According to Jennifer Graves, Vice President of News, ABC 7, "We wanted Black-owned business owners to have a platform to talk to our viewers about their successes and challenges, to tell their stories and offer insight on the push for racial equity along with the impact Covid has had on their businesses."
[Ads /]
The following is the list names/locations of businesses featured during the series, BLACK OWNED:
Black Ensemble Theater, Uptown
Monday, July 13: Founder and CEO Jackie Taylor started the performing arts center in 1976, eradicating racism through arts.
Black Ensemble Theatre aims to erase racism
Dr. Ogbonna Bowden, Woodlawn
Tuesday, July 14: Dr. Bowden stayed open during pandemic for dental emergencies. He also offers hundreds of hours of free dental care to children and families in need.
Dentist goes the extra mile to reach patients in underserved communities
[Ads /]
Michele's Syrup, South Holland
Wednesday, July 15: Michele Hoskins had a huge increase in business since the Aunt Jemima name change. Overnight, she says her life changed because of the increase in demand. She started the company 35 years ago.
Black-owned Michele's Syrups sales boom after Aunt Jemima controversy
Rockablock Design, Merrillville, Indiana
Thursday, July 16: Rockland Page was about to shut down his custom design t-shirt shop during the pandemic. He designs and makes the shirts, but in June and July he's had more orders than he can handle. He is hoping to go full-time in the very near future.
Black-owned T-shirt business sees surge in orders
[Ads /]
Friday, July 17: Love Cork Screw Wine, South Shore: Chrishon Lampley loves wine, and decided to make a career out of it. She became a wine producer in 2014 and has since expanded into Chicago grocery stores and other states as well. The bottles are known for their sleek design and affordable price.
Crisis turned opportunity for Black-owned Chicago wine business, "Love Cork Screw"
Ardmore Roderick, West Loop
Wednesday, Aug. 19: Recently, Ardmore Roderick has been behind big construction projects at O'Hare, on the Red and Purple lines of the CTA and the Illinois Tollway.
Chicago West Loop engineering firm Black-owned, 60% diverse
About ABC7/WLS-TV Chicago
ABC7/WLS-TV Chicago is the No. 1 local news source and most-watched television station in Chicago. With top-rated daily newscasts spanning decades and the largest social media presence in the market with more than 2.3 million Facebook followers, ABC7 Eyewitness News provides breaking news, investigative reporting, weather, politics, traffic and sports in the multiplatform space to Chicago, the suburbs and northwest Indiana. Named Best News Operation by the Associated Press for four consecutive years, the station produces 41 hours of local news weekly and Chicago's only local weekday entertainment talk show, "Windy City LIVE," as well as its highest-rated New Year's Eve special. ABC7's award-winning programs such as "Heart and Soul," "The Ñ Beat" and "Asian Influences" showcase the city's diversity, while being the only Chicago station producing and broadcasting parades representing Chicago's rich cultural history. In addition to producing town halls focused on current social issues, the station has a long and proud tradition of broadcasting political candidate debates keeping Chicago's electorate informed. ABC7's outreach efforts include annual partnerships with the Red Cross for life-saving blood drives and, most recently, spearheading an effort to raise more than $1.5 million for area food pantries.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/abc7chicago
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abc7Chicago/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/abc7Chicago/