Open Book Program and Institute for Positive Living. Open Book Program is a multi-faceted after-school program for young adolescents in which participants are engaged in activities that encourage the development of reading, writing and critical thinking skills.

Five Honored at Institute for Positive Living’s
7th Annual Lightbearer Benefit, May 1, 2008

Erwin McEwen, Director, Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, Amina Dickerson, Senior Director of corporate contributions for Kraft Foods, Sam Balark, Director, External Affairs, AT&T, and Michael W. Scott, President, Michael Scott & Associates, Past President, Chicago Public Schools Board were this year’s honorees at the Institute for Positive Living’s (IPL) 7th Annual Lightbearer Gala on Thursday, May 1, 2008 at the Parkway Ballroom, 4455 South King Drive, in Chicago. The Lightbearer event, themed “Masquerade Ball,” featured singing sensation Terisa Griffin, known for her one-woman shows that pay tribute to divas of song and stage like Josephine Baker, Lena Horne, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughn. In addition, a special Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to Theresa (TeeSee) Flambro Hooks, columnist for the Chicago Defender.

This year's Lightbearer Gala was emceed by Hosea Sanders, Channel 7 News Anchorman. In keeping with IPL’s commitment to children’s literacy, the Lightbearer Gala also featured performances by IPL’s Open Book Program participants from Williams Multiplex and Johns Academy. The youth did performance pieces based on Miracle Boys by Jacqueline Woodson and Bronx Masquerade by Nikki Grimes.

“Attendees had, a great time—and a chance to benefit IPL’s programs like Open Book, Book Club Mentoring, Entrepreneurship Training, We Real Cool, and Write Now Girl,” stated IPL President Marrice Coverson. “The Institute for Positive Living's Open Book Program is proud to honor these four outstanding individuals who share the belief that children should be encouraged to enjoy the art of reading. Our honorees and their respective organizations are among those who support IPL’s programs like Open Book that encourage the development of reading, writing, and critical thinking skills.”

IPL’s core program is Open Book, a multi-faceted after-school program for young adolescents that engages youth in activities that encourage development of their reading, writing and critical thinking skills. Open Book is currently funded in ten Chicago public schools: Beethoven, Gregory, Henderson, Johns Academy, Mayo, McCorkle, Reed, University of Chicago-Donoghue, White Career Academy, and Williams Multiplex. Another Open Book site serves the youth of Lawless Gardens. Other IPL programs include Book Club Mentoring, Entrepreneurship Training, We Real Cool, and Write Now Girl.

Co-Chairs for this year’s Lightbearer Gala are Lester N. Coney, Mesirow Financial, and Elzie L. Higginbottom, East Lake Management and Development Corp.

Honorary co-chairs are: Kara Burrell, Consultant, Margina Christian, Jet Magazine, Deborah Crable, WYCC, State Representative Ken Dunkin, Matt Foran, Marsh Company, Frank Gihan, Flowers Communication, Wallace Goode, University of Chicago, Daryl Handy/President, Lakefront Management LLC, Ralph Hughes, Macys, State Senator Mattie Hunter, State Senator Iris Martinez, Daryl Newell, ShoreBank, Deputy Governor Louanner Peters, State of Illinois, Zoraida Sambolin,NBC-Channel 5, Jan Spivey Gilchrist, Author/Illustrator, David E. Whittaker, Chicago Area Project, and Brenda Whittman, Eastlake Management.

Past Lightbearer honorees have included: Lee Brown, former Area Instructional Officer for the Chicago Public School System, The Church of The Spirit, John Clark, President/CEO, Reggio’s Pizza, Alderman Shirley E. Coleman, 16th Ward, Lester N. Coney, Executive Vice President, Mesirow Financial, Merri Dee, Director of Community Relations, WGN-TV, Tommy Ford, children's book author and actor, Frank Gihan, Director of Community Relations, Chicago Tribune Charities, Wallace E. Goode, University of Chicago, Daryl Handy/President, Lakefront Management LLC, Elzie Higginbottom, CEO/President, East Lake Management, Ralph Hughes, Regional Director, Marshall Fields State Street (now Macy’s), State Senator Mattie Hunter, Senate Majority Leader Emil Jones, Susan Levy, R.R. Donnelley and Sons, Doug Mabie, Springboard Foundation, Frederick McNeal Jr., Principal of Mayo Elementary School, Joe Moore, Manager, Community Relations, Shell Oil, Darryl Newell, President, 100 Black Men of Chicago, Phillip Nyden, Professor of Sociology and Director of Urban Research and Learning, Loyola University Chicago, Frances Odem, Principal, Williams Multiplex, Louanner Peters, Deputy Governor-Illinois, Styron Powers, BP Amoco, Wynona Redmond, Pubic Relations Manager for Dominick's Finer Foods, Zoraida Sambolin, Anchor for NBC-Channel 5, Hosea Sanders, Jan Spivey Gilchrist, Author and Illustrator, ABC-7 Chicago, and David Whittaker, Executive Director, Chicago Area Project.

“We are grateful to the many people who continue to make the Lightbearer Gala a memorable evening,” states Coverson. “As our attendance continues to grow, we thank our friends and supporters, as well as the local media who help us tell our story. Mostly, we thank the youth who participate in the Open Book program, celebrating reading and children’s literacy every day.”

For more information, please call 773-924-9803 or 773-924-9802.

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