Veteran Legislator and Social Justice Advocate Confirmed as Illinois Human Rights Commissioner
With that quote in mind and a dedication to public service at heart, Jacqueline Collins continues her commitment to public service as a member of the Human Rights Commission after being confirmed on Tuesday, May 16 by the Illinois Senate. “It is an honor to take on this role,” said Jacqueline Collins. “When we embrace our differences and fight for human rights for all, we strengthen ourselves.”
Gov. Pritzker Signs Act-of-Duty Bill
Governor JB Pritzker was joined by Lieutenant Governor Julianna Stratton, Illinois State Comptroller Susana A. Mendoza, elected officials, and first responders to sign the Act-of-Duty Bill into law. HB 3162 retroactively provides Chicago police officers and firefighters disability benefits for the time they were unable to serve due to contracting COVID-19 between March 9, 2020, and June 30, 2021.
PERFORMER BRING POSITIVE MESSAGE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE
Elizabeth Elie, who goes by the stage name Lizzie G, spreads a message of positivity, anti-bullying and unity. Lizzie G was always musically inclined. She taught herself how to play the drums and plays the piano. In her teenage years, she started to have a love of music producing. She would put her poetry with the beats she created and turned it into rap. She debuted Lizzie G during her senior year at Marie Curie High School.
Obama Foundation Taps Diverse Leaders to Design & Build its Programs & Athletic Center
The Obama Foundation announced the hiring of two extraordinary Black-owned firms with Chicago roots to design and build the Programs & Athletic Center at the Obama Presidential Center. The announcement comes during the final days of the Lightfoot Administration, with which the Foundation has worked for several years to create a diverse workforce to build the Center.
BUSINESS PROVIDES CPR, AED AND FIRST AID TRAINING
Christina Bolton Taylor started Cardiac Jump Starters because of her father. He was a nurse and Bolton Taylor followed in his footsteps. She started Cardiac Jump Starters in March 2021, with her father in mind. He passed away in 2018 after a choking incident led to cardiac arrest. Bolton Taylor believes his life could’ve been spared if her mother had received training in proper resuscitation procedures.
Calumet City native serves aboard forward-deployed Navy warship in Japan
Petty Officer 3rd Class Keenan Taylor, a native of Calumet City, Illinois, serves in Japan aboard a forward-deployed U.S. Navy warship. Taylor joined the Navy 2019 years ago. Today, Taylor serves as an operations specialist aboard USS Dewey. “I wanted to be a part of something bigger than myself,” said Taylor. "It's something I have been interested in since a field trip to the USS Midway."
Raven Theatre Opens ‘THE OCTOBER STORM’
Raven Theatre, Chicago’s newest Equity-affiliated theatre, is pleased to conclude its 40th Anniversary Season with the Chicago premiere of The October Storm, by Joshua Allen, a follow up to Allen’s smash-hit The Last Pair of Earlies. Directed by Malkia Stampley, this riveting and edgy new drama set in the 1960s on the South Side of Chicago plays through June 25 in Raven’s newly-dedicated, 85-seat Johnson Stage, 6157 N. Clark St. (at Granville) in Chicago. Single tickets are now on sale at raventheatre.com or by calling (773) 338-2177. The press opening is Monday, May 15 at 7:30 p.m.
Chicago Public Schools Honors School Nurses During Nurse Appreciation Week
Chicago Public Schools (CPS) honored school nurses Friday, May 12, during a National Nurse Appreciation Week celebration that highlighted the critical role of school nurses in supporting student health and well being, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. During the event, District leaders presented five school nurses with the District’s Recognition Of Service Extraordinaires (ROSE) Award.
Classes Begin at New Green Job Training Center in Chicago
The Sustainability Hub, a new Chicago job training center jointly developed by Power52's Ecademy and 548 Enterprise (548), has proudly welcomed the first twenty trainees to its clean energy job training program.
Sheriff Dart, Uber Team Up to Help Domestic Violence and Human Trafficking Survivors
Cook County Sheriff Thomas J. Dart announced a critical partnership today with Uber, the largest rideshare company in the United States, to support the need for transportation and grocery delivery services amongst domestic violence and human trafficking survivors who are receiving assistance through the Sheriff’s Office.
Illinois-Based Bus Gates Company Works with Home State Lawmakers To Reduce Motor Vehicle Incidents Around School Buses
With unanimous support, the Illinois Legislature has passed a measure that will make it safer for students to get on and off school buses across the state. SB2340 allows Illinois school districts to install a well-lit additional extended stop arm that further obstructs the roadway from passing traffic when a school bus is stopped to pick up or drop off students.
County Treasurer Maria Pappas celebrates Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month with business and community leaders
Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas will celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month by recognizing business and community leaders with Certificates of Excellence.
Why diversity in clinical trials matters
Clinical trials are a critical part of the research process for new medicines and vaccines. The information gained is fundamental to the development of new ways to help treat and prevent disease. Evidence has shown that some drugs and vaccines show variations in the response to some individuals depending on their racial or genetic background. For this reason, it is important that volunteer participants of clinical trials appropriately reflect the people that the investigational medicine or vaccine is intending to treat.
THE CLEAN SLATE INITIATIVE WORKS TO GIVE THOSE WITH CRIMINAL RECORD A CLEAN SLATE
Black people are disproportionately affected by mass incarceration. A national initiative is looking to ensure those who have served their time are able to not have their record be a barrier to gaining housing, employment and education opportunities. The Clean Slate Initiative is a national bipartisan movement that focuses on automatic record clearance, removing the petition-based system that sometimes serves as a barrier for people who are eligible to get their record cleared.
Growing Home still going strong after 30 years
Growing Home was founded by Les Brown in 1993. Brown was trying to figure out how to help homeless men. Brown saw gardening and farming as a great tool to help center people and help them obtain transferrable skills. Thirty years later, Growing Home continues to provide access to fresh food through its urban farm, workforce development and service communities that have been disinvested for years.
Tech Savvy Friends bridges the tech gap for seniors with help from young people
A student-led organization at the University of Chicago has taken on the task of ensuring Senior Citizens are well-versed in all things technology. Tech Savvy Friends is an organization within the University of Chicago, which partnered with Chicago Hyde Park Village, to provide technology assistance to older adults.
Girls Like Me Project Partners with National Geographic Explorer for an Immersive Film Screening Experience of Disney’s “Enchanting the Little Mermaid”
Girls Like Me Project, Inc, in partnership with National Geographic Explorer Alyea Pierce, Producer of the critically acclaimed podcast, Into The Depths, aims to push past stereotypes by exposing girls to the powerful narratives and contributions of Black girls in spaces that have otherwise muted their impact by hosting an exclusive screening of one of Disney’s most anticipated beloved classic film “Enchanting the Little Mermaid”. Saturday, May 27th at 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM Cinema Chatham: powered by Emagine 210 W. 87th St. Chicago, IL. 60620.
Local chapter of national organization strives to inspire girls
Girls Inc. of Chicago was founded in 2017 as the local chapter of Girls Inc, a national organization that was founded in 1865. The mission is to inspire all girls to be strong, smart and bold, which is done through direct advocacy.
Brandon Johnson was sworn in as the 57th Mayor of the City of Chicago Photo by Tia Carol Jones BRANDON JOHNSON SWORN IN AS MAYOR OF CHICAGO
When Brandon Johnson’s name was announced, people at the UIC Pavilion stood to their feet and cheered, and chants of “Brandon” rang out. Then, there were chants of “CTU,” followed by “SEIU.” Mayor Brandon Johnson’s swearing-in ceremony took place on Monday, May 15th, with dignitaries and residents in one room to celebrate a changing of administration that many are hopeful will bring unity and inclusion.
