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Thornton Township Celebrating Black History Month

Present History – Activists and Heroes Friday, February 22, 2019

Thornton Township President Frank M. Zuccarelli; Thornton Township Board of Trustees: Joyce M. Washington, Norbert Cipowski, Stafford Owens, Gerald “Jerry” Jones; and Thornton Township Senior/ Youth and Family Services Department will celebrate Black History Month.

This year’s guest speaker for Black History Month is Melody Winston. “She is intelligent, innovative, entrepreneurial, game-changing influencer. She has the motivation and energy to inspire generations- young and old,” said Dr. J.L. Weems, Chairperson for Thornton Township’s Black History Month Celebration and Director of Youth & Family Services.

DATE: Friday, February 22, 2019

TIME: 10:00AM – 1:00PM

LOCATION: Thornton Township Senior/Youth and Family Services Center 14323 South Halsted, Riverdale, IL

FREE ADMISSION * FREE REFRESHMENTS * FREE ENTERTAINMENT

FOR MORE INFORMATION, call 708/596-6040.

GUEST SPEAKER MELODY WINSTON

Melody Winston headshot
Melody Winston

Melody Winston is a woman of distinction and passion with a heart to empower others. Melody has always had an affinity to flying and a strong interest in the aviation industry. She was born on the Seymour Johnson Air Force base in North Carolina where her father was a Top Gun fighter pilot. She is the eldest daughter of Ms. Carolyn Williams and Dr. William S. Winston, founder and senior pastor of Living Word Christian Center, located in Forest Park, Illinois, with more than 20,000 members.

Today, Melody assists her father in operating the businesses that he has started. She currently serves as Vice President of Golden Eagle Aviation, a fixed base operation (FBO) that specializes in jet charters, jet maintenance and fuel services. In 2012, her and a colleague, co-founded Legacy Flight Academy, an annual aviation summer camp for teens interested in aviation, as a way to give back. The Legacy Flight Academy is located in Tuskegee, Alabama, at Moton Field, where, in addition to her role as VP of Golden Eagle Aviation, she also oversees operations of the airfield.

Melody holds a private pilots certificate from American Flyers, DuPage airport. Among all she does, she is also a supporter and financial donor of the Chicago “DoDo” Chapter of the Tuskegee Airman International organization.

Aside from her personal involvement and professional responsibilities in the aviation industry, Melody is a seasoned commercial real estate investor. Her latest accomplishment with the Forest Park Plaza is a deal that she played a vital role in brokering to secure a new alternative independent grocery concept, named Living Fresh Market. She began her career serving as a realtor for one of Chicago’s most prestigious realty companies. Her proven success in that arena led to more than two decades of managing commercial properties, as well as owning and operating Golden Eagle Construction Company as a licensed general contractor.

She currently serves as the Executive Director of Corporate Property Assets for Living Word Christian Center where she manages the organization’s multimillion dollar portfolio of assets. Coupled with the role of Executive Director, she is also the Director of Real Estate and Construction for Living Word Christian Center, the Forest Park Plaza located in Forest Park, Illinois, (33-acres) as well as the Washington Plaza located in Tuskegee, Alabama (17-acres).

Melody oversees operations, construction, and economic development for these entities which garnered the interest and placement of national tenants such as: Walmart, Pizza Hut, Planet Fitness, Ashley Stewart, Taco Bell, Living Fresh International Market, Hibbett Sports, Farmers Home Furniture and Home Owners Bargain Outlet.

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