Produce Mobile visits the JLM Abundant Life Center

Shoppers take advantage of the opportunity to stock up on free fresh fruits & vegetables when the Produce Mobile visited the JLM Abundant Life Center recently. (Photo by Walter Tidwell)

Helpful volunteers assist shoppers in finding and bagging up the fruits & vegetables they want when the Produce Mobile visited the JLM Abundant Life Center. (Photo by Walter Tidwell)

After stocking up on free fruits & vegetables at JLM Abundant Life Center, friends Brenetta Howell Barrett and Reva Williams cart away their goodies. (Photo by Walter Tidwell)

COMMUNITY MALE EMPOWERMENT PROJECT REHABS FORECLOSED HOMES UNDER NEIGHBORHOOD STABILIZATION PROGRAM

Mike Tomas, New Communities Program Director for the Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance, listens as Community Male Empowerment Project Exec. Director Melvin Bailey explains his agency’s role as developer of the 3352 W. Walnut St. NSP home. (Photo by Brad)

 The East Garfield NSP Team: (from left) William Towns, Regional V.P., Mercy Portfolio Services; Phyllis Logan, real estate agent and home ownership preparation specialist; Melvin Bailey, Exec. Dir., Community Male Empowerment Project; Alanda Turner, Community Male Empowerment Project Dir. of Operations; and Katie Ludwig of the Chicago Department of Housing & Economic Development. (Photo by Brad)

This foreclosed home at 3352 W. Walnut St. required a total gut rehab to make it livable again. (Photo by Brad)

In the summer of 2009, a shooting outside an East Garfield Park liquor store leaving several people injured at Homan & Walnut galvanized the community. It launched an effort by determined residents and local groups to convince City leaders and private investors to change the character of their neighborhood and stabilize a notorious hotspot.
    In the 18 months since the shooting, the liquor store is gone, calls for service to the 11th Police District have declined, new businesses are being recruited, and foreclosed homes are being rehabbed under the Neighborhood Stabilization Program to create affordable housing for families.
    The Community Male Em-powerment Project is working with the City of Chicago Department of Housing, Mercy Portfolio Services, the Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance, and East Garfield Park leaders to rehab foreclosed houses and sell them to qualified families. The first home, at 3352 West Walnut, was recently unveiled, a second is up for sale, and a third is under construction.
    Most NSP properties have been vacant for at least a year. The amount of work required to make NSP houses livable varies from total gut rehab to less comprehensive construction.
    For information on obtaining NSP houses, go online to chicagonsp.org or call the Chicago Department of Housing & Economic Development.

Congratulations from Danny K. Davis

Congressman Danny K. Davis presents his 2011 nominees to the U.S. Service Academies, the largest group he has ever recommended. (Photo by Brad)

Congressman Danny K. Davis congratulates Luke Besser on his nomination to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. (Photo by Brad)

Prosser High School: The Idea Factory!

Prosser Career Academy Principal Kenneth Hunter listens as 8th grade students from area elementary schools strategize potential service projects for improving the quality of life and solving community problems. (Photo by Brad)

Students from area elementary schools gathered at Prosser Career Academy to brainstorm creative community service projects. Prosser students are known for their involvement in many charitable and community improvement efforts. (Photo by Brad)

JESUS FREEWAY EXPRESS - 777

By:  Apostle/Prophet Emanuel Dada
And Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life, no one can come to the Father (God), but by me.”  John 14:6

JESUS IS THE ANSWER (READ ON):
    1. Love
    2. Faith
    3. Hope

All the 3 mentioned above are essential human needs – the greatest of which is love.

Greetings – Everyone.  Often times you hear love, love, love from both the young and the old alike.  This is because love conquers all.  Love echoes so much in our daily life – love between mother and her baby, love between the young, love between the adults which ultimately ends up in marriage ordained by God.  The greatest (special) love among all these various types of love is the love of God – why?  Because it is an unconditional love.

Gods sends rain over all, sun by day & moon by nights – regardless of our many sin – repeated over and over again.  He is our heavenly father, our Creator and He loves us so much that He gave us His only begotten son (our Lord, Jesus Christ) so that we do not perish (in hell), but that we have eternal life (John 3:16).

Tis time to have faith in God – trusting him completely for our protection & provision. Our present unstable economy is reaching high – people losing their homes, jobs and fear sets in causing so much unrest & anxiety.  Yet we must be strong in the Lord with hope that all will be well.  In these difficult times in our life, we need to get serious in our relationship with God.  Line of communication must be opened – Pray, Pray & Pray to Him (God) who cares about our needs and He will make our needs met if and only if we do our part to trust Him without wavering.

Open or re-open your line of communication with God today.  Pray to Him – make your request known.  Attend regular church services – get involved in fellowship with others for where 2 or 3 are gathered in His name; He (God) will be there.  An important solution to these current problems therefore is to seek Him (God) while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near (Isaiah 55:6).  It’s okay to cry on God’s shoulders in times like this and at all times and Daddy God will understand and will hear and bless you for He loves you unconditionally despite your shortcomings.  However, you must repent of yours sins to God.

Call Papa God today and He will make a way for you.  Trust Him for He is the perfect divine promise keeper.  He stands behind His promise saying, “I will never leave you or forsake you”.  Jesus loves you and He is waiting to receive your request to pass on to God. Send Him your letter today – special express delivery even without cost – no stamp needed; it will be delivered by the angelic carrier to Jesus free of charge.  Pray! Pray!! Pray!!! And get your prayer answered.  God bless.

It will be delivered by the angelic carrier to Jesus free of charge.  Keep hope in Jesus alive and wait upon Him; for those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint.  (Isaiah 40:31).

Join me for weekly inspiration in this caring publication as we together lift up our eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh our help; our help cometh from the Lord who made heaven and earth.  (Psalm 121:1).  You are also encouraged to join us at our Pentecostal praise & prayer session on Wednesday at 1030 North Mason; Chicago from 7:30p.m. – 9p.m.; spiritual power night Friday at 10:00p.m. – 1:00 a.m. and on Sunday (Bible study and Sunday Service at 11:30a.m.).

I am Apostle/Prophet Emanuel Dada ordained by God at very early age.  In need of prayer support? – call (630) 372-5845 or (630) 615-1693.
Your Brother in Christ,
Rev. (Apostle) E. Dada
emanuel.dada@yahoo.com

New President of Flowers Communications

Rashada Whitehead has been named President of Flowers Communications Group, a leading multicultural marketing firm. D. Michelle Flowers Welch, founder & CEO, announced the appointment. Its current client roster includes American Honda Motor Co., Chicago White Sox, City Colleges of Chicago, Cook County Dept. of Public Health, Club Z! Tutoring, Fleischman Hilliard, Ill. Dept. of Transportation, McDonald’s, MillerCoors, Sears Holdings Corp., and Wells Fargo.

Prevention Partnership

The current class of Prevention Partnership Youth Peer Health Educators is being trained through a grant from the Respiratory Health Association. They will teach young people the dangers of smoking & underage drinking, plus how to avoid contracting HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. (Photo by Brad)

Trovanta Hampton & fellow Prevention Partnership Peer Health Educator trainees design advertising campaigns to convince young people not to smoke. (Photo by Brad)

As part of The Prevention Partnership Youth Peer Educator training, Marques Bell & students learn about tobacco industry marketing techniques and design campaigns to combat them and discourage young people from smoking. (Photo by Brad)

REP. LASHAWN K. FORD NAMED CHAIR OF SMALL BUSINESS & JOBS COMMITTEE

Illinois House Speaker Michael J. Madigan announced appointment of Rep. La Shawn K. Ford (D-8) to chair the newest committee, the House Small Business Empowerment and Workforce Development Committee. This committee will focus on the state’s priority of creating new small businesses and empowering current businesses.
    Ford notes that small businesses across the state account for over 50% of the workforce. “We must bring small businesses to the table if we plan to create jobs,” Ford says. “Government has met with and bailed out Wall Street to stabilize the economy. Now we must have a plan to meet with small businesses.”
    Ford says, “The first order of business for the committee will be a hearing including the Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Illinois Departments of Commerce & Economic Opportunity and Employment Security, and small business owners.”
    “Job creation is a critical part of getting the state’s economy back on track, and the success of Illinois’ small businesses is a major component in achieving that goal,” declares Speaker Madigan. “Representative Ford and I share a long-standing commitment to working with small businesses, listening to their needs and concerns, and helping them address the challenges they face. We hope the creation of this committee is just another step in our ongoing efforts to revitalize our state and local economies,” concludes the Speaker.
    Rep. Ford has established two e-mail addresses: smallbusiness@lashawnford.com and workforce@lashawnford.com to gather input on preparing his committee’s legislative agenda.

VALERIE F. LEONARD EARNS IVI-IPO ENDORSEMENT IN 24TH WARD ALDERMANIC RACE

Valerie F. Leonard, candidate for 24th Ward Alderman, has been endorsed by the Independent Voters of Illinois-Independent Precinct Organization (IVI-IPO). “I am deeply honored to be endorsed by the same organization that has endorsed people like the late Mayor Harold Washington, Alderman Pat Dowell, Alderman Walter Burnett, Jr., and President Barack Obama,” says Leonard.
    The IVI-IPO has been in existence since 1944. It is dedicated to good government, activism and an idealistic vision of open, honest government in Illinois. Leonard earned the IVI-IPO endorsement following an intensive review process that included an extensive questionnaire and in-person interview. She is a community development consultant and cofounder of the Lawndale Alliance. Her consulting practice focuses on strengthening nonprofit organizations and helping them secure federal funding. The Lawndale Alliance is a community-based group that addresses issues that impact local residents and the community. The group is most noted for minimizing the potential displacement of up to 1,200 residents as a result of implementation of the Ogden-Pulaski TIF district. Leonard is also the author of The Time for TIF Reform is Now, the Lawndale Alliance’s report detailing the pros and cons of North Lawndale’s TIFs and how the program may be improved. For information on Leonard’s campaign, call 773/521-3137.