The National Public Housing Museum opened its doors to the public earlier this month, marking the culmination of an 18-year journey to complete an expansive adaptive reuse project of the last remaining building of the Jane Addams Homes at 919 S. Ada Street on Chicago’s near west side. Founded by public housing residents, the Museum is a vibrant new cultural destination in Chicago, and a place to experience stories of hope and personal achievement amid struggle, resistance, and resilience.
Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network is urging residents in the northern three quarters of Illinois and northwest Indiana to “Say Yes!” to registering as organ and tissue donors during National Donate Life Month in April.
Chicago Public Schools (CPS) announced that it will host five meetings next week to engage communities on capital priorities as the District works to develop its Fiscal Year 2026 Capital Plan. The capital plan is a part of the District’s overall budget that will be presented to the Board of Education later this summer. The meetings - which will be led by the CPS Capital Department, Office of Equity, and Office of Family and Community Engagement (FACE) - aim to provide communities with an understanding of the District’s capital planning process and help the District prioritize critical capital needs.
Chicago Public Schools (CPS) announced that it will host five meetings next week to engage communities on capital priorities as the District works to develop its Fiscal Year 2026 Capital Plan. The capital plan is a part of the District’s overall budget that will be presented to the Board of Education later this summer. The meetings - which will be led by the CPS Capital Department, Office of Equity, and Office of Family and Community Engagement (FACE) - aim to provide communities with an understanding of the District’s capital planning process and help the District prioritize critical capital needs.
Evergreen Real Estate Group, Imagine Group and KLEO Enterprises announced the completion of Auburn Gresham Apartments, a two-building, 58-unit affordable housing community in Chicago’s Auburn Gresham neighborhood on the South Side. The mixed-use buildings were developed in a joint venture between Evergreen—a leader in the development, construction, and management of both affordable and market-rate multifamily properties—and minority-owned developer Imagine, in collaboration with KLEO Enterprises, the Chicago Department of Planning and Development (DPD), and the Chicago Department of Housing.
Burrell Communications Group, one of the world's most highly regarded Black-owned advertising agencies, is pleased to welcome acclaimed strategy expert and marketer God-is Rivera to its leadership team. She has been tapped as Chief Strategy Officer, and will lead the department and its staff.
Nicki Minaj and LØCI have launched the second drop of their best-selling sneaker line. The new range entitled DØPAMINE is a limited-edition collection blending performance with fashion-forward design. The collection features a bold, multi-textured upper, dynamic oversized lacing and a chunky sculpted EVA midsole for superior cushioning and impact. DØPAMINE will be available in five colorways, crafted from LØCI's innovative next-gen material.
Sun Records is thrilled to announce the signing of six-time GRAMMY nominee Robert Randolph—the most innovative and influential rock and blues pedal steel guitarist of his generation. Randolph will release his Sun debut, Preacher Kids, on June 27, and the brawny, blues-rocking first single, “Sinner,” is out now.
Chicago State University has chosen Bobby Rome II as the head coach of its football team. The announcement was made in mid-April during a press conference. Rome comes from Florida Memorial University and is a former professional athlete.
Neishe Russell and Phil Weatherspoon co-founded On the 9 Run Crew in 2024 because they wanted to have a running presence on the South side of Chicago. They were a part of another run crew that met every single Saturday for two years. When it disbanded, they didn’t want to lose the connections they made, so they started On the 9 Run Crew.
Little Black Pearl, located at 1060 East 47th St., has been around for more than 30 years. Monica Haslip is a trained artist, who fell in love with the arts, and it opened a whole new world for her. She opened Little Black Pearl Workshop with the aim to teach arts classes to young people in the community, as well as introducing them to making a living as an artist.
Six educators from the Southland have formed a collective to embark on a journey that will benefit the community. Dr. Lenell Navarre, Superintendent, Bloom Township High School District 206; Dr. Scott Wakeley, Superintendent, Homewood-Flossmoor High School District 233; Dr. Michael Anthony, President, Prairie State College; Dr. Johnnie Thomas, Superintendent, Rich Township High School District 227; Dr. Blondean Y. Davis, CEO/Superintendent, Southland College Prep Charter High School; and Dr. Tina Halliman, Superintendent, Special Education Joint Agreement (SEJA) School District 802 have come together to help develop the Southland Career & Technical Education Center (SCEC). The proposed site of the center is the Rich East High School site in Park Forest, Ill., which was shuttered in 2019.
Austin Square, which is located at 5405-5411 W. Madison, is the entrepreneurial endeavor from Anthony and Taneka Anderson. Their boutique, Dressed1213, TNT Private event space and TNT Rooftop are housed there.
There appears to be a critical mass of people willing to take to the streets. Seniors, veterans, Generation X and more have begun to stand up for the institutions, safety net programs, and government agencies that sustain them. They are willing to fight the cruelty and chaos being imposed on American society. On the surface these protests seem productive, like the spark of a revolution. The question I have for these protestors is what are you really fighting for?
The Alzheimer’s Association Illinois Chapter, in collaboration with the Illinois Department of Public Health, announces the launch of the Illinois Brain Health Project, a groundbreaking public health initiative designed to educate Illinoisans about the importance of brain health. This comprehensive campaign focuses on reducing cognitive decline by addressing modifiable risk factors and promoting healthy lifestyle practices, with a particular emphasis on reaching diverse, underserved, and higher-risk communities.