Shemuel Sanders suffered a tragic loss and channeled his life-changing experience into an opportunity to help others.

Shemuel Sanders suffered a tragic loss last June when his daughter, Shemilah, became the victim of a fatal shooting in their hometown of Decatur, Illinois.

Sanders, who often served as an informal mentor to youth in the Decatur middle school where he works, felt compelled, now more than ever, to do more.

“I never want another parent to have to feel what I’m feeling,” says Sanders, who does landscaping work during the summers.

“So I started small–pulling a few young men into my landscaping work and paying them for their time.”

That is how the seeds of Shemilah’s Outreach Center were sown. Once the community heard about what Sanders was doing, his phone wouldn’t stop ringing with calls from parents and young men who wanted to be involved.

In just a few weeks his landscaping program, which started with 10 young men, quickly grew to 70 — the maximum number of participants that donations to the program could support.

For a month, the men did two hours of landscaping a day, had a meal together and heard from male role models who Sanders invited to speak to the group.

When they returned to school in the fall, Sanders refocused his outreach on helping the men navigate e-learning and recruiting a team of retired teachers who volunteered their time to help students who were struggling outside of a traditional school setting.

This year, the program has grown to include 200 young men and women and many more offerings for the youth, who can now learn forensic science taught by the local police department, take music or dance classes, and of course, continue to participate in the popular landscaping program.

Provided photo.

The only limitation to the growth of the program is funding. Sanders continues to fundraise to be able to support more participants.

“I’ve had to turn youth away, and that kills me,” says Sanders. “I believe I could easily reach 1,000 youth with the community’s support — there is that much need for this work.”

To learn more or find out ways you can support Shemilah’s Outreach Center, visit https://www.shemilahsoutreach.org/ and to find volunteer opportunities in your community, visit www.createthegood.org.

To hear Shemuel’s story and more stories like this, subscribe to the “Creating the Good with AARP Illinois” podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, or anywhere you listen to podcasts.

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It was announced on Wednesday that Pat Foley will call the 2021-22 Chicago Blackhawks and it will be the last year of his career with the team. It will make the 39th season that Foley was the voice of the Hawks. Pat Foley is a Hall of Famer and has become a legendary announcer in […]

Chicago Blackhawks: Pat Foley will certainly be missed in the booth – Da Windy City – Da Windy City – A Chicago Sports Site – Bears, Bulls, Cubs, White Sox, Blackhawks, Fighting Illini & More

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Chicago Bulls: 5 free agents to pursue from NBA Playoffs by Ryan Heckman

Second-team All-Pro middle linebacker for the Chicago Bears, Roquan Smith has a plethora of reasons to be angry and motivated going into next season. After a career season in which Smith anchored a Bears defense that the entire team rode into the playoffs, he was snubbed from the first-team all-pro roster in favor of household names and upcoming stars, all of whom Roquan Smith outshined in his third season.

Fortunately, Nick Shook at NFL.com recognized his great season and selected the Chicago Bears linebacker to the All-Under-25 team — the first accolade bestowed upon Roquan Smith in an offseason filled with disrespect.

Using Pro-Football Reference and compiling the stats of the seven inside linebackers (Fred Warner, Bobby Wagner, Darius Leonard, Devin White, Lavonte David, Demario Davis, and Roquan Smith) to make the first or second-team all-pro roster, here is where Smith ranks:

• T-1st in Interceptions (2) with Fred Warner
• TDs allowed – 1st (only one of the seven who did not allow a single TD)
• Passer rating when targeted – 1st (59.8)
• Hurries – 2nd
• Sacks – 3rd
• Tackles – 2nd
• Missed Tackle percent – 3rd lowest

Additionally, if you look at the ratio of pressures to blitz attempts – Roquan Smith generates the highest number of pressures given the number of times he blitzed last season. For every three blitzes, he generated one pressure. The next highest among these seven linebackers were Devin White and Fred Warner who generated one pressure every five blitz attempts.

Three inside linebackers get selected to the first team all-pro roster every year and despite his season, Roquan Smith got selected to the second-team as a result of a “tie” with Lavonte David – an obvious and flagrant snub.

Even on other rankings of players under 25, I have yet to see Roquan respected as one of the best inside linebackers in the game. For example, PFF ranked him 16th on their list of top 25 players under 25 going into next season; they ranked Fred Warner first on this same list. Bleacher Report ranked Roquan 17th, Complex 18th, and CBS Sports 15th on their lists of the 25 best players under 25 going into 2021.

It is evident that Roquan Smith deserves to be held in the same regard as other prominent, young inside linebackers like Fred Warner and Devin White. Both of these players became household names when they were key parts of their team’s championship runs in 2019 and 2020, respectively. However, how come all these analysts fail to remember Roquan Smith’s importance to the 2018 Bears team, which Nagy himself said was primed for a Super Bowl run before Cody Parkey doinked his kick.

Related Story: Five players crucial to Justin Fields’ success in 2021

Ultimately, the consistent dismissal of Roquan Smith has me very excited for the upcoming Chicago Bears season. Perhaps with the reinstallment of Vic Fangio’s scheme under new defensive coordinator Sean Desai, Smith will finally be able to put the rest of the league on notice and make them pay for one of the worst first-team all-pro snubs in recent memory.

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“A lot of the most fascinating audio that I’ve found has been things that most people would just skip over.”

Hali Palombo, 29, is a composer and sound artist who works in found and lost audio and media, frequently including shortwave radio, and creates visual art and video installations from slow-scan television.…Read More

Chicago Bulls: Front office key after Draft Lottery letdown by John-Mark Mallory

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Chicago Bulls (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images)

This summer will be one of many key decisions for the Chicago Bulls. Vice President Arturas Karnisovas is going to have to make some moves if the Bulls are to make any serious run towards the postseason during the 2021-2022 season.

This coming offseason is crucial. Last year, the Bulls hired the right head coach in Billy Donovan. They made a big trade to acquire All Star big man Nikola Vucevic. This team has some strong pieces on the roster.

Now, it’s time to build a playoff contender. The Bulls are close to having some serious pressure placed on them. No longer are they rebuilding. This is a team that could win, and win soon, depending upon their next couple of moves.

If Karnisovas and general manager Marc Eversley play their cards right, this summer has the chance to be special.

Bringing in a couple of free agents from this year’s postseason would be a wise move for the Chicago Bulls.

Watching this year’s playoffs unfold, the Bulls should be taking down a few names. Some of the players coming up big in this postseason will be hitting the free agent market shortly.

Others may not have made that big of an imprint on the postseason, but the Bulls should be paying attention to them nonetheless.

The Bulls will have a few spots to fill out this summer and must find a solution to the point guard position. The wing will be an important position as well. If Chicago wants to bring in a couple of names from this past year’s winning teams, one or two of the following players would make sense in free agency.

Next: 1. Reggie Jackson

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One person was killed and twenty-four others were wounded in shootings Wednesday in Chicago, including a man who was killed, and two others who were seriously wounded in a shooting in Wentworth Gardens on the South Side.

The three men were outside when someone fired shots about 5:40 a.m. in the 3800 block of South Wentworth Avenue, Chicago police said in a statement. One man, 24, was shot several times and died at the University of Chicago Medical Center. Another man, 22, was shot twice in his chest and taken to the same hospital, where he was listed in critical condition. A third man, 25, was in serious condition at the University of Chicago Medical Center with gunshot wounds to his neck and back and a graze wound to the forehead.

In non-fatal shootings, a man was found shot inside a parked car in Wrightwood on the Southwest Side. About 11:30 p.m., officers responded to a Shotspotter alert and found the 20-year-old unresponsive with gunshot wounds to his head inside a parked car in the 2800 block of West 85th Street, police said. He was rushed to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn in critical condition.

Two people were shot in a Back of the Yards park. The man and woman were outside about 10 p.m. near a park in the 1800 block of West 50th Street when two males got out of a Chevy Impala and fired shots, police said. A 25-year-old woman was shot in the torso and the man, 38, was struck on both legs. Both were taken to Stroger Hospital, where they were in fair condition.

Four people were shot in Austin on the West Side. About 9:30 p.m., the group was standing outside in the 4900 block of West Hubbard Street, when two males emerged from a gangway and fired shots, police said. A 19-year-old woman was struck in the chest and a 37-year-old man was struck in the leg. They were both brought to Mt. Sinai Hospital, where they are in fair condition. A 29-year-old man was struck in the face and shoulder, and a 34-year-old man was shot in the leg and arm. They were both brought to Stroger Hospital, where the 29-year-old is in serious condition, and the older man is in fair condition.

At the same time, four motorcycle club members were shot in the Englewood on the South Side. The men were outside about 9:30 p.m. when someone inside a vehicle fired shots in the 7000 block of South Vincennes Avenue, police said. A 52-year-old man was shot in the arm and lower back and was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center in critical condition. Two others, 44 and 57, were struck in the leg. The 44-year-old was taken to University of Chicago Medical Center and the other was taken to St. Bernard Hospital, where they were in fair condition. A fourth man, 65, was struck in the arm and also taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center.

A 21-year-old man was critically wounded in a shooting in Englewood on the South Side. The man was outside about 6 p.m. in the 7300 block of South Green Street when he heard shots and felt pain, police said. He was struck in the leg and was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center in critical condition. He told officers he didn’t know where the shots came from.

In the day’s first reported shooting, a 14-year-old boy was shot in the foot in East Garfield Park on the West Side. He was outside in the 3800 block of West Adams Street when he was wounded about 1:55 a.m., police said. He was taken to Mt. Sinai Hospital in good condition. He told officers he did not see a shooter or know where the shots came from.

Nine others were wounded in shootings citywide.

One person was killed, and five others were wounded in shootings Tuesday.

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A man was killed and three others were wounded in a shooting in Wentworth Gardens.

One person was killed and twenty-three others were wounded in shootings Wednesday in Chicago, including a man who was killed, and two others who were seriously wounded in a shooting in Wentworth Gardens on the South Side.

The three men were outside when someone fired shots about 5:40 a.m. in the 3800 block of South Wentworth Avenue, Chicago police said in a statement. One man, 24, was shot several times and died at the University of Chicago Medical Center. Another man, 22, was shot twice in his chest and taken to the same hospital, where he was listed in critical condition. A third man, 25, was in serious condition at the University of Chicago Medical Center with gunshot wounds to his neck and back and a graze wound to the forehead.

In non-fatal shootings, a man was found shot inside a parked car in Wrightwood on the Southwest Side. About 11:30 p.m., officers responded to a Shotspotter alert and found the 20-year-old unresponsive with gunshot wounds to his head inside a parked car in the 2800 block of West 85th Street, police said. He was rushed to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn in critical condition.

Two people were shot in a Back of the Yards park. The man and woman were outside about 10 p.m. near a park in the 1800 block of West 50th Street when two males got out of a Chevy Impala and fired shots, police said. A 25-year-old woman was shot in the torso and the man, 38, was struck on both legs. Both were taken to Stroger Hospital, where they were in fair condition.

Four people were shot in Austin on the West Side. About 9:30 p.m., the group was standing outside in the 4900 block of West Hubbard Street, when two males emerged from a gangway and fired shots, police said. A 19-year-old woman was struck in the chest and a 37-year-old man was struck in the leg. They were both brought to Mt. Sinai Hospital, where they are in fair condition. A 29-year-old man was struck in the face and shoulder, and a 34-year-old man was shot in the leg and arm. They were both brought to Stroger Hospital, where the 29-year-old is in serious condition, and the older man is in fair condition.

At the same time, four motorcycle club members were shot in the Englewood on the South Side. The men were outside about 9:30 p.m. when someone inside a vehicle fired shots in the 7000 block of South Vincennes Avenue, police said. A 52-year-old man was shot in the arm and lower back and was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center in critical condition. Two others, 44 and 57, were struck in the leg. The 44-year-old was taken to University of Chicago Medical Center and the other was taken to St. Bernard Hospital, where they were in fair condition. A fourth man, 65, was struck in the arm and also taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center.

A 21-year-old man was critically wounded in a shooting in Englewood on the South Side. The man was outside about 6 p.m. in the 7300 block of South Green Street when he heard shots and felt pain, police said. He was struck in the leg and was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center in critical condition. He told officers he didn’t know where the shots came from.

In the day’s first reported shooting, a 14-year-old boy was shot in the foot in East Garfield Park on the West Side. He was outside in the 3800 block of West Adams Street when he was wounded about 1:55 a.m., police said. He was taken to Mt. Sinai Hospital in good condition. He told officers he did not see a shooter or know where the shots came from.

Eight others were wounded in shootings citywide.

One person was killed, and five others were wounded in shootings Tuesday.

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About 9:30 p.m., the group was standing outside in the 4900 block of West Hubbard Street, when two males emerged from a gangway and fired shots.

Four people were shot Wednesday night in Austin on the West Side.

About 9:30 p.m., the group was standing outside in the 4900 block of West Hubbard Street, when two males emerged from a gangway and fired shots, Chicago police said.

A 19-year-old woman was struck in the chest and a 37-year-old man was struck in the leg, police said. They were both brought to Mt. Sinai Hospital, where they are in fair condition.

A 29-year-old man was struck in the face and shoulder, and a 34-year-old man was shot in the leg and arm, police said. They were both brought to Stroger Hospital, where the 29-year-old is in serious condition, and the older man is in fair condition.

Area Four detectives are investigating.

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The men were outside about 9:30 p.m. when someone inside a vehicle fired shots in the 7000 block of South Vincennes Avenue.

Four motorcycle club members were shot Wednesday night in the Englewood neighborhood.

The men were outside about 9:30 p.m. when someone inside a vehicle fired shots in the 7000 block of South Vincennes Avenue, Chicago police said.

A 52-year-old man was shot in the arm and lower back and was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center in critical condition, police said.

Two others, 44 and 57, were struck in the leg, police said. The 44-year-old was taken to University of Chicago Medical Center and the other was taken to St. Bernard Hospital, where they were in fair condition.

A fourth man, 65, was struck in the arm and also taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center, police said.

No one is in custody as Area One detectives investigate.

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