The NAACP- Chicago Westside Branch (CWB), led by President, Karl Brinson, has engaged with the President of Malcolm X College, David Saunders, concerning several critical issues impeding the educational progress and success of African Americans in Chicago and West side communities (i.e. Austin, East and West Garfield Park, Lawndale). The NAACP- CWB initiated discussions with President Saunders in 2017 regarding the dismal recruitment, admission, retention and graduation rates of African- American students at Malcolm X College. According to CWB-NAACP to date, there has been little to no progress in elevating meaningful or measurable change resulting in a significant increase in the number of African American students recruited, enrolled, attending, or successfully completing degree or certification-based programs.

Malcolm X College’s Fall 2016 enrollment for African American students was 47%. Currently, African- American student enrollment at Malcolm X College has dropped significantly to 34.3%. Comparatively, enrollment for Hispanic/Latinx students has increased to 50.4% of the total student population at Malcolm X College. Moreover, the lack of African-American recruitment and representation is extremely evident in the Nursing Degree (A.A.S) program- one of the most selected fields of study for Black students, because it garners a high earning potential and yields vast career opportunities to address the nursing shortages of the past two decades.

Malcolm X College personnel responded to the NAACP-CWB with statistical data to defend their efforts in the recruitment of Black high school students attending a few West Side schools (John Marshall, Richard T. Crane, Michelle Clark H.S, and others), but we have taken a position that such data is inconsequential. It does not comport with the reality of a sharp decline in African American students. We also have yet to receive the comparison data of Latinx (Hispanic) recruitment, enrollment, and graduation rates of all programs- which is essential to identify the problems and issues associated with the recruitment and retention failures of Malcolm X College. Nonetheless, this information must be transparent, shared broadly with the West side community and rooted in fact-based evidence not outdated anecdotal stories or excuses.

With that said, it doesn’t resolve or eliminate why or how we’ve failed to guide and encourage Black students into making positive life altering choices. As we know, there is a direct correlation between educational attainment and poverty, which is why we believe educators of color and community stakeholders are best suited and trained to pursue a course of action on behalf of our West side students. Conversely, when we look at the success Malcom X College has had with the Hispanic/Latinx community, it reconfirms to us the recruitment practices used are inequitable.

President Sanders shared, during the monthly NAACP CWB’s education committee meeting held on Monday, September 20, 2021, that Malcolm X College hires recruitment specialists who are specifically charged with this task. He was asked to provide data about the declining enrollment rates, graduation rates as well as data about the number of African-American students placed into remedial (developmental) education classes compared to other races. He promised to send the requested information the very next day, yet, they have not received it.
NAACP CWB says, if the results they’ve highlighted in the failure to recruit African American students isn’t working, then President Saunders, the administration, and the City Colleges of Chicago need to devise a substantive, accountability-driven strategy with a new agenda. This is a solution-based approach to address the problems that have plagued Malcom X College and continuously fails Black students from Chicago and the West side. We’re at an impasse in discussions with Malcolm X College representatives and are reaching out to our community stakeholders on the West side to help champion the NAACP-CWB’s cause of advocating for Black students.

The NAACP Chicago Westside Branch is seeking community residents who are committed and dedicated to advancing the educational experiences and footprint of West side students to ensure all voices are heard loud and clear. Their call to is action is to all Interested parties who are willing and committed to working with them to address this critical issue. Their contact is the NAACP- Chicago Westside Branch at: (773) 261- 5890 or via email at: westsidenaacp@gmail.com.
The Illinois Medical District (IMD), the largest Medical District in the United States has four major health systems, Cook County Hospital, Rush University Medical Center, the University of Illinois Hospital and the Jesse Brown VA Hospital located within its boundaries. The IMD is adjacent to Malcolm X College.
Outside of the IMD there are three other hospitals Mount Sinai Health Center and Saint Anthony Hospital, are located within 3 blocks of each other and Loretta Hospital located on Central Ave right next to the Eisenhower Expressway.

The IMD employs more than 29,000 in the medical field. Over 600 unfilled jobs are now available according to the employment website, Indeed. Chicago employs over 122,080 in the medical field. There are over five million allied health care providers in the United States, who work in more than 80 different professions and represent approximately 60% of all health care providers.
In the health care industry across a range of occupations and settings. Overall, 60% of health care workers are White, 16% are Black, 13% are Hispanic, and 7% are Asian. In comparison, by the 2021 US Census Bureau, the Chicago population by race is 33.3 % White, 29.6% Black, 28.8% Hispanic, and 6.6% Asian.

According to ExploreHealthcareers.org, the U.S. Department of Labor expects health care will generate over a million new wage and salary jobs, more than any other industry. Dozens of health careers have good or excellent job prospects, meaning health career professionals will not have trouble finding a good career or job.

Independent contractor, Mr. Eric U. Strickland, invited NLCN to the headquarters of Wakanna, a company formed by four African American women, with the idea of capitalizing on the legalization in Illinois of the Hemp plant, Cannabis, and the health products derived from these two plants.

With the newly legalized industry in Illinois having only a tiny percentage of black ownership, Melissa Boston, CEO, Dr. Patricia Van Pelt, President, Phyllis Nash, CSO Chief Sales Officer, and Rita J. McGuire, MD CMO Chief Medical Officer, along with their business structure of direct selling, found a way to allow more African Americans to have a piece of the revenue derived from the industry. They have helped over 5,000 minorities join the Cannabis/CBD business space. Their business structure allows people to become their own merchants using their duplicatable system.

The company, Wakanna, launched on April 20, 2019 with the goal of becoming the largest and most reputable minority-owned Cannabis/CBD company in the world. Its headquarters is located at 411 E 35th St. in Chicago, IL. By 2025, they hope to operate as a full service Cannabis company.

An important aspect of Wakanna is their commitment to organic and vegan products of high quality. They use state of the art methods to remove THC, which is the psychoactive part of the Hemp and Marijuana plant. The recent signing of the 2018 Farm Bill made certain components of the Cannabis plant (CBD with less than .3% THC) legally available in all 50 states.

CBD is non psychotropic and therefore doesn’t cause a euphoric high. It is extracted from Hemp and Marijuana plants. It has numerous health benefits and contains nutritious substances such as chlorophyll, omega-3 fatty acids, terpenes, vitamins, amino acids and other phytocannabinoids.

Illinois legalized the sale of medical cannabis in 2015. Recreational cannabis became legal in Illinois on January 1, 2020. As of February 2021, two percent of Illinois dispensary owners were Black or Latino, 1 black and 2 Latino. At the end of 2021, the industry in Illinois is still in a legal and legislative battle to resolve the issues in equitable minority ownership.

Wakanna products come in the form gummies, edibles, water solubles, oils, creams, culinary infusion, and vapes. Their products are infused and some products contain other essential oils. Products from other companies may have pork or and in many cases are sprayed on. Wakanna products are full spectrum meaning compounds that have health benefits and are more effective for pain than CBD isolates because of the combined effects of CBD and other compounds in the plant. Whereas isolates are CBD only. The Wakanna website gives a breakdown of each of their products, their benefits, recommended doses and other important information.

Wakanna also manufacture their products at a 3rd party validated facility that has stringent compliance with the FDA and is a GMP certified facility that uses quality control steps to produce safe and effective products. With a range of reported health benefits, the uses for full-spectrum CBD include anti-seizure, muscle spasm relief, antianxiety, pain relief, treatment for psychotic disorders, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory relief.

According to a World Health Organization (WHO) Trusted Source report, research has suggested that CBD oil may also have therapeutic benefits for the following conditions: Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, Huntington’s disease, hypoxia-ischemia injury, pain, psychosis, nausea, inflammatory diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, infection, inflammatory bowel disease, cardiovascular disease, and diabetic complications.

On the day of visiting the headquarters of Wakanna, Mr. Otis McLaurin rode with us. McLaurin, is also a Wakanna Independent Contractor. He was enrolled into the business by Eric Strickland. Said McLaurin, “We got in on the ground floor. We’ve only been in it for two years. And now we’re approaching a 7 million-dollar company.”
When asked why he got into the business he responded, “Well, what made me get into it was the people that were in it, and knowing how they are, and one particular person was Eric (Strickland). I know Eric doesn’t do anything unless he checks it from the bottom, inside out and upside down. He’s a leader and I follow leaders and I got into it because of him and I know that he only gets involved in things that have the potential of becoming something and he can make it grow.”

Mr. McLaurin, in turn, also has recruited several people into his business. One that he mentioned was a psychiatric counselor who has also recruited five people into the business. “She has done a whole lot to stimulate my business, said McLaurin. He also uses Wakanna products like the gummies and CBD that he applies with liquid drops that he puts under his tongue.

Once we arrived, we met with Shannon King and Charles Porter. On the first floor of the building there are two entrances, one on the street side and the other connected to a shared parking lot. Their signature colors of black and gold resonated throughout the building. On the second floor is their meeting space and administrative offices. The space gives you a modern feel of progress and future growth. The walls are painted with the names of members and televised screens of the people, products and vision of Wakanna for life.

Ms. Shannon King was working in a section where scheduled independent contractors can sell products to walk-in or by appointment customers. There are more than the 84 listed products on their website. Products can also be purchased at the Wakanna headquarters.
How much does it take to start a business in Wakanna? There are three different ways of participating in Wakanna for life franchises. You can purchase a Crown Jewel dispensary which is their best value. The Millennial Dispensary or the Stimulus Dispensary. They even have a no money down 30-day Test Drive Dispensary where they hope you make enough commission to start your business with product on them. Their goal is to eliminate any barriers so that the average person can win.

For more information, please go to the Wakanna website at strickcomcbd.wakannaforlife.com or contact Eric U. Strickland at strickcom@gmail.com. Office 872-204-6010

Even amid Covid-19 and other negative factors, the third Summer Smash in Douglass Park seems to still have been a charm for more in the future.

The special effects of sound, lighting, pyrotechnics, and CO2 helped make Summer Smash 2021 more exciting, where it was used. It was a three-day event starting on Friday thru Sunday. The 1st day, Friday included headliner A$AP Rocky, also Latto, Lil Yachty, Swae Lee, Teezo Touchdown, Baha Bank$, Supa Bwe, and more even though it began a little disorganized.

The 2nd day, Saturday, experienced a 2-hour strong rain delay after Joey Purp and SSG Kobe performed. There was also conflict from some festival attendees stealing from and attacking the bartenders. Headliner, Lil Baby along with City Girls, Gunna, City Morgue, and many more. The day was full of excitement and downtime, but provided satisfactory energy at the end.

Day 3 of the event headlined by Lil Uzi Vert had surprise guests such as Chance the Rapper, Wocka Flocka Flame, Benny the Butcher, Bktherula, Lil Durk and many more performed. There was also a Juice WRLD tribute on that Sunday. The 3rd day ended better which convinced festival the organizers of Lyrical Lemonade Summer Smash to come back next year and do it better. The planning and logistics of a concert event is not an easy undertaking. Even though making a profit and an intense desire for the music genre is inherent there are a lot of other moving parts involved. Safety, security, timing, and good organization are always a challenge. Even mother nature and human nature can inflict disaster. All these were present this year but were overcome in the end.