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AKA Centennial
Theta Omega, the Chicago chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, will celebrate its Centennial anniversary next Saturday, November 5th. The event will also double as a celebration of the sorority paying off the multimillion-dollar mortgage of their AKARAMA Foundation Community Service center in just 15 years. Theta Omega Chapter was AKA’s 8th Graduate Chapter and its first in Chicago, and the event will be a culmination of both the chapter and the sorority’s history in line with the theme, “100 Years of Sisterhood and Service: Strengthening Our Community.” The reception will be the first of three events to commemorate Theta Omega’s Centennial. Following are the other high-profile events and the dates:
- On Saturday November 12, the chapter will host a gala formal at the Marriott Hotel, 540 N. Michigan Avenue beginning at 6:00 P.M. Members will reflect on 100 years of service through testimonials and anecdotes.
- On Sunday, November 13, the Centennial Celebration will culminate with a brunch, also at the Marriott, beginning at 11 AM. Members will offer final words of praise and gratitude while looking forward to the second century.
To purchase tickets to the Centennial events and for more information, check out the Theta Omega website.
Chicago Day of Prayer
Also next Saturday, November 5th, the city of Chicago will be holding a Chicago Day of Prayer from noon to 2 P.M. Chicago citizens are welcome to join Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot and the Chicago Department of Public Health in praying together for a safe holiday season in all 77 Chicago neighborhoods. All faiths and denominations are welcome, and attendees can visit chi.gov/dayofprayer for more information, including a list of event locations.
Kanye West
In less than a week, award-winner rapper and entrepreneur Kanye West has lost his billionaire status as companies dropped their associations with him. After a series of racist and antisemitic remarks made by West, sports brand Adidas released a statement in which they cut ties with the celebrity last Tuesday, October 25th, and effectively ended their lucrative partnership—which accounted for $1.5 billion of West’s net worth. This week on Chicago Speaks we discuss West’s offensive behavior, both past and present, as we focus on the effects of hate speech and the media’s role within it.
Tapestry 360 Health
This Sunday, Chicago Speaks welcomes Nicole Willis, CEO of Tapestry 360 Health (formerly Heartland Health Centers). A vastly accomplished healthcare professional, Nicole is working to continue Tapestry 360 Health’s legacy of providing quality healthcare access and continuing the work of health equity for all. Tapestry 360 Health serves over 27,000 patients and is one of twenty FQHCs (federally qualified community health centers) in the Chicago area. Emphasizing cultural competence and affordability, Tapestry 360 Health orients care to their diverse patients’ needs. The organization’s name change is reflective of inclusion of various ethnicities, cultures, socio-economic backgrounds, orientations, and religions that make up both the staff and patients of Tapestry 360 Health and aligns with their mission of providing comprehensive healthcare for all. Find out more at http://www.tap360health.org/.
Chicago Children
Finally, we’ll be taking time on Chicago Speaks this Sunday to deep dive into what’s behind the series of recent fatal shootings of Chicago children. Over the past weekend police reported 51 shootings—9 of which were juveniles. This increase in violence has made students wary of returning to school and prompts citizens to demand change. According to public records, at least 294 Chicago juveniles have been shot so far this year, 33 of them killed. This Sunday we’re going to discuss what might be behind this rise in violence, and what needs to be done to keep our children safe.
Be sure to tune in to Chicago Speaks this Sunday, from 6-8am.