Local News
RFP Process Launched for Chicago State University’s University Village 95 Mixed-Use Development
CBRE, in partnership with Chicago State University (CSU), is pleased to announce the launch of a Request for Proposals for University Village 95, a transformative mixed-use development opportunity located in the heart of Chicago’s South Side. This initiative marks a significant milestone in CSU’s long-term vision to expand student housing and catalyze economic revitalization along the 95th Street Corridor.
Illinois Housing Development Authority Now Accepting Applications for Permanent Supportive Housing Funding
The Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) is now accepting applications for its Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) Development Program, offering loans, forgivable loans, and grants to developers building or preserving affordable housing paired with essential case management and supportive services.
2026 YOUNGARTS AWARD COMPETITION OPEN NOW THROUGH OCTOBER 8
YoungArts, the national organization dedicated to the advancement of artists, is now accepting applications for its prestigious annual competition. Artists ages 15-18 or in grades 10–12 are encouraged to apply online at youngarts.org/apply through October 8, 2025. YoungArts award winners receive financial awards ranging from $250 to $10,000 and are eligible for creative and professional development support throughout their careers. Applications are adjudicated through a rigorous blind process by esteemed discipline-specific artist panels. YoungArts 2026 award winners will be announced on November 24.
Lyric Opera of Chicago and Black Leadership Arts Collective Partner for Echoes of Excellence Recital
Lyric Opera of Chicago and the Black Leadership Arts Collective (B.L.A.C.) proudly present Echoes of Excellence: Celebrating the Legacy of Chicago’s Black Voices, a one-night-only recital honoring the profound contributions of Black artists to Lyric, to the city of Chicago, and to the broader operatic field. The event will take place on Saturday, November 8, 2025, at 7:30 p.m. at the Lyric Opera House. Following the recital, B.L.A.C. will host a fundraising gala at Lyric.
Herbalism Events Serve As A Way to Heal Community
Urban Growers Collective will be hosting herbalism events in August. The herbalism workshops will take place at the South Chicago farm, which is located at 9001 S. Mackinaw.
XL Film Fest Creates Ecosystem For Artists’ Success
Troy Pryor has been in the entertainment industry since 2004. Pryor began as an extra on a movie that was filming in Atlanta. Entertainment was really something he was invested in. He was in college at the University of Illinois and playing football.
Actor Wants People to Lead with Love
Ramone Nelson fell in love with musical theatre in high school when he was cast as Jean Valjean in the production of “Les Misérables.” He fell in love with the research of it and the work he had to put into the character.
Cook County Commissioners Want Mental Health Services To Be More Accessible
Cook County Commissioners are sounding the alarm about the need for more accessible mental health services in the community for young people. During an event at Larry’s Barber College, Cook County Commissioners Dr. Kisha McCaskill and Tara Stamps highlighted the need to meet young people where they are in places like beauty and barber shops as a way to make mental health services more accessible, and provide safe spaces for them to express themselves through creative outlets.
CALUMET CITY CITY COUNCIL PASSES MAYOR JONES’S BALANCED $76 MILLION FISCAL BUDGET
Calumet City - Mayor Thaddeus M. Jones- successfully introduced a balanced $76 million fiscal budget to the Calumet City City Council for passage. The presentation illustrated $26 million in grants as well as the closing of a 3.9-million-dollar deficit due to anticipated cuts and rollbacks from the federal government.
Experience the Soulful Sounds of Jazz at Rainbow Beach: Chicago Jazz Philharmonic Presents Rajiv Plays Cannonball
Orbert Davis' Chicago Jazz Philharmonic invites you to its 2025 Free Summer Concert Series with a special tribute to one of jazz’s most influential saxophonists. Join us for Rajiv Plays Cannonball, Wednesday, August 6, 2025, from 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM at Norman’s Bistro on the Lake at Rainbow Beach, 3111 E. 77th Street, Chicago for an evening dedicated to celebrating the legendary Cannonball Adderley and his enduring musical legacy.
THE VILLAGE OF ROBBINS UNVEILING OF ALL NEW FOOTBALL FIELD FOR YOUTH FOOTBALL TEAM UPSTAGED BY THIEVES WHO STOLE 12K WORTH OF FOOTBALL EQUIPMENT
The Mayor of Robbins, Illinois- will be joined by the Robbins Village Board, Robbins Eagles Coaching staff, regional elected officials, and residents as they gather to witness the public unveiling of the all-new Robbins Eagles Football field. However, the group will also make a public appeal for people to donate towards the organization amid the recent theft of football equipment in which the young players need to start the season.
CHRISTMAS IN THE WARDS GEAR UP FOR MAJOR BACK-TO-SCHOOL GIVEAWAY TO SUPPORT WEST SIDE CHICAGO FAMILIES
Saturday, August 2, 2025, CITW will host a Back-to-School Giveaway at JLM Life Center, 2622 W. Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL. The invitation-only event will provide more than 1,000 backpacks filled with school supplies, alongside essentials like clothing, diapers, personal care products, fresh fruits and vegetables, healthy lunches, Pepsi beverages, and more. Most notable are the “Be the Voice #StopSuicide” branded clothes provided by In His Hands Resource Center, Inc. to address suicide among teenagers. The #StopSuicide movement message is one of hope, support, and action: "Together, a world can be created where no one feels alone in their struggles. Suicide is preventable, and everyone has a role in fostering understanding and compassion.”
Leyden Township Property Values Published
Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi released on July 22, 2025, the initial reassessments of Leyden Township's residential and commercial properties. The Assessor's Office reassesses one-third of Cook County each year. The last time the northern suburbs were reevaluated was in 2022.
CCDPH Celebrates Student Interns from Suburban Cook County
This summer, Cook County Department of Public Health (CCDPH) welcomed 10 student interns into its Community Health Worker High School Pipeline Program, a new, pilot eight-week internship offering hands-on training, academic support, and career pathways into the field of public health. The department will celebrate the interns and their achievements in a closing ceremony on Friday, Aug. 1 at a banquet hall in Oak Lawn, Ill.
