Breakfast Bonus – The Chicago Sinfonietta Orchestra, founded by Maestro Paul Freeman in 1987 in response to the lack of opportunity for minority classical musicians, composers, and soloists and 23 seasons later remains the national model and true trailblazer for promoting diversity and inclusiveness in orchestral music, and the Greater First Church Chorale of East Chicago, Ind., local winner of Verizon's Large Choir Contest, will be spotlighted in special performances when Rainbow/PUSH Coalition and PUSH-Excel celebrate and commemorate The Life & Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Jan. 17, 8 a.m., at the Sheraton Hotel & Towers. During the $100 per-person breakfast fundraiser, participants will address the question: “What Will be Done to Ensure a High-Quality Education for The Children of Chicago?”
PUSH-Excel, founded by Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Sr., is chaired by Pat Harris and Judge Greg Mathis; Dr. Julianne Malveaux is president and Dr. Bonita
Carr, executive
director. Board of Trustee members: Ray Anderson, April Branch, Dave R.
Duerson, Joe Moore, Atty. Larry Rogers Jr., Morris Smith, Renee Thomas and Dr. Damayanti P. Vasusevan. For tickets, call (773) 256-2762.
Newsy Names – A fave media sistah, Roxanne L. Brown, former media relations
specialist at DePaul Univ., has taken on the awesome responsibilities of major
gifts and grants development writer for Ada S. McKinley Community Services, the
largest African American founded community service organization in Chicago ...
Congrats to Charlyna A. Hamilton, younger daughter of Rev. and Mrs. Charles Hamilton
(Covette), on her graduation last week from
Tennessee State University’s College of Music. Along with her peacock proud parents, also in Nashville to
witness the special pre-Christmas happening were her grandmom, Vivian Durham; aunt and uncle, Nedra and Charles J. Durham Jr.; and family friends, Mildred
Porter, Verna Watts
Shannon and her
grandson, Avery Watts ... Happy b’day to Tyronne Stoudemire, Rev. Jacqueline Triche
Atkins, Ken Bedford, Zelda Robinson, Deloris MeBain, Ken Smikle, JoElle Lyons (of JoElle Skincare), Pia
Montes, LaCheryl Hubbard, Lou Swilley, Larry Englehart (Deja Views), Dr. Colleen
Burchett, Phillip Thomas and Laura Logan ... Happy anniversary wishes to Dr. and Mrs. Herbert C.
Harris (Rev. Dr. Mildred), Rev. and Mrs. Jesse L. Jackson Sr. (Jackie) and Mr. and Mrs. Lemuel Hall
(Annie) ... Condolences to co-worker, Kathy
Chaney, Defender
web editor, and
family on the loss of her beloved grandmother, Katherine Keith, 88, long-time member of New
Faith M.B. Church, who passed on Christmas Eve. Services are Thursday at the
church, 8400 S. Halsted: wake, 10 a.m., funeral, 11 a.m.
Colored Girls –
Champagne, chili and chicken salad were the main menu items when Vivian
Durham hosted a
special holiday gathering of special gal pals in her West Chesterfield
residence. Raison d’etre: “to Celebrate Colored Girls” who
add sparkle to Christmas, bring laughter to life and are the fun we remember. Each guest was required to share “why we love being Colored Girls” and
their responses were varied – from amusing
to emotional, but surely all truthful. Reference to the party’s theme, said Viv was poet and educator Mona
Lake Jones’ book,
The Color of Culture, and her poem, A Room Full of Sisters (...like jewels in a crown
Vanilla, Cinnamon and Dark Chocolate Brown...).
Curtain Call – Regina Taylor, celebrated multi award-winning playwright, resident artistic associate at Goodman Theater and now a Chcago resident,
is readying for the world premiere production of her exciting and emotional upcoming
trilogy, The Trinity River Plays (Jar Fly, Rain and Ghoststory), a moving exploration of family
loyalty and betrayal, which opens Jan. 15 at Goodman, 170 N. Dearborn. Ethan
McSweeny is the
director. Tickets for an evening of three intimate and timeless works are
currently on sale. For regular general admission seating, call Goodman’s box
office, (312) 443-3800; for special group savings for 10 or more, call Kim
Furgason at (312)
443-3820.
TV
Time – The Chicago Urban League, The
Chicago Foundation for Women and the League of Women Voters along with numerous
other community organizations have joined forces with ABC 7 Chicago to air an
hour-long, commercial-free live broadcast mayoral candidate debate on Feb. 17, 7 p.m.,
from Broadway in Chicago’s historic Oriental Theatre. Anchor/reporter Ron
Magers moderates.
It will also be streamed on abc7chicago.com and broadcast on Univision Chicago
(time tba). Other key community organizations that are co-partnering in the
televised debate (to date) include Chicago Loop Alliance, Metropolitan Planning
Council, League of Chicago Theatres, Mikva Challenge, National Council of La
Raza and Univision Chicago.
“We’re
delighted with the unprecedented groundswell of community support we’ve
received, says Emily Barr, ABC 7’s president and general manager, “and that so many
diverse organizations have joined us in this community service.”
Kwanzaa Sale – Internationally renowned artist Marvin Sin (The Art of Leather) comes from
his home in Windsor, N.C. to Chicago to co-host “The NIA Art Party (a party with a purpose) & Kwanzaa
Celebration & Sale,” one day only, Thursday, 1 p.m.-8 p.m., at Faie'
African Art Gallery, 4317 S. Cottage Grove, featuring works and wares
(paintings, leather accessories, jewelry, clothing, decorative accessories,
etc.) of guest artists from Chicago, New York and Washington, D.C. For more
info, call Akosua Bandele, co-host, at (919) 673-7001 or email akosua@coastalnet.com.
Copyright 2010 Chicago Defender
