AFRICA USA TODAY MAGAZINE
Politicosocionomics of World Peace
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Melania Trump
Folorunsho Alakija
Special Mother’s Day Edition Dorothy Brown
Michelle Obama
Black Women’s Expo Celebrating Mother’s Day Africa News Chicago Auto Show 2018 Melania Trump celebrates 47th birthday Politics Book & Media Club USA- Africa Youth Entrepreuneur Summit Business
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President Trump pens birthday wishes to his w Melania as she turns 47
President Trump has sent birthday wishes to the First Lady Melania Trump as she turn today , via twitter and instagram of course!
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PUBLISHER’S OPINION
Olawale Idreez, Publisher
My Dream Sky-Jet named “Ambition” Thank you to all the attendees for caring enough to show up, and made it successful. You know yourselves; particularly Kim Lachona, for funding the whole thing. You are absolutely phenomenal! Huge thanks to our special Guest /Speaker, Shari Runner, President/CEO, The Chicago Urban League; Thank you Rainbow HQ Staff, Pa Olurotimi Aderoti & your beautiful family; Rev. Fannie Smith, Dr. Ewa Ewa, Dr Collins Awosika, Olivier Kamanzi, Atty Demetrius Evans, Patience P. Walters, Juanita C. Price, Price, Our my best Keyy LangLaCour; Couture,My Mr. & Mrs. Madison (RealCouture; Estate Moguls), Banks,Tornu own friend, Priceless Raquel best friend, Keyy Lang Mr & MrsMichele Stan Simmons (Real Estate Moguls); and somore. many more. Prynce, and so many And Thanks zillion times, Mitch Holmes Photography- Thanks so much for your dedication and reliability, sir.; Thanks infinitely to my precious family, for not giving up on me and my humble vision for the AFRICA-USA Today Magazine International. Thanks a great deal to Mr John E. Smith, Jr - the architect behind the success of this publication; and many more. The best is yet to come!!! God bless you all richly in Jesus Mighty name. Amen. Respectfully, Olawale Idreez,Publisher AFRICA-USA Today Magazine International. 224-306-8411
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EXEC. MARKETING DIRECTOR/ PUBLIC RELATIONS DR. STACEE LANG
REGIONAL EDITOR ADEMOLA LAWAL
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EDITORIAL ASSISTANT
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Robert L. Scott Sr. Photography
Contents 32
JOHN E. SMITH JR. EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
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Celebrating Mother’s Day
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In this issue we are celebrating Mother’s Day. We look forward to the arrival of Spring, and with it the signal to enjoy the renewal, and blossoming of not only flowers, & plants but our own spirits and attitudes. We hope yo are making the most of your time. Happy Mother’s Day!
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The Black Women’s Expo McCormick Place, Chicago, IL
John E. Smith Jr. Photography
BWe Poetry featuring Blaq Ice
J.B. Pritzker
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AFRICA USA TODAY 11
The Black Women’s Expo McCormick Place, Chicago, IL
John E. Smith Jr. Photography
House of Fashion presented by Blake Martin Productions
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House of Fashion presented by Blake Martin Productions
AFRICA USA TODAY 9
Today’s Black woman Expo McCormick Place, Chicago, IL
John E. Smith Jr. Photography
House of Fashion presented by Blake Martin Productions 14 AFRICA USA TODAY
House of Fashion presented by Blake Martin Productions
AFRICA USA TODAY 15
Today’s Black woman Expo McCormick Place, Chicago, IL
John E. Smith Jr. Photography
Legendary R&B Singer, Johnny Gill Liv
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Legendary R&B Singer, Johnny Gill Live
AFRICA USA TODAY 17
Today’s Black woman Expo McCormick Place, Chicago, IL
John E. Smith Jr. Photography
Remy Ma Live, Hip Hop artist
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Julia Huff, Jazz vocalist
AFRICA USA TODAY 19
Today’s Black woman Expo McCormick Place, Chicago, IL
Our name & titles from left to right: Sonya Petty-Ms. American Elegance Sophisticate 2018, Cha Ms. Land of Lincoln American Elegance Lady 2017, Wilma Mason- Mrs. Illinois Woman Royalty In 2018, yourself, Lovice Brinkman-Mrs. Illinois American Elegance 2017, and Kimberly McGee-Ms American Elegance Lady 2017
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Today’s Black woman Expo McCormick Place, Chicago, IL
AFRICA USA TODAY 21
Salute to Celebrity Moms on Mother’
Hillary Clinton
Michelle Obama
Iman
Serena Williams
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3rd Annual Media Awards for Africa USA Today Magazi PUSH/ Excell, Chicago, IL
Photography- John E. Smith Jr., & Mitch Holmes Africa USA Today Magazine
Africa- USA Today Magazine’s “International Media Awards of Global Excellence 2018” Saturday, March 31, 2018 in Chicago, IL 2 p.m.-8 p.m. PUSH Headquarters 5050 S. King Drive Chicago, IL Shari Runner, Pres., CEO Chicago Urban League
RSVP
Ambassador Dr. Moradeun Ogunlana, Pres. AWPHI
Mary L. Swopes, Founder/CEO Mahogany Foundation
Her Excellency,
Eventbrite.com/AUSTM.IMAGE/2018 Morenike Faloyin Email: africatoday14@gmail.com
Sandra Smith-Doghmie
Ambassador-Princess Asha Okoji, “Afrique Talk”
Attorney Demetrius Evans
Shana Jones, Mortgage Banker
AFRICA USA TODAY 23
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AFRICA USA TODAY 25
Art Design Chicago: The Intersection of Creativity and Commerce Introduction by Elizabeth Glassman Nora Daley, Thomas Dyja, Jacqueline Terrassa, and Amanda Williams Tuesday, May 15, 2018 11:30 a.m. reception/12:00 p.m. luncheon Save to calendar $35.00 Member $35.00 Member Guest (Join now!) $50.00 Non-member (Join now!) $750.00 Sponsor
REGISTER NOW Seating is limited
Location Maggiano's Banquets 111 W. Grand Avenue Chicago, IL 60654 Map and directions
Speakers Elizabeth Glassman Elizabeth Glassman is President and Chief Executive Officer of the Terra Foundation for American Art, an international organization with offices in Chicago and Paris dedicated to supporting the study and presentation of historical American art worldwide. Since joining the organization in 2001, she has led the foundation in developing and launching its expanded grant program, which has awarded more than $95 million for nearly 1,000 exhibitions and scholarly programs in over 30 countries. Glassman also oversees the foundation’s renowned collection of American art, as well as partnership projects, including the first American art exhibitions to take place at the Musée du Louvre and in the People’s Republic of China. She has deep roots in the arts are evident in her work with numerous museums and collections, including the Menil Collection, in Houston; the Metropolitan Museum of Art, in New York; and the National Gallery of Art, in Washington, DC. With expertise in prints, drawings, and photographs, she has authored many articles and catalogues including Cliché-verre: Hand-Drawn, Light-Printed: A Survey of the Medium from 1839 to the Present (1981) and O’Keeffe on Paper (2000). Prior to joining the Terra Foundation, Ms. Glassman established the Georgia O’Keeffe Foundation and served as its president. In 2012 she was awarded the distinction of Officier dans l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French Ministry of Culture for her significant contribution to furthering the arts in France and throughout the world. In 2013 she was elected to the Board of Directors of the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, in Bentonville, AR, and the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation. Ms. Glassman holds master’s degrees in both business administration and art history from University of St Thomas, Houston, and University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, respectively.
Nora Daley Nora Daley is the Chair of the City of Chicago’s Cultural Advisory Council and Vice Chair of the Terra Foundation of American Art. Daley serves on the board and executive committee of After School Matters, the Frances Xavier 26 AFRICA Warde School, USA NavyTODAY Pier Inc. and Steppenwolf Theatre Company. She also serves on the advisory board of the
About
“The City Club of Chicago, a who’s who of business people and political leaders and a required stop wants to win office around here...” -- New York Times
“[The] City Club is an amazing forum which harkens back to an era of public discourse. There is a d ering which the mightiest blogs cannot touch.” -- Hon. Richard J. Durbin
The City Club of Chicago is a non-profit, non-partisan organization whose members include promine and government leaders in Chicago. The organization attracts those interested in civic responsibilit political debate and networking opportunities. Founded in 1903, it is the longest-running civic forum
The mission of the City Club of Chicago is to provide a forum for the discussion of civic and public a the metropolitan area and the State of Illinois. AFRICA USA TODAY 27
The Evans Law Firms, LLC 10330 W. Roosevelt Road, Suite 204 Westchester, Illinois 60154 Ph: 708- 531-1741 www.TEILFIRMS.com
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Attorney Demetrius Evans AFRICA USA TODAY 29
Chicago Auto Show 2018
McCormick Place, Chicago, IL John E. Smith Jr. Photogra
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Chicago Auto Show 2018
McCormick Place, Chicago, IL John E. Smith Jr. Photogra
AFRICA USA TODAY 31
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Second Annual GSA World Health Day
AFRICA USA TODAY 33
Second Annual GSA World Health Day
34 AFRICA USA TODAY
Business Opportunities in
CALL TO ACTION FOR ALL SMALL AND MEDIUM US COMPANIES TO IMMEDIATELY FOCUS ON AFRICA FOR TRADE AND INVESTMENT IN THE NEW AFRICAN COMMON MARKET BEFORE OTHERS TAKE OVE THE MARKET, TO CONTINUE TO HELP KEEP USA UNEMPLOYMENT RATE LOW AS EVER, AND HELPING AFRICANS TO CREATE JOBS WHEN THEY ARE CREATING WEALTH 21st Century Belongs to Africa and Nigeria must lead in attracting American Businesses Africa recently formed the largest common market in the world with the population of 1.2b and no middle class with purchasing power for goods and services.
Nigeria and Africa as a whole is full of entrepreneurs. People with skills, talent, and determination, p ceed. For USA entry into Africa, trade and invest in Nigeria with a large market of over 180M and th producing country with capacity to trade big like American type of businesses.
For immediate positive experience of Africa by Americans we are asking you to start from Nigeria, G the three countries that have favorable policies for private sector businesses.
Kofa International Co. helps African firms to obtain U.S. credit and create new markets for American no upfront cost but only success fees.
Nigeria wants to trade in Agricultural Production and Processing and the newly found 35 non-oil min diversify the economy.
There were only about 50,000 Chinese in Africa in 2010 but they are more than one million in Afric number is growing on daily basis.
China has just signed about $2.5 billion currency swap with Nigeria making it the third African Coun program in addition to $50 billion budget for Africa this year to ease and grow trade and investmen and African countries.
Africa is still in the Agricultural Age going to Manufacturing Age before going to Industrial Age and T when the world is now going to Artificial Intelligence Age. USA EXIM BANK has been challenged by UKEF of UK that is now accepting Naira local currency of N businesses to provide loans to borrowers in Nigeria and no more in foreign currencies to effectively and other Asian and Middle East countries in Nigeria. China too has matched UKEF by swaping $2. China is aggressively competing with USA on Security, commerce and ideology to overtake USA in time before 2030.
According to the Chairman of China Import & Export Bank in 2010, he informed us in DC that no les American companies are in China, and Walmart alone is doing an average of $18B turnover annual about Apple, Home Depot, etc. AFRICA USA TODAY 35
Celebrity Column
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Meet Krysta Okeke Nigerian Born American Ex- Beauty Queen Krystal Okeke Launches New Pageant In US - Miss American Nation Popular Nigerian Born American Model and former Miss Illinois USA Universal, Krystal Okeke has launched her own pageant brand following her handover of her former title, haven gotten to the apex of her pageant career as beauty queen. Krystal who works as an international journalist was named and awarded the prestigious title of World Class Beauty Queen 2017, on this basis she built on that honour to float Miss & Mrs American Nation pageant which has be eliciting reactions across the world. The Miss America Nation pageant system is created to empower and build the lives of the less privileged. This pageant system is a Local, National & international pageant system designed to inspire, build and acknowledge every individual regardless of race, ethnicity or religion. It’s a movement of inspiring and empowering young women/men community with a great purpose. With the mission “Uniting a Diverse Nation” the pageant is open to MEN/WOMEN and aknowledging contestants from all part of the world. Standing for Divisity on a local,National & International level and entries from UNITED STATE, EUROPE, ASIA, AFRICA, her African Publicist AlexReports (Alex Nwankwo) is the National director of the pageant in Nigeria, saddled with the responsibility to produce the Nigerian and some selected African representatives. Over 70 countries are expected to participate in the contest holding in 2019 with a coronation and presentation of sash and crown to the selected country representative by the organisers. Okeke who is known for judging various pageants and modelling for high brands within the United State is an inspiration for various youths worldwide. It's on this bedrock she is pushing forward her experience and networks to ensure a world class event in Chicago. The representatives of different countries are expected to have a formal interview before application is sent across. For the Nigerian representative she will be known as Miss Nigeria American Nation. @Miss_ America_Nation Facebook: International Miss America Nation Website: http://www.missamericannationpageant.com/
AFRICA USA TODAY 37
Africa News
Folorunsho Alakija: Nigeria’s wealthiest wom
How One of The Richest Black Women In The World Did It With No C
By: Krystle Crossman
When you go to high school you are pushed to figure out which college you want to attend and w like to do with your life. They make college out to be something that you must do if you want to This is not always the case however. You can still be very successful in life without having a colle your belt. That is exactly what Folorunsho Alakija did. She is Nigeria’s wealthiest woman. She re that she never went to college but yet she has still managed to become a billionaire.
Forbes.com estimates that Alakija is worth $2.6 billion. She stresses that college is not the only be successful in life. She spoke to students at the University of Lagos at the 2014 U.N. Internatio and told them:
“So I am 63 and I am not yet done. So what is your excuse? I never went to a university, and I a because I don’t think I have done too badly.”
She did let the students know that a college degree was something that could definitely help the ful and that it would help them to get a better job and possibly higher salaries, but it was not a r told them that they can still reach their dream goals with persistence and hard work. She said th two critical components to becoming the person that you wish to be.
When she was younger Alakija studied fashion design and secretarial studies in London. When s to Nigeria she was a secretary at a bank. While she was working for the bank she founded Supre clothing company. The company took off and she began to cater to high-end clientele like the fo Nigeria. She then acquired a license in oil prospecting in 1993 and formed the company Famfa O has a 60% stake in the oil field. On top of these businesses she has founded a foundation that h orphans. The foundation is called The Rose of Sharon Foundation. 38 AFRICA USA TODAY
Chicago News
Dorothy Brown announces candidacy for mayor of the city of Chicago to hundreds on Sunday
Brown pledges to make Chicago a world-class city for all Chicagoans, coins slogan #Hope4AllChicago
(CHICAGO) -- April 23, 2018 – Hundreds of supporters brandishing signs that said “Elect Dorothy Brown Mayor” crowded into the Chicago Hilton and Towers on Sunday, April 22, to hear the newly minted mayoral candidate announce her intention to be the first African American woman to lead the city of Chicago. The crowd at times burst into spontaneous chants of “Dorothy Brown for Mayor”, as the current Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County pledged to create a world-class city for all Chicagoans.
Before addressing the crowd, a number of supporters spoke on her behalf, representing the mosaic that is the Brown coalition - a young millennial single mom; an entrepreneur, members of the Hispanic, East Indian and LGBT community. "The city of Chicago spans over 228 square miles, with over 200 neighborhoods, and 77 communities, and it is often said that Chicago is a world class city,” said Brown. Well I say, in order for Chicago to truly be a world class city, we must have world class blocks, world class neighborhoods, and world class communities, then and only then will Chicago be a world class city for all Chicagoans.
Brown talked extensively about her leadership abilities, honed during five terms as Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County, and after being asked about her losing bid for Mayor to Richard M. Daley, said, “I don’t think the citizens of Chicago knew the real Dorothy Brown…and I believe the citizens of Chicago know they made a mistake in 2007.”
Brown, who describes herself as a techie, said, “I pledge to not just think outside of the box to find new and sustainable revenue sources, but rather we’ll create a new box, using technology and revenue generating sources that have been proven effective by cities both here and abroad. What’s more we’ll do that without raising taxes on our citizens, thus helping to fund pensions for the dedicated men and women that work for our city.
According to Brown, yesterday’s announcement marks the beginning of her campaign, and her outreach to all Chicagoans to share with them her goals for a Chicago that works for ‘all’ citizens. “At the core of all this is my deeply held commitment to bring respect – pride – change and #hope for all Chicago,” she said. “My goal is to engage the many stakeholders that value our city and desire to work collaboratively in achieving change for all people.”
AFRICA USA TODAY 39 Brown first became Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County in 2000, and has been elected five times, most recently in 2016,
Book Club
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Book Club
AFRICA USA TODAY 43
Book Club
Book Club
50 Golden Nuggets To Becoming An Unstoppable Achiever THE ACHIEVER’S POWER $24.95 book ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Princess Dr. Moradeun Ogunlana is visionary, entrepreneur, consultant, and humanitarian. She is th Innovative Global Consulting (IGC) Group of Companies, an Infrastructure, Agriculture, Energy, Busi nomic Development corporation connecting businesses in Africa to the World. As the Founder/CEO en’s Health Project International (AWHPI). Princess Ogunlana was recently inducted at the UCT in U as an Ambassador of Culture uniting USA - China - Africa; by promoting Culture, Development and H among the women of the World; and promoting Peace Building. She currently serves as the Interna for the Nigerian Ambassador for Peace in the Diaspora Initiatives. Princess Moradeun Ogunlana ser term (10 years) as a Commissioner with the Little Rock Sister Cities Commission, appointed by the Rock, and served for five years as a Little Rock Chambers of Commerce Ambassador. She was just ed, PhD in Humanities and Humane Letters (Honoris Causa) from CICA International University and York, NY on October 1, 2016. She has received numerous humanitarian awards, commendations, an citations, and most recently the Governor’s Excellence Award from the state of Arkansas. About The Achiever’s Power
You will discover in this book, just as Shakespeare has averred, that some are born great, some ach some have greatness thrust upon them. This means that even if the strategies may be different, de situations and uniqueness, everyone can indeed lead an emancipated, empowered, accomplished a life. Regardless of place and circumstances of birth, regardless of disabilities, tragedies, traumas, b and limitations of the present, everyone can fulfill their destinies and be all they are meant to be. I you read and meditate on these nuggets, not only will you be refreshingly enlightened but you will to reach deep down within to discover hidden capabilities, look far beyond to see massive opportun unstoppably to fulfill your dreams and help others to fulfill theirs! You will feel supremely alive and vibrant! You will feel supremely alive and vibrant! You will feel uncommonly elated! AFRICA USA TODAY 45
Featured Model of the Mo
Mitch Holmes Photograp 46 AFRICA USA TODAY
Salute to
Chicago Defender’s New
“Women of Excellen Awardees
AFRICA USA TODAY 47
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