Pritzker Administration Launches COVID-19 Summer Youth Employment Program

The Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) recently announced two COVID-19 response programs designed to provide much-needed support to Illinois residents – a summer youth program for more than 2,000 at-risk youth and an Immigrant Family Support Project for more than 3,600 families who have been generally excluded from or ineligible for federal COVID-19 relief and unemployment insurance.

ALDERMAN WANTS BLACK CONTRACTORS TO HELP REBUILD THE COMMUNITY

Standing in front of the Walgreens located on 1213 W. 79th St., and after George Floyd’s death sparked nationwide uprisings and unrest, David Moore, 17th Ward Alderman, stood with elected officials, clergy, contractors and community organizations, and called for companies to use Black contractors during the rebuilding process. “Use intentionality of hiring black people, use intentionality of hiring black contractors and when you’re intentional about this, then we can begin to move forward on [a] myriad issues,” Moore said.

Introducing The Beauty Knocks Box

The Skin Clique, a skincare company headquartered in South Carolina, recently announced the national launch of the Beauty Knocks Box: the first-ever medical-grade skincare subscription box, according to a press release.

IT’S OFFICIAL: RESTAURANTS, BARS CAN SERVE COCKTAILS TO GO

Springfield - Illinois restaurants and bars can serve cocktails to go after Gov. JB Pritzker signed an initiative designed by lawmakers to provide establishments with financial relief in the wake of COVID-19 challenges.

Black People Eats raises money for Black-owned restaurants

Jeremy Joyce began Black People Eats in 2017 with the goal of highlighting and connecting people to Black restaurants —not just in the city of Chicago—but across the country.

How a Box of Crayons Helped a Child to Win The Battle of Racism

In today’s world, race appears to permeate every facet of our society. With all the sights and sounds of diversity, the American Diversity Report (https://americandiversityreport. com/category/i-am-sienna-by-gail-hayes/) and Thrive Global (https://thriveglobal.com/ stories/i-am-sienna) recently published I am Sienna, a unique article on race by Thought Leader and International Communicator, Dr. Gail Hayes, describing her first childhood experience with racism. Hayes, who is an Army brat, left the United States in 1961 to live in Okinawa, Japan and attended the 1st – 4th grades in Department of Defense Schools while living there.

3 Things to Know About Juneteenth

Juneteenth, which observes the end of slavery in the United States, is a long-celebrated holiday occurring annually on June 19. Here are three things to know about this American tradition:

Department Of Justice Awards Nearly $400 Million For Law Enforcement Hiring To Advance Community Policing

The Department of Justice recently announced nearly $400 million in grant funding through the Department’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) COPS Hiring Program (CHP). The Attorney General announced funding awards to 596 law enforcement agencies across the nation, which allows those agencies to hire 2,732 additional full-time law enforcement professionals. The awards announced are inclusive of the $51 million announced in May as part of Operation Relentless Pursuit.

PROTEST RALLY FOR GEORGE FLOYD UNITES THE SOUTHLAND TO MARCH FOR JUSTICE AND LOVE

The recent death of George Floyd united more than 1,000 people living in the Southland including U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly (D-2nd) and Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx to participate in a peaceful rally in Matteson.

SHOULD POLICE OFFICERS BE REMOVED FROM CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS?

The death of George Floyd has sparked a national campaign by protestors to reduce funding to police departments and reallocate those funds in other areas including removing officers from Chicago Public Schools.

March on West side highlights racial injustices

Clergy, elected officials and community leaders chanted “Black Lives Matter,” as they marched down Independence Blvd., holding a banner with George Floyd’s image and his name. The mass gathering on the city’s West Side was meant to shed light on the injustices Black people face when it comes to treatment by law enforcement and culminated with a stop at the site where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., lived during his time in Chicago, at 15th and Hamlin.

REBUILD FOUNDATION AND EXPERIMENTAL SOUND STUDIO ANNOUNCE JUNETEENTH QUARANTINE CONCERT BENEFITTING THE TAMIR RICE FOUNDATION

Rebuild Foundation and Experimental Sound Studio today announced a critical iteration of the Quarantine Concerts commemorating the 155th anniversary Juneteenth, the oldest national celebration of the ending of slavery in the United States on June 19th, 1865. Proceeds from this concert, hosted just days before what would have been Tamir Rice’s 18th birthday, will support the Tamir Rice Foundation’s endeavors to create the Tamir Rice Afrocentric Cultural Center in Cleveland, Ohio.

Clean Up Continues After Looting Spree Crippled Chicago Communities

Community leaders and residents have banned together to help clean up their communities after a looting spree devastated many neighborhoods especially on the South and West Sides.

ASK DR. KEVIN: An Unfamiliar, Rare Disease Associated with Heart Failure in African Americans

The “Ask Dr. Kevin” series is brought to you by Pfizer Rare Disease in collaboration with the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) to increase awareness and understanding of ATTR-CM, or transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy, and the risk to African Americans.

Low-income people and others who aren’t required to file tax returns can quickly register for payment with IRS Non-Filers tool

With 159 million Economic Impact Payments processed, the Internal Revenue Service reminds many low-income Americans who don’t usually file tax returns to register for a payment by October 15.

Gov. Pritzker Announces Three Appointments to Illinois Concealed Carry Licensing Board

Governor JB Pritzker recently announced three appointments to the Illinois Concealed Carry Licensing Review Board including Joseph Duffy, Donald Wilkerson and Jeremy Margolis. Duffy was previously appointed to the Concealed Carry Licensing Review Board in 2015. He currently practices law at Loeb and Loeb. Previously, he worked at Stetler, Duffy and Rotert, and Schiff, Hardin, and Waite. Among his many accomplishments, he was also named “Illinois Super Lawyer” in Criminal Defense: White Collar and Business Litigation by Thomson Reuters (2005-2020). He earned his Bachelor of Arts from DePaul University and Juris Doctorate from The John Marshall Law School.

Ice Cube to Black Press of America: ‘You’re All We’ve Got’

Thirty years ago, Ice Cube debuted his seminal “AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted” album, which many at the time said was the apex of hip hop’s existence

Study: The COVID-19 Pandemic Has Led to a Surge of Socially Responsible Behaviors

COVID-19 has had a radically positive impact on socially responsible behaviors, according to a special release of the Conscious Consumer Spending Index (#CCSIndex).

United Turns Old Uniforms Into Masks for Employees

United Airlines recently delivered 7,500 face coverings to front line employees at San Francisco International Airport and the airline’s San Francisco Maintenance Base that were made from 12,284 pounds of uniforms United upcycled.

‘Churched’ explores religion, with comedy

Crystal Barnes is a filmmaker who creates faith-based content with an edge, comedy, with a more critical lens. She always wanted to make a faith-based comedy. After seeing ‘The Office,” she was inspired to use that single camera, documentary-style model.