The Heart & Soul of Chicago TM JANUARY 2020 Celebrating REE 24 Years of Service F to the Community

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State Representative Rita Mayfield, Sandy Hart, President - Lake County Board, Former State Senator Susan Garrett, and Lauren Beth Gash - President- Founder, 10th District Democratic Organization. See story on page 11 Mary Ross Cunningham Achieves Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday for County See story on page 7 Toys For Tots Serve Over 7,000 Kids, Volunteers Make The Difference

Chi Eta Phi Sorority of Nurses were among the volunteers. See story on page 15 Page 2 Chicago People’s Voice January 2020

nor in the State of Illinois history. e year 2019 Carolyn Jean Pope announced that she is retiring as the entrepreneur of closed out a decade of Pope’s Florist and moving to Atlanta. Pope’s Florist is one of two African the 21st Century with American owned floral shops in Lake County. Real Men Grill introduced hopes for a new year of a County Wide cook-off of African American Men. Renee Whitehead cel - expectations as we as a ebrated 30 years as one of Lake County’s few female barbers. society and as human- On a sad note for newspapers and the newspaper industry, more than kind advances forward 100 local and regional newspapers folded due to competition from the in - into the future. Many ternet, fewer ad sales, and loss in readership. According to the Associated of us lost loved ones, Press, more than 1,400 newspapers/ magazines / publications have gone friends and family out of business over the last 15 years. e most notable of these were Ebony members and we cher - and Jet magazines which were a staple of the African American Community ish our memories and for about 70 years. the contributions that On the national level, President Donald Trump was impeached by the they made to our lives. United States Congress and awaits a trial by the U.S. Senate to determine Notably, we lost the if he will be removed from office. On the initial survey, there were about following: Actress 22 high profile individuals who were running for President on the Demo - and Tony Award cratic ticket. ree, considered to be very long shots, filed petitions to run The E.Reed Report winner Diahann against Trump as Republicans. Finally, my favorite new song released in 2019 was a simple but pas - 2019 Carrol, 84, to breast sionate tune by H.E.R – H.E.R. on Austin City Limits “Make it Rain”. In cancer; Nobel Lau - A Year In Review that song, “make it rain” are the only lyrics leaving the passion and the rete Toni Morrison, music to drum up visions of what the hearers see and feel as she sings. To died of pneumonia at 88; Filmmaker John Singleton (Boyz In the Hood) me, it is a song asking for God to refresh our land and our lives, through dies at 51 from a stroke; CEO of Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson, 60, the simple and natural cleaning process of rain. Like a nice cleaning snow, dies in his sleep; Congressman John Conyers of Michigan dies at 90; Con - it is sometimes nice to chill out, observe the beauty of God’s creations and gressman Elijah Cummings dies at 68; Baseball player Frank Robinson dies start all over again. As Tom Hanks quoted his mother in Forest Gump, at 83; and Author Ernest Gaines dies at 86 (e Autobiography of Miss sometimes you have to put the past behind you and move on. Jane Pitman, A Lesson Before Dying). My wish for each of our readers is that each of us will have a cleansing Isabelle Buckner died at the age of 86. She was former Principal of the experience in 2020. I hope that we release the bad, the sad, and the for - Carmen Buckner Elementary School in Waukegan. Civil Rights Activist, gettable experiences of the prior year. I pray that we may hold on to the Singer and Pastor, Rev. Clay Evans died at 94. good, learn from it, hit the reset button and start all over again. ere was tragedy that turned to triumphant in the miracle of Curtis As the great Al Green once sang, in 2020, I wish you Peace, Love and Hannibal who received a double organ operation Mother’s Day weekend, Happiness. a Heart and Kidney transplant. George Moore, Sr. was named Father of the Year by the Chicago Peoples Voice. Chief George Bridges, Jr. received the Rising Star Award by the Illinois Association of Park Districts. Brandon Ewing was named President of the Waukegan Public School District Board, being the youngest African American board president at 26. Mayor Leon Rockingham, Jr. was named President of the Illinois Mu - nicipal League. Chase omas, college student, ran and won a seat on the Board of Trustees for the Lake County Regional School Board. Judge George Bridges, Sr. was appointed to the Illinois Appellate Court. Rev. An - thony Conley received the CLC Harambee Award. John Idleburg won as the First African American Sheriff in the County’s history. He was also named the 2019 Most Influential African American of Lake County. Julianna Stratton became the first African American Lieutenant Gover - Chicago Peoples Voice Chicago Peoples Voice ChicagoPeoplesVoice.com The Heart & Soul of Chicago tm Lake County, Illinois Edition PO Box 1038 • Waukegan, Illinois 60079 847-473-550E1 -mail: [email protected] January 2020 Chicago People’s Voice Page 3

Trinity AME Church Choir Celebrates Christmas with Waukegan Housing Authority e Trinity A.M.E. Church Choir, under the direction of Robert lighted audience. Pictured are the Church’s Pastor, e Reverend Janice Presley, celebrated Christmas by singing holiday carols and ministering Brazil Cummings, Kittie Harden, Resident Council President for Harry through music to residents of two Waukegan Housing Authority facil - Poe Manor & Board Commissioner, and Ernestine Smith, Resident ities. e event was a free annual Holiday Dinner prepared for Housing Council President of Ravine Terrace and Celeste Rodney, Director of Authority residents. e Trinity A.M.E. Church sang several classic Human Resources for the Waukegan Housing Authority. Christmas songs ending with a melody of holiday favorites to a de -

Waukegan, Beach Park, Wadsworth, North Chicago & Gurnee Page 4 Chicago People’s Voice January 2020 Bonny Mayfield Celebrates 60 Years

Alderwoman 4th Ward, North Chicago, Bonny May - field celebrated her 60th Birthday with a small gath - ering of family and friends in mid-December. Sitting down from left to right are Angela Taylor-Cooks, Greg Parker,Linda Moore and Judy Langston. Standing from left to right are Dave Silverman,Victor Barrera,Carl Evans, Bonny Mayfield Mayor Leon Rock - ingham, Jr., Margie Levy and Maxine Ashcraft. January 2020 Chicago People’s Voice Page 5

Choose to Vote by Mail The in the March Primary OCKHART-WHITE EPORT L January 2020 R WAUKEGAN, Illinois – Severe winter weather could A communique of the Community Action Partnership of Lake County prevent you from going to your voting site on Election Day. Lake County Clerk Robin M. O’Connor is encouraging The Gift of Giving Lake County registered voters to vote by mail, including students away at school, traveling snowbirds, and those who beyond the holiday season will be out of town on Election Day. is option allows any help registered voter to receive and mark a ballot from the com - or many people, the holiday them fort of his or her own home F season is a time for giving with pre - and charity toward those less scrip - or have a ballot sent to a tem - fortunate. But the changing face of tions or porary alternate address. poverty means many charitable ges - vitamins tures have become less than effec - for their Mary Lockhart-White It's simple to vote by mail. tive. children. Executive Director Complete the short, required Increasingly, today's underpriv - A lot ileged are members of the working of work - application form and return poor. In Lake County and sur - ing poor don't have coverage for it to the Lake County Clerk’s rounding counties people are turn - doctor visits or prescriptions, or office before noon on urs - ing to food pantries when they're their coverage may come with a financially swamped. For many, you high deductible. Often, their chil - day, March 12. can't reduce rent, heating and util - dren go without medicine or vita - ity costs, so if you can save $40 on mins. If their doctor prescribes an groceries, that's a wise use of lim - antibiotic for a simple infection, ited resources. Some of the working that can tap their entire cash re - poor are so dependent on emer - sources for a month with one visit. gency food sources that it's not so Donating a pharmacy gift cer - emergency any more -- it's normal. tificate to the food pantry may not What a financially strapped fam - feel as fulfilling as giving a bag of ily may need more than food, are groceries, but it enables the family the day-to-day essentials not avail - to spend their disposable cash on able at emergency food banks and other things. ey can use coupons pantries. at the grocery to stretch their What they can't get at food budget but prescription medicines pantries are things like laundry de - don't go on sale. tergent, disposable diapers and in - e challenge of the holidays is fant formula which is desperately to avoid trendy holiday gifts, and to needed for families. So, if you give think practically for families living gift certificates for those types of on a limited budget: electric blan - items, you can really help a family's kets, flannel sheets, backpacks and finances -- not just at Christmas, school supplies. Snack foods, juice but through the year. boxes and fruit are all things chil - If you don't know the realities dren can serve to themselves. Re - of poverty in America, some chari - member, what relieves parents' table gestures may make you feel stress can make their lives easier good, but not do much for those in through the year. genuine need. If you want to make a real con - Also, many working poor have tribution, consider giving during little or no medical insurance cov - the year. Join Community Action erage through their jobs, so gift cer - Partnership all year in “Helping tificates at the local drug stores can People, Changing Lives”. Page 6 Chicago People’s Voice January 2020

Harbor Lites Chapter of the Links Sponsored a Holiday Giving Party for the Head Start site located at Christian Fellowship Church in Zion, IL. with games, lunch and gifts. January 2020 Chicago People’s Voice Page 7

County Board Vice Chairman Mary Ross Cunningham , Works to pass King Holiday, and License Reinstatement Program

tive that is helping County residents, the Road to Reinstatement program. By Elroy Reed is program was established to help individuals wo were unable to restore Effective 2021, e Lake or renew their driving privileges County Government will based on an inability to pay out - recognize Martin Luther standing fees and fines. King, Jr. Day as a Holiday “If people can’t drive to work, this for County Employees. Na - prevents them from obtaining or tionally, Martin Luther maintaining employment so that King, Jr. Day is a national they can support their families,” holiday and recognized by Cunningham explains. “e Road to most governments across the License Reinstatement Pilot program United States. In Lake provided individuals the ability to get County, the holiday was rec - their license renewed or reinstated.” ognized only a a floating hol - e pilot program had some limi - iday with an option for tations and did not offer the rein - employees to take it or not statement for DUI citations, child according to Vice-Chairman support suspensions, or felony cases. of the Lake County Board, e pilot program is now closed, but Mary Ross Cunningham. did help, according to Cunningham, “ey had a sixth holiday about 82 people reinstate their where you could take it as an driver’s license. option,” says Cunningham Mary Ross Cunningham is the first who lead the effort to get African American to serve as the King Day recognized. Vice-Chairman of the Lake County “Everyone was observing the Board of Commissioners. Cunning - King Holiday, but the ham has served on the board since County.” 2002 and represents District 9, With King Day as an of - which includes parts of Waukegan ficial holiday, all County offices would be closed and all employ - and North Chicago. She has served as the chair of the Law and ees would receive the time off with pay. e only exception Judicial and the Diversity and Inclusion committees and served would be public safety and emergency operations staff. on the Health and Community Services Committee, among oth - Commissioner Cunningham says that she feels really good ers. Prior to entering politics, she worked as a nurse with the U.S. about this accomplishment, especially since this is the third time Department of Veterans Affairs and a local nursing home. that she had tried to pass the measure. Her son, Sam, was elected mayor of Waukegan last year after Vice Chair Cunningham is also excited about another initia - 18 years on its City Council Page 8 Chicago People’s Voice January 2020

Five Black Women Hold the Top Five Beauty Pageant Crowns

From left, Kaliegh Garris, Miss Teen USA; Nia Franklin, Miss America; Cheslie Kryst, Miss USA; Zozibini Tunzi, Miss Universe; and Toni-Ann Singh, Miss World

In an unusual twist of fate, five black taneously held the titles of five of the world’s women now hold simultaneously the titles top beauty pageants. of the world’s top beauty pageants. I ese victories reflect a watershed year in watched the Miss Universe Pageant a few pageantry, which for decades struggled with weeks ago, and it was tough with many racism, segregation and gender stereotyping. beautiful women vying for the crown. I Kaliegh Garris won Miss Teen USA in have to say that the judges were fair. It came April and Cheslie Kryst won Miss USA in down to Miss Mexico, Miss Puerto and May — joining Nia Franklin, who was Miss South Africa. ey each had to answer named the 2019 Miss America last year — the same question. While Miss Mexico and it was the first time three of the titles were Miss Puerto Rico provided good answers held by black women. with only slight choking, Miss South Together, their wins showed how the com - African, Zozibini Tunzi, was on point and petitions have evolved from typically only answered with confidence. She said that she validating features associated with white wanted to win so that the world could see women, like lighter skin and straight hair. that women, black women that looked like at evolution could influence communities her was beautiful. globally, where blackness is rarely held as the e event was held in America, and she standard of beauty, explained Noliwe Rooks, said that her friends and family were up professor of Africana studies at Cornell Uni - until 4:00 am in the morning to see the pag - versity. eant through. She, deservingly, took the crown. -Elroy Reed, Mihir Zaveri and Noliwe About a week later, Toni-Ann Singh of Rooks contributed to this article Jamaica was crowned Miss World marking the first time that black women have simul - January 2020 Chicago People’s Voice Page 9 Page 10 Chicago People’s Voice January 2020 Could A Deep Recession Be Headed Our Way?

• Maintain a healthy emergency reserve fund. If you are still working, With markets consistently at all time highs, and the unemployment rate maintain six to 12 months of expenses in a safe, liquid account. Retirees at an all time low, experts agree that periods of economic downturn, or re - should aim to keep 12 to 24 months’ worth of expenses in reserve. cessions, are unavoidable and often follow a period of market growth. How - ever, experts also acknowledge that it is difficult to predict exactly when the • Pay down your debt. While incurring debt can be a smart financial next recession will begin. choice, carrying too much of it -- particularly high-interest debt -- can be It is important to manage the pieces of your financial life knowing that a dangerous, especially during a recession. Prioritize paying off your highest market decline is possible, regardless of the exact timing. A Certified Finan - interest consumer-related loans (credit card and auto) and then work your cial Planner (CFP) can provide you with competent, ethical advice on how way down to the lower interest ones. Try to avoid taking on any new debt. to financially prepare to weather a down market. Here are five steps you can take today to get ready for a possible reces - • Maintain a diversified portfolio. Creating and adhering to a diversified sion: portfolio spreads your risk across different asset classes. You may need to rebalance periodically by trading up assets to maintain your desired level • Create or revisit your financial plan. Now is a good time to update your of asset allocation. Be sure that your allocation is tied to your long-term fi - financial plan, including your savings strategy for retirement, to ensure it nancial goals, instead of basing it on the market’s ups and downs. can withstand a market decline. If you do not yet have a financial plan, start working to put one in place ahead of a recession. A CFP professional can provide you with guidance on navigating any of these financial moves to prepare for a recession. To find a CFP professional • Develop a cash flow. e simple technique of identifying how much near you, visit letsmakeaplan.org. money is coming in and how much is going out can help you develop a e good news is that recessions do not last forever. Taking these proac - short-, intermediate- and long-term plan that keeps you in control of your tive steps now will help protect you from significant financial damage and finances. quickly recover from potential losses. -Statepoint Media contributed to this article. Looking to Buy a Home? 2020 May Be Your Year (StatePoint) If buying a home is on your near-future to-do list, experts say that 2020 may be a good year to make it happen. Mortgage interest rates are near historic lows, providing you with the opportunity to finance a new home purchase at a much lower cost. According to a new forecast from Freddie Mac, mortgage rates will stay in the 3-4 percent range for all of 2020 and 2021, giving prospective home - owners substantial time to plan their purchase. is, combined with modest inflation and a solid labor market, makes for good climate to buy a home with a fixed rate mortgage. For those who are already homeowners, refi - nancing now may be a good idea. “For those serious about homeownership, today’s sub 4 percent mort - gage rates should not be taken for granted,” says Freddie Mac chief econo - mist, Sam Khater. “For comparative purposes, in 2000, rates averaged eight percent; and in the 80s, they spiked to 18.5 percent.” Khater stresses that while mortgage rates are an essential factor to con - sider in the home-buying process, there are other important items to think about as well as you lay the groundwork for your purchase. ese include getting a firm handle on your finances, knowing your credit score (and tak - ing steps to boost it if necessary) and familiarizing yourself with down pay - ment options. For more information and tools on home buying and homeownership, visit myhome.freddiemac. Whether you are making the jump from renting to owning, or looking for a home that better meets your current needs, now may be a great time to consider making your real estate dreams a reality. Today’s low rates could save you money for years to come. January 2020 Chicago People’s Voice Page 11 Sandy Hart Receives Mikva Leadership Award

Pictured are officials of the 10th Congressional Democratic Party with Former State Senator Susan Garrett. Sandy Hart, County Board Chairman, and Lauren Beth Gash, President of the 10th Congressional Dems as they presented the Mikva Leadership Award. e event incidentally was held the night that the U.S. Congress On Wednesday, December 18, 2019, the Illinois Tenth Congres - voted to impeach President Donald Trump. Renato Mariotti ad - sional District Democrats (Tenth Dems) held its Annual Awards dressed the process, the charges and the likelihood of whether the Dinner at the Hyatt Regency Deerfield. Lake County Board Chair impeachment would lead to removal from office. He stated that the Sandy Hart, the first Democratic Chair of the Lake County Board, matter would now go to the Senate where a trial would be held. was named the 2019 recipient of the Mikva Leadership Award. Tenth Dems is a grassroots political organization that works to Tenth Dems also honored Jeanine Chyna with the Founders elect Democrats to all levels of government within Illinois' 10th Award, and omas Recht with the Rosenblit Volunteer Award for Congressional District. During the last election, the Tenth Demo - their contributions to the group. cratic organization helped to place a historic number of Democratic e keynote speaker was CNN Legal Analyst Renato Mariotti. officials in office. Mariotti is a former federal prosecutor, POLITICO Magazine Legal Affairs Columnist, and host of the "On Topic" podcast. -Elroy Reed

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Interfaith Forum, Jan. 10 Living Waters Apostolic Speakers at the forum will include Pentecostal Church (Lake County, IL) e City of Lake County State’s Attorney 2001 Seymour Avenue North Chicago, Illinois 60064-0559 Waukegan, the Waukegan Police De - Michael Nerheim, Waukegan Mayor partment, the Lake County State’s Sam Cunningham, Waukegan Police Phone • 1-847-689-1955 : EMAIL: [email protected] Attorney’s Office, and the United Chief Wayne Walles, Lake County Church Schedule States Department of Justice Com - Sheriff John Idleburg, Assistant U.S. Christian Education 10:00 a.m. munity Relations Service will host an Attorney Georgia Alexis, Joseph Sunday Morning Worship 11:30 a.m. 4th Sunday, Women's Ministry 11:30 A.m. interfaith forum entitled “Protecting Holzman of the Federal Bureau of Tuesday Fast & Prayer 7:00 p.m. • Places of Worship” on Jan. 10, from Investigations, James Paine of Home - Thursday- Bible Study 7:30 p.m. 1 p.m. until 4:30 p.m. at the Gene - land Security, and a panel discussion see eater, 203 N. Genesee Street in led by Pastor Rick Harris. Waukegan. To RSVP or receive more infor - Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist e event is open to all faith- mation for the event, please contact Church of Waukegan based leaders and community mem - Jackie Quinn of the Lake County 409 Wainlow Avenue• Waukegan, IL 60085 bers and will discuss ways to prevent State’s Attorney’s Office at and respond to hate crimes against [email protected], Maria Bor - 847-244-5503 places of worship. e forum will in - jon from the City of Waukegan at Sunday: clude an overview of religious hate [email protected], or Sunday School 9:30 a.m. Sunday Worship Service 11:00 a.m. crimes, how to fortify and emergency Kenith Bergeron at kenith.berg - Sunday Evening Service 7:00 p.m. plan for places of worship, and how [email protected]. People are urged to Wednesday: to prevent and respond to active RSVP for the event by Jan. 6. ere Mid-week Worship Study 7:00 p.m. Pastor: Rev. Arthur J. Gass Sr. shooter situations. is no cost to attend the forum. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. -John 3:3

Christian Leadership School Saturday, December 19th, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Registration and Continental Breakfast Begins at 7:30 a.m. January 2020 Chicago People’s Voice Page 13

Crossword Puzzle THEME: YEAR-IN-REVIEW DOWN 1. Grazing ground ACROSS 2. Maple tree or laptop brand 1. Pin location 3. Downward 6. BBQ sauce alternative dog, e.g. 9. *Volodymyr Zelensky's capital 4. Skip the big 13. 0103 food poison wedding 14. Between sea and shining sea, abbr 5. Benign fatty 15. Native of American Great Plains tumor 16. Famous fabulist 6. Pipe problem 17. Band performanc 7. *Europe 18. Prefix with national and pol voted to ban 19. *The Mueller ____ single-____ 21. *European country declared to be no plastics longer free 8. Take a tubby 23. Ostrich-like bird 9. *Best Actress 24. Fix a horse in Supporting 25. Old Spice: "Smell Like a Man, ____" Role Oscar-win - 28. Diva's delivery ner 30. Opposite of underdog 10. Tiny bit 35. Seed covering 11. Pitcher 37. Share a boundary 12. Subject to 39. Miller's product change 40. Leave behind 15. To some ex - 41. *Flute playing rapper tent, two words 43. Pot contribution 20. Not urban 44. Make corrections 22. Final, abbr. 46. Days in Havana 24. More gos - 47. Nomad's round house samer 48. Caesar derivative 25. *Actor in 50. "Fifteen Miles on the ____ Canal" Leading Role 52. Mad Hatter's drink Oscar-winner 53. Hofbr‰uhaus offering 26. Wafting 55. Bard's before pleasantness 57. *He got life plus 30 54. Fluorescent red dye 27. One born to Japanese immigrants 56. Make an effort 61. *Eurosceptics vs. pro-Europeanists point 29. Footnote acronym of debate 57. Formerly, formerly 31. Performance with acts 58. Better than never 64. Sweeney Todd's weapon 32. Holey confection 65. Seek damages 59. #38 Down, alt. sp. 33. Grossly unconventional 60. Some blow their own 67. *Archie was one before he was born 34. *Swedish environmentalist 69. *Bran, Lord of the Six Kingdoms, e.g. 61. *"Green Book," winner of ____ Picture 36. Eye contact 62. Hip bones 70. "____ Now or Never" 38. Nicholas II was the last one 71. *What Jeffrey Epstein had in store 63. Salty drop 42. Willow twig 66. Shoshonean 72. Seaside bird 45. Go ashore 68. Summer sandwich? 73. Volleyball divider 49. Tombstone acronym 74. Set in motion 51. Builds Page 14 Chicago People’s Voice January 2020

Janet Kilkelly Earns who complete demanding education re - quirements and have a record of signifi - Certified Municipal cant contributions to their local government, community and state. Clerk Designation In October 2019, both Janet E. Kilkelly, City Clerk and her Deputy City Clerk, David A. Patterson, achieved the status of Registered Municipal Clerk (RMC) through the Municipal Clerks of Illinois after completion of a rigorus 3 year educational program in addition to professional development requirements. To better serve their community with the skills needed, lifelong learning is not only desirable, it is necessary for all in local government to reach the highest standard of thier office. "e City of Waukegan takes immense pride in City Clerk Kilkelly and Deputy Clerk Patter - son’s educational accomplishments and commitment to keep pace with growing demands and changing needs of the cit - Waukegan, IL (December 23, 2019) izens served through the Office of the – Waukegan City Clerk Janet E. Kilkelly City Clerk,” stated Mayor Sam Cun - has recently earned the designation of ningham Mayor Sam Cunningham also Certified Municipal Clerk (CMC), acknowledged these achievements at a which is awarded by the International recent Council meeting. Institute of Municipal Clerks Inc. Janet E. Kilkelly was elected City e institute grants the CMC desig - Clerk in 2017. nation only to those municipal clerks January 2020 Chicago People’s Voice Page 15

Marines Host Toy For Tots At Neal

Local celebrities and elected officials were on hand to help. A People’s Voice Special Report

Toys for Tots Program is a holiday program administered by the US Marine Corps. ey also often partner with other non-profits, such as the Chenier-ompson Foundation of Waukegan to provide free Christmas gifts and assistance to children in the Chicago region who would other - wise receive none. In Lake County, Toys for Tots distributed from Neal Elementary school in mid - December. According to organizers, about 2, 345 families were serviced including 7,235 children who received gifts. About 50 to 60 volunteers helped to organize, and help with the day’s activities. Pictured are volunteers who came to the distribution site to help out.

Save the Date A Black-Tie-Affair 2020 Most Influential African Americans of Lake County Awards featuring a celebrity guest & Lifetime Achievement Awards Upscale Plated Dinner & Valet Parking Call 847-473-5501 Saturday, February 22, 2020 For More Information 204 Genesee Street, Waukegan, IL 60085 Page 16 Chicago People’s Voice January 2020