today.uic.edu July 11 2018 Volume 37 / Number 35 today.uic.edu For the community of the University of Illinois at Chicago Building strong communities Obama Foundation event aims to empower next generation of leaders / pg. 3 Photo: Jenny Fontaine Daily fasting East Meets Gilman Softball player works for West highlights scholars study named league weight loss collaborations abroad this scholar-athlete summer of season 5 6-7 11 12 Facebook / uicnews Twitter / uicnews YouTube / uicmedia Instagram / thisisuic & uicamiridis 2 UIC News | Wednesday, July 11, 2018 today.uic.edu UIC News | Wednesday, July 11, 2018 3 Obama Foundation hosts Community Conversation at UIC By Carlos Sadovi — [email protected] With University of Illinois at Chicago ship, it must be here,’” Simas said. Chancellor Michael Amiridis standing Amiridis said that UIC’s relationship alongside him before hundreds of grass- with the foundation was a strong one built roots leaders, Obama Foundation CEO on many “common values” that the uni- David Simas recalled how the former versity has maintained throughout the president told him in 2016 that his best last 50 years. work was still to come. “We also have a common desire for That work, creating stronger commu- change and opportunity,” Amiridis said. nities, was on display Tuesday at the Isa- “This institution (UIC) was created by and dore and Sadie Dorin Forum at UIC, where for the people of Chicago, and it was cre- the foundation hosted the Chicago Com- ated on the principles of public service, munity Conversation. civic engagement and social justice. The event included daylong panel ses- “We are providing solutions to some of sions on issues ranging from social justice the toughest social crises that we are fac- initiatives, youth as game changers, build- ing.” ing strong communities, using art and A pre-recorded video featured former museums to represent communities, and President Barack Obama, who referred to the availability of health care in under- the fact that the gathering coincided with Chancellor Michael Amiridis addresses the crowd at the Obama Foundation’s Chicago served communities. The foundation Juneteenth, the annual celebration of the Community Conversation, hosted at UIC. (Photo: Jenny Fontaine) plans a series of these discussions emancipation of enslaved black people in around the country and internationally, confederate states and the announce- mean to be free on this anniversary in a equality and lack of resources in poorer including an upcoming gathering in Jo- ment of the abolition of slavery in Texas nation where families are being torn apart communities can have major and hannesburg, South Africa. — two years after the Emancipation Proc- at the border,” said Lee, who is executive long-lasting repercussions on health “We looked at him (Obama) and said, lamation became law. director of the National Public Housing care issues that are passed down from ‘What?’,” Simas said. “He said, ‘I want to “We have a lot to learn from you, about Museum. “We come together on this day one generation to the next, said Dr. devote the rest of my life to creating an what you’ve been doing to make change — like on all days — to do what Chicago- Robert Winn, associate vice chancellor institution whose sole mission is to inspire possible. Change isn’t easy; sometimes it ans have always done when faced with for community based practice and di- and empower the next generation of lead- can seem like progress comes frustrat- great injustice. We organize. Because rector of the University of Illinois Cancer ers to change their world.’ That is our ingly slow. I know that firsthand. But none of us are free until all of us are free.” Center. North Star.” sometimes, to strengthen my faith, I think The event drew notable activists and Winn, who also is a professor of UIC hosted the group’s first major pro- about citizens like you,” Obama said. leaders such as Billy Branch, a Grammy medicine at UIC, said there is an import- gram because of its early commitment to Lisa Yun Lee, UIC professor of art and Award-nominated blues musician and ant connection between science and bringing the Obama Presidential Center art history, referenced the Juneteenth UIC alum; Rami Nashashibi, MacArthur social justice issues, and he pointed to to Chicago, Simas said. anniversary in a talk on what it means to Genius Award winner and founder of the violence, lack of access to healthy food “When the President and Mrs. Obama be free when there is so much inequality. Inner-City Muslim Action Network; Mase- choices, and environmental issues as were deciding where to put the Obama “What does it mean to be free on this qua Myers, executive director of the South having long-ranging consequences. Presidential Center, UIC was one of the anniversary in a city where almost 8,000 Side Community Arts Center, and Gram- “Science is here, it’s just unevenly first institutions that said, ‘Because of that human beings are locked in the cages of my Award-winning artist Daveed Diggs. distributed,” Winn said. “Our challenge focus on civic engagement and leader- the Cook County Jail, and what does it Another issue discussed was how in- is to do good, not for some, but for all.” The Obama Foundation event connected people across the globe through an immersive audiovisual technology portal (left). Participants engaged in collaborative breakout sessions after hearing from speakers on topics such as the availability of health care in underserved communities, social justice and more. (Photos: Jenny Fontaine) 4 UIC News | Wednesday, July 11, 2018 CAMPUS NEWS Police launch shower shoe drive for shelter By Francisca Corona — [email protected] Donate shower shoes on campus through Aug. 17 to help men and women at the Pacific East side locations: Garden Mission, a homeless shelter on the • Student Services Building main Near West Side. entrance, 1200 W. Harrison St. The donation drive, led by the UIC Police Department’s Policing and Community En- • Student Recreation Facility, gagement Unit, will help the shelter beat a 737 S. Halsted St. shoe shortage, which exists because men and • CUPPA Hall, 412 S. Peoria St. women sometimes need to use them as every- day footwear, explained UIC Police Lt. Todd • UIC Police Department, 943 W. Edwards. Maxwell St. “We set a goal to collect between 500 to 750 pairs of shower shoes,” he said. “We want to bring awareness to the community and let West side locations: them know that Pacific Garden Mission needs • College of Nursing main entrance, our help.” 845 S. Damen Ave. The donation drive isn’t the first collabora- • UI Hospital main entrance, tion between UIC Police and the Pacific Gar- 1740 W. Taylor St. den Mission. In January, UIC Police officers presented more than 100 pairs of jeans and • College of Dentistry, other clothing items to the Pacific Garden Mis- 801 S. Paulina St. sion after hosting a donation drive on campus. UIC Police officers presented more than 100 pairs of jeans and other clothing items • UIC Sport and Fitness Center, White boxes to collect the shoes are avail- to the Pacific Garden Mission in January. Officers will collect shower shoes on cam- 829 S. Damen Ave. able on the east and west sides of campus. For pus through Aug. 17 to benefit the shelter. (Photo: Jenny Fontaine). more information, call (312) 996-6779. School of Public Health establishes Mining Education and Research Center By Sharon Parmet — [email protected] UIC has launched a new center that will rapidly progressive pneumoconiosis, are ine coal miners and consolidate efforts to provide education on the rise. Other UIC studies funded by identify coal mine and clinical services, along with conduct- the Alpha Foundation will use big data dust-related lung dis- ing research related to health and safety sets to evaluate the course of black lung ease on X-rays. Co- in the mining industry. disease over a miner’s lifetime and look hen’s team also The UIC Mining Education and Re- at malignant and non-malignant respira- discovered that lung search (MinER) Center is based in the UIC tory disease, as well as cardiovascular disease is prevalent School of Public Health and will be direct- disease caused by mining activities. among coal workers ed by Dr. Robert Cohen, clinical professor Cohen and his colleagues both at UIC there. “Our discovery of environmental and occupational health and at other institutions have led efforts of black lung disease sciences in the UIC School of Public around the globe that educate occupa- among Australian Health. tional, pulmonary and radiology physi- miners, which had “The center will bring together, under cians to better-recognize lung diseases been thought to have one umbrella, all the projects we are caused by respirable dust produced in been eradicated, had working on that have to do with health coal mines. Both silica and coal dust con- a significant influence effects associated with work in the mining tribute to black lung disease — a pro- in the regulatory envi- industry, including lung disease from min- gressive lung disease that Cohen and his ronment and helped eral dust exposure and injuries,” Cohen team have found to be on the rise among change policies to be A new UIC center will conduct research related to the health said. “We also provide services through coal workers. more protective of and safety of the mining industry. our federally funded Black Lung Clinic “The mission of the UIC MinER Center miners’ health,” Cohen and Center of Excellence. Our extensive is to help reduce the risk for mining-relat- said. international education and outreach pro- ed health problems and treat and care Cohen and his colleagues also man- Medicine.