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4 days ago | 
chicagodefender.com | Marshelle Sanders
Dee Swan, founder of Chicago’s Black Swan Barber Lounge, turned a childhood spark into a thriving business and mentorship hub (Photo Credit: Marshelle Sanders). With the arrival of Pride Month in June, what began as a desire to stay close to and follow in her older brother’s footsteps and a simple pair of clippers turned into something much more.
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1 week ago | 
chicagodefender.com | Marshelle Sanders
For Daniel Ash, the work of social justice is more than a profession; it’s a calling rooted in personal experience and shaped by the transformative power of human connection. What began as a simple urge to help his hometown community in Ohio has evolved into a decades-long mission to build equity, amplify the voices of underrepresented individuals and uplift communities across Chicago.
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1 month ago | 
chicagodefender.com | Marshelle Sanders
Tina Knowles opens up about her Southern roots, raising Beyoncé and Solange, the power of chosen family, and her journey to self-worth in her memoir Matriarch, shared during a moving Chicago appearance moderated by CNN’s Laura Coates (Photo Credit: Marshelle Sanders). A matriarch is a woman who heads a family, tribe or group. She is a respected elder woman who holds authority and influence in a family, community or cultural group.
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1 month ago | 
chicagodefender.com | Marshelle Sanders
On her Cowboy Carter Tour in Chicago, Beyoncé redefined country music through a Black lens—blending motherhood, history, and generational artistry in a genre-bending spectacle (Photo Credit: Parkwood Entertainment). “It’s a lot of chatter here, but let me make myself clear.
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1 month ago | 
chicagodefender.com | Marshelle Sanders
Cultural leaders Dave Jeff and Yohance Lacour reflect on Chicago sneaker culture, fashion hustle, and purpose-driven design during a powerful conversation at The Emily Hotel in Fulton Market (Photo Credit: Terence Crayton Photography). My family influenced my style, as we would often go shopping at various stores on weekends. Some of those eras have shaped my worldview and continue to influence my style today.
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1 month ago | 
chicagodefender.com | Marshelle Sanders
Mayor Brandon Johnson participates in a panel discussion during the Building Bridges, Breaking Barriers – A Unified Path to Hope and Reentry Summit at Breakthrough FamilyPlex in East Garfield Park; April 2025 (Photos Courtesy of The City of Chicago). For many, exiting prison can be as tense as entering it, regardless of the circumstances. Returning citizens often face a variety of challenges, from trauma, finding stable employment and accessing mental health support.
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2 months ago | 
chicagodefender.com | Marshelle Sanders
From L–R: Deon Hodrick, community advocate and entrepreneur; Richard Wallace, founder of Equity and Transformation (EAT); Clinton Boyd, Jr., executive director of Fathers, Families & Healthy Communities; and Daniel Ash, president of the Field Foundation, speak during the “Breaking the Chains” panel on reclaiming wealth, power, and dignity for Black men in Chicago (Photo Courtesy of The Field Foundation).
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2 months ago | 
chicagodefender.com | Marshelle Sanders
Debra Vines, founder of The Answer Inc., hosts the 17th Annual Walk-A-Thon to raise autism awareness and support families in underserved communities. Inspired by her son, Jason, Vines continues her mission of advocacy, education, and empowerment (Photo Provided). When a mother loves her child, that love is expressed through unconditional sacrifice, tireless effort, and unwavering devotion, but above all, through love itself.
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2 months ago | 
chicagodefender.com | Marshelle Sanders
Chicago Defender writer Marshelle Sanders with Monique Roberson (Photo Provided)This story is part of The Chicago Defender’s Money Smart Week coverage, highlighting the importance of estate planning and financial empowerment in the Black community. In honor of Money Smart Week, The Chicago Defender highlights the importance of estate planning, not just as a financial necessity but as an actual love letter to your family.
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2 months ago | 
chicagodefender.com | Marshelle Sanders
April Snow of Self-Help Federal Credit Union honors the legacy of historic Seaway Bank while teaching the South Side community how to build wealth, one account at a time (Photo Credit: Marshelle Sanders). “This is a legacy of inspiration. And we’re just getting started,” said Chatham Branch Manager April Snow of the Historic Seaway Bank, which was opened in 1965 and closed in 2017 and is now operating as Self-Help Federal Credit Union located on the south side of Chicago at 645 E.
