Lakeside Center Career & Training Fair at Olive-Harvey College #Ward09

This takes place on May 3, 2018 from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM at Olive-Harvey (10001 S. Woodlawn Ave). Lakeside Alliance is involved with the future Obama Presidential Library. Refer to the ig post below:

Obama Presidential Center faces opposition in Chicago

[VIDEO] This segment aired Thursday on FOX News' The Ingraham Angle. Well let's recognize that FOX News has their own bias of course, we know this as the "right-wing" news network. We find out through them that Obama's new library won't have any books or documents - which is what a presidential library is made for. So I do wonder what that's about, hopefully there's more to that.

In this segment here Laura Ingraham hosts briefly Charles Birnbaum of The Cultural Landscape Foundation. They discuss the opposition of the proposed library in Jackson Park near Hyde Park. Even though Birnbaum is in Florida for his remote, he's part of the opposition of those Chicago residents who oppose the Obama library plan for that site.

And again I hope in that tower that Ingraham refers to as ugly will contain a replica of the Obama's Oval Office. It's not just for me especially if I get to walk around in it, it's for those young people who I hope will be inspired to make a run for the Presidency in their futures. Meanwhile let's figure out what to do with this library.

Former President Obama tweaks plans for his library

[VIDEO] We have some updates to the Obama presidential library expected to be constructed in the future at the expansive Jackson Park. There were some complaints with regards to some of the plans per an article from Crain's Chicago embedded below with a tweet.

More than 100 @UChicago faculty members sign letter opposing current plans for the Obama Center https://t.co/jO3JUIhHIl

— Crain's Chicago (@CrainsChicago) January 8, 2018

Here's another link via Curbed Chicago which further discusses the tweaks that was made in response to opposition to the plans for the library.

Obama Foundation takes the wraps off revised—and taller—design for Presidential Center https://t.co/ZJ5m6N17bU pic.twitter.com/XFAYYhso5l

— Curbed Chicago (@curbedchicago) January 10, 2018

I hope there will be a replica of Obama's Oval Office - most other presidential libraries contain one. Right now it's not very likely that I'll see the oval office but at least I and the many visitors will come close to the oval office with this library. That'a assuming many of us don't want to visit the other libraries that are out there in the nation!

I wonder if there are any Hyde Park folks reading this blog. Is the presidential library taking shape for you?

Woodlawn is going to the finals....#CurbedCup2017

Woodlawn is back in the finals in the 2017 Curbed Cup, this year they will face the South Loop. Sorry no rematch with Uptown, although a lot of positive developments is coming to that part of town. We will hear from them again yet, especially if Uptown Update has anything to say about it.

Which neighborhood should win Curbed Cup: Woodlawn or the South Loop? Cast your vote now! https://t.co/VY0B47vpnA pic.twitter.com/G65TWsYR6u

— Curbed Chicago (@curbedchicago) December 29, 2017

While good things are expected to happen to Woodlawn with some construction going around for the Green Line - and I don't mean the restoration of service past Cottage Grove. There's the Obama presidential library that's expected to come to Jackson Park. A new Jewel-Osco is coming to 61st & Cottage Grove, so some things are happening there.

Meanwhile the South Loop which contains an area from roughly Cermak to the lakefront and then Congress to the Dan Ryan on the West. I've been following their progress through the Sloopin blog - which had been quiet about the Curbed Cup until today - and the area appears to be a hot neighborhood over the years. The redevelopment of that neighborhood even inspired a post years ago wondering if Chatham could be "South Looped".

Click the tweet you see above or click here and hopefully you will support Woodlawn to repeat in 2017. Voting will be open through January 2, 2018.

Once voting is over and the winner of the Curbed Cup 2017 is announced hopefully we can discuss what neighborhoods we'd like to see get their recognition next year. Curbed Chicago always looks for those neighborhoods with some development, for example new business activity, new construction especially for housing, and certainly it helps if a major project like a national park in the case of Pullman or in the case of Woodlawn getting a presidential library is being planned or created. Let's find ways to make something happen in our communities so that they get the attention they deserve!

Don't forget to support Woodlawn through January 2 and happy new year!

#63rdL and a hopeful PR response from CTA

[VIDEO] What you see above is a video advertising the petition campaign to restore East 63rd Green Line service to Jackson Park.

As always if you support restoration of the East 63rd Green Line then sign the petition over at change.org. There are also some updates provided and as of the latest update reportedly Reuben Lillie - who you see interviewing Woodlawn residents above - has recieved 405 signatures to his petition.

The campaign got the attention of Chicagoist who shared this response from the CTA:

Irene D. Ferradaz, a CTA public affairs representative told Chicagoist:

"The CTA is focused on rebuilding and modernizing the existing ‘L’ system, and on pursuing the extension of the Red Line South to 130th Street. While there are no current plans to extend the Cottage Grove branch of the Green Line, CTA always looks for opportunities to improve the system to meet ridership demand."

As stated in an earlier post about this if there is some opportunities to expand public transit on the south side as far as the L system this is one worthwhile project in addition to my favored CTA Red Line extension south from 95th Street. Here's hoping Lillie's campaign is successful and this becomes part of CTA's long term plans.

Petition to restore East 63rd Green Line service to Stony Island #63rdL

Via Chicago-L.org

In April I've written about a future project involving the East 63rd branch of the CTA Green Line which would mean upgrades to the Cottage Grove station the current terminus of this branch. Now a petition which you can find through 63rdL.com. Here's a portion of the argument in favor of restoration that you might read with the petition:

While CTA Buses, Metra Electric trains, and S. Lake Shore Drive carry passengers along the Lakefront, none of the existing infrastructure effectively connects the South Side Lakefront with points west. Without restoring the ‘L’ between Cottage Grove Ave and Stony Island Ave we have no way to carry people through the heart of Woodlawn. Likewise, residents, students, and commuters to Hyde Park, Woodlawn, and South Shore who do not live, study, or work near the Lakefront arterial infrastructure have no way of accessing the ‘L’ to travel to and from other parts of Chicagoland. Restoring the E. 63rd Street branch of the Green Line with strategically placed stations not only encourages visitors to Jackson Park to take in the surrounding neighborhoods but also enables our South Side neighbors to move more freely to, from, and within Woodlawn and steps from the University of Chicago in ways they have not been able since the ‘L’ was razed 20 years ago. 

This is one project worthwhile in addition to the plan to extend the CTA Red Line further south from 95th Street. Let's hope that CTA will eventually add for future expansions the possible restoration of the former Jackson Park branch of the Green Line to it's former terminus at Stony Island. Perhaps even a pipe dream send the L over to the Museum of Science & Industry as it once was during the 1893 Columbian Exposition.

You can read more of any proposals surrounding the restoration of CTA Green Line service to Cottage Grover via this tweet below from Curbed Chi.

Online petition calls on the CTA to restore the 63rd Street branch of Green Line https://t.co/kNDfQNioO8 pic.twitter.com/lVmnOAlh7E

— Curbed Chicago (@curbedchicago) July 11, 2017

In addition this petion is not only directed towards Mayor Emanuel, also 5th Ward Ald. Leslie Hairston, and 9th Ward Ald. Anthony Beale who chairs the city council transportation committee. Those three especially in addition to 17 other decision makers.

Watch President Obama's farewell speech

[VIDEO] On January 20th, 2017 President Barack Obama will be out of office succeeded by President Donald Trump. This farewell address was what many people have been waiting for as we heard about tickets available.

I missed this speech last night so believe me I'll be watching this with you all. To be honest I never always agreed with many of the President's policies - and I expect no more or less that I would with the President-elect Trump.

However I share this with the idea that many of our young men and women hopefully will be inspired to go into politics and maybe become President themselves in the future. If anyone is interested in taking this path one piece of advice - start running now!!!

#MBMHMC: "The Old Obama" Altgeld Gardens, Riverdale

[VIDEO] Episode 5 of Jahmal Cole's webseries My Block My Hood My City takes him to the Riverdale community which includes the Altgeld Gardens housing project.

The President is mentioned because of his history in that area. In a time before he first became at Illinois state senator Obama had been a community activist in this part of the city. If you want to know more about those activities you may want to refer to his autobiography Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance.

Also the photo below is a wall with all the names of deceased residents of Altgeld Gardens over the years Cole explains:

"The Wall" or "The Wall of Death" lists the names of deceased Altgeld Residents --- going back decades. It's a tradition at the Gardens to write the names on the wall, so the person's name will be set on stone and never forgotten.  This is social capital at its finest. In the Pullman community, residents that live on a different tier of the Socioeconomic ladder, hang fancy art work on the gates in their alleys. At the Altgeld Gardens, the local residents write names on the wall. Beauty can't be stratified. 

Please watch the video above and of course feel free to let us and Mr. Jahmal Cole know what you think.

The wall at Altgeld Gardens via MBMHMC

Get your tickets for the viewing of the Presidential Inauguration...

Pick up free tickets at the Chatham 14 Theaters box office located 210 W. 87th Street on Saturday, January 19 starting at 10 AM. The actual event will take place from 9 AM to 1 PM on Monday, January 21st. Refer to flyer below for more details. Hat-tip Concerned Citizens of Chatham.

OPEN BLOG: 2012 Presidential race

In the infancy of this blog, I posted frequently about the developments of the 2008 Presidential Race. Alas not much coverage of the race as it pertains to the 6th Ward. Just more coverage derived more from national sources than local sources.

But that was an historical year as it turned out as in November that year, Americans elected our nations first Black President. How many of you in the audience was in Grant Park that night when he clinched the election for the White House?

I'm sure the elderly were excited as had been seen the day of the inauguration. How many of us could've imagined the day that a Black person would be elected President of the United States?

That election was very exciting because of its historical implications more than anything. The youth came out to support our current President and turnout certainly made the different in many of the battleground states that Obama won that year.

Now that he has been President for three years pluse, I'm curious how many of you out there view his performance so far. Would you vote for his re-election? If he won, what would you expect him to do in his second term? What would you expect him to do differently in his second term from his first term? Finally, are you still excited about the President the second time around?

Can the Black Middle Class Survive: Obama Is in the Oval Office but the Black Bourgeoisie is Foundering

Can the Black Middle Class Survive: Obama Is in the Oval Office but the Black Bourgeoisie is Foundering

The article published earlier this month is from a website truth-out.org, it seems relevant to our general community often advertised as a black middle class area. Would like to hear your thoughts on this. I urge you to read the entire article beyond the excerpt I will post below:

And yet, when the Obamas moved into the White House, the country's economy was already in free fall, and its fragile black middle class was, to put it simply, vanishing. Between 2005 and 2009, the year the Great Recession officially ended, the average black household's wealth fell by more than half, to $5,677, even as their white peers held about $113,000 in assets. Nearly one-quarter of African-Americans have no assets besides a car, and roughly the same share have lost their homes, or they're close. The African-American unemployment rate hovers around 14 percent, and according to a Pew report released in July, nearly 70 percent of blacks raised in families at the middle of the wealth ladder fall to the bottom two rungs as adults. The exodus of blacks from cities like Washington, Atlanta, New Orleans and even Detroit is driving a sense of eroding political power. Perhaps most depressingly, one in three black boys can expect to be incarcerated at some point in his life.

It's tricky, explaining what it means to be black in America at this peculiar moment, mainly because the narrative's dominant theme is decline. "You're airing our dirty laundry," a black lawyer told me over brunch one recent Sunday, after I explained this story's theme. In the fall of 2009, shortly after I began a 14-month reporting assignment in Detroit for Time magazine, a black doctor threw a party at her sprawling home in the city's leafy Palmer Woods neighborhood, one of the last relatively affluent enclaves. Much of the region, particularly African-Americans, were outraged over the opening stories in our coverage, so the hostess, and her friends, wanted a word. The essential message: Inside Time's pages, pretend the black middle class is doing just fine.

It was delusional. Detroit is the country's most populous majority-black city. Historically, it's had one of America's highest black homeownership rates. But more than one-third of the city's black borrowers — including some of the martini-sipping doctors, lawyers, politicos and auto execs in the room that October night — have lost their homes, or they're on the brink. The truth is, many of us are on a cliff, watching this widening gulf of black poverty and dysfunction, fearful that we're just a heartbeat or two away.

Something is happening in the culture that conflicts with the dreamy image of black progress that Obama's presidency projects. In this supposedly post-racial moment, we no longer even have the license, or the language, to identify a fundamental source of the problems we see mounting in the offices in Chicago's Loop, and on the streets of suburban Orlando: the enduring effects of racism. That's no longer an acceptable explanation for society at large. Hardly anyone, it seems, wants to admit the truth: nearly a half-century of financial, political and social gains are being reversed, perhaps permanently, and the post-civil rights era may come to resemble Reconstruction's fleeting progress. "The whole premise of the civil rights movement was to give our children a better future than we had. But it's all going backwards," said Marian Wright Edelman, a veteran of that movement, adding: "We face the worst crisis since slavery."

Again read the whole thing and PLEASE share YOUR thoughts here!

Did you forget there was an election coming up?

Now that the conventions for both the Republicans and the Democrats are now over we can talk about some events to take place regarding this November's Presidential Election. Ways you can get involved in the political process in this election year.

Ward Room: First Lady to Host NATO South Side Tour

This is a cool thing for Michelle Obama to orchestrate in connection with the coming NATO summit here. There's more to Chicago than either the north side or the downtown area of town:

The First Lady has invited spouses of NATO leaders on a tour of the Gary Comer Youth Center on Chicago's south side, followed by a private dinner at the Chicago Art Institute.

The visit to the youth center will include performances by the South Shore Dance Drill Team, dancers from the Muntu Dance Theater and musicians from the Soul Children of Chicago. Following the performance, Mrs. Obama and the other spouses will sit down for a private lunch created by Chef Paul Kahan. Kahn will work with Gary Comer Youth Center youth members in preparing the meal.

The Gary Comer Youth Center is about two blocks from the apartment where the First Lady grew up, the White House said in March.

The first lady was in the 6th ward!!!

Photo from WBEZ

Alderman Sawyer mentioned that when he addressed the Roseland Heights Community Association last night. Here's a story from WBEZ:

First Lady Michelle Obama returned to her native South Side Chicago on Tuesday to promote her initiatives on healthy eating for children as well as her quest to eliminate food deserts.

Obama stopped by a refashioned Walgreens on 75th and State Street. Last year the chain started stocking its shelves with fresh fruits and vegetables in neighborhoods where crisp produce is scarce. Often, such food deserts either lack healthy stores or are home to stores where processed and junk foods prevail.

The First Lady said the issue of food deserts speaks directly to her.

“I saw this growing up in my own community,” said Obama, who grew up in Chicago’s South Shore neighborhood. “Starting out with wonderful grocery stores but slowly, but surely, as the economies changed, many of these resources just disappeared into thin air. This is true for so many communities across the country. This just isn’t happening in Chicago or on the South Side.

“If folks want to buy a head of lettuce for a salad or some fruit for their kids’ lunch, they’d have to take two or three buses to do it.”

Obama invested time and considerable political capital in a program called “Let’s Move,” which aims to reduce childhood obesity.

Her visit coincides with Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s daylong food access summit. Mayors from around the country gathered in Chicago to explore best practices to expand fresh food in underserved communities.

Announcing the 2011 Commencement Challenge Finalists

[VIDEO] Melody Barnes from the White House Domestic Policy Council in the video above announces the finalists of the "Race to the Top Commencement Challenge. None of these high schools announced in this video are in the City of Chicago or the State of Illinois. Here's more about this Challenge:

The Commencement Challenge invites public high schools across the country to demonstrate how their school best prepares them for college and a career, helping America win the future by out-educating our competitors and achieving President Obama’s goal of having the highest proportion of college graduates in the world by 2020.

The application includes essay questions and statistical information that illustrate how schools are promoting college and career readiness for all students while establishing a culture of student success and academic excellence. The winning school will host President Obama as their 2011 commencement speaker.

The White House has partnered with Viacom and the Get Schooled Foundation to launch the 2011 Commencement Challenge. In a video launching the challenge, Simon Boehme, the salutatorian from last year’s winning school - Kalamazoo Central High - and current freshman at the University of Michigan, came to the White House to discuss the Commencement Challenge with President Obama. Watch the video above and check out the expanded version here.

It would be nice to see both of our ward high schools Robeson & Harlan be considered close enough to be finalists in this challenge. Also since the faculty at Harlan like to advertise the fact that three of their students have went to the White House this is something that would be worthwhile for them. Especially if they want to emphasize the importance of going to college.

I'm still trying to figure out if the "grand prize" is a visit and/or commencement address by the President of the United States to the winning high school. Hopefully next year the students at Harlan Community Academy High School will consider getting involved in this contest. That is if they haven't already.

The last link in the quote is of Kalamazoo Central High School talking about their experience in winning the 2010 contest. [VIDEO]

Will this be Harlan or any other city high school next year. Can we have a city high school as a finalist or semi-finalist.

Obama's words lift audience at a troubled school

Chi-Town Daily News:

“I truly believe that all students should be watching it,” said Stansberry Butler.

One Harper student actually traveled to Washington to attend the inauguration, along with a few teachers.

At around 10:30, the rest of the school community traveled to the auditorium and the cafeteria to witness history together.

Inside the lunchroom, packed tables of teenagers acted, well, like kids in a lunchroom.

They joked, laughed and talked together loudly.

Soon, however, a sense of wonder began to creep into the room.

It started when the two Obama girls, beaming, took their seats on the platform in front of the U.S. Capitol.

Once Michelle Obama appeared, the room fell largely silent.

Kids watched as President George W. Bush entered to “Hail to the Chief” for the last time.

Then, a roar, as Barack Obama’s tall visage approached the top of the Capitol steps. The room erupted again as Obama was introduced and a third time as he placed his hand on Lincoln’s inaugural bible, took his oath, and became the country's 44th president.

The crowd at Harper grew quiet as Obama began his address.

"This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed -- why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent Mall, and why a man whose father less than 60 years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath."

As the President spoke these words near the end of his address, Natasha Champion, clad in a red Harper t-shirt and a black apron, nodded her head.

“There’s no words that can express how happy I am,” said Champion, who works the school’s lunch line.

She said she was sure her mother was watching on TV at home, most likely with tears rolling down her cheeks.

 “Took us a long time to get here. And I’m glad we’re finally here. This is just the beginning, though.”

Harper High School seems a bit bleak though:

Many at Harper, a struggling school that enrolls more than 1,000 students, do not continue on to college. Only a third of freshmen are on track to graduate in five years and just four percent of Harper students meet or exceed state standards.

These and other longstanding struggles moved Chicago Public Schools to launch an ambitious plan last year to overhaul the school.

Harper is what’s known in Chicago these days as a turnaround school.

Among other things, there’s more support from the Board of Education, including efforts to strengthen the curriculum and an emphasis on creating a culture of discipline and responsibility.

I can only hope that if Obama's election might help these students realize their potential!

Obama 44

Did you know that there is an Obama store in the neighborhood. That's according to this report from the NBC5StreetTeam.

Obama44 Store, Chicago from april Lawson on Vimeo.

The store is located on 738 E. 83rd Street just a block west of Cottage Grove.

Obama is now President of the United States!

Obama's Oath and Inaugural Address courtesy of C-Span

AP Video

Just in case no one was able to see the oath. I'll be on the look out for his inauguration speech!

Going to the inauguration?

If you don't mind please share your experiences and observations with this blog. Surely many of you are very excited to watch the inauguration of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States. Please share your thoughts by either posting a comment or leaving an e-mail

thesixthward (AT) 1chicago (DOT) net

If you have any business with the US Government this is the picture you will likely see of our new President.

Via The Political Realm!

Barack Obama on Check, Please!

Barack Obama made an appearance as a State Senator on this WTTW program check please back in August 2001. I understand that this particular episode he appeared never aired because it was thought that it wasn't considered a very good one. All the sudden the program sees the light of day and it will air on January 16th, at least 4 days before his Presidential inauguration.

I am subscribed to WTTW videos on YouTube and found on their account only a promo. This video I'm posting comes from Check Please's YouTube account. I understand that Obama was cheerleading for his neighborhood, Hyde Park in this clip, I only heard about it before I decided to start looking and I found that particular clip.

Now to relate this back to the 6th, who might be the one who could represent our neighborhood and promote this part of town?