Fourth center opens at University of Illinois Chicago Campus

 

Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez provided an update on the efforts of her office to expand community-based prosecutions programming at the opening of a new Community Justice Center near the campus of the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Joined by Chicago Police Department and UIC officials, Alvarez officially announced the opening of the Central Community Justice Center, located at 715 W. Maxwell Street in Chicago. This office will serve the UIC Campus and the 11th and 12th Chicago Police Districts.

“Cook County residents now have four satellite locations where they can access assistance from our office,” Alvarez said. “We are pleased to give residents tangible places in the community where they can interact with our attorneys and staff to problem solve and work together to prevent crime in our neighorhoods before it occurs.”

Assistant State’s Attorneys and Community Outreach Coordinators assigned to the Community Justice Center will work closely on the prosecution and prevention of local crime with police districts, community groups, schools, businesses and area residents. Crime victims can utilize the resources of the center to access ongoing court information and to obtain the additional services of the State’s Attorney’s Victim Witness Unit. The State’s Attorney’s Office will also coordinate informational seminars and host crime prevention meetings at the location.

Additionally, a specially trained prosecutor from the office’s Mortgage Fraud Investigations and Prosecutions Unit will work at the center to assist local residents affected by mortgage fraud, coducting pro-active mortgage fraud investigations and coordinating takedowns of corrupt appraisers and brokers.

This is the fourth Community Justice Center opened since Alvarez took office in December 2008. The other locations serve residents on the north, south and west sides of the city, as well as the suburb of Oak Park.

For more information on the services available at the office’s Community Justice Centers, please contact the appropriate location:

North Side Community Justice Center: 5333 N. Western Avenue, (773) 334-4066

South Side Community Justice Center: 9059 S. Cottage Grove, (773) 783-5100

West Side Community Justice Center: 4 Chicago Ave., Oak Park, (708) 386-7301

Central Community Justice Center: 715 W. Maxwell St., (312) 325-9700

Photo Caption

Local officials joined State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez for a ribbon cutting ceremony at the grand opening of the office’s fourth Community Justice Center which is located at 715 W. Maxwell St., Chicago.

Pictured with Alvarez are (left to right):

Jesse Smart (Alderman Walter Burnett’s Office), Cook County Commissioner Robert Steele, 2^nd Ward Alderman Robert Fioretti, Vice Chancellor D. Warren Chapman (UIC), State’s Attorney Alvarez, Vince Sanchez (Alderman Danny Solis’ Office), First Deputy Superintendent Al Wysinger (Chicago Police Dept.), Commander John Richardson (UIC Police Dept.), Senator Annazette Collins, Commander Eric Washington (Chicago Police Dept., 11^th Dist.), Cook County Commissioner Jesus Garcia, Director Carol Sweeney, (Community Relations, UIC).

Springfield, IL – Legislation creating the Racial and Ethnic Impact Research Task Force was recently signed into law by Governor Pat Quinn.  The measure, authored by Illinois State Senator Mattie Hunter, is in response to recommendations proposed earlier this year by the Illinois Disproportionate Justice Impact Study Commission (DJIS) after an investigation found the disproportionate incarceration of African-Americans for low-level, non-violent drug crimes compared to their Caucasian counterparts. 

The task force created by Senate Bill 2271 will determine the best method to collect and analyze racial and ethnic identity data from arrests in order to create a Racial and Ethnic Impact Statement for Illinois’ criminal laws.  This impact statement would ensure that criminal laws in our state will not have a disproportionate impact towards certain ethnic groups.

“I want to thank Governor Quinn and the DJIS Commission who have given their support to rectifying the drastic negative impact the “war on drugs” has had on the African-American population,” Hunter said.  “There are communities in our state that are being failed on every level and we are unfortunately throwing money at the problem by increasing law enforcement and prison sentences as opposed to rehabilitating individuals who have a drug problem.  Rehabilitation will lead to employed, tax-paying members of society, not repeat criminals who become a drain on the tax payers.”

The Commission was established in 2008 through legislation championed by Hunter to examine the impact of Illinois drug laws on racial and ethnic groups.  The Commission released a report in January that revealed that African Americans charged with low-level drug crimes were sent to prison at a rate almost five times greater than whites in 2005, the most recent year for which the comprehensive data set was available.

At the end of its investigation, the Commission suggested five recommendations to address the concern of disproportionate incarceration of African-Americans to be implemented through legislation.  Those recommendations were to institute racial & ethnic impact statements, expand sentencing alternatives, reduce barriers to employment, use drug forfeiture funds to address the problem and fund alternatives to incarceration.

Actress Terri J. Vaughn’s Take Wings Foundation
Hosted Standing-room-only Affair Benefiting At-risk Teens

 

San Francisco, CA – Ever displaying a contagiously effervescent smile, superbly entertaining film and screen actress and native San Franciscan Terri J. Vaughn is founder of TAKE WINGS FOUNDATION, a non-profit organization that addresses social and life skills needs of at-risk teens. On Saturday, August 13, 2011, TAKE WINGS hosted its eighth annual black-tie affair to benefit the Foundation.  Actresses Nicole Ari Parker and  Malinda Williams were very able and entertaining co-hosts for the highly-attended affair.  (Due to an unexpected obligation, Boris Kodjoe was unable to join his wife Nicole for celebrity host duties. Talented NAACP Image Award nominee Williams graciously stepped in to join Parker to co-host the evening event.)  Grammy award-nominated R&B vocalist Kelly Price performed three scheduled soulful songs. At Parker’s urging, Price also performed an unplanned acappella gospel selection of encouragement to the youth.

Williams were very able and entertaining co-hosts for the highly-attended affair.  (Due to an unexpected obligation, Boris Kodjoe was unable to join his wife Nicole for celebrity host duties. Talented NAACP Image Award nominee Williams graciously stepped in to join Parker to co-host the evening event.)  Grammy award-nominated R&B vocalist Kelly Price performed three scheduled soulful songs. At Parker’s urging, Price also performed an unplanned acappella gospel selection of encouragement to the youth.

ANGEL AWARD RECIPIENTS:

Take Wings Foundation presented its 2011 Angel Awards to two Bay Area community leaders in recognition of their respective professional contributions and community involvement.

ANGEL AWARD RECIPIENTS:

Vaughn’s sister and Take Wings Foundation Executive Director Tracy L. Ward presented one of the two well-deserved awards to Edward Fitzpatrick, President of Fitzpatrick Dealership Group (Valley BMW and Valley Lexus in Modesto, and Coliseum Lexus of Oakland).  Fitzpatrick is a philanthropic contributor to the arts, education and community enhancement. In recognition of the monetary commitment that he and his wife made to California State University, Stanislaus, the campus arena at the university was renamed Ed and Bertha Fitzpatrick Arena early this year.  During his award acceptance speech, Fitzpatrick expressed how proud he is of Vaughn and the impact her Foundation is making on the community. He also encouraged the Take Wings youth to strive for higher learning, to follow their dreams, to be successful in their chosen fields, and be productive members of the community.

 Helen K. Vaughn, Take Wings board member and mother of Terri J. Vaughn, was delighted to make the award presentation to Dr. Warren J. Strudwick Jr., while underscoring his many professional accomplishments and charitable works with Bay Area young people.  Dr. Strudwick is a board certified orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine physician. Among his many appointments, he is president of Sinkler Miller Medical Association and team physician for the Oakland Raiders and the U.S. Olympic Track & Field team. Dr. Strudwick serves on the Board of Trustees for Oakland’s St. Vincent’s Day School, and also works with young people on the Physicians Medical Forum “Doctors On Board Program,” a mentor program for youth interested in becoming physicians.

BENEFIT CONTRIBUTORS:

Among the House of Hennessy’s elaborate displays of support was its sponsored auction item–a future private dinner experience for ten, which will include a multi-course cuisine paired with a tasting of the Prestige range of Hennessy, conducted by Global Ambassador and eighth generation Hennessy family member, Maurice Hennessy.  KBLX 102.9-FM radio personality Kimmie Taylor administered the fast-paced live auction. Adonal Foyle–former center for the Golden State Warriors, founder of the Lamplight Foundation, and a 2008 Take Wings Foundation Angel Award Honoree–was the successful bidder at $3,300. The auction proceeds will benefit Take Wings Foundation.

At the conclusion of his award acceptance, Dr. Strudwick announced that the

Photo Caption: Nicole Ari Parker, Terri J. Vaughn, Kelly Price, Malinda Williams
Courtesy of Horace Gipson

Poll will take place in all 102 counties

Springfield, IL – In front of hundreds of GOP faithful at Republican Day at the State Fair, Illinois Republican Party Chairman Pat Brady unveiled the ballot for the November 5, 2011 “Pre-Presidential Primary” straw poll for Republican voters in Illinois. The poll will occur one year and a day before the 2012 Presidential Election.

The ballot has been approved by the party’s State Central Committee, and October 1 is the deadline for any changes to the ballot.

“We believe this straw poll will generate excitement among not only presidential contenders but also grassroots Republican leaders in Illinois,” said Brady. “The Iowa Straw Poll marks a turning point in the run-up to the presidential elections and we hope to generate that same kind of enthusiasm here in Illinois.”

“I can think of no better state in the union to hold a Republican straw poll than right here in Illinois, where we continue to suffer a double-whammy of living under Barack Obama’s failed big-government policies along with the fiscal mismanagement of local Democrats,” added Brady.

Participation in the Illinois GOP Straw Poll will be free of charge to candidates, and will be a statewide effort including all 102 counties, providing the option of both e-voting and traditional paper ballots. Candidates must meet several requirements to participate in the balloting.

 

Chicago, IL – The failure to grieve the assassinated leaders of the civil rights era has caused the African American community to self-destruct, so says Dr. Eddie Taylor, author of the newly released Restoring the Mind of Black Americaand Director of Clinical and Social Services, St. Leo Residence for Veterans in Chicago. According to Dr. Taylor, an important function of psychotherapy is to help people mourn.

 

Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, and the Black Panthers were the most influential of the civil rights leaders, so their loss induced the most pain. In its quest to integrate into mainstream society, the community made the tragic mistake of burying the pain instead of working through it. This mistake resulted in a downward spiral of poverty, substance abuse, academic failure, and violence that has continued unabated since the end of the civil rights era. Psychological healing of the communitymust take place first before social conditions can improve.

 

Mental Health Crisis

Despite being only 12 percent of the population, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that African Americans represent more than 25 percent of the nation’s mental health needs. For example, over the past 30 years, Black male suicide rates have increased more than 200 percent. Depression among Black women is 50 percent higher than White women. Yet because of the stigma and high costs associated with psychotherapy, less than half of African American adults with mental illness seek help (Black Mental Health Alliance).

 

To better understand how the assassinations have impacted the community’s mental health, Dr. Taylor interviewed eight African American activists. Through his skilled questioning, the interviewees reveal their own unresolved feelings of anger and grief over the loss of the leaders.

 

Dr. Taylor’s interviews, research, and clinical experience led him to conclude that “unresolved emotional defenses have virtually halted the social gains that were initiated by King, Malcolm, the Panthers, and others.”

 

However, proper mourning will help facilitate psychological healing. “There is no shame in getting help when you need it, and psychotherapy has much to offer the community. Indeed, the need is quite urgent.”

 

For additional information, contact 1-800-552-1991, Fax# (708) 672-0466. P.O. Box 1799, Chicago Heights, IL 60412. Website: http://www.africanamericanimages.com, Email: customer@africanamericanimages.com.

 

(A Message from the Better Business Bureau)

 

 

Chicago, IL – Following the recent storms and flooding that plagued  northern Illinois this spring and early summer; homeowners are looking for remedies for their mold and mildew problems. The Better Business Bureau serving Chicago & Northern Illinois has seen inquiries for mold and mildew eradication jump 16 percent for the most recent 12 month period.

 

Mold can grow on any kind of wood, paper, carpet, and food. According to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Mold Guide, many types of mold may begin growing indoors when mold spores land on wet surfaces. As homeowners may choose to either tackle the problem on their own or consult the expertise of a contractor, the BBB advises to thoroughly research mold removal and eradicators.

 

“In the past 12 months, the BBB received over 29,000 inquiries on mold and mildew eradicators, compared to just under 25,000 in the 12 months proceeding”,” said Steve J. Bernas, president & CEO of the Better Business Bureau serving Chicago and northern Illinois. “As mold can ultimately destroy anything it lands on, it’s important to act smart and fast.”

 

While homeowners should always avoid handling and touching mold without wearing proper gloves, there are also many other things to keep in mind. The BBB advises homeowners to consider the following:

• Know your risks and side effects. There are many health risks associated with mold and mold growth. Some persons may experience an allergic reaction and other respiratory complaints when mold is present in the home.

• Be proactive.One way to control indoor mold growth is to control moisture. If you notice a leak in your shower faucet or sink, repair it immediately to avoid the ideal habitat for mold. Clean and dry any wet or damp surfaces within 24-48 hours, vent all bathrooms, kitchens and other moisture-generating sources to reduce indoor humidity and prevent growth.

• Choose wisely when picking a contractor. It’s important to check a business’ BBB Business Review at www.bbb.org before selecting a contractor. Ask for referrals from friends and family members and check with at least three contractors before deciding on one. Check references and ask the contractor to follow the recommendations in EPA’s Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings, or other guidelines from professional or government organizations.

For more information on home maintenance, visit www.bbb.org