Nicor Gas commits an additional $5 million to The Salvation Army’s Shield of Caring bill payment assistance program
Beginning Monday, January 16, 2023, qualifying Nicor Gas residential customers can apply online for a Shield of Caring grant at www.shieldofcaring.com or by calling their local Salvation Army corps community center. The program is dedicated to assisting families that are past-due on their monthly natural gas bill and have a financial hardship such as a job loss, illness, military deployment, disability or other circumstance.
Peoples Gas announces $5 million donation to Share the Warmth program Donation will help thousands of families
Peoples Gas announced a $5 million donation today to the Share the Warmth program, which provides heating grants to Chicago households that have lower incomes. Share the Warmth grants can be used by customers to pay their monthly heating bills. This donation will help more than 25,000 customers who need assistance.
CHICAGO SCHOLARS WANTS TO INCREASE COLLEGE ACCESS WITH YOUNG MEN OF COLOR INITIATIVE
Chicago Scholars has launched the Young Men of Color Initiative, with the aim to increase the number of young men served by the college access program, while exploring ways to engage young men of color where they are and provide what they need to thrive.
Bank of America Commits $13 Million to Chicago-Area Nonprofits
Chicago, Ill. – Bank of America announced it has committed $13 million in funding to more than 100 Chicago-area nonprofit organizations working to drive economic opportunity for individuals and families in underserved Chicagoland communities.
OPERATION HOPE’S 1 MILLION BLACK BUSINESS INITIATIVE HAS SUPPORTED MORE THAN 155,000 BLACK BUSINESSES TO DATE
Operation HOPE, the nation’s leading non-profit dedicated to financial empowerment for underserved communities, announced that its groundbreaking 1 Million Black Business (1MBB) initiative has supported more than 155,000 unique businesses to date through its HOPE Inside network and 1MBB partners. According to the 1MBB 2022 Impact Report, which will be released in Q1 2023, this accounts for approximately 5% of all Black-owned businesses in the U.S.
Uncle Funky’s Daughter Announces New College Athlete Brand Ambassador: Stanford BasketBall Star, Haley Jones
Uncle Funky’s Daughter launched a College Athlete Brand Ambassador program to empower student athletes of color to push limits, break barriers and create change for a more equitable future. With this program, the brand aims to encourage youth to celebrate their individuality and uniqueness and embrace the beauty of their curly and textured hair with natural hair products that love them back.
TOTALLY POSITIVE PRODUCTIONS CONTINUES TO BE A POSITIVE LIGHT
Totally Positive Productions’ mission is to produce positive rap, dance, singing and spoken word talent competitions, as well as produce positive off the street activities for young people and adults. The goal is to deter people from drug and gang involvement.
121 Local Residents Graduate from ComEd Overhead Training Programs in Chicago, Rockford and Joliet
ComEd leaders joined IBEW Local 15 and members of the community to recognize 121 local residents as they graduated from training programs required to become full-time lineworkers with ComEd. Graduation events held by the company today recognized newly hired pre-apprentices now on track to begin an overhead apprenticeship school in 2023. This on-the-job training is a requirement for performing the role of a lineworker, a key role helping to ensure reliable power is safely delivered to communities across northern Illinois.
NEW EDITION AND THE BLACK PROMOTERS COLLECTIVE ANNOUNCE THEIR NEW TOUR FOR 2023
Iconic Grammy-nominated, multi-platinum-selling R&B supergroup NEW EDITION closed out 2022 with the highly successful “The Culture Tour,” nominated as one of the Top R&B Tours in the country by Pollstar. Selling out arenas across the country, the icons and The Black Promoters Collective (BPC) are happy to announce the 30-city “LEGACY TOUR” with a must-see lineup that includes a New Jack Swing reunion with KEITH SWEA T and the original members of GUY (Teddy Riley, Aaron Hall, and Damion Hall) and TANK starting on Thursday, March 9 in Columbia, SC and ending on Sunday , April 30 in Tampa, FL.
LATANYA & THE YOUTH OF ENGLEWOOD HOSTS UGLY SWEATER CHRISTMAS PARTY FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS
- LaTanya & The Youth Of Englewood Organization hosted its annual Ugly Sweater Christmas Party at the Ogden Park District. The free event, which was attended by nearly 100 youth, community members, and their families, included an ugly sweater contest, raffles, a toy giveaway, games, and appearances from life-size characters. Attendees were also able to participate in cookie decorating, enjoy music from a live DJ, and more. DoorDash provided $ 2,000 for food for attendees at the event, along with additional support from organizations and individuals such as Washington Shoe Company and more.
Far South CDC Marketplace showcases 10 unique woman-owned small businesses
The nonprofit Far South Community Development Corporation (Far South CDC)—an organization that provides strategic community-building services to residents and businesses across Chicago’s Far South Side neighborhoods and south suburban Cook County—is showcasing ten unique woman-owned small businesses with its Far South CDC Marketplace (837 W. 115th Street, Chicago) open now through May 2023 from 12 to 6 p.m. daily
New Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Commissioner wants to give a voice to Black and Brown communities
Yumeka Brown was elected as a Commissioner for the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District in November. Brown was sworn in for her six-year term on Tuesday, Dec. 6th.
Chicago Philharmonic Welcomes Four New Members to Board of Directors
The Chicago Philharmonic Society is pleased to announce the addition of four dynamic new members to the organization’s Board of Directors. The new board members are Eleanor Bartsch, Chimaobi (Chima) Enyia, Cynthia Plouché, and Eric Wassenaar
NAMI METRO SUBURBAN, BEDS PLUS CARE EXPAND HEALTH SERVICES IN SUMMIT
In partnership with the Village of Summit, the National Alliance on Mental Illness Metro Suburban (NAMI Metro Suburban) and BEDS Plus Care held a ribbon cutting to celebrate the grand opening of two new community resources focused on expanding mental and physical health care services in the Summit, Berwyn, Justice, and Cicero communities.
MIDWEST HEALTH EQUITY COALITION AIMS TO IMPROVE HEALTHCARE ACCESS
A new health coalition has launched with the goal to support cost effective healthcare and increase access to healthcare for people of color, with a focus on seniors in the Midwest.
SAMHSA Proposes Update to Federal Rules to Expand Access to Opioid Use Disorder Treatment and Help Close Gap in Care
Changes Would Make Permanent COVID-Timed Medication Flexibilities, and Update Decades-Old Definitions and Standards for Opioid Treatment Programs at a time when fewer than 1 out 10A mericans can access treatment for substance use disorder.
Grassroots Coalition Launched by High School Students Advocates for Safer Streets and Smarter Crime Reduction Strategies
Students from Urban Prep Academy, Leo High School and Perspectives Charter Schools recently came together to form a grassroots coalition, Safe Streets Chicago, in cooperation with school leaders, parents, block club members and public safety advocates to raise support for residents to have a say in how to make their neighborhoods safe from gun violence.
OB/GYN HELPS WOMEN UNDERSTAND THEIR BODIES
Dr. Wendy Goodall McDonald was able to see an example of what she wanted to be when she was growing up. Her friend’s mother was an OB/GYN.
Pappas: Cook County property taxes due by December 30
Pay Online Before 11:59 p.m.to avoid penalties. Property owners must pay the Second Installment of their Cook County property taxes by Friday, December 30, 2022, to avoid late charges imposed by state law.
