Millionaire philanthropist, Dr. Willie Wilson, who has a backstory from sharecropper, to owning 5 McDonalds franchises to an international medical supply owner has a goal to help Chicagoans by becoming its next mayor.

By Professor Zaki Amir

2023 will be Dr. Wilson’s third attempt to win the mayoral contest and his reason is, “I want the people to know that I‘m running for them. I’m not a politician. In the beginning I was a sharecropper. I now have a worldwide international company and 100% of the money we make goes to help people.” Adding, “I don’t want anything from the city except to help,” emphasizing that he funds and has funded all of his political campaigns.

He went on to say,” The politicians they owe one another, they sign off from their parties. I don’t take any money from anyone, I’m strictly independent, concluding with the statement, “There is nothing the city could give me or that I would take for being a public servant.”

Dr. Willie Wilson pumping gas during free gas giveaway sponsored by him at Marathon Gas Station located 340 S Sacramento Blvd. Over 48 gas stations throughout the city and suburbs provided gas totaling over 1.2 million dollars.

February 2023 is the election for the mayor of Chicago and Dr. Willie Wilson has entered his hat into the race once again. His first attempt at the mayoral position was in 2015 against mayor Rahm Emanuel where he came in third out of five candidates. For those politicos, he declared his intention for President of the United States and was on the ballot in several states during the 2016 primaries.

He ended his campaign in April on 12, 2016 and two years later in 2018 entered his hat into the ring for mayor not garnering enough votes in to make it to the runoff. In addition, challenges to the candidature petitions of several black candidates caused the Wilson campaign to be criticized for challenging petitions.

August of 2019 he decided to challenge Senator Dick Durbin for his senatorial seat. Starting out as an independent, he

Dr. Willie Wilson provded free food coupons of $25 to shoppers at Cermak Fresh Markets throughout the city totaling $80,000. This Cermak Fresh Market located at 3311 W 26th St. had plenty of people in line grateful for the gift of help provided by Dr. Wilson.

formally created his own party, the “Willie Wilson Party.” He got 4% statewide finishing third with the most support coming from Afrodescendant wards getting 18.5% of the votes, outpacing Mark Curran his Republican opponent who got only 4% compared to Senator Durbin who got 75.9 % as the incumbent.

Dr. Wilson has been accused of trying to buy votes and spoke to that accusation by replying, “In the past two to three months, I’ve been giving gas, groceries and hope to the people who need it the most.”

He said that he has given away approximately 5.2 million dollars to lend a hand to the 77 communities in the city and suburbs that need assistance in this economic atmosphere where it’s getting harder and harder to put food on the table and remain current with bills. He has also given money and Covid-19 slupplies to other cities, and to Ukraine. His history of giving has made news since 1996 to a front page article in the Wallstreet journal..

Asked directly why a voter should vote for him, he replied, “So many things are going wrong in Chicago, crime is so high, people are afraid in their own homes, they are concerned with home break-ins, being carjacked when driving and other problems like very high taxes and even lack of respect for the mayor, the police and city officials in general.”

Based on his career as a successful businessman, he was a McDonald’s franchise owner with 5 stores that he sold to start Omar Medical Supplies importing and distributing latex gloves and other medical and safety supplies and equipment sorely needed in this time of an international Covid-19 pandemic that appears to be unstoppable.

He is also a recognizable personage due to the syndicated Gospel program known as Singsation, winner of a Chicago Midwestern Emmy Award in 2012. Deacon Wilson has some government experience as the Chairman of the Governor’s Task Force on Fair Practices in Contracting. And as an appointee to Governor-elect Bruce Rauner’s transition team, in 2014. He is not a political amateur.

Specifically pressed on how he would make the city better, he said, “We have the responsibility to hold everyone accountable for what they are doing, and I want to start with the teachers, from grade school through high school into college. Even community centers in the neighborhood, they have to do a much better job with the students so that they can take care of themselves after they graduate.”

He then advanced the thought of “trade schools” as he continued by saying, “In order to stop crime, you have to put things in place so that people can make a good honest living. By putting trades in place you get to the root of the problem. When a person can do something for themselves, they are much more able to avoid getting in trouble and going to jail.” He then began to speak about recidivism.

“Offering a skill or trade to those that are incarcerated helps them as they become apprentices and look forward to employment when they are released. With a trade or a skill, they won’t need to return to making money illegally, by selling drugs or robbing someone.”

Focusing on the need for change in Chicago, he said, “Grants should be set aside for young people and those that are unemployed and especially those newly released from jail or prison to work for the city. Programs in the construction area, painting government buildings, repairing public housing facilities or in plumbing for CHA is something that is not impossible, is it; he asked before continuing with this comment,

“The CTA belongs to the city and has lots of employees. It is a place that is able to offer many jobs, and there should be more aggressive business opportunities sponsored by the city for those that need help. Mentors from the business sector should be added and a quarterly review of the programs should be done to make sure they are doing the right thing because money can be a real temptation to some people”

Dr. Willie Wilson began to end the interview with these words, “As mayor of Chicago, I would authorize that there be four Police Superintendents rather than just the one to bring about improved services for the people of the city.”

In response to him being a politician, he declared, “No, I’m a servant and I like to look at myself and pattern myself after Christ. He worked with the poor and needy and the Bible says blessed is he that considereth the poor.

• Chicago Moves will issue up to 50,000 prepaid gas cards of $150 and 100,000 prepaid transit cards of $50 to eligible residents across the city.
• The transit cards may be used to purchase fare for public transportation purposes at Ventra vending machines located at CTA stations, Ventra retail locations located across the city or digitally via the Ventra website or mobile app. Use of the gas card will be limited to the purchase of gas at pumps located at any filling station within the City of Chicago.
• 75% of these cards will prioritize residents in community areas that face higher mobility hardship.
• The remaining 25% of cards will be distributed citywide in equal amounts to each ward.
• Applications for Chicago Moves will open on April 27, 2022, and cards will be distributed every month from May through September.
• The Lottery will be conducted in the second week of May – September. To be considered for each month’s lottery, applications must be submitted by the first day of that month.

ONLINE:  at Chicago.Gov/ChicagoMoves

IN-PERSON:  at any Chicago Public Library Location

You CANNOT apply at City Hall.

BY MAIL:  Send a letter containing a completed application (pdf) to:

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Malcolm X College located at 1900 W Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL 60612.

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.