Get involved!

April 24, 2008

BY STELLA FOSTER Sun-Times Columnist

I ASKED THE REV. MIKE PFLEGER, a community activist whom I hold in high regard, to give me a personal quote regarding the violence that is permeating the black community:

"If we are going to stop the killing of our children, it will demand that all of us -- parents, neighbors, law enforcement, elected officials, educators and faith communities -- become outraged and more aggressively involved. This is not a child problem, this is an adult problem!"

I asked for his statement because he is a white man who has a church in the heart of the Auburn Gresham area, aka St. Sabina, and he truly cares about black folks ... and he ain't scared to speak out.

He has been in the forefront in going after and criticizing companies that encourage kids to buy alcohol and tobacco in inner-city communities, has picketed stores in the black community selling drug paraphernalia, has held anti-gun rallies, has gone after the producers and artists who promote gangsta rap, and the list goes on. Pfleger has his detractors -- we all do, especially if you have a strong opinion about issues that a lot of folks choose to ignore -- but whether you like him or not, he has been and continues to be in the trenches trying to help African Americans, Negroes, blacks and everybody else he can.

P.S. Pfleger also supports the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, who will be speaking at the National Press Club in Washington on Monday.

THE ANAIA Breast Cancer Awareness Program kickoff reception is May 1 in the Narcissus Room at Macy's on State Street and will be hosted by this humble reporter. Jazz saxophonist Ray Silkman will provide the entertainment, and actors Richard Roundtree (a breast cancer survivor) and Fred "The Hammer" Williamson will be the special guests. Roundtree and Williamson will be at Dominick's at 71st and Jeffery on May 3 to enroll uninsured women for free mammograms.

R&B PLATINUM ARTIST Keyshia Cole will be in town April 29 to attend the launch party for Luster Products' new Pink Brand Smooth Touch hair product, which she is endorsing.

CELEBRATING: WMAQ-Channel 5 anchor Marion Brooks was birthday feted last Friday by her hubby, attorney Ruye Hawkins, and a few of her friends at the elegant MK restaurant. The group included Boeing exec Jim Bell and wife Mary, Channel 5's Bob Sirott, CelebTV.com's Chris Myers, Dr. Helen Gardner and Annie Wasserman of Nate Berkus Associates.

Some of the folks later had cocktails at the trendy Otom eatery (currently featured on the cover of Chicago mag).

CIVIC LEADER MITZI FREIDHEIM, wife of Sun-Times publisher Cyrus Freidheim, celebrates her birthday today, and per usual, she will spend the early part of this special day reading to the hundred or more kids at the new state-of-the-art Mitzi Freidheim Englewood Child + Family Center. The kids also will sing to her and have cake.

WFLD-CHANNEL 32's Nancy Pender speaks to teen girls at the "Women Everywhere Partners in Service Project" luncheon Friday at Petterino's. ... The White Sox' Nick Swisher and Carlos Quentin and radio's Ed Farmer will be at the James Thompson Center at noon today on behalf of Secretary of State Jesse White's Organ Donor Month promotion.

A CLARIFICATION: The Nate Berkus and Michelle Obama fund-raiser on behalf of Sen. Barack Obama's campaign is May 12 at the Park West, which is not Mother's Day, as I first reported.

THE EAT BEAT: Business giant John Rogers Jr., who just spoke at Morehouse College's Presidential Chat Series, dined at LuxBar. ... Channel 5's Brant Miller dined at Fuego Mexican Grill in Arlington Heights. ... The 200 East Supper Club's recent diners include "Jersey Boys" star Craig Laurie with the show's band and Sterling Production's Roger ("ER") Anderson.

FASHIONABLE politico Arianna Huffington signs her new book Right is Wrong at Borders on Michigan on May 13. ... Comcast anchor Paul Lisnek also is a regular political analyst for WGN-Channel 9 News. ... Attorney Benjamin Malkin has joined attorney John R. Joyce's JTTR Law Group

THE BIRTHDAY PEOPLE: Mayor Daley turns 66 today, Joe Segal, Phil Siegel, Barbra Streisand and belated anniversary wishes to Roland Martin and Jacquie. On Friday: WLS-Channel 7's Ben Bradley, Channel 32's Patrick Elwood, Al Pacino and Healthy Images' Yvonne Daily. On Saturday: Frank D'Rone. On Sunday: Jimmy Damon. On Monday: Les Coney, Todd Lizak and Carrye White.

Well, that's Stella in the city!