Ronald J. Vlasaty Jr-COO of Family Guidance Centers, Inc (FGC)- will be joined by Cook County Commissioner Monica Gordon, Cook County Department of Public Health officials, various South Suburban elected officials, and community leaders in officially presenting to southern Cook County an all-new grant funded mobile unit created to assist in reversing the alarming opioid crisis that has negatively impacted the southland.
Performer Joan Collaso founded Timeless Gifts Performing Arts Program for Youth and Young Adults in 2010 as a concept for concert that would pair young, aspiring performers with professional performers in different genres – music, acting and dancing.
Sprite – a brand that has championed hip-hop culture for more than 35 years – will celebrate the groundbreaking genre’s 50th anniversary this summer with a buzzworthy TV spot starring a crew of living legends and rising stars, a new limited-edition flavor, sponsorship of one of the year’s most anticipated concert tours and a series of exclusive merch and experience drops.
Karina Brez, and her exquisite collections perfectly complement the alluring coastal cowgirl aesthetic. Karina Brez designs seamlessly blend the grace and power of equestrianism with the free-spirited elegance of coastal living, resulting in jewelry that exudes a unique sense of beauty and charm.
Windy City Smokeout, the nation’s premier outdoor country music and BBQ festival, returns to Chicago’s iconic United Center (1901 W. Madison Street) on July 13-16, 2023. The two-time winner of the Academy of Country Music Awards “Festival of the Year,” the Windy City Smokeout will celebrate its 10th anniversary with some of country music’s biggest names and up-and-coming talents.
The National Council of Negro Women was founded on December 5, 1935 by Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune. The mission of the organization is to lead, advocate and develop women of African descent, while addressing the concerns of the women, their communities and their families.
The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) announced a partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of America to combat the youth mental health crisis in the United States through trauma-informed approaches to behavioral health care. By investing more than $10 million over four years, this partnership will help Boys & Girls Clubs of America implement trauma-informed practices in its more than 5,000 Clubs by 2026 to train over 48,000 staff to better support the emotional and mental well-being of over 3.6 million children.
The Original Rainbow Cone, a Chicago tradition for over 95 years is thrilled to announce an exciting partnership with Gino's East, a legendary name in deep-dish pizza. This collaboration will bring together two of the city's oldest and most iconic restaurants, creating a culinary destination like no other. The Original Rainbow Cone will be adding a kiosk to the Gino's East Superior Street location (162 E Superior St, Chicago, IL 60611), aptly named Magnificent Mile, offering locals and tourists a taste of both sweet and savory delights.
The Apollo announced recently the appointment of Michelle Ebanks as the next President and CEO of the nation’s foremost African American performing arts center dedicated to Black arts and culture. Ms. Ebanks has extensive leadership experience in media, entertainment, and live events. She previously served as CEO of Essence Communications, overseeing the nation’s leading media and communications company dedicated to African American women, including Essence magazine, the preeminent lifestyle magazine for African American women; Essence.com, the award-winning, daily online destination for African American women; and the internationally renowned Essence Festival of Culture, one of the largest annual live music events in the world.
President Obama announced that the future Obama Presidential Center will be home to the Democracy in Action Lab (DIAL), a programming hub that honors the power of democracy, public service, and global changemakers. The Democracy in Action Lab, made possible by a transformational grant from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF), will be the epicenter of the Obama Foundation’s commitment to community and program resources at the intersection of democracy and leadership development—a space to enrich young leaders in the neighborhood and around the world. President Obama made the announcement at the SNF Nostos Conference in Athens, Greece, during a keynote conversation with SNF Co-President Andreas Dracopoulos.
Comcast Corporation announced a new $4.5 million, three-year grant to Per Scholas, a leading national nonprofit advancing economic equity through tech training and career building. The investment will enable more than 10,000 diverse adults across 15 markets to launch new tech careers, empowering individuals from low-wealth communities to earn a collective $450 million in new wages alone. Notably, the funding will also support Per Scholas expansion to three new markets in need of skilled technologists for digital economies — allowing for even greater community impact.
Mayor Brandon Johnson announced that the City of Chicago has been awarded the Bloomberg Philanthropies What Works Cities Certification at the Gold Level for exceptional use of data to inform policy decisions, allocate funding, improve services, evaluate program effectiveness, and engage residents. The citywide achievement was the result of projects led by the Mayor’s Office, Department of Assets Information and Services (AIS), Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH), Department of Family and Support Services (DFSS), Department of Procurement Services (DPS), and Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT). The city projects submitted for certification were judged against rigorous standards established by practices within peer cities.
Coco Elysses knew she wanted to be a performer when she was seven or eight years of age. She felt at home on stage, being a part of telling a story, whether it was music, theater or dance. As a child, she studied dance, taking ballet and modern dance classes on the South side of Chicago, as well as acting. She attended a program where anyone who was interested in the performing arts could come and discover the different aspects of arts. She studied music through free programming at school.
Governor JB Pritzker along with the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced Illinois will be allocated over $1 billion in funding to support high-speed internet access through the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program. This grant will help fund the development of high-speed infrastructure across the nation as part of President Biden’s Internet for All initiative.
In June, EPIC Academy, a public, open-enrollment charter high school located in South Chicago hosted its 2023 Dare to Imagine Gala themed “Building the Future Together” at The Carter Chicago. Approximately 150 guests attended the event for an evening filled with fun, networking, music, and inspiring stories. With the support of generous sponsors, attendees, and in-kind and monetary donations, EPIC raised nearly $120,000. Corporate sponsors included; Apogem Capital, BMO, Black McDonald’s Operators Association, Elrod Friedman, and KRD, Ltd. and Old National Bank. Funds raised will help provide transformational opportunities and further EPIC’s mission for students to pursue excellence and high expectations for postsecondary success, working towards college and career readiness through a variety of pathways.
Pastor Phil Jackson believes that real transformation and hope comes from grassroots organizations doing the work in communities where there is a great need. “We live in a community where hopelessness and resiliency co-exist. Our work is to create pathways of hopefulness and resilience,” Jackson said.
Congressman Jonathan L. Jackson joined fellow lawmakers at a press conference to announce the roll-out of the "Stop Fentanyl Now Act of 2023" led by Sheila Jackson Lee (TX-18) — a critical step in addressing the nationwide fentanyl crisis.
The recreational, educational and peaceful activities available all summer in the Forest Preserves of Cook County encompasses virtually anything available at a lake getaway in Wisconsin or Michigan, and then some—just much closer to home.
The Discovery Partners Institute, part of the University of Illinois System, will serve a record number of high school and community college students this summer.