Welcome to December 2024. It’s been quite a year, and first of all, I want to thank all my readers for allowing us the honor of being your Guide to the Good Life for the past 10 years. Can you believe it’s been 10 years?
A lot has happened this year, particularly last month. America has a new president-elect. Locally, Chicago has an elected school board for the first time. Che “Rhymefest” Smith won to represent the tenth district, which happens to be our district. For those who don’t know who Rhymefest is, we interviewed him just for you. Once you read about him in this issue and his hopes for the children of Chicago Public Schools, you’ll be as glad as we are that he won this crucial election.
One of his hopes is to put art back into Chicago’s educational system. We heartily agree. That’s why I’ve named this special issue ART IN EDUCATION.
If you’re wondering how art in education impacts school children, check out our article, “Critical Cultural Art in Education.” The Betty Shabazz International Charter School incorporated art into their curriculum, and Oscar Lester, artist, assistant principal of Betty Shabazz, and spoken word artist, tells us about himself, gives a little taste of his spoken word skills, and pays tribute through a painting to one of the founding teachers, who left this world as Chief Instructional Officer of Betty Shabazz ICS. His beautiful rendering of Dr. Makita Khepheru serves as the cover for this issue.
Speaking of art, we are guiding you to the good life this holiday season by introducing you to three exhibits being displayed at various venues on Chicago’s
south side. Some of you remember back in the day when parents used to drive their children to Marshall Field to see the huge Christmas tree with its shimmering lights and ornaments from around the world, or maybe take a ride down Lake Shore Drive to see the Christmas lights. Well, thanks to the Terra Foundation and Art Design Chicago, you don’t have to go any further than Chicago’s south side to see art in many forms created and fashioned by African Americans. In fact, you can drive down the Black-owned block on the south side, where our offices are located at The Quarry, to see our holiday lights. Thanks to the South Shore Chamber, Choose Chicago, Allstate Mainstreet Grant, and the SSQuality of Life Plan, and committed individuals who launched it last year, we’ve got lights, quite a sight, and delight from Yates to Phillips.
Chicago has always been known for its multi-ethnic cultural contributions, and in 1982, Chicago’s first Black mayor, Harold Washington, expanded the city’s cultural stage to the streets of Chicago, El platforms, and other public venues. Mayor Washington passed away on November 25, 1987, and each year the Mayor Harold Washington Legacy Committee honors his memory with a wreath-laying ceremony. The 6th Annual Wreath-Laying Ceremony took place on November 25th, and in this issue, Devorah Crable reports on that momentous event and takes us down memory lane to Mayor Washington’s historic election.
As we wrap up this year, we wish each and every one of our readers a safe and peaceful Christmas and spirit-filled Kwanzaa celebrations. See you next year!
