Thinking of starting a business or already own one? Take the Plunge with marketing expert L. David Stewart.

 Take the Plunge Event speaker L. David Stewart

Meet  L. (Leroy) David Stewart: architectural designer as well as marketing strategist.

With over 12 years’ experience in architecture working on various projects such as Northwestern Memorial Hospital, 950 N Michigan, and Tilted Kilt. In 2009, Mr. Stewart, took on a new endeavor of marketing and starting his own consultancies, Design AnalySynth & KNOWPE!!! CounterBranding Bureau. As a consultant, Mr. Stewart has worked with various organizations around the world, and has done work marketing and design in Toronto Canada, Croix-de-Bouquet, Haiti, and various regions of the United States. Currently Mr. Stewart teaches MCD 510 New Media Seminar as well teaches at Everest Online. L. David Stewart holds a B.A. in Architectural Studies from The University of Illinois-Chicago, a M.S. in Real Estate from Roosevelt University and a MBA with a focus in Marketing from American Intercontinental University, as well as beginning to pursue his Ph.D. in 2015. His areas of expertise include, architectural design & theory, communication design, brand strategy, and social media strategy, as well as photography. In his spare time, Mr. Stewart is an avid fan of hip-hop music, and a roller skating enthusiast.

See him and other business experts at the first event in the informative learning series Take the Plunge
Tix: Take the Plunge Event tickets

#morningmotivation from Ladonna Raeh!

#morningmotivation from Ladonna Raeh:

This mom has a drive out of this world for one main reason that stands 6'3"...her son. As she runs a business, she has to continue closing deals that are a win win win situation so that she can continue putting two of her sons through college. "I don't want them to be like me, I want them to be way better than me", says LaDonna Raeh, Business Development and Marketing Director at LR Media Group.

The Legendary Booker T Jones of Booker T and the MGs fame in town for concert!

Mr Jones, acclaimed as a progenitor of soul music and the organ based sub genre which descended from gospel music, will scintillate fans tonight at the suddenly hot City Winery.

Jones'  gospel roots can be traced back to his learning to become a multi instrumentalist while growing up in a Memphis church. By age 16 he was a sax playing professional on records released by Sattelite recrods and wrote the classic instrumental Green Onions featured below for the newly formed Booker T and the MGs

A slight gospel influence can be heard in the organ play on Green Onions, which is one of the first of the new wave of cool "soul records" produced by Southern acts.




He later became a vaunted session musician before leaving Stax for disrespectful treatment and then segued into a career as tourer and producer .

Catch him tonight at City Winery: Booker T. Jones Concert at City Winery

Show your young daughter how to Express Herself Through Art :Second Saturday's Program

Second Saturdays Program is a community-based program held at the Chicago Urban League every 2nd Saturday of the month from 10:00 a.m to 12:00 noon. For the month of November, we are having our very first art gallery! There will be local artists, including photographers, painters, sculptors and jewelry makers. Each artist will display 1-2 pieces of their art work, talk about their background, and hold a question and answer session with the girls about their art work.

As the focus of Polished Pebbles is about providing girls with strong communication skills to succeed in school, at home and in their communities, this event will teach girls about how to express themselves through art. Art is yet another form of communication and self-expression that the girls can learn about!

General info on Polished Pebbles:

Polished Pebbles (est. 2009) is a Chicago-based, nonprofit organization that mentors girls ages 7-17 on the effective life skill of communication. We have worked with over 300+ volunteer mentors who help 500+ girls via 21 program sites to solve their problems rationally as opposed to retaliating and develop the confidence to: speak up in class, join groups and seek leadership positions, communicate effectively and respectfully with adults, have peaceful interactions with their peers, and prepare for future careers.

Website: Polished Pebbles

#Bronzeville Glory Days #tbt

Circa early 1940's
Inside the Palm Tavern at 446 East 47th Street , a favorite hangout of popular Black entertainers, especially those who had performed at the nearby Regal Theater












Opened in 1933 by James "Genial Jim" Knight, the first Mayor of Bronzeville. In 1956, upon his retirement, James Knight transfered ownership to Geraldine "Mama Gerri" Oliver, who proudly operated the Palm Tavern until July 3, 2001.

#tbt Bernie Mac WHO YA WIT?Tour Pic

Bernie Mac and the Mac-A-ronis Dance Group and Man Man Band. Toured on Bernie's "Who Ya Wit!?" & "Midnite Mac" Tours Circa 1994

#tbt lesson: Chicago Blues is the Father of American Rock and Roll

Chicago Blues the Father of American Rock and Roll

MaxwellSt in 1930's Chicago
Blues musicians using amped electrical guitars- a precursor to the power rock bands formed by white musicians .

Maxwell Street is significant to the history of blues not just because music was performed there, but because music was created there. Beginning in the 1920s, Maxwell Street was the first stopping place for thousands of African-Americans newly arrived from the Mississippi Delta. There, the newcomers could hear established city musicians, and vice-versa. This continuous interaction over the course of several decades produced, in the period immediately following the Second World War, what is usually called Chicago Blues, but which could just as easily be called "The Maxwell Street Blues." Where in previous decades, recorded Delta Blues had been modified to fit the popular song styles of the day, on Maxwell Street it was left raw and simply amplified, both in volume and dramatic intensity. 

Musicians introduced amplification intensity at unheard of volumes too stand out above others. When recorded, the result became not only the dominant form of blues, but radically changed the emerging sound of rock and roll. The sound of bands like the Rolling Stones, Cream, Led Zeppelin and many others came about when English teenagers tried to duplicate the music of Maxwell Street Bluesmen

Newberry St. between Maxwell St. and 14th St., Chicago, Illinois, 1960s 

Chicago's Delta Blues eventually faded as a part of African American culture into becoming a main stay of lounges on the South Side, particularly in Bronzeville but to this day is extremely popular among the city's white patrons at select north side clubs such as Kinsgton Mines and the legendary ( and often packed) Buddy Guy's Legends.

The website Escape Here actually has a decent list:  Escape Here's Top 10 Blues Spots in Chicago

Who is Amara Enyia? Possibly your next Mayor...

Who is this daughter of Chicago who wants to unseat Emperor Rahm?

Personal dialogue with Amara has revealed a deep seated belief in RIGHT and WRONG, a strong sense of fairness.

Perhaps this can be traced back to her roots as a child of Nigerian immigrants who moved here expressly to give her a chance at a better life.  After earning both a PhD in education policy studies and a law degree simultaneously from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign she found her self in her mid 20's working under the legendary Daley.

Perhaps things she seen and heard while doing so prompted her to develop a noticeable emphasis on FAIRNESS and EQUITY.

This experience as both a private sector and governmental player also explains the overall picture one starts to see of a person with a pragmatic, broad based view. Yet the question remains will this be enough to convince Chicago voters to vote for a candidate who can be fairly called an underdog? 

Her party platform is fairly liberal and with it being nearly identical to alderman Bob Fioretti it must be noted that she has been campaigning on her stated platform for nearly 6 mos LONGER than Fioretti.

All of the ever more popular ChicagoProgressives Challenger cues are there: moratorium on charters, an elected school board, hiring more police, but Enyia appears to want to focus more on practical skills improvement by mentioning incentivized zones and specialized vocational training as opposed to simply speaking of "developing our neighborhoods and creating jobs".


Enyia appears to be a populist pragmatic if I may, I base this on noting that her time spent engaging people is not used to offer so much  as preaching but more so LISTENING  than the other average candidates.

The  Amara Day of Action voter registration and petition drive in effect on the south side in  Englewood .

What also isnt there is main stream media coverage. To any Chicagoan truly interested in a fair, equitable mayor, she is just as strong a candidate as any one else yet WHY does no one know of her? What's curious to note is that the usual response when Amara Enyia is mentioned to people who do know of her is very enthusiastic support with the phrase " I LIKE HER!" being used on a noticeably frequent basis.

Are we making the mistake of dooming a viable candidate because of whom we're told will win by a media which most Chicagoans no longer trust?

Is Chicago ready for her grass roots, under the radar effort?
Will Chicago, ALL of Chicago including African American, white and Hispanic Chicago, recognize it's immigrant daughter as the viable option she is?




 

Afro-Contemporary Dance Class-hosted by Red Clay Dance Stay in shape while dancing to the RHYTHM !

AfEvery Wednesday Night!!

6:30-7:45pm 

This is a high energy, ADULT class open to ALL levels! It is a fusion of West African, contemporary, and modern dance styles. Focus on building core strength, balance, fluidity in movement and stamina all while grooving to the hypnotic sounds of Afro Pop/House music. Excellent workout for the mind, body and soul! Come learn this unique movement style developed by Vershawn Sanders Ward, 
Red Clay Dance Company Founder and Artistic Director.

Location:

Fuller Park Auditorium 
331 W. 45th St. 
(45th & Princeton), off the 47th Red Line stop

CASTING FOR WEBISODE: “Court Mandated” a Tribeca Flashpoint Student Production

CASTING FOR WEBISODE
“Court Mandated” a Tribeca Flashpoint Student Production
Main Cast:
Anna (age 30-40) (Wife of John) – Headstrong married woman, in a constant struggle to find compromise with her husband.
John (age 30-40) (Husband of Anna) – Stubborn husband, constantly in a power struggle with his spouse.
Holly (age 18-25) (Best friend of Sage) – Snobby socialite, who cares only about herself and social status.
Sage (age 18-25) (Best friend of Holly) – Shallow character who secretly envies her best friend.
Mike (age 18-25) (Frat Brother) – Total meathead jock, cares for nothing but his frat and getting laid.
Brad (age 18-25) (Frat Brother) – Total party boy, loves his beer and recreational drugs, and known ludicrous behavior.
Therapist (age 25-40, woman) (voice-only) – Guides her patients towards recovery, but is often ignored.
Show Description
“Court Mandated” is a comedy web-series that deals with three pairs of dysfunctional individuals that are sent to a court-mandated therapist. No one person believes that they need therapy and constantly dismiss any advice or council the therapist tries to give.
Auditions will be Tuesday the 11th, and Wednesday the 12th from 4-7pm , 28 N Clark St. on the 5th Floor. Contact our Casting Director Dequita Tate at dtate15@tfa.edu if interested and for any further information.

ATTENTION ACTORS! CASTING CALL for "The Love Betrayal"

• 
  
  
  
  
  

  Sunday, November 16 at 1:00pm - 5:00pm Next Week

• Show Map Carter G. Woodson Regional Library 9525 S Halsted St, Chicago, Illinois 60628

Main Available Roles for “The Love Betrayal”
Monique (20s) is a resident of Ms. Lee's halfway house as part of her work release agreement for serving 2 years for a misdemeanor drug possession charge. She is a free-spirited West Sider who doesn't care that her insatiable sexuality is a cause for concern to some. Her only concern is that she has a GREAT time living her life the way SHE wants.

Synnamon (20s) is another of Miss LaRue's happy employees. Spending most of her life on the dangerous Chicago streets, she is best described as a sexy femme that's rough around the edges. Her experiences require that she has special training from Miss LaRue.

Sapphyre (20s-30s) is another one of Miss LaRue's happy employees at Club X-Otica. Usually available during V.I.P. occasions, it takes a LARGE amount of time, money, and energy to keep her happy. Understandable, since the hard work pays off in more ways than one.

Ms. Lavender (20s-30s) is another happy Club X-Otica employee. A voluptuous femme with glamorous qualities, her personality and wit can melt even the most heartless of men. She's a valuable asset in keeping Miss LaRue's company financially secure.

Topaz (20s) is another happy employee of Club X-Otica. One of Miss LaRue's hardest workers, she an ambitious Westsider that is mainly available for Club World events. Understandable, since she loves taking her customers for a wild ride.

DeVante "D-Mob" Mobley is Brandi's husband...and the primary cause of all of her pain and suffering. A proud, card-carrying product of the "hood", his sweet talk was only a facade to keep Brandi in check, so to speak. These bullying techniques result in disastrous consequences for him later....

Secondary Available roles for “The Love Betrayal”

Shawn
Trina
Rocco
Ace
Diane Wade
Louise Phillips
Kathleen Marsh
Peachez
Young Brandi
Keith Wilson
Mayor Thomas O' Leary

THIS WEEKEND IN CHITOWN !!!

A Chef Inspired Holiday

The time has come for the final Pop-Up Restaurant before the holiday season. Yearly this event has been the most difficult to plan. We are fully aware that you have a ton of holiday dinners to attend. This means you are very likely to eat standard holiday dishes, many many times (smile). Well, we want to change all of that. 

For the final popup of 2014, we present “".

The inspiration for this dinner came from the numerous people that have told us how they dread going to holiday dinner parties. Their reasons are hilarious: Too much cheap wine, too much dry turkey and waaay too many wanna be Food Network dishes. So to answer that, we offer you these promises:

- No Turkey
- Plenty of Great Wine
- And for a few hours you just may forget about the drudgery of the holidays

Here's a preview of a few of the courses:

Fennel Rubbed Pork Tenderloin with Braised Cabbage & Apricot Mustard

Angolotti Pasta with Morels, Favas and Smoked Peacevine Cherry Tomato Sauce

Tiki’s Flatbread – Duck Bacon, Melted Leeks, Sweet Corn, Taleggio, Truffle Cream & Merken

As always we will serve at least 8 courses* and the wine is included. Something special for this pop-up is our true "VIP Experience".

For VIP guests, the evening starts with a pre-event private dining session with Chef Julius. Guests will be seated at VIP Tables for appetizer courses and Chef-crafted custom cocktails based on your spirit of choice.

Also, VIP guests will receive a customized Gift Bag stocked with all the things one needs to get them through the holiday entertaining season: two of Chef Julius’ seasonings blends, wine, olive oil, and one of Chef Julius’ favorite cooking products from Epicurean Butter, Texas Pete Brand Sauces, or Nature Isle Tropical Gourmet.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 8TH
6:00pm | Dinner
The Centered Chef Food Studios
177 N. Ada Street (between Randolph & Lake)

Ticket Info
Dinner with Wine: $85
The VIP Experience: $125

Doors open at 5:30pm for VIP Ticket holders.

Tickets on Sale Now!
www.taleof2chefs.com

Biz owners learn WHY you should Take the Plunge!

Take the Plunge

This conference was put together with you in mind. Project Forward, the organizer, has encountered businesses near and far with the same issue: overcoming barriers to growth. In one conference, we will put you on the path to making real headway in your business, whether you have not started yet, or you hit that milestone and need an extra nudge.

Motivation

Starting is difficult and sometimes growing that business is even more difficult. Hear success stories from those who have taken the plunge and are at various stages of growth in their business.

Access to Capital

Businesses stagnate when they don't know about the resources available for growth. Learn about more than 20 small business funding programs that are available to you.

Network = Net Worth

Real pertinent and structured networking opportunities to grow your business. If you don't feel comfortable networking, don't worry, we'll show you how!

This half day conference includes

• Continental breakfast & lunch
• Welcome Keynote from Emile Cambry, Founder of Blue 1647, Tech Incubator
• Coffee with Strangers, lead by PJ McGuire, social butterfly and Founder of Modet/ Inventor, Super Hairo'N
• #Trending in Capital - The rise of crowd funding and alternative financing options leave people confused. Join a varied panel of lenders to find out what option is available for your business
• The Good, The Bad & The Ugly - features a panel of marketing, event and public relations professionals. Panelists include Jada Russel of High Style Marketing/PR & Keeana Barber of WDB Marketing.

GET YOUR TIX NOW HERE: event brite link

 Check back frequently for conference updates!

Conference admission is non refundable.

About the Organizer

Project Forward

Project Forward is a mission diriven for profit focused on helping organizations improve their bottom line with strategic implementation. Project Forward places an emphasis on sustainable economic development strategies and tactics, providing technical assistance to organizations working to create and maximize earned income opportunities to impact economic development within their footprint. In short, we help organizations become profitable! 

Take the Plunge is a fundraiser for Project Forward's client, Future Residential Alternatives. Net proceeds from the event will support the mission of Future Residential Alternatives, an organization focused on improving the lives of survivors of domestic abuse and substance abuse. 

Election day Black Chicago History Facts: Big Bill Dawson and the Chicago Machine

Bill Dawson in re-election campaign picture circa 1946

Big Bill Dawson, one of the originators of the Chicago Machine.
A skilled and ambitious politician, William L. Dawson (1886-1970) represented Illinois in the U.S. House of Representatives for 27 years. The former committeeman built Chicago's first black political machine and used his influence to improve the lives of African Americans in his district.

Dawson's first elected office was as an alderman representing the 2nd Ward in Chicago in 1933. With strong links to the Republican Party, he held the position for six years. Seeking a higher office, Dawson ran in the primary for the Illinois House in 1938. He won, against his mentor and incumbent Republican Oscar DePriest, but lost the election and the support of the Republican Party. He was then was defeated again when he tried to claim a seat in the Chicago City Council as an Independent. But the effects of President Roosevelt's New Deal administration served as a turning point in his political career.

Chicago experienced a dramatic political realignment in the 1930s. Impressed with the Depression era programs and policies of President Roosevelt's New Deal administration, black Republicans defected in droves to the Democratic Party, and seeing a new political opportunity, Dawson went with them. In 1939, Democratic Mayor Edward J. Kelly installed Dawson as the Democratic 2nd Ward committeeman.

Dawson proved adept at organizing the increasing number of black Democrats on the South Side and soon consolidated his political power. He effectively used patronage and precinct workers to develop a strong voting block that generally gave local, state, and national Democratic candidates impressive majority votes. Dawson would eventually control as many as five wards, forming the city's first black political machine.

In 1942, Dawson was elected to Congress. He was the only African American serving in Congress during his first term

Dawson held many influential positions and was the first black member to chair a standing committee. He continually received strong support at the polls on Election Day, but in time, critics complained about his reluctance to boldly advocate for targeted improvements in the black community. Dawson said he preferred to act discretely behind the scenes, applying force along regular political channels. But other saw his actions differently. In 1957, the Chicago Defender said Dawson was "non-committal, evasive, and seldom takes an outspoken stand on anything. Bill Dawson is, by all odds, ultra-conservative."

"William L. Dawson" by U.S. Congress - Black Americans in Congress. Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives. Licensed under Public domain via Wikimedia Commons - 

On the other hand and in keeping with Dawson's stated preferred style he was: opposed to the semi-racist poll tax;  the featured speaker at the first annual conference of the Regional Council of Negro Leadership (a civil rights organization), held in the all-black town of Mound Bayou, Mississippi; the first African American to serve as the chairman of a regular congressional committee, leading the Committee on Expenditures in Executive Departments in theEighty-first and Eighty-second Congresses. He served on the Committee on Government Operations in the Eighty-fourth through Ninety-first Congresses; the first African American to serve as the chairman of a regular congressional committee, leading the Committee on Expenditures in Executive Departments in theEighty-first and Eighty-second Congresses. He served on the Committee on Government Operations in the Eighty-fourth through Ninety-first Congresses.

Even though Dawson's taciturn approach to issues of race was at odds with many black leaders of the 1960s, he remained true to Chicago's political machine which gave him his power and managed to keep firm control of his organization until the waning years of his career.

The Underground Effect- A NEW STAGE PLAY about racism, young love, social norms, and interracial dating

B-Anne Productions presents...

"The UnderGround Effect" 

A NEW HIT PLAY about racism, young love, social norms, and interracial dating. A whimsical, situational short play, the story takes on the subject matter of acceptance in society based on true events.

Written & Directed by Berylanne Lynch (ISU '12 Alumni)

November 8th at 7:00pm
November 9th at 2:00pm

Gorilla Tango Theatre - 1919 N. Milwaukee Ave, Chicago IL, 60647
(Across from the Blue Line Western stop)

Donate to fund ri'flekSHens: Exploring the Bond Betwen Father and Daughter.

About the project

 ri’flekSHens in 6, my first evening-length work, is an introspective exploration of the complex relationship between girls/women and their daddy’s. This collaborative dance-work seeks to amplify the complicated experience between women and their fathers through virtuosic movement performed by my all-female company, Red Clay Dance, intertwined with projected moving imagery captured by fellow 2013 3Arts awardee Marta Garcia and music composed by fellow 2011 3Arts awardee Regina Harris Baiocchi. Marta’s images seek to enhance the audiences’ experiences with the characteristics of men displayed in their natural environments. Regina’s musical score intersects beautiful classical melodies with powerful African drumming to bridge complex choreographed movement between dancers. I am so honored to have the opportunity to work with these amazing artists and collaborators on this creative journey.

 A project of this magnitude requires a great deal of time, planning and resources. Your generous support will allow us to bring this career-changing work to Chicago audiences. Specific expenses that need to be covered are: dancer fees, collaborator fees, technical crew, theater rental, costuming, purchasing mini-projectors, and building two-6 ft moving mirror “reflectors," as part of the set design. We thank you in advance for your support of this groundbreaking work.

 Project Narrative 
He loved me first, he loved me best. The bond between a father and daughter is a sacred one. A girl’s father is one of the most influential people in her life. A father’s presence or absence shapes her self-esteem, self-image, confidence and opinions of men. As the eldest daughter in my family, a mother of a growing young man, and now, a new wife, I reflect often on the relationship with my own father and how his character helped shape who I am becoming as a woman, how I raise my son and what I looked for in a life partner. Was my dad perfect? Of course not.....but what father/daughter relationship doesn’t have its challenges and strains? Was he present...to that I offer a resounding YES!!! ri’flekSHens in 6 is the first ever artistic collaboration between three 3Arts awardees, which is a true testament to the spirit of 3Arts, bringing the work of Chicago artists together to share the rich arts and culture that exists in this great city! We would also like to thank 3Arts for their support of this project thus far and for providing a platform for us to raise the much-needed resources to bring this dynamic work to the stage.

Click here: Fund this Project

Is Chicago's best candidate for mayor fully known?

Have you heard of Amara Enyia? Maybe you ought to take close look at this 2015 Mayoral candidate!

Chicago area native debuts film about gun violence.

(Zion, IL) – Many students who graduate in the performing arts field may find it challenging to
find a career after graduating. For many people this means applying for internships and working
underpaid and odd jobs to earn a decent income. While this is usually the case, Berylanne Lynch has her
own way of working in the creative field – by directing and producing her very own films and plays that
she writes.
Berylanne Lynch is a native from Zion, IL. She graduated from Illinois State University in 2012
with a B.S. in theatre studies with a concentration in directing and theatre management. She is also a
Zion-Benton Township High School 2008 graduate, and attended courses at the College of Lake County
before transferring to Illinois State in 2009.
As an aspiring artist, she continued to pursue the arts after graduating, despite the difficult
obstacles it may offer. Lynch has directed and produced a short film, “Out of Range” this summer which
opened at Chicago Filmmakers earlier this month and will premiere online for two weeks on October 24th
.
“Out of Range” is about a college student that experiences a powerful coincidence that changes her life.
The 21 minute film was shot in hot spots Chicago, Miggy Smalls Sports Bar in Waukegan IL, and parts of
Zion, IL. The film explores the deep meaning of chance, coincidence, and gun violence within Chicago.
The film will be submitted to the Atlanta Film Festival and the Catlow Local Shorts Film Festival.
Lynch is also currently directing and producing a play this fall at Gorilla Tango Theatre,
Bucktown. “The UnderGround Effect” is a short, whimsical play that explores racism, social norms, and
interracial love in the Black community.
Although she has her hands full with managing two of her own productions, Ms. Lynch is also
pursuing a Master’s in written communication at National-Louis University, Chicago. Her goals include
teaching fundamental writing and theatre courses in the future.
“I believe anyone can break into their field, no matter how challenging. You may not get hired or
paid right away, but you still have to stay focused, remain confident, and basically be your own boss.
Living in a small town without bountiful entertainment or theatre companies unlike Chicago can be hard,
but I believe it can be an advantage as well.” Lynch started her own production company, B-Anne

Productions, in 2013 that is based in Lake County.


Full film available online here at: Out of Range Short Film