Thursday, May 28
Cook County joins with the State of Illinois, City of Chicago and Forefront for Census Awareness Month this June
Groups join forces to encourage all residents to self-respond for Census Day of Action on June 1
The Cook County Complete Count Commission is joining with the State of Illinois and the City of Chicago to call attention to the 2020 Census and encourage all residents to be counted. June has been officially designed as Census Awareness Month for the state, and each entity is working on new initiatives to increase engagement around the census and activate all residents to self-respond.
Wednesday, May 27
Elite High School Coach Has Made Basketball a Family Business
Playing basketball is all Nick Irvin, a former high school star, has done since he was a little boy growing up in Roseland on the Far South Side
DJ BRINGS MUSIC TO THE MASSES THROUGH MOBILE STUDIO
What do you do when you’re a DJ and your main revenue stream of playing for events is down due to cancellations because of COVID-19? You pivot
Airing Your Dirty Laundry
Much of when a parent and child are in confl ict, goes unresolved in Black families. It oft en takes generations or extreme circumstances to initiate the healing process, especially in a mother-daughter relationship.
GRANT TO HELP SMALL BUSINESSES IN SOUTH SHORE
The South Shore Chamber of Commerce wanted to provide grants to small business owners located within Special Service Area #42 during COVID-19, so they created the Transparent Interim Direct Economic Solutions, or TIDES grant.
TESTING FACILITY OPENS AT FORMER WALGREENS SITE
A drive-through, appointment only COVID-19 testing site, has opened at the former site of the Walgreens at 347 E. 95th St.
A Guide to Wearing Face Masks During COVID-19
Face masks used to be reserved for healthcare professionals, construction workers and a select few who were cautious of germs and bacteria.
Study Finds Rising Rate of Mental Health Visits Among Youth to Emergency Departments
While the number of pediatric emergency department (ED) visits across the nation has remained stable over the last 10 years, visits for mental health disorders have risen 60% and the rate of visits for deliberate self-harm have increased 329%.
$25 Million Fast-Track Grants Accelerate Planned Infrastructure Projects in the Wake of Covid-19
Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) recently announced Fast-Track Public Infrastructure Grants, an initiative to accelerate work on planned public infrastructure projects around the state.
Northern Trust Provides $100 Million in Small Business Support
Northern Trust Corporation (Nasdaq: NTRS) recently announced that it is providing $100 million in low-cost funding to assist Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) as they provide loans to small businesses and non-profit organizations under the federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).
Beard care market expected to grow
The beard care market is expected to grow at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of over 6% during the period between 2019–2025, according to ReportLinker, which finds and organizes the latest industry data.
Contemporary Art Inspires Students In Chair Design Competition
The principles of contemporary art was the theme that inspired students at Ryerson School of Interior Design to design and build chairs for the 16th Annual Wilsonart Challenges Student Chair Design Competition.
Congresswoman Kelly Announces $2.6 Million in Federal Grants for Expanded COVID-19 Testing Sites
Congresswoman Robin Kelly recently announced that federal grants totaling nearly $2.6 million have been awarded to five community health centers to expand vital coronavirus testing within the 2nd Congressional District.
HEROES Act voted on in the House, awaits Senate
On May 15, the United States House of Representatives voted in favor of a bill, introduced by House Democrats that would provide one trillion dollars in funding to state and local governments.
VISUAL ARTIST EXPLORES RACE AND CLASS ISSUES IN VIRTUAL ART EXHIBIT
The photos in the art exhibit are thought provoking, a person dressed in a teddy bear head sitting on a porch at boarded up homes, with a cartoon teddy bear next to him. The art is the work of digital artist Maxwell Emcays and is part of his “Let Them Stay Home” virtual art exhibit.
Wednesday, May 20
SOUTHLAND COLLEGE PREP HIGH SCHOOL IS MORE THAN AN ACADEMIC POWERHOUSE
Administrators at a Richton Park high school whose students are predominately black said the charter school does more than send students to college, but also cranks out future leaders as well.
TEACHERS NAVIGATE THE END OF THE YEAR REMOTELY DUE TO COVID-19
Alfreda Blalock has been an educator for more than 33 years. At the end of the school year, she is set to retire from Burnside Elementary Scholastic Academy in Chatham. Michelle Silva is a first-year teacher at Marcus Garvey Elementary School in Washington Heights.
Mayor Announces New Partnership With Chicago Hotels To House Nursing Home Workers
Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot recently announced new partnerships with Hotel Julian, The Godfrey Hotel and London House to provide Chicago’s nursing home workers with a safe space to isolate themselves if they get sick or if they need temporary respite as they continue to work on the frontlines of the Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
Governor’s Executive Order Will Help Educator Candidates And Schools
To address the educator shortage that Illinois faces, and a pandemic that has changed the educational experience for all students, Gov. JB Pritzker recently signed Executive Order 2020-31 to help teacher, paraprofessional, and other educator candidates gain licensure and join the workforce.
IRS: Three new credits are available to many businesses hit by COVID-19
The Internal Revenue Service is reminding employers affected by COVID-19 about three important new credits available to them.
South Side developer thriving despite COVID-19, thanks to pipeline offered by Cook County Land Bank Authority
The mortgage crisis of 2008 put real estate developer Keith Lindsey, founder and CEO of Solar Energy Construction, out of business for four years. But this time around, Lindsey’s business is thriving, in spite of the COVID-19 crisis.
Natural Is The New Normal
Lafe’s® Natural BodyCare is offering their Active, Fresh and Soothe Deodorant Sticks made from natural and organic ingredients in 4,200 Walmart stores throughout the United States and grocery.walmart.com.
Mother and daughter working on the frontlines recover from COVID-19
KeAnna Parker is celebrating her first year as a registered nurse. She works as the restorative director at South Pointe Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Her mother, Leslie Parker, who has been working there for seven years, is the nursing supervisor.
How a Clinical Trial Participant Became an Advocate for the Sickle Cell Community
Shauna Whisenton was once an individual living with sickle cell disease (SCD). Now she’s an advocate for better therapies, a cure, and better understanding of SCD.
How Will History Judge Us?
There are moments in life when we are called to summon all of our strength and fortitude; to find our resolve as we stand at the base of a mountain that we are not sure we can climb.
African Americans Are More Likely To Develop Tardive Dyskinesia
Mental illness was once a subject not often discussed among African Americans, but in recent years, conversations are more open, and people are more comfortable explaining what is happening with them and how their medication makes them feel.
Clinical Research Participation: On the frontlines of diversity and inclusion
The importance of clinical research is widely recognized and while many decide to participate in clinical trials, there is a lack of representation of individuals from underserved communities. In 2019 alone, 46,391 individuals participated in clinical trials that resulted in the approval of 48 new drugs, yet a limited number of study volunteers identified as black/African American, Asian, and/or Hispanic.
VIRTUAL AWARDS CEREMONY CELEBRATES COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
LISC Chicago has celebrated community development projects and architectural achievements across the city for 26 years.
CHICAGO TORTURE JUSTICE CENTER RECOGNIZES FIVE YEARS
The Chicago Torture Justice Center was born out of the city of Chicago’s 2015 “Reparations for Burge Torture Victims” Ordinance, which sought to compensate those with a credible claim of torture or physical abuse by John Burge or officers under his command at Area 2 or Area 3 Police Headquarters between May 1, 1972 and Nov. 30, 1991.
LEGISLATION INTRODUCED TO PROVIDE TECH ACCESS FOR LOW-INCOME STUDENTS
With COVID-19 causing school districts across the country to move toward remote learning for the rest of the school year, students without computers or internet access would miss out on critical learning opportunities.
No need to come to the office. Apply online for $79 million in refunds and $44 million in missing Cook County property tax exemptions
Salesforce and Pappas Team Up
Taxpayers seeking property tax refunds will have new tools on cookcountytreasurer.com enabling them to file electronically instead of downloading a form and mailing it in, Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas said today.
CAMELOT ILLINOIS AWARDS GRANT FUNDING TO LADIES OF VIRTUE AND STEP UP
Camelot Illinois is proud to announce that non-profit organizations Ladies of Virtue (LOV) and Step Up received $30,000 in total funding from the Camelot Illinois Grant Program.
STATE BOARD APPROVED IN PERSON SOCIAL DISTANCED DRIVE-THRU GRADE SCHOOL GRADUATION TO TAKE PLACE IN SOUTHLAND
AFTER MUCH NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE STATE, HAZEL CREST BOARD OF EDUCATION IS PROUD TO HONOR GRADUATES OF THE JESSE WHITE LEARNING ACADEMY
Wednesday, May 13
Grant Aims To Combat Gun Violence on the South Side
A new approach to combating gun violence by Mayor Lori Lightfoot is to enlist nonprofits to filter conflict resolution techniques to residents especially youth in urban neighborhoods like Roseland on the Far South Side.
Local business owner provides meal for testing site
Earl Walker wanted to thank some of the people on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic and decided to do something special to express his gratitude.
Public Safety Agencies Remind Seniors that Wellness Checks are Safe During COVID-19
Older Illinoisans are among those most at risk for health complications related to COVID-19. And the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), along with partners from Illinois Department on Aging (IDoA), Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal (OSFM), Illinois State Police (ISP) and the Illinois Sheriffs’ Association want to remind residents of the following safety measure put in place in light of COVID-19, according to a news release.
Entrepreneurs Create Unique Face Masks For Small Businesses During COVID-19 Pandemic
Derryl Caldwell and Delvin McCray, both have offices in the Bridgeport Art Center, 1200 W. 35th St., both are members of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc., and both have a unique skillset that now allows them to expand their services to include facemasks production for black-owned businesses.
PayPal Releases 2019 Global Impact Report
PayPal Holdings, Inc. has released its third annual Global Impact Report, publishing its environmental, social, and governance (ESG) strategies and activities of its global operations for 2019, according to a press release.
CITY TREASURER STARTS WEBINAR TO HELP RESIDENTS
Melissa Conyears-Ervin, treasurer of the city of Chicago, began her “Money Mondays with Melissa” webinar on Monday, May 4, as a way to inform residents and provide resources during COVID-19.
DMX Hosts Virtual Bible Study and Everybody’s Being Blessed By It
During this time of the pandemic, many are turning to do more online: from grocery shopping to meetings, parties, graduations, and even church.
Revlon Appoints Jessica Jung As Global Brand Ambassador
Global beauty leader Revlon has announced that singer, author, actress, model and fashion designer Jessica Jung is its newest Global Brand Ambassador. The multi-hyphenate, known for her rise to K-pop stardom, will represent the brand in Asia and appear in global campaigns this year for the iconic Super Lustrous and ColorStay franchises along with other new launches such as new Total Color permanent hair color.
CHEMISTS LOOK FOR WAYS TO ASSESS AND IMPROVE INDOOR AIR QUALITY
In a city teeming with traffic, it’s common to smell exhaust and other air pollutants on the street. But air pollution doesn’t always stay outside. Fluctuations in outdoor air quality can cause changes in indoor air pollution, which can lead to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and can adversely affect pregnancies, according to the National Institutes of Health.
STUDY LOOKS AT RACIAL INEQUITY IN ARTS FUNDING, LEADERSHIP
Enrich Chicago, an arts-led non-profit organization with a mission to undo racism, commissioned a study to better understand the arts community in the city of Chicago. There were three key findings which highlighted inequity when it comes to funding and leadership, as well as the diversity of arts organizations in the city.
Back 2 School Illinois Launches “Notes of Inspiration” in the Wake of COVID-19
Back 2 School Illinois (B2SI), a Chicago-based nonprofit that provides tens of thousands of deserving kids from low-income families with free school supplies to help them succeed in the classroom, recently announced the launch of its Notes of Inspiration initiative.
Amusement Park Visits Will Take a Hit as Parks Delay or Shutter 2020 Season
US amusement park visits are forecast to rise 2.2% yearly through 2024, according to Amusement Parks: United States, a report recently released by Freedonia Focus Reports.
This Mental Health Month NAMI Spreads Message: You Are Not Alone
This May for Mental Health Month, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is raising awareness and highlighting that no one experiencing a mental health condition should feel alone. More than 40 million people in the U.S.
Popeyes is offering out-of-work musicians an at-home-gig to record its jingle
Popeyes is giving out-of-work musicians the chance of a gig, saying it will hire some of them to record its “Love That Chicken From Popeyes” jingle for use in commercials.
KING PROVIDES UPDATES ON REDEVELOPMENT PLANS
Alderman Sophia King updated residents on the redevelopment plans for the former site of Michael Reese Hospital. “I want to acknowledge the community led process and the Michael Reese Advisory Committee. They’ve been working very hard with me and advocating for the community,” King said. “We’ve had a lot of engagement with the larger community really talking about what the vision is.”
5 Coronavirus Stimulus Check Scams and How to Avoid Them
The distribution of $1,200 stimulus checks to Americans has given rise to unprecedented online scams. The FTC has thus far received 18,235 reports of fraud costing victims $13.44 million; Google reported it is blocking 18 million scam emails every single day; and 150,000 fraudulent stimulus check sites have already launched. SocialCatfish.com today released a report today on 5 Stimulus Check Online Scams to Avoid based on information from the FTC, FBI and IRS during the Coronavirus pandemic.
ENGLEWOOD GETS COVID-19 TESTING FACILITY
Stephanie Coleman, 16th Ward Alderman, began lobbying for a COVID-19 testing site in her ward as reports showed that African Americans were being disproportionately affected and dying from the virus. Then, reports showed that the Latino population was also being disproportionately affected
Congresswoman Kelly Hosts Twelfth COVID19 Response Call with Hospital CEOs
Congresswoman Robin Kelly recently hosted a telephone town hall with hospital CEOs from Chicago’s South Side and the South Suburbs to hear their concerns and invite suggestions for further legislative relief efforts.
DL3 Wins Chicago Neighborhood Development Award for its Development of the Woodlawn Jewel Osco
Real estate development firm DL3 has won the prestigious Chicago Neighborhood Development Award – Outstanding For-Profit Neighborhood Real Estate Project – for its development of the Woodlawn Jewel Osco located at 61st Street and Cottage Grove Avenue. The 48,000 square foot store has become a catalyst for an economic comeback in the area. This is the third award DL3 has received since 2009 for its groundbreaking work to encourage more private-sector investments in the most under-served neighborhoods in Chicago.
1,000+ Show Up for Food Drive in the Southland
With the economic consequences of COVID-19 hitting the Southland area hard, a coalition of politicians and business leaders distributed packages of food and supplies to more than 1,000 individuals and families on Saturday in front of Beggars Pizza, 369 East 147th Street in Harvey, Illinois. For more than two hours, a line of cars passed the distribution area to pick up the giveaway bags. Each bag included a bottle of milk, canned goods, bottles of hand sanitizers and a packet of four masks. Even before the event started, a mile-long line of cars was waiting.
Auburn Gresham Distributor Announces Food Giveaway Plans to feed 4,000 families
Residents of Auburn Gresham are fighting for their lives on two fronts—against COVID-19 and food insecurity. The South Side community is among those hardest hit by the pandemic in Chicago. It also has one of the highest poverty rates in the city. This combination has made the mantra, “We’re all in this together,” more than just words, but a call to action.
Wednesday, May 6
Mobile application to support residents
A new web-based, mobile-friendly application was launched on Monday, April 27, by Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Alison Arwady, M.D., commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health with the goal of supporting Chicago residents during COVID-19.
Landlord offers perspective on calls for rent strike
Due to economic hardships as a result of COVID-19, including layoffs and underemployment, people have called for freezes to paying rent, as well as rent strikes.
COVID-19 Shuts Down Jobs But Provides Financial Security for Some Employees
Before he lost his job as a dishwasher at Covene Hospitality in Chicago, Oscar Ross said he struggled to pay his household bills, but thanks to new, federal legislation, he is no longer worried how he will make ends meet.
USDA Increases Monthly SNAP Benefits by 40%
The U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue recently announced emergency benefit increases have reached $2.0 billion per month for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) households across all 50 states and 3 territories to increase food security during the coronavirus national emergency.
AARP and NNPA Join Forces for Riveting Webinar on Saving Black Lives During COVID-19 Pandemic
AARP, the nation’s oldest and largest nonprofit dedicated to empowering Americans 50 and over, and the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), the trade association of the Black Press of America, held a briefing to help provide critical information for those most at-risk and impacted by the novel coronavirus.
Biden Wants Michelle Obama as Veep
Is a return to the White House by the Obama family in the cards? It can happen if former First Lady Michelle Obama would accept a public invitation from former Vice President and presumptive Democratic Presidential nominee Joe Biden.
ELECTED OFFICIALS DISCUSS IMPORTANCE OF 2020 CENSUS
South Central Community Services, Inc., along with Community Assistance Programs, hosted a Virtual Town Hall Meeting to answer questions and inform residents about the importance of the 2020 Census.
South Central Community Services, Inc., along with Community Assistance Programs, hosted a Virtual Town Hall Meeting to answer questions and inform residents about the importance of the 2020 Census.
South Shore clinic expands COVID-19 testing
UI Health Mile Square Health Center — a network of federally qualified health centers, or FQHCs, in Chicago — is now providing COVID-19 testing to community members on the South Side who meet testing criteria at its South Shore clinic, located at 7037 S. Stony Island Ave.
Barber offers tips to keep safe and healthy during COVID-19
Larry Robert, Jr., is the owner of Larry’s Barber College. He has been cutting hair for 33 years and owns six locations of barber colleges in Illinois and in Dallas, Texas. While Robert’s students can’t service clients or come into the building, they are doing distance learning.
CONGRESSMAN BOBBY RUSH HELPING HOMEOWNERS AND RENTERS KEEP A ROOF OVER THEIR HEADS
The COVID-19 pandemic has not only claimed thousands of lives in Illinois, but jobs too thus making it difficult for many homeowners and renters to keep a roof over their heads.
Company Prepares To Market New Product To Clean Wheels With Only Water
Awesome Products Corp. has announced that they have developed, will be applying for a patent, and are preparing to market a new product to clean wheels using only water, and are calling it “The Brake Dust Eraser®”
The Wurl Network Delivers Fashion TV to Samsung TV Plus
Wurl, a provider of streaming video distribution and advertising services for connected TV (CTV), recently announced it is powering the delivery of Fashion TV’s fashion, beauty, design and lifestyle content to viewers of Samsung TV Plus
Standard Motor Products Manufactures Heat Exchangers For Medical Oxygen Devices
Standard Motor Products, Inc. (SMP) recently announced that its Temperature Control Division has delivered heat exchangers suitable for oxygen concentrators and oxygen generators, key components used in the production of medical ventilators.
NFL & Players Coalition Commit $3 Million+ to Communities of Color in Support of COVID-19 Relief
The NFL, through its Inspire Change platform and the Players Coalition, recently announced a donation of $3,050,000 to seven markets that have been significantly impacted by COVID-19.
NEW AMAZON FACILITY SET FOR UNIVERSITY PARK
A new Amazon distribution and warehousing facility is set for University Park. The $150 million facility will be 1.2 million square feet and has the potential to bring more than 800 jobs to the Southland suburb. Construction began on the week of April 13, west of Cicero Avenue and east of I-57.
WITH UNEMPLOYMENT SKYROCKETING, FOOD INSECURITY GROWS
Feed the Children, a leading hunger relief organization, has been working with its network of community partners on the ground in cities and towns across the U.S. and in the 10 countries it serves to address the ever-growing needs of those affected by COVID-19 (coronavirus).
Babyface Tests Positive for COVID-19, but is “So Blessed”
Babyface, the award-winning music producer behind some of the biggest artists, songs and record label, LaFace records, revealed that he too had been stricken with COVID-19.