Local News
Stroke Survivor to Throw Out Ceremonial First Pitch at Cubs Game Tuesday, May 30
May is stroke awareness month, and Advocate Health Care and the Chicago Cubs will honor a special stroke survivor on Tuesday, May 30 when the Cubs take on the Tampa Bay Rays at 7:05 p.m. Ashley Lunardini, a Chicago native, will throw out the ceremonial first pitch, receive a customized jersey, watch batting practice and meet players before the game. And she hopes sharing her story will inspire others with similar symptoms to get checked.
ASSESSOR KAEGI RECEIVES OUTSTANDING COMMUNITY PARTNER AWARD
Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi and team received the Outstanding Community Partner Award from the Community Investment Corporation (CIC) and the Preservation Compact during their annual Neighborhood Forum event hosted on Tuesday, May 23, 2023. This award is a special acknowledgment to honor the work done by the Cook County Assessor's office and the partners that helped implement the Affordable Housing legislation (HB2621).
PASTOR JOHN HANNAH TO BRING TOGETHER THOUSANDS ON THE SOUTHSIDE TO MARCH FOR PEACE IN CHICAGO DURING ITS ANNUAL “PRAYER ON THE 9” DEMONSTRATION
Pastor John F. Hannah, Senior Pastor of New Life Covenant SE Church congregation will host its annual “Prayer on the 9” initiative where thousands of people stand together in solidarity during a city-wide march. “Prayer on the 9” with its theme “Our Youth Matter” is a community outreach program that serves as a catalyst for social change in Chicago communities where violence is most prevalent, “Prayer On The 9” will be held on Saturday, May 27th beginning at 12 noon. Pastor Hannah will present his community address at the beginning of the rally at 79th Street and Greenwood.
May is Motorcycle Awareness Month
This May, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is teaming up with Ride for CHANGE Ride for HOPE Foundation to remind all motorists that Motorcyclist Safety Is Everyone’s Safety.
Small Business Owners – Catalysts for Economic Growth
Almost half of all U.S. employees work for small businesses, defined as companies with fewer than 500 employees, and a staggering 99 percent of all U.S. companies fall under the “small business” designation, according to the Small Business Association.
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.
The Obama Foundation’s My Brother’s Keeper Alliance Announces New Initiative to Support Boys and Young Men of Color Across the Country
The My Brother’s Keeper Alliance, a program of the Obama Foundation, announced four MBK Model Communities, a new initiative that seeks to expand the implementation of evidence-based practices and impact for communities across the country. These MBK Model Communities were selected from a network of hundreds that have an evidence-based track record of success in positively shifting outcomes for boys and young men of color. The four are: Newark, New Jersey; Omaha, Nebraska; Tulsa, Oklahoma; and Yonkers, New York, each representing a tangible example of the systems-level impact that communities can have when working to achieve the MBK Milestones. The MBK Milestones are six key life milestones that research shows are especially predictive of later success, and where interventions can have the greatest impact.
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.
BMO Commits $5 Million to Advance Homeownership and Grow Small Businesses
BMO continues to deliver on BMO EMpower 2.0, the bank's more than $40 billion community benefits plan, by announcing a $5 million investment in strategic partnerships to help community organizations throughout its U.S. footprint. To help support local communities, these grants will be directed towards housing counseling agencies, Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI), and other non-profits that support and preserve affordable homeownership and provide support for small businesses. Approximately $2 million will be targeted for the State of California.
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.
Pearl Milling Company Continues to Invest in Community Impact with P.E.A.R.L. Pledge
Pearl Milling Company, the pancake mix and syrup brand that has been creating memorable breakfast moments for over 130 years, continues its mission to uplift Black women and girls across the U.S. with P.E.A.R.L. Pledge, a multi-year community funding initiative that launched in 2021. Starting today through June 14, eligible nonprofit organizations can apply for a chance to receive a grant of up to $100,000 to develop and grow meaningful programming in their communities. People can also nominate organizations through June 7 to participate in the application process. Grant recipients will be announced in the fall.
ART ON THE MART’S SUMMER SEASON FEATURES NEW COMMISSIONS BY DESIGN FIRM GENSLER AND THE CHICAGO BLACK DANCE LEGACY PROJECT
ART on THE MART, an innovative digital art project that transforms a Chicago architectural landmark into a larger-than-life canvas, will introduce two new commissions this summer. Building Light, a new projection by Gensler, the largest global design and architecture firm, will kick off the summer season on June 8, followed by a projection featuring new choreography from the Chicago Black Dance Legacy Project, an organization celebrating and archiving Black Dance, on July 6. Timed to Chicago Pride Fest (June 17 to 18) and the Chicago Pride Parade (June 25), ART on THE MART’s seasonal Pride celebration will return from June 1 to 28, followed by its annual Independence Day projection, which illuminates the building in red, white, and blue, from June 29 to July 5. Projections during the summer season will be on view nightly from 9 to 10 p.m. CT.
Congo Square Theatre Company celebrates Black artistry with its bodacious 2023 Homecoming Benefit: Blackity, Black, Black
Chicago’s Congo Square Theatre Company, one of the nation’s premier African American theatres, kicks off Juneteenth weekend with a celebration of all things Black, beautiful and bodacious! Blackity, Black, Black, Congo Square’s 2023 Homecoming Benefit, takes place from 6 to 10 p.m. Thursday, June 15, at LM Studios, 808 S. Michigan Ave.