ENERI May 2015 Asian Pacific American Heritage Month Commemorative Bookmark Honoree: Chicago On-Site Artist Grace Lai

Grace Lai was a colorful Chicago artist who specialized in the historical “on-site” documentation of Chicago’s ever-evolving architecture. Her spectacular paintings captured the dramatic demolition and ongoing transformation of Chicago’s impressive skyline. Her paintings of pen and ink with watercolor wash are a part of BP Amoco’s permanent collection, the Northwestern Hospital art collection, and many private collections. She was also the official artist of the Chicagoland Construction Safety Council in Hillside, Illinois, which housed over 100 originals of her large-scale works.

Grace Lai painted views of Chicago specializing in construction projects, in pen and ink and watercolor wash. She began her art career in her late fifties, after her husband Harry Lai, an artist, passed away. While he was alive she worked closely with him in his graphic arts and hand sign-painting business, Acme Studio. After his death in 1985, she attended the same art school that he and their son Edward attended, Chicago’s American Academy of Art. Grace Lai made history as the oldest student ever to graduate from the Academy.

Grace’s interest in construction projects began with her drawing a construction site near her art school. She was trying to fill the time before classes started in the mornings. Little did she know this interest would become a hallmark of her paintings.

In June 2007, in recognition of outstanding achievements and contributions to the City of Chicago, Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley and the Chicago Department of Aging presented Grace Lai with the 2007 Luminary Senior Citizens Award, which is the highest award of the Chicago Senior Citizens Hall of Fame. (Lai was one of seven 2007 Luminary Senior honorees. She previously was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2003.)

Grace Lai’s renderings of Chicago’s Trump Tower (in 2009) would end up being the last two paintings she created before she passed away in 2010 at the age of 82.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: ENERI Communications info(at)enericom.net Works of Grace Lai via: www.GraceLai.org

ComEd’s 3rd Multicultural & Diversity Media Roundtable held last April 14 at Lacuna Museum & Art Center, with executives answering questions from the media attendees, from left, Isaac Akridge, vice president of Regulatory Projects; Kevin Brookins, senior vice president of Strategy
and Administration; Anne Pramaggiore, president and CEO; Fidel Marquez, senior vice president of Governmental and Regulatory Affairs.
Chicago media heard first-hand from ComEd’s president and CEO and leadership team on pertinent topics, including “Utility of the Future” and Innovation at ComEd. Ms. Pramaggiore stated that she’s excited to introduce ComEd’s inaugural Diversity & Inclusion report, “AWhole
New Light, where we illustrate how our legacy of championing diversity has powered ComEd’s commitment to our customers and employees, as well as our dedication to the committees we serve, the economy we support, and our continuing forward momentum in a rapidly changing
industry.

 

EXELON MULTICULTURALMEDIA ROUNDTABLE held March 16th at Chase Tower included speakers William A. Von Hoene, Jr., Sr. Exec. VP, Chief Strategy Officer and Janesse Murray, VP., Diversity & Inclusion.

 

Exelon is the third largest company headquartered in Chicago and one of the 12 largest in Illinois. It is the nation’s leading competitive energy provider and does business in 48 states, the District of Columbia and Canada.

Exelon operates in a world rich in diversity, gender, sexual orientation, experience and thought, with the following visions…Integrating diversity as a business imperative, core value and more obligation; Attracting, retaining, and and advancing employees who will best serve and represent customers, partners, and communities; and Providing a workplace that ensures respect for one another and the opportunity to grow and contribute at greatest potential.

Topic of discussion centered on Nuclear Energy: Safe, Clean and Keeping the Lights On. Nuclear energy has been in the news lately, but it may not be what you think. Nuclear energy is a safe, clean source of the electricity that you use every day to light your home, keep your refrigerator humming and your cell phone charged. In fact, many people don’t know that there are six nuclear power plants in Illinois, and they produce nearly half of our state’s electricity. Remember last year’s “polar vortex” – that freezing cold spell that brought the temperatures below zero? During that extreme cold, many coal and natural gas power plants couldn’t run – their fuel was frozen or they couldn’t get fuel because it was needed for home heating. The nation’s nuclear power plants saved the day – keeping the lights on and furnaces blowing so that we could all stay warm inside.

The polar vortex is just one example of why nuclear energy is important. Consider these three reasons:

1. Nuclear energy is clean energy. Unlike fossil fuels such as oil or coal, it produces electricity without releasing carbon emissions that contribute to climate change. In fact, the nuclear power plants in Illinois produce 90 percent of our state’s clean electricity.

2. Nuclear energy is safe and reliable. Nuclear power plants are held to the highest standards of safety by strict federal regulations. They are run by highly skilled and trained workers, and have layer upon layer of back-up safety systems. Plus, nuclear power plants operate 24/7 in all weather conditions, and more reliably than any other type of power plants.

3. Nuclear energy drives the Illinois economy. These power plants are responsible for nearly $9 billion of economic activity every year, and more than 28,000 jobs in the state.

But there’s a problem. Even though they are very well run, three of Illinois’ six nuclear power plants are losing money and are at risk of shutting down. There are several reasons the plants are having financial difficulties, but an important one is that they are not compensated for the fact that the energy they produce is clean. If those plants close, it would be bad for our state’s economy, our air quality and the thousands of people who work there, not to mention the many businesses small and large that provide the plants with products and services. We need to do all we can to keep those plants open.

Exelon, the company that owns the nuclear power plants, is working with the Illinois General Assembly on a solution. It’s called the Low Carbon Portfolio Standard, and it will keep the nuclear plants operating, cut carbon emissions and grow renewable energy like wind and solar. The legislation would cost about $2 per month on the average Illinois household’s electric bill. It will cost families and businesses a lot more if the nuclear power plants shut down. Plus, the legislation would make our state a national leader, with the highest requirement of low-carbon energy in the country.

To learn more, or voice your support, visit nuclearpowersillinois. com.