| Nov 19, 2013 |
Berkeley, CA. – Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas recently awarded the first University of California Berkeley Isiah Thomas Scholarship to Cedric Jones, an Architecture student and the director of the Black Recruitment and Retention Center. “Along with excelling at his work at Berkeley, Cedric Jones has shown a commitment to improving his community and having an impact on the next generation of talented students,” Thomas said. During the fall, Jones and other African American students take a week off school to visit more than 100 schools in southern California where they conduct outreach presentations at middle schools, high schools, and community colleges. For the last four years, Jones has dedicated his time to the Black Recruitment & Retention Center as an Intern, Academic Retention Coordinator and is currently in his second term as Executive Director. A native of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, Jones is the youngest of three children growing up within a low-income household in Hayward, CA. Through the support of community members and family both he and his sisters were given the opportunity to attend UC Berkeley. As a Landscape Architecture candidate Cedric’s dream is to create his own design firm catering to urban development within inner cities, specifying on revitalization of historic ethnic communities (i.e. Temescal of Oakland, Hunter’s Point of SF) and restoring them to capacities of their nostalgic primes. He also wants to be a professor of City & Regional Planning and educate students on the intersections between planning, gentrification and the loss of minority input in city development so that all can apply this knowledge in their respective fields to better the conditions of African...
| Nov 8, 2013 |
HOF Isiah Thomas recently acquired a Class A apartment building in Evanston, IL for investment purposes. The property is located at 525 Kedzie. It is a modern designed structure consisting of 20 residential units, 42 parking spaces, and 2 commercial spaces. The property was originally constructed in 2007 as a high-end residential condominium building for sale. This property will be managed by TAND Properties. TAND properties provides comprehensive solutions to third party multifamily property owners through an experienced team of professionals with varied expertise, TAND offers the vast knowledge required to effectively oversee multi-family housing. Isiah International, solely owned by Isiah Thomas, a commercial real estate investment company located in Chicago, Illinois identifies investment opportunities to qualified investors through the acquisition, management and disposition of multifamily housing units. In addition, Isiah International will focus on revitalizing properties in distressed communities and developing affordable housing on the west side of Chicago. Mr Thomas’ philanthropic work through his foundation Mary’s Court will continue to focus on making a difference in the lives of families and young people in Chicago and around the country. “I am excited about this new business endeavor and look forward to being a part of the Evanston community which is so close to my hometown Chicago where I am deeply involved in the business and philanthropic community.” Thomas said...
| Nov 6, 2013 |
Reverend Al Sharpton and NBA Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas to Headline the Launch of Education for a Better America & NAN Career Pipeline Initiative in Chicago on Thursday at Frazier International Magnet School Chicago – As part of the launch of the Career Pipeline Initiative in Chicago, the National Action Network and Education for a Better America will present NBA Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas with its EBA Community Engagement Award for Thomas’ work in violence prevention in the city of Chicago and around the nation. A Chicago native, Thomas has worked closely with Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Father Michael Pfleger on the Peace Basketball Tournaments, which recently launched and will continue through February, and the Windy City Hoops program which are designed to foster safer communities throughout the city. Isiah Thomas will appear on MSNBC’s PoliticsNation with host Reverend Al Sharpton tomorrow at 5:00pm CST. WHO: Rev. Al Sharpton, President of National Action Network (NAN) Isiah Thomas, Basketball legend, Chicago native, founder of Windy City Hoops Initiative Leadership from NAN, EBA and the Chicago community WHAT: National Action Network & Education for a Better America Career Pipeline Initiative Launch WHERE: Frazier International Magnet School 4027 W. Grenshaw St., Chicago, IL, 60624 WHEN: Thursday, November 7, 2013 10:00 am BACKGROUND: Education for a Better America (EBA) and National Action Network (NAN) will launch the Career Pipeline Initiative in Chicago, Illinois on Thursday, November 7 at 10:00am at Frazier International Magnet School (FIMS) on the West Side of Chicago. The purpose of this event is to highlight the achievement of FIMS, identify their best practices, and develop a plan...
| Oct 30, 2013 |
The Peace League is an annual community basketball league that brings together young men from different communities in Chicago and provides them a safe space to meet each other, learn leadership values through teamwork and work through their differences through sport. Established in 2011 by Isiah Thomas and Father Michael Pfleger of The Faith Community of Saint Sabina, the tournament represents more than a game—it is an opportunity to break down barriers and help young men make positive changes in their lives and communities. Furthermore, the basketball tournament has grown into a program which now offers GED classes, employment training, and internship opportunities. The Peace League has had a profound impact on the surrounding communities near St. Sabina Church and since it began, there has been a significant drop in violence in the area. “The NBA players talk about how [the men] can build peace in the community,” Father Pfleger said. “Basketball has tremendous power because it helps build relationships, and the ball became the driving force, not gang divisions.” “Our goal is to put young people in the right places, put them in the hands of the right people, so they will choose a different path. It’s a lot harder to hurt someone you know once you’ve developed respect for them,” Mary’s Court Founder Isiah Thomas said. “The Peace League affords these young men the opportunity to get to know each other on and off the court, and I am proud to work alongside Father Pfleger to help our young people pursue opportunities in basketball, in academics and in life.” NBA stars like Chicago Bulls’ Derick Rose, Joakim...
