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WESTSIDE MINISTERS TO KICK-OFF 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF MLK SPEECH AT THE MARCH ON WASHINGTON WITH HISTORIC PARTNERSHIP WITH THE GREAT LAKES CREDIT UNION (GLCU)
Members of the West side faith leaders, “Leaders Network” vow to fulfill the dream of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by doing the nation’s most meaningful commemoration on the 60th anniversary of King’s I Have A Dream Speech – Enabling Economic and Financial Empowerment by establishing a community credit union in the west side Austin community. The location will be just a couple of miles from where King and his family lived when he brought his civil rights movement north to Chicago in 1966.
Outdoor gardening program helps children with Autism and Down Syndrome
A nonprofit on the West side is providing a space for children with Autism and Down Syndrome to be able to play and participate in activities. Limes Smiles for Miles is a daycare center with an outdoor gardening program for children, ages 3 to 5 years old, with Autism and Down Syndrome.
Chicago Public Schools Celebrates Safe Passage Program
Mayor Brandon Johnson and Chicago Public Schools (CPS) CEO Pedro Martinez joined students, educators, staff, and community members to celebrate the nearly 1,200 Safe Passage workers that support Chicago’s youth. The Safe Passage Program aims to improve student safety during daily walks to and from school and increase engagement through partnerships with community-based organizations. This year, 188 schools will be connected to Safe Passage routes.
State Treasurer Frerichs Announces Winners of 2023 Cream of the Crop Photo Contest
Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs today announced the winners of the 2023 Cream of the Crop Photo Contest, which provides an opportunity for young photographers to share their vision of agriculture in our state. Students who won first, second or third place in each age category will be awarded Bright Start scholarships.
Progress continues in critical upgrade of Chicago’s natural gas delivery system
The Peoples Gas program to modernize Chicago’s antiquated natural gas delivery system continued its steady progress in the second quarter of 2023. Data from the quarter has been reported to the Illinois Commerce Commission as part of the commission’s extensive oversight of the Safety Modernization Program.
ATTORNEY GENERAL KWAME RAOUL URGES COURT TO STRENGTHEN HYUNDAI, KIA PRIVATE CONSUMER CLASS-ACTION SETTLEMENT
Attorney General Kwame Raoul, along with seven attorneys general, is urging a federal court to strengthen a private, consumer class-action settlement with Hyundai and Kia by requiring the companies to recall or buy back the theft-prone vehicles and equip them with engine-immobilizer technology.
Gov. Pritzker Signs Legislation Creating a Grant Program for Students Majoring in Technology Fields
Governor JB Pritzker signed House Bill 1378, which will create the Illinois Graduate and Retain Our Workforce (iGROW) Tech Act to establish a new program that allows students majoring in technology fields to receive tuition grants. The iGROW program will be administered by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) and will be open to students enrolled in associate or bachelor’s degree programs at public or private colleges and universities. Students in IT fields can receive a grant amount up to the total cost of attendance.
Gift Through Philanthropist Steve Ballmer's Foundation Helps Communities In Schools of Chicago Expand Critical Supports Program to Students at Eight Chicago Public Schools
Hundreds of students at eight Chicago public schools will benefit from a major donation from philanthropist and former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer. His Ballmer Group has made a $165 million donation to the nonprofit Communities In Schools National, which will help grow a critical program of the local CIS affiliate. CIS of Chicago will receive more than $1 million over a three-year period as its share of the total Ballmer Group gift. That funding will enable CIS of Chicago to increase by more than 25% the number of CPS schools served by the organization's Intensive Program.
Olive-Harvey College and the Chicago Police Department Partner to Offer No-Cost Associate Degree in Criminal Justice In One Year with CPD Academy Entrance Exam Waived
The “One Year and Out” City Colleges of Chicago Criminal Justice program offers Chicago residents the opportunity to earn an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree with a focus in Criminal Justice, at no cost, in as little as 12 months, and then apply to the Chicago Police Academy (CPD) with the ability to waive the Department's entrance exam.
REGISTRATION OPEN FOR THE JOFFREY ACADEMY OF DANCE
The Joffrey Academy of Dance, the Official School of The Joffrey Ballet, has opened class registration for the 2023-24 year. Classes at the Joffrey Academy are available for adults and children alike, offering world-class training for students of all ages, levels, and abilities, reflecting Joffrey’s mission to create a Joffrey for All. The Academy’s Pre-Professional, Children's, Dance Lab, Adult Open, and Adaptive Dance classes start Tuesday, September 5, at the Joffrey Tower (10 E. Randolph St.) and South Loop studios (1920 S. Wabash Ave). To register, visit https://joffrey.clubautomation.com/.
Gov. Pritzker Announces Mental Health Center Renamed for Elizabeth Packard
Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) announced a new name for the McFarland Mental Health Center. By executive proclamation, it is now officially the Elizabeth Parsons Ware Packard Mental Health Center. On signage and in common use, it will become known simply as the Packard Mental Health Center. Located on the south side of Springfield, the psychiatric hospital employs more than 250 staff and supports over 120 patients with serious mental illness on a 24/7 basis.
Jackson State University's 2023 Day of Giving raises over $650,000 for student scholarships
Jackson State University's 9th Day of Giving raised more than $689,000, surpassing its $650,000 fundraising goal for the event, which kicked off on Friday, July 14. The event featured a virtual video presentation themed "B.E.T. on JSU," aka "Black Excellence at Thee."
Advancing Black Wealth Tour Coming to Chicago in Aug. 26
JPMorgan Chase is excited to announce the return of its Advancing Black Wealth Tour. The multi-city event series, now in its second year, delivers financial health education, home-buying and real estate workshops, wealth building seminars and other vital financial insights to Black communities nationwide.
GLCU Continues Technology Investments with Rollout of AI Bot “Olive”
Great Lakes Credit Union (GLCU) has partnered with Silicon Valley-based interface.ai to introduce “Olive,” a call center bot that leverages conversational AI to route calls, conduct phone banking transactions, and decrease member wait times.