Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias celebrated the sophomore class of Walter Payton College Preparatory High School today after their day of service in honor of Walter “Sweetness” Payton, the school’s namesake.
For Rev. Alma West, home has always been more than just a place—it’s been her sanctuary for nearly 50 years. But for the past several weeks, the 86-year-old grandmother has been unable to return to the house she’s called home since 1975.
The Security Traders Association of Chicago (STAC), a membership organization for individual professionals in the securities industry in Chicago and an affiliate of The Security Traders Association (STA), is now accepting applications for its STAC Fund Scholarship program for the 2025 – 2026 academic year.
In early March, more than 70 nurses from Illinois’ Magnet hospitals met with Illinois lawmakers to stress the importance of investing in healthcare, while also advocating for policies that prioritize patient safety, support clinical leadership and innovation, and preserve access to quality care for all Illinois residents.
Attorney General Kwame Raoul, Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell and New York Attorney General Letitia James led a coalition of 15 attorneys general in issuing guidance to help K-12 schools, colleges and universities understand the legality, viability and importance of diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility policies and practices in education.
Mayor Brandon Johnson and the City of Chicago’s Office of Budget and Management (OBM) is proud to announce the launch of its Workforce Vacancy Data Dashboard on OBM’s website. This interactive tool provides an accessible, user-friendly way to explore and filter vacancy data across all City departments. For the first time, this data will be updated on the first of each month and publicly available in an intuitive format that enhances visibility and usability. The underlying data is also available on the City of Chicago’s Open Data Portal for those who need full datasets.
Governor JB Pritzker recently joined Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton, teachers, school administrators, and municipal officials to propose a classroom cell phone ban in schools across Illinois. A key initiative mentioned in the Governor’s State of the State Address, the legislation would require all public school districts in Illinois to adopt a wireless communication device policy that limits the use of personal devices during class instruction time.
As society is in a continual state of flux, the Chicago office of UNCF, United Negro College Fund, is calling all pastors and faith leaders to support the organization with special donations in the month of March.
Bally’s Chicago Casino is celebrating Women’s History Month with a “Give $5, Get $10” charitable contribution campaign benefitting Chicago Foundation for Women (CFW), an organization celebrating their 40th anniversary this year. Throughout the month of March, new and existing Bally Rewards members are eligible once each week to receive free play, or table bets for donating to CFW, which works to improve the lives of women, girls and gender-expansive people through grantmaking, leadership development and education.
The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) celebrates Women’s History Month by honoring Black women who spearheaded the fight for justice, equality and change. The museum will recognize “Black Women: The Activist” as the theme for March and share stories, events and exhibits that demonstrate the resiliency of Black women. For more information, visit the museum’s website.
The Illinois Department of Transportation concluded another successful Today’s Challenge, Tomorrow’s Reward conference, drawing record attendance and recognizing top performers in the industry, while pledging the agency’s ongoing and continued commitment to the state’s minority- and women-owned businesses through the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program.
Hampton University has officially attained Research 2 (R2) status—High Research Spending and Doctorate Production—by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. This prestigious designation places Hampton among an elite cohort of 139 institutions nationwide that meet the rigorous benchmarks of at least $5 million in annual research expenditures and the awarding of 20 or more research doctorates each year.
Akina Technologies PBC, the pioneering platform offering transformative AI solutions, resources, and an unparalleled community by and for marginalized communities, proudly announces the addition of three groundbreaking leaders to its team. Former Obama administration advisor, DeJuana L. Thompson, joins as co-founder, while visionary leaders Lisa Green and Dr. Nashlie Sephus bring their expertise to advisory roles. This marks a new chapter in Akina Technologies' mission to empower women of color, foster equity, and create groundbreaking technology designed for impact.
The Apollo proudly announces the success of its annual Dining with the Divas luncheon, which raised over $450K to support The Apollo’s education programs. These initiatives provide over 20,000 NYC students with access to free or low-cost performances at The Apollo each year, as well as offer paid internships and apprenticeships for on-site career training and workforce development in the arts.
Buttah Skin is turning up the glow with its #BlackBeautyForward campaign, a call to action to celebrate, support, and uplift Black beauty—past, present, and future. Teaming up with some of TikTok’s most dynamic creators, Buttah Skin invites everyone to step up, show out, and make Black beauty history happen today.
Pvolve, the clinically proven workout that pairs functional strength training with cutting-edge resistance equipment to sculpt and strengthen the whole-body, is expanding its Clinical Advisory Board with the addition of Jessica Shepherd, MD, MBA, FACOG, as Head of Medical Affairs. Dr. Shepherd is a board-certified OB/GYN, women's health expert, and a leading voice in longevity. She is deeply committed to redefining the perimenopause and menopause journey and is a trailblazer in taking a holistic approach to women's health, aligning perfectly with Pvolve's mission to empower women at all stages of life through innovative, science-backed wellness solutions.
ZERO Prostate Cancer (ZERO), the nation's leading advocacy and support foundation for prostate cancer awareness, has announced the launch of Blitz the Barriers during Cancer Prevention Month. This bold initiative, with a target fund goal of $20 million, marks the most ambitious project in the history of U.S. prostate cancer patient programs. It aims to save lives by addressing critical disparities in prostate cancer outcomes, especially among Black men, Veterans, and rural underserved communities. Disparities, due to factors like systemic bias, can exist regardless of income.
News reports roll out daily highlighting the latest cruelty from the Trump/Musk administration. The government is being aggressively and indiscriminately dismantled and with it the rights and safety net many depend on. This constant stream has created an atmosphere of anxiety, fear, and uncertainty. Shifts are coming at a pace that leave little time or space to deal with anything other than what is in front and what comes next. There is a surreal quality to the experience made all the stranger for the sense of business as usual that also exist.
Dr. Kisha McCaskill- Cook County Commissioner of the 5th District of Cook County- was recently joined by her fellow Commissioners, Disability Service leaders, Cook County Physicians and advocates as she successfully Introduced a resolution calling for the month of March as Developmental Disability Month here in Cook County.
The Englewood Arts Collective was formed by ten multidisciplinary artists who came together in 2017, but they became really active three years later in the summer of 2020, responding to what was happening in the world at the time. The collective initiative came together with the mission to positively represent where they were from, Englewood and West Englewood.