U.S. REP. DAVIS ACCEPTING BLACK CAUCUS SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS

Congressman Danny K. Davis (IL-7) is now accepting Congressional Black Caucus Scholarship applications for CBC Spouses Education and Cheerios Brand Health Initiative Scholarships, and the Wal-Mart Strive for Excellence Scholarships.
    To request a CBC Spouses Scholarship application, contact Congressman Danny K. Davis’ office at 773/533-7520 or visit the CBCF website: www.cbcfinc.org. Choose CBC Spouses and print out an application. Deadline for submitting an application is April 23, 2010, 6:00 PM, to Congressman Danny K. Davis, 3333 West Arthington Street, Chicago, Illinois 60624. Incomplete applications will be returned.

ST. ANGELA STUDENTS CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY MONTH

A class returns to the stage for a curtain call with their teachers after performing in St. Angela School’s Black History Month assembly. (Photo by Brad)
   
Students in every class and grade level presented their salute to African American culture and contributions for the school’s Black History Month assembly. The pre-kindergarten students sang I Believe I Can Fly and This Little Light of Mine. Kindergarten students performed When I Grow Up and A-Z African American Heritage. One 1st grade class presented original poetry inspired by Langston Hughes’ I, Too. The other 1st grade class performed I Can Make A Difference. The 2nd graders sang the I Have A Dream speech by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., with quotations from President Barack Obama. The 3rd grade class presented Man In The Mirror, about people who have made a change. The 4th grade class offered A Timeline of African American Music.
    The 5th grade students sang We Are The World. The 6th graders told of the Fabulous Firsts of African Americans. The 7th grade class explained the Symbol of the Underground Railroad. The 8th grade class performed I Rise, by Maya Angelou.
    Parents, community residents, St. Angela board members, and Religious Sisters of Mercy from assignments throughout Chicago attended the Black History Month Assembly at St. Angela School, 1332 North Massasoit Avenue. Sister Mary Finnegan is Principal.

Sister Mary Finnegan, St. Angela Principal, welcomes members of the Religious Sisters of Mercy from throughout Chicago who came to Austin for the school’s Black History Month assembly. (Photo by Brad)

 

St. Angela 2nd graders perform a unique song version of Dr. King’s “I Have A Dream” speech with quotes from President Obama. (Photo by Brad) 

  

 St. Angela 5th graders close the Black History Month salute with an inspirational rendition of “We Are The World.” (Photo by Brad)

JOHN HAY ACADEMY HOLDS 7th AFRICAN AMERICAN READ-IN

 

Committee members & participants in the John Hay Academy African American Read-in gather in the library, select their books, and prepare to visit classrooms. (Photo by Brad)

John Hay Community Academy, 1018 North Laramie Avenue, commemorated Black History Month by again opening its doors and inviting successful people of many backgrounds to explore a variety of subjects with students at the 7th Annual African American Read-in. This year’s event was again chaired by Dr. Patricia James-Holloway, with Co-chairpersons Mrs. Billingham-Baikie, Ms Stapleton, and Ms Hill.
    Committee members include: Ms C. Moore, Ms Reaux, Ms Watson, Ms Sercye, Mrs. Moody, Ms L. King, Ms Kahle, Ms Burton, Mrs. Knuerr, Mrs. Peters-Gruszecki, Mrs. Henderson-Johnson, Mr. Anderson, Ms Armour, Ms Schneider, Ms Gibson, Asst. Principal Ms P.U. Burnett, Intern Principal Ms G. King, and Principal Mr. W.L. Williams.
    Although Dr. James-Holloway says participation was lowered this year by illness and weather conditions, 35 people did take part in reading to classes and discussing issues related to Black history and culture. Participants gathered in the school library, chose books of importance, and then were sent out to classrooms. A corps of student hosts escorted the guest readers.
    To become a guest reader at next year’s John Hay Academy African American Read-in, call Dr. James-Holloway at 773/534-6000.

 

A guest reader introduces the book she is about to read to the class. (Photo by Brad)

  

A guest reads a book to a John Hay class. (Photo by Brad)

 

 A participant in the 7th Annual John Hay African American Read-in asks students questions about the selection she presented. (Photo by Brad)

A LOT GOING ON AT PROSSER!

Prosser students present a video & panel discussion on the Birmingham Children’s March of the 1960s during the Civil Rights struggle as part of the high school’s Black History Month activities. (Photo by Brad)

 

Members of the Prosser High School Ecology Club collect recyclable trash in special containers located in each classroom throughout the school. They are also designing composting boxes for the campus and conducting an environmental audit of waste disposal from Prosser’s cafeteria. They say projects are gaining support among fellow students. (Photo by Brad)

CLEAN SOUL AND ATTITUDE LEADS TO A CLEAN CHARACTER AND CONDUCT

Clean From the Inside Out
By Sel Dunlap

To citizens of the 29th Ward:
    I’m a former resident of Austin who directed housing programs in the 1970s. My concern then, as it is now, is why must we tolerate filth, trash and debris as we do? With your help, the next Alderman for the 29th Ward can do something about it and these are a few questions you might want to consider asking the candidates if given the opportunity.
 1.    If you can’t do anything about improving the schools and the academic performance of our children, can you at least clean up the 29th Ward and keep it clean?
 2.    If you can’t do anything about attracting developers to come and build something, can you at least clean up the 29th Ward and keep it clean?
 3.    If you can’t do anything about the crime and the amount of fear our residents experience going to the store, to church, and to visit friends, will you clean up the community and sustain it?
 4.    If you can’t do anything about job development, can you at least promise us that you will clean up the community and maintain it?
 5.    If you can’t do anything about improving the recreation in the community, can you at least clean up the parks and keep them clean?
 6.    If you can’t identify capital for local businesses to borrow, will you keep the 29th Ward clean?
 7.    If you can’t lure any businesses to the 29th Ward, will you commit to cleaning up the Ward and keeping it clean?
 8.    If you can’t do anything else for the 29th Ward, will you create a job program to hire residents from the 29th Ward to clean up the community and keep it clean?
 9.    If you can’t get our boys off the street corners, will you vigorously and with deliberate drive free this community from the grip of filth and trash and debris?
 10.    If you can’t do anything about the violence and carnage in the 29th Ward, will you guarantee us that you will clean up our community and keep it that way?
 11.    If you can’t get a single house rehabilitated, will you clean up and pick up everything that doesn’t grow and doesn’t contribute to the overall good, and will you assure us that the Ward will be cleaned and kept clean?
 12.    If you can’t create a climate of better harmony and neighborly concern, will you nevertheless keep our Ward clean, as it has never been?
 13.    If you are not able to coordinate and stimulate whatever and whomever in conjunction with improving the school system and get more funds for after-school activities, will you, at the absolute least, keep the vacant lots cut and clean, clean up our alleys, curbs and gutters, and keep our parkways litter-free?
 14.    Do you promise to do your ever-loving best to keep the 29th Ward as clean as the Ward Mayor Daley lives in?
 15.    Will you do your un-questionable best to clean up the 29th Ward the way it used to be when it was 95% white?
 16.    If elected, will you join the WAR ON FILTH & FEAR CAMPAIGN?

WEST SIDERS IN THE SERVICE

 

AIR FORCE AIRMAN YOLANDA J. JACKSON, daughter of Patrice Roberson of Fulton Street in Chicago and Herman Jackson, Jr., of Joliet, Illinois, graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. Airman Jackson completed an intensive 8-week program including training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills. By completing basic training, she earned four credits toward an associate degree in applied science through the Community College of the Air Force. Airman Jackson is a 2008 graduate of Kenwood Academy High School in Chicago. 

PROSSER HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS PRESENT BLACK HISTORY MONTH POETRY SLAM

    Karla Manning, English teacher at Prosser High School, 2148 North Long Avenue, organized a spoken word event as part of Black History Month programs. Students presented their own original poems and performed the works of well-known Black poets, such as Nikki Giovanni, Langston Hughes, Maya Angelou, and Tupac Shakur. Special guest presenters were local West Side poet Authentik and Bill Hampton, brother of Black Panther leader Fred Hampton, who was murdered in a police raid on his West Side apartment 40 years ago.

  

 

 Bill Hampton tells Prosser students of his brother’s dream of becoming a lawyer. He told them to keep striving toward their goals. (Photo by Brad)

  

Students Delivering the Message. (Photos by Brad) 

  

 

REV. BACHUS URGES LOCAL RESIDENTS TO PROMOTE THE CENSUS

Reverend Reggie Bachus, Pastor of Friendship Baptist Church, is appealing to all local residents to fill out and return the upcoming census forms and to encourage everyone to do likewise. He points out that each man, woman, and child accounts for roughly $12,000 in funding for their community. In the 2000 census, it is estimated that less than 50% of the residents of Austin were counted. Across the country, African Americans are responding to the census survey at a 60% rate, compared to the 78% response rates for whites.
    The census helps determine funding for our community for education, transportation, social services, housing, health care, parks and recreation. It also determines our representation in Congress, the state legislature, and the city council.
    We are asking every church in Austin to participate in CENSUS SUNDAY on MARCH 28 by providing an opportunity to have census survey forms available and to set aside time for the congregation to fill them out.
    Census Surveys are being mailed out in mid-March and the official Census Day is April 1, 2010.
    We also urge everyone to join the Austin Complete Count Committee meeting weekly at Friendship Baptist Church, 5200 West Jackson Boulevard. The next meetings are Thursday, March 4, 6:00 PM; Thursday, March 11, 3:30 PM; Thursday, March 18, 6:00 PM; and Thursday, March 25, 3:30 PM. Join in the crusade to get everyone counted.
    For information on the Austin Complete Count Committee and what you can do, call Pastor Bachus at 773/227-8478.

Michael Powell Wins outstanding Educator Award

 

The Northeastern Chapter of Phi Delta Kappa presents an Outstanding Educator Award to Michael Powell of Oak Park-River Forest High School. He was nominated by Mrs. Lynn Allen (left), Dir. of the Oak Park Multicultural Center. Dr. Luverta Hurt, Chapter President, and Dr. Bertha Zagore, Advisor, present the award. 

ABC BANK HOSTING BLACK HISTORY MONTH ART EXHIBIT & CONTEST

In recognition of Black History Month, Austin Bank of Chicago is displaying artwork by local high school students at its Main Branch, 5645 West Lake Street, throughout the month of February. The artwork was submitted by students from Providence-St. Mel and Percy L. Julian High Schools. Customers can enjoy the exhibit as they do their banking and can vote on their favorite works. ABC Bank is awarding $100 U.S. Savings Bonds to the winners.
    The artwork is available for viewing in the lobby, Monday-Thursday, 8:30 AM-5:00 PM; Friday, 8:30 AM-6:00 PM; and Saturday, 8:30 AM-1:00 PM. Contact Angela at 773/854-2900, ext. 125, for information and contest details.