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Gov. Pritzker Signs Act-of-Duty Bill
Governor JB Pritzker was joined by Lieutenant Governor Julianna Stratton, Illinois State Comptroller Susana A. Mendoza, elected officials, and first responders to sign the Act-of-Duty Bill into law. HB 3162 retroactively provides Chicago police officers and firefighters disability benefits for the time they were unable to serve due to contracting COVID-19 between March 9, 2020, and June 30, 2021.
Obama Foundation Taps Diverse Leaders to Design & Build its Programs & Athletic Center
The Obama Foundation announced the hiring of two extraordinary Black-owned firms with Chicago roots to design and build the Programs & Athletic Center at the Obama Presidential Center. The announcement comes during the final days of the Lightfoot Administration, with which the Foundation has worked for several years to create a diverse workforce to build the Center.
Raven Theatre Opens ‘THE OCTOBER STORM’
Raven Theatre, Chicago’s newest Equity-affiliated theatre, is pleased to conclude its 40th Anniversary Season with the Chicago premiere of The October Storm, by Joshua Allen, a follow up to Allen’s smash-hit The Last Pair of Earlies. Directed by Malkia Stampley, this riveting and edgy new drama set in the 1960s on the South Side of Chicago plays through June 25 in Raven’s newly-dedicated, 85-seat Johnson Stage, 6157 N. Clark St. (at Granville) in Chicago. Single tickets are now on sale at raventheatre.com or by calling (773) 338-2177. The press opening is Monday, May 15 at 7:30 p.m.
Chicago Public Schools Honors School Nurses During Nurse Appreciation Week
Chicago Public Schools (CPS) honored school nurses Friday, May 12, during a National Nurse Appreciation Week celebration that highlighted the critical role of school nurses in supporting student health and well being, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. During the event, District leaders presented five school nurses with the District’s Recognition Of Service Extraordinaires (ROSE) Award.
Classes Begin at New Green Job Training Center in Chicago
The Sustainability Hub, a new Chicago job training center jointly developed by Power52's Ecademy and 548 Enterprise (548), has proudly welcomed the first twenty trainees to its clean energy job training program.
Calumet City native serves aboard forward-deployed Navy warship in Japan
Petty Officer 3rd Class Keenan Taylor, a native of Calumet City, Illinois, serves in Japan aboard a forward-deployed U.S. Navy warship. Taylor joined the Navy 2019 years ago. Today, Taylor serves as an operations specialist aboard USS Dewey. “I wanted to be a part of something bigger than myself,” said Taylor. "It's something I have been interested in since a field trip to the USS Midway."
COOK COUNTY PRESIDENT TOUTS ACCOMPLISHMENTS DURING TERMS
Toni Preckwinkle was elected President of the Cook County Board of Commissioners in 2010. During her time as Cook County President, Cook County has sought to provide good health care, improve the criminal justice system and use federal funds to reduce medical debt and provide a guaranteed income.
ASPIRE CENTER TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO RESOURCES FOR AUSTIN COMMUNITY
A new center in the Austin community is aimed at improving the quality of life for its residents. The Aspire Center for Workforce Innovation is part of the Aspire Initiative, which was part of the Austin Forward Together Quality of Life Plan.
PROGRAM HELP STUDENTS PREPARE FOR COLLEGE
The University of Chicago’s Office of Civic Engagement has several programs that help students who attend Chicago Public School high schools prepare for college. Two of those programs are Upward Bound and the Collegiate Scholars Program. The Collegiate Scholars Program was established in 2003. It is a free, three-year college preparation program. It focuses on helping high school students prepare for admission to top colleges and universities throughout the country.
PERFORMER BRING POSITIVE MESSAGE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE
Elizabeth Elie, who goes by the stage name Lizzie G, spreads a message of positivity, anti-bullying and unity. Lizzie G was always musically inclined. She taught herself how to play the drums and plays the piano. In her teenage years, she started to have a love of music producing. She would put her poetry with the beats she created and turned it into rap. She debuted Lizzie G during her senior year at Marie Curie High School.
BUSINESS PROVIDES CPR, AED AND FIRST AID TRAINING
Christina Bolton Taylor started Cardiac Jump Starters because of her father. He was a nurse and Bolton Taylor followed in his footsteps. She started Cardiac Jump Starters in March 2021, with her father in mind. He passed away in 2018 after a choking incident led to cardiac arrest. Bolton Taylor believes his life could’ve been spared if her mother had received training in proper resuscitation procedures.
Sheriff Dart, Uber Team Up to Help Domestic Violence and Human Trafficking Survivors
Cook County Sheriff Thomas J. Dart announced a critical partnership today with Uber, the largest rideshare company in the United States, to support the need for transportation and grocery delivery services amongst domestic violence and human trafficking survivors who are receiving assistance through the Sheriff’s Office.
Illinois-Based Bus Gates Company Works with Home State Lawmakers To Reduce Motor Vehicle Incidents Around School Buses
With unanimous support, the Illinois Legislature has passed a measure that will make it safer for students to get on and off school buses across the state. SB2340 allows Illinois school districts to install a well-lit additional extended stop arm that further obstructs the roadway from passing traffic when a school bus is stopped to pick up or drop off students.
County Treasurer Maria Pappas celebrates Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month with business and community leaders
Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas will celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month by recognizing business and community leaders with Certificates of Excellence.
