Acclivus has been providing violence prevention strategies, with the goal of stopping the cycle of violence for six years, after a five-year hiatus. Representatives from Acclivus talked to the Citizen Newspaper about the organization, its mission and programs.
Michelle M. Bailey founded HBCU Honors, with the goal of recognizing the achievements of people who are connected to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
Martha Blanding grew up in South Central Los Angeles and became the first Black Disneyland VIP tour guide. She details her time as a VIP tour guide and working in various capacities with the Walt Disney Company for 50 years in her book, Groundbreaking Magic: A Black Woman’s Journey Through ‘The Happiest Place on Earth’. She talked to the Citizen Newspaper about her experience and about the book.
The reservations and tickets for the best New Year’s Eve parties, or for dinner at the premier restaurants are almost all sold-out, and the prices have been hiked through the roof. Or, your budget may just be shot from all of that holiday spending, and you’re weary from the travel nightmare of just getting home.
Black women in Illinois and Cook County are two to three times more likely than white women to die from a pregnancy-related condition, such as blood pressure disorders, heart disease and infections; yet 90 percent of these deaths are preventable.
Wandering is a common yet dangerous behavior for individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias, with six in 10 people with dementia likely to wander at least once. This risk, which can occur even in the early stages of the disease, creates significant safety concerns for those affected and adds stress for caregivers and family members.
The Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago’s upcoming exhibition Wafaa Bilal: Indulge Me will open on February 1 and run through October 19, 2025. Indulge Me is a major survey of renowned artist Wafaa Bilal (b. 1966, Najaf, Iraq; lives in New York, NY). The exhibition covers five major works from Bilal’s immersive, interdisciplinary practice, which investigates the complex dynamic between international and interpersonal politics, with a particular focus on US–Iraq relations. Whether putting his own body on the line to interrogate notions of power or inventing new technological methods to rectify acts of cultural destruction, Bilal shows us what it means to consciously engage across cultures while highlighting negative global implications of consumption, exploitation, and profiteering.
The Chicago Architecture Center (CAC) announced a $1 million grant from The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation to support and grow its educational programming for K-12 students and facilitate new learning opportunities for young adults. The grant, distributed over the next four years, will aid the CAC in its work to diversify the architecture, construction, engineering, and design fields. The CAC’s educational programming division will now be named The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Youth Learning Programs, in recognition of the foundation’s support.
Hubbard Street Dance Chicago (HSDC) unveiled the full program for the second performance series of its 2024/2025 season, Season 47: Winter Series. Featuring four captivating pieces, including a World Premiere by acclaimed choreographer James Gregg, the Series builds on the success of HSDC’s critically acclaimed, sold-out Fall program at the Steppenwolf Theatre in November. The Winter Series will take place from Thursday, February 13, to Sunday, February 16, at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance (205 E. Randolph).
Choose Chicago, the city's official destination marketing organization, announces the highly anticipated return of the annual Chicago Restaurant Week (CRW). Produced annually by Choose Chicago, the beloved event celebrates its 18th year Friday, Jan. 24 through Sunday, Feb. 9. Food lovers can reserve tables and view menus online beginning today for multi-course meals at more than 470 Chicagoland eateries at eatitupchicago.com.
Governor JB Pritzker signed an executive order launching a statewide effort enlisting multiple state agencies to explore how Illinois can accelerate plans to expand the supply and access of housing for working families. Additionally, as part of an ongoing commitment to lower housing costs, Governor Pritzker announced the return of SmartBuy, a program providing direct monetary assistance to pay off student loan debt for those buying a home in Illinois. Together, these actions seek to address the shortage of attainable homes for working families across the state, as well as overall housing shortages that affect renters and homebuyers alike.
A 19th-century opera hall, an iconic Route 66 attraction and a nationally-recognized round barn are among the historic places Landmarks Illinois is helping people preserve through grant funding. Landmarks Illinois has awarded $34,000 to nine preservation projects across the state through its Preservation Heritage Fund and Barbara C. and Thomas E. Donnelley II Preservation Fund for Illinois grant programs. Grant-funded projects are in the Illinois communities of Anna, Chicago, Gibson City, Hometown, McClean, Mendon, Princeton and Rockford.
Mayor Brandon Johnson announced the appointment of Sean Harden as President of the Chicago Board of Education, accompanied by a slate of experienced and passionate leaders whose collective expertise will guide Chicago’s public schools toward greater equity and opportunity for all students.
U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and U.S. Representatives Robin Kelly (D-IL-02), Jonathan Jackson (D-IL-01), Delia Ramirez (D-IL-03), Jesús “Chuy” García (D-IL-04), Mike Quigley (D-IL-05), Danny K. Davis (D-IL-07), and Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-09) announced that the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) intends to sign a full funding grant agreement for the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA)’s Red Line Extension Project. The funding agreement will contractually obligate $1.9 billion in federal funding to the project, solidifying the federal government’s commitment to the project.