Local News
U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Federal Student Aid Awards New Contracts
The U.S. Department of Education’s (Department’s) office of Federal Student Aid (FSA) announced it has signed contracts with five companies to modernize and enhance loan servicing for more than 37 million borrowers with federally managed loans. Central Research, Inc.; EdFinancial Services; Maximus Education, LLC; Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority (MOHELA); and Nelnet Diversified Solutions received contracts today through the Unified Servicing and Data Solution (USDS) solicitation and will implement much-needed improvements to better serve borrowers. This new loan servicing environment is part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s sweeping efforts to improve the student loan repayment system and help all borrowers successfully manage their debt.
Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs Sets Online Auction of Unclaimed Property
Collectible coins, currency, fine silver and jewelry are among the more than 200 unclaimed property items to be auctioned online through May 5th. “We hold these auctions when we need additional space in our vault,” said Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs, whose office oversees unclaimed property in Illinois. “We choose items that typically have not been touched in about 10 years and that would make an interesting gift.”
CITY OF CHICAGO ANNOUNCES INAUGURAL CHICAGO POET LAUREATE AVERY R. YOUNG
Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot, in partnership with the Chicago Public Library (CPL), the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE), and the Poetry Foundation, proudly named avery r. young as the inaugural Chicago Poet Laureate. An award-winning poet, educator, composer, performer, and producer, young’s work spans the genres of music, performance, visual arts and literature. He is a co-director of The Floating Museum, Cave Canem fellow, Leader for a New Chicago 2022 awardee, and performer with his band, de deacon board. With more than two decades as a teaching artist, he has mentored generations of young poets. His poetry and prose are featured in several anthologies and periodicals. In the foreword of his most recent book, neckbone: visual verses, Theaster Gates called young, “one of our greatest living street poets.”
MAYOR LIGHTFOOT ANNOUNCES THE LAUNCH OF RE-ENTRY RESOURCE WEBSITE AND CITY RE-ENTRY GOALS IN HONOR OF SECOND CHANCE MONTH
Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot, in partnership with Director of Re-Entry Willette Benford, announced the launch of the City of Chicago’s Re-Entry Resource Website in honor of Second Chance Month, a month designated to raise awareness of the challenges faced by individuals with prior convictions and promote opportunities for a successful return home after incarceration. The new City website, chicago.gov/reentry, provides a central hub of all re-entry related information, to give returning residents a single location for information about workforce training opportunities, the Community Re-Entry Support Centers, civil rights, and more. Also published on the website are the Interagency Re-Entry Council 2023 Departmental Re-Entry Goals.
CSU announces Dr. Ngozi Ezike as keynote speaker for 370th Commencement
Chicago State University is honored to host Dr. Ngozi Ezike as the keynote speaker for the 370th commencement ceremony on Thursday, May 18, at the Emil & Patricia A. Jones Convocation Center.
ROSELAND COMMUNITY HOSPITAL AWARDED TOP HOSPITAL “FAIR SHARE” DESIGNATION FOR ITS POSTIVE COMMUNITY IMPACT
The Roseland Community Hospital (RCH) on the far South Side of Chicago, 45 W. 111th Street, has been ranked as a top leader in Chicago for community involvement, especially in the nonprofit sector, by The Lown Institute Hospitals Index. A new report from this independent healthcare think tank has announced Roseland Hospital spent more on charity care and community investment than the estimated value of its tax exemption in 2020, giving the hospital what the Institute refers to as a “fair share” surplus. Roseland has been ranked #2 in Chicago, one of only 413 nonprofit hospitals out of more than 1700 evaluated to have a “fair share” surplus.
16th Annual Gaming for Green Texas Hold ‘Em Poker and Casino Night Returns June 8
The 16th Annual “Gaming for Green®” returns from 5:30 to 11 p.m. Thursday, June 8, at Galleria Marchetti, 825 W. Erie Street. Check in is at 5:30 p.m. and cards fly at 7 p.m. The annual Texas Hold “Em poker tournament and casino night benefit Chicago Gateway Green®. Poker Players compete for the Grand Prize of a $10,000 seat at the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas. The top ten players will all walk away with fabulous prizes.
MAYOR LORI E. LIGHTFOOT, CHICAGO FIRE FOOTBALL CLUB, CHICAGO HOUSING AUTHORITY BREAK GROUND ON NEW NEAR WEST SIDE TRAINING FACILITY
Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot, Chicago Fire FC Owner and Chairman Joe Mansueto, Alderman Jason Ervin (28th Ward), Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) CEO Tracey Scott, and Mary Baggett, President of the Local Advisory Committee for ABLA/Brooks Homes (Jane Addams Homes, Robert Brooks Homes, Loomis Courts, and Grace Abbott Homes) joined community members at the Jane Addams Family Resource Center to celebrate the groundbreaking of the Fire’s new performance and training facility in the Roosevelt Square neighborhood on the Near West Side.
Cook County Health Announces Opening of Applications for 2023 Provident Hospital Scholarship Fund
Cook County officials joined Cook County Health and Cook County Health Foundation leaders on Thursday, April 20, to kick-off the second year of the Provident Scholarship Fund to support students who are from, and committed to caring for, underserved communities. The scholarship application period closes on May 26.
Stillman College Wins the 34th Honda Campus All-Star Challenge, America's Premier HBCU Academic Competition
Stillman College earned top honors and a $75,000 institutional grant from Honda at the 34th Honda Campus All-Star Challenge (HCASC), America's premier academic competition for students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Hosted on the American Honda corporate campus in Torrance, Calif., more than 200 HBCU students, along with their coaches, participated in this year's HCASC National Championship Tournament, which returned to an in-person format for the first time in four years. Beyond the competition, the HCASC program included student networking opportunities and activities with HBCU presidents and representatives. Honda provided more than $400,000 in institutional grants to the participating HBCUs.
Hyde Park Summer Fest Set for June 17th and 18th
The Hyde Park Summer Fest is coming back this summer. The event will take place Saturday-Sunday, June 17th and 18th, at the Midway Plaisance. There were 25,000 people in attendance at last year’s two-day event. It was the first year Hyde Park Summer Fest was a ticketed event.
The Surge Institute Founder Carmita Semaan recognized as a Luminary by 1954 Project
Carmita Semaan founded the Surge Institute in 2015, with a mission to amplify and educate Black and Brown leaders in education to prepare them for senior and executive roles. With the Surge Institute, Semaan is working against the great discrepancy between who youth serving organizations serve versus the leadership in those institutions. Semaan wants to ensure there are more people who have shared experiences and are connected with the community. People that are in positions of power and influence, in order for more sustainable outcomes, opportunities and progress for young people.
Mayor-Elect of Park Forest wants to revitalize businesses in the Village
Joseph Woods was always interested in politics, he gravitated toward the public service aspect of it. It started off with him running for the Library Board. It was during the time he was looking for ways to give back, as well as use his expertise as a writer and Poet Laureate. While he was doing writing workshops to teach children the importance of writing, he decided to run for Library Trustee. Then, he ran for Village Trustee.
Youth Internship Program gives students hands-on experience
The University of Chicago is set to accept students into its Youth Internship Program. Students who are interested in health sciences, computer sciences or IT services are encouraged to apply. The University of Chicago launched the Youth Internship Program in 2021 to provide paid employment opportunities for Chicago Public high school students who live on the South Side of Chicago. The mission of the program is for students to gain a stronger peer network, prepare and expose them to college and career options. Students have access to guest speakers at the University, as well as to professional development activities. The hope is that access will enable them to be more successful in the internship experience.
