No more pandemic press conferences on the weekend from the state

I'm noting that Gov. Pritzker doesn't plan to further continue holding his daily updates over the weekend as he had been once coronavirus became a problem. There will still be daily updates usually in the form of a press release by the Illinois Dept of Public Health which will continue to be released every day, however, the governor will continue his press conferences during the rest of the week as opposed to Saturday and Sunday.

No more weekend Pritzker briefings https://t.co/JePwrOdRw7

— Rich Miller (@capitolfax) May 7, 2020

If you haven't been following this, I wanted to find a way to share this with you. Jahmal Cole has been doing a wonderful job - he's been getting a lot of attention as you all may know for his many initiatives within the community - providing care packages to seniors during this pandemic. Seniors are unfortunately vulnerable to this virus and he's providing senior citizens with supplies to help them combat this disease. Especially since items like hand sanitizer has been at a premium due to the panic buying by many consumers.

He made his appearance at a Saturday press conference with the governor to deliver a speech that Rich Miller of Capitol Fax refers to Cole's speech as fiery. I was hoping there was an easy way to share his speech, however, in a recent email blast Cole himself provided a video with snippets of his speech. [VIDEO]

I agree with Mr. Cole hope is what is needed right now.

My Block My Hood My City getting ready for a snowstorm

As you know we're expected to get hit by a major snowstorm this weekend. Just know that Jahmal Cole is getting ready with some volunteers to help dig out seniors. It's something we've covered over time on this blog which is Cole's volunteering efforts and it's very laudable. Even if you have no desire to shovel he would appreciate some donations for his efforts.

Here's one of his latest ig post with regards to his efforts

View this post on Instagram

WINTER WEATHER WARNING: #Snow is coming this weekend. 6-10 inches. Volunteers, the time and place is Saturday, 11am, 79th Street Red Line Station. Meet us there to lend a #shovel to the community. We’ll disperse to various addresses in the city that have requested our services. Text “Shovel” to 55222 for more info. To those of you who are snowed in, you can still give to the effort by donating at formyblock.org Thank you all. Your support means an easier, stress-free #winter season for a lot of our senior citizens.

A post shared by My Block, My Hood, My City (@myblockmyhoodmycity) on Jan 18, 2019 at 4:06am PST

Kusanya clean-up day August 19, 2018

If you're done with the back-to-school events on Saturday perhaps you might be interested in volunteering with Kusanya Cafe or My Block My Hood My City on Sunday. They're looking to clean up an adjacent vacant lot at 6950 South Green Street on August 19 from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM.

This Sunday we’re back on the the block, volunteering for the @kusanyacafe Clean Up Day! Join us, lose yourself for a couple of hours. Explore #englewood

A post shared by My Block, My Hood, My City (@formyblock) on Aug 17, 2018 at 12:00pm PDT

Chicago Public School system removes 2 principals amid investigation into how sexual abuse allegations handled

Simeon High School (8147 S Vincennes Ave) by Eric Allix Rogers

We've shared a few piece with regards to sexual abuse allegations within Chicago Public Schools. For our purposes we're just going to focus on the removal of the principal of nearby Simeon High School over sexual abuse allegations by a school volunteer:

Sheldon House, the principal of Simeon Career Academy, was removed amid a newly disclosed allegation of sexual abuse lodged against an unnamed school volunteer. District officials said that allegation was discovered during an audit of “systemic issues” in the school’s background check process.
...
“As a result of district-led investigations into allegations of sexual abuse, two CPS principals were removed from their positions today due to initial findings that suggest they did not effectively safeguard their students,” Chicago Public Schools CEO Janice Jackson said in a statement.

“Investigations into both cases remain ongoing, and we will keep the school communities updated as this process moves forward,” she said.

The district announced the administrators’ removal barely more than a day before a scheduled Chicago Board of Education vote to change how CPS investigates allegations of sexual misconduct by adults against students, as well as new practices that would require employees to inform child welfare authorities and supervisors of “any interactions or behaviors which suggest that an adult has or had an inappropriately intimate relationship with a child or may be grooming a child,” even if the employee does not have “reasonable suspicion” of whether any abuse occurred.
...
At Simeon, CPS officials said they launched an internal review of “management practices designed to keep students safe,” which occurred amid a Tribune investigation that documented the school’s failure to conduct a mandated criminal background check before making Gerald Gaddy an assistant coach of the boys wrestling and girls track teams starting in 2010.
...
CPS officials said the Simeon audit found “systemic issues” in the school’s handling of volunteer background checks, while uncovering an unspecified, new allegation of sexual abuse by an unidentified Simeon volunteer.

The recent allegation “was not handled in accordance with CPS policy,” according to the district. The volunteer is now barred from the school, and the allegation is under investigation.

CPS said it selected Patricia Woodson, a retired former principal, to lead the school until a new principal is selected by Simeon’s local school council.

 Hat-tip Newsalert

ABC 7: Chicago Cares volunteers spruce up CPS schools for serve-a-thon #ChicagoCares #HarlanFalcons

On Saturday there were some school buses leaving Harlan there were probably four or five of them. First Harlan High School's ig feed shared a number of pics of some artwork and of people doing some work around the school.

Many of the recent posts at @harlan.falcons ig has the #ChicagoCares. Which also adorn the post title along with #HarlanFalcons.

@formyblock: Shoveling for Seniors #twill

[VIDEO] Major kudos to Jahmal Cole who spent some time during last weekend's snowfall doing snow removal on those blocks that could use it the most. Especially those blocks with a relatively large senior population. He definitely was using instagram to get the word out for volunteers and in no small feat got people to come out from all over the city.

I  don't want to blow hot air but great things are happening for Mr. Cole. Thankfully the snow from last weekend is melting but  wouldn't mind volunteering with him during the next winter snowstorm. Get a good shovel, some salt, and perhaps even a portable snowblower. There's nothing wrong with helping Chicagoans in need!

Also he got some significant media attention during last weekend's snowfall. I shared a story from NBC 5 though that wasn't the only news coverage he got!

NBC 5 Chicago: Shovelers Help Out in Community After Storm

[VIDEO] You might have seen some ig posts from Jahmal Cole who often asks for volunteers to help senior citizens shovel snow in various south side neighborhoods. Remember in March '17 after a snow storm, Cole and volunteers helped seniors shovel their snow in Pill Hill.

With the heavy snow coming that fell on Friday, this is certainly needed. Especially in those areas where seniors reside and they may not be as able to clear snow from their porches and sidewalks.

Kudos to Mr. Jahmal Cole of My Block My Hood My City. Follow him on ig via @formyblock.

Thanks to all the volunteers that came out to support this morning. A seventy year old lady from #streeterville showed up with a shovel on 79th. M3 volunteers represent the most durable source of mass enthusiasm I’ve ever seen. So much love #formyblock

A post shared by My Block, My Hood, My City (@formyblock) on Feb 9, 2018 at 12:35pm PST

My Block My Hood My City: Helping hands in Pill Hill

[VIDEO] We had our first serious snow of 2017 earlier this week. Jahmal Cole and his volunteers go to Pill Hill to help the senior citizens and retirees to shovel snow on their sidewalks.

Tribune: Volunteers help spruce up Pullman neighborhood

Via The Chicago Neighborhoods

Yesterday, I posted about the attention being given to Englewood and then found this article about the attention given to Pullman. Pullman was designated a national monument and that means it will be getting further attention in years to come.

When railroad baron George Pullman built the Hotel Florence in 1881 in the heart of his company town, he meant for the extravagant Queen Anne style inn to host businessmen and dignitaries.

In addition to hotel rooms, the building featured a dining room, billiard room, barber shop, separate men's and women's parlors, and the only bar. Over the past several decades, most of the four-story, 50-room hotel, named after one of Pullman's daughters, has remained closed during restoration efforts, which include a new slate roof and an elevator.

On Thursday, with the building's doorways still draped in sheets of plastic and much of the ornate ceilings in its rooms still in the process of being torn down, the hotel hosted new guests. Five months after President Barack Obama named a portion of the historic Pullman neighborhood a national monument, volunteer Sam Gutterman and others helped clean up the hotel's main entrance.

"It's getting closer to having people attracted to come here," said Gutterman, 67, who lives on the North Shore, as he washed the first floor windows with a rag. "Because if it's in rundown condition no one's going to want to come here, no one's going to want to learn about the history. If you make things a little more attractive — it doesn't have to be perfect — people will appreciate it."

The hotel was among half a dozen sites in the Pullman neighborhood that were targeted in the first major cleanup of the area by the National Parks Conservation Association.

Several dozen volunteers grabbed ponchos to combat the rain and fanned out across the historic factory district. Among the efforts: A team of volunteers painted the baseboards of Greenstone United Methodist Church; another group weeded around the Historic Pullman Foundation Visitors Center, and a local landscaping company donated mulch and assisted in sprucing up Arcade Park.

Of course the 9th Ward Alderman jumped on some of this attention:

 Ald. Anthony Beale, 9th, who also was in attendance, still remembers riding his bike past the historic row houses and other architectural gems as a child, thinking "it was like driving through another world." Witnessing the cleanup and initiatives since the national monument designation has been especially poignant for Beale, given the huge blow the community suffered in 1998 when an arsonist destroyed much of the factory district and damaged the administration building.

"To be able to quarterback the rebirth of this ..." said Beale, who paused as he looked toward a damaged factory building with black tarps covering its structural beams. "I can't even put words on it.

There's already ranger overseeing this park:

Sue Bennett has become the park's first full-time employee taking on the role of acting superintendent. Bennett has worked across the country as a park ranger for 26 years, most recently at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. Though the national park still doesn't have a budget (that usually is set up after two years by Congress), the Illinois native says she's been lucky to lean on a number of established community organizations for help.

"I never dreamed when I started on my journey that I'd be back in my home state in a city that I love and doing the kind of service work, community outreach and preservation and stewardship, here," Bennett said. "So I'm the luckiest park ranger in the world in that I have at least 10 key partners that have been here on the ground and doing work to make it easier for us."

It's good to know the community has stepped up to the plate at least until Congress finally sets up a budget for the Pullman nat'l monument.

How long until Pullman gets their own Starbuck's? Would it be located at the Hotel Florence?

DNA Info: 'Guerrilla Urbanists' Use Flower Boxes to Fight Bridgeport Blight, Crime

Photo by DNA Info/Casey Cora

Along Cottage Grove there have been planters that were maintained by a volunteer group that also contained students from area schools hoping to beautify the parts of the street in our community. I'm wonder if it's time to expand that concept along 79th Street which unfortunately has gained an crime ridden reputation.

DNA Info explores this option in another south side neighborhood, Bridgeport:

A secret group of "guerrilla urbanists" is placing flower-packed planters along Morgan Street in an effort to beautify Bridgeport.

A source said the mystery group will continue polling business owners and landlords to see if they'd like one of handsome planters placed in front of their buildings on the sidewalk. If so, the building owner must agree to care for the planter and the flowers in it.

The source, who requested anonymity, said the project was initiated to combat "the ugliness and the visual and real violence that pops up from time to time" on Morgan between 31st and 35th streets: "The group believes it's time to make an effort at making our streets safer, saner and aesthetically pleasing."

The project is also a tribute to Carissa Hinz, a barista and artist killed last year in an unsolved hit-and-run crash.

Already, a few of the planters, which are big enough to hold two 5-gallon buckets filled with dirt and flowers, have appeared in the 3200 block of Morgan Street, not far from where a 25-year-old man was killed after being shot in the head on Sunday.

The mysterious Morgan Street campaign is the second effort in recent months to call attention to what some may perceive as a problem of economic neglect in Bridgeport.

The hope dealers

Last week students of Morehouse College went on spring break. Also last week a group of 14 Morehouse students led by Roseland resident & Corliss High School alum Corey Hardiman came to Chicago forgoing the usual spring break rituals - i.e. going to the beach - to engage in service on the South Side of Chicago. I'm going to share some of the media that I have found of these young men doing good in Chicago in early March

Mary Mitchell discusses these young men in a recent column:

Corey Hardiman and his crew could be kicking up sand this week in Florida.

Instead, Hardiman and 14 other students from the historically black Morehouse College are in Chicago shoveling snow — and delivering hope — to young people who have been impacted by the violence on the Far South Side.

Hardiman grew up in Roseland where he attended Lavizzo Elementary School and Corliss High School.

Now about to graduate from Morehouse, where he attended on a Bill and Melinda Gates Millennium Scholarship, Hardiman returned to his alma mater this week as an alternative to the spring fling most college students are enjoying.

“Dope has plagued our community for so many years, it is time to give out hope,” Hardiman told me. “Dope is for sale, but hope is free.”
...
Hardiman, 22, raised about $4,500 to pay for the bus tickets

Hardiman said he was inspired to do this by a literacy project he did in Philadelphia as stated in the Mitchell's column.

Also this article from the Tribune also discusses this service project. Below it's illustrated how well students who go to Roseland area high schools perform on the ACT tests:

In Roseland, the picture for black males is even more dire than the national portrait. According to Chicago Public Schools data, there arefour high schools that serve students in Roseland. At Corliss, Harlan, Fenger and Julian High Schools, only a little more than half of the student bodies went on to graduate in 2013, statistics show. The average ACT score at those schools was about 14, which is considered poor. The average score in the state last year was 20.

Wow, it's been years since I took the ACT and well my score was slightly above the average score for thos local high schools and much lower than the average score for this state. Although let me just admit that it's been years and who knows how they score the test these days. Assuming the ACT changes like the SAT.

Now here's some other media. Audio and some videos!

Chatham Parks: A Few Good Men and Women Wanted

As we enter into spring and the temperature starts to rise our young people will start to come into the parks in our community. Our Chicago Park District parks supervisor, Gene Morgan, has done a yeoman's task of creating opportunities for our young people to engage in positive activities. He has created tumbling, gymnastics and soccer teams that compete in citywide events and is planning more for the spring and summer. Gene and his staff have gathered young men from 13-18 to play in Mayor Rahm Emmanuel's basketball tournament.

Unfortunately, because of budgetary constraints the current staff cannot accompany the teams to play in the tournament that will be held at Jackson Park on Thursday and Friday evenings. The teams need coaches who can commit to working the entire 47 week schedule. Coaches must be Chicago Park District certified volunteers. Individuals interested can obtain a volunteer form from the Chicago Park District website http://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/assets/1/7/Volunteer_Application_for_Adults.pdf  and for information on the basketball program or other volunteer opportunities contact Gene Morgan at 312.747.6063.

Over the last year, many residents have expressed their displeasure with the condition of Brown Memorial Park http://www.chicagonow.com/concerned-citizens-of-chatham/2012/05/the-fight-to-save-brown-memorial-park-is-race-a-factor/ . The park needs an overhaul as the playground equipment, tennis courts and grounds in general are in disrepair. The Friends of the Parks, a non for profit organization that supports the parks is accepting applications from community groups to be selected for one of 35 playgrounds they will build this summer. A copy of the application is below. Any group(block club, community based organization, church, etc.) can apply

Chicago Plays Application by Worlee Glover

Concerned Citizens of Chatham: Help those less fortunate

Consider this an update to an earlier post here regarding food pantries. Worlee at his blog has much larger list of neighborhood food pantries. They're not looking for monetary or food donations, but volunteers as well! You should know of three from this blog - two in the posts St. Columbanus and Chatham/Avalon Ministries and then there's Israel Methodist Community Church.

Let's not forget Thanksgiving is coming up this week and this is certainly a good time to make a donation to these institutions. Unfortunately we must remember that there are a lot of people who are struggling and aren't able to make a meal for themselves for the holidays. Certainly holidays are about blessings!

AGAIN, you can check out the Greater Chicago Food Depository and find a food pantry near you to make a donation!

ALSO, if you know of any other food panties in the area please let us know on our FB page, post a comment here, sent a tweet or write an e-mail!

Tribune: Roseland churches vow to take to streets to fight violence

This is the obligatory what's going on in the 9th Ward/Roseland post. A lot of people's hearts were aflutter with the idea of some neighborhoods of the 6th Ward being drawn into the 9th Ward. It's time to show what the people of Roseland is up to and here's one example (hat-tip YoChicago):

Services at more than 50 Roseland churches ended with a prayer vigil against violence Sunday, and local ministers have pledged their flocks will take to the streets each weekend this summer to quell violence on the South Side.

The congregation of Mount Calvary Baptist Church sang "I Am on the Battlefield for My Lord" after services Sunday afternoon, and church members may soon be putting themselves in harm's way, said the Rev. Phillip Cusic. On Thursday night alone, Cusic said, a half-dozen shooting victims arrived at Roseland Community Hospital, where Cusic is chaplain.

The hospital has helped form Arms Around Roseland, a coalition of 56 churches and community groups that will walk neighborhood streets from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. each week until October, Cusic said. Participants also will distribute anti-violence literature, fliers and other information and act as human shields during the warm-weather months that tend to be the city's most violent.

"People have unrealistic fear of violence on the street," Cusic said Sunday. "When people are out in the streets, when their pastors are out, they don't shoot. They stand down. We want to give them a peaceful way to stand down."

Cusic said the hospital has been working with community groups and churches for months and had planned to roll out Arms Around Roseland later this year, when the weather grows warmer and violence in the city traditionally increases.

I sincerely hope this volunteer effort succeeds!

Now here's a volunteer opportunity at our neighborhood schools...

Courtesy of an e-mail blast from the Greater Chatham Alliance and perhaps an answer to a recent post. Let us know if you plan to be at any of these schools to volunteer!

Join The Black Star Project's Chicago High School Alumni Associations and Celebrate the opening of Chicago High Schools

In Chicago, alumni from our area high schools are invited to be at their old high schools on the opening day on:

Monday, September 6

Let's welcome students back to school and if you can, volunteer some time to make your old high school great again!!

All Chicago Alumni should call 773.285.9600 to become actively involved with their former high school.

Black Star Project Foundation will plan activities that improve schools and serve students.

These High Schools' Alumni are committed to making changes at the schools below. Why not join them!

Aquinas - Austin - Bogan - Bowen - Brother Rice - Calumet - Carver - Chicago Agricultural School - CVS - Collins - Corliss - Crane - Creiger - Curie - DeLaSalle - Dunbar - DuSable - Englewood - Farragut - Fenger - Hales Franciscan - Harlan - Harper - Harrison - Hirsch - Hubbard - Hyde Park - Jones - Juarez - Julian - Kenwood - Lane Tech - Leo - Longwood - Lucy Flowers - Manley - Marshall Mendel - Mercy - Morgan Park - Mount Carmel - Orr - Parker - Payton - Phillips - Providence-St. Mel Richards - Robeson -Roosevelt - Simeon - South Shore - Spaulding - St. Patricks - Taft - Tilden - Von Steuben - Waller - Washington - Westinghouse - Whitney Young

Catholic High Schools not in existence should call Black Star to request a Catholic High School to assist at.

The Black Star Project!

Are there any volunteer opportunities at our schools?

 

This post at the Egdeville Buzz causes me to ask one question. Are there volunteer opportunities at our neighborhood schools? If you know of them feel free to post a comment, send a tweet (@thesixthward), send an e-mail, or write on our FB page (The Sixth Ward) wall.

OPEN BLOG: Alumni returning to their elementary and secondary schools

I made visits this week to visit the LSCs of both of my alma maters on the elementary and secondary levels. Oh yeah, this post doesn't leave out those of you who have experience at the middle school or junior high school levels.

Questions: Have you returned to your old elementary or secondary schools? Have you chosen to volunteer when you're able to do so?

Join Team Sleet with the Chicago Cares Serve-a-thon

From one of our local residents, Brian Sleet

The Chicago Cares Serve-a-thon is both the largest day of community service in Chicago and the largest fundraiser for Chicago Cares. Join thousands of volunteers from companies, churches, alumni groups, fraternities, block clubs, neighborhoods and families to paint a brighter future for Chicago children. It is now in its 17th year.

We'll help students succeed as we beautify Chicago school classrooms, libraries and playgrounds! In just one day, Serve-a-thon volunteers transform schools into wonderful, vibrant places to learn and grow. The Serve-a-thon is also the largest fundraiser for Chicago Cares, and money raised through this event makes it possible for us to create, manage and lead 215 volunteer projects every month.

Sixth Ward and Chatham resident Brian Sleet has started his team, "Team Sleet" to help out. You can join or donate to Team Sleet or any Chicago Cares Team at http://chicagocares.kintera.org/serve-a-thon2010/teamsleet

Bets wishes for Team Sleet!

We encourage others to send us your good news by e-mailing us at thesixthward (at) 1chicago.net

New Covenant hosts announcment: $50 million for Haiti

New Covenant Misisonary Baptist Church, at 77th & Cottage Grove, is a leader in a bringing together organizations for the greater good. Here is an example.

From Chicago Breaking News:

Black Baptists pledge $50 million for Haiti
March 2, 2010 3:07 PM No Comments

Committed to keeping the needs of Haiti in the spotlight, an unprecedented alliance of five black Baptist organizations has pledged to raise $50 million to rebuild the Caribbean nation after the devastating January earthquake.

The African-American Baptist Mission Collaboration, which includes the National Missionary Baptist Convention of America, Progressive National Baptist Convention, National Baptist Convention of America, National Baptist Convention, USA and Lott Carey Baptist Foreign Mission Convention, unveiled its ambitious initiative at New Covenant Baptist Church on Chicago's South Side on Tuesday.
Rev. David Emmanuel Goatley, executive secretary-treasurer of the Lott Carey Baptist Foreign Mission Convention, an international mission agency of black Baptist heritage, said he believes the nation's 50,000 Baptist congregations will have no difficulty meeting the financial goal even as donations to relief agencies have slowed down nearly two months after the earthquake.
"African-Americans are generous people and they rise to the occasion," he said. "We are confident that given the opportunity and given the avenue to move resources that our people will respond. Hopefully this will be a catalyst."

-- Manya A. Brachear

Just a note: as far as i can tell, the Southern Baptists are not a part of this effort. They do have an organization, Full Gospel Baptist Fellowship, which last time i chekced, was predominantly African-American.

Chase Community Giving on Facebook

Chase N.A. is giving away $5 million to charities. The charities must be registered on Facebook to be eligible. The charities with the most votes will win awards. Individuals can vote up to 20 times. For more details go to