Bronzeville Life

11/17/2025

♟️ Two Kings of the Chess World. One Powerful Night. ♟️

Join us in celebrating the brilliance of FM James Canty, the most internationally recognized African American Chess Master and newly crowned World (USA) Chess Boxer — and Thomas Kayrah, the former President of the Liberia Chess Federation who championed youth empowerment through chess across an entire nation.

This historic event is more than a game — it’s a movement. A salute to Black excellence, strategy, and the global legacy of chess.

🖤 Repost. Share. Support.

11/17/2025

10/21/2025

🎤 Open Mic. Good Vibes. Culture Forward.
Join us for SOUL LIVE: RESTORATION, a cultural experience curated by Deana Dean & Sharon Celeste, hosted by the incomparable Afrika Porter .

📍Soul Veg City, 205 E. 75th St.
📅 Thursday, November 6 | 8:00 PM
🎟️ $15 Donation

Celebrate soul, story, and sisterhood — With love from Bronzeville Life & Chicago Defender Charities® 💚

10/08/2025

💼 Entrepreneurs + Innovators Unite!
Accelerate your personal and business growth at the Xcelerator Business Summit
📅 October 7–8, 2025
📍The Matrix Club, Naperville, IL

🎤 Featuring: Dr. Obari Cartman, Tee, Afrika Porter & more
🔗 Learn more: www.xbsinfo.com

Grow your vision with us — presented by the Bronzeville Life Team & Chicago Defender Charities®

10/08/2025

📣 The City of Chicago is honoring Women of Greatness!
Join us to for an inspiring day of resources, jobs, and empowerment at Alderman William Hall’s Sister Empowerment Circle in the 6th Ward.

🛠️ Resources & Jobs: Operation HOPE, OEMC, DCFS, CTA, BMO Harris, RUSH & more
📍8000 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL
🕘 Doors open at 9AM | Circle begins at 10AM

— Brought to you in community by the Bronzeville Life Team & Chicago Defender Charities® 💫

09/05/2025

Chicago is built on resilience, not occupation. ✊🏾 We stand with Governor J.B. Pritzker and Mayor Brandon Johnson in rejecting Donald Trump’s dangerous plan to send troops into our city. Our history in Bronzeville proves that true progress comes from community, investment, and unity—not militarization. 🖤

06/02/2025

What a sacred and unforgettable weekend at the 222nd Igbo Landing Commemoration.

From the vibrant celebration at the Original Gullah Festival in Beaufort, SC, to Sunday’s powerful pilgrimage across St. Simons Island, this was more than a gathering—it was a homecoming. 🌿

We worshipped at the historic First African Baptist Church with Bishop Joel Alford Jr. (166 years strong), honored ancestors at the Epworth pier, and visited sacred sites of our shared past. Rain couldn’t stop our purpose.

Thank you to our leaders:
🕊️ Dr. Sengstacke Rice for lifting the legacy of Robert S. Abbott
🕊️ Dr. , Ph.D. , for grounding us in Gullah Geechee memory
🕊️ Dr. Nkuzi Nnam, for leading a moving naming ceremony

A special moment: Councilman and Ring Shouter Griffin Lotson for gifted Professor Nnam with the Gullah flower of “life everlasting”—a symbol of remembrance and cultural continuity.

We’re proud to be joined by students and researchers from Harvard, UCLA, Dominican University, Howard, and a PhD scholar at Clark Atlanta University studying Igbo Landing itself. The next generation is here—and they are rising.

Legacy lives in us.

03/20/2025

A Night of Legacy & Impact!

The Chicago Defender Charities is beyond proud to celebrate our President & CEO, Sengstacke-Rice, as she was honored with the Legacy Family Award at the Legacy Awards this weekend.

Myiti’s leadership, vision, and unwavering dedication continue to shape the legacy of Black excellence in Chicago and beyond. She stands for US, advocates for US, and works tirelessly to uplift our community.

Congratulations, Queen! This honor is well deserved. ✨

02/25/2025

We are proud to announce that Sengstacke Rice, President & CEO of the Chicago Defender Charities Inc, will be honored as Woman of the Year at the 21st Annual Finer Womanhood Scholarship & Awards Brunch hosted by Tau Psi Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. - Official

This event will honor incredible individuals and organizations, including Gyrls in the HOOD as Organization of the Year and others who continue to make an impact in our community.

We look forward to celebrating Myiti’s outstanding contributions to education, empowerment, and the advancement of our community.

02/21/2025

Join us TONIGHT for the Virtual BookNotes with Pastor Moss book discussion featuring Myiti Sengstacke-Rice, author of Chicago Defender, and Deborah Douglas, author of U.S. Civil Rights Trail: A Traveler’s Guide to the People, Places, and Events that Made the Movement! 📚

Don’t miss this engaging conversation about the legacies of journalism, the Civil Rights Movement, and the work of both authors.

🗓 Date: TODAY, February 21, 2025
⏰ Time: 6:00 PM
🔗 Register here: tinyurl.com/BookNotesWithPastorOtisMoss

Follow the authors:

Myiti Sengstacke-Rice:
Deborah Douglas:

01/23/2025

✨ Defender Legacy: Special Edition Release ✨

We’re proud to present the Bronzeville Life Black History Month Edition 2025—a celebration of Black Creativity, Resilience, and Legacy powered by the Chicago Defender Charities.

💡 Featuring highlights such as:
➡️ Black Creativity: 55 Years of Black Art
➡️ Legacy of a King: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Impact on Chicago
➡️ Community Spaces: Windy City Ci**rs Combines Legacy and Luxury

📖 Dive into stories of trailblazing leaders, cultural icons, and reflections on our history that continue to shape our future.

Stay inspired, empowered, and informed this Black History Month. 🖤

🔗 Explore more in our latest edition and join the conversation.

01/22/2025

🎥 Catch Dr. Myiti Sengstacke-Rice on WTTW’s Chicago Tonight: Black Voices TONIGHT!

📅 When: Wednesday, January 22, 2025
⏰ Time: 5:30 PM CST
📍 Where:

Join Dr. Myiti Sengstacke-Rice, President & CEO of the Chicago Defender Charities, for an insightful discussion on the new documentary Great Migrations: A People on the Move.

Hosted by , the segment will also feature .ife Sims via Zoom. Together, they’ll explore the profound journey of African American migration and its impact on our nation.

Tune in to celebrate history, heritage, and powerful storytelling!

🌐 More about the documentary event: WTTW Event Details