold grudges, but love our fellowman. Let us not gossip about them, but encourage them. Let us not be envious, but be thankful when they are blessed - knowing that your heavenly Father is no respecter of persons and will bless you too if you ask Him. God loves you and so do I. For prayer support, please call me at (630) 965-0256. Apostle/Prophet E. Dada Note: Parade for Jesus planning meeting this Saturday April 14 at 4p.m. at 1030 North Mason; Chicago. Everyone welcome to attend. Thanks and God bless.

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

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.

Thursday, December 14, 2017

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