Usually, I emphasize the importance of financial planning to meet our changing needs as we age. However, this week I’m offering a gentle nudge—especially to those of us who have been certified couch potatoes before and during the holidays, eating our favorite snacks and watching games or movies on TV. For many of us our only exercise has been running out for snacks, walking to and from the kitchen, and lifting food and beverages to our mouth. I ain’t crackin’, just fac’n.
Going into the new legislative session on Jan. 20th, Illinois State Representative Marcus C. Evans, Jr., D. Dist. 33 and President of the National Conference of State Legislatures, is looking to pass legislation that benefits the community. Evans has met with organizations that focus on violence prevention and mental health and ways to maintain funding for programs. He said that he wants the community to be healthy.
Chef Evelyn Shelton, MPA always cooked and came from a family that cooked. From early on, it was her goal to become a chef and have a restaurant. She went to college and received a traditional education, but in the back of her mind, she knew she would go to culinary school. After culinary school, she ended up at Northwestern Medicine, which was the same place where she worked in her corporate career. There, she was the first Black woman executive chef.
In 2023, Chicago State University announced plans to develop a football team. In April of 2025, Chicago State University announced that Bobby Rome would be its football coach. The first game is set for Aug. 29th and in preparation Coach Rome is building the Cougars Football team from scratch, focusing on hiring outstanding coaches and the right players to build a competitive football team.
The Night Ministry was founded in 1976 as a way to respond to the crisis of isolation, despair and homelessness that people on the streets of Chicago were experiencing at night. According to David Dodd, Director of Marketing and Communications for the Night Ministry, the goal was to meet people where they were: in alleys, bars, all-night restaurants, street corners, and provide human connection, compassion, and dignity to people often overlooked by society.
The Chicago Police Department (CPD) and the Chicago Hearing Society (CHS) have partnered together to support and expand resources for individuals in the Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing communities. This partnership bridges the gap between police officers and members of the Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing communities.
The Association of Black Cardiologists (ABC) marked its 50th year by honoring both its legacy and its future. During its Golden Celebration Weekend at the Marriott Marquis in Washington, D.C., ABC announced the largest class of scholarship recipients in its history. Twenty-five outstanding medical students received a total of $225,000 in awards to support their training and development as future leaders in medicine.
On the occasion of the 75th Anniversary of the AAF Advertising Hall of Fame (AHOF), the esteemed Council of Judges, led by Chair Ross Martin, President of Known and Vice Chair Rita Ferro, President of Disney Advertising, has chosen to induct six legendary leaders along with one corporate honoree and two special President's Award recipients. Honorees will be celebrated at the annual Induction Gala in New York City at Cipriani Wall Street on April 23, 2026. The announcement was made today concurrent with the ringing of the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange.
We Are ILL, a national nonprofit reshaping the healthcare experience for Black women living with multiple sclerosis (MS), lupus, neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), and other autoimmune diseases, proudly concludes its sixth annual Wellness Week(end), held November 7–9, 2025, in Atlanta, Georgia.
The Board of Education of the City of Chicago (Board) Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC) is currently accepting membership applications. The SEAC will appoint 14 members to each serve a 1-year term. Applicants must reside within the City of Chicago and, if selected, complete the CPS New Volunteer Application.
On Saturday, December 20, the Women’s Justice Institute (WJI) hosted its annual holiday Reunification Ride, bringing children to Logan Correctional Center in Lincoln, Illinois, to visit their incarcerated mothers. Families gathered early Saturday morning to travel to Logan, where children spent the day participating in holiday activities with their mothers, including arts and crafts, gingerbread house decorating, gifts and a visit from “Auntie Claus” in a supportive environment centered on maintaining family ties.
The South Side Healthy Community Organization (SSHCO), a state-funded nonprofit healthcare collaborative working to close health gaps across Chicago’s South Side, announced a free doula services program, delivered in partnership with Chicago Birthworks Collective (CBC). The program provides expectant parents who are uninsured or covered by Medicaid with no-cost doula care, including 3 prenatal visits, 2 postpartum visits, birth and postpartum preparation and education, labor and delivery support, and postpartum wellness services. Responding to persistent inequities in maternal health outcomes, this partnership will provide more than 80 families across Chicago’s South Side with free, trusted, culturally centered care throughout pregnancy and beyond.
Chicago Public Schools (CPS) administrators, staff, and students gathered to share the latest milestones and insight on how to help more Chicago youth enroll and graduate from colleges and universities. It was the last of six stops CPS leaders have been making in the past month to celebrate the early college and career successes across one of the country’s largest public school districts.
Based on its experience combatting high utility costs over the past year, the consumer watchdog Citizens Utility Board (CUB) of Illinois on Friday issued its list of what looks to be major threats to utility affordability in 2026.