Jacksons divorce with a hug, & Theaster Gates’ next big thing

When Jesse Jackson Jr. and Sandi Jackson entered a D.C. courthouse Friday, it was to sit through yet another court hearing in their two-year, acrimonious divorce case. But this time, the hearing evolved into a discussion. Seven hours later, they emerged from the courthouse with a divorce agreement in hand.

The Jacksons even embraced after signing the final divorce papers.

“We compromised and made a deal,” said Brendan Hammer, the Berger Schatz attorney who represented Jesse Jr. Along with the Jacksons, others in the room included Sandi’s D.C. attorney Chandra Walker Holloway and local counsel Julius Terrell of JPT Law PLLC.

“They have a family,” Hammer said of the high-profile political couple–Jesse Jr. was a congressman and Sandi a Chicago alderman. “Divorce doesn’t end that. It never does. They had three decades together. The process is brutal. But in the end, we all felt relief. And we hugged each other and then left.”

Hammer knows first-hand about holding on to a family after divorce.

He and his ex wife (also a divorce attorney) share parenting of their 7-year-old son. They’ve even vacationed together since divorcing.

“We didn’t want to do the things we see our clients do,” said Hammer, who with his ex writes about divorce issues on their Exes and Allies blog. “We see what happens to the kids. So our maxim is ‘Do no harm.'”

It’s an approach lots of celebrities have picked up on, including actress-singer Hilary Duff who has vacationed with her ex, former NHL player Mike Comrie, and their child.

So is there a possibility for a Jackson family vacation, too?

“With some time, patience and an open mind, anything can happen,” Hammer said.

PLUS NEWS ON MOSER, JARRETT, THOMPSON & KOMEN’S SURPRISE NEW BOSS

Moser and Emanuel

STILL GOT RAMBLER FEVER: If you’re missing the ruminations of Loyola men’s basketball coach Porter Moser, then check out his discussion with Mayor Rahm Emanuel on the mayor’s “Chicago Stories” podcast.

“For every time you fall, you’re going to rise one more,” Moser said. “You’re going to have obstacles in your life, you’re going to have failures, but they’re opportunities to show character. They’re opportunities to reinvent yourself.”

And this: “When I got the job, people said Chicago Public League kids can’t do the work at Loyola — that’s hogwash.”

Regarding that time he was fired from Illinois State University after three poor seasons, he said it was the best thing that ever could have happened to his career.

“My faith, my family, everything was about a competitive reinvention,” Moser said, “and I just threw myself into my next journey.”

You can read a truncated version of the interview here in Medium.

Theaster Gates

REVEALING EBONY ARCHIVES: Chicago artist Theaster Gates and his Rebuild Foundation will showcase “A Johnson Publishing Story,” an exhibit featuring materials from the archives of the publisher of Ebony and Jet magazines. The archive was donated to Gates’ foundation and includes 15,000 items–books, periodicals, ephemera, paintings, sculptures. I’m excited for the 1970s retro items that are sure to pop up.

In a release announcing the exhibit, Gates said his nonprofit has a “deep belief in the objects and histories of African American material culture and our stories.”

The exhibit will be held at the Stony Island Arts Bank June 28 through Sept. 30 and is part of “Art Design Chicago,” a year-long celebration of Chicago’s art and design history.

Johnson Publishing, founded in 1945, documented the African-American experience through Ebony and Jet. It shaped culture and politics and was an important voice in telling the story of the Civil Rights movement.

Linda Johnson Rice, whose father founded the company, oversees the publications that are now owned by Clear View Group, an Austin, Texas-based private equity firm.

Valerie Jarrett

JARRETT TAKEN BY SURPRISE: Having worked in the White House for eight years, it’s hard to imagine Valerie Jarrett being caught off guard.

But there she was, taken by surprise at the fundraiser last week for Leadership Greater Chicago.

The organization each year trains up-and-coming leaders from the corporate, nonprofit, government and education sectors. Jarrett was a Leadership Greater Chicago “fellow,” as they are called, back in 1986. This year, she was being honored.

Cheering her on onstage were Ariel Investments CEO John Rogers Jr. and Northern Trust exec Connie Lindsey (they were both fellows, too). And then there was a surprise congratulations via video from former first lady Michelle Obama (another fellow).

“She became like a big sister, a mentor who helped shape my career and life,” Obama said. “As you all know, Valerie was one of the first LGC Fellows and hearing of her experience, inspired me to become an LGC Fellow myself.”

Also attending the event was Jarrett’s beaming mom, early childhood education expert Barbara Bowman.

Peter Thompson

IT’S ABOUT CONNECTIONS: Peter Thompson has been named a senior adviser at Lazard, a high-profile financial advisory and asset management firm. Thompson will be part of the firm’s Midwest Financial Advisory team.

“Peter’s experience and connectivity to the local business community will enhance our senior relationship strength in the region,” said George Bilicic, a vice chairman for Lazard’s investment banking division.

Connectivity indeed.

Thompson is the son of Patricia Daley Martino. Her brothers are former Mayor Richard M. Daley and former presidential Chief of Staff William Daley.

Thompson has a resume that stands on its own. He most recently was chief commercial officer for InnerWorkings, a publicly traded marketing firm based in Chicago. He previously was board chairman and CEO of Perkins Investment Management from 2009 to 2015, overseeing assets under management from $8.9 billion to $22 billion.

In 2007, he served as finance director for his uncle’s successful and final reelection campaign for mayor.

Mika Stambaugh

STEPPING IN AT KOMEN: Mika Stambaugh has been named interim executive director of Komen Chicago.

She replaces Bonnie Gordon, who stepped down to take a private-sector job.

Stambaugh has been on the board for more than a year and feels a deep personal connection to the organization. “I lost my grandmother, a close friend last summer and my aunt is battling now,” she told me.

The move comes on the heels of Stambaugh launching her public-relations business, TMI (The MAS Ink), which she’ll keep operating.

Komen is interviewing for a permanent executive director. The organization is also preparing for its annual fundraiser–the Mother’s Day Race for the Cure. Honorary co-chair for that event is actress and Chicago native Bonnie Hunt.

Steve Traxler

STEALING THE SHOW: Goodman Theatre Director Robert Falls’ production of “An enemy of thPeople” is closing. The show each night has included 40-plus extras who appeared in a town-hall scene.

Last week, Broadway producer Steve Traxler surprised his office crew at Jam Theatricals with an offer to appear as the extras in the scene. They stopped work on all the Broadway shows they help produce to take part in the Goodman production.

Traxler was there, too.

“It was a treat for our staff to have the experience of being on stage for once,” he told me through a spokeswoman. “Playing a part in this powerful production in front of an audience—and being within inches of some incredible actors—was a first for many of our staff who do this every day.”

As much fun as they all had, Traxler assured “No one is planning to leave their day jobs.”

Anne Pramaggiore

POWER OF THEATER: ComEd President and CEO Anne Pramaggiore was a theater major, so she’s especially excited about a new program started at her company.

ComEd is partnering with the League of Chicago Theaters to help fund local arts institutions trying to reach underserved and vulnerable audiences. Known as Powering the Arts, the program will award grants of up to $10,000 to organizations located within ComEd’s northern Illinois service territory.

Pramaggiore studied communications and theater at Miami University before earning a law degree from DePaul and joining ComEd as an attorney.