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Michelle Obama’s Girls Opportunity Alliance to Distribute $500,000 in Funding and Organizational Support to Chicago-Based Girl Serving Organizations
Former First Lady and Founder of the Obama Foundation’s Girls Opportunity Alliance, Michelle Obama, announced a new commitment to empower and uplift girls in Chicago. The Girls Opportunity Alliance will distribute a total of $500,000 to 14 Chicago-based girl-serving organizations, with plans to distribute additional funding later this year. In addition to funding, the Alliance will provide organizational support to more than 60 girl-serving organizations across the City of Chicago through the Girls Opportunity Alliance Network. This holistic approach will benefit thousands of adolescent girls who, like Michelle Obama, call the South and West Sides of Chicago home.
Suburban school districts partner with United Negro College Fund to raise more than $400,000 in scholarships for local students
For the second year, the Superintendents’ Commission for the Study of Demographics and Diversity (SCSDD) joined forces with the United Negro College Fund to raise money for students in their communities. At the end of the night, organizers announced that the event had raised more than $400,500 toward scholarships for high school students in their districts—more than double the goal of $200,000.
Gov. Pritzker joins DCFS, UP House in Opening New Transitional Residential Facility for Young Women
Governor JB Pritzker joined Unlimited Potential House (“UP House”) and the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) to announce the grand opening of UP House’s new campus and its transitional living facility, “Logan’s Place,” that offers housing, education, and support services for young women in the care of DCFS as they begin their journey toward independent living.
Pigeon Forge, Dolly Parton Team Up for 2024 Pigeon Forge Family Challenge
Dolly Parton is keeping a big secret about Pigeon Forge. The entertainment legend and Pigeon Forge’s hometown gal knows which one of five families was crowned the grand champion of the 2024 Pigeon Forge Family Challenge.
Mental health and confidence - priorities for the girls of Generation Z
In a time when Gen Z has become the focal point for numerous brands, there is a prevalent assumption that we understand how these young individuals think and what matters most to them. Gen Z is driven by purpose and world change. They are socially conscious and aim for success. As an intimate health brand, INTIMINA wanted to find out more about what young girls and women need and want in the complex tapestry of their lives - and has asked them directly.
KEYBANK PARTNERS WITH COMMUNITY LENDING INSTITUTIONS TO PROVIDE $50 MILLION IN ACCESS TO CAPITAL
KeyBank (NYSE: KEY) announced placement of $50 million in deposits with six Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) and Minority Depository Institutions (MDIs), including four Black-owned banks or managed banks and two banks serving Alaskan Native and Native American communities. As a founding member of the Economic Opportunity Coalition, KeyBank is pioneering the support of placing deposits with urban and rural community lending institutions to further enhance their ability to serve historically under-resourced communities. This effort is one of many that symbolizes KeyBank's larger purpose: to help clients and communities thrive.
De Beers Shines at the 2024 Critics' Choice & Emmy Awards
De Beers Jewellers natural & ethically sourced diamond jewelry dazzled on nominees and actors Jennifer Aniston and Sheryl Lee Ralph at the 29th Critics' Choice Awards and on Quinta Brunson and Ariana DeBose at the 75th Emmy Awards.
HSN CHAMPIONS EMERGING DESIGNERS THROUGH EXCLUSIVE COLLABORATION WITH HARLEM'S FASHION ROW
HSN®, a leader in livestream shopping and video storytelling, announced an exclusive collaboration with Harlem's Fashion Row (HFR), tapping four of the agency's top designers, each with their own fresh, distinct perspective. Debuting next month will be collections from brands Megan Renee and Undra Celeste, followed by two new designers in the fall.
Filmmaker Sedrick Savoy Unveils "The Cleaners 2" on Leading Streaming Platforms After Chart-Topping Success of Predecessors
Sedrick Savoy, the visionary Louisiana filmmaker behind the cinematic triumphs "The Cleaners 1" and "When Country Meets The City," is set to enthrall audiences once again with the highly anticipated release of "The Cleaners 2." Savoy's journey from humble beginnings to a celebrated figure in the entertainment industry has been nothing short of extraordinary, marked by groundbreaking visuals and storytelling that have earned him numerous awards, including RIAA gold and platinum certifications.
REP. FORD SECURES GRANT TO EXPAND TRAVEL PROGRAM FOR CHICAGO YOUTH
Chicago Austin Youth Travel Adventures (CAYTA) is proud to announce they are the recipient of a $100,000 special appropriations grant secured by Representative LaShawn K. Ford. The grant will cover up to 400 youth to expand their knowledge of heritages around the globe and connections to career apprenticeship programs. Getting youth out of the neighborhoods and connecting them to personal experiences will enhance their self-esteem, decreasing self-doubt which increases mental stress and can lead to violent outbursts and the use of guns.
Fashion Designer And Mental Health Advocate Wants To Connect People To Resources
Jai-Leta Colvard was always the one people called to get information about social events. Now, people call her to get referrals for mental health resources. Colvard is a natural connector who has parlayed her love of fashion and fitness into a fashion line, Just Jai Wear, and her desire to see people get the mental health help they need into Space of Grace.
COOK COUNTY BOARD OF REVIEW COMMISSIONER ENCOURAGES PROPERTY OWNERS TO FILE APPEALS
Larry Rogers, Jr., has been a Cook County Board of Review Commissioner for 20 years. Rogers has been an attorney for 30 years. His law firm, Power Rogers, does personal litigation work. It was Rogers’ work as a lawyer advocating for people that led him to politics.
Metropolitan Peace Academy Looks To Expand Work With New Training Facility
The Metropolitan Peace Academy now has a brick-and-mortar facility to hold its community violence intervention training. Metropolitan Peace Academy started in 2018 with eight community-based organizations that came together with the hope to reduce shootings and homicides in the city, as well as reclaiming safe spaces in neighborhoods. It also aimed to professionalize street outreach through the Metropolitan Peace Academy. The first cohort was 25 outreach workers who had lived experiences, and some were returning citizens
Hope Chicago Expands College And Workforce Opportunities
Hope Chicago launched two years ago, with the mission to offer debt-free college and workforce opportunities to 4,000 Chicago Public School students and their parents. At the time, it had 23 institutional partners working to provide access to the five South and West side of Chicago high schools that are part of the initiative.
