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CITY SEEKS REDEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS FOR MORE THAN 400 VACANT PROPERTIES
More than 400 parcels of vacant land have been made available by the City of Chicago for purchase and redevelopment, including 54 lots being offered for Missing Middle housing on the Far South Side, a CTA site to be used for mixed-income housing in Lake View, and more than nine acres of industrial land for mixed-uses in Armour Square and New City, Mayor Brandon Johnson announced today.
Giannoulias Unveils Secretary of State Flagship Center in Chicago’s Loop
Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias launched the office’s Secretary of State Flagship Center in Chicago – a new state-of-the-art two-story DMV featuring a suite of agency services under one roof for the first time.
Governor Pritzker Signs Memorandum of Understanding Between Mexico and Illinois
Governor JB Pritzker signed an Addendum to the Illinois-Mexico Sister-State Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) alongside Mexico Governor Delfina Gómez Álvarez. The MOU comes at the beginning of a delegation trip from Illinois to Mexico City to deepen economic cooperation and opportunities between the State of Illinois and Mexico. The agreement emphasizes the strong ties between the two entities with a focus on bilateral trade in key industries such as manufacturing, agriculture, and finance.
ComEd Urges Customers to Act Now and Use Assistance and Energy Management Programs to Manage Electric Bills
More than $133 million in financial assistance and other support options secured by customers in 2024; with similar support available now
MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON ANNOUNCES BUILD BETTER TOGETHER
Mayor Brandon Johnson announced Build Better Together, a comprehensive economic development strategy to drive inclusive and sustainable growth throughout Chicago at the groundbreaking for the adaptive reuse of 79 W. Monroe St. as 117 units of mixed-income housing. Under Mayor Brandon Johnson’s leadership, Build Better Together is transforming programs, policies and process improvements that are making Chicago better, stronger and safer together.
Excellence in Bleu Donates $25,000 to Youth Development Non-Profit America SCORES
On Friday, March 14th, House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch and Excellence in Bleu CEO TaQuoya McConnico attended the Junior Jamboree tournament hosted by America SCORES Chicago, a non-profit dedicated to youth engagement through soccer, poetry and service-learning. They presented a $25,000 check to the organization on behalf of Excellence in Bleu, a non-profit founded by themselves, and former Michigan House Speaker, Joe Tate.
DOVE AND RISE.365 CALL FOR BLACK HAIR REPRESENTATION IN EMOJIS
Emojis are one of the most universal forms of communication today. They shape how we express emotion, identity, and culture in a digital world. Despite 92% of the world's population using the nearly 4,000 emojis currently available, there is a significant gap in the representation of Black people*.
Greenwood Launches New Initiatives to Boost Spending at Black-Owned Businesses
Greenwood, the digitally-native financial platform dedicated to the Black community, has launched two programs designed to build wealth within the Black community cooperatively. Available today, these initiatives include the Cash Back for Buying Black™ program for Greenwood Premium Members and a new partner marketplace connecting the community with third-party loan providers and financial resources for Black entrepreneurs and families.
National Urban League and DoorDash Expand the Virtual Financial Empowerment Center with New Mobile App
The National Urban League, in partnership with DoorDash, is proud to announce the expansion of the Virtual Financial Empowerment Center (VFEC) through the launch of the VFEC App in April 2025. Since its launch, the VFEC has offered personalized financial coaching and self-paced learning opportunities that equip individuals and families with the knowledge and skills they need to achieve financial stability and build generational wealth.
ZERO Prostate Cancer Appoints New Powerhouse Members to Board of Directors
ZERO Prostate Cancer (ZERO), the nation's leading prostate cancer organization dedicated to improving and saving lives through advocacy, awareness, education, and support, is proud to announce the appointment of five new influential voices and thought leaders to its Board of Directors.
TYLA AND FKA TWIGS SHINE IN H&M'S FESTIVAL-READY S/S 2025 COLLECTION
H&M's S/S 2025 collection is an ode to femininity: an intriguing exploration of moods, sensibilities and identities. The campaign features a diverse collective of inspiring female icons including musicians Tyla, FKA twigs and Caroline Polachek, among others. The collection and campaign showcase H&M's strong fashion vision, exceptional design and collaboration across the music and fashion fields. The first drop of H&M's S/S 2025 Collection will be available in select store and www.hm.com.
The Queens! 4 Legends Tour!
Music history will be made as four legendary voices come together for a breathtaking evening of vocal brilliance, electrifying energy, and mutual love. The iconic Chaka Khan, Patti LaBelle, Gladys Knight, and Stephanie Mills will unite for an unforgettable tour, "The Queens! 4 Legends. 1 Stage." celebrating decades of timeless classics and cherished memories.
Not So Divine Nine
I hope I’ve convinced readers that estate planning is essential to protecting assets and ensuring they pass according to your wishes. In my years serving our community, I’ve realized that what seems obvious to me may not be as clear to others. I hope this column helps your family avoid the pitfalls of a poor or nonexistent estate plan.
Social Wellness Club Creates A Third Space For Black Women
Aley Clark created Black Girl Playground in 2023 as an Instagram community. During the pandemic Clark was looking for moments for joy and play. She believed there was a need for a space for Black women to gather. Once she moved to Chicago, the Black Girl Playground turned into a social wellness club where women could meet and connect at events.
