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3 North Lawndale Schools Partner with Community to Launch STEAM Programming in SY 2024-2025
Chicago Public Schools (CPS), in collaboration with many community partners, is honored to announce the creation of a science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) programming in North Lawndale for the 2024-25 School Year. The partnership involves three current CPS schools; Chalmers School of Excellence, Johnson School of Excellence, and The Collins Academy High School, and promises to provide students with a well-balanced education that deepens their knowledge in STEAM subjects, starting in elementary school and continuing through high school – yielding more graduates prepared for in-demand STEAM careers.
Farragut Career Academy IB World School Renaming Gymnasium After Former Teacher/Basketball Coach William “Wolf” Nelson
Farragut Career Academy IB World School honored a beloved coach and teacher with a ceremony to name its gym the “William “Wolf” Nelson Gymnasium.” Nelson, a Farragut alumnus, has taught math for 33 years and was the varsity and junior varsity boys’ basketball coach for 40 years, respectively. He retired following the 2022-23 school year.
Chicago Public Schools Hosts Annual Mental Health Summit
More than 200 students and staff from across Chicago Public Schools convened at Malcolm X College to break the stigma around mental health through workshops, wellness activities, music and more. CPS Chief Health Officer Dr. Sofia Adawy Akintunde served as a keynote speaker and participant along with other CPS team members. Saturday’s summit is the second annual event and represents an early start to Mental Health Awareness Month in May.
Assessor Hosts 2024 Market Investor Day
The Cook County Assessor’s Office (CCAO) hosted its annual Market Investor Day on Wednesday, April 24. The event featured conversations between CCAO executive staff, industry leaders, and attendees about how property values are modeled and the state of commercial real estate in Chicago.
Center for Effective Government, Chicago Public Schools Announce Second Cohort of Executive Leadership Seminar Series Staff Participants
The University of Chicago Center for Effective Government (CEG) recently welcomed a cohort of 25 senior leaders from Chicago Public Schools (CPS) to the University’s Harris School of Public Policy for the second year of its Executive Leadership Seminar Series — an innovative partnership between CEG and CPS that provides immersive, multi-disciplinary leadership training to senior-level staff at CPS.
MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON, MAYOR’S OFFICE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, ADA S. MCKINLEY COMMUNITY SERVICES LAUNCH DIVERSE LEARNERS RECOVERY FUND FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
Mayor Brandon Johnson, in partnership with the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities and Ada S. McKinley Community Services – one of Chicago’s largest and oldest human services organizations – has announced a new grant program aimed at providing financial assistance to families of children with disabilities, a population that was disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The $5 million Diverse Learners Recovery Fund will provide one-time grants of $500 to up to 8,000 eligible K-12 students through a lottery.
SOUTHLAND COLLEGE PREP CLASS OF 2024 ACCEPTED TO COLLEGE; OFFERED $50 MILLION AND COUNTING IN MERIT AND NEED-BASED SCHOLARSHIPS
Southland College Prep Charter High School in Richton Park, Illinois celebrated for the eleventh consecutive year that all members of the senior class have been accepted to college.
Governor Pritzker Launches $30 Million Grant Opportunity for Community Revitalization
Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) launched $30 million in funding for the Rebuild Illinois Downtowns and Main Streets Capital (RDMS, $20 million) and Research in Illinois to Spur Economic Recovery (RISE, $10 million) programs to revitalize commercial corridors and downtown areas throughout the state and accelerate local economic recovery initiatives. Grantees will be selected through a competitive Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) process.
HYDE PARK ART CENTER BECOMES THE NATION’S FIRST 100% CONTRIBUTE-WHAT-YOU-CAN ART EDUCATION PROGRAM
Hyde Park Art Center, the renowned non-profit hub for contemporary art located on Chicago’s vibrant South Side, announces that it has completed the transition to a contribution-based model for 100% of its art classes. The initiative, Open Arts, launched in spring 2022 with 70% of the courses on a contribute-what-you-can basis. The completion of this pioneering initiative makes the Art Center’s Oakman Clinton School + Studio the nation’s first fully contribute-what-you-can visual art school for all ages. The successful model, dedicated to ensuring more equitable access to artmaking, education, and community engagement, demonstrates the Art Center’s commitment to the South Side and the broader Chicago art ecosystem for the years to come.
MOODY’S OUTLINES BENEFITS OF MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON’S PLAN UNDERLYING THE ISSUANCE OF $1.25 BILLION IN BONDS
Moody’s Investors Service released research highlighting the benefits of Mayor Johnson’s strategy to fund vital housing and economic development. Moody’s notes that this new framework supports stability and increases budgetary flexibility.
Choosing Love Over Fear: Embracing Foster Care as a Cool and Compassionate Choice
As we enter National Foster Care Awareness Month, it's essential to shed light on the transformative power of fostering and adoption. While many of us are familiar with the concept of foster care, there's often a lingering stigma or misconception surrounding it. Some may view foster care as a last resort or a daunting responsibility, overshadowed by fear and uncertainty. However, I'm here to challenge that narrative and urge us all to choose love over fear when it comes to fostering a child.
STUDY: Completing O’Hare Modernization Could Grow Economy Nearly $20 Billion and Create Almost 100K Jobs
As the City of Chicago and partner airlines negotiate over the future of the O’Hare 21 modernization program, a new report by the nonpartisan Illinois Economic Policy Institute (ILEPI) shows that proceeding as planned would create nearly 100,000 jobs by 2033 (or almost 10,000 jobs per year) and generate more than $2 in economic return for every dollar invested. Additionally, the report finds that once completed, the program would boost revenues at Chicago O’Hare International Airport by $280 million per year, grow the Chicago metropolitan economy by more than $500 million annually, and increase state and local tax collections by more than $60 million per year.
Cleaner Transportation Fuels Can Save Lives
One of the biggest challenges in communities of color are higher rates of asthma and respiratory related illnesses. I know this firsthand from growing up in the inner city of Buffalo. My family lived near NYS Route 33, the Kensington Expressway and so did my grandma, one of my uncles and at least one aunt. As a kid I snored really bad and at times, I experienced labored breathing. Of course, my physician said I had a mild case of asthma.
Illinois Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association Hosted Second Annual African American Release the Silence: RACE into Action Conference
The Illinois Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association proudly announces the success of its Second Annual African American Conference “Release the Silence: RACE into Action Conference,” held on Saturday, April 27 at the Greenwood Oasis. This impactful event brought together approximately 500 individuals for a day of engaging discussions and valuable insights.
