Coffee and a Cause!



Habitat for Humanity in Haiti

 All month, a Chicago coffee shop is helping Habitat for Humanity raise money for its projects in Haiti!

When you walk into Dolce Casa Cafe (4947 N Damen) you'll see artwork all over the walls created by Haitians.

A local Habitat for Humanity group brought the artwork back from their latest trip.  Dolce Casa Cafe owner, Ross Outten, let the group put the art on his walls to help them raise money for new projects in Haiti. 

Allie Harned organized the art show, which also includes photos from her trips with Habitat for Humanity across the world.  100% of the proceeds go directly to Habitat for Humanity!   Be sure to swing by Dolce Casa Cafe for some coffee and culture!


Haitian artwork at Dolce Casa Cafe



Brought Together By Fate

Fate recently brought two strangers from the same town together, and now they’re on a mission to help support others who are diagnosed with the same life threatening disorder that they both survived.

Roopa Desai and Lauren Melnick both survived brain surgery after being diagnosed with brain aneurysms.  The two young women didn’t know each other at the time, but their passion for helping others brought them together.

Take a look at the video below showing how the two found each other and started “Step For Hope” :



Does Roopa look familiar?  That’s  because we shared her survivor story here in September.  Revisit her inspiring story and watch how she coped after being diagnosed with an aneurysm and blood clots in her lungs just days before her wedding. 

Helping Children in Kenya

A Chicago based organization is holding a benefit on Saturday to help children in Kenya living in poverty. 

Deacon Willie C. McLaughlin created the non-profit Friends of Shelter Children in Kenya (FOSCIK) after visiting Kenya in 2003 to distribute bibles for a mission project.  On his trip, he visited the Shelter Children Rehabilitation Center and met so many orphans that touched his heart.  He came back to the US and created FOSCIK to help raise money so the kids there could live better lives.  

FOSCIK has raised $85,000 since then and now even has its own orphaned shelter and outreach program.  McLaughlin and others in the organization work hard to make sure the orphans there get the care they need and feel loved. 

Saturday, November 12th, FOSCIK will hold its annual Humanitarian Awards Banquet to raise money for its program and to honor humanitarians who are making a difference in the world.  Past recipients include Secretary of State Jesse White, Father Phlager, Congressman Danny Davis, Denzel Washington and Judge Mathis. 

The event starts at 5 p.m. at 8900 West 95th Street in Hickory Hills. For more information on the benefit or to find out how you can sponsor a child in Kenya, you can email foscik@sbcglobal.net.

Take a look at some more pictures from FOSCIK's visits to Africa: 

Different is the New Normal

Photo from documentary FB page

An inspirational documentary about a Highland Park teen premieres in Chicago this Sunday on WTTW.

The documentary "Different is the New Normal" is about Ariel Small, a 17-year-old who was diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome when he was six years old.  Teachers originally thought he was just acting out, but he was actually experiencing uncontrollable tics caused by Tourette's.

Small hopes the documentary about his life will help other kids realize that it's alright to be different, so they don't have to face the hardships he did while growing up. 

Check out the trailer for the movie by Hourglass Films below.  You can watch the full documentary on WTTW Sunday at 6 p.m.

Different is the New Normal (2011) - Trailer from Hourglass Films on Vimeo.

Bike Program Encourages Youth

Photo:  AP, Martha Irvine

Kids on the south side of Chicago are learning valuable life lessons from a bike shop in the Woodlawn neighborhood.  Blackstone Bicycle Works has an after school youth program that teaches kids how to build a bicycle.  They learn mechanical skills and learn how to conduct themselves in a work environment.  The best part, is that after they log 25 hours in the shop, they earn their very own bike.  

But the kids are coming away from the program with much more than a bike.  The Associated Press video below shows how the shop is empowering the youth to work hard at the shop and in the classroom.

The bicycle shop is always looking for donations. If you have an old bike that's not working and just taking up space in your garage, donate it to Blackstone Bicycle Works!  They'll be able to use the parts to help teach local kids!!

Local Dentist Steps Up

Photo from www.nbcchicago.com

 

A Lincoln Park dentist is helping give a carjacking victim a new smile.

Dr. Jack Manikowski decided to help 18-year-old Edwin Rodriguez after seeing a story about him on NBC 5.

The story detailed how Rodriguez got carjacked early Wednesday morning outside the Wit Hotel.  He suffered several injuries after being dragged from the car for about a block. 

Dr. Manikowski watched the story and saw Rodriguez's bruises and three broken teeth.  He contacted NBC 5 and the station let the teen in on the good news today-- the generous dentist will be fixing his teeth free of charge! I love to hear about Chicagoans helping Chicagoans!

Check out the update from NBC 5: 

View more videos at: http://nbcchicago.com.

On The Rise

A senior at Illiana Christian High School in Lansing has created her very own style and fashion magazine for teens and young adults.

17-year-old Chloe Graham always wished magazines would focus more on "real" people like herself.  Since many of them don't, she decided to take matters into her own hands.  Graham decided to start a magazine that would focus on real people, real fashion, real body shapes and real sizes.

Her very first magazine, uStyleu, came out this summer and the fall issue comes out tomorrow!

Graham says she started the magazine because she wanted to uplift people.  In between high school and running a magazine, she takes time out to talk to students at local elementary schools and encourages them to follow their dreams.

This young woman is already making a big difference... and she's only a senior in high school! Can't wait to see what more is in store for her! 

Check out these stories about Chloe in the local media:

Southtown Star:  Be proud of who you are

Fox Chicago: 16-Year-Old Girl Starts Own Fashion Magazine (video below)

16-Year-Old Girl Starts Own Fashion Magazine: MyFoxCHICAGO.com