Gift of Life in Collaboration with Labcorp and DOUBLEMINT®, Launch Hero Gum to Expand Marrow Donor Registry
Signing up for the stem cell registry just got a whole lot easier — and tastier — thanks to a bold new initiative from Gift of Life Marrow Registry. In collaboration with Labcorp, a global leader of innovative and comprehensive laboratory services, and DOUBLEMINT®, proudly part of Mars, the nonprofit is introducing Hero Gum, a first-of-its-kind donor registration kit that pairs a stick of gum with a scientifically validated method for DNA collection.
AFROTECH™ Wants To Ensure International Innovators Gain Access To Game-Changing Career, Networking, And Funding Opportunities
The annual AFROTECH™ Conference is designed to expose Black professionals to innovation and wealth-building opportunities within sectors that include AI, marketing and advertising, cybersecurity and risk, product and design, fintech, esports, and government and civics. Additionally, it is a launchpad to endless networking conversations, funding opportunities, and your next career move. Wells Fargo employee Aaron McBee credits the 2022 AFROTECH™ Conference for helping him land a role at the company, as AFROTECH™ previously reported.
HBCU ELI at Clark Atlanta University
The Executive Leadership Institute at Clark Atlanta University (HBCU ELI) proudly marks its fifth anniversary with a celebration honoring three groundbreaking leadership cohorts: the distinguished Community of Fellows, the HBCU New Presidents Program, and the inaugural Women Leaders Program. Together, these initiatives represent HBCU ELI's unwavering commitment to developing visionary leaders equipped to navigate today's higher education landscape and champion the future of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
Cook County Department of Public Health Honored with Five National Achievement Awards
Cook County Department of Public Health (CCDPH) is proud to announce that five of its programs received achievement awards from the National Association of Counties (NACo) during its 2025 Annual Conference and Exposition, held July 11–18 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Road to 40: Firstline Brands Launches New Products Ahead of 40th Anniversary
As Firstline Brands approaches its 40th anniversary, the leading textured hair accessory company in the U.S. honors its enduring legacy through bold product innovation and culturally-rooted community engagement.
Award-winning actress, producer Marsai Martin to serve as Creative Ambassador for the 2025 HBCU First LOOK Film Festival November 6–8, 2025
The 2025 HBCU First LOOK Film Festival announced that actress/producer and entrepreneur Marsai Martin will be the Creative Ambassador for the third annual film festival. Convening again at Howard University from November 6 – 8, 2025; the HBCU First LOOK Film Festival will continue to provide a platform for young creatives to present their work and learn about the diverse aspects of the business from HBCU alumni and industry allies who support the cultural institutions.
Academy Award Honoree and Multi-Emmy Winner Debbie Allen to Deliver Keynote at CommHIT25 at Kennedy Space Center
Internationally acclaimed actor, director, choreographer, and philanthropist Debbie Allen will deliver the keynote address at CommHIT25, taking place December 4–5, 2025 at CommHIT's headquarters at NASA/Kennedy Space Center. Hosted by CommHIT, the two-day annual event brings together leaders in business, healthcare, and technology to explore the theme "Coopetition: The Art of Competing and Collaborating."
Illinois Housing Development Authority Now Accepting Applications for Permanent Supportive Housing Funding
The Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) is now accepting applications for its Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) Development Program, offering loans, forgivable loans, and grants to developers building or preserving affordable housing paired with essential case management and supportive services.
RFP Process Launched for Chicago State University’s University Village 95 Mixed-Use Development
CBRE, in partnership with Chicago State University (CSU), is pleased to announce the launch of a Request for Proposals for University Village 95, a transformative mixed-use development opportunity located in the heart of Chicago’s South Side. This initiative marks a significant milestone in CSU’s long-term vision to expand student housing and catalyze economic revitalization along the 95th Street Corridor.
Sachs Foundation Launches Alumni Board to Advance Black Leadership in Philanthropy
The Sachs Foundation has launched its inaugural Alumni Board, a bold initiative placing Black leadership at the center of philanthropic decision-making. Composed entirely of former Sachs Scholars, the Alumni Board will guide discretionary grantmaking and contribute to shaping the Foundation's strategic direction, marking a new chapter in alumni engagement and community-led impact.
Experience the Soulful Sounds of Jazz at Rainbow Beach: Chicago Jazz Philharmonic Presents Rajiv Plays Cannonball
Orbert Davis' Chicago Jazz Philharmonic invites you to its 2025 Free Summer Concert Series with a special tribute to one of jazz’s most influential saxophonists. Join us for Rajiv Plays Cannonball, Wednesday, August 6, 2025, from 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM at Norman’s Bistro on the Lake at Rainbow Beach, 3111 E. 77th Street, Chicago for an evening dedicated to celebrating the legendary Cannonball Adderley and his enduring musical legacy.
THE VILLAGE OF ROBBINS UNVEILING OF ALL NEW FOOTBALL FIELD FOR YOUTH FOOTBALL TEAM UPSTAGED BY THIEVES WHO STOLE 12K WORTH OF FOOTBALL EQUIPMENT
The Mayor of Robbins, Illinois- will be joined by the Robbins Village Board, Robbins Eagles Coaching staff, regional elected officials, and residents as they gather to witness the public unveiling of the all-new Robbins Eagles Football field. However, the group will also make a public appeal for people to donate towards the organization amid the recent theft of football equipment in which the young players need to start the season.
CHRISTMAS IN THE WARDS GEAR UP FOR MAJOR BACK-TO-SCHOOL GIVEAWAY TO SUPPORT WEST SIDE CHICAGO FAMILIES
Saturday, August 2, 2025, CITW will host a Back-to-School Giveaway at JLM Life Center, 2622 W. Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL. The invitation-only event will provide more than 1,000 backpacks filled with school supplies, alongside essentials like clothing, diapers, personal care products, fresh fruits and vegetables, healthy lunches, Pepsi beverages, and more. Most notable are the “Be the Voice #StopSuicide” branded clothes provided by In His Hands Resource Center, Inc. to address suicide among teenagers. The #StopSuicide movement message is one of hope, support, and action: "Together, a world can be created where no one feels alone in their struggles. Suicide is preventable, and everyone has a role in fostering understanding and compassion.”
Leyden Township Property Values Published
Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi released on July 22, 2025, the initial reassessments of Leyden Township's residential and commercial properties. The Assessor's Office reassesses one-third of Cook County each year. The last time the northern suburbs were reevaluated was in 2022.
CCDPH Celebrates Student Interns from Suburban Cook County
This summer, Cook County Department of Public Health (CCDPH) welcomed 10 student interns into its Community Health Worker High School Pipeline Program, a new, pilot eight-week internship offering hands-on training, academic support, and career pathways into the field of public health. The department will celebrate the interns and their achievements in a closing ceremony on Friday, Aug. 1 at a banquet hall in Oak Lawn, Ill.
Program Prepares Students For Overhead Electrical Line Work
Seventeen people were recognized for completing the Overhead Electrical Line Workers (OELW) program during a ceremony at the Dawson Technical Institute, located at 3901 S. State St., on Wednesday, July 23rd.
Local College Football Player Hosts Youth Football Camp
Malik Elzy, alum of Simeon Career Academy High School, recently hosted a youth football camp at the high school as a way of giving back to the community. Elzy, a wide receiver at the University of Illinois, partnered with Collective Uplift and sponsors Jewel Osco, Huntington Bank, Raising Cane’s, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Chicago, and Primerica Investments for the event, where 75 children ages 6 years old to 14 years olds learned football fundamentals.
Writer Wants Her Stories To Show Black Women As The Lead In Fairytales
Mallory Raven-Ellen Backstrom’s earliest memories are of her being four or five, under the covers, writing or drawing. She knew she was a storyteller and wanted to write magic for Black people. She began writing plays because during her time in the theatre she didn’t see roles for Black women in stories that had magic and whimsy. At 28, she received a scholarship to Chicago Dramatists and she wrote Cephianne’s Reflection. Backstrom has just been named the latest recipient of the L. Arnold Weissberger New Play Award. She is the fourth person of color and one of few Black women to receive this award.
Chef Lamar Moore Opens Etc. in South Loop
Chef Lamar Moore has been in the culinary industry for 26 years. He believes that food is of the soul. Growing up, he sat around his mother and grandparents and watched them cook. As he got older, cooking became something he enjoyed doing and he turned it into a career. Moore, a Chicago native, is the chef and partner of Etc. in the Loop. Etc. stands for experience, taste and cocktails. The restaurant has been open for eight months.
