"Gazette Chicago" is one of the few independently owned publications in Chicago and is a vehicle that brings the diverse neighborhoods it covers together, despite their close proximity. These are communities of African-Americans, Hispanic-Americans, Chinese-Americans, Irish-Americans, Italian-Americans, Croatian-Americans, Polish-Americans, Lithuanian-Americans, and well-to-do professionals and gentrifiers who would have few bridges to each other without the "Gazette", which covers all their news. In recognition of this, Valentino in 1997 received the Bernadine C. Washington Award conferred by the Chicago Commission on Human Relations for "Gazette Chicago's" work in improving human relations in Chicago and building bridges among communities. The Chicago City Council that year also passed a resolution honoring "Gazette Chicago" for building bridges among communities.