Citi groups its resources in Auburn Gresham
Ernest Sanders
Published: November 18, 2006
Pictured from left to right: Darryl Hendricks (Illinois President, Citibank), Mary Grupp (Vice President & South Area Manager, Citibank), Ernest Sanders (NCP Organizer & Community Outreach Coordinator, GADC), Cheryl Johnson (NCP Director, GADC), Carlos Nelson (Executive Director, GADC), Keecha McCalebb (Financial Center Manager, Citibank)
Photo: Ernest Sanders
It was a cold, windy and rainy fall evening along the western corridor of 79th Street with no warmth in site for pedestrians. As you looked up at the sky, one could only dream of the bluest of skies and the warmest of weather.
But wait – an inkling of hope appeared as a streak of blue penetrated the inclement weather. There it was illuminated with the brightest of blue in the color spectrum. The streak of blue, better known as Citibank Blue was the illumination of Citibank’s 79th & Damen sign.
As part of its commitment to provide superior products and services to community residents, Citibank opened a new full-service Financial Center in the Auburn Gresham community and celebrated with a Grand Opening event.
Citibank Financial Manager, Keecha Glass delivers a message of revitilization to Auburn Gresham residents, leaders, and guests.
Photo: Ernest Sanders
As community residents and leaders, Citibank officials and representatives entered the front doors; a host and hostess welcomed everyone with a warm smile, which became for me the peace in the midst of the storm. In addition to their greeting, men were given a cigar and women a feathered headpiece. Each item was symbolic of the Harlem Renaissance period and served as the theme for the Grand Opening – “celebrating the rebirth of African American literature, fine arts, and economic and social change,” said Citibank Financial Center Manager, Keecha Glass.
The warm reception did not end here. Once you entered the main area, the cheerful and soulful sounds of Mhoon Unit Productions (a live jazz band) entertained the audience with several selections.
Of course what would any celebration be without food? Orly’s Catering & Restaurant – located in Hyde Park – provided an exceptional menu of items to include Tahitian coconut pieces with a mango sauce, beef shish kabob, fajitas, guacamole dip with nacho and bread chips, corn bread muffins stuffed with hickory smoked barbeque pieces, desserts, and beverages to include wine and beer.
As the evening progress, there was an aura of appreciation and thanksgiving evident amongst all in attendance. To commemorate the opening, Glass acknowledged elected officials and community leaders to include: Alderman Latasha Thomas (D-17), State Senator Jacqueline Y. Collins (D-16), Terry Peterson of Chicago Housing Authority, Fr. Michael Pfleger of St. Sabina Church, Carlos Nelson – Executive Director of Greater Auburn-Gresham Development Corporation, Jonathan Swain – Executive Director of the Beloved Community, Deborah Moore – Director of Neighborhood Housing Services for Auburn Gresham and Englewood, and Lisa Ramsey – Executive Director of St. Sabina Employment Resource Center.
Glass also acknowledged several of her colleagues to include: Citibank’s Illinois President, Darryl Hendricks, Mary Grupp – Citibank Vice President and Area Manager for Illinois South, the Auburn Gresham Citibank Financial Center team, other Citibank officials and representatives, and her family.
Citibank presents a basket of goodies to their first customer William J. Alexander II.
Photo: Ernest Sanders
Citibank presented the Greater Auburn-Gresham Development Corporation (GADC) and the Beloved Community each with a check for $3000.00 dollars to continue advocating for economic stability and business development in the Auburn Gresham community.
Citibank’s Hendricks told the audience, “We are excited to expand our presence in Chicago, offering best-in-class financial services to Auburn Gresham consumers and businesses.”
Later in his speech, Hendricks offered heartfelt apologies for not coming to the Auburn Gresham area sooner and expressed his sincere interest in helping to revitalize this community. His pledge was especially sincere because Hendricks was a Harlem native himself and knows first hand about the rebirth of African American communities.
I like to say that this was the end of the warm reception, but it was not. Citibank and local leaders participated in an official ribbon cutting ceremony and afterwards presented a gift basket to their first customer William J. Alexander II. They also gave away 3 additional gift baskets along with 2 gift certificates from Orly’s Catering & Restaurant. There was even an opportunity for networking and dancing. Talk about peace in the midst of the storm.
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The Auburn Gresham Citibank Financial Center has three ATM’s and is open:
Monday through Thursday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Friday from 9:00 am to 6:00pm
Saturday from 9:00 to 1:00 pm
Auburn Gresham Citibank Financial Center Team
Photo: Ernest Sanders
Representatives will be able to assist customers in English, Spanish and Polish. Consumers are offered around-the-clock banking using onsite ATMs, online banking, and telephone banking services.
Posted in Business, Housing, Economic Development