“Blue Monday” Our own Illinois Senate President, Emil Jones Jr., is the honorary benefit chair for the Westside Association for Community Action’s Blue Monday Extravaganza XXII on July 14 (a Monday, of course!), 5 p.m.%uFFFD9 p.m., at the memb
Besides the brief program emceed by Janet Jones, board chair, the benefit evening, “celebrating WACA’s 37 years of service to the Chicagoland community,” will feature a lavish and ever-abundant buffet, silent auction, dancing, relaxing, fellowshipping, mixin’ and minglin’ on the outdoor terrace adjacent to Lake Michigan with a backdrop of Chicago’s world famous skyline and Millennium Park–and as the sun sets, an awe-inspiring view of the glittering downtown skyscrapers. All that for only $150 a person. Wanna join in? Contact Lola Jenkins at (773) 277-4400, ext. 117, or lola@wacanetwork.com. Yep! Of course, we’re there!
President’s Pride%uFFFDMembers of the Cook County Bar Association (African American lawyers) along with family, colleagues and friends, totaling some 500 persons, were on hand when Z. (Zeophus) Williams took her 2008-2009 presidential oath of office administered by Chief Judge Timothy Evans of the Circuit Court of Cook County during CCBA’s 94th Annual Awards & Installation Banquet at the Hyatt Regency Hotel. The keynoter was Rev. Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr., pastor emeritus of Trinity United Church of Christ, who received a lengthy standing ovation at the culmination of his remarks. Among other program participants: Fr. Michael Pfleger, pastor of the Faith Community of St. Sabina, who introduced Rev. Wright; Carl K. Turpin, outgoing president; and Gwen Rowan and Sharon Strick land, banquet co-chairs. CCBA is the oldest and largest affiliate of the National Bar Association (NBA), the country’s largest group of African American lawyers and judges.
Fun & Funds!%uFFFDGirls’ Night Out for the Kids, the third annual fundraiser for the Chicago Children’s Advocacy Center for Sexually Abused Children, hosted by CCAC’s Auxiliary Board and sponsored by U.S. Cellular, is Aug. 18 at the trendy Carnivale Restaurant, 702 W. Fulton St., where some 500 of us gals will enjoy an exciting evening of spicy and delicious fun: food, drinks, entertainment, belly dance lessons, massages, tarot card and angel readings, chiropractic screenings, an eyelash technician and more! Co-hosts: Mary Mitchell, Sun-Times; Merri Dee, Ch. 9; Barbara Lumpkin, Carole Brown, CTA and Lehman Brothers; and Avis LaVelle, LaVelle Cousin Issues Management, among others. Call (312) 492-3825 or visit chicagocac.org for $125 tickets ($175 if you wait to buy ’em at the door). The Auxiliary Board hosted the first Guys Night Out for the Kids & Wine Tasting a couple months ago and raised nearly $100,000.
Newsy Names! Belated happy b’day to Rev. Clay Evans, the esteemed pastor emeritus and founder of “The Ship” (a.k.a. Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church); to politically astute Betty Magness; and to hair stylist par excellence and TUCC songbird Pat Dabney, who celebrated on the Mag Mile at Grand Lux Caf%uFFFD . . . Art Di Gras III, Gallery Guichard’s third anniversary indoor/outdoor celebration is Aug. 8-9, at 3521 S. King Dr., say two of the owners, Andre and Frances Guichard. Defender editorial cartoonist Tim Jackson is donating the original illustrations drawn during his eight years as art director of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois’ LifeTimes publication to the Vivian G. Harsh Research Collection of Afro-American History and Literature at the Carter G. Woodson Regional Library in Chicago. Jackson draws cartoons for the Defender as well other media outlets. DeShana L. Forney, director of Illinois Housing Development Authority, addresses a City Club of Chicago Public Policy Lunch on Sept. 25 at Maggiano’s.
Money Matters%uFFFDStephanie Neely, our city treasurer who has made helping Chicago small business owners a top priority, hosts the 2008 Free Small Business Expo, Your Connection to Success in Chicago, Aug. 1, 8 a.m.%uFFFD3:30 p.m., at UIC Forum, 725 W. Roosevelt (at Halsted). There’ll be workshops on marketing and writing business plans and networking sessions with over 150 exhibitors. “Chicago may be known as the City of Big Shoulders,” Neely says, ”but we are also a city of small businesses. About 92 percent of business licenses in our city go to small businesses, and small business owners are a key to the overall economy of our neighborhoods, providing vital services and jobs to their communities.” Advance registration is highly recommended. Early registrants can pre-order a free lunch. Small Business Expo provides experts and info needed for anyone who has dreamed of starting a small business or taking their current small business to the next level. Register today at (312) 744-EXPO.
Family Fund Raiser%uFFFDIlllinois State Rep. Arthur Turner (9th) hosts Our Family Backyard Bar-Be-Que on Aug. 9, 5 p.m. -8:30 p.m., at the Turner Family Home. “After a long and arduous winter,” Turner says, “we are excited to prepare for an evening of lots of fun, food, drinks and reconnecting with friends and colleagues.” Choose a support level: Sizzlin’ VIP , $2,000 and up; Smokin’ VIP, $1,000 and up; Saucy Individual, $150; and Neighborhood Support, $50. The two top levels will be guests at a special VIP Reception at 2 p.m. Call (773) 277-4702 to sign on for an evening of fun, fellowship and “que.”
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