Walk Through Black History on Chicago's South Side

Happy Black History Month!

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We want our youth to understand the rich history. We also want more adults to unwrap and understand the history so that they can spread it to more people. Imagine what would happen if the the world saw our contributions instead of labeling us as "Chiraq." This is why we do what we do. Please support our work. Thank you in advance for your support!

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Here's what we have in store for today's newsletter.

• Black History Month: How Carter G. Woodson Created the Foundation for Black History Month on Chicago's South Side

• Brunch: Chicago Restaurant Week is almost over! Tomorrow (February 5) is the last day to participate.

• Beauty: Imani Muse of Chicago makes pageant history!

Now, let's dive into all things Black History, Brunch, and Beauty for the week.

Black History Month

Black History Month! Find out how the foundation for Black History Month was created and how Carter G. Woodson worked to preserve Black Excellence.

Pass the Real Estate Exam in 30 Days. If you want to start 2023 off with a new certification, consider becoming a licensed real estate agent in your state. It's not as hard as it sounds if you know how to study and what you need to know. It can take a year to pass your exam or you can pass it within 30 days. I took the real estate exam in Illinois a few years ago to learn what it takes. I enrolled in a course at the beginning of October and passed the exam by November 1. Learn how you can pass your exam in less than 30 days. Tune in to the Real Estate Latte podcast and get new episodes in 2023. Email us at [email protected] if you have any questions.

Create Your Reading List. Learning about the history of the South Side of Chicago will change your life. I started off diving into the history of Mary T. Washington-Wylie, the first Black woman CPA in the nation, and the insights transformed my career. I'm so excited to share all the research, books, and documentaries I've been watching. Check out our list of must-read books, as chosen by our readers.

Scholarships. Check out our list of scholarships you can apply for in January. Don't forget to grab your copy of "Debt-Free Before Graduation" available on Amazon. I received a dual degree in Accounting & Finance from a private university, stayed on campus all 4 years, and traveled around the world while graduating debt-free. My book, Debt-Free Before Graduation, shows how a girl from the South Side of Chicago used scholarships, internships, and fellowships to graduate debt-free and gain access to unlimited career opportunities.

Brunch 

More than 300 restaurants in Chicago are participating in Chicago Restaurant Week from January 20th through February 5th.

Check out the South Side restaurants participating this year. Each participating restaurant will offer special menu items for a fixed price of just $25 for brunch/lunch and $42 or $59 for dinner.

Beauty

Last month, Imani Muse won the title of Miss Windy City 2023 at the Miss Chicago pageant.

In 2019, she was crowned the first Black Miss Chicago's Teen and the first Black Miss Illinois' Teen.

Meet the Women Who Were Crowned at the Miss Chicago Pageant:

• Elise O'Connell Crowned Miss Chicago 2023 

• Madelyn Steurer Crowned Miss Cook County 2023

• Imani Muse Crowned Miss Windy City 2023 

• Annie Kamps Wins Miss Gold Coast 2023

Three teens were crowned at the 2023 Miss Chicago pageant held on January 7, 2023. They will compete in the Miss Illinois Outstanding Teen competition in June.

Meet the Winners:

• Sharron Kagan Crowned Miss Chicago's Outstanding Teen 2023 

• Young Ballerina Alyssia Duda Wins Miss Windy City's Outstanding Teen

• Lily Troyan Crowned Miss Gold Coast Outstanding Teen

Miss Illinois USA pageant. The 2023 Miss Illinois and Miss Illinois Teen USA pageant will take place from May 26-28, 2023 at the Braden Auditorium of Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois.

Miss Illinois State Competion. The 2023 Miss Illinois competition will take place at the Marion Civic Center from June 6-10, 2023.

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