Black History

Today is Presidents day in the U.S. and the government offices and financial markets are closed. It's also the last eight days of Black History Month and nearing the end of all of the programs, local events and lectures and community driven/lead service activities designed to engage and education on the history of the African-American contributions to U.S. history, My recommendation, for everyone living in America...go, attend, join!

This in an opportunity to truly understand and learn more about Americas tumultuous past and about all of the positive contributions of African-Americans, to history, that is not readily known or shared with the world, taught in school or written in books (Hidden Figures). There are so many things, from our struggle, that we achieved with no help (social of financial), little education, no guidance...but, still we hoped for, worked for, fought for, begged for...more. Not just for us but for our children and grandchildren. So, I encourage you all to participate in a black history month event, attend a community lead service event...with your family or friends. It's all about being educated about all the history that make the U.S. what it is today and what you'd like it to be tomorrow.

~Fe

Chicago Restaurant Week

So, if you've read my introduction, you'll know that I love a lot of things...specifically, dining around Chicago. There is not a cuisine that you desire, that can not be found in my city; and that's what makes it home! Yeah, yeah, yeah, family, friends, blah, blah, blah, but the food...and the convenience of it....that, makes my heart sing.

Currently, its Chicago Restaurant Week. This is a week dedicated to the love of food and the city that has so many dining options to choose from. No, this is not a concept unique to Chicago, but a number of cities have their versions of this concept as well. What I love about restaurant week is that its an opportunity to try lunch or dinner at a restaurant that you may have been reluctant to try either because of the uncertainty of the cuisine or the price. For the restaurants that participate in restaurant week, they offer diners a pre-fixed menu of items at a pre-fixed price. So, here in Chicago, you can try a participating restaurants lunch menu for $22 or their dinner menu for $33 or $44. For $22, your meal may include and appetizer, main dish (you may pick from 3 options) and dessert. For $33 or $44, your meal may include and appetizer, soup or salad, main dish (maybe you have your pick from 4 choices) and dessert.

For those that are trying something new, cuisine or restaurant, its an opportunity to try a few things from the menu at an affordable price. Its also a great way to determine if its a restaurant that you'd like to keep in mind for future visits. I know for many of us who either live here or are visiting from somewhere else, its a great way to even go to your favorite place to have your favorites, at a discounted price (assuming you like the items on the pre-fixed menu). Here are a few of my favorite restaurants in Chicago:


*Del Frisco's: 58 E Oak St., Chicago


*Chucks: A Kerry Simon Kitchen: 224 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago


*Jaipur: 847 W Randolph St., Chicago


*Chicago Cut Steak House: 300 N LaSalle St., Chicago


Xoco: 449 N Clark St., Chicago

Yeah, I'm from the Midwest and we love our  steak! So, if you are ever in the Chicagoland area, the last weekend of January through about the 9th of February, please make plans to visit a few restaurants for lunch and/or dinner, before you leave. You won't be disappointed and you will definitely be back for more. Happy Eating!!!

~Felicia

*All photos courtesy of OpenTable.com

*Xoco photo courtesy of RickBayless.com

Late 2017

Happy New Year! Yeah, I know, I'm late with this sentiment but know that it is sincere.

So, what have I been up to since my last post in...November! We'll I worked, of course, and I did a lot of reflecting on my life. I had a birthday in December and I spent it, my way. I work up and made a great breakfast, then I headed out and did a bit of shopping and then had dinner with a friend. The most important thing I did was get really clear about what I wanted the next year of my life to look like. Specifically, who I wanted in my life, what activities, work and personal, I wanted to be doing and how I wanted to earn a living. I considered partnerships I wanted to make, milestones I wanted to achieve and how I wanted to reward myself for a job well done.

See, I realized that I had given the control about all of these things to other people, organizations, and employers. On my birthday, as I reflected on how I wanted to live the next year of my life, I realized that I wanted to have more control. Sadly, I've always had the power to decide but even sadder, I didn't use it in a way that was best for me. I said, 'BEST FOR ME"! I've always been the accommodating one; not sacrificing myself but sacrificing my needs, The need to be paid my worth, the need to value my time, the need to respect the experience I bring to the table. I've demanded it and now I expect it and that feels good. It's only been a month and I've realized that taking more time for me, understanding me, celebrating the value of me, is the best birthday gift I could have given myself. I'm just sad that it happen so late in life. That's ok too! It's not when it happens, its that it happend and I'm celebrating that as well. Now, about this blog...

To ensure that I add consistent content to the blog, I plan to load new content every other week from today. So, I hope you have had some time to reflect and plan for how you'd like the next year of your life to play out. While you take time to ponder that, please come back to my blog to get an idea of how I'm doing things in 2017.

Good luck & Happy 2017!!!

~Felicia

Giving Tuesday November 29th 2016

Greetings,

I'm posting this today because as the Co-founder of the Greater Englewood Chamber of Commerce and Englewood resident, I'm excited to be a part of a collective fundraising drive in Greater Englewood for #GivingTuesday on Nov. 29th. 

#GivingTuesday is a global day of giving fueled by the power of social media and collaboration.  Celebrated on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving (in the U.S.) on Nov. 29^th and the widely recognized shopping events Black Friday and Cyber Monday, #GivingTuesday kicks off the charitable season, when many focus on their holiday and end-of-year giving.

When most people think about the community of Englewood, they think of poverty, crime and hopelessness. However, there are committed residents  and organizations like the Greater Englewood Chamber of Commerce, working collectively to make a difference and recently completed a Quality-of-Life Plan for the community.  We are asking YOU to support the projects and early actions of this plan by donating on #GivingTuesday to the Englewood Quality-of-Life Fund.  Our goal is to raise $10,000 which will be match $1 for $1!  Your donation will be tax-deductible and fiscally managed by Teamwork Englewood a non-profit 501(c)3. 

This fundraising drive will support  - 

·        The purchase of new equipment for the 2016 Champions of the Junior Bears Football Team the Ogden Park Vikings

·        The creation of a college fund for children who were victims of gun violence in Englewood in 2016

·        Development of a “Welcome to Englewood” sign/billboard

·        Support for Englewood Codes students

·        Community beautification, public art projects and more!

Again, we thank you in advance for supporting the Quality of Life in Englewood.

~Felicia 

Broke & Lonely

I have a girlfriend who would say, "broke is  lonely place". And she's right, broke is a very lonely place and its not because you don't have friends. It's because being broke holds you hostage. Hostage from friends, family, your peers and your community. It's not just about having money; its about all that not having money prevents you from. I'm not talking about shopping sprees and dinners out. I'm talking about being held hostage from being able to work because you can't even afford to take the bus to work. Hostage from food because you have to choose between getting to work or buying groceries. Hostage in your home because you can't afford to visit family, have coffee with a friend or colleague because $2, to spend on getting there or drinking that, is way out of your budget. Hostage from outside activities because being broke has you feeling like a failure (a failure with a masters degree). Overwhelmed by the thought of explaining to people that you are trying very hard to make your life work but feeling stuck, abandoned and completely alone while doing so. Not because you don't have people who want to help, and those that don't, but really because you're in disbelief that this is your life.

This is happening to you and you are held hostage in this experience. You feel like a hostage in your home, in your head, in your heart because its nobody's responsibility to pay your bills, buy you groceries, give you some financial security, but you! But this year, this season...broke is where you are. So, this lonely place...you know, broke, consumes your every thought, everyday, about how to break free from this situation. Everyday, you work hard, budget, plan and pray that you will be free from self doubt, free from being sad, free from this hostage situation, free from being broke!

Being broke can be really cathartic, in some instances. Lots of time to think, pray, plan but most importantly, be clear about who's not around, who doesn't call you or answer when you call. Clear about the hostage situation and how it brings everthing into perspective. Not everyone is rooting for you to be great, some aren't rooting for your failure, but they could care less about anything that's going on with you. That's ok because....there's nothing you can do about that. But let's be clear, support can be one sided...prepare for that even when you expect something different.

So, is there truth in my friends statement that broke is a lonely place? Maybe, as it will be very hard to answer, understand or identify with it until you are you are broke.

~Felicia