Local News
Black Restaurant Week Relaunches 'More Than Just a Week' 2023 Campaign to Restimulate Black-Owned Businesses with Equitable Events in Key Markets
Black Restaurant Week LLC celebrates the flavors of African American, African and Caribbean cuisine with a series of regional cultural events and aims to support Black-owned culinary businesses with substantial programming outside of their 10 or 14-day, multi-city tour across the United States.
Healthy School Meals for All Legislation Passes Illinois House and Senate
Free, healthy school meals for all Illinois students may soon become a reality if the state legislature funds the program recently passed in the House and Senate. House Bill 2471, the Healthy School Meals for All legislation, passed the Illinois House and Senate and paves the way for Illinois students to be hunger-free and ready to grow, learn and thrive.
MAYOR JOHNSON APPOINTS GARIEN GATEWOOD AS FIRST-EVER DEPUTY MAYOR OF COMMUNITY SAFETY
Mayor Brandon Johnson announced Garien Gatewood will serve as the City of Chicago’s Deputy Mayor of Community Safety. As the first-ever Deputy Mayor of Community Safety, Gatewood will lead cross-government efforts to eradicate the root causes of crime and violence, and advance a comprehensive, healing-centered approach to public safety.
Chicago Public Schools Names School Crossing Guards of the Year
Chicago Public Schools (CPS) celebrated Crossing Guard Appreciation Day with an award ceremony that recognized all crossing guards, including a few who earned special recognition for their dedication and skills. Observed annually each May in Illinois, Crossing Guard Appreciation Day recognizes the contributions that crossing guards make to keeping students and others safe as they commute to and from school.
HARPER LEE’S TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD RETURNS BY POPULAR DEMAND
Broadway In Chicago is delighted to announce that individual tickets for the history-making production of TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD are on sale on Tuesday, May 23. Academy Award® winner Aaron Sorkin’s new play, directed by Tony Award® winner Bartlett Sher and based on Harper Lee’s classic novel will come back to Chicago as part of a multi-year national tour across North America. TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD will play Broadway In Chicago’s CIBC Theatre (18 W. Monroe St.) for a limited engagement August 8-13.
Chicago Public Schools and City Colleges of Chicago Celebrate More than 600 Dual Credit Graduates
Chicago Public Schools (CPS) CEO Pedro Martinez, City Colleges of Chicago (CCC) Chancellor Juan Salgado, school administrators and families came together to recognize the growing number of CPS graduates who are leaving high school with a diploma as well as transferable college credits, up to and including an associate degree. Approximately 5,000 CPS Class of 2023 graduates earned nearly 40,000 total college credits from CCC while still in high school, saving an estimated $5.8 million in total projected college tuition costs.
HOPE CHICAGO RELEASES REPORT DEMONSTRATING ECONOMIC, SOCIAL BENEFITS TO SCHOLARS AND CITY, STATE ECONOMIES
Hope Chicago, the two-generation scholarship program providing debt-free college and vocational support to students and their parents at five Chicago Public Schools high schools, today released an impact report demonstrating the projected economic and social benefits of its innovative model.
Last Call for Chicago’s Small Business Owners to Enroll in City Treasurer’s and Goldman Sachs “10,000 Small Businesses” Program
City Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin reminded entrepreneurs that June 6th is the last day to apply for enrollment in the fall session of the Goldman Sachs “10,000 Small Businesses” financial education program. The program is geared to small businesses that are looking to gain access to affordable capital and learn practical skills that will help them to grow their business. This innovative, structured, and intuitive, 13-week program, of which the Chicago Treasurer’s Office (CTO) is a partner, will begin in September and end in December, meeting weekly and in-person at Harold Washington College.
Walk the Walk With Sisters in Cinema to Celebrate Juneteenth
Working towards a socially just world can begin in one neighborhood and that’s exactly what Sisters in Cinema, a Chicago-based 501(c)3 is setting to accomplish in their Sister Outsider program, beginning on Saturday, June 17.
Treasurer Frerichs Makes Record $100.7 Million Investment Earnings for State Portfolio During April
The State Treasurer’s Office made a record $100.7 million in investment earnings from the state investment portfolio in April, Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs announced.
Nicor Gas invests $377M with diverse companies
Nicor Gas spent $377 million with minority-, women- and veteran-owned businesses in 2022, according to the company’s Supplier Diversity Report. More than 44% of the company’s total expenditures in 2022 were with diverse businesses and over half of that spend was with Illinois-based companies.
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PRACTITIONERS WEIGH IN ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH
May was Mental Health Awareness Month. Dr. Wilnise Jasmin, Medical Director of Behavioral Health at the Chicago Department of Public Health, and Dr. Marilyn Griffin, Behavioral Health Medical Director at Aetna Better Health of Illinois, shared insights on mental health and resources available to people.
KEMETIC YOGA TO HOST SOUL YOGA FEST
FEST Yirser Ra Hotep has been practicing Kemetic Yoga since the 1970s. He is an instructor of Kemetic Yoga and creator of the YogaSkills Method. Throughout the years, he has certified and trained more than 5,000 Kemetic Yoga instructors. He also has developed a YogaSkills for Kids program.
INGREDIENTS FOR SUCCESS INITIATIVE BACK FOR THIRD ROUND
An initiative to help Black small business owners and entrepreneurs achieve success and gain support has opened its application process.
