Black Maternal Mental Health Week Begins July 19: Moms, Caregivers and Advocates to Issue Unprecedented Call for Awareness, Action

Black moms are at higher risk for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders than White moms, but are less likely to receive mental health treatment. To call attention to these and other shameful disparities, Black Maternal Mental Health Week will be held July 19 through July 25.

TNT Comedy back in business in Lansing

TNT Comedy Hook opened the first time in 1995 and closed in 2002. During that time, comedians like Bernie Mac, Damon Williams, DeRay Davis, Craig Robinson, Leon Rodgers and Marlon Mitchell all performed there.

Dolton 149 Superintendent Dr. Maureen White Launches New Era

South suburban Dolton School District 149 Superintendent Dr. Maureen White officially began her new job as district superintendent on July 1, launching a new era.

MAYOR LIGHTFOOT, CITY DEPARTMENTS, AND AMAZON ANNOUNCE THE 2022 SUMMER KICKBACK SERIES WITH ADDED SATURDAY NIGHT EVENTS

Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot along with First Lady Amy Eshleman, the Community Safety Coordination Center (CSCC), the Chicago Park District, the Chicago Parks Foundation, the Chicago Public Library, the Department of Family and Support Services, the Chicago Department of Public Health, Amazon, and 15 community-based organizations across the city announced the launch of the second annual Summer Kickback Series with extended evening programming on Saturday nights.

Otis Redding Foundation Awarded and Recognized as a Southern Cultural Treasure by South Arts

The Otis Redding Foundation is proud to be a recipient and member of South Arts’ inaugural cohort of Southern Cultural Treasures: a $6,000,000, four-year initiative supporting Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) -led and -serving arts and cultural organizations throughout the Southeast.

THE ILLINOIS LOTTERY IS CELEBRATING LOTTERY WEEK

This week is Lottery Week, which is a celebration of the role lotteries play in generating essential funding for their communities.

Amazon Continues to Swindle Chicago; Lawmakers Need to Take a Stand

Not only have Chicago taxpayers been getting the short end of the stick, but so have local Amazon workers. Amazon employees have filed complaints with the National Labor Relations Board claiming the company retaliated against employees for COVID-19 “safety strikes.” And at the beginning of April, workers staged a protest at an Amazon distribution center in Gage Park, demanding better wages and scheduling accommodations in the wake of 10.5-hour work shifts.

BMU FOUNDER PASTOR JOHN HARRELL TO HOST COOK COUNTY’S LARGEST NEW APPLIANCES AND FURNITURE GIVE AWAY

Pastor John Harrell, Founder and President of the Black Men United Organization- will lead over 1000 confirmed attendees in a distribution of one of the largest multi-million-dollar giveaways in Chicago. Harrell is seeking to provide a day of peace, family, and celebration of Life as they restore Chicago, one community at a time.

SBA Offers Disaster Assistance to Businesses and Residents of Illinois Affected by the Condominium Complex Fire in Calumet City in May

Illinois businesses and residents affected by a condominium complex fire that occurred at The Park of River Oaks condominium in Calumet City on May 30, may apply for low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration, SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman announced recently.

NAACP 13TH National Convention Focuses On Building Black Power

The NAACP will host its 113th National Convention from July 14 to July 20, 2022 in Atlantic City after two years of virtual programming. For 2 weeks the nation's most prominent advocacy and social justice organization will bring together elected officials, activists, organizers, faith leaders, and entertainers for workshops and discussions to promote solutions to some of the most pressing issues facing Black communities today, including voter suppression, student debt, police brutality and reproductive rights.

iHeartMedia and Charlamagne Tha God Announce First-Ever Black Effect Podcast Festival

iHeartMedia and Charlamagne Tha God announced the first-ever Black Effect Podcast Festival to celebrate, uplift and amplify Black voices in the podcast industry. The event will take place Sunday, August 28 at the Avant Gardner, Brooklyn Mirage. Charlamagne Tha God will join the festival alongside some of the Black Effect’s most popular personalities for a day full of live podcast tapings and informative discussions aimed at aspiring podcasters in the Black community. The festival will be hosted by comedian Lil Duval and Power 105.1 DJ and personality Nyla Symone. For more information on the inaugural festival, visit blackeffect.com/podfest for live updates.

Silver Room Block Party set for July 16th & 17th

The Silver Room Sound System Block Party is back after a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19. It is taking place in a new location. The event will take place from noon to 10 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, July 16th, and 17th, at Oakwood Beach, located at 39th and Lake Michigan.

John Hancock Celebrates 15 Years of MLK Scholars Program

John Hancock, the US division of Toronto-based Manulife (NYSE: MFC), have celebrated the 15th anniversary of its annual MLK Scholars Program, the Nation’s largest and most comprehensive corporate summer jobs program of its kind. Since the program’s inception in 2008, the program has provided summer employment for more than 6,000 Boston youth at nonprofit organizations throughout Boston and at John Hancock

New initiative centers Black joy, leadership and the Black experience

In the Summer of 2020, George Floyd had been killed and people were coming out with statements of support for Black life and social justice. A question that Liz Dozier and Sharon Bush kept coming back to was, what does that support translate to, and what do those statements of support actually mean, in terms of action, specifically in the philanthropy community.

TIAA, Azzi Fudd and Curry Brand Collab on Custom Sneakers to Spotlight 30% Retirement Income Gap Between Men and Women

TIAA is once again working alongside top athletes to spotlight the startling reality that women have an average of 30 percentiless retirement income than men. The company announced a collaboration with UConn Huskies Guard Azzi Fudd, the top-ranked basketball recruit in 2021, and Curry Brand, Stephen Curry’s bespoke apparel and footwear line produced by Under Armour. The parties have collaborated to debut nine one-of-a-kind, hand-painted #RetireInequality sneakers. The sneakers were custom designed by David “DEZ” Zambrano and Moe of Creative Custom Kicks and symbolize the progress that has been made over the past 50 years since the passing of Title IX legislation and all of the work that still needs to be done.

Pullman Culver’s receives award

Baron Waller is the owner/operator of three Chicago Culver’s restaurants, one in Bronzeville, one in Ravenswood and one in Pullman. He believes everyone in the city should have access to good food and great service. He also wants to make an impact and make a difference in the city by providing jobs.

RELATED MIDWEST ANNOUNCES CHICAGO BASED, VETERAN-RUN VETERAN ROASTERS SELECTED AS COMPANY-WIDE COFFEE PROVIDER

Related Midwest has announced that Veteran Roasters has been selected as the company’s in-office coffee provider, and will also feature the Chicago- based coffee roasters coffee on-site daily at construction projects. In celebration of this partnership, Related Midwest hosted an event at the 900 Randolph job site on June 30 to provide free coffee for hundreds of tradespeople and highlight the U.S. Veterans who make Veteran Roasters so special.

Perceptions Theatre Highlights Playwrights of Color in Festival

Myesha-Tiara was in college when she decided she wanted to start a theater company. She was in a theater class and saw all the actors of color and thought they should have a space to perform. In 2019, she founded Perceptions Theatre. From July 10th and 11th Perceptions Theatre hosted its second annual BIPOC Play Festival.

IAMHP and State Legislators Rally Support for Behavioral Healthcare Services

Recent incidents such as school shootings, the pandemic and inflation are all factors that could greatly impact mental health. Several measures, designed to improve efficiency and efficacy of behavioral health services, were approved for increased funding during the last legislative session. The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed gaps in healthcare services throughout the country.

Bikes & Music Announces Summer “Fun-Raiser!” Group Ride and Cookout to Follow Online Fundraising Drive

Bikes & Music, a Chicagoland 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, has a goal to raise $25,000 by August 20, 2022. The funds are needed for the repair of donated bicycles, and for the purchase of new bike helmets and locks. The bikes and equipment will be provided to children and adults in need.