The Chicago Journal

Celebrating Storytelling Across the Seasons: Four Seasons Book Awards Hosts Times Square Honors

The Chicago Journal Staff on January 22, 2026

By: Melinda Wolfe

Times Square became a stage for literary recognition on January 9 as the Four Seasons Book Awards marked its annual Grand Prize celebration in the heart of New York City. Surrounded by the energy and movement of one of the world’s most recognizable locations, the event offered a moment of reflection and recognition for authors whose work had stood out across a year-long awards cycle.

The Four Seasons Book Awards is an international, unaffiliated program that recognizes independently and traditionally published books from around the world. Designed to be inclusive and accessible, the awards welcome authors and publishers producing books for the North American market, regardless of whether those works are newly released or previously published. The program’s structure is built around the idea that meaningful stories deserve ongoing visibility rather than just a single opportunity for recognition.

That philosophy is reflected in the awards’ seasonal format. Each year, the Four Seasons Book Awards hosts four distinct competitions—Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter—allowing authors to enter at different points throughout the year. At the conclusion of each season, finalists are named, and all seasonal finalists are automatically considered for the year-end Grand Prize.

The January 9 event in Times Square served as that celebration, offering finalists and winners an opportunity to gather and acknowledge the culmination of their efforts. Hosted by Michael Beas and Dar Dowling, the gathering highlighted the collective achievements of the authors while reinforcing the broader mission of the awards: to support visibility, continuity, and long-term recognition within the publishing landscape.

Speaking during the event, Michael Beas reflected on the intention behind the awards and the importance of sustaining opportunities for writers throughout the year.

“The Four Seasons Book Awards were built to honor the full lifecycle of a book, not just a single moment,” Beas said. “By celebrating authors across all four seasons and bringing that recognition into a public space like Times Square, we’re reminding writers that their work matters, their voices matter, and there is room for their stories to be seen and celebrated throughout the year.”

This year’s Grand Prize honors recognized a range of voices and subjects. Evan Dash was named Grand Prize Winner for A Dash of Good, a work that strongly resonated with judges and readers. Second Place Grand Prize recognition was awarded to David Cancio and Humbert Cancio for Bound by Law, highlighting collaborative authorship and shared creative vision.

The event was also attended by a number of Grand Prize Finalists whose books span multiple genres and areas of focus. Among those present were Eric Aune, The End of the Beginning (The Ripple Effect); Jodi Velazquez, Know the Enemy: Preventing Weight Gain, Diabetes, & Disease; Jenna Guarneri, You Need PR: An Approachable Guide to Public Relations for Early-Stage Companies; and Vicky Giouroukakis, Growing Up in an Immigrant Household and Community: Essays by Descendants of Immigrants.

What continues to distinguish the Four Seasons Book Awards is its emphasis on sustained recognition rather than one-time accolades. By allowing authors to participate throughout the year and by connecting seasonal recognition to a larger Grand Prize framework, the program provides ongoing momentum and branding opportunities for writers at different stages of their careers.

The Times Square gathering underscored that commitment. Against a backdrop associated with global media, culture, and visibility, the event reinforced the idea that books and the people who create them remain a vital part of public conversation. The celebration was not only about honoring individual achievements but also about acknowledging the broader ecosystem of storytelling that continues to evolve across publishing models and genres.

A complete list of the 2024 Grand Prize winners is available through the Four Seasons Book Awards website, offering readers and industry professionals an opportunity to explore the works recognized during this year’s competition cycle.

How Parenting Plans Shape Children’s Stability After Separation

The Chicago Journal Staff on January 21, 2026

When parents separate, the most common concern is often how the change will affect their children, not just emotionally, but in the quiet, day-to-day rhythms that make up a child’s sense of safety and belonging. Children thrive on predictability, even when they are adaptable and resilient by nature, and separation disrupts many of the structures they rely on without them fully understanding why. 

This is where parenting plans play a critical role, not as rigid legal documents, but as practical frameworks that help children experience structure. This article will explore some of these insights and how to help build a healthy relationship between parents and children.

Why Does Stability Matter More Than Perfection?

Children do not need perfect arrangements to feel secure; they need consistent ones. This is why stability after separation is less about equal time or flawless coordination and more about knowing what tomorrow looks like. 

Parenting plans create that sense of order by clearly outlining where children will live, how transitions will occur, and how decisions will be made. When expectations are clear, children are less likely to feel caught between parents or anxious about sudden changes. The plan becomes a quiet guide in their lives, providing reassurance even when emotions run high.

1. Predictable Routines and Emotional Security

Routine is one of the strongest stabilizing forces for children after separation. Parenting plans that establish regular schedules for school days, weekends, holidays, and vacations help children adjust without feeling constantly down. 

When a child knows which parent they will be with on certain days, where they will sleep, and how school mornings will work, their mental energy is freed from worry and redirected toward learning, friendships, and emotional processing. Over time, these routines communicate safety, reinforcing the idea that life continues even if family dynamics have changed.

2. Reducing Conflict Through Clear Expectations

One of the most overlooked benefits of a well-designed parenting plan is its ability to minimize conflict between adults, which directly impacts children’s emotional well-being. Ongoing parental disputes create a tense atmosphere that children absorb, often blaming themselves even when they are not the cause. 

Parenting plans reduce ambiguity by addressing common points of disagreement in advance, such as pickup times, holiday arrangements, and communication methods. When fewer decisions are left open to interpretation, there are fewer opportunities for conflict, and children are spared the stress of witnessing repeated disputes.

3. Supporting Healthy Parent-Child Relationships

A family law attorney helps children benefit from having stable, meaningful relationships with both parents when circumstances allow. And they do this by clearly defining each parent’s role and responsibilities. 

Rather than leaving contact inconsistent, a plan ensures that time together is predictable and intentional. This consistency helps children feel valued and reassured that both parents remain actively involved in their lives, even though the family structure has changed. Over time, this continuity strengthens attachment and reduces feelings of abandonment or divided loyalty.

4. Flexibility Within Structure

Even though consistency is important, rigidity can sometimes work against a child’s best interests. Effective parenting plans balance structure with flexibility, allowing adjustments as children grow and their needs change. 

For instance, a toddler’s schedule may look very different from that of a teenager, and plans that allow for reasonable modifications without conflict tend to support long-term stability. Children benefit when parents can adapt calmly to new school demands, extracurricular activities, or social development while still maintaining predictable core routines.

5. Decision-Making and a Child’s Sense of Stability

Parenting plans typically outline how major decisions will be made regarding education, healthcare, and other significant aspects of a child’s life. Clear decision-making processes reduce uncertainty for children, who often sense tension even when discussions occur out of nowhere.

When parents know how decisions will be handled, disagreements are less likely to spill into daily life. This consistency reassures children that their needs are being considered thoughtfully and that important choices are not driven by conflict or unpredictability.

6. Emotional Adjustment

Transitions between households can be among the most emotionally challenging aspects of separation for children, which is why parenting plans that thoughtfully address how transitions will occur can help ease this process. 

Predictable pickup times, familiar routines in both homes, and clear communication about schedules reduce anxiety and emotional whiplash. Over time, children learn to move between environments without feeling destabilized, especially when transitions are calm, respectful, and free from parental tension.

7. Communication, Consistency, and Trust

Children rely on consistent messaging from both parents to feel secure. Parenting plans often establish guidelines for communication, including how parents will share information and how children will stay in contact. 

When communication expectations are clear, children are less likely to feel like messengers or intermediaries. This consistency builds trust, helping children understand that both parents are working together, even if they are no longer together as a couple.

Endnote

Parenting plans are more like stabilizing forces that quietly shape how children experience life after separation. By providing predictability, reducing conflict, and supporting consistent relationships, these plans help children feel secure during a time of uncertainty.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as legal advice. It aims to explore insights into how parenting plans can benefit children and help build a healthy relationship between parents and children.

Commercial & Residential Garage Door Repair in Arlington Heights, IL and Nearby Suburbs

The Chicago Journal Staff on January 20, 2026

Garage doors are one of those things you never notice… until they ruin your whole day. You are late, you hit the button, and the door either sits there, offended, or starts moving weirdly and stops halfway. The noise gets louder, the door feels heavier, and suddenly you are Googling repair companies with one eye open and coffee spilling everywhere.

If you live in Arlington Heights or nearby suburbs, you already know the vibe. Weather swings hard. Winters bite. Springs get tired. Tracks get knocked a little out of line. Rollers wear down. And one minor issue can turn into a bigger mess if you keep forcing it.

So yeah, the goal is simple. Find a repair team that shows up, explains it straight, and fixes it without turning it into a whole sales show.

That is why people keep searching for Firstline Garage Door Repair in Arlington Heights, IL. Because when a garage door is down, you want real help, not drama.

And if you want the quick, direct link, here is the only one in this article, exactly as requested:

Firstline garage door repair in Arlington Heights, Illinois

The Signs Your Garage Door is About to Quit on You

Most garage doors do not just fail out of nowhere. They warn you first. The problem is, people ignore the warning signs because life is busy.

Watch for stuff like this:

  • The door feels heavy or drops faster than usual.
  • A loud bang from the garage, then the door barely lifts
  • Crooked door where one side looks higher
  • Grinding, squealing, rubbing that keeps getting worse
  • The opener runs, but the door barely moves.
  • The door reverses right before it hits the floor.
  • The cable looks loose or off the drum.

If any of that is happening, don’t keep testing it like a science experiment. That is how tracks bend, rollers crack, and openers get cooked.

Residential Repairs Need a Gentle Touch.

Home garage doors are about comfort and safety. People want a door that runs smoothly, quietly, and doesn’t scare the dog every time it opens.

Residential calls usually revolve around:

  • broken springs
  • worn rollers
  • cable issues
  • sensor problems
  • noisy operation
  • track alignment
  • opener repairs or replacement

A good residential repair feels simple. The tech shows up, checks the system, tells you what failed and why, then gets it running clean again. No mystery.

Commercial Repairs are All About Uptime.

Commercial garage doors are a different animal. A stuck door can mess up deliveries, schedules, employee access, and security. Nobody wants to wait around because a door is jammed.

Commercial work often includes:

  • heavier-duty hardware
  • high cycle parts
  • bigger doors and bigger forces
  • faster troubleshooting because time is money

In other words, commercial repair is less about nice and more about reliable and fast.

What People Actually Want From a Garage Door Company

Nobody is looking for a miracle. They want a solid team that doesn’t waste their time.

Here is what builds trust fast:

  • Clear communication without tech blah blah
  • Fair pricing that does not change mid-job
  • Clean work and no damage around the opening
  • Real options like repair versus replace, explained honestly.
  • Safety first, especially with springs and cables
  • Respect for your time, not a five-hour window

And yeah, you can feel it. Some companies feel like they are there to help. Others feel like they are there to pressure you. Big difference.

The Typical DIY Moves that Make it Worse

I get it, people want to try fixing stuff. Totally normal. But garage doors have a few parts that can hurt you, and a few mistakes that turn a minor repair into a bigger bill.

Try not to do this:

  • forcing the door open when it is heavy
  • messing with spring hardware
  • running the opener again and again when the door is stuck
  • tightening random bolts without knowing what they control
  • ignoring a crooked door and hoping it straightens itself out

If the door feels heavy, treat it like a spring issue until proven otherwise. A heavy door is not a vibe; it is a warning.

How to Choose Between Repair and Replacement Without Getting Tricked

This is where homeowners get stuck. Is it a quick repair, or do you really need a new door?

Here is the simple way to think about it:

  • Repair makes sense when the door is generally in good shape, and the issue is hardware or alignment.
  • Replacement makes sense when the door is beat up, unsafe, or constantly failing.

Why Leadership Needs Anchors: The Work and Worldview of Dr. Satpreet Singh, PhD

The Chicago Journal Staff on January 18, 2026

By: I. Wells

Dr. Satpreet Singh, PhD, is a U.S.-based scholar-practitioner, entrepreneur, and sustainability-focused leader whose work spans academia, business consulting, and community development. At a time when leadership is often equated with speed, visibility, and short-term outcomes, Dr. Singh advances a more grounded and enduring model: leadership as a system of responsibility, ethics, and long-term stewardship. His career reflects a consistent effort to anchor progress in values that outlast trends and technologies.

Trained as a leadership scholar and shaped by hands-on entrepreneurial experience, Dr. Singh occupies a rare position at the intersection of theory and practice. His academic work centers on sustainable leadership, organizational governance, and the role of senior decision-makers in shaping ethical and resilient systems. Rather than treating sustainability as an operational or compliance-driven concept, he positions it as a leadership function embedded in strategy, oversight, and culture. This perspective has become increasingly relevant as organizations confront global supply chain disruptions, environmental pressures, and rapid technological change.

A defining feature of Dr. Singh’s work is his systems-oriented view of leadership. He does not frame leadership as a set of personal traits or motivational techniques. Instead, he examines how leadership choices influence governance structures, decision-making processes, and long-term outcomes. His research explores how leaders enable or constrain responsible practices through the systems they design, the incentives they establish, and the ethical boundaries they enforce. This approach challenges organizations to move beyond symbolic commitments toward structural accountability.

Dr. Singh’s scholarship has gained international visibility through peer-reviewed research, conference presentations, and professional platforms focused on leadership, sustainability, and innovation. His work contributes to ongoing debates about how organizations can balance economic performance with environmental responsibility and social accountability. In particular, his research on sustainable supply chain management highlights the role of senior leadership in translating sustainability goals into operational reality, rather than delegating them to isolated departments or initiatives.

Parallel to his academic contributions, Dr. Singh is the Founder and CEO of Ardass Corporation, a consulting firm that advises businesses, entrepreneurs, and nonprofit organizations on formation, governance, compliance, and long-term growth. Under his leadership, Ardass Corporation has received repeated recognition, including consecutive Business Hall of Fame honors and international entrepreneurship awards. Yet the firm’s distinguishing feature is not its accolades, but its advisory philosophy. Dr. Singh emphasizes clarity, ethical alignment, and institutional durability over rapid expansion or short-term gains.

Clients and collaborators describe his consulting approach as deliberate and principle-driven. Rather than offering one-size-fits-all solutions, he works with organizations to examine their underlying structures, decision rights, and accountability mechanisms. This method reflects his belief that sustainable success is built not on aggressive scaling alone, but on governance systems that can withstand uncertainty and change. In this sense, his entrepreneurial work mirrors his academic research, reinforcing the connection between leadership theory and real-world application.

In recent years, Dr. Singh has emerged as a thoughtful voice on the leadership implications of artificial intelligence. While much public discourse frames AI primarily as a technological or efficiency tool, he argues that its true impact depends on governance and leadership intent. His work positions AI as a potential sustainability capability that can enhance transparency, decision quality, and long-term planning when guided by ethical oversight. Without such leadership, he cautions, AI risks amplifying bias, inequality, and organizational fragility.

This emphasis on responsible innovation aligns closely with Dr. Singh’s broader leadership philosophy. He consistently underscores that innovation without accountability can undermine trust, while ethics without structural support remain ineffective. For him, leadership is the discipline of aligning ambition with responsibility, and progress with purpose. This balance has become central to his public-facing work, particularly in discussions about technology adoption, data governance, and institutional trust.

Beyond corporate and academic domains, Dr. Singh’s leadership extends into cultural and community stewardship. He serves as President of Sikh Reference Library USA and leads Ranjit Nagara USA, an organization dedicated to restoring abandoned historical Gurdwaras and preserving Sikh heritage worldwide. These initiatives reflect a dimension of leadership often absent from mainstream profiles: the responsibility to safeguard history, identity, and collective memory. For Dr. Singh, leadership is not limited to building future systems; it also involves honoring and protecting the foundations upon which communities are built.

His community work illustrates the same principles evident in his professional life: long-term thinking, ethical responsibility, and service beyond self-interest. Restoration efforts require patience, collaboration, and respect for historical context—qualities that parallel effective leadership in organizational settings. Through these initiatives, Dr. Singh demonstrates that leadership values are transferable across domains, whether in boardrooms, academic institutions, or cultural spaces.

Recognition has followed Dr. Singh’s multifaceted contributions. He has received numerous national and international awards across leadership, entrepreneurship, and social impact platforms. However, his work resists being defined solely by titles or honors. What distinguishes his leadership journey is coherence. Across research, consulting, innovation, and community service, his approach remains anchored in the same core principles: ethics, accountability, and long-term value creation.

As global institutions face mounting uncertainty—from climate challenges and supply chain volatility to rapid advances in artificial intelligence—Dr. Satpreet Singh’s work offers a grounded perspective on what leadership requires in complex environments. He reminds organizations and leaders alike that progress is not merely about moving faster or scaling bigger. It is about building systems that endure, decisions that can be defended, and legacies that serve more than immediate interests.

In an age of disruption, Dr. Singh’s leadership stands out not for its noise but for its steadiness. His work suggests that the most effective leaders are not those who drift with every change, but those who remain anchored while guiding others forward.

Retirement Has Never Been This Deadly (or This Fun)

The Chicago Journal Staff on January 17, 2026

Whoever said retirement is about golf carts, early-bird dinners, and endless rounds of bingo clearly hasn’t met The Retirees. In her deliciously mischievous cozy mystery, bestselling author Leah Orr gleefully flips the script on aging, proving that the golden years are actually the perfect time to solve cold cases, drink boozy coffee before noon, and occasionally trip over a corpse beneath a disco ball. Equal parts witty, warm, and wickedly entertaining, The Retirees is a reminder that life doesn’t slow down just because society expects it to.

Set in the sun-soaked Florida retirement community of Ocean’s Edge, the novel opens with a scene that immediately signals readers are in for something special: a glittering disco ball, a dead body sprawled across the dance floor, and a cat who knows far more than he lets on. It’s a bold, cheeky introduction that establishes the book’s tone from page one. From there, Orr spins a mystery that feels like The Golden Girls wandered into Murder, She Wrote and decided to raise a little hell along the way. Think The Thursday Murder Club, but sunnier, sassier, and distinctly American, with a twist readers won’t see coming.

At the center of the chaos is Diana, a sharp-tongued former sugar executive who has been recently—and not entirely willingly, ushered into retirement. Diana is glamorous, unapologetic, and deeply uninterested in fading quietly into a life of sensible shoes and scheduled social hours. She has opinions, a sharp wardrobe, and no patience for being underestimated. Diana’s voice anchors the novel, offering both biting humor and surprising vulnerability as she navigates this unexpected chapter of her life.

Diana quickly finds her people in an unconventional group of retirees who are anything but ordinary. There’s Dennis, a retired detective haunted by the cases he never solved and unwilling to let justice rest simply because his badge is gone. Filomena and Estelle, identical twins with a flair for the mystical, dabble in tarot cards and conversations with the dead, sometimes for comfort, sometimes for clues. Bill, the community’s resident tech wizard, sports a glass eye and a moral compass that wobbles just enough to keep things interesting. And Carol, a nurse with an uncanny ability to understand animals, and people, often sees truths others miss.

Hovering quietly (or not so quietly) over everything is Mr. Anderson, the community cat and one of the book’s most delightful narrators. World-weary, observant, and deeply unimpressed by human foolishness, Mr. Anderson offers a perspective that is both hilarious and oddly profound. He may be the only one who truly knows where all the bodies are buried, sometimes literally, and his commentary adds an extra layer of charm and originality to the story.

What makes The Retirees such a standout in the cozy mystery genre is Orr’s pitch-perfect balance of humor and heart. Yes, there’s murder. Yes, there are secrets and red herrings and clever twists. But there’s also genuine warmth, friendship, and a radical message running beneath the mystery: life doesn’t shrink with age—it expands. These characters drink Irish coffee at breakfast, chase justice with enthusiasm, and refuse to be sidelined simply because society says they should slow down.

Orr’s writing is sharp without being cruel, funny without being frivolous. The dialogue sparkles, the pacing keeps the pages turning, and the setting feels vivid enough to smell the ocean air and hear the clink of ice in a cocktail glass. Most importantly, the characters feel alive, flawed, resilient, and endlessly engaging.

Beyond the page, The Retirees carries an impact that extends far beyond its fictional Florida setting. Leah Orr donates the profits from her books to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and has raised more than $1.4 million to support research and families affected by the disease. It’s a remarkable real-world legacy that beautifully mirrors the novel’s message: you’re never too old, and it’s never too late, to make a difference.

With its sharp dialogue, unforgettable characters, and unapologetically fun approach to crime, The Retirees proves that retirement doesn’t mean checking out. It means checking in, cocktail in hand, mystery on the agenda, and plenty of life left to live. Cozy mystery fans, take note: murder has never been this charming, or this much fun.

Learn more about Leah, her books, and her mission by visiting Leah Orr.

Bren.d.o: Building Music, Memory, and Meaning in Southern Illinois

The Chicago Journal Staff on January 16, 2026

By any conventional measure, Bren.d.o is an unlikely candidate for a contemporary R&B artist profile. Born in Carbondale and raised in the former coal-mining community of Carrier Mills, the Illinois native has chosen to build his creative career far from the traditional centers of the music industry. Yet that distance, geographic, cultural, and economic, has become central to both his sound and his story.

Operating independently under the artist name Bren.d.o, Brendan Jennings is steadily developing a catalog of alt-R&B and neo-soul releases while simultaneously engaging in historical research, community advocacy, and local civic life. The result is a multidisciplinary body of work shaped as much by place and memory as by melody.

Rooted in Southern Illinois

Bren.d.o’s connection to Southern Illinois-often referred to locally as Little Egypt- is foundational. Growing up in a region defined by post-industrial decline, racial history, and overlooked narratives, he developed an early awareness of how easily local stories can disappear. That awareness evolved into a sustained interest in regional history, genealogy, and preservation. Bren.d.o’s music also reflects an engagement with race and identity. As a biracial artist whose maternal lineage traces back to the defunct Earls of Sefton in the United Kingdom, his work often examines duality, intersectionality, and how history, class, and race intersect within modern conversations around equity and justice. This is seen prevalently in his social media activism. 

Long before releasing music, Bren.d.o was documenting lost neighborhoods and researching local Black history, particularly the historic Lakeview community south of Carrier Mills. Lakeview was a settlement established by formerly enslaved people and free Black families dating back to the early 19th century, with roots connected to the War of 1812 era. Bren.d.o’s own family history is tied to the area, which helped shape his long-term commitment to documenting its legacy.

These historical interests remain active today, running parallel to his music career rather than existing as a side pursuit. He continues to study the social and economic forces that shaped small-town Illinois, often drawing thematic connections between past and present in his creative work.

That commitment to place also carried him into civic life. In recent years, Bren.d.o ran for the county board in Saline County, reflecting his belief that artists should be engaged citizens rather than detached observers. While uncommon in the music industry, the campaign aligned with his broader focus on community accountability, representation, and local storytelling.

Music With Intentional Scope

Musically, Bren.d.o draws from classic soul and funk while blending nostalgic New Wave textures with pop sensibilities and modern R&B. His songwriting balances polish with emotional directness, emphasizing strong hooks and clarity rather than trend-driven production. That approach is evident across releases such as “Electric Love Affair” and “Boom Boom.”

The two tracks illustrate his range. “Electric Love Affair” was written collaboratively and recorded during a tightly focused studio session, while “Boom Boom” emerged through a more independent, digital-first process. Despite their different origins, both songs reflect a consistent creative philosophy: intimacy over spectacle, songwriting over algorithmic appeal.

“Electric Love Affair,” a duet with Kendra Chanae, received distribution support through UMG, Virgin Records and Alpha Recording Group. The track gained traction across streaming platforms, approaching one million combined streams and reaching #12 on the iTunes charts, an outcome that underscored the viability of a collaborative, independent-leaning release strategy.

Rather than pursuing rapid-fire release cycles, Bren.d.o has taken a measured approach, managing his own branding, distribution, and creative direction. His independence reflects a broader industry shift toward artist-controlled careers, particularly outside major metropolitan music scenes.

Historian and Artist

What distinguishes Bren.d.o is the way his historical work informs his music. Themes of survival, economic pressure, displacement, and love recur throughout his songwriting, echoing the realities of the region he documents. His work often explores the tension between staying and leaving, between ambition and responsibility.

That dual identity has positioned him as both a cultural contributor and a local historian, bridging art and archival work in a way rarely seen in contemporary music profiles. For Bren.d.o, storytelling is not confined to lyrics; it extends to preserving narratives that might otherwise be lost.

Looking Ahead

Currently, Bren.d.o continues to develop new music while expanding long-form writing and historical projects rooted in Southern Illinois. His upcoming album, The Corner, is slated for release in early 2026.

His focus remains on sustainable creativity, building a career that integrates music, research, and community engagement without abandoning his hometown ties. At a time when success is often measured by visibility alone, Bren.d.o’s trajectory offers a different model: one that suggests staying local does not limit artistic relevance, that some of the most compelling stories in contemporary music are still being written far from the spotlight, and the world will still take notice. 

Follow Bren.d.o:s journey on his website Brendoproductions.com, or his Instagram or threads at https://www.threads.com/@bren.d.o

https://www.instagram.com/bren.d.o

Healing Out Loud: How Kalise White Created Help Heal Nations to Restore Voices and Worth

The Chicago Journal Staff on January 13, 2026

By: Ciara Suesberry

Kalise White knows what it feels like to be invisible. She knows what it means to survive without support, to rebuild without a roadmap, and to carry trauma so heavy it becomes part of your identity. For more than a decade, she lived inside systems that stripped her of voice, safety, and belonging. When she came home, there were no instructions for how to start over, only the quiet question: Who am I now?

Today, Kalise is answering that question for thousands of people through the community she founded: Help Heal Nations. An author, motivational speaker, trauma recovery advocate, and entrepreneur, Kalise is not just telling her story; she’s transforming it into a movement of restoration, faith, and emotional freedom. And she’s doing it in a way that feels radically human.

A Voice Born from Truth, Not Theory

Kalise doesn’t speak from a textbook. She speaks from experience. Her journey includes childhood abandonment, abuse, generational trauma, street survival, domestic violence, incarceration, grief, and motherhood under impossible circumstances. When her younger brother died, she was still navigating her own healing, carrying pain that words could barely hold.

For years, silence was her protection. Until it became her prison. That breaking point became the beginning of her purpose. Through faith, discipline, and deep self-reflection, Kalise rebuilt her life from the ground up. She became a two-time published author, a successful business owner, and a powerful voice for emotional healing and second chances. But she knew her work wasn’t meant to be done alone. So she created Help Heal Nations.

What Is Help Heal Nations?

Help Heal Nations is not a therapy group. It is not a program. It is not a performance. It is a safe, judgment-free healing community for people navigating trauma, incarceration, abuse, grief, identity loss, and emotional pain.

It offers:

  • Guided recovery conversations
  • Faith-inspired emotional support
  • Healing-centered storytelling
  • Peer accountability & encouragement
  • Mental wellness education
  • Resource connection
  • Identity rebuilding

But more than anything, it offers a sense of belonging.

“I didn’t create this to fix people,” Kalise says. “I created it so people would stop feeling alone.”

Her approach is not clinical; it’s compassionate. She doesn’t analyze people. She sees them. And that’s what makes Help Heal Nations different.

Healing That Leads to Real-Life Change

Members of Help Heal Nations don’t just talk about healing, they live it.

People credit the community with:

  • Choosing sobriety
  • Leaving abusive environments
  • Reentering society with purpose
  • Rebuilding faith
  • Reclaiming identity
  • Breaking generational cycles
  • Speaking their truth for the first time
  • Restoring self-worth

Kalise leads from experience, not distance. She understands the emotional reality of incarceration, especially for women. The shame. The fear. The erasure. The isolation. The grief. The identity loss. She also understands what it takes to come back.

Transforming Trauma into Leadership

Kalise teaches that trauma does not disqualify you from leadership; it qualifies you for empathy.

Her work centers around powerful themes:

  • Healing after silence
  • Motherhood after trauma
  • Faith after loss
  • Identity after incarceration
  • Rebuilding with no safety net
  • Emotional truth-telling

Community-based recovery

She reminds people that healing isn’t about pretending the past didn’t happen, it’s about refusing to let it define your future.

The Power of Storytelling

Storytelling is the heartbeat of Help Heal Nations. It’s not about sensationalizing pain. It’s about reclaiming truth. Kalise believes that when people tell their stories without shame or fear, they begin to untangle the lies trauma taught them.

“I’m not here to sugarcoat,” she says. “I’m here to tell the truth.”

That philosophy also shaped her memoir, No Longer Silenced, a raw, unflinching reflection on survival, faith, loss, and redemption. But where the book helps individuals heal privately, Help Heal Nations helps people heal together.

Why Community-Based Healing Matters

Kalise knows that healing in isolation is fragile. Community makes it sustainable. In Help Heal Nations, people are not labeled by their worst moments. They are honored for their courage. They are encouraged to take accountability without shame. They are reminded that dignity is not something you earn; it is something you deserve. This work is not about perfection.

It is about restoration.

Her Mission Is Simple, and Radical

Kalise White’s mission is not complicated: Healing is possible. Purpose is still available. Your voice deserves to be heard. She is proof that even after silence, identity loss, and years of invisibility, there is still light.

Help Heal Nations is not just a community. It is a sanctuary for voices that were once erased. And Kalise White is not just telling stories. She is helping people rewrite them.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for general informational purposes only and is not intended as legal, financial, psychological, or medical advice. While we strive for accuracy, we make no representations or warranties, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability, or availability of this information. The views expressed reflect the author’s personal experiences and are not intended to replace professional guidance. Use of this information is at your own risk.

Life Revisited: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Purpose of Existence

The Chicago Journal Staff on January 12, 2026

By: Laurent Grenier, a welcome intellectual anchor in our turbulent times

Ottawa, ON, January 6, 2026

In an age of existential uncertainty, where rapid technological change, global crises, and information overload leave many searching for meaning, independent philosopher Laurent Grenier delivers a transformative response with his essay, Life Revisited: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Purpose of Existence. Now marking its one-year anniversary since publication, this multifaceted and inspired tour de force submits that life has a profound purpose, thereby furnishing a guiding roadmap to living it, while remaining non-dogmatic, respectful of other worldviews, religious or not. 

Drawing on over four decades of dedicated mindfulness, study, and reflection, Grenier integrates insights from many sources, including philosophy, thermodynamics, evolutionary biology, psychology, and ethics. Unlike conventional philosophical texts that often raise more questions than answers, Life Revisited constructs a clear and credible framework, based on tangible evidence and grounded speculative thinking, that sheds light on the mystery of the universal unfolding and of our inquisitive presence within it. Though relatively short and highly concentrated (146 pages), the book is equally accessible and deep, without preachy and simplistic shortcuts. It will appeal to receptive and educated readers grappling with life’s big questions amid a “bewildering welter of things.”  

Scholars like the professor of chemistry, Addy Pross, and the physics professor and researcher, Adam Frank, both authors of many popular science books, have endorsed it as an “enjoyable and compelling” expression of “human creativity in its highest form, weaving together basic science and philosophy.” Santiago S. Borboa, PhD in Philosophy, praises it as an “excellent work that successfully articulates a sensible, intelligible, coherent, and plausible multidisciplinary synthesis.” Patrick Imbert, PhD in Semiotics, adds, “A very well structured and argued book. It is very clear and nuanced, written in a style that is easy to read, even when dealing with complex matters.” On Goodreads, it boasts a 4.9/5 rating from nearly 100 readers, with one reviewer stating that the book “provides a robust, logical foundation for ethics and meaning that feels unshakable.”

Grenier was born in Paris, France, in 1957 to French Canadian parents and raised in Canada. After a physically disabling neck injury in 1974 that dashed his athletic ambitions, he spent his life pursuing a “vision of things and an art of living that make the world understandable and habitable.” His last essay marks the culmination of his journey, tapping into many fields of human knowledge to address the central query: “Why live?” Through a deeply reflective and resolutely factual approach, he sought answers that bridge human experience, existential insights, and scientific views.

Offered in both English and French (La vie revisitée: une perspective multidisciplinaire sur le but de l’existence), the essay invites readers to explore the experience of being not only as a burden to endure, but also as a purposeful adventure to embrace. As we enter 2026, with ongoing debates in AI ethics, climate resilience, and mental health underscoring our collective search for meaning, Life Revisited arrives as a timely intellectual beacon. Notably, it is more than an insightful and rigorous theoretical exercise; it is a wholesome mix of time-tested science and age-old wisdom to help others navigate life’s difficulties and complexities. Furthermore, it is a call to action for a more enlightened engagement with the world that aims to better it as much as possible. 

Life Revisited can be purchased in hardcover, paperback, and ebook formats at major retailers like Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Indigo/Chapters. Journalists, bloggers, and podcasters specializing in philosophy, science, spirituality, or personal development are encouraged to explore this work. 

For interview requests or additional information, contact Laurent Grenier directly.

Email: laurentgrenier1957@gmail.com
Website: https://laurentgrenierbooks.com

Al Wordlaw and The Al Ur Pal Project: The Chicago Soul Behind the 90s R&B Revival

The Chicago Journal Staff on January 10, 2026

Al Wordlaw, R&B Producer, Songwriter, Recording Artist, and the creator of The Al Ur Pal Project, is reviving a sound that many thought had faded into nostalgia. But for Wordlaw, it has always remained present. With roots grounded in Chicago’s soul and blues heritage, he’s bringing that authenticity back to the heart of modern R&B, and listeners are beginning to notice. His music celebrates emotional depth and storytelling, suggesting that true artistry continues to have a place in today’s soundscape.

Real R&B Is Seeing a Comeback

You can sense it from the first note of his latest single, “Still Want To Go On,” featuring the expressive vocals of Huly Ray Asidor. The track captures much of what made 90s R&B unforgettable: warm harmonies, genuine emotion, and smooth instrumentation. It continues the legacy of a time when songs told stories about love, resilience, and human connection. Through timeless grooves and heartfelt lyrics, the single reminds listeners why R&B once dominated the radio and why it could potentially do so again.

This vision guides The Al Ur Pal Project: a mission to revive the emotional honesty and musical depth that once defined the genre. For Wordlaw, R&B should feel personal and lived-in. It should move people, not just entertain them. “Still Want To Go On” reflects that belief, blending nostalgia with a sound that feels both classic and current.

Al Wordlaw and The Al Ur Pal Project: The Chicago Soul Behind the 90s R&B Revival

Photo Courtesy: Huly Ray Asidor

Chicago Roots With a Motown Touch

Born and raised in Chicago, Wordlaw carries with him the influence of a city built on soul and blues. Chicago has always been a place where music comes from the heart, and that tradition remains evident through his work. He channels that local spirit of integrity and storytelling into every lyric and production choice.

To enrich that sound, Wordlaw collaborated with Motown legend Michael B. Sutton. Together, they co-produced the single and are now completing a 10-track album. The partnership brings together Chicago’s authenticity and Motown’s polished craftsmanship, creating a sound that feels both timeless and relevant. Released on The Sound of L.A. label, the project balances rich live instrumentation with thoughtful production, staying true to R&B’s roots while appealing to modern audiences.

From the Studio to the Airwaves

The Al Ur Pal Project’s success has already been demonstrated. “Still Want To Go On” has received over 1,572 radio spins worldwide, with airplay across the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Stations such as KPIU Radio in California, 105.7 RNB in Atlanta, 100.3 R&B in Raleigh, and Easy R&B in London have all supported the track.

The single has earned impressive chart positions, reaching #18 on the DRT Global Top 150, #21 on the DRT R&B Chart, #1 on the MusicBoxExpress Independent Chart, and #1 on the VideoExpress Video Chart. The project has also been recognized in Pump It Up Magazine’s 90s R&B Revival Issue and JAMSPHERE Magazine.

Staying True to the Sound

Wordlaw has faced real challenges in an industry often ruled by trends and algorithms. Maintaining musical purity hasn’t always been easy, but his foundation in Chicago’s soulful values has helped him remain steady. He believes that when you make people feel something genuine, you’ve already succeeded. His guiding principle, “Don’t chase what’s popular, create what’s powerful,” captures that perfectly. It’s not about following the crowd but about creating music that has the potential to last.

Collaborating with Huly Ray Asidor reignited that passion. Asidor’s voice brings the same emotional resonance that made the ’90s era so memorable. Together, they have shown that R&B rooted in feeling still has power in a digital world.

Al Wordlaw and The Al Ur Pal Project: The Chicago Soul Behind the 90s R&B Revival

Photo Courtesy: Huly Ray Asidor

Looking Ahead

With a new 10-track album on the way, The Al Ur Pal Project continues to grow. The record is expected to expand on the single’s success by merging live instrumentation, emotional songwriting, and polished production.

For listeners longing for the era when soul ruled the airwaves, Al Wordlaw is demonstrating that those values haven’t disappeared; they simply needed a new voice. Through The Al Ur Pal Project, he’s keeping Chicago’s legacy alive and leading a new generation toward music that feels real again.

Rethinking Presentations: Patti Schutte’s Blueprint to Speaking What Can’t Be Scripted

The Chicago Journal Staff on January 6, 2026

By: Matt Emma

From the main stage of a Chicago conference, a senior executive advances through a slide deck on biotech innovation. Her voice is steady, her timing well-rehearsed. But by the fourth slide, half the room is checked out, looking at their phones, and stifling a yawn. The problem isn’t her credentials or her content. It’s the delivery. Though not technically flawed, it’s emotionally vacant, instantly forgettable, and void of human connection. For Patti Schutte, a presentation strategist and executive speaker coach with more than a decade of experience and nearly two thousand client engagements, this moment illustrates what’s often lacking in presentations today. “Frameworks and templates can play a role,” she says, “but they may not always evolve alongside the person using them.”

During Schutte’s tenure in corporate America, she managed marketing, sales, training, and communications presentations across complex organizations. That inside view, seeing how messaging lives or dies within the intricacies of a business, taught her a truth that now guides her coaching philosophy: the ideal communicators don’t just give messages. They grasp how those messages develop, shift, and take root.

The Formula Problem

The coaching industry has long been focused on scale. Group programs, digital courses, and plug-and-play templates claim to offer quick transformation: learn this structure, follow this rule, practice this posture. And while those tools can move the needle, they rarely deepen one’s ability to connect human to human.

“Templates teach mechanics, not human resonance,” Schutte explains. “Speakers may come out polished but often predictable. The audience might remember the style, but they may not fully engage with the substance.”

She recalls watching leaders invest in the same overgeneralized training year after year, only to sound like everyone else in the room. “We’ve normalized sameness,” she says. “And sameness rarely inspires anyone.”

Customization as Strategy

Schutte’s method, which she calls Resultations, moves away from this homogeneity. Her approach begins with what she describes as a “presentation DNA scan,” a diagnostic process that assesses a client’s natural cadence, confidence, tone, and narrative flow.

From there, she moves through four stages:

  1. Observe – Record and review the speaker’s natural style.

  2. Diagnose – Identify blind spots and growth opportunities.

  3. Design – Craft adaptive exercises and live feedback protocols.

  4. Refine – Reassess and recalibrate as the speaker evolves.

“Every client has a baseline,” Schutte says. “If someone’s at 60 percent of their potential, I don’t try to take them to 100 in one go. We aim for the next best 10 percent, then the next, and so on and so forth.”

It’s a process rooted in both empathy and precision. She might start by examining a client’s word choice, tone, or pacing. In one session, she’ll strip the audio from a recorded talk and ask them to observe their facial expressions in silence. In another, she’ll tally every inflection in their voice to help them recognize emotional gaps in their delivery. “It’s not about sounding like a speaker,” she says. “It’s about thinking like one.”

The Role of Self-Awareness

If Schutte’s framework sounds scientific, it has those elements. However, her philosophy is distinctly human. She believes that effective presentation is largely about self-awareness. “You can’t coach delivery without understanding the person behind it,” she says. “Sometimes the issue isn’t tone, it’s belief. Sometimes it’s not gestures, it’s fear.”

That’s why she avoids running mass coaching programs. “The one-to-many model assumes everyone’s starting from the same place,” she explains. “But if you don’t understand someone’s cognitive wiring, how their organization operates, or where they sit in that system, you can’t support them in presenting with clarity or confidence.”

In her practice, no two engagements look the same. A marketing executive might need to translate technical jargon into accessible stories for investors. A C-suite leader might need to rebuild credibility after a crisis. A corporate trainer might need to turn compliance briefings into something people will likely remember.

The measure of success isn’t applause, but outcomes. Schutte’s clients track tangible performance indicators: higher engagement scores, increased conversions, and enhanced leadership influence. “When we define success clearly,” she says, “we can replicate it. Otherwise, it’s just noise.”

The Human Element in an Algorithmic World

Schutte’s work raises a larger question: in an age of templated systems, can communication still be truly human? Automation, AI, and standardized learning have made personalization the ultimate luxury. Yet, as Schutte sees it, these tools have also created a perception that presence, charisma, and connection can be codified.

“The real power in communication,” she says, “stems from being unmistakably you.”

That conviction has earned her a devoted following among executives and teams who return to her again and again. One client, a CMO who has brought her into three different companies, once said, “There are speech coaches, and then there’s Patti.”

It’s a distinction Schutte wears lightly but intentionally. Her goal isn’t to create dependence; it’s to cultivate independence. “I want clients to walk away knowing how to evaluate themselves,” she says. “To know what to look for, how to measure it, and be equipped with strategies to keep growing.”

Beyond the Template

What makes Schutte’s method compelling is that it bridges science and soul. She measures growth through key performance indicators but also trains the intuition that can read a room, sense resistance, and adjust in real time. She treats communication as both an analytical and emotional art.

“Every presentation is an ecosystem,” she says. “It’s marketing, it’s psychology, it’s leadership. When you understand how all those pieces fit together, you can do more than inform — you can transform.”

In a professional landscape that rewards efficiency over authenticity, her message feels almost radical. Schutte’s work reminds us that mastery isn’t about memorizing techniques or mimicking styles, but about becoming more fully aware, more intentional, and more alive in the moment.

“In transforming how professionals present,” she says, “we’re not just changing how they speak. We’re changing the act of speaking itself. From a language of performance to the language of connection.”

In a templatized world, her brilliance lies in developing within you what can’t be scripted. And that’s what makes Patti Schutte difficult to replicate.