South Suburban College and Pace Bus Partner to Offer Fourth Pre-hiring Event on September 19

South Suburban College (SSC) and Pace Bus are pleased to announce a fourth pre-hiring event to provide a free Class B Commercial Driver's License (CDL) permit course for the next generation of professional bus operators in the Chicago Southland region. The college and transportation agency will offer a customized two-week course to assist qualified applicants in obtaining their CDL permit.

SBA Corrects Hours for Cook County Business Recovery Center in Illinois

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is correcting the hours for its Cook County Business Recovery Center in Chicago, Il. It will operate at the SBA District Office, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday; and is closed Saturday and Sunday. A press release on Aug. 16 listed the hours incorrectly.

MAVERICK ENTERTAINMENT UNVEILS HIGHLY ANTICIPATED FILM "THE COMEBACK" STARRING TAYE DIGGS AND APRYL JONES

Maverick Entertainment, a prominent independent studio specializing in the distribution of Black Cinema, is thrilled to announce the upcoming release of their latest film, "The Comeback," set to hit streaming on NBCUniversal's Peacock August 25th. Starring the immensely talented Taye Diggs and the charismatic Apryl Jones, this uproarious comedy follows the journey of Jeff Murray and his wife, Tisa Murray, as they move back to their beloved hometown of Atlanta.

ZUMBA® AND CRAYOLA PARTNER TO LAUNCH "COLORS OF KINDNESS" APPAREL COLLECTION

Zumba and Crayola are excited to announce a new partnership and the launch of their "Colors of Kindness" apparel collection. Inspired by Crayola's iconic crayon colors, the collection features vibrant, fun designs that embody the spirit of kindness and inclusivity.

Progressive Insurance® Awards $250,000 to Black Entrepreneurs Through Driving Small Business Forward Grant Program

Progressive Insurance®, the leading commercial auto insurer in the United States, has announced the 10 recipients of its 2023 Driving Small Business Forward grant with Hello Alice in support of Black entrepreneurs. Each small business owner has been awarded a $25,000 grant for use toward the purchase of a commercial vehicle for their business.

Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade Announce EWG VERIFIED® Mark for PROUDLY Baby Care Brand

PROUDLY, the baby care line created for the needs of melanin-rich skin tones co-founded by Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade, announces today the brand has received the EWG VERIFIED® mark by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) for all their skin care formulas and baby wipes within the brand's portfolio. By becoming EWG VERIFIED, PROUDLY is recognized to meet EWG's strictest health standards, meaning the products contain none of EWG's chemicals of concern and provide full ingredient transparency. As the first product line made specifically for melanated baby skin, PROUDLY is a first in category for EWG verification.

ASPIRE seeks to inspire Englewood community

At the corner of 67th and Wentworth, there is a 25-foot-tall monument with a person dressed in a cap and gown and homes on one side, on another side there is a quote: With belief, power of knowledge and strength, one can aspire to greatness.

The Athlete's Foot Announces Inaugural Employee IMPACT Scholarship Program

Specialty footwear and lifestyle chain, The Athlete's Foot (TAF), is proud to announce its inaugural class of Employee IMPACT Scholarship Program 2023 recipients that will receive $5,000 grant towards their continuing education. TAF is passionate about promoting education and driving change at the community level. This generous scholarship program focuses on the merits of five outstanding The Athlete's Foot employees across their 60 US and Caribbean franchises. The recipients are all TAF employees who have shown exceptional dedication to their store and team.

826CHI Honors CPS Teacher Brennen Bariso with the Missy Hughes Teacher Award at 9th Annual Eat Your Words Gala

826CHI – a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting Chicago’s students, teachers, and communities through the power, freedom, and joy of writing and publication – is proud to announce its upcoming 9th annual gala, Eat Your Words at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 28, in support of Chicago’s young writers and authors. Eat Your Words will bring together 400 socially engaged, food-loving, art-enthusiastic Chicagoans, including artists, community leaders, philanthropists, educators, authors, and change-makers all passionate about helping Chicago’s young people build strong futures.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago Unveils First Newly-Built Club in a Generation on Chicago’s West Side

Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago (BGCC) held a ribbon-cutting ceremony this morning, officially opening the organization’s first newly-built Club in a generation, the Rusu-McCartin Boys & Girls Club.

Writer uses diagnosis to inspire others

Shareeta Jo was diagnosed with Lupus in 2012. She is a writer, director, playwright and an actress. When she was diagnosed with the disease she was fearful and didn’t know what it was. In order to cope with the diagnosis, she wrote. She wrote about what she wanted to happen and what she didn’t want to happen. It was her therapy.

CME Group Foundation Awards 2023 Higher Education Scholarships to Rising Black and Latinx Students

CME Group Foundation announced that 18 rising Black and Latinx students majoring in finance, technology and related fields at 11 partner colleges and universities in Illinois have each been awarded $20,000 in scholarships to further their education. With this addition, CME Group Foundation is currently providing scholarships to 33 college students for the 2023-24 academic year.

Book encourages readers to ‘Stop Waiting For Perfect’

Perfectionism can sometimes hinder more than it can help. In “Stop Waiting for Perfect: Step Out of Your Comfort Zone and Into Your Power,” L’Oreal Thompson Payton explores self-doubt and perfectionism.

Directors Phylicia Rashad and Jess McLeod Join Steppenwolf Theatre Company’s 2023/24 Season

Steppenwolf Theatre Company, the nation’s premier ensemble theater company, is pleased to announce that directors Phylicia Rashad and Jess McLeod will join the company’s 2023/24 Season. Rashad, a two-time Tony Award winner, will direct the world premiere of Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ Purpose, an epic drama that confronts family, faith and Black American Politics featuring ensemble members Alana Arenas, Glenn Davis and Jon Michael Hill. McLeod, who served as Resident Director of Hamilton Chicago, will helm Steppenwolf’s Chicago premiere of Larissa FastHorse’s The Thanksgiving Play, a skewering comedy about everything right, wrong and woke in America, featuring ensemble members Audrey Francis and Tim Hopper.

WayMaker Summit seeks to empower Black men

Throughout his life, Louis Carr can think of 19 people who helped him because they recognized something in him that at the time, he did not see in himself. He calls those people who nurtured him Waymakers.

Chicago hotel workers at Marriott, Hilton and Hyatt properties reach historic deal ahead of 2023 contract expiration

Chicago hotel workers represented by UNITE HERE Local 1 at Marriott, Hilton and Hyatt-operated properties have ratified a new contract. The announcement came two weeks ahead of the August 31st contract expiration date.

FLYOVER, AN IMMERSIVE ATTRACTION TO LAUNCH AT NAVY PIER, BEGINS FILMING ACROSS ICONIC LOCATIONS IN CHICAGO THIS MONTH

FlyOver, an immersive experience that transports guests to the planet’s most epic places through an exhilarating flying journey, announced today that its team of talented storytellers will begin shooting across iconic locations throughout Chicago this month.

Play explores the nuances of activism in the time of COVID-19

“A Hit Dog Will Holler” is set in Hyde Park and was written by Inda Craig-Galván, who is a native of the South Side of Chicago. Artemisia Theatre’s production of “A Hit Dog Will Holler” will take place from Sept. 1st to Sept. 17th, at the Den Theatre, located at 1331 N. Milwaukee.

The need for minority organ, tissue and eye donors remains critical

About 60% of more than 100,000 people waiting for life-saving organ transplants in the U.S. are from minority communities, yet minorities make up only about 30% of registered organ & tissue donors. In Illinois and Indiana more than 5,000 people are waiting—and nearly 60% are people of color.

Gov. Pritzker Signs Legislation to Address Food Deserts Across Illinois

Governor JB Pritzker signed Senate Bill 850, which establishes the Illinois Grocery Initiative – a multi-pronged policy designed to address food deserts across the state. It will support existing grocers and encourage new grocery stores to open through incentive opportunities. The legislation also allows grocery stores receiving grants as part of the program to be designated as High Impact Businesses, providing them the opportunity to receive tax credits and other incentives.