City Colleges ordered to halt use of Probation Challenge’s name; Bailey to retain exclusive rights

By Juanita Bratcher

Rev. Harold E. Bailey

On the heels of Rev. Harold Bailey celebrating Probation Challenge’s 30th Year Anniversary, the Circuit Court of Cook County, Chancery Division, ordered the City Colleges of Chicago – specifically Olive-Harvey College – to discontinue the use of the name “Probation Challenge.”

 

 That was welcome news for Bailey.

 

Bailey filed the lawsuit against City Colleges of Chicago after being “illegally evicted” from City Colleges’ Olive-Harvey campus, yet City Colleges/Olive-Harvey College “continued to make merchandise from the Probation Challenge name without mention of Bailey, founder of the organization.

 

The Circuit Court of Cook County on August 14, 2009, ordered that Probation Challenge, an Illinois corporation, incorporated on September 24, 1980, “shall have exclusive use of the name “Probation Challenge”.

 

It further stated that, “City Colleges of Chicago and Olive-Harvey College, their agents, assignees, representatives and successors shall discontinue the use of the name “Probation Challenge”, effective immediately.

 

During Probation Challenge’s 30th Year Anniversary celebration, Bailey honored three journalists and a retired judge, recipients of the “Portrait of Achievers” award. Recipients were Mark Brown, Chicago Sun-Times columnist; Kathy Chaney, news reporter, Chicago Defender; Tasha Ransom, Fox News; and Judge Mary Maxwell-Thomas, retired.

 

Said Bailey: “It is hard to believe that 30-years have passed, and thousands of youth have passed through our doors. Many have gone on to colleges and universities as a result of the Probation Challenge program. Then, too, I’ve grown older and wiser. I still see the things of old and its ugly head of resistance to education continue to surface in many different forms.”

 

The “Show of Shows” entertainment included Marcus Gentry, Maurice, Charles Wright, and Sidney C. Evans. Maureen Forte served as Mistress of Ceremonies.

 

The 30th Year Anniversary celebration drew hundreds of attendees to the Double Tree Hotel, Alsip, Illinois.

 

Bailey and his Probation Challenge program received wide-spread accolades about the event, noting that it was a stellar, enlightening and  enjoyable evening for all in attendance.

 

Herbert Jones is the Chairman of Probation Challenge and Mayor Joe DuPar is Chairman Emeritus of the organization.