#NNPA BlackPress

The Chicago Defender 2023 #SummerTimeChi Calendar

No other term captures the vibe, energy or essence of Chicago in the Summer like #SummerTimeChi, coined by native son Kanye West. Speaking of which, our #SummerTimeChi calendar is the source for all things fun happening in and around the city this season. Below is a list of Summer events we are eagerly anticipating: June Chicago […]
The post The Chicago Defender 2023 #SummerTimeChi Calendar first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Published

2 years ago

June 3, 2023

Chicago Defender Staff

Below is a list of Summer events we are eagerly anticipating:

June

Chicago Gospel Music Festival (June 3)

This free event — yes, I said FREE — features Gospel supernova Tye Tribbett and the inimitable Karen Clark Sheard, among others. The event takes place this Saturday at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park. Good music for the soul for free? What more can you ask for, honestly? Go here for more information.

Rhomania Sigma Explosion Fest & TORCH Awards hosted by Delta Sigma Chapter (June 3)

Anytime Bilal and RES are on the bill, you’ll get that good music, that real neo-soul we still cherish. They headline the Rhomania Sigma Explosion Fest & TORCH Awards. This Saturday event is brought to you by the Delta Sigma Alumnae Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. Head here for ticket info.

Hadiya’s Promise Presents: The 10th Annual Party4Peace (June 3)

We will always remember Hadiya Pendleton. That’s why we’re glad that Party4Peace continues to honor her memory. This event at Hadiya Pendelton Park will offer food, music, fun and bouncy houses for the little ones. As the name indicates, this is a party in the name of peace — a cause truly worthy of your support. Head here for more info on this free event.

Incognito with Special Guest Loose Ends Featuring Jane Eugene (June 3)

Let’s call this event the British soul invasion. Incognito and Loose Ends, two of the most revered music groups from across the pond, perform at the Hard Rock Casino in Northern Indiana this Saturday evening. Great music by these veteran performers makes for what should be an unforgettable experience. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster.

Sunday Service: In The Garden (June 4)

If DJ Duane Powell presides over the music, it promises to be a soulful and futuristic religious experience. Really. He will host “Sunday Service: In The Garden” outdoors at the charming Kenwood Gardens at 6929 S. Kenwood. Be prepared to dance, sing, shout, and fellowship with the community. Bring your percussive instruments, tambourines, dancing spirit and lawn chairs. Check this Facebook page for more info on this free event.

Rest.Rise.Move.Nourish.Heal. World Premiere (June 8-10)

Red Clay Dance Company closes its 14th season with some heat! This unique experience is described as “a site-responsive dance ritual created by Founder and Artistic Director Vershawn Sanders-Ward and Company in collaboration with composer/music director avery r. young, filmmaker Jovan Landry, and Kelley KFLEYE Moseley and Evelyn Danner.” For ticket info, head on over here.

Chicago Blues Festival (June 8-11)

The largest free Blues fest in the world is back! Blind Boys of Alabama with Bobby Rush, Los Lobos and Mud Morganfield are the headliners. Even if you aren’t into the Blues like that, this fest promises a great time. Hit this link for more info.

Godfrey at the Chicago Improv Comedy Club (June 8-11)

It’s a homecoming for this comedian, who grew up in Chicago and went to Lane Tech. He’s been setting stages on fire around the world for years with his keen, cutting and insightful brand of comedy. A must follow on Instagram, by the way. Head here for tickets.

Chaka Khan Live at the MCA (June 10)

Speaking of homecomings, there will be none quite as huge and meaningful as this one. Chaka Khan — that’s Ms. Khan, to you —returns to the crib to perform at the Museum of Contemporary Art. If you have the bread, go. Where else can you see a bonafide music legend in the flesh? Tix are available at this link.

16th Annual Chicago Defender Men of Excellence (June 16)

Powerful, distinguished Black men from Chicago will be honored at the Tinley Park Convention Center, including Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson. This annual event proves that brothers are making serious moves out here. Put on your good clothes for this one. Tickets are available here.

Meshell Ndegeocello at Thalia Hall (June 16)

Few artists have the discography, artistic integrity and virtuosity that Ndegeocello possesses. And even fewer have been able to evolve and still remain dope. Her shows are something else too. Find out more by heading to this link.

Hyde Park Summer Fest (June 17-18)

Formerly known as the Hyde Park Brew Fest, this multicultural, multi-generational festival of food, music, culture and vibes returns to the Midway Plaisance. This event blew up, as evidenced by this year’s performers — Clipse, 2 Chainz, Lil Kim, Robert Glasper and Tobe Nwigwe. Tickets are available at the Summer Fest site.

Chicago Pride Fest (June 17-18)

This landmark festival in Northalsted is all about music, fun, freedom and above all, pride. It’s just a $15 suggested donation to experience it all. Click here to learn more.

Juneteenth Celebration at the Village of Richton Park (June 17)

This celebration rings in the Juneteenth Holiday Weekend with live music, food trucks, vendors, kids activities and a beer garden. This Facebook page has all the info you need.

Juneteenth Village Fest (June 18)

Food, fun, family, tradition and dope music all day long. That’s what this Douglass Park event promises. Internationally-renowned Black music artists will perform like Angie Stone, Talib Kweli, Marsha Ambrosius, BJ The Chicago Kid, Kindred the Family Soul and more. This is a party with a purpose for real. Get your tickets here.

Juneteenth Community BBQ (June 19)

The DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center hosts this Juneteenth celebration that features BBQ, family fun and tradition. To get in the know, click the event page here.

Chicago House Music Festival (June 23-24)

It’s house music all day and all night long in the city that birthed it. Here are the DJs that are expected to spin — DJ Roy Davis Jr., DJ Psycho-B, NoshaLuv, DJ Emmaculate, and DJ V. Click here for more info.

Pride in the Park Chicago 2023 (June 23-24)

This two-day festival returns to Grant Park with more music and revelry. Saweetie and DJ Lady D are the headliners for Saturday. Head to this site for ticket info.

Rhythm and Beats Chicago RnB+AfroBeats Block Party (June 24)

Dance your soul out at this glorious block party that features music from around the globe. This event takes place at City Hall (restaurant) by Fulton Market. Info on this event can be found here.

The Chicago Pride Parade (June 25)

The 52nd annual pride parade returns on the final Sunday of the month, and it might be the biggest one yet. Last year, the Pride Parade came back strong, attracting over one million revelers. Expect this year to be no different. For more information, visit this site.

Syleena Johnson at City Winery (June 29-30)

The Grammy-nominated, powerhouse vocalist returns home to perform at City Winery Chicago. One thing you’re gonna get from Johnson is a true shot of soul, straight from the gut. That voice of hers just does something to us, too. For more information, visit the City Winery Chicago site.

Anita Baker at the United Center (June 30)

A landmark Summer concert featuring one of the most distinctive voices in R&B. Anita Baker is truly in a class all by herself, and you can witness living greatness at the UC. Tickets are available here.

July

Terisa Griffin at City Winery (July 1)

There’s a reason they refer to Griffin as “The Empress of Soul.” She is a renaissance woman who has a track record for putting on memorable performances. Head to City Winery Chicago for more info.

NASCAR Chicago Street Race (July 1-2)

NASCAR takes over Chicago to host a racing event on a 2.140 mile street circuit. This race has the whole city buzzing, and it hasn’t even started yet. Interested parties should visit the race site for ticket info.

Chosen Few Picnic & Festival 2023 (July 8)

This destination event at Jackson Park has always had a family reunion feel. The vibes are blissful. Plus, there’s a good chance you’ll run into someone you haven’t seen in a long time. The lineup for this year’s celebration is fire as usual — Wayne Williams, Jesse Saunders, Tony Hatchett, Alan King, Terry Hunter, Andre Hatchett, Mike Dunn and more. Tickets are going fast.

Millennium Park Summer Film Series — Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (July 25)

The sequel to Black Panther gets the outdoor treatment at Millennium Park on a 40-foot screen. This is the perfect event for the little ones. Visit this site for more info.

Deon Cole at Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana (June 29)

This is basically a homecoming for one of the most accomplished comedians around. Cole is truly Chicago’s own and few of the new guys have reached his level of stardom. Plus, dude is hilarious. Head here for more info on this event.

18th Annual Silver Room Sound System Block Party 2023 (July 29-30)

This multigenerational block party has always been a Chicago summer staple. Expect more of the same for this year’s edition, which takes place at Oakwood Beach — beautiful people, fantastic live music, great food and really swell energy. Get your tix here.

Bantu Fest 2023 (July 29-31)

Another summertime destination for Black Chicagoans. This event brings together people from 30 countries to the Midway Plaisance for a celebration of love, unity, music and fun. You have to get in on this one. Head over to the official Bantu Fest site to do so.

All Summer Long

Jazzin’ at the Shedd

Live jazz is the ultimate elixir for the mid-week blues. That’s what this Shedd Aquarium event brings you every Wednesday throughout the summer. Jazzin’ lasts from June 7 – August 30, from 5 – 10pm. Go here to get your ticket fix.

Millennium Park Summer Music Series

Critically-acclaimed musicians from every corner of earth are featured during the Millennium Park Summer Music Series, which occurs Mondays and Thursdays from June 22 – August 21 at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion. This year’s lineup features notable acts like Stephen Marley, Big Freedia, Shemekia Copeland and PJ Morton. Get the 4-1-1 at this link.

Ravinia Festival

This summer outdoor music series in Highland Park is an institution. Every year, Ravinia offers something for everyone. Notable acts playing this summer include Santana, The Isley Brothers, Boyz II Men, Lauryn Hill, Buddy Guy, George Benson, John Legend and Ne-Yo. Visit the Ravinia site for more info.

The post The Chicago Defender 2023 #SummerTimeChi Calendar appeared first on Chicago Defender.

The post The Chicago Defender 2023 #SummerTimeChi Calendar first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Chicago Defender Staff

Posts by Chicago Defender Staff

Up Next

Rep. Cori Bush Introduces Bill Calling For $14 Trillion In Reparations

Don't Miss

Chicago Street-Naming Ceremony Will Honor U.S. Army Veteran Darius Teague

Chicago Defender Staff

Click to comment

#NNPA BlackPress

Recently Approved Budget Plan Favors Wealthy, Slashes Aid to Low-Income Americans

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — The most significant benefits would flow to the highest earners while millions of low-income families face cuts

Published

6 days ago

March 21, 2025

Stacy M. Brown

By Stacy M. Brown

BlackPressUSA.com Senior National Correspondent

The new budget framework approved by Congress may result in sweeping changes to the federal safety net and tax code. The most significant benefits would flow to the highest earners while millions of low-income families face cuts. A new analysis from Yale University’s Budget Lab shows the proposals in the House’s Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Resolution would lead to a drop in after-tax-and-transfer income for the poorest households while significantly boosting revenue for the wealthiest Americans. Last month, Congress passed its Concurrent Budget Resolution for Fiscal Year 2025 (H. Con. Res. 14), setting revenue and spending targets for the next decade. The resolution outlines $1.5 trillion in gross spending cuts and $4.5 trillion in tax reductions between FY2025 and FY2034, along with $500 billion in unspecified deficit reduction.

Congressional Committees have now been instructed to identify policy changes that align with these goals. Three of the most impactful committees—Agriculture, Energy and Commerce, and Ways and Means—have been tasked with proposing major changes. The Agriculture Committee is charged with finding $230 billion in savings, likely through changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), also known as food stamps. Energy and Commerce must deliver $880 billion in savings, likely through Medicaid reductions. Meanwhile, the Ways and Means Committee must craft tax changes totaling no more than $4.5 trillion in new deficits, most likely through extending provisions of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Although the resolution does not specify precise changes, reports suggest lawmakers are eyeing steep cuts to SNAP and Medicaid benefits while seeking to make permanent tax provisions that primarily benefit high-income individuals and corporations.

To examine the potential real-world impact, Yale’s Budget Lab modeled four policy changes that align with the resolution’s goals:

A 30 percent across-the-board cut in SNAP funding.
A 15 percent cut in Medicaid funding.
Permanent extension of the individual and estate tax cuts from the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
Permanent extension of business tax provisions including 100% bonus depreciation, expense of R&D, and relaxed limits on interest deductions.

Yale researchers determined that the combined effect of these policies would reduce the after-tax-and-transfer income of the bottom 20 percent of earners by 5 percent in the calendar year 2026. Households in the middle would see a modest 0.6 percent gain. However, the top five percent of earners would experience a 3 percent increase in their after-tax-and-transfer income.

Moreover, the analysis concluded that more than 100 percent of the net fiscal benefit from these changes would go to households in the top 20 percent of the income distribution. This happens because lower-income groups would lose more in government benefits than they would gain from any tax cuts. At the same time, high-income households would enjoy significant tax reductions with little or no loss in benefits.

“These results indicate a shift in resources away from low-income tax units toward those with higher incomes,” the Budget Lab report states. “In particular, making the TCJA provisions permanent for high earners while reducing spending on SNAP and Medicaid leads to a regressive overall effect.” The report notes that policymakers have floated a range of options to reduce SNAP and Medicaid outlays, such as lowering per-beneficiary benefits or tightening eligibility rules. While the Budget Lab did not assess each proposal individually, the modeling assumes legislation consistent with the resolution’s instructions. “The burden of deficit reduction would fall largely on those least able to bear it,” the report concluded.

Stacy M. Brown

Posts by Stacy M. Brown

#NNPA BlackPress

A Threat to Pre-emptive Pardons

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — it was a possibility that the preemptive pardons would not happen because of the complicated nature of that never-before-enacted process.

Published

6 days ago

March 21, 2025

Oakland Post

By April Ryan

President Trump is working to undo the traditional presidential pardon powers by questioning the Biden administration’s pre-emptive pardons issued just days before January 20, 2025. President Trump is seeking retribution against the January 6th House Select Committee. The Trump Justice Department has been tasked to find loopholes to overturn the pardons that could lead to legal battles for the Republican and Democratic nine-member committee. Legal scholars and those closely familiar with the pardon process worked with the Biden administration to ensure the preemptive pardons would stand against any retaliatory knocks from the incoming Trump administration. A source close to the Biden administration’s pardons said, in January 2025, “I think pardons are all valid. The power is unreviewable by the courts.”

However, today that same source had a different statement on the nuances of the new Trump pardon attack. That attack places questions about Biden’s use of an autopen for the pardons. The Trump argument is that Biden did not know who was pardoned as he did not sign the documents. Instead, the pardons were allegedly signed by an autopen. The same source close to the pardon issue said this week, “unless he [Trump] can prove Biden didn’t know what was being done in his name. All of this is in uncharted territory. “ Meanwhile, an autopen is used to make automatic or remote signatures. It has been used for decades by public figures and celebrities.

Months before the Biden pardon announcement, those in the Biden White House Counsel’s Office, staff, and the Justice Department were conferring tirelessly around the clock on who to pardon and how. The concern for the preemptive pardons was how to make them irrevocable in an unprecedented process. At one point in the lead-up to the preemptive pardon releases, it was a possibility that the preemptive pardons would not happen because of the complicated nature of that never-before-enacted process. President Trump began the threat of an investigation for the January 6th Select Committee during the Hill proceedings. Trump has threatened members with investigation or jail.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

#NNPA BlackPress

Reaction to The Education EO

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — Meanwhile, the new Education EO jeopardizes funding for students seeking a higher education. Duncan states, PellGrants are in jeopardy after servicing “6.5 million people” giving them a chance to go to college.

Published

6 days ago

March 21, 2025

Oakland Post

By April Ryan

There are plenty of negative reactions to President Donald Trump’s latest Executive Order abolishing the Department of Education. As Democrats call yesterday’s action performative, it would take an act of Congress for the Education Department to close permanently. “This blatantly unconstitutional executive order is just another piece of evidence that Trump has absolutely no respect for the Constitution,” said Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) who is the ranking member on the House Financial Services Committee. “By dismantling ED, President Trump is implementing his own philosophy on education, which can be summed up in his own words, ‘I love the poorly educated.’ I am adamantly opposed to this reckless action, said Rep. Bobby Scott who is the most senior Democrat on the House Education and Workforce Committee.

Morgan State University President Dr. David Wilson chimed in saying “I’m deeply concerned about efforts to shift federal oversight in education back to the states, particularly regarding equity, justice, and fairness. History has shown us what happens when states are left unchecked—Black and poor children are too often denied access to the high-quality education they deserve. In 1979 then President Jimmy Carter signed a law creating the Department of Education. Arne Duncan, former Obama Education Secretary, reminds us that both Democratic and Republican presidents have kept education a non-political issue until now. However, Duncan stressed Republican presidents have contributed greatly to moving education forward in this country.

During a CNN interview this week Duncan said during the Civil War President Abraham “Lincoln created the land grant system” for colleges like Tennessee State University. “President Ford brought in IDEA.” And “Nixon signed Pell Grants into law.” In 2001, the No Child Left Behind Act was signed into law by President George W. Bush which increased federal oversight of schools through standardized testing. Meanwhile, the new Education EO jeopardizes funding for students seeking higher education. Duncan states, PellGrants are in jeopardy after servicing “6.5 million people” giving them a chance to go to college. Wilson details, “that 40 percent of all college students rely on Pell Grants and student loans.”

Rep. Alma Adams (D-NC) says this Trump action “impacts students pursuing higher education and threatens 26 million students across the country, taking billions away from their educational futures. Meanwhile, During the president’s speech in the East Room of the White House Thursday, Trump criticized Baltimore City, and its math test scores with critical words. Governor West Moore, who is opposed to the EO action, said about dismantling the Department of Education, “Leadership means lifting people up, not punching them down.”