Friend Health Provides Much Needed Healthcare Access To Communities
Wendy Thompson, CEO of Friend Health, said she was drawn to work in healthcare and the mission to help people live their best lives. Thompson said after having a career in finance, she had a greater calling for public service and went to work with the Chicago Public Schools for 10 years. She said what drew her to education is that education is one of the most transformational opportunities for individuals. She learned that healthcare is equally as important.
Local Woman Looks To Change Narrative Around Having Locs
Gail Mitchell likes to say that she didn’t choose the loc life, it chose her. Her hair journey took her from relaxing her hair to going natural and eventually getting locs. She noticed the questions and perceptions that the hairstyle brought and wanted to do something to change the narrative, so she started a blog called Loc’d Life Magazine in 2009. She’s had the blog for five years and has even printed two editions of it.
State Of The Southland: Village of Matteson
Sheila Chalmers-Currin has been the President of the Village of Matteson since 2017. Prior to that Chalmers-Currin served as a Village Trustee for eight years. She said that she decided to run for Mayor because she wanted to give back to the community, as she believes that everyone should want to give back to their respective communities.
Chicago Sinfonietta To Host ‘Open Heart’ Concert
To celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday, the Chicago Sinfonietta will present a concert that pays tribute to the legacy of Dr. Daniel Hale Williams. “Open Heart” will take place at 4 p.m. Sunday Jan. 18th, at Wentz Concert Hall at North Central College in Naperville, and at 4 p.m. Monday, Jan. 19th, at the Auditorium Theatre in Chicago.
Is It Normal Aging or Early Dementia? Memory Loss Causes and Alzheimer’s Warning Signs to Watch For
Memory changes are a natural part of aging. Misplacing keys or briefly forgetting a name happens to nearly everyone and usually doesn’t interfere with daily life. Dementia, however, is different. It involves ongoing cognitive decline that affects independence, judgment, and the ability to complete routine tasks.
Happy New You!
As 2025 comes to a close, many of us are ready to turn a new leaf and pray that all that was broken this year will be fixed in 2026. The losses, the uncertainty, the fatigue of it all—it has been a lot. But a new year does not require us to carry old burdens forward. It invites us to travel lighter. As we step into 2026, especially those of us who have experienced the coming and going of many years, it may be time to rethink not just what has happened to us—but what is still possible through us.
Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle Reaffirms Support for Community Violence Intervention Programs at Metropolitan Peace Academy Graduation
On Thursday, Dec. 18, Metropolitan Peace Initiatives (MPI) and Communities Partnering 4 Peace (CP4P) celebrated the newest round of Chicago Community Violence Intervention (CVI) graduates from the Metropolitan Peace Academy (MPA). The 58 graduates included street outreach workers, case managers, and victim services professionals.
Deck the Halls, Safely
The holidays are a time for family, joy and festive lights. They are also a time when electrical hazards can increase. As you decorate your home this season, keep these tips in mind to ensure your celebrations stay safe and bright.
Ellman law to strengthen Illinois gun storage starting Jan. 1
With preventable tragedies involving unsecured guns increasingly impacting children and teens, State Senator Laura Ellman advanced a critical public-safety measure to strengthen Illinois’ firearm-storage requirements. The new law helps ensure firearms are safely secured and inaccessible to minors, vulnerable residents, and those who pose a public threat.
Governor Pritzker Signs Bill Expanding End-of-Life Options for Terminally Ill Patients
Governor Pritzker signed the Medical Aid in Dying bill (SB 1950), a law that will provide qualified terminally ill patients with the option to seek medication to peacefully end their lives on their own terms in consultation with physicians.
Peters spearheads law to raise Illinois’ juvenile detention age
A new law from State Senator Robert Peters will raise the minimum age at which minors can be detained and limit detention in certain situations where the minor is not charged with a violent crime, making it clear the state is prioritizing rehabilitation and addressing the root causes of delinquent behavior.
Be Merry, But Safe: IPC Urges Caution Mixing Alcohol and Prescription Medications
‘Tis the season to be jolly but mixing alcohol and prescription medications is no laughing matter. With holiday parties that involve alcohol consumption and an increasing number of people taking medications that interact with alcohol, Illinois Poison Center (IPC) experts are reminding the public of the potentially dangerous consequences of combining some medications with alcohol.
MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION CELEBRATE 2025 GREENCORPS JOB TRAINING GRADUATES
Mayor Brandon Johnson and the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) celebrated the 47 newest graduates of Greencorps Chicago, the City’s green workforce training program which serves individuals overcoming barriers to employment, including returning residents. By building valuable job readiness skills through paid classroom and hands-on field training in ecological restoration, tree care, green infrastructure, landscaping, and environment related occupations, the program empowers Chicagoans to build brighter futures for themselves, their families and their communities.
Chicago Public Schools Announces Historic Milestones in Scholarships and Seal of Biliteracy Achievements
Chicago Public Schools (CPS) celebrates the achievements of the Class of 2025 by highlighting a record number of scholarships and State Seal of Biliteracy awards. The District recognized these accomplishments at Eric Solorio Academy High School in Gage Park, where students secured these honors at unprecedented levels. CPS emphasizes that these achievements not only demonstrate students' dedication and perseverance but also create meaningful advantages for their futures.
Avoid the Fee, Get REAL ID: Giannoulias Leads Push to Spare Illinoisans from TSA’s $45 Penalty
With the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) new $45 penalty set to catch travelers off guard starting February 1, Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias is taking action to reduce the Time Tax by making it easier than ever for Illinois residents to get their REAL ID.
Troy Pryor elevates Creative Cypher, appointing Cypher’s Sr. Newsroom Producer, Cindy Beasley, as company’s new President
On the heels of two Emmy nominations, three Telly Awards & major festivals, Creative Cypher — the innovative content collective founded by visionary creative and producer Troy Pryor — is entering a bold new era. The company announced today that Cindy Beasley has been appointed Interim President, signaling a strategic expansion of the Cypher brand as it continues to elevate underrepresented voices in film and television.
SOUTHSIDE BLOOMS OPENS FILLMORE CENTER LOCATION IN NORTH LAWNDALE, EXPANDING YOUTH EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
The Fillmore Center, a dynamic business hub in North Lawndale, announced Southside Blooms as its newest tenant, expanding youth employment opportunities and economic development on Chicago’s West Side. Founded in Englewood in 2019, the social enterprise florist is growing its mission of sustainability and community empowerment with a second shop that will employ up to 20 local youth from ages 16 - 24, with additional hiring opportunities expected in the months ahead.
Roseland Ceasefire Holds the Organization's Largest Holiday Giveaway
For the 15th year, Roseland Ceasefire Project Inc. held its holiday extravaganza at the Calumet Township Community Center, 12633 S. Ashland Avenue in Calumet Park. Run like a well-oiled machine, the violence intervention organization gave away hundreds of toys, 1,100 turkeys and all of the fixings.
UNICEF USA Announces Presidential Inaugural Poet and Activist Amanda Gorman as Newest Ambassador
UNICEF USA has appointed Presidential Inaugural Poet and activist, Amanda Gorman, as the organization’s newest Ambassador. The announcement comes on the eve of the 20th annual UNICEF Gala where Gorman will perform an original poem centering on how it is possible to create a better world for all children.
