Five successful women who at one time were single moms will be celebrated April 1, noon-3 p.m., when Chicago State University Foundation hosts its Second Annual “Essence of an Angel,” a scholarship luncheon, at CSU’s Academic Library, 95
Five successful women who at one time were single moms will be celebrated April 1, noon-3 p.m., when Chicago State University Foundation hosts its Second Annual “Essence of an Angel,” a scholarship luncheon, at CSU’s Academic Library, 95th and King Dr. Proceeds will fund scholarships for single moms who currently attend the university.
The accomplished Chicago honorees who’ve made significant contributions to CSU and the Chicago community are Barbara Bates, owner, Bates Designs; Dorothy Brown, clerk, Circuit Court of Cook County; Amy Hillard, founder/CEO, The Comfort Cake Co.; Leana Flowers, retired exec, Urban Partnership Bank; and Kimmah Shah, CSU student and founder of Get Tight Get Right. They’ll share their stories and talk on the importance of being an “Angel” (role model) to CSU students and others. (Over 71 percent of CSU’s student population is female, and of that number over 30 percent are single parents.)
Honorees were selected by past honorees, CSU Foundation board members and staff. Criteria included commitment to serving others in the greater community, commitment to CSU and its students, service as a role model for students, faculty and staff and excellence in job performance or field of endeavor.
Kelly Williams, motivational speaker, parent educator and founder of singlemamahood.com, will sign copies of Single Mama Do’s and Don’ts, her self-help, no-nonsence book of support, appreciation, empowerment and parenting tips. Dr. Garrard McClendon, Emmy-winning talk show host, emcees. Call (773) 995-3839.
Star Light! Star Bright! – Syndicated TV’s Judge Greg Mathis; Gov. Deval Patrick, Commonwealth of Massachusetts; syndicated radio’s Michael Baisden; award-winning actor Harry Lennix; and Simeon Career Academy’s Jabari Ali Parker, #1-ranked junior high school basketball player in the U.S., each receive high honors from DuSable Museum of African American History during the Board of Trustees’ annual $350 per person black-tie gala, “A Night of 100 Stars,” on April 14 at the Museum.
The board’s executive committee consists of Clarence Bourne, Patricia Knazze, Troy Ratliff, Ghian Foreman, Reanetta Hunt and Dr. Carol Adams, president/CEO. The evening of non-stop cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, buffet supper, awards presentations and super entertainment kicks-off at 6 p.m. with a Red Carpet Reception.
Gala chairs: Nicole Johnson-Scates (Fifth Third Bank) and Walter and Shirley Massey; and on the planning committee: Deborah O. Brown, Susan Campbell, Sandra Rand, Murrell J.H. Duster, Frances Guichard, Delores Irvin, Zara Johnson, Lorrie Jones, Sandra McCollum, Kimberly McCullough-Starks, Valerie Stoudemire, Jeanette Sublett Neal, Toi Salter, Sandra Reynolds, Dr. Dolores Cross, et al. Award presenters: ABC7 Chicago’s Charles Thomas and Val Warner.
Corporate sponsors include PNC, Illinois Tool Works, Bank of America, Loop Capital Markets, Magellan Corp., McDonalds, Advocate Health Care, Central City Productions, Macy’s, NBC-5, RR Donnelley, The Boeing Co., W.W. Grainger, U.S. Bank, Univ. of Chicago Medicine and Office of Civic Engagement. Call (773) 947-0600.
Who’s Who! – Real Times Media (parent company of the Chicago Defender and several other leading African American newspapers) present the Unveiling Program & Networking Reception for the fourth edition of Who’s Who in Black Chicago: Celebrating African American Achievement: A Salute to Blacks in Business on March 29 in the Grand Lobby of Merchandise Mart Plaza. It all gets underway at 6 p.m. with hors d’oeuvres, cash bar and entertainment featuring performances by Black Ensemble Theater. The official one-hour unveiling program begins at 7:30 p.m.
Hosts: James Reynolds Jr., Loop Capital Markets; Dr. Carol L. Adams, DuSable Museum; Merry Green, associate publisher of Who’s Who in Black Chicago and MGPG Events; and Hiram E. Jackson, Real Times Media. To avoid the rush, pre-order your copy @ $39.95; call (614) 481-7300. Reception sponsors: Clear Channel, ComEd, Loop Capital, StateFarm, Level 1, NBC5 Chicago, Chicago Defender, Rome’s Joy Catering, Nestle Waters, MGPG Events Inc. Catering, Magnolia Spice Teas, House of DuVall, Norman’s Bistro, Wirtz Beverage Group and Big Daddy’s Bar-Be-Que.
Show-Biz Buzz – Mary Mary, multi Grammy-winning gospel music duo consisting of sisters Erica Atkins-Campbell and Trecina Atkins-Campbell who are often credited for broadening the fan base of urban contemporary gospel by introducing elements of soul music, hip hop, funk and jazz, will star in their own self-titled reality series on WE-TV premiering March 29. The busy married sisters and moms passed thru town this week to drum-beat for their new venture … Sharif Atkins (formerly Dr. Michael Gallant of TV’s “ER,” guest starring in “Criminal Mind,” “The Good Wife,” “Eve” and so many other TV successes, has gone from “guest starring” roles to a “regular” on NSA’s “White Collar.” Sharif,
a Chicagoan, a grad of Whitney Young High School and Northwestern Univ., is the son of very proud parents, Judge and Mrs. David Atkins (she’s Rev. Jacqueline Triche Akins and also an attorney).
Newsy Names – Hats off to internationally renowned historian, Dr. Timuel D. Black, a.k.a. “Chicago’s Renaissance Man,” who received the distinguished President’s Award from Dr. Tyson King-Meadows during the 43rd National Conference of Black Political Scientists in Las Vegas … Colleagues, associates and good buddies of Cook County Commissioner William Beavers will assemble on April 9, 5:30-7:30 p.m., at McDonald’s Restaurant at Navy Pier for a fundraiser to benefit his Legal Defense Fund. Sponsorship levels range from $500 to $2,500; individual tickets @ $125 for open bar and buffet are available at his southeast side office, 2548 E. 79th St.
Cook County President Toni Preckwinkle, Sister Claudette Marie Muhammad, chief of protocol for the Hon. Minister Louis Farrakhan and a member of the Governor’s Commission on Discrimination and Hate Crimes in Illinois, and Rev. Willie Taplin Barrow, a.k.a. “The Little Warrior,” co-chair of Rainbow-PUSH Coalition, received Women’s History Month Awards from the Chicago Chapter of the Women’s Federation for World Peace USA during Saturday’s celebration at South Side Community Art Center to acknowledge “the contributions of women in history and those present in contemporary society” … Dr. Sopia Gill hosts the Grand Opening of her Bronzeville Animal Clinic, 203 E. 31st St., on April 1. Ribbon cutting, 3 p.m.; celebration, 4-7 p.m. … Sixth Grace Presbyterian Church, 600 E. 35th St., presents “Black Men of Honor,” a college fair for young men, 6th-12th grades, on Saturday, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Call Ivory Harris, (773) 285-9600, or visit blackstarjournal.org … Marc Brooks hosts “live jazz” every Wednesday at Park 52 – this week featuring vocalist Maggie Brown. Showtime, 7 p.m. No cover; great food/drinks; valet parking. Call (773) 241-5200 for dinner reservations … Happy b’day to Rose Jackson, Jai Michael McMillian, Franchot Givens, Beverly Normand, April Marie Barry, Roman Warren, Rev. Donald B. Register, Aushia Wilkes, Vanessa Wilkes.
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