Charitable payroll deductions are the mainstay of the Black United Fund of Illinois, Inc. and a good example of self investment by the working masses. It is the most efficient mechanism by which the employed can show their philanthropic spirit and get the most bang for their buck. It is a painless way to designate donations in regular increments and have those donations dispersed to a greater number of organizations and projects that are dedicated to the improvement of the quality of life in our communities.

You make the difference
The fall campaign is in full swing and it is important that all donors know how vital their contributions are to children and families, the young, the old, the infirm, those with dreams of higher education and business success. We all have something to contribute and when we can’t give of our time, our money, at whatever level, can go a long way.

If you work for any of the following, you can designate the Black United Fund of Illinois as the recipient of your donations:

If Not, Why Not?
If you are employed by any other company that has a payroll deduction program, ask that the Black United Fund of Illinois be listed as an option for giving. Make your self-help statement!

We were alerted to a situation regarding the threat to an institution that had been heralded as the nation’s leading exhibit of "Outsider Art". The facility is listed in Illinois Generations - a Travelers Guide to African American Heritage. It is the African American Heritage Museum and Black Vietnam Veterans’ Archives in Aurora, Illinois.

There were letters from the White House, surrounding universities, the Art Institute of Chicago and other galleries, from the Governor of Illinois, politicians and corporations - all praising the exhibit as a "must see".

Even though a hand drawn map was provided to us, we relied on the technology of a computer generated road guide and we were lost. Just as we made a U-turn, an awesome sight appeared. Hundreds of statues of various sizes and shapes depicting all manor of historical figures. A 15 foot Rodney King in chains stands guard over Crispus Attucks, Nelson Mandela, the Emancipation, Michael Jordan and other moments in history.

Dr. Charles Smith, Founder and artist, greeted us outside of the small white cottage that houses more art and the Black Vietnam Veterans Archives. He must have been accustomed to dazed visitors as he casually took control, grabbing our thoughts and answering questions we hadn’t asked. We immediately detected that there was something different about this man. He is very passionate about his Blackness, his ancestry, our history. Like the Griots of Africa, he will not be compromised as to how the stories are passed on to our children. He led us inside to discuss the future of the museum. Inside, an eclectic mix of furniture - some manufactured, some handmade but , it’s the walls that grab you. They are faces sculpted of plaster that look out on visitors as if they’re participating in the conversation.

We spoke of Dr. Smith’s 10 year struggle with Kane County over the fate of the museum. Part of the problem stems from the fact that the art is made from found objects, wood, tires, metal, etc. and cast in plaster. There are many who consider the storage area a nuisance. There are many who are offended by the stories being told here, the interpretation of history. Yet, the museum is listed in several tourism publications, has been loaned to several exhibits at universities, museums, the State Capital building and has been featured in magazines and documentaries as far away as France.

BUFI brought documentation forms and advised inclusion of a board of directors to help restructure the facility in order to position itself for financial, technical and construction assistance. Dr. Smith suggests alternative solutions for continuing the exhibit; 1) that the county designate the property as part of the adjacent park district; 2) that he become a salaried curator and docent of the art and its history; 3) that the county board approve funding for construction of a closed space for storage of materials and also a reception area for staging tours.

The most immediate issue regarding the future of this facility is that of ownership of the property, as its title is in jeopardy. "There were a lot promises made to me about help I’d get from the county" says Smith, "but people will lie, deny and ignore us if we let them. As soon as the elections ended the participation of Carol Moseley-Braun, everybody disappeared."

The Black United Fund of Illinois helps people who help themselves. We are positioned to rally resources for the preservation of heritage.

To experience the exhibit, call 630/375-0657.

We must be concerned with closing the gaps in education, exposure to opportunities in training and employment and to technology as a tool to a better life.

The Black United Fund of Illinois, Inc. will make this the priority for the new year of 1999 and through the millennium. Projects in development are to provide:

• a resource center of publications and computers for access to the Internet by students as well as parents;
• access to training and apprenticeships in collaboration with local businesses and tradesmen;
• exposure to volunteer projects for our teens who are required to accumulate hours in order to both graduate from high school and be accepted in quality post secondary educational institutions.

In keeping with our mission of encouraging Black philanthropy by providing mechanisms by which our people can contribute to the principles of self help, mutual aid and volunteerism, we remain a hands-on organization working to help people help themselves.

Yours in self-help,

Henry L. English

It wasn’t quite that bad when ten talented African-American high school students from Chicago spent four weeks in Berlin, Germany in a TRIO program called Show Our Colors Youth Exchange.

Program sponsors are the Initiative of Black Germans and Upward Bound at University of Illinois at Chicago, Dr. John Long, Director. Sponsors raised all money for housing, food, etc. but the students were to raise their own airfare. In the final days, some fell short and the Black United Fund of Illinois picked up the shortfall.

What is TRIO?
TRIO programs are Congressionally mandated to assist students in overcoming class, social, academic, financial and cultural barriers to higher education. Upward Bound is a TRIO program that helps high school students prepare for college. Beginning as sophomores in high school, participants are instructed after school and on weekends in literature, composition, foreign language, math and science in college classrooms. During the summer, they get 6-8 weeks of intensive instruction in a residential setting on the UIC campus. From the beginning, there is a commitment to serious learning by the students and their parents.

The Exchange
In Germany, the students were enrolled in an intense German language course, a living German history program, cultural awareness programs and in the last week, visited Munich, Vienna and Salzburg, Austria and the Austrian Alps. Utilizing the multicultural theme, the program is designed to improve knowledge of history from Frederick the Great to minorities in Germany, while absorbing the popular culture and interacting with Germans of all ethnic and racial backgrounds.

Back in Chicago, at a reception at UIC where sponsors, parents and students reflected on the experience, students reported how they interacted with young Germans; communicating in German, eating and shopping in their stores, dancing in their clubs. When one student stated that "People kept staring at us", Dr. Long noted that the sight of a dozen Black teenagers walking the streets of Berlin might make anyone curious. He also said that the German mentors and instructors were amazed at how quickly the students assimilated.

Overall, the students related that it was good to actually see firsthand those places they’ve read about in the history books and to experience such bonding in a place that was so divided.

For more information, call, TRIO Programs,

312/996-9298.

But holiday time is often a reminder to those of limited means as to just how little they can provide their families. It is sometimes heartbreaking for a father to take his children to look at the holiday windows knowing they’ll see the other children with shopping bags full of THINGS he cannot provide. Or visions of sugarplums and holiday feasts when they are barely eating two meals a day.

This year was the fifth year that Black United Fund of Illinois (BUFI) affiliate, Black On Black Love, (BOBL) Frances Gutter, Executive Director, has distributed the fixings for a full turkey dinner to hundreds of families. Just in time for Thanksgiving, the food was staged, packed and delivered at the newly renovated Charles A. Hayes Family Investment Center (FIC). Helping hands were provided by volunteers from the sponsoring organizations, and others who have been involved in Black On Black Love programs throughout the year.

Sponsors in addition to BUFI, BOBL and FIC included, the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (CBTU), Jewel-Osco, Moo & Oink, Soft Sheen, Evergreen Plaza Merchants, Hometown Distributors, PACE, Phoenix Closures, and Williams Cadillac.

Food vouchers were distributed by FIC, Black On Black Love, Park Manor Church, Revelation Ministries, Help For Survivors, MW Community Council and Family Link. Even some who strayed into the center without vouchers were able to be accommodated.

Food provided consisted of a 12-15 lbs. turkey plus a carton filled with potatoes, corn, peas, cranberry sauce, stuffing mix, cake mix, onions, yams, gelatin, celery, salad dressing, rice plus a bag of bread, dinner rolls and eggs.

Other Black On Black programs are, My Sister’s Keeper, Chicago’s No Crime Day, Cook County Jail initiatives and the Cultural Arts Center in Public, Housing. (773/978-0868)

Dredlocks and green eyes, contrasting, naturally. And in following her works you find that Mary Mitchell is a study in contrasts. Having made a career change in 1991, to journalist with the Chicago Sun-Times, she juggles her editorial board duties with her own column. She is also a mother, step-mother, godmother, custodial aunt, juggling her resident family with an ex’s family, a sibling’s family and that of her husband. Whew!

She can write about most subjects from personal experience and her readers really relate to her. Her newspaper calls her “Mary, Mary, quite contrary” as she speaks her mind and loves to throw herself into the fray, where her opinions sometimes run counter to political opinion but are done with the critical eye of fairness.

She is the 1998 President of the Chicago Association of Black Journalists , honored locally and nationally with awards such as those from the National Association of Black Journalists, Peter Lisagor and Studs Turkel. She is a frequent guest on local radio and TV news programs and reviews books by African American authors for the Sun-Times. Ms. Mitchell has authored an Illinois Press Association Award winning five-part series, “When a School Closes”, and co-authored another on racial attitudes in Chicago, which included her personal experiences as an African American woman.

Her columns in the Chicago Sun-Times run Thursdays and Sundays. Be inspired.

These are the words of an HIV positive wife and mother, and with those words was formed Lifeseekers/ Cornerstone, a group of HIV positive men and women and other noninfected concerned health professionals. Their mission is to spread the word about HIV/AIDS cruel affect on unsuspecting individuals and families. Their research showed that there is no HIV/AIDS outreach program in Chicago’s South Shore neighborhood, an area that reports a high incidence of HIV/AIDS.

With assistance from the Black United Fund of Illinois, Lifeseekers/Cornerstone was able to network with established outreach organizations in other communities, contact resources for food, funding, educational materials, secure a fully equipped food distribution site and document its credentials.

“We appeal to carriers of this disease to be informed, take care of themselves and have the decency to curb its spread. Lifeseekers put another face on this crisis. “We walk the strolls, talking to the prostitutes and addicts who are spreading this abomination. We speak to the congregations and communities and we want everyone to know that they might be at risk,” says a member of the volunteer corps. Lifeseekers/Cornerstone wants women to take more of an active roll in curbing this disease, urging them to be aware and not make orphans of their children. “We are amazed at the number of people who are afraid or embarrassed to even talk about this subject,” says Lifeseekers president. “There are people who just don’t care and believe this disease is something we deserved for some wrongdoing. Even teens who are especially at risk are in denial and tend to draw back as if our information cards are contaminated. They need to wise up before it’s too late.” Call 773/933-1335.

He took his name from the revolutionaries of his time. “Ready for revolution!” was the greeting he spoke to whomever would call and he was undaunted even through the pain of his last struggle for life.

The Black United Fund of Illinois was the fiscal sponsor of the Kwame Ture Medical Fund during the last year of life for Kwame Ture a.k.a. Stokeley Carmichael. Through this fund, many of his supporters and those who remembered him from a crucial time in Black history, were able to send donations to help ease the physical challenges of his last days. These funds pay his medical expenses, holistic treatments, transportation between New York and Africa, where he chose to take his final rest.

He was sharp of mind through the end and stated that he wanted any money left in the fund to be kept for others who gave their lives to the struggle and probably had not bothered to worry about insurance or retirement funds and would therefore find themselves in his predicament.

Not all submissions to the fund were monetary; some were books, good thoughts, recipes and referrals. One was a request that he represent a Jewish lawyer in a New York court trial on “trumped up” charges. But it was the outpouring of sentiment that came from all over the world that illustrated his legacy.

There were remarks from little old ladies who refused to call him by his chosen name but still wanted to tell him they loved him, and those incarcerated young who didn’t know him by his “slave name”, requesting books about him. There were the poor who apologized for sending so little as they were unemployed and there were those who sent thousands, attributing their accomplishments in life to his fight for justice. There were donors who taped 3 dollars to notebook paper and a movie star who remembered his history and sent a check for $10,000, and there were arts groups that donated proceeds from their performances. His place of birth, Trinidad, forwarded the largest gift and there were all points in between.

There were those who remembered him from the 60’s on the lawns of Morehouse, U of Michigan, in Gary, IN and Jackson, MS and there was the picture in the May, 1998 issue of Essence Magazine that I shared with my own son as we had stood at that very spot last year when I delivered him to Florida A&M University.

We want all donors to know that Kwame Ture truly appreciated your remembrances.

The Black United Fund of Illinois would also like to thank Dr. William Hall and the legions of supporters in New York who helped keep the paperwork flowing and the details straight.

T/MC was formed and is fully funded by affiliate Cabrini Connections, a non-profit that serves teens in its after school tutor/mentor programs. T/MC’s message is simple, “There must be safe places where children can connect with a broad spectrum of adults committed to their well being. These places must have the support of businesses, universities, hospitals and churches and be located in every neighborhood that needs them. They must also last for the time it takes for a child to move from first grade to the job.”

Networking
Dan Bassill, President of Cabrini Connection, says the challenge is to be a central resource pool for all after school programs, conducting research that every program can participate in, organizing volunteer recruitment and fundraising efforts that draw resources to all programs.

“There will never be a time when we need citizen servants more than we need them today, because these children have got to be saved one by one.”

- President Clinton

The Kids’ Connection students participate in Arts programs and also produce:

WUZ UP - a magazine published in print and on the Internet.

Video Festival - visual materials produced to introduce students to the world and hopefully motivating the public at large to become involved.

Directory
TheTutor/Mentor Connection’s Action Plan is in place and is working. Last year it:

1. recruited volunteers for over 60 different Chicago based tutor/mentor programs,
2. provided training to more than 400 leaders and volunteers for over 150 other programs, and
3. created Chicago’s only public awareness campaign supporting EVERY tutor/mentor program in the city.

Bassill hopes that all tutor/mentor programs will collaborate so that time and energy is spent building better programs rather than reinventing the wheel. Sharing resources can also help maximize ever shrinking funding and he recommends visiting the Cabrini Connection web site which also connects to other webs through which one can find a wealth of helpful information for strengthening programs. For more info or to order a Directory contact Cabrini Connections at 312/467-2889. www.tutormentorconnection.org

How much more hurtful it is when those suffering are truly your family back in your homeland and struggling with another kind of devastation. Inadequate food supplies, lack of jobs and corrupt politicians. These are concerns of the African Women’s Organization (AWO), women of African decent fighting for a better quality of life for their families in the motherland. At their annual Leadership Seminar, topics covered issues concerning the welfare of women, such as, entrepreneurship, HIV/AIDS, discrimination in the workplace and others. Felicia Johnson, Founder of AWO, wants women to dialogue on the empowerment of women on both sides of the ocean. Women counseling each other on jobs and family. She sees involvement of as a solution to the growing poverty in her Nigerian homeland and says the money received as an affiliate of the Black United Fund of Illinois has allowed the people of Anambra State access to their most basic need, water.

She wants Africans, African Americans , Caribbeans and Afro-Latinas involved.

Call 773/907-4073

What’s going on inside is the stuff of which dreams are made. These kids are literally taking care of business. From business strategy meetings including costing a job, creating designs, committing those designs to finished product and shipping to the customer, these students experience business management, negotiations, development, distribution and more.

Who’s Minding the Store?
Studio Air is located in Chicago’s South Shore neighborhood and is largely staffed by local high school students. The company is a venture of the Shorebank Neighborhood Institute and it creates and commercially produces customized designs for apparel, stationary and tabletop products. It was established to “teach the art of business and the business of art” says Sara Olsen, business manager. Teaming artists and business people experienced in start-up and expansion, urban and fine art and youth development, Olsen and professional airbrush artist Eduardo Alvarado guide the students selected from schools, community organizations and off-the-street. Their clients run the gamut from fraternities and family reunions to government agencies and corporations, such as, Ameritech, Chicago Magazine, Chicago Park District, Hanke Family Reunion, Loyola University.

In a community whose largest model of free enterprise lurks behind tinted glass and in dark hallways, Studio Air provides a valuable alternative by teaching teens to take control of their lives and creating jobs. Yes, the “Arts Associates” get paid monthly for anything from design and production fees to sales commissions and management responsibilities.

An exhibit of their work will run January 22-February 20 at the Rhona Hoffman Gallery, 312 N. May St. For information or to order product call, 773/363-7007.

Matthew House, Inc. in Champaign, IL has received a number of accolades in recent months.

Child Welfare Model
A Romanian delegation of child welfare professionals visited the United States this summer to study programs to replace the orphanage system in their country which has no after school, foster care nor adoption programs. Matthew House was selected by the U. S. government as a model community based, family-centered child welfare program for the Romanian study.

Matthew House is also listed in the Guide To Effective Compassion, recognized as one of 150 of the nation’s top human service organizations. The Guide, published by the Action Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty, is designed to assist those looking for worthwhile organizations to whom they can contribute. "This is the best award we’ve ever had", says Tamara Cibis, Matthew House founder.

With a 1991 designation by President George Bush as one of the 1,000 Points of Light, Cibis feels that it’s important that the nations know about good programs, but it is more important that the kids of Champaign know what’s available to them and that the people working for the universities, state and federal government in the Champaign area, know that they can help Matthew House by donating to the Black United Fund of Illinois, Inc. through their payroll deduction plan.

Individual Care
Matthew House has focused on at-risk children for 18 years. Most of the children have experienced trauma, such as, been witness to murder.

Cibis states that the residential setting in which the children are served contributes to the effectiveness of the programs. "It’s like a second home where the children get individualized attention." says Cibis. The programs are open to children from kindergarten to high school and address their mental, physical and spiritual needs.

Matthew House has a wish list that includes file cabinets, school supplies and other items, but the most critical need is for more volunteers. Students from nearby U of I, retirees or others with skills are welcome to sign on as volunteers.

Call now, 217/352-3209.