February 2017

Chicago Street Journal June 2017

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Honoring Our Fathers

Mike McCormick, Executive Director

American Coalition for Fathers

and Children. http://www.acfc.org/

HAPPY FATHERS’ DAY

For millions of men Fathers’ Day means gathering with

family, firing up the grill and enjoying what makes Fathers’ Day

special; spending time together and reflecting on life with your

children and family. For millions of kids this special day is set

aside to say “Thanks Dad,” you are appreciated. Your presence,

guidance, good nature, care, nurture, generosity, love and wisdom

have helped shape our lives in positive ways too numerous to

count. From you we learned empathy, perseverance, dedication,

sacrifice in the pursuit of goals and the value of hard work. That’s

the reality of Fathers’ Day for millions of men in America this June 18 th .

For millions of other men however Fathers’ Day has a different meaning. For these millions of

fathers, and their children, Fathers’ Day is not a time of joyful reflection and sharing, but a day

of sorrow. These millions of fathers have either limited, or lost, contact with their children and

been forced to endure life at the hands of a legal system that insists their value to their kids is

most importantly expressed by how much child support they pay.

These fathers live in a world where government has effectively told them your first priority is

to pay up. For the lucky ones, paying up might mean they will get to see their children for a

couple of days each month. For those less fortunate, the obligation to pay up is there, but the

hope for contact, much less significant involvement with their children, has long since been

extinguished.

The sad fact is this: Billions of government dollars are spent each year to insure fathers pay up.

By comparison, virtually nothing is spent to help fathers denied contact with their children retain

a role in their kids’ lives.

Continued on Page 4

June 17, 2017

Volume 23 No. 3

Neighborhood

Opportunity Fund

Announcements

— Page 6

Three Female

FAMU Doctoral

Graduates Break

Barriers in Engineering

- Page 7

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February Chicago Street Journal June 2017

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Dr. Willie Wilson’s successful campaign

on passing of Bill 552 and 2034 this week in Illinois

According to Dr. Willie Wilson, “With the help of hundreds of determined people

just like you, we were able to get our state legislators to listen to our concerns. Senate

Bill 552 transformed into Senate Bill 2034, which passed both chambers of the Illinois

government and was signed into law by Governor Bruce Rauner last week. This

bill will prevent nonviolent inmates from sitting in jail for years for misdemeanors

just because they cannot afford the low bails that were set for them.

This is a big deal not only for those who were and are experiencing this economic

prejudice but for the taxpayers of Illinois who were spending millions to keep these

people in our jails. This change will benefit Americans of all races – blacks, whites,

latinos, asians, everyone. This is the first step of many to bettering our criminal justice

system and ultimately, bettering our society as a whole. After talking with the

families of incarcerated individuals and hearing their pain-soaked stories of economic

struggle back in September of last year, I knew I needed to do all I could to help

them.

It was from these conversations that I came up with the idea for the Good Samaritan

Bailout Project - an effort to pay the bond of nonviolent, misdemeanor offense individuals

who simply did not have the means to pay their low bail. These inmates, who

often couldn't even afford bail as low as $200, were unfairly spending years behind

bars before being proven as guilty.

With the help of hundreds of determined people just like you, we were able to get our

state legislators to listen to our concerns. Senate Bill 552 transformed into Senate Bill

2034, which passed both chambers of the Illinois government and was signed into

law by Governor Bruce Rauner last week. This bill will prevent nonviolent inmates

from sitting in jail for years for misdemeanors just because they cannot afford the low

bails that were set for them.”

Publisher and Editor: Ron Carter

Associate Publisher: Sonja Cassandra Perdue

Chicago Street Journal

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February 2017

4 June 2017

Chicago Street Journal

Continued from Page 1

HAPPY FATHERS’ DAY

Recent changes to Illinois’ Child Support guidelines

reinforce this priority of fathers as first and

foremost a wallet. The new guidelines attempt to

recognize children need, and want, a greater relationship

with their father’s, how they go about

expressing that recognition is somewhat suspect.

According to the new guideline a father will pay

full child support until the child spends more than

145 overnights per year with Dad. At 146 overnights

with Dad, the state will give Dad a significant

break on child support. The formula begs the

question of why 24 hours makes a child so much

less expensive to raise.

Throughout the child support industry this is

known as the “cliff effect.” Effectively it means

Dad, or sometimes Mom, but in all cases the “non

-custodial” parent will have difficulty ever getting

equal time with the kids because of the effect of

money transfers from the paying parenting to the

receiving parent. In the world of family law and

child support agencies the idea of equality, on

multiple levels, is non-existent.

What drives this train however, is not necessarily

the child’s best interest but the fact that states receive

significant money from the federal government

to operate child support programs. This

money is not awarded to the state for keeping both

parents engaged, it flows when one parent is effectively

removed from the parenting equation.

The inconvenient truth for divorced and never

married parents is that government has monetized,

politicized and criminalized the relationship between

children and one of their parents, most often,

their father.

There are currently two systems in our society for

parents who cannot afford to support their children.

For custodial parents, primarily mothers,

the government offers medical insurance assistance,

housing assistance, cash assistance, food

assistance, child care and education assistance.

For non-custodial parents, primarily fathers, who

cannot afford to support their children by paying

child support, the government offers driver’s license

revocation, wage garnishment, tax refund

intercepts, interest on unpaid support balances,

arrest and incarceration in debtors’ prison.

Sadly, it is our children, and by extension society,

who pay the price for these misguided policies.

Social science research is overwhelmingly clear

on this point. Children who have shared parenting,

meaning both parents are engaged in their

kids’ lives to the maximum extent possible, have

better outcomes than children who are raised primarily

in single parent headed households.

This is not to say there are not children who turn

out superbly well being raised by single parents.

However, the data cannot be denied. Children

who retain a significant relationship with BOTH

parents, even when those parents are no longer

together as a couple, do better academically, have

higher employment rates, are less likely to use

drugs, are less likely to commit suicide, are better

at maintaining long term relationships, for girls –

are less likely to become pregnant as teens –, and

overall live longer lives.

As we celebrate Dad this Fathers’ Day, let’s do

something meaningful for the over 23 million kids

in America who have no, or limited, contact with

their fathers, let’s welcome Dad back into family

life as an equal participant. Our kids need and

deserve nothing less than a full relationship with

him.

Michael McCormick joined the ACFC board in 1998. His professional

background developed in the financial services industry,

working with nonprofit organizations in the area of corporate

and member development, as well as community relationship

building. McCormick acted as the primary spokesman for

ACFC during the Elian Gonzalez situation. He has been interviewed

extensively by the media regarding shared parenting.

McCormick authored shared parenting bills and initiatives

have been introduced in several states. He provides legislative

testimony and has presented at multiple public policy and professional

association gatherings. His commentary has been

carried in numerous national publications.

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Chicago Street Journal

MAYOR EMANUEL ANNOUNCES FIRST

NEIGHBORHOOD OPPORTUNITY FUND IN-

VESTMENTS TO GROW AND STRENGTHEN

BUSINESSES ON SOUTH AND WEST SIDES

Funding for 32 Neighborhood Businesses Generated

by Large Downtown Developments

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE City of Chicago June 8, 2017. Mayor

Rahm Emanuel today announced a Chatham vegan restaurant, a North

Lawndale plant nursery and a West Humboldt Park art gallery are among 32

initial businesses to receive investments from the Neighborhood Opportunity

Fund. Launched earlier this year, the initiative generates funding from

downtown development projects to support commercial growth on Chicago’s

south and west sides.

“These investments are going to directly support neighborhood entrepreneurs

on Chicago’s south, southwest and west sides,” Mayor Emanuel said.

“But they will also expand quality food options, create neighborhood meeting

places, support tech business growth, and generate new retail options. By

linking growth downtown directly to growth in our neighborhoods we can

ensure the entire city of Chicago thrives for generations to come.”

The initial recipients were selected from more than 700 applications to the

program, created by Mayor Emanuel through reforms to the City’s Zoning

Code in the spring of 2016. Approval criteria involve a proposal’s ability to

have a measureable, catalytic impact on a community or commercial corridor,

based on the availability of similar goods or services and project feasibility,

among other factors.

Funding for the Neighborhood Opportunity Fund is generated from voluntary

payments made by downtown development projects .The payments are

in exchange for density bonuses that allow developers to exceed zoning limits

for a specific development site. Eighty percent of the payments are applied

to the Neighborhood Opportunity Fund for distribution to eligible projects

within the West and South sides. The remainder is split in support of

infrastructure improvements downtown and improvements to landmark

buildings across the city.

Approximately $3.2 million will be distributed to the first round of recipients,

to support projects including:

Build-out of Shawn Michelle’s Homemade Ice Cream at 56 E. 47th St.

in Bronzeville

Expansion of Garifuna Flava Caribbean restaurant at 2516 W. 63rd St. in

Chicago Lawn

Purchase and rehab of Original Soul Vegetarian restaurant at 203 E. 75th

St. in Chatham

Renovation the family-owned grocery store Carniceria La Hacienda at

5159 S. Kedzie Ave., in Gage Park

Purchase, rehab and expansion of Ambassador Floral at 11045 S. Halsted

St. in Roseland

Renovation of theater space at the West Austin Development Center at

4920 W. Madison St. in Austin

Establishment of a second location for Brown Sugar Bakery at 4800 W.

Chicago Ave.

Purchase and build-out of a second location for Ivory Dental at 8344 S.

Halsted St.

Establishment of a new office for media-tech marketing company Digital

Factory Technologies at 7400 S. Stony Island Ave.

Eligible costs for Neighborhood Opportunity Fund grants include property

acquisition and rehabilitation, small business training, and local hiring subsidies.

Up to 65 percent of total project costs are eligible for funding through

the program. Grants that exceed $250,000 require City Council approval.

Project eligibility is limited to low-to-moderate income areas. The program

is administered by the Department of Planning and Development.

“The Neighborhood Opportunity Fund generates critical support for retail

and commercial projects in neighborhoods that need them,” Planning Commissioner

David Reifman said. “That means more jobs, goods and services

that create a foundation for more public and private investment and stability.”

A complete list of projects and more information is available at

www.neighborhoodopportunityfund.com.

www.UrbanArtRetreat.com

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February Chicago Street Journal June 2017

“I had an abstract and paper accepted for presentation at

a conference in Cape Town, South Africa, and I went to

different departments looking for support for travel

there. It was such a huge opportunity. I told Dr. Robinson

what I needed, and without batting an eye he said

‘yes, ‘ and it was done,” she said. “Through that opportunity,

I was able to receive a Fulbright fellowship, and

it was life-changing. I spent seven to eight months in

Nigeria conducting research and teaching collegiate

level students.”

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Anderson, who completed two engineering fellowships

in California, including the Nuclear Science and Security

Consortium Summer Fellowship at the University of

California, explained how her experience at FAMU empowered

her to embrace her culture and who she is as a

scholar.

Three Female FAMU Doctoral Graduates

Break Barriers in Engineering

“The most important thing that FAMU has taught me is

confidence in myself. My education process from middle

school all the way up to my bachelor’s was at predominantly

White institutions where I felt like the odd

one out in honors classes, gifted classes and Advanced

Placement classes,” she said. “At FAMU, I felt like ‘I

am actually supposed to be here, ‘ and everyone is on

equal footing, not just skin color wise but also education

wise.”

(Black PR Wire) (FAMU NEWS) According to the

National Science Foundation (NSF), minority women

comprise fewer than 1 in 10 scientists and engineers in

the United States. Studies from researchers around the

world reveal that one antidote to this disparity is to ensure

there are more role models in underrepresented

communities.

Three Florida A&M University (FAMU) female doctoral

students, who are also best friends, recently received

their doctorates in engineering. They endured

setbacks, including the loss of a classmate and overcame

financial hurdles to ensure that they join the next generation

of engineering leaders who will help close that gap.

On April 29, Miami native and Fulbright Scholar

Renee Gordon received her doctorate of philosophy in

mechanical engineering; Miami Beach native and Winifred

Burks-Houck Professional Leadership awardee

Shannon Anderson received her doctorate of philosophy

in civil engineering, with a concentration in environmental

engineering; and Birmingham, Alabama native

and NSF International Research Experiences grantee

Marcella Carnes received her doctorate of philosophy in

civil engineering with a concentration in structures.

Each earned their doctorate degrees under the guidance

of FAMU’s School of Graduate Studies and Research

and through support as participants in the FAMU-FSU

College of Engineering Title III Funding Program. They

are considering next steps including job offers and research

opportunities. In the meantime, Gordon and

Anderson will spend the summer teaching and helping

to recruit the next generation of engineering students,

while Carnes prepares for her wedding.

“We realize that we’re breaking barriers when it comes

to minorities and also women in STEM fields,” Gordon

said. “I feel like it’s really important for our young

Black and Brown boys and girls to know that they can

aspire to be whatever they want to be including engineers.”

Carnes added, “I feel proud to be an African-American

woman in the STEM fields. There’s not that many of us

(women). We’ve been challenged because STEM is

male dominated, (but) we are examples of the things that

you can set your mind toward and finish. We are no

longer ‘Hidden Figures.’ We have definitely been revealed.”

In addition to inspiring the next generation to break barriers,

the trio wants to encourage them to pursue careers

that will improve our way of life. They say the best

place to develop a career that makes a difference is at

FAMU.

“Not only did we receive the financial support, but we

also received emotional support; we received the bond

that we share in this community and a family that’s

striving to achieve the same goal. We have a shoulder to

lean on when we feel like we can’t move on,” said

Carnes, who also enjoyed unique opportunities when she

studied abroad in Poland as a part of a program that allowed

her to study civil engineering at campuses in four

countries.

Gordon expressed the important role that mentors like

her major professor Peter Kalu, Ph.D., and the engineering

school’s Title III Director Reginald Perry, Ph.D.,

played in her successful matriculation.

“FAMU’s programs have been a tremendous help in

assisting us both academically and professionally. The

faculty and staff have been amazing,” she said.

Gordon also recalled a time when FAMU’s Interim

President Larry Robinson, Ph.D., personally stepped in

to help her complete an important component of her

research experience.

The women agree that confidence helped the trio work

through system crashes, equipment failure, multiple trials

and errors, and even with overcoming tragedy, as

they all worked toward the finish line of their education.

In 2014, they suddenly lost colleague Tarra M. Beach,

an environmental engineering doctoral candidate. She

passed away before she received her doctorate. Her goal

was to “contribute to the sustainability of the environment

and work on STEM education with underrepresented

children.”

“She would have been the first woman to graduate with

her engineering Ph.D., from the Title III program at

FAMU. So, we were next in line to just follow her example,

her dedication, her passion and drive,” Anderson

said.

Beach’s legacy helped motivate the young women to

complete their goals.

“Losing Tarra was very hard. She was driven toward

education. She was so close to finishing and to know

someone worked that hard and not necessarily reaped

that benefit was emotionally draining for us,” Carnes

said. “But it also let us know we are blessed to be here

and that we can move on. Her legacy is that she believed

in education and through us, and all women, she is here.

Through our eyes, she has her Ph.D., because she was

such a scholar.”

Gordon explained the loss of Beach and earning a degree

in a field where women and ethnic minorities are underrepresented

taught her and her friends the lesson of a

lifetime: nothing is impossible when you persevere.

“It was tough, but we had each other. We stayed connected.

Just keep on going. Be determined. Be persistent,”

Gordon said.

A video about this inspirational story is available on

YouTube.com.

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