Christopher John Rogers is taking over the fashion world.

The fashion designer has styled a host of celebrities such as former first lady Michelle Obama, Vice President Kamala Harris, as well as entertainers Rihanna, Lizzo and Tracee Ellis Ross – and he’s just getting started.

For our series Together We Rise in black history celebration this month, Jenna Bush Hager spoke to Rogers about her journey in the fashion industry and what it’s like to style so many celebrities.

“It’s really surreal,” he said. “I think it’s always really exciting to be able to know that you’ve somehow touched someone aesthetically and emotionally.

“Because there are millions of clothes in the world, and for all these different types of people, whether it’s a Michelle Obama or a Cynthia Nixon or a Saweetie to end up in work – all these different types of people . I think it’s really beautiful and it makes me really happy.”

Rogers’ high-end collections, whose pieces can sell for thousands, are known for being colorful, vibrant and monochromatic. (He also has a limited-edition line with Target..) Her looks feature vibrant colors like lime green, amber orange, and teal.

“One of my favorite stories is that a friend of mine was just wearing a sweater that I designed a few seasons ago. And it was just, like, a colored striped sweater,” a- he shared. “And I thought that was just kind of normal and something that I’ve always wanted to see.

“But she told me she hadn’t received so many compliments in her life from any other piece of clothing. And I think the way we use color and apply it to something that looks really pragmatic, I think that’s what I love about what I do.”

Rogers’ creative eye has made him one of New York’s most sought-after designers. However, his journey to the top was anything but easy.

The story continues

Growing up in Baton Rogue, Louisiana, Rogers said he felt like a “big fish in a small pond.” His family didn’t know he was talented until his grandmother saw him drawing on walls as a child. His parents decided to put him in an arts program to hone his skills.

Soon, Rogers began using scraps of fabric to create something beautiful around the house.

“I didn’t really know how to create my own patterns or how things came together from a sketch to real life. So I would take a yard of fabric here or a trash bag there, and try to work around the shape and figure something for me,” Rogers recalled.

“I think that kind of self-discovery and not really knowing what you’re doing but letting that guide you and then following your heart, I think that’s really paramount to my process.”

Rogers also found inspiration while attending church and quickly discovered the type of look he wanted to achieve.

“It was kind of my weekly fashion show,” he said. “Every Sunday to go to church and see people dressed in green from head to toe or white from head to toe or yellow from head to toe, these really ostentatious colors, presented in a very simple and pragmatic were truly inspiring tome.”

Rogers graduated from Savannah College of Art and Design before moving to New York in 2016 to start her career. But with no money in his pocket, Rogers ended up working full time at a restaurant and sleeping on a friend’s couch to make ends meet.

All of his free time was spent building his brand, which he says started as a “passionate project.” And after doing that for two or three years, he really started to see things happen for himself. Now, Rogers has shared that he has a “pinch moment” every day.

“To come into an office where I can work and live my dreams, I think is really surreal,” he said.

“I think I’ve been the type of person to keep my head down and work and work and work until things happen. And so I feel like it’s really surreal for me .”

As a young black designer, Rogers knows how inspiring her story can be to others.

“There is no timetable,” he said. “Everyone’s path is different. If it’s something you care about and you really lead with honesty and authenticity and a really strong work ethic, I think anything is really possible for anyone.”

The Buffalo Bills are enjoying their greatest success on the court since the early ’90s. Three straight playoff appearances, back-to-back AFC East titles and three straight 10+ win seasons.

Bills quarterback Josh Allen has become a league superstar and head coach Sean McDermott and general manager Brandon Beane have done a terrific job of reshaping the organization, from the front office to the coaching staff and players on the field.

Bills fans had fun going to the games, but if you were hoping to pay the same price for tickets as you did in 2021, that’s not going to happen.

Listen to Chris Owen Overnights from 12:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. on 106.5 WYRK

The Bills have announced ticket price increases. The team says more than half of general admission tickets will see a price increase of $3 to $8.50 per game.

What about season ticket holders?

Season ticket prices increase, on average, to just over $11.50 per ticket. It depends on your seat to determine your new price for the 2022 season. The average price per season pass will be $113; which includes sales tax.

Chris Colleary, vice president of ticket sales and service at Bills, says they think it’s “fair market value.”

“We compare the prices of other teams; we compare our historical prices. We compare the value of this seat like a subscription, the value like a single game. We evaluate each seat, each row. There are seats that can go up to ‘at $3 a set and there are others that can increase by $20 per play. Seats that increase by $20 per play can be in the first five rows of level 100 compared to a seat at level 300 So we factor all of those things into it,” Colleary said.

Opponents the Bills will face in 2022 at home are also considered, such as the Green Bay Packers, Tennessee Titans and Pittsburgh Steelers at Orchard Park. However, there is one less home game this season than in 2021. This is due to the NFL’s move to 17 games; the AFC had an extra home game in 2021, so it’s the NFC’s turn in 2022.

Frederick Myers Perkins Jr. passed away peacefully on Thursday, January 27, 2022 at his home in Houston. He was 93 years old.

Frederick Perkins, 93, died Jan. 27. His wake will take place on Friday, February 4 and his funeral the following day.

He was born on October 7, 1928 in Tallahassee, Florida, spending his childhood in Jacksonville, Florida. He often spent his summers with his grandparents Thomas Eugene Perkins and Marie Myers Perkins (Papaa and Mamaa) in Perkins Beach, Florida.

It was at a young age that Papaa taught Fred how to fish and hunt small game in coastal Florida, outdoor passions that Fred nurtured throughout his life.

He graduated from Landon High School in Jacksonville in 1946 and was always eager to reconnect with alumni at reunions and other events. Immediately after graduation, at the age of 17, Fred joined the United States Army. He was eventually stationed in Japan during the reconstruction period after the end of World War II.

Like so many of the greatest generation, after his discharge from the military, Fred used the GI Bill of Rights to attend the University of Florida where he earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in chemical engineering with honors. He has also been accepted into three academic honor societies: Sigma Tau, Gamma Epsilon, and Phi Kappa Phi. Additionally, Fred became a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity.

It was through a blind date arranged by a frat friend that Fred first met Rosemary Ross. Fred and Rosemary were married on December 21, 1950. They remained married until Rosemary passed away in 2016, just weeks after their 65th wedding anniversary. Fred and Rosemary have remained active in University of Florida events over the decades and have always watched their Gators play football.

In 1952 Fred started working for Humble Oil & Refining Company in the research department in Houston. After 10 years working in production research, he took a job as a petroleum economist at Standard Oil of New Jersey’s headquarters in New York.

During this first stint in New York, the family lived in Darien. Within a year, he was transferred to Houston as an area engineer at Humble’s production headquarters.

In 1965 the family moved to New Orleans where Fred became a division tank engineer. After a short stay in New Orleans, in 1966 the family moved to Corpus Christi, where Fred was first appointed assistant division manager and then full division manager in 1968.

In 1970 the family moved to Sydney, Australia where Fred was appointed Deputy Managing Director of Esso Australia Ltd. The family moved back to Houston in 1972 when Fred was appointed general manager of natural gas for Exxon Company, USA.

In 1976, Fred became vice president of production for Exxon. In 1979, he transferred to corporate headquarters in New York and held several positions, including assistant production manager, vice president of gas, and vice president of production.

During this second assignment in New York, the family once again lived in Darien. Fred’s last transfer was back to Houston in 1986 when he became president of Exxon Production Research Company. During his time in research, Fred received three US patents.

Fred and Rosemary loved to travel and have visited dozens of countries in their lives. One of the specific purposes of their travels was genealogical research, which took them to Salt Lake City, various locations on the eastern seaboard of the United States, and even to the United Kingdom.

As a teenager, Rosemary began researching her family’s genealogy, which piqued Fred’s interest in researching her own family roots. After decades of extensive research, Fred and Rosemary have traced parts of their family history back over 400 years. Both also documented their family history in books.

In addition, Fred has written an autobiography which his children will publish soon. If you are looking for the 1,000 page version of this obituary, please speak to one of his children for a copy of Fred’s autobiography.

As overseas travel ended in the 1980s, Fred bought a beach house near his home on Galveston Island. This nearby location allowed for frequent weekend visits to relax, cook, fish, and entertain friends and family.

Another interest shared by Fred and Rosemary was gardening. They were master gardeners and created gardens in many of their homes. Fred’s specialty was tomatoes, which he grew from seedlings.

He was very particular and noted the weight of each tomato he harvested. From fig trees to apple trees, butternut squash to green beans, Fred and Rosemary’s gardens produced delicious fruits and vegetables.

So it was only natural that gourmet cooking would emerge as another favorite pastime. Fred was an avid cook and was known for many culinary delights. He was probably best known for his salsa, jellies and jams, one of which earned him an honorable mention at the Texas State Fair.

Another area of ​​specialty was cakes, pies and desserts. He generously shared his desserts with Buckingham’s senior community, earning him a mention in the Houston Chronicle.

Fred could cook food in many genres including Cajun, Mexican, Italian and BBQ to name a few, always from scratch.

Of course, with all of these edible masterpieces, the obvious next step was hosting dinner parties and celebrations, which must have numbered in the hundreds over the decades. It looked like Fred and Rosemary were always cleaning up or getting ready to throw the next party. They have been honored to be able to host family reunions in Connecticut, Houston and Galveston over the years.

As home maintenance became more of a chore, Fred and Rosemary decided to move to the Buckingham seniors’ community in 2013. Ever the patriots, they chose their second floor, centrally located apartment based on the fact that he had an excellent view of America. Flag.

They remained active in various groups. After Rosemary passed away in 2016, Fred explored many new activities at Buckingham to occupy his time. He took singing lessons and participated in the Buckingham Choir where he was featured in two solo performances.

He also joined an art group that exposed real hidden talent. Despite advanced macular degeneration, with help Fred was able to complete over 50 acrylic paintings consisting primarily of landscapes and seascapes.

After he suffered a stroke in 2017, the family hired babysitters to ensure he could maintain his healthy active lifestyle. His most recent guardians were Yanique, Sabrina, Dionne and Amanda.

The family would like to express their deepest gratitude to these caregivers for watching over Fred around the clock to ensure he was happy and healthy during his final years. The family are especially grateful to their caretaker Amanda for helping Fred with various activities ranging from cooking to socializing at Buckingham until his last day.

Fred and Rosemary were active in many charities and organizations wherever they lived, including the Boy Scouts of America, the Chamber of Commerce, and United Way, to name a few.

Frederick was predeceased by his parents, Frederick Myers Perkins Sr. and Nancy Turner Perkins; and his sister, Marie Perkins Lloyd. He is further predeceased by his wife, Rosemary Ross Perkins.

He is survived by his three children: Lucile Perkins Reed, wife of Tommy Reed of Star, Texas, Nancy Perkins of Austin County, Texas, and Matthew Myers Perkins and his wife Kim Aleah Perkins of The Woodlands. Fred is also survived by five grandchildren: Rosemary Reed Jones, Gene Frederick Reed, Travis Weldon Reed, Caroline Elizabeth Perkins and Jaxson Myers Perkins; five great-grandchildren: Sarah Lucile Jones, Tommy Alan Jones, Gene Frederick Reed, Robert Weldon Reed and Abigail Grace Reed.

Friends are cordially invited to a family visit from 4 to 6 p.m., Friday, February 4, at Geo’s library and grand foyer. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive, Houston.

A funeral service is to be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, February 5, in Geo’s Jasek Chapel. H. Lewis & Sons, where the Reverend Beth Case, Minister of Christian Education and Welfare, Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church, is to officiate.

Later, the family will gather for a private burial at Forest Park Westheimer Cemetery.

— an obituary of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons Funeral Directors, where online condolences can be filed.

Former Director of CrossFit Games and General Manager of Sport Dave Castro was fired from his job at CrossFit LLC by CEO Eric Roza, according to a leaked internal email sent to CrossFit employees.

Sent Jan. 4, 2022, the internal email sent to CrossFit LLC staff by Roza details: “I made the difficult decision to change the leadership of the Sport team to best support CrossFit’s future plans. , and Dave Castro will be leaving the company. . “

Continuing, Roza wrote that “Castro’s vision, creativity and drive have made the CrossFit Games from an informal competition on his family’s ranch into a global phenomenon with hundreds of thousands of participants and millions of viewers around the world. “.

Dave has also been a central figure in the growth of CrossFit’s training business, helping to evolve the seminars department to reach tens of thousands of trainers. All of us in the CrossFit world owe Dave a great credit. Debt of gratitude for his contributions, and we wish him well as he brings his talents to his next chapter, ”Roza continued in the email.

“Dave has assembled a world class team, which will now be led by Justin Bergh, and we are delighted to see this new generation of leaders build on his heritage as we work together to take our sport to the next level of success. “

The CrossFit HQ reshuffle comes just seven weeks before the start of the 2022 CrossFit Games season. Castro, who has scheduled 15 CrossFit Games competitions, will be replaced by CrossFit employee Justin Bergh, who will be promoted from his role as vice president of sports and partnerships.

Speaking about the announcement on his Instagram, Castro posted, “I spoke to Roza once in the past 3 months or so while he was away. He called me tonight to fire me. He told me that” they had prepared a message saying it was reciprocal. I asked him not to use it because it couldn’t be further from the truth. “

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In the comments, many of Castro’s Instagram followers shared their support. “The CrossFit community is behind you Dave. Without you CrossFit wouldn’t be here today. It is extremely heartbreaking to hear this news,” wrote one user.

“CrossFit [sic] soften, “posted another.

“Wrong decision, what a huge mistake they made,” wrote another article, loved hundreds of times by other users.

(h / t: Morning Chalk Up)

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Marie Selby Botanical Gardens has added another world-class scientist to its diverse botany team.

Award-winning botanist Dr. Tatiana Arias joined Selby Gardens staff in November as an orchid researcher. An innovative scientist who obtained a doctorate. at the University of Missouri, Arias comes to Sarasota from her native Colombia, where she ran a research lab focused on orchid genomics, horticulture, and conservation.

“Dr. Arias is a classically trained botanist who has followed modern methods,” said Bruce Holst, vice president of botany at Selby Gardens. “His interest in pursuing new scientific approaches is refreshing. Tatiana brings us a passion for orchids as well as broad links with the botanical world and the Andes, where the greatest region of orchid diversity is found.

Arias has over 15 years of experience in the field of plant sciences. She has been honored by the World Academy of Sciences and the Colombian Academy of Sciences, among other professional achievements.

“Bringing on a scientist of the caliber of Dr. Arias will strengthen Selby Gardens’ ability to participate in scientific collaborations that broaden the scope of our mission,” said Jennifer Rominiecki, President and CEO of Selby Gardens. “His work here will inform conservation efforts around the world and strengthen Selby Gardens’ position as an international authority on epiphytes. “

Arias highlighted Selby Gardens’ leadership in strengthening botanical research efforts by appointing scientists from around the world.

“As a Latin American woman, I am passionate and committed to diversity in academia,” Arias said. “This position presents an exciting opportunity to do first-rate orchid scientific research in an environment of other accomplished researchers.”

Arias joins a botany team which in recent years has added Dr. Sally Chambers, a fern expert.

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens offer 45 acres of bay-side sanctuaries connecting people to the world’s aerial plants, native nature and regional history. For more information, visit selby.org.

Submitted by Greg Luberecki

Juliska’s patterned tableware adorns Elaine Griffin’s woody table sets.Photo: Courtesy of DIFFANEW YORK–In November, in conjunction with the annual showcase unveiling of Bloomingdale’s flagship store on 59th Street in New York City, the Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS (DIFFA) unveiled its “Holidays by Design” display and auction. On the fourth floor of the department store, shoppers can find 12 table vignettes from interior designers, including Nate Berkus, Rockwell Group, Drake / Anderson, Karim Rashid, Ghislaine Viñas, Daun Curry, Stephanie Goto, Elaine Griffin, Lizzie Tisch x LTD by Robert Verdi, Hariri & Hariri Architecture, Dufner Heighes and Kim Seybert.

On display until December 12, each table features luxury products from Bloomingdale brands such as Baccarat, Bernardaud, Juliska, L’Objet, Royal Copenhagen, Waterford and Wedgwood.

Similar to the nonprofit organization’s other franchises, such as Dining by Design and Picnic by Design, the first edition of Holidays by Design features one-of-a-kind festive table landscapes, which are the subject of an offer. on CharityBuzz until December 9. The proceeds from the auction benefit DIFFA and aid in its mission to raise funds and educate those living with and affected by HIV / AIDS, homelessness, food shortage and mental health issues.

“Bloomingdale’s wanted to find a unique way to give back this holiday season, and what better way than to host a charity component in the store for their Holiday Give Happy initiative,” said Dawn Roberson, executive director of DIFFA.

“Bloomingdale’s Vice-president of integrated marketing and fashion management, Kevin Harter, was familiar with DIFFA’s Dining By Design event and approached me to pair DIFFA’s design talents with Bloomingdale’s house brands, ”she said, adding that each design features two to three lines. of Bloomingdale House which were donated by the Marks.

“By hosting the philanthropic initiative at Bloomingdale’s 59th Street flagship store, we are able to offer our shoppers a special vacation experience that contributes to an important cause and also serves as the inspiration for their vacation entertainment needs. “said Kelley Carter, Bloomingdale’s fashion house. director.

As for the logistics, the designers were not allowed to fix anything permanently to the floor or hang anything from the ceiling, nor were they allowed to exceed five feet in height during the installation. design of the centerpieces.

See the holiday-inspired table landscapes below.

HAMDEN, Connecticut (WTNH) – A Connecticut man was arrested after he allegedly broke into the off-campus home of a Quinnipiac University student and attempted to break into another’s home in Hamden on Tuesday evening.

At approximately 11:30 p.m., Hamden police responded to the student’s residence near the main campus of Quinnipiac University (QU). The student was at home when someone tried to force open a window, police said. She told police the suspect fled after shining a flashlight at the window. The suspect never entered her home.

Shortly after, officers responded to a similar call at a nearby house. Another QU student reported that a suspect entered her residence through an unlocked back door while she was sleeping. She woke up to the suspect standing at the foot of her bed. The suspect fled when the woman started screaming, police said.

No one was injured in either incident.

Hamden Police found the suspect’s vehicle in the neighborhood and attempted to stop it, but it took off and led the police in pursuit. Police caught the suspect – later identified as Adiel Viana-Ribeiro, 24, of Bridgeport – on I-84. Officers say they found evidence in his car.

Police say Viana-Ribeiro delivers food and drives passengers for app-based service companies. They say he specifically targeted homes where he previously made deliveries to women.

He is charged with the following:

• 1st Degree Burglary
• Criminal attempted robbery 1st degree
• 2nd degree criminal mischief
• 6th degree larceny
• Engage the police in the pursuit
• Dangerous driving

In a statement Wednesday evening, QU reminded students and staff to remain vigilant about their safety inside and outside their homes.

Quinnipiac Public Safety Officers perform regular checks of all university owned property to maintain the safety of our student community. We appreciate the quick actions of our students who immediately called Public Safety when they heard a noise outside their home; our officers responded immediately and coordinated with Hamden Police and Connecticut State Police, who investigated and apprehended the suspect shortly thereafter.

We also reminded all members of our university community to adopt good security habits by always securing their residence, whether at home or outside, including locking windows and doors and keeping the dark areas around their house well lit during the evening.

– John W. Morgan, Associate Vice President for Public Relations, Quinnipiac University

Viana-Ribeiro was held on $ 50,000 bond and will appear in court on December 29.

Food systems around the world are increasingly threatened by the impacts of climate change. At the same time, these systems, which include all activities from food production to consumption and food waste, are responsible for about a third of the human-made greenhouse gas emissions that warm the planet.

To spur research-based innovation that will make food systems more resilient and sustainable, MIT’s Abdul Latif Jameel Water and Food Systems Lab (J-WAFS) announced the launch of a new initiative at an event during the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, Scotland. , Last week. The initiative, called the Alliance for Food and Climate Systems Transformation (FACT), will better connect researchers with farmers, food companies, policymakers and other food system stakeholders around the world.

“Time is not on our side,” says Greg Sixt, director of the FACT Alliance and head of food systems and climate research at J-WAFS. “To date, the research community has not delivered concrete solutions quickly enough or in the politically relevant form needed if urgent changes are to be made to our food systems. The FACT Alliance aims to change that.

Why, in fact, do our food systems need to be transformed?

At COP26 (which stands for “conference of the parties” to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which is being held for the 26th time this year), a number of countries pledged to end deforestation , reduce methane emissions and stop public funding of coal power. In his opening speech at the FACT Alliance event, Professor Pete Smith of the University of Aberdeen, an alliance member institution, noted that food and agriculture must also be addressed because “it there is an interaction between climate change and the food system ”.

The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warns that a two-degree Celsius increase in average global temperature from pre-industrial levels could trigger a global food crisis, and emissions from food systems to they alone could get us past the two-degree mark, even though energy-related emissions could be set to zero.

Smith said dramatic and rapid transformations are needed to provide healthy and nutritious food for all, with reduced environmental impact and increased resilience to climate change. With a global network of leading research institutions and collaborating stakeholder organizations, the FACT Alliance aims to facilitate new solution-oriented research to address the most challenging aspects of food systems in the age of climate change.

How the FACT Alliance works

At the heart of the work of the FACT Alliance is the development of new methodologies to align data across scales and components of food systems, improve access to data, integrate research into the various disciplines that deal with aspects of food systems. food systems, partnering stakeholders in the research process, and assessing impact in the context of complex and interconnected food and climate systems.

The FACT Alliance will conduct what is known as ‘convergence research’, which addresses complex issues with approaches that embody deep integration between disciplines. This type of research requires close association with stakeholders who both make decisions and are directly affected by the functioning of food systems, be they farmers, extension services (i.e. – say agricultural councils), decision-makers, international aid organizations, consumers or others. By inviting stakeholders and collaborators to be part of the research process, the FACT Alliance enables engagement at the scale, geography and scope most suited to individual needs, by integrating global and local teams. for best results.

“Doing research in isolation of all the stakeholders and the goals we want to achieve will not bring the transformation we need,” Smith said. “The problem is too big for us to solve in isolation, and we need broad alliances to solve the problem, and that’s why we developed the FACT Alliance.

Members and collaborators

Led by MIT’s J-WAFS, the FACT Alliance is currently made up of 16 core members and an associated network of collaborating stakeholder organizations.

“As the central organizer of MIT’s food systems research, J-WAFS catalyzes collaboration between disciplines,” said Maria Zuber, vice president of research at MIT. “Now, by bringing together a group of world-class research institutions and stakeholders from key sectors, the FACT Alliance aims to advance research that will help mitigate climate impacts on food systems and mitigate impacts. of food systems on climate. “

J-WAFS co-organized the COP26 event “Bridging the Science-Policy Gap for Impactful, Demand-Driven Food Systems Innovation” with Columbia University, the American University of Beirut and the CGIAR Research Program on Change climate, agriculture and food security (CCAFS). The event featured a panel discussion with several members of the FACT Alliance and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).

CHICAGO (CBS) – In the West Garfield Park neighborhood, a grocery store moves and hope sets in, in the form of an emergency food gift.

CBS 2’s Marissa Parra shows us what was done today and what defenders are pushing for tomorrow.

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It’s been almost a month since the boards were lifted and the doors last closed at Garfield Park Aldi, apparently without warning

Volunteers spent Saturday stepping in and stepping up; donate food just a few feet from where the groceries were sold.

“This Aldi has been here for as long as I’ve been here, and to watch him disappear is definitely devastating, especially for the community,” said Leoshay Dobbs, who works in community engagement at Rush University Medical Center.

The Aldi grocery store that served West Garfield Park for three decades suddenly closed its doors almost a month ago.

“I wish the Lord would restore it,” said Earlene Boyle, who lives across the street.

Boyle is now heading to the nearest grocery store, nearly a mile away, which isn’t exactly an easy trip at his age.

“I’m 81 years old so it takes a long time for me,” she said.

A spokesperson for Aldi cited a “drop in sales”, adding that the now-closed store had been operating “at a loss for several years”.

“Almost a month ago, we made the difficult decision to permanently close our store at 3835 W. Madison. We take the closure of this place very seriously. Our decision was based on several factors, including the steady decline in sales and the fact that we have been operating this location at a loss for several years. The poor sales performance and increased spending simply made it unsustainable to keep the store open, ”the company said in a statement. “We are proud to serve the residents of the West Garfield Park neighborhood for the past 30 years and we thank our customers for their loyalty. We look forward to continuing to serve them at one of our many nearby stores, including a store at 800 N. Kedzie, which is just over a mile from the old location on W. Madison.

READ MORE: Englewood Group Calls for ‘Cash Mob Community’ to Help Clothing Store Recover After Smash-and-Grab Burglary

Not everyone buys Aldi’s explanation.

“Who’s to blame? Well, first of all, it’s Aldi themselves,” said Dr. David Ansell, senior vice president of community health equity at Rush University Medical Center. is an act of violence, as people have been put at risk by Aldi’s departure and access to fresh food and vegetables removed from the community.

Ansell is part of the Garfield Park Rite to Wellness Collaborative (GPRWC) team that organized the emergency food distribution on Saturday.

“Life expectancy in this neighborhood is the lowest on the West Side of Chicago; many causes, but the first is cardiovascular disease, for which food is medicine, ”Ansell said. “You have four senior citizens’ buildings within walking distance here, half of the people in this neighborhood don’t have a car.”

Volunteers handed out 250 boxes of food to enthusiastic residents of West Garfield Park, some of whom lined up hours in advance.

“I have carrots, I have good veg, I love veg,” said Warren Gardner, who lives across the street, rummaging through his bags. “A big ole chicken!” It’s even better. “

As families loaded wagons, defenders waited impatiently.

“We’re going to be here for the next six weeks, but after the six weeks what’s next? How are people going to access healthy food outside of gas stations or convenience stores? Dobbs said, gesturing to the corner store across the street, with a sign reading “Madison Supermarket” next to pictures advertising sodas and crisps. “You can’t make a meal out of it. “

GPRWC said it has been in contact with Ald. Jason Ervin (28^e), pushing to bring a new affordable grocery store to Aldi’s place.

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The Garfield Park Rite To Wellness Collaborative has planned a series of food giveaways over the next few weeks at the former Aldi store. They provide food gifts on four additional Saturdays: November 13, December 4, December 11 and December 18. A special pre-Thanksgiving gift was already planned for Friday, November 19 at the New Mount Pilgrim Baptist Missionary Church, which will take care of the families’ food for two weeks, since there will be none on the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

The University of Saskatchewan and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) continue to support Carrie Bourassa, despite a CBC investigation that shows her claims of Indigenous ancestry to be false.

For years, the U of S professor, who is also the Scientific Director of the Indigenous branch of CIHR, has claimed to be Métis, Anishnaabe and Tlingit. However, investigations by Indigenous academics and the CBC found there was no evidence of this.

After being confronted with the findings of the CBC investigation, Bourassa changed her story in an email response before the CBC investigation was released, claiming she was mixed race because she was adopted by a friend Métis from her grandfather when she was in her early twenties. This seems to directly contradict many of his previous public claims.

In a Saskatoon StarPhoenix article published on Saturday, Bourassa said she did not have documentation to prove her many claims of indigeneity, but insists she is not lying. She said she hired a genealogist two years ago to help her search for evidence, and the work is underway.

Asked about her public claim that her great-grandmother was Tlingit, Bourassa said she hopes to find evidence at some point.

“Maybe I can find a Tlingit ancestor somewhere. Maybe I will, maybe I won’t,” she told the StarPhoenix.

Bourassa has continuously declined CBC interview requests. On Saturday, she said she was now directing all inquiries to her public relations representative.

Despite all of this, after the CBC article was published, the U of S and CIHR issued statements of support for Bourassa.

Institutions support Bourassa

In an email Wednesday, following the publication of the CBC investigation, CIHR said it “values ​​the work of the Institute of Indigenous Peoples’ Health under the leadership of Dr. Carrie Bourassa.”

“With respect to Dr. Bourassa’s identity, we recognize that Indigenous identity is complex, multifaceted and deeply personal and we support Indigenous self-identification. “

This means that CIHR considers a person to be truly Aboriginal if they claim to be, based on what is essentially an honor system.

In its statement, the U of S, located in Saskatoon, said it recognizes that “self-identification is no longer sufficient for Aboriginal-specific appointments.” However, the university said Bourassa was not hired because of his claims of indigeneity.

“Professor Bourassa was not hired by the university because of her Aboriginal status, and Aboriginal ancestry was not a requirement of the role,” said the president and university vice-president of the university, Airini, in the press release. “The quality of Professor Bourassa’s scholarly work speaks for itself and has greatly benefited the health of communities across Canada,”

Calls for the dismissal of Bourassa

This baffles many Indigenous academics, like Raven Sinclair of the University of Regina, who says CIHR and U of S have left Indigenous academics in an “untenable position.”

“It is inconceivable that we have a non-native person representing us at this university level. And representing us on the basis of lies, on the basis of untruths,” she said.

Sinclair, a Cree, Assiniboine and Saulteaux woman from George Gordon First Nation, says that because of this deception, Bourassa should do the right thing and resign, or that institutions should consider their options.

“There are people in the [United] States that have been asked to resign or be fired due to fraudulent identity claims. And I don’t really know why our institutions are different, ”she said.

The university’s lack of action infuriates Winona Wheeler, a professor of indigenous studies at the U of S, who was part of a group of professors who have investigated Bourassa’s genealogy.

“She lied about her identity. She lied,” said Wheeler, a member of the Fisher River Cree Nation in Manitoba. “And the university stands for that.”

Wheeler said that no matter how good Bourassa has done with her research and leadership, the university has nothing to do to support her now that the truth is out.

“The university is in a position where it is supposed to maintain integrity. Integrity in our research – not just research, but integrity in our relationships, integrity in how we present ourselves,” she declared. “The university supports and defends a liar. It is a testament to the integrity of the university then.”

In its statement, the U of S said “our intention remains to be transparent, open, respectful and willing to learn so that we can move forward together in meaningful and collaborative ways.”

But Wheeler says that doesn’t ring true, pointing out that the institution has known about Bourassa’s deception for months. A detailed official complaint from a Métis professor at the U of S was submitted to the university administration, along with pages of evidence. According to Bourassa, the university rejected this complaint.

“They could have taken care of it months ago, but they pushed us away. So I don’t believe them,” Wheeler said. “We told them, ‘You’re going to have a blast here someday.'”

“They close their eyes to the lie”

As U of S and CIHR say it’s up to Indigenous people to determine who is truly Indigenous, retired Cree lawyer Michelle Good says their actions don’t match their words.

She points out that Bourassa publicly admitted that she was not a citizen of the Métis Nation — Saskatchewan (MNS).

And yet, in a public statement released after the CBC story was published, MNS Chairman Glen McCallum said, “In Saskatchewan, determining ‘who is a Métis citizen’ is the sole decision of the Métis nation— Saskatchewan and no one else.

Well, the author of Five little Indians, winner of the 2020 Governor General’s Literary Award for English-Language Fiction, said that given Bourassa’s admission and MHS’s statement, she wonders why the U of S and CIHR accept the assertion of Bourassa that she is Métis.

“If a person cannot even meet the standard of what the Métis have set themselves to be Métis, how can we accept that they are Métis? Well said.

She said it’s incredible that in the face of the CBC investigation and Bourassa’s admissions, the university and CIHR decided to support her.

“They turn a blind eye to the lie, and instead of acknowledging that there was a fundamental dishonesty at the very beginning of all of this with Dr. Bourassa, they step back,” Good said.

Self-identification is no longer enough

Darryl Leroux, a non-Indigenous professor at Saint Mary’s University in Halifax who has written extensively on so-called race change issues, says it’s astonishing that Canadian institutions continue to think self-identification is enough. .

Many stories of people mistakenly assuming Indigenous ancestry have gained national prominence in recent years, and a number of high-profile scandals have sparked calls for increased accountability.

“Self-identification can no longer be used as the sole basis for claiming Indigenous identity due to the widespread fraud that is currently taking place,” he said.

Leroux said he was shocked that CIHR, a federal agency that funds much of Indigenous research in Canada, was prepared to support Bourassa despite his admitted lies.

“CIHR is considered one of the leaders in developing strong ethical protocols, especially when it comes to research with Indigenous peoples,” he said. “The fact that they have someone leading the funding for Indigenous health research, who is involved in such deception and lacks integrity, I think puts this whole apparatus into question.”

Leroux said Bourassa heads an organization that provides much of the funding for Indigenous research across the country Рincluding funding for projects involving Wheeler and M̩tis Professors Caroline Tait and Janet Smylie, who have all spoken out publicly against Bourassa. in the CBC survey.

“So she has a say – and I’m not sure how much – but who gets the research funding,” he said. “And we’re talking about some of these projects for millions of dollars.”

Speak up, despite the risk

Jaris Swidrovich, Assistant Professor of Pharmacy at the University of Toronto, was so troubled by what CBC found that he decided to speak out publicly, despite relying on the Indigenous branch of CIHR under the management of Bourassa to finance his research.

He has said for years that he was led to believe that the organization was run by indigenous peoples for indigenous peoples.

“We are all very familiar with the saying ‘nothing about us without us’. And I felt that was followed when it comes to the Institute for Indigenous Peoples’ Health,” he said.

Swidrovich, of Saulteaux and Ukrainian descent, said he felt betrayed and sickened after the revelations about Bourassa. And he feels compelled to speak up.

“It’s really scary… Especially for pre-tenured academics like myself. We’re in a very difficult position when it comes to standing up for what’s right versus… in balance with our own careers. “, did he declare. noted. “I am concerned that my career path, like many others, may be affected by standing up for what is right.”

But Swidrovich said the issues at stake are so fundamental that silence is not an option.

“I have to remember who am I here for?” Why am I on this path? And what is my responsibility as an Indigenous scholar? And it is towards my community and my people, ”he said. “So, as scary and as difficult as it may be to expose myself, I have to do it.”