Flies On the wall

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By: Aliya Granger, Staff Writer (CSU Intern)—The Drive Student Blog

E-learning has not only created an opportunity for children to connect virtually to their classrooms, but it has also created an opportunity for teachers to have virtual access into children’s homes. As COVID-19 continues to run its course throughout our country and across the world, tension rises in the homes of many — homes where work or school was an escape for some and possibly the only thing keeping some alive.

Due to the technology in place, it is now possible for teachers to be flies on the walls of their students’ homes. Teachers have the new ability to either hear or see physical or even sexual abuse directly impact their students or their students’ parents. It’s one thing to see a bruise on a child after a weekend away and needing to report it to authorities; it’s another thing to witness a child being abused on camera along with the other students.

There have been a myriad of cases reported so far, and the numbers are only expected to rise: the case in Chicago where an 18-year-old man was seen molesting a 7-year-old girl on a zoom call, the case in North Carolina where a father was witnessed choking his 13-year-old daughter and then striking her in the head, and the case in Florida where a mother of six was murdered by her boyfriend during her 10-year-old daughters zoom class, to name few, have all caught school’s across the country by surprise.

At the beginning of this virtual learning ordeal, the numbers of reported abuse were dropping (not abuse as a whole, just the amount of reports) and only expected to decline further due to the inability to physically witness children’s distress in the classroom. Nobody anticipated or even prepared for abuse to be witnessed on the E-learning platform. Teachers now must have the strength to witness abuse, the wisdom to know when to mute mics, the strategy to distract the other students from seeing what’s going on, and the heroism to contact authorities as swiftly as possible. Teachers must be teachers, social workers, counselors, parents, tech support, and so much more without the proper training or even warning.

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Is this the sacrifice teachers must make during this e-learning situation? Is the sacrifice worth it? Sure, the 7-year-old was rescued from her molester, the 13-year-old was saved from the chokeholds of her father, and the 10-year-old wasn’t murdered along with her mother, but at the cost of the witnesses, teachers, and students, never being the same. Seeing a bruise on a child, or seeing an inadequately dressed child, or hearing a child confess the abuse they’re enduring still allows for a level of distance between the teacher and the situation. Now, though there is more proof, there is less distance. The teacher and students are now living the abuse with the abused. Is this the cost of being a fly on the wall?

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Remote Learning: Is Your Kid Really That Bad?

By: Aliya Granger, Staff Writer (CSU Intern)—The Drive Student Blog

I’ve seen many posts on social media that reveal the teacher wasn’t lying in parent-teacher conferences when the teacher said that little Johnny was the spawn of Satan himself and I have laughed every single time. I have worked in childcare for five full years, and I can attest to times when the parent believed their child over me. They often have the shocked “my child would NEVER do that” response as if their child is some cyborg whose settings stay permanently set to “angel” mode.

I have encountered lying children, fighting children, cussing children, screaming children, biting children, and the list goes on. Sometimes I get the parents that are ready to spank their child right then and there. Sometimes I get the parents who will “handle it at home”, and they may or may NOT handle it at home. A few times I get the parents who are about ready to fight me for informing them that their “king” is acting every kind of way but “kingly.”

Out of all of these encounters, however, I never thought in a million years that I’d discover that in fact, some teachers DO LIE!!! Remote learning is ripping off the veil and uncovering how horrible and uncertified some of these teachers truly are.

Currently, all Chicago Public Schools are on the virtual platform. Due to the change, my job opened an E-Learning Lab to help students in need and to provide a place for parents who have to work to send their children during the day. Though I have seen all kinds of things, this may have been the craziest.

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One day, our staff got an urgent message from a distressed parent saying that their 7th-grade child needs to stop goofing off, needs to log in to class, and must keep his camera on at all times. When this message came, all of the staff was baffled because we’ve been eyeing this kid all day and he never once seemed out of line.

Then another message came in… “His teacher is telling me that he missed the entire last class and only logged in for the last ten minutes and that he’s not in the class he’s supposed to be in right now.” At this point, my boss was fully involved. She checked on the boy and calls the mother. “Are you sure the teacher has the right child?” She asked. “Can you ask the teacher if she knows she’s talking to Ray’s[name changed for privacy] mother? I’m sorry, but I am staring at his screen and he is clearly logged in. She must be confusing him with another child.”

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About 30 minutes prior to this whole thing, Ray’s laptop shut off even though it was on 80% battery. Ray, who was simultaneously face-timing one of his classmates at the time, asked his classmate to let the teacher know that the computer crashed. The friend did so immediately while I listened to the entire conversation. When the friend informed the teacher, the teacher responded, “seriously? His computer just turned off? Tuh, yeah right, I don’t believe that.” Again, I was a witness to the WHOLE THING!

Because the computers CPS gave all of the students are refurbished Chromebooks that often don’t work, it took ten minutes just for Ray’s computer to reboot and reload. The moment it did, he logged back on. So… he “only logged on for the last ten minutes”? No. He was gone for ten minutes because of circumstances beyond his control.

We explained everything to his mother (one of the parents that would’ve whooped him right there) who believed the teacher but after hearing from us, contacted the principal instead. The teacher knew the mother wasn’t around but didn’t know that other adults were and thought she would get away with her lie.

I wonder what would’ve happened had we not been there.

I wonder how many teachers are lying to parents just like this teacher lied.

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Single Mommas: Are You Ok? How to Combat the Effects of COVID-19 on Your Family and Your Mental Health Part 1

By: Dana A. Pointer- Staff Writer (CSU Intern), The Drive Student Blog

Photo by Retha Ferguson on Pexels.com

Ladies, are you having a difficult time coping with all the changes that have occurred over the past month? You are not alone. I find myself feeling overwhelmed by the new responsibilities of homeschooling a sixth-grader, the access free time she has, and my school and work responsibilities. As a means of relief, I have used these sites and activities to keep Momma and daughter sane.

My daughter loves video games like Minecraft and Roblox, so I knew anything with video games and programming would be a hit. She had been taking coding workshops on Saturday mornings, at various locations across the Chicagoland area to improve her skills, but new band commitments brought that to a halt. I found weekly computer technology courses offered by iD tech (www.idtech.com). iD Tech offers summer computer camps for kids ages 7 to 19 and has expanded, adding weekly online class options, to fill the void while schools are closed and stay at home orders are in effect. For $399, you can get a week of structured lessons, including two hours of live instruction and self-paced projects. They boost class sizes no larger than 5 students. If you have a gamer or coder at home, you may want to give them a try!

If your kids need to brush up on their reading, writing, and math skills, head over to Khan Academy (www.khanacademy.com). This is a free site used by many educators across the United States, to supplement their in-class lessons. Khan Academy is a non-profit educational organization created by Salman Khan, in 2008. The organization produces short video lessons and supplementary practice for students and educators. I instruct my daughter to complete lessons aligned with what was done while class was still in session and other lessons that may be more challenging. This affords me time to pound through some of my workload uninterrupted.

After completing my workday, exhausted and mentally drained, I still spend some time with my daughter. What better way to do that than an old fashion board game? I let her pick one of her favorite games and I ventured into the attic, recovering a dusty game from my childhood. She chose a game of strategy, Mancala ($9.99 Walmart) and I chose Guesstures (newer version $14.99 Walmart). We played these games for a few hours and it was more than just bonding time for us. These games had a therapeutic effect that lifted both of our spirits and got us moving!

In a time when idleness and depression can creep into our homes, we must combat that with a balance of structured learning, fun activities, and sanity. I hope this helps Moms! See part two of this series that is totally dedicated to the Moms, and how a little “ME” time will help you make it through the pandemic.

See you, ladies, soon!

 

-And remember,

Stay Informed, Open-Minded, and Driven!

Editor’s Letter: In a Time of Crisis–Be Better

By: Micaela Shambee- Editor-in-Chief, The Drive Student Blog 

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We are living in strange, unprecedented times as I write this letter. Just over two months ago, the world stopped in its tracks due to COVID-19–an infectious virus—also known as Coronavirus. Since the beginning of the State-wide “Stay-at-Home” order, people have been anxious, scared, and paralyzed in place.

“However, what most people are slowly figuring out the normal before the epidemic was just as toxic and unforgiving as the virus itself.”

People all over the world are adjusting to a new-normal while simultaneously gripping to the past, hoping that one day, life will return to the way it was before the pandemic. However, what most people are slowly figuring out the normal before the epidemic was just as toxic and unforgiving as the virus itself.

Our lack of preparedness for this pandemic speaks volumes to the quality of life we all had before the epidemic. Most people were overworked to the point of not preparing adequately for this emergency or any kind of emergency. The mad dash for toilette paper, hand sanitizer, and other essentials were the first signs of the madness and unpreparedness that would wreak havoc in the months to come.

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We have seen this manifest in the disproportionate cases of those affected by the virus, hitting urban communities at alarming rates. Small businesses across the U.S. are looking at weeks, if not months, without pay, while most government-funded programs have run out of funds. Unemployment has reached more than 25 million Americans across the nation, and gig-workers like barbers, beauticians, and makeup artists are out of pay with slim chances of qualifying for unemployment benefits.

University students are not allowed on campus, do not qualify for the 22 trillion-dollar stimulus checks that began rolling out to Americans last week, and are forced to adjust to an e-learning environment, leaving students with disabilities no choice in the matter. Children will not return to school for the rest of the year in many States, and parents are now tasked with home-schooling their children and adjusting to e-learning as well.

It is honestly trying times. No wonder people are panicking, protesting, and pushing against the “Stay-at-Home” order issued by governors across the nation.

People are rioting, hoarding items for themselves and their families. Some are even leaving essential jobs at Nursing Homes, where assistance is vital to elderly and disabled residents. Some are even shooting essentials workers that are instructing the public to wear masks for everyone’s safety.

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But is this who we are in a time of crisis?

I think back to some of the most trying times in American history. At least 100 years ago, Americans dealt with the Great Depression, the Spanish Flu, and World War II. Before that, African Americans have endured the atrocities of Slavery, the Civil War, The Red Summer, Jim Crow, lynching, and still, deal with police brutality today (even during the pandemic).

Our ancestors fought tirelessly through these abhorrent, often-times involuntary situations, yet we are still loving, still living, still giving birth, and still fighting.

So now, our generations begin a fight, unlike any other. We have to remember who we were in times of crisis. We cannot simply be “best.” We have to be better. We have to remember who we are:

We are fighters; we are lovers; we are dreamers; we are activists; we are writers; we are artists; we are singers; we are dancers; we are scholars; we are poets; we are 2020 graduates; we are scientists; we are mathematicians; we are first-responders; we are Mothers; we are Daughters; we are Grandparents, and we are children.

We are resilient, we are hope, and we are our ancestor’s wildest dreams.

And these are our stories,

Welcome to The Drive Student Blog

 Spring 2020.

 

-And remember, 

Stay Informed, Open-Minded, and Driven!

Courtesy of the Curb: Property Tax Education Part 3

By: Dana A. Pointer, CSU Intern

 

Photo by Suzy Hazelwood on Pexels.com

Now that you have handled your exemptions, appealed your property tax assessment, there are still a few other government agencies that you need to become familiar with.

Cook County Recorder of Deeds

118 North Clark Street

Room 120

Chicago, IL 60602

312-603-5050

Once you purchase your property, your deed is then recorded and made a public record. Usually, the title company or your attorney will file the documentation for you. The Recorder of Deeds office also offers two programs that are worth mentioning; the first program offers free property fraud alerts, and the other is property after death option.

The property fraud alert program allows the owner to be contacted if any document is filed in the Recorder’s office, that would affect their property. Because much of the information about properties is public record, scammers gather information and sometimes file fraudulent documents in an attempt to claim these properties as their own. This is a major step in protecting taxpayers against these predators. You can set up these free alerts by going to their website, www.cookrecorder.com.

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The other interesting program is the Life After Death program. This allows the property owner to transfer their home, car and bank account, to a family member of their choice, without a Will, Trust or retaining an attorney. This is a major service that many need to be aware of, ensuring that your wishes are honored after your death. The Recorder of Deeds, Edward Moody, host seminars across the county to ensure as many people as possible are educated on the subject.

In America, 64% of people ages 37 to 52 do not have a will, according to a survey conducted by Caring.com.  Having children, a spouse or siblings could make the process of allocating your assets more difficult and drawn out.  The Illinois Residential Transfer Act allows the owner to transfer their residential property (4 units or less) with a single document. For further information and to view short videos on the subject, you can visit the Recorder of Deeds website.

Cook County Treasurer’s Office

118 North Clark Street

Room 112

Chicago, IL 60602

312-443-5100

The Treasurer’s office oversees the second-largest property tax collection and distribution systems in the United States. The current treasurer, Maria Pappas, also ensures that tax refunds are distributed properly if someone was overtaxed or overpaid. If you need a copy of your tax bill, address correction or need to make a payment, this is the office you need to visit. Check their website for other services and vital information, www.cookcountytreasurer.com.

Cook County Clerk’s Office

118 North Clark Street

Room 434

Chicago, IL 60602

312-603-5656

 

The Cook County Clerk’s Office, led by Karen Yarbrough, is responsible for filing vital records, including birth and death certificates, recording and analyzing election data, board proceedings, as well as property taxes. For our purposes, we will focus on the property tax aspect. The Clerk maintains delinquent tax records, tax maps, and information regarding TIF districts. They also calculate the tax rate, based on levy requests submitted by taxing districts.

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The tax rates throughout Cook County vary based on location and revenue generated by commercial properties. For example, according to the Clerk’s annual report for 2018, the city of Chicago’s average tax rate was 6.786%, but when you look at a suburb like Park Forest, the tax rate is 34.547%. This huge difference in rates can make a $100,000 in Park Forest less attractive to the buyer and drives down sales. You definitely want to check this rate before you close on a home. You can check this annual report on the Clerk’s website.

In the case that you ever get behind on your property taxes, this is the department to visit to find out what you owe, if your taxes where bought at auction, and if so, what interest was accrued and the cost to redeem your property. Go to www.cookcountyclerk.com for more details.

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Now that you have all this information, use it. All these agencies work together and can make life a little easier for you. So, when you arrive at the bargaining table, pull out your list of questions and demands, making sure you are on a level playing field.

Good luck!

—And remember,

Stay informed, open-minded, and driven

Courtesy of the Curb: Property Tax Education Part 2

By: Dana A. Pointer, CSU Intern

Courtesy of the Cook County Board of Review

Now that you have begun learning about property taxes, I want you to be aware that you have the right to appeal the assessment placed on your property by the Assessor’s Office. The Assessor uses a macro assessment formula to come up with the value of over 1.8 million parcels of property in Cook County. Anyone taking on this daunting task is bound to make a mistake, therefore property owners are given a chance to appeal. You have three opportunities to appeal your property taxes and I will go through each of them.

Cook County Assessor’s Office

118 North Clark Street

Room 320

Chicago, IL 60602

312-443-7550

Your first line of defense is to appeal with the department that placed the value on your property, the Cook County Assessor’s Office. All the departments that accept property tax assessment appeals have date sensitive appeal periods that you must adhere to. The taxpayers are given 30 days to file their appeal, which the timetable varies from year to year. You receive a tax notice from the Assessor’s office detailing the market value for your home, as well as comparable properties and sales data that support that number. That should alert you that it is time to appeal your property assessment. You can appeal online at their website, www.cookcountyassessor.com.

 

Cook County Board of Review

118 North Clark Street

Room 601

Chicago, IL 60602

312-603-5540

The Cook County Board of Review (BOR) is your second line of defense in appealing your assessment. If you were denied a reduction at the Assessor’s level, I recommend you file with the Board. The Board of Review is a quasi-judicial governmental agency that adjudicates taxpayer complaints. The Board of Review consists of three separately elected officials, responsible for one of the three districts in Cook County.

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One of the most important things to remember is that the Board of Review does not raise your taxes. They either find comparable properties or sales data to support a change in your assessment, or they deny your appeal and let the current assessment stand. This department adheres to the same type of 30-day appeal window and, also secures your ability to appeal to the next agency, the Property Tax Appeal Board. If you receive a reduction from the BOR, that change will be reflected on the 2^nd Installment Tax Bill that you will receive in July, payable August 1^st.

The senior Commissioner at the Board of Review, Larry Rogers Jr., hosts educational property tax forums across Cook County, assisting with the completion of paperwork and learning the taxation process. Commissioner Rogers also provides a texting service to alert taxpayers of townships opening and closing dates, as well as the location and time of the educational forums.

You can appeal online by going to the Board of Review’s website, (www.cookcountyboardofreview.com) or text “FILE” to 474747 from your cellphone. If you would like to join the texting list and be alerted about dates sensitive deadlines and forums, text “EZJOIN” to 474747.

State of Illinois Property Tax Appeal Board

402 Stratton Office Building

401 South Spring

Springfield, IL 62706

217-782-6076

 

The Property Tax Appeal Board (PTAB), is the third opportunity you have to appeal your assessment. PTAB is also a quasi-judicial body, but it is made up of five members and professional support staff. The Board was created in 1967 to provide an unbiased forum for taxpayers and taxing bodies in and outside of Cook County that is dissatisfied with property assessments.

In order for you to secure an opportunity to file at PTAB, you must file an appeal with the Board of Review. After the BOR makes its final decision, the taxpayer has 30 days to appeal to PTAB. The process for this agency is more detailed and can take up to 3 years before a decision is made. You will have a hearing with a board member to discuss your case and all evidence you have to support your claim will be reviewed. A representative from the Board of Review will be in attendance to support the decision their department made.

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At the other two agencies, evidence to support your claim is not required to have your property reviewed, but at this level, it is a must. Appraisals, market analysis, sales data, and comparables properties are all types of evidence to submit to PTAB. For further information and to download all the forms needed for your appeal, check out their website, www.ptab.illinois.gov.

–And remember,

Stay informed, open-minded, and driven.

 

Courtesy of the Curb: Property Tax Education Part 1

By: Dana A. Pointer, CSU Intern

  Courtesy of Curbed.com

As a child, most of us strive to achieve the American Dream and one thing that completes that dream is owning your own home or opening a business. People work hard to achieve these goals, but when it is time to start this search, you must first learn some basics about a volatile subject; property taxes.

Across the United States, the topic of property taxes is discussed, but truly understanding the process is another story. In the state of Illinois, the average effective property tax rate is 2.32 percent, making it the second-highest in the United States. This topic has lost and won elections for many, but still many homeowners do not know their rights.

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There are a few departments that you need to be familiar with if you are purchasing property in Cook County; the Cook County Recorder of Deeds, Clerk, Treasurer, Assessor’s Office, Board of Review and the Property Tax Appeal Board. Navigating this department can seem overwhelming and time-consuming but having some knowledgebase can save you time and money.

“For the first year after the purchase, the buyer will hold all the exemptions of the seller. Then BOOM, the beginning of the next tax cycle begins, and all exemptions are removed, and the full tax burden is revealed.”

When you are about to close on the house of your dreams, one of the first questions you should ask the buyer is, what exemptions they have on the property. The calculation of your mortgage includes your property taxes and can be the major deciding factor on whether you can afford that home. For example, if you are purchasing a home from a senior citizen, who is on a fixed income, they are given additional savings that may not apply to you. Upon purchase, your mortgage company will calculate the amount including their savings, which results in an artificially low mortgage.

For the first year after the purchase, the buyer will hold all the exemptions of the seller. Then BOOM, the beginning of the next tax cycle begins, and all exemptions are removed, and the full tax burden is revealed. You will then receive a letter from your mortgage company stating that there is not enough money in your escrow and your monthly mortgage will increase. The increase can be in the hundreds or even thousands, depending on the exemptions and location of the property. This is one of the main reasons homeowners go into foreclosure and lose their homes. This is a simple question that can be asked before you close, to avoid a hardship later down the road.

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If the realtor or attorney claims they do not have this information, you can do the research on your own. These exemptions and many other details about the property are public records. Visit the Cook County Assessor’s website (www.cookcountyassessor.com) to check the property’s exemption status. All you need is the address of the property or the property index number (PIN), which can be found within the closing contract or on the Assessor’s website.

If you decide to continue with the purchase of the house, remember that one year after purchase, you must apply for the exemptions that you qualify for. Some of the most beneficial exemptions offered by the Cook County Assessor’s Office include;

1: Homeowners Exemption- an exemption given to the owner of a residential property. This MUST be your primary residence.

2: Senior Citizen Freeze- the owner must be 65 years of age and the household income MUST be no greater than $65,000.

3: Disabled Veterans Exemption- the owner must be a Veteran, with a service-related disability. They must provide a verification letter from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to support this claim.

A full description of these exemptions and many more are available at the Assessor’s Office or their website. A homeowner can have up to four exemptions on their property at one time. If you have more detailed questions, the Assessor’s Office has a few locations across Cook County, including their main office, located in City Hall in downtown Chicago.

Stay tuned for Part II of this series that will cover the appeal process and your rights as a property owner in Cook County.

-And remember,

Stay informed, open-minded and driven.

The Real MVP On and Off The Court: LeBron James

By: Kelly Washington-Staff Writer, The Drive Student Blog

Photo Credit: NBA.com

For LeBron James, social justice transcends sports stardom. A major example of that is the opening of James’s I Promise School for at risk students. James, who has won three NBA championships and four league-MVPs, called the school opening the greatest moment of his career.

The school selected area students from among those who trail their peers by a year or two in academic performance. “We did a random selection of all students who met that criteria, and got to make these awesome phone calls to parents and say, “How would you like to be part of something different, the I Promise School,” Keith Liechty, the Akron Public Schools’ liaison to James’ foundation, told USA Today.

Forty-three staffers will help run the I Promise School — including not just teachers but also a principal, assistant principal, four intervention specialists, plus a tutor, English as a second language teacher, music instructor, and gym teacher, USA Today reports. Classrooms will hold 20 students per teacher.

Opening of I Promise School is a career-defining moment for LeBron James. Photo Credit: AboutTrendNews.com

 Unlike celebrities Sean “Diddy” Combs (founder of the Harlem Academy) and ESPN analyst Jalen Rose (co-founder of the Jalen Rose Leadership Academy) who both backed charter schools, James’s I Promise School is a traditional public school. However it is anything but ordinary. Every incoming student will receive school supplies, uniforms, and bicycles. James was intent on giving every student a bike because his bike was an escape from the dangerous neighborhoods in which he was raised. “I know exactly what these 240 kids are going through,” James said in front of the new school. “I know the streets they walk. I know the trials and tribulations that they go through. I know the ups, the downs. I know everything that they dream about. I know all the nightmares that they have because I’ve been there. They’re the reason why this school is here today.”

The I Promise School days run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m and the school year runs from July to May. There is also going to be a seven week summer session in which the school will provide STEM based camps. The students will be served breakfast, lunch, snacks and have access to a fitness trainer. Students also will spend time each day on social and emotional learning, and participate in a supportive circle after lunch to help them refocus so that they can get through the remainder of their day.

Since the school considers education to be not just for the pupil but for the whole family, it will offer GED classes and job placement assistance for parents and guardians.

“I think the missing link in public education is that family wraparound support,” said Brandi Davis, the school’s principal and Akron native. “Because our students come to school and they’re worried about things at home. … We want to create that safe, that secure and that caring and loving environment for our families and our students so that our kids can focus on education.”

Students get one other major benefit: If they successfully complete the school program and graduate from high school, James will cover their full tuition at the local public college, University of Akron.

Students asked to make a pledge on the first day at the I Promise School. Photo Credit: TheWeeklyChallenger.com

The Akron school district expects to spend a total of $8.1 million over the next five years for the I Promise school, according to a report in Akron’s Beacon Journal. James’ family foundation will cover the costs of other extra school features, and with its partners has already contributed $2 million for building upgrades, extra staffing and other needs, the paper notes.

“I don’t have a ceiling to how much I can improve my game,” James told ESPN. “And we as a foundation don’t have a ceiling on how much we can improve our community, to a point where we have a school.”

Sports Analyst Chris Broussard says on LeBron opening a public school on Akron, “LeBron James has set a new blueprint for African American athletes in what they can and should do to help their communities.”

What do you think? Has LeBron set a new precedence on how athletes can use their platform? Not bad for someone who was told to just, “Shut up, and dribble.”

Want to write and article for The Drive Student Blog? Please send your submissions to thedrivestudentblog58@gmail.com with “Article Submission,” in your title line.

–And remember,

Stay informed, open-minded, and driven

 

3 Valuable Lessons We Didn’t Learn in School But Need to Know- Lesson 1: Credit is Power

By: Ashlee L. Lewis-Staff Writer, The Drive Student Blog

Photo credit: Pexels.com

In my adult life, I’ve thought numerous times, “Why didn’t I learn this in school?” The traditional education system seems to be designed to prepare students for success in their chosen career paths and does little to aid in the preparation for independent living. One of the most valuable lessons that I’ve learned outside of the classroom is that cash is king but credit is power. Our credit histories and scores are constantly being evaluated by creditors, varying from major cellphone companies to mortgage companies, to determine what lines of credit we qualify to receive. Since I didn’t learn about credit in school, I had to create my own classroom.

Find Your Teacher(s)

Photo credit: ©YouTube.com

For as long as I can remember, both my Dad and my Aunt told me to manage my credit well. My Dad shared his own credit woes from early adulthood and encouraged me to make better decisions than he did when the time came to manage my own credit lines. My Aunt on the other hand, has successfully managed her credit from the age of 18, so her advice was more of an “imitate me and you too will succeed” type of message.  Both of them made it very clear that my credit score would impact my lifestyle in adulthood and that there is value in a high credit score. What neither my Dad nor my Aunt told me, however, was exactly how to accomplish this feat.

“What I learned, however, is that debt is not the enemy! In fact, creditors like to see activity on borrowers’ credit accounts because it shows a history of his/her credit management habits. Who knew?“

After a few years of unsuccessfully trying to manage my credit on my own, I joined Facebook groups, subscribed to credit monitoring websites, and declined every credit card offer I received. For some reason, however, my credit score wasn’t increasing. It wasn’t until two years ago that I learned I was managing my credit all wrong. I’d been taught to avoid lines of credit because of interest rates and the potential decrease to my credit score if I’m unable to pay off the balances that I owed. What I learned, however, is that debt is not the enemy! In fact, creditors like to see activity on borrowers’ credit accounts because it shows a history of his/her credit management habits. Who knew?

Why Your Credit History Matters

In 2016, my Dad cosigned for my car loan and my credit score jumped over 50 points upon approval from the lender. By paying my full monthly car note either early or on time every month, I developed a positive payment history on my credit report. I also accepted three credit card offers and maintained the balances by using less than 30% of my available credit line. Through Facebook groups and my own research, I’ve learned that it’s better to allow my cards to report a balance so that lenders can see activity on my credit accounts. Once the balance is reported, I make sure to pay it off in full before the statement date so that I don’t have any interest added to the money I already owe the creditor. This process of allowing my low balances to report and also paying the balances in full before interest is applied has boosted my score from “fair” to “good” in less than a year. My “good” credit history and score allowed me to get utility bills in my name without needing a security deposit and to qualify for a low interest rate and monthly payments on a new car loan for a larger vehicle. Now when I go to apply for new lines of credit, creditors are more likely to approve me because I have a proven track record of successfully managing my debt.

Photo credit: © http://www.premiercredco.com

VantageScore vs. FICO score

Our credit scores can change each month, so it’s important to use a credible source to keep track of your credit profile. Creditkarma.com is one of the most well-known and widely used credit monitoring sites because its users have free access to their credit reports and credit scores. The only issue is that it reports users’ VantageScore which can be drastically different (higher or lower) than the credit scores most lenders use to determine a borrower’s credit worthiness.  Myfico.com, however, requires a monthly payment for access to our FICO scores which are typically evaluated by creditors when we apply for lines of credit. The picture above displays how the two scores are calculated and what credit information is factored into the final numbers. While creditkarma.com is free to use, the benefits of having access to the credit information that most lenders typically use outweigh the burden of the required financial investment.

Be Proactive
Over the past few years, I have learned that it is imperative that we learn to manage our credit profiles well or they will limit us. Most young adults don’t take the time to learn about the importance of managing his/her credit until it’s either too late or until it’s needed. My hope is that reading this article, written by a 28 year old, inspires you to take a more aggressive approach when it comes to managing your credit. Don’t wait until life shows you that your credit score matters when you’re denied for a credit card or approved for a 20% interest rate on a $14,000 car loan. Invest the time and energy now into managing your credit information and reap the rewards because you deserve the lifestyle that a well-managed credit profile affords us.

Stay tuned for the next lesson that we didn’t learn in school but need to know.

–And remember,

Stay informed, open-minded, and driven

Chicago State University Honors Gwendolyn Brooks with 1st ever Gwendolyn Brooks Poetry Festival

By: Micaela Shambee– Editor, The Drive

— On Friday, April 13th 2018, at Chicago State University, the first Gwendolyn Brooks Poetry Festival took place in honor of the late Gwendolyn Brooks (1917-2000). Held on the fourth floor of the recently renamed Gwendolyn Brooks Library, the day long event treated attendees to inspiring speeches and performances by young poets from High schools and Grammar schools across Chicago.

The honorees, Nora Blakely (Gwendolyn Brooks’ daughter), Haki Madhubuti (Third World Press), and Emily Lansana (University of Chicago) gave rousing speeches, and shared stories of their experiences with Gwendolyn Brooks. In addition, attendees were treated to amazing performances by Chicago State University MFA students Reshay Ingram, and Jerimah Moore, spoken word community group Rebirth/Reborn and student poets from Wendell Philips Academy.

Honoree-Haki Madhubuti (Third World Press)

Honoree-Emily Lansana (University of Chicago)

Honoree–Nora Blakely (Brooks Permissions)

Click here to see MFA Students Reading from our Facebook live: facebook.com/thedrivestudentblog

 

The festival left attendees with a full understanding of the impact that Gwendolyn Brooks has had on Chicago State University, poetry, and children. Gwendolyn Brooks was known as the first African American to win a Pulitzer Prize for her 1949 book Annie Allen. (Also paving the way for new Pulitzer Prize winner Kendrick Lamar).

According to PoetryFoundation.org,

“Gwendolyn Brooks is one of the most highly regarded, highly influential, and widely read poets of 20th-century American poetry. She was a much-honored poet, even in her lifetime, with the distinction of being the first black author to win the Pulitzer Prize. She also was poetry consultant to the Library of Congress—the first black woman to hold that position—and poet laureate of the State of Illinois. Many of Brooks’s works display a political consciousness, especially those from the 1960s and later, with several of her poems reflecting the civil rights activism of that period. Her body of work gave her, according to critic George E. Kent, ‘a unique position in American letters. Not only has she combined a strong commitment to racial identity and equality with a mastery of poetic techniques, but she has also managed to bridge the gap between the academic poets of her generation in the 1940s and the young black militant writers of the 1960s.’

Learn more about Gwendolyn Brooks at the PoetryFoundation.org

Photo Credit: PoetryFoundation.org Gwendolyn Brooks at her typewriter. Courtesy of Getty Images.

The Gwendolyn Brooks Center

Also, check out the Gwendolyn Brooks Center to learn more about Brooks’ impact on Chicago State University in the Gwendolyn Brooks Library.

From the Library’s Website:

“Gwendolyn Brooks Center for Black Literature and Creative Writing (GBC) was founded in 1990 on the historic campus of Chicago State University (CSU). It is named after Ms. Brooks, the former Poet Laureate of the State of Illinois and Distinguished Professor of English at Chicago State University. This Gwendolyn Brooks Conference for Black Literature and Creative Writing is sponsored by [sic] The W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, the Illinois Arts Council and the Chicago State University College of Arts & Sciences.”

Design by Micaela Shambee for the Gwendolyn Brooks Poetry Festival

Did you attend the Gwendolyn Brooks Poetry Festival? What was your favorite moment? Who was your favorite speaker? Sound off in the comments below!

–And remember,

 

Stay informed, open-minded, and driven.

Event Photos courtesy of The Drive Student Blog and Dr. Kelly Norman Ellis (Chicago State University)