Officer Thomas E. Wortham Playground Dedication Ceremony – October 22, 2011
October 18th, 2011 by Shorty
Join Me in Feeding Occupy Chicago Protesters Next Week
October 10th, 2011 by Shorty
I will be taking snacks to the Occupy Chicago protestors one day next week. If you care to donate to help the people who are taking to time to fight for jobs and increased standards of living for the 99% of the Americans who have been financially abused by the 1% wealthy, please call me at (877) 570-5228. This is the least I can do to help.
If enough people contribute to the my snack mission, I’ll probably try to order pizza or something heavier to hold them out. Let me know if care to help. No donation is too big or too small.
Do You Know Occupy Chicago?
October 2nd, 2011 by Shorty
While walking down LaSalle Street on last Thursday, I saw a group of people with signs assembled in front of the Federal Reserve Building in the rain. I just had to stop because I admired their level of commitment to their cause. I learned that the group was Occupy Chicago, and they were protesting corporate greed. This was a powerful group. They weren’t shouting protests or making any kind of noise. Their presence and signs spoke volumes.
I spoke with the two guys in the photo and learned that Occupy Chicago is supporting Occupy Wall Street in New York. This is national movement and we need to help spread the word in every way we can. They are not just speaking for themselves; they are speaking for everyone.
Their site reads: “Occupy Chicago is a non-violent, democratic movement actively seeking to end the abuse of corporate democracy in America, responsible for creating our current conditions of economic disparity and political inequality.” Visit now to find out how you join the movement. Get Twitter updates at @OccupyChicago.
Check Out Troy Davis’s Support on Twitter
September 21st, 2011 by Shorty
Save Troy Davis’s Life!!
September 20th, 2011 by Shorty
I have signed petitions from ColorofChange.org, Change.org and Amnesty International to save the life of Troy Davis. This young man is slated for execution on September 21st because he was accused killing a police officer almost two decades ago. In recent years, however, seven of the nine witnesses have altered their testimonies in some form, yet the justice system in Atlanta still wants to end his life. This is totally unfair, and we should all help to save this man’s life.
According to the International Business Times:
Davis was 19 years old when he was arrested for killing officer Mark MacPhail in 1989.
People are protesting because no murder weapon was found and there was no DNA evidence; he was arrested due to questionable witness statement and now they want a new trial for that case.
If you want to see justice served, go to ColorofChange.org, Change.org and Amnesty International and sign the petitions to save Troy Davis’ life.
In case you are having any reservations about helping this man, remember that the United States justice system is greatly flawed and someone close to you could be next.
Image: strasbourg.cafebabel
The Deborahs Support Parents of Young Victims of Violence
August 16th, 2011 by Shorty
The Deborah Movement, an arm of The Black Star Project, is a group of concerned citizens that support the families of young people that are victims of violence. Listen to my interview with Claudette Rednic, the Lead Servant of the Deborahs, to find out more about who the organization and what they do.
My Interview with Claudette Redic, the Lead Servant of the Deborahs
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The Deborahs in Action
Shorty: Your Chicago South Side Resource is partnering with We Are Not Alone -No Estamos Solos “to tell stories about the everyday heroes, the well-known community groups and all organizations, whether large or small, who are doing their best to deal with the violence and the problems that nurture it.” Visit Chicago is the World to learn more about the program and how you can contribute.
Did Tavis Smiley & Cornel West Actually Prompt MORE People to Care?
August 10th, 2011 by Shorty
I attended Tavis Smiley and Dr. Cornel West’s Poverty Tour at St. Sabina on Sunday, August 7th. The place was packed! But, I have to wonder if more people were prompted to care about the state of poverty after attending the event. How many of those people are actually going to do something as a result of listening to the statistics, hearing the personal stories, and feeling the compassion and concerns of the speakers.
It was a powerful event to me. Tavis gave some of his time so Minister Louis Farrakhan could speak. So, we had Tavis, Dr. West, Min. Farrakhan and Father Michael Pleger to grace the same stage! Following are a few things that stood out that I think you all should know.
Tavis Smiley
- The new poor is the former middle class. Please know that although race comes into play, it is more of the wealth getting more and the not-so-wealthy getting less.
- The Poverty Tour was started to bring awareness to the poor in the country. It has grown dramatically over the years.
- Tavis said that we want to use the media to introduce America to the poor. How about we bring attention to these people ourselves by talking with people we know personally and sharing their stories on social sites?
- Tavis Smiley says that Congress has the power to declare war. Now, they are declaring war on the power ~aka~ the former middle class.
- The Poverty Tour is not an anti-President Obama. It is an attempt to help the president in the upcoming election because it will be hard to get people who have no jobs or homes to get to the polls.
Minister Louis Farrakhan
- Minister Farrakhan noted that people are poor in spirit, and when this happens, people are poor indeed. Our President is also poor in spirit, and he needs help.
- Closer to home, Mayor Rahm Emanuel has fired 12,000 teachers and hired more police. Thus, his focus is more on policing than educating. Is Chicago indeed on the fast track of the School to Prison pipeline?
Dr. Cornel West
- Dr. West said that the future of America depends on America’s response to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s legacy, which is to love the poor. So far, America is not looking to good.
- He noted that our leaders can’t find money for education, but they found money to fund a war in Libya.
- We have black leaders who love everyone but black people.
Tavis, Dr. West and Min. Farrakhan do want President Obama to stop being afraid to say the word “poor” or “poverty.”
I personally intend to contribute by talking to people who’s lifestyles have changed over the past few years. If you attended the event, did it prompt you to care more? What do you plan to do differently?
Image: Dread Times
Totally Positive Productions is Totally Anti-Youth Violence
August 8th, 2011 by Shorty
In August 1993, a group of young people decided they wanted to help their peers replace negative attitudes about their lives and their communities with positive, constructive attitudes. From the vision of these young people along with the support of Mr. Tajudeena Jones, Totally Positive Productions (TPP) was born.
Mr. Jones, the Founder of TPP, reasoned that a message filled with hope could be best communicated through media that young people enjoyed, such as music, dance and rap. Therefore, the organization’s mission is “to produce positive rap, singing, dance and spoken word talent competitions as well as positive off-the-street activities for youth and young adults ages 9 to 25 as a deterrent to drug and gang violence.”
TPP is totally committed to young people, particularly anti-youth violence. To date, over 700 youths have participated in TPP’s afterschool and weekend programs. Their afterschool and weekend Community Works Crime Prevention Program as well as their letter of support from the National Crime Prevention Council (Washington, DC) dated November 6, 2006 are examples of their commitment.
“Many of our participants have finished high school and now attend college. They are receiving good progress reports, are on the Honor Roll and Dean Lists, and hold school president and other leadership positions,” says Mr. Jones.
Check out their crime prevention public service announcement.
Shorty: Your Chicago South Side Resource is partnering with We Are Not Alone -No Estamos Solos “to tell stories about the everyday heroes, the well-known community groups and all organizations, whether large or small, who are doing their best to deal with the violence and the problems that nurture it.” Visit Chicago is the World to learn more about the program and how you can contribute.
Find Out the Salaries of City, County and State Employees
July 23rd, 2011 by Shorty
The Better Government Association has a payroll database that lists the names and salaries of city, county and state employees at all levels. All I’m saying is, if I thought I wanted to work for any of these entities, those thoughts have been dismissed. For real!
Image: acorn tax and payroll services