Friday, June 6
Cook County Assessor’s Office Hosts Inaugural Neighborhood Housing Forum
The Cook County Assessor’s Office (CCAO) hosted its inaugural Neighborhood Housing Forum this week, bringing together developers, housing providers, nonprofit leaders, and other industry experts to discuss the state of housing in Chicago’s neighborhoods.
Celebrity Chef Carla Hall and The Fresh Market Team Up to Support Alzheimer’s Association During Month of June
June is Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month
The Alzheimer’s Association is proud to partner with The Fresh Market and celebrity chef, author and TV personality Carla Hall to raise funds and awareness for Alzheimer’s disease during Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month this June. From June 1-30, The Fresh Market will donate 10% of the purchase price of Hall’s Sweet Heritage Butter Tart to the Alzheimer’s Association.
ONYX MEDICAL WELLNESS CELEBRATES GRAND OPENING & RIBBON CUTTING IN CHICAGO’S SOUTH SHORE DURING PRIDE MONTH
Onyx Medical Wellness is proud to announce the grand opening & ribbon cutting ceremony of its newest health and wellness clinic on Wednesday, June 19, 2025, in Chicago’s historic South Shore neighborhood. Located at 2247 E. 73rd Street, the clinic will serve as a vital community health hub, offering culturally competent care to Black, LGBTQ+, and other underserved populations on Chicago’s South and West Sides.
5th Annual Cook County Juneteenth Illinois Celebration to Be Held June 14th
“Tying It All Together - Getting to the Heart of the Matter: The Intersection of Health, Education, Wealth & Justice”
Wednesday, June 4
“NO MORE CUTS TO KIDS’ FUTURES”
FAITH LEADERS, FAMILIES, AND ADVOCATES DEMAND CONGRESS PROTECT PUBLIC EDUCATION
Today, Popular Democracy, Alliance to Reclaim Our Schools, Pastors for Children, faith leaders, impacted families and students from across the country rallied to demand Congress protect public education from damaging cuts to critical funding and programs in the reconciliation bill.
Cook County’s Annual Tax Sale to be Postponed for Seven Months
Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas plans to postpone the Annual Tax Sale for seven months, during which time she hopes to work with legislators on comprehensive property tax foreclosure reform measures.
Richland County Sets Precedent as First in South Carolina to Pass Hate Intimidation Ordinance
In a historic and bold move, Richland County Council has unanimously passed the first county-level hate intimidation ordinance in the state of South Carolina, led by Councilmember Tyra Little. With this vote, Richland County becomes a trailblazer in the Palmetto State, standing against hate and taking legislative action to protect vulnerable communities.
IPhA applauds historic passage of HB1697: The Prescription Drug Affordability Act
The Illinois Pharmacists Association (IPhA) celebrates the General Assembly’s passage of HB1697, the Prescription Drug Affordability Act, a landmark achievement in the fight to protect patients, enhance transparency, and preserve access to pharmacy care across Illinois.
Memoir Takes Readers On A Healing Journey
Bridget J. Harris was encouraged by her father to write her memoir, Therapy, Wine & God. He was a writer, a playwright and a journalist. He would always tell her that she needed to write a book. She knew she wanted to write a book, but wasn’t sure what story she would tell. The stories that resonated with her were rooted in raw, hyperhuman experience that explored love, friendship, tragedy, redemption and good people making bad decisions and the consequences of those decisions.
Program Empowers Businesses Through Joint Purchasing
Emerald South Economic Development Collaborative has launched a program that will allow organizations and small businesses to take advantage of economic development opportunities. The Shared Purchasing Network will enable them to save money and get better contract terms.
North Lawndale Economic Development Project Is A Finalist For The Chicago Prize
A project with the goal of energizing the economic ecosystem for North Lawndale is a finalist for the Pritzker-Traubert Foundation Chicago Prize. Lawndale Christian Development Corporation, along with the North Lawndale Employment Network, New Covenant Community Development Corporation, the North Lawndale Community Coordinating Council and the One Lawndale Children's Discovery Center are leading the project, which includes job creation, workforce training, boosting entrepreneurship and building new infrastructure.
Impact Grants Chicago Awards $490,000 To Seven Nonprofits
Ignite was founded in 1976 as the Transitional Living Process with a mission to support young people experiencing homelessness. It provides emergency and transitional housing, community housing programs and aftercare, mental health care, street and community outreach.
FoundHERS Suite Celebrates 1-Year Anniversary
LaTanya Orr opened the FoundHERS Suite in Beverly because she wanted it to be a space for women entrepreneurs to work and collaborate. A year later, the coworking space, which is located at 1808-10 W. 103rd St. is celebrating its one-year anniversary and is providing a space for the community to interact and engage.
An Ounce of Prevention….
Elder financial exploitation is one of the fastest-growing crimes in the U.S., costing older Americans an estimated $36.5 billion annually. As people age, they often become targets of financial abuse due to cognitive decline, social isolation, or accumulated assets. Vigilance, education, and proactive planning are key to protecting seniors from falling victim to this deeply personal crime.
Gov. Pritzker Breaks Ground on Major Development in Southern Illinois
Governor JB Pritzker, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), and the Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR) joined the City of Marion and leaders from around Southern Illinois to break ground on an approximately 550,000-square-foot retail, entertainment and hospitality development in Marion – the first Sales Tax and Revenue (STAR) Bond Project in Illinois.
MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON ANNOUNCES MEMBERS OF THE CHICAGO FISCAL SUSTAINABILITY WORKING GROUP
Mayor Brandon Johnson announced the inaugural membership of the Chicago Fiscal Sustainability Working Group (CFSWG), a newly formed, cross-sector body tasked with identifying strategies to improve operational efficiency, reduce long-term budget gaps, and ensure the City’s finances are positioned for a stable and sustainable future.
MAYOR’S OFFICE OF REENTRY AND DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND SUPPORT SERVICES RELEASE WOMEN’S REENTRY CENTER REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL
The Mayor's Office of Reentry, in partnership with the Chicago Department of Family and Supportive Services (DFSS), released a Request for Proposals (RFP) to establish the City's first Community Reentry Support Center (CRSC) exclusively for women impacted by the criminal legal system. This groundbreaking initiative follows last month’s reentry summit, “Building Bridges, Breaking Barriers: A Unified Path to Hope and Reentry,” which brought together nearly 250 reentry professionals from across Chicago on April 30th to address the complex challenges faced by returning residents, with a special focus on the unique needs of women.
IDNR, conservation police urge life jacket use and sober boating
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources and Illinois Conservation Police are urging people to wear life jackets anytime they're on the water and to only operate boats while sober.
MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON AND CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION CELEBRATES $8.7 MILLION “SOUL CITY WEST” CORRIDOR STREETSCAPE PROJECT COMPLETION IN AUSTIN
Mayor Brandon Johnson joined the Chicago Department of Transportation, 29th Ward Alderman Chris Taliaferro, 37th Ward Alderwoman Emma Mitts and Austin community partners to cut the ribbon on an $8.7 million streetscape improvement project along Chicago Avenue in the Austin neighborhood – part of the area’s revitalized “Soul City” corridor.
Fight the Darkness of Alzheimer’s by Supporting The Longest Day
As the summer solstice approaches, people across the country are preparing to turn the longest day of the year into a powerful force for good. The Longest Day®, held annually on the summer solstice, is more than just a date on the calendar it’s a global movement to fight the darkness of Alzheimer’s and all other forms of dementia.
Congressman Danny K. Davis Applauds Reintroduction of Second Chance Reauthorization Act of 2025
Congressman Danny K. Davis (D-IL), original author of the Second Chance Act of 2008, proudly announced the reintroduction of the Second Chance Reauthorization Act of 2025, a bipartisan, bicameral effort to bolster reentry services across the nation. Introduced in the U.S. House by Rep. Davis and Rep. Carol Miller (R-WV) and in the Senate by Sens. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Cory Booker (D-NJ), the legislation renews vital programs that support returning citizens with housing, career development, and behavioral health services.
Every Black Life Matters Launches the Clarity Project
In response to the Trump Administration's recent efforts to reassess federal funding for higher education, Every Black Life Matters (EBLM) is proud to announce the development of a bold, solutions-based initiative to help K–12 institutions and colleges nationwide meet new federal compliance standards.
Majority of Youth Overdose Deaths from 2018 to 2022 Were Driven by Fentanyl Alone
Fatal drug overdoses among youth aged 15 to 24 in the United States involving synthetic opioids alone—not mixed with other substances—soared by 168 percent over the five-year time period of 2018 to 2022, a new study shows. Published online today in the journal Pediatrics, the work also found that youth overdose rates and drug combinations varied significantly across age, sex and race/ethnicity.
Fawn Weaver Makes History as Third African American Woman Inducted into the Marketing Hall of Fame
Fawn Weaver, best known as "The People's CEO" and the visionary founder behind the Uncle Nearest portfolio of brands, has been officially inducted into the American Marketing Association New York Marketing Hall of Fame for 2025—becoming only the third African American woman in history to receive this honor. The prestigious recognition celebrates Weaver's groundbreaking contributions to brand-building, cultural storytelling, and purpose-driven leadership that have redefined the landscape of modern marketing.
New Book "Create Your Own Table" Empowers Readers to Discover Their Purpose and Lead with Intention
Author, speaker, and transition coach Heather Dolland Tamam announces the release of her transformative new book, Create Your Own Table: A Guide to Discovering Your Purpose.
COCO DE MER COLLECTION: One of the Rarest and Most Precious Natural Scents in the World, Launches in the US
Enshrouded in local myth and legend, the gigantic coco de mer palms yield the key ingredient at the heart of the Coco de Mer Collection: the biggest and most exquisite seed on earth. It's distinctly sensual, feminine shape, intoxicating aroma and true aphrodisiac properties have inspired Seychelles legends for millennia. Collectors this rare perfume will experience its enchantment, while helping conserve the 5,000 fiercely protected coco de mer palms.
Lisa Hurley's Book Space To Exhale Offers a Timely Blueprint Encouraging Rest, Healing and Liberation for Black Women
Three-time Anthem Award-winning activist, writer, and Reiki Master Lisa Hurley announces the release of her début book, Space To Exhale, a powerful and poetic ode to rest as the foundation of radical self-love for Black women. Timed intentionally, the book will launch on June 17, 2025, to align with celebrating Juneteenth, Caribbean-American Heritage Month, and the second anniversary of The Great Exhale, the wellness community founded by Hurley that centers Black women's healing, joy, and rest.
Tuesday, June 3
To crack cases, we need more funding for genetic genealogy
Every year, thousands of murders in the United States remain unsolved. Today, there are over 300,000 cold cases on the books. But a revolutionary technology -- forensic genetic genealogy -- could change this grim reality.
Monday, June 2
Roseland Ceasefire Holds First Fundraiser to Kickoff National Anti-Violence Prevention Month
Even though this weekend saw the murder of one person and 15 others wounded, gun violence is down overall. Just last week, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson was touting the good news this year's Memorial Day weekend saw in gun violence reduction. According to Chicago Police Department data, the city has seen a 22% decrease in homicides and a 32% decline in shootings compared with 2024.