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ComEd Celebrates 10 Years of Workforce Development with Chicago Community Build Event
ComEd recently celebrated 10 years of its Tools of the Trade program with a community bed build event in Chicago, Illinois, where participants gathered to build beds for children in need. Throughout the day, 30 young adults ages 17–19 built 25 beds to be donated to St. Joseph’s Bed Ministry. Combined with a bed build event in Rockford on July 15, where 15 young adults built an additional 30 beds, this year’s Tools of the Trade participants have assembled more than 55 beds for children in need. This marks the fourth year of ComEd’s partnership with St. Joseph’s Bed Ministry, which has provided more than 240 beds for children across northern Illinois.
Commissioner Donna Miller Announces Over $4 Million to Support Infrastructure, Housing, and Community Development Across Southland Communities
Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller is proud to announce that more than $4 million in total funding has been allocated for communities and organizations across the 6th District through the Invest in Cook Program and the 2026 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG), and related federal funding programs.
Unity Lives Through Bronzeville Mural Honoring Chicago Park District
Brothers Amoz and Malachi are living life on purpose while changing the lives of others with their artistic tools. Both brothers are living up to their biblical name sakes as disciples of Christ. Recently the two completed a Mural in the Bronzeville community paying homage to the Chicago Park District. The Mural is displayed at the Kennicott Fieldhouse located at 4434 S. Lake Park Ave.
Dark & Lovely Introduces "The Hairapist," A Bold New Campaign Celebrating Taking Hair Color Into Your Own Hands
Dark & Lovely, the pioneer in hair color formulated for curls, coils and tighter textures, has launched its newest campaign, 'The Hairapist'. Starring marketing executive and cultural powerhouse Bozoma Saint John as "The Hairapist" alongside media personality and podcaster Scottie Beam as her distressed client, the campaign tackles a modern phenomenon: the emotional exhaustion of "stylist codependency" and the dread of the last-minute "hey boo" cancelation text.
We, The People…
The convention brought thousands of delegates, youth leaders, advocates, professionals, clergy and community members to Chicago from July 15 through July 22, 2026. Convened under the theme “We, The People,” it offered more than speeches, workshops and ceremonial gatherings. It challenged us to examine the condition of our democracy and the responsibility of a 117-year-old civil rights organization in a rapidly changing nation.
Cook County Hosts Series of Community Baby Showers to Support New and Expectant Moms in Suburban Cook County
Cook County Department of Public Health is hosting a series of community baby showers to connect new and expectant parents with resources and raise awareness about maternal and infant mortality. The first of three community baby showers takes place on Saturday, Aug. 22, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Harvey Park District’s Gloria Taylor Hall, located at 14821 Broadway Ave. in Harvey, Ill.
COMMUNITY LEADERS, LAWMAKERS PUSH PRITZKER TO REOPEN WEISS, WEST SUBURBAN HOSPITALS
North and West Side advocates are pushing Gov. J.B. Pritzker to use his official powers to quickly reopen two important Chicago-area hospitals that have closed in the past 11 months: Weiss Memorial Hospital in the Uptown neighborhood of Chicago and West Suburban Medical Center in Oak Park.
8TH AND 19TH DISTRICT COUNCILS CALL ON CITY TO ADVANCE PARKING ALTERNATIVE RESPONSE PILOT
The 8th and 19th District Councils are calling on city leadership to advance the Parking Alternative Response Team (PART) pilot, a community-developed proposal designed to divert thousands of non-emergency parking-related 911 calls from sworn police officers to civilian personnel.
Living Word Christian Center to Host Major Back‑to‑School Family Event August 1 at Forest Park Plaza, Supported by Forest Park Plaza and Living Fresh Market
Living Word Christian Center (LWCC), in partnership with two of its key business entities—Forest Park Plaza, the largest retail center in the Village of Forest Park, and Living Fresh Market, the 71,000‑square‑foot full‑service supermarket—will host one of the largest family events of the summer: the Back‑to‑School Family Event and School Supply Giveaway on Saturday, August 1, 2026, from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM in the Forest Park Plaza parking lot at 7630 Roosevelt Road.
MIELLE CARES ANNOUNCES “MATCH MI MINDSET,” A CHARITY PICKLEBALL TOURNAMENT BENEFITING TEEN MENTAL HEALTH IN CHICAGO
Mielle Cares, the charitable foundation founded by Mielle Organics’ Monique and Melvin Rodriguez, announces Match Mi Mindset — a charity pickleball tournament taking place Thursday, July 30, 2026 from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at The Sport House, 1301 E. 47th Street, Building 1, Chicago, IL 60653. All proceeds benefit Mielle Cares’ MiMental Mindset program, which supports the mental health and emotional well-being of teens and preteens across the country.
Deadline for Cook County Shop Talk Open Call Extended to August 6
The deadline for the Cook County Shop Talk funding opportunity offered by Cook County Department of Public Health has been extended from July 30 to Aug. 6. Funding for Cook County Shop Talk will expand culturally responsive community conversations about mental health for teens and young adults in high-need suburban communities. CCDPH is seeking proposals from municipalities that can engage youth of color in their communities to host community mental health events.
Oh What Needless Pain We Bear…
This week, the oldest, boldest, most revered—and at times most feared—civil rights organization in America, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), hosted its 117th National Convention here in Chicago. Unfortunately, because of my newspaper deadline being the first day of the convention, I cannot give you a full report. I can say, however, that the seminars listed in the convention program appear to be both timely and promising. Stay tuned—I look forward to sharing highlights and observations in a future column.
NABJ Announces Executive Director Search Committee and Launch of National Search Process
The National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) today announced the formation of its and the launch of the next phase of its national search for the organization's next Executive Director.
CPA Endowment Fund of Illinois Awards Record Accounting Tuition Scholarships
As the accounting profession works to strengthen its future workforce, the CPA Endowment Fund of Illinois, the charitable partner of the Illinois CPA Society (ICPAS)—one of the largest state certified public accountant (CPA) societies—has awarded a record $161,000 in scholarships to 61 accounting students attending 23 Illinois colleges and universities.
