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Cook County Treasurer Pappas to honor Chicago Bear, actors at Black History Month celebration
02/28/2024
Who Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas
Pastor John F. Harrell
Chicago Bear Tyrique Stevenson
The Tate Brothers, actors Larenz, Larron and Lahmard
What Honorees celebrate Black History Month at the Cook County Treasurer’s Office. During the event Pappas will honor several prominent religious leaders, activists and entrepreneurs with Certificates of Excellence.
When 3 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024
Where Cook County Treasurer’s Office, 118 N. Clark St., Room 112, Chicago, Illinois
Who Awardees for Black History Month Celebration are Pastor Leon T. White of Joshua Missionary Baptist Church; Pastor Gregory Q. Moore of New Horizon Missionary Baptist Church; Bishop Dr. Reginald J. Saffo of United Missionary Baptist Church; Pastor Cornelius Parks of Good Hope Freewill Baptist Church; Pastor Keenan Bond of Holy Corinthian Missionary Baptist Church; Pastors Lawrence Henderson and Courtney Henderson of Vibe Church Chicago; Pastor Pervis L. Thomas of New Canaan Land Missionary Baptist Church; Pastor Warner Pitts of St. James Industrial Missionary Baptist Church; Bishop Dwayne Funches of New Grace Life Cathedral; Pastor Derrick McCollum of Peaceful New Beginnings Missionary Baptist Church; Rev. Dr. James R. Flint, Jr. of Calvary Baptist Church of Chicago; Rev. Dr. Davie Moore of Greater New Mt. Eagle Missionary Baptist Church; Rev. Dr. Roosevelt Watkins of Bethlehem Star Missionary Baptist Church; Rev. A. W. Staten, Jr. of Alpha Temple Missionary Baptist Church; Rev. Dr. Jarvis Hanson of New Nazareth Missionary Baptist Church; Rev. Dr. Keith B. McGee of Messiah Temple Missionary Baptist Church; Rev. Dr. Roosevelt Walker of New Memorial Missionary Baptist Church; Pastor Robbie Wilkerson; Rev. Phalese Binion, president, Westside Ministers Coalition; Tesa Anewishki, president and CEO of Loretto Hospital; Tangela Enyia, executive vice president, ComEd; Jaryl Poole, program director, World Vision; Brian P. Pickett, owner, Brian P. Pickett Funeral Group LLC; and Charles McKenzie, president, Englewood First Responders.
Why Since becoming Treasurer in 1998 Pappas has worked with Black leaders to reform a property tax system that has disproportionately harmed Black families and deprived them of opportunities to build generational wealth. Pappas helped leaders of more 300 Black churches save their properties from predatory tax buyers who were acquiring churches at scavenger sales because ministers had neglected to sign non-profit waivers. A Treasurer's Office think tank analysis revealed how the 1940s government-sanctioned, racist housing policy of redlining continued to harm lower-income, mostly minority communities. The study led to legislative reforms that have reduced the interest rates on overdue taxes from 18% to 9%. Pappas hosts the weekly “Black Houses Matter” radio show on WVON-AM 1690 to inform homeowners about up to $150 million in potential refunds for missed exemptions and past overpayments of property taxes.