RetailMeNot Confirms Holiday Season Will Start Earlier and See More Online Shopping Than Ever Before

According to a new survey from RetailMeNot, a Vericast company, this year’s unprecedented holiday season will start earlier than previous years. While many Americans’ wallets are tighter this season, 66% of consumers say they plan to spend the same amount of money or more this holiday in order to create a sense of normalcy and keep traditions alive.

Pappas: Nearly quarter million property owners must pay $1 billion in Cook County property taxes by October 1 to avoid late fees

More than 225,000 homeowners and businesspeople must pay $1 billion in Cook County property taxes by Thursday, October 1, 2020, to avoid hefty late fees, Treasurer Maria Pappas said.

First Responders Join U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly to Call for Resiliency & Suicide Prevention Resources

Chief James Black and Captain Jeff Dill joined Congresswoman Robin Kelly yesterday to mark Suicide Prevention Month and call for greater access to federal first responder resiliency and wellness resources.

4th ANNUAL ANTI-BULLYING CONFERENCE - VIRTUAL

Keeping the youth safe from bullying during the period of COVID-19 will be a featured program at this year's Anti- Bullying Virtual Conference on Saturday, Oct. 17th, from 8:30 A.M. - 3:30 P.M. for adults and 9:00 A.M. - 12:30 P.M. for youth. The program will include "Current Issues in Bullying" and provide an open discussion on whether COVID-19 is increasing cyberbullying among youth.

Annual REVOLT Summit x AT&T Returns: Programming Empowers Next Generation Of Black Leaders

The annual REVOLT Summit x AT&T is back and going entirely virtual and free of cost for a 3-day summit from October 23-25.

DIVERSITYMBA FOUNDER WANTS COMPANIES TO INCLUDE RETENTION EFFORTS IN HIRING

While companies are focusing on diversity and inclusion in the wake of the deaths of unarmed Black people, Pamela McElvane says those companies should be just as focused on the retention of diverse hires.

New Season of ‘Buried Truths’ Podcast Investigates and Explores the Ahmaud Arbery Case

In the third season of the Peabody Award-winning podcast, Buried Truths, host Hank Klibanoff investigates exactly what happened when Ahmaud Arbery took his final jog along the residential streets of Brunswick, GA.

New Pilot to Provide Fresh Produce to Communities on the South Side of Chicago

The Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) recently announced a new Community Garden Pilot Project to provide fresh produce to communities on the south side of Chicago that have a history of poverty and that have been hardest hit by COVID-19.

College Graduate Discusses Experience as NASA Intern

If 2020 has taught us anything, it is that life is a chaotic system, where small differences cascade into a variation of outcomes. Recent Prairie State College (PSC) graduate, Emanuel “Manny” Gomez, who spent his summer as an intern at NASA, anecdotally agrees

Haitian Artist BélO Wins Grand Prize in Prestigious 2020 Unsigned Only Music Competition

The winners of the US-based Unsigned Only Music Competition were recently announced. For the first time in its history, the Grand Prize is awarded to a World Music artist, BélO, for the song “EDA.” He is also the winner of Fandemonium, Unsigned Only’s online public vote.

Black Households Earned 61 Cents for Every Dollar of White Median Incomes

The August 23 police shooting of an unarmed Black man in Kenosha, WI, triggered yet another round of community protests and national news coverage of a Black man. A series of multiple gunshots fired by a local police officer, were not fatal for 29-year old Jacob Blake; but may have permanently paralyzed him from the waist down.

NEW I GROW CHICAGO EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SEES ORGANIZATION AS BEING A MODEL FOR BUILDING PEACE AND LOVE IN COMMUNITIES

I Grow Chicago has a new executive director. Sol Anderson comes to the Englewood-based non-profit with more than 13 years of experience in the non-profit sector. The role of president and founder of I Grow Chicago, Robbin Carroll, will change from the day-to-day operations, to Board member and advocate.

Solving the Challenge of Math Class This School Year

StatePoint - Math can be one of the toughest subjects to conquer, even in a typical school year. In today’s unusual learning environment, new challenges are presenting themselves to teachers and students alike. Here is how you can help your child make the grade in math, no matter where their learning is taking place:

KARYN CALABRESE REVIVES KARYN’S COOKED WITH POP-UP

Calabrese is best known as being the first in Chicago to advocate for the raw food movement. She has been a vegan for more than 30 years and operates Raw Bistro at 1717 N. Ashland Ave., as well as a Karyn’s Inner Beauty Center Day Spa, at the same location.

Senate committee focuses on criminal sentencing reforms

The second state Senate committee hearing spurred by the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus’ recently unveiled legislative agenda focused on criminal justice reforms.

GROUP OF PROMINENT BLACK WOMEN LEADERS AND ADVOCATES CALL FOR $1 BILLION INVESTMENT TO HELP BLACK GIRLS THRIVE

On the 57th Anniversary of the 16th Street Church bombing in Birmingham, AL, that killed four young Black girls, a group of prominent Black women leaders and advocates recently called for an investment of $1 billion over the next 10 years in Black girls and young women.

ILLINOIS STATE TREASURER CALLS FOR MORE WOMEN AND PEOPLE OF COLOR IN FINANCE

Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs recently testified at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) Asset Management Advisory Committee about the need to increase the number of women and people of color in financial institutions, which includes big banks and investment houses.

Lifelong Learning and 1890 Universities Foundation partner to help at-risk high school students realize their dreams of higher education

Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) are known for helping students of color and provide an opportunity for youth to access an affordable and quality higher education.

Wells Fargo gives $1 million in scholarships to bridge financial gaps faced by students amidst COVID-19

Students dedicated to making a positive difference in the world offer the greatest hope for the future, but for many, their plans are threatened due to the unexpected financial gap posed by COVID-19 – sometimes prohibiting them from continuing and completing college.

Open House Chicago expands to 10 days for its 10th anniversary in fall 2020, highlighting South and West Side neighborhoods

Th e Chicago Architecture Center (CAC) recently announced the return of Open House Chicago (OHC) for a 10th consecutive year. Part of the worldwide family of 46 Open House events, inaugurated by Open House London in 1992, Open House Chicago is the second-most widely attended event of its kind