Jackson will make appearance at Hemmens
Jesse Jackson will be making an appearance Friday night in Elgin, as will Grammy-winning gospel singer Tramaine Hawkins, Chicago gospel performer Darius Brooks and gospel radio host Darryl King.
The event bringing them all together at the Hemmens Cultural Arts Center is a ’70s Inspirational Gospel Concert, organized by the Northwest suburban chapter of Rainbow PUSH Coalition. Held as a fundraiser by Rainbow PUSH, the concert is timed to precede Jackson’s 70th birthday — Jackson is the founder of the international civil rights organization.
Pastor Walter Blalark started the Northwest suburban chapter in 2007. He said this is the first time the group has fundraised with a gospel concert. The goal is to raise enough money to take a busload of area high school students to tour historically black colleges and universities.
“We try to get them inspired, informed and involved in going to a college of their choice,” Blalark said. “One of the greatest things that we think will help battle poverty, unemployment and underemployment is people educating themselves.”
The concert starts at 8 p.m. Friday at the Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way. Tickets start at $20 and are available through the Hemmens box office at (847) 931-5900 or hemmens.org.
A host of professional performers will take the stage along with local talent for the concert, which will include a speech by Jackson, who turns 70 Oct. 8.
According to its website, the mission of Rainbow PUSH is to “defend, protect and gain civil rights by leveling the economic and educational playing field, and promote peace around the world.” The national group has organized tours for other high school students to see historically black colleges and universities for years, but this will be the first time the Northwest suburban chapter has been able to.
Blalark said the jobs crisis and high unemployment has been a major focus of the group as of late. If the gospel concert fundraiser brings in enough money, he said the group may be able to offer scholarships to deserving high school students in addition to the college tour.
For more information about the local chapter, find Rainbow PUSH NWS Chapter on Facebook.