Chicago Defender

New Charter School Opens Near Altgeld Community

"I would say about 70 percent of our students Uve at Altgeld Gardens," said Michael Campbell, principal of Lloyd Bond School. "We have students from all parts of Chicago, from the North Side to the West Side." "After we were approached, by the Archdiocese to buy the building we consulted with the Chicago PubUc Schools," [Elizabeth Purvis] told the Defender. "CPS had identified Altgeld gardens as one of its targeted areas for a new school, charter or non-charter. So on the advice of CPS we dec...

Sengstacke Son Dead at Age 35

"Saief worked with Uptown Magazine where he increased their circulation and distribution exponentially in the Chicago, Atlanta, New York and Washington Metropolitan areas. Though he could be brutally honest, there was also a gentle side of Saief that made him easily approachable. With an infectious smile, people were greatly attracted to Saief because he was easygoing," Robert Sengstacke said of his son. Saief's family remembers his love for food and his healthy appetite.

Urban League's Jackson Eyeing Senate

"I'm not a maintainer. If you're looking to maintain or if you're gonna make small, incremental progress, I'm not your girl for that. But if you're looking for someone...to come in and look at a situation, or look at a problem and look at it differently and come up with a creative and different way of looking at that same old problem to get a different result, that's what gets me going." "This seat isn't white. Black, brown ... it doesn't belong to any one particular community, it belongs to ...

Luther South Looking to Stay Open - Under New Name, Management

The New Luther South Math, Science & Performing Arts High School and middle school. 3100 W 87th St.. formerly Luther South High School, is expected to open Sept. 8 despite being $2.3 million in debt, said the Rev. Paul Anderson, the school's executive director and chair of its 13-member board. "I am 90 percent sure Luther South will open as scheduled this year," Anderson told the Defender. "Our lender was very pleased with the proposal and now it's just a matter of formality to seal the d...

Report: Youth Detentions Decreasing Nationally

recidivism disparities remain. Looking at just the AfricanAmerican juvenile offenders, 57 percent did not recidivate. With White juvenile offenders, 78 percent did not recidivate. Of Hispanic juvenile offenders, 65 percent did not recidivate. "These are embedded principals in the way me Multnomah County Juvenile Justice System operates," he said. "It's about making good poUcy decisions on the data." "Part of the problem with treating mental illness in juvenile detention is that the institutio...

Obama's Presidency Is Legit

We recognize mat mere are some who will leave no stone unturned, no lunatic fringe unraveled, until they come up with a way to challenge the nation's 44th president. These are me same people who continue to insist that Obama is a practicing Muslim (and coincidently the same people who raked him over the coals about his Christian pastor). They are truly rabid, and the truth merely stokes their illness even more. That is not enough for those conspiracy theorists who say that me state of Hawaii,...

Getting to the Netroots of the Digital Divide

Last week I packed up my things and headed off to Netroots Nation in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Most of you are thinking, what is "Netroots Nation" and are assuming it has something to do with hairnets or hairdye, but neither guess is correct. "Netroots Nation 09" is the fourth annual meeting of the political left's largest most influential groups of bloggers, writers, and web activists. All of the big names were there, from Moveon.org. representatives to Actblue, and me political bigwigs made...

Race Not the Only Reason for Jump in Obama Assassination Threats

[Obama] campaign aides and volunteers continued to report occasional racial' taunts and jibes when mey passed out literature and pitched Obama in some areas. This further increased the jitters that Obama was at risk. As the showdown with John McCain heated up in the general election, the flood of crank, crackpot and screwball threats that promise murder and mayhem toward Obama continued to pour in. This prompted me Secret Service to tighten security and take even more elaborate measures to in...

We Must Support the Youth Promise Act

On July 15, I testified before the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security in support of the Youth PROMISE Act, because I'm confident that it will be a powerful tool for dismantling the pipeline to prison. Hundreds of thousands of children and youths are being funneled into the pipeline each year at younger and younger ages. It's a national disgrace that at-risk children are more likely to enter the pipeline to prison than they are of receiving the help they nee...

Obama Flu Running Rampant

I've already discussed the fine citizens who have decided that the post of President of the Board of Cook County Commissioners is the greatest job in ? he world. Four Black leading officials are squaring off for the chance to head up Cook County. A sitting U.S. Congressman, Danny Davis, now wants to give up Beltway politics for a chance to engage in Clark Street politics. A sitting Chicago alderman (Toni Preck winkle) thinks she has the best ideas for the county. The current Clerk of the Circ...

What Is the Good Life?

What is the good life? Is it wealth, fame or fortune? Unfortunately, if you have watched the recent news, it seems a number of the "rich and famous" end up in reputably tragic situations-Michael Jackson, Steve McNair, Bernie Madoff and etc. Likewise, our bodies will respond to what we eat, drink or otherwise injest. Like our minds, our bodies, if not exercised regularly will operate at less than peak efficiency. No amount of money or fame can compensate for poor mental or physical health. Mic...

House Auction an Opportunity to Stabilize Local Communities

In the past, I've shared with Defender readers my concerns over the long-term negative economic impact the mortgage crisis could have on African Americans through Chicago Urban League President Cheryle Jackson's column. One thing 1 know for sure: Just because foreclosures aren't leading the news doesn't mean the crisis is over. In communities of color, the record loss of homes adds up to a loss of economic power. And we've only begun to feel the impact, I'm afraid. Most importantly, identify ...

Celebrate, Party Urban League Style

It was a lot of work during the day, as panelists, plenary sessions and workshops let conference attendees know how to seize economic opportunities and how to take them to the "next" level, not only surviving but also thriving. The convention was all about finding that "path to power," as its theme indicated. From a VIP soiree at the prestigious Trump Tower hotel to a packed out "drop-it-like-it's hot" party at Hotel Sax, convention goers showed that you can't have all work with no play. [......

Jive Recording Artist Livvi Franc Is 'That Chic'

LV: I'm still learning, but it is very easy to fall into that manufactured, sort of set kind of way when you're given a song, and you sing it and they tell you how to look, how to act and how to present yourself. Of course, for me, I think so far I've been really lucky because I've been given the chance to be myself. And it helps that I'm a songwriter because I write from my experiences and emotions and from what I'm feeling that day or what my friends are feeling that day. The style of music...

Cultural Performances Continue Around the City and Suburbs

THE EROICA TRIO will be interpreting the music of Gershwin's Porgy and Bess Fantasy, Bernstein's West Side Story Suite, Gershwin's Three Preludes and Mendelssohn's Piano Trio No. 1 in D Minor, Opus 49 in the Martin Theatre at 8 p.m. WORLD CLASS JAZZ in the Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park features the celebration of a jazz hero: Fred Anderson's 80tfi birthday with the Great Black Music Ensemble including George Lewis, Francis Wong, Ed Wilkerson, Tomeka Reid and Greg Ward. ODIE AND SHA...

Wait a Minute Mr. Postman, Keep Branch Open

"I have a P.O. box that I've had for over 10 years, and I still go to mail letters and buy stamps, even mail packages," said [Dean Roland]. "I don't want anyone to know that my mail isn't being checked daily while I'm out of town. Knowing that the post office will keep the mail during my time away brings me comfort. If that options isn't available for me, that'll be a problem," said [Esther Arko], who considers herself "old school." Diane Edwards doesn't rely on the postal service for everyti...

Jazz Great Ahmad Jamal to Perform at 20th African Fest, Sept. 4 - 7

Performances by world-renowned jazz pi- anist Ahmad Jamal, South African songs-tress Lorraine klaa-sen. vocal- ist Julia Huff, musician Book-er T. Jones. Congolese touring ensem- ble Sou-kous Stars, the first U.S. tour of the Cuban group Los 3 de la Ha- bana, the dance group Spirit and more highlight one of the largest events focusing on Af-rica the "must attend" 20m annual African festival of die arts which promises to "rock" Washington Park the Labor Day weekend. Other community civic and b...

Back to School Costs Lots of Cash

"Luckily I worked a lot of overtime this mondi. Otiierwise, I don't know how I would have managed," [Melaine Baxter] explained. "Families are already robbing Peter to pay Paul and now it's time to go back to school." "Ideally, I would like to buy five uniforms for each of them but I can only afford two apiece," she told the Defender. 'That means they will have to wash dieir uniforms out twice a week. "If the school could at least pick up the uniform tab, mat would make it so much easier for p...

Summertime Sweet Corn Recipes

I get this question all the time about how to get com off the cob without getting it all over the place. I remove com kernels from the cob using a bundt pan. To do this, stand the shucked com cob upright, with the tip of cob placed in the center hole of the bundt pan. Holding the cob steady, use a sharp knife and make long downward strokes on the cob, separating the kernels from the cob. The kernels will fall into the pan leaving you with less mess of those "flying kernels." Corn fritters 1 1...

Sheri Jones Moffett Talks About Being 'Renewed'

SJM: It's about empowering women to be there best selves. I want people to look inside and see that God has made a pure investment on the inside each and every one of us and it's our responsibility to give Him a great return. But you can't do that if you don't know who you are and you don't value yourself the way God does. Change your mind and realize. *I don't have to stand next to the next person and feel like I have to measure up to them to be great, but where I am is great enough. I don't...