Corie Luckett, owner and operator of Englewood Branded, had an idea for a development project that would transform a vacant lot into something that would benefit the community. Luckett and Englewood Branded had been hosting community activations at the corner of 63rd and Justine for the last few years. In late June, the site opened as Englewood Breakroom Public Outdoor Plaza (POP!).
Mark Clements is in and out of prisons and courtrooms in his quest to help people. The work that he does as a community organizer with the Chicago Torture Justice Center is personal to him.
Cook County – The Cook County Assessor’s Office (CCAO) received a National Association of Counties Achievement Award for the creation of a tool called the Property Tax Simulator, also known as PTAXSIM. This is a software code package implemented in the coding language R and is designed to recalculate changes to Cook County property tax bills. It uses real assessment, exemption, TIF, and levy data to generate historic, line-by-line tax bills for properties in Cook County from tax years 2006 to 2020. Why is this important? Policy makers, researchers, and journalists can now create historical counterfactual scenarios to determine how policy changes could impact the property tax system.
After the success of the first iFest, the Village of Bolingbrook will host the 2nd Annual iFest 2023 Saturday, July 15, 2023, from 11:00 AM until 9:00 PM at The Village of Bolingbrook Festival Grounds and Performing Arts Center, 375 W. Briarcliff Rd, Bolingbrook.
In June, the National Kidney Foundation of Illinois (NKFI) welcomed 1,400 patients, family members, friends, and supporters of those with kidney disease to Diversey Harbor for the 24th annual Walk for Kidneys. People from all over Chicagoland turned out to embrace NKFI’s mission of improving the health and well-being of those at risk or affected by kidney disease through prevention, education, and empowerment. They raised more than $237,000, which will go directly towards the crucial programs cultivated by NKFI and will provide services for people affected by or at risk of kidney disease across Illinois.
The recreational, educational and peaceful activities available all summer in the Forest Preserves of Cook County encompasses virtually anything available at a lake getaway in Wisconsin or Michigan, and then some—just much closer to home.
Ronald J. Vlasaty Jr-COO of Family Guidance Centers, Inc (FGC)- will be joined by Cook County Commissioner Monica Gordon, Cook County Department of Public Health officials, various South Suburban elected officials, and community leaders in officially presenting to southern Cook County an all-new grant funded mobile unit created to assist in reversing the alarming opioid crisis that has negatively impacted the southland.
Performer Joan Collaso founded Timeless Gifts Performing Arts Program for Youth and Young Adults in 2010 as a concept for concert that would pair young, aspiring performers with professional performers in different genres – music, acting and dancing.
Sprite – a brand that has championed hip-hop culture for more than 35 years – will celebrate the groundbreaking genre’s 50th anniversary this summer with a buzzworthy TV spot starring a crew of living legends and rising stars, a new limited-edition flavor, sponsorship of one of the year’s most anticipated concert tours and a series of exclusive merch and experience drops.
Karina Brez, and her exquisite collections perfectly complement the alluring coastal cowgirl aesthetic. Karina Brez designs seamlessly blend the grace and power of equestrianism with the free-spirited elegance of coastal living, resulting in jewelry that exudes a unique sense of beauty and charm.
The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) announced a partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of America to combat the youth mental health crisis in the United States through trauma-informed approaches to behavioral health care. By investing more than $10 million over four years, this partnership will help Boys & Girls Clubs of America implement trauma-informed practices in its more than 5,000 Clubs by 2026 to train over 48,000 staff to better support the emotional and mental well-being of over 3.6 million children.
The Apollo announced recently the appointment of Michelle Ebanks as the next President and CEO of the nation’s foremost African American performing arts center dedicated to Black arts and culture. Ms. Ebanks has extensive leadership experience in media, entertainment, and live events. She previously served as CEO of Essence Communications, overseeing the nation’s leading media and communications company dedicated to African American women, including Essence magazine, the preeminent lifestyle magazine for African American women; Essence.com, the award-winning, daily online destination for African American women; and the internationally renowned Essence Festival of Culture, one of the largest annual live music events in the world.
Comcast Corporation announced a new $4.5 million, three-year grant to Per Scholas, a leading national nonprofit advancing economic equity through tech training and career building. The investment will enable more than 10,000 diverse adults across 15 markets to launch new tech careers, empowering individuals from low-wealth communities to earn a collective $450 million in new wages alone. Notably, the funding will also support Per Scholas expansion to three new markets in need of skilled technologists for digital economies — allowing for even greater community impact.
Governor JB Pritzker along with the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced Illinois will be allocated over $1 billion in funding to support high-speed internet access through the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program. This grant will help fund the development of high-speed infrastructure across the nation as part of President Biden’s Internet for All initiative.