Local News
The Pattis Family Foundation and the Newberry Library Announce 2023 Chicago Book Award Recipient
The Newberry Library and The Pattis Family Foundation are pleased to announce the winner of the second annual $25,000 Pattis Family Foundation Chicago Book Award. Toya Wolfe, author of Last Summer on State Street, will receive the award, which celebrates works that transform public understanding of Chicago, its history, and its people.
Geoffrey Good’s Hex Collection Explores the Beauty of Sacred Geometry
The potential for life is a prominent symbol of the familiar and ancient hexagon. An awe-inspiring shape throughout nature, its symmetrical six sides create balance and harmony: connecting angles, edges, and vertices in a variety of combinations. A classic shape, the hexagon is strong—it fills the area given with no wasted space and holds much weight. This attribute of strength has made the hexagon a staple for the construction of perfect vessels. An homage to the hexagon, its geometric sublimity has inspired the Geoffrey Good Hex Collection.
Lupus Awareness Campaign Empowers Black/African American and Hispanic/Latina Women to Stop Ignoring Symptoms That Could Be Lupus-Related
The Lupus Foundation of America (LFA) launched the rebranded Be Fierce.Take Control.™ campaign during Lupus Awareness Month with rebranded imagery to connect with young Black/African American and Hispanic/Latina Women at greater risk of developing lupus in their lifetime. The campaign empowers women to take control of their health, highlights common lupus symptoms and encourages those that may be experiencing symptoms to talk to their healthcare providers.
3rd Annual Cook County Juneteenth Illinois Celebration to Be Held June 16th & 17th
A celebration and community recognition event is planned for Cook County’s Juneteenth IL 2023, which takes place Friday and Saturday, June 16 & 17, as a part of “Juneteenth Illinois,” an initiative commemorating the official June 19 date. This year marks the 3rd annual celebration of the day by the county since it became an official holiday in December of 2020.
U.S. Department of Education Announces Additional Project SERV Grants to HBCUs
The U.S. Department of Education (Department) today announced Project School Emergency Response to Violence (Project SERV) grants to four Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) that were disrupted by bomb threats last year: Texas Southern University in Houston, Texas was awarded $191,962; Delaware State University in Dover, Delaware was awarded $217,000; Claflin University in Orangeburg, South Carolina was awarded $440,000 and Howard University in Washington, D.C. was awarded $203,000.
Mellon Foundation Awards $3.3 Million to American Council of Learned Societies
The American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) has been awarded a $3.3 million grant by the Mellon Foundation to continue its Digital Justice Grant Program. The extension grant will support the program for an additional three competition cycles, beginning with the next competition which will start accepting applications in September 2023.
THE JOFFREY BALLET’S JOFFREY FOR ALL CELEBRATION FEATURES FAN-FAVORITE PERFORMANCES FROM PAST PRODUCTIONS
The Joffrey Ballet announces the programming for the first-of-its-kind Joffrey for All Celebration, which will feature performances by Joffrey Company Artists, the Joffrey Academy of Dance, and students from the Joffrey Community Engagement programs. The mixed rep program features a series of fan-favorite dances drawn from past performances, including the show-stopping pas de deux from Anna Karenina, original works from Joffrey choreographers, and the American masterwork Suite Saint-Saëns in honor of the late Joffrey co-founder Gerald Arpino’s centennial celebration. The Joffrey Ballet’s Joffrey for All Celebration takes place rain or shine in the heart of downtown Chicago in Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park starting at 5:30 pm on Sunday, June 25.
Chicago Public Schools, Chicago Teachers Union Celebrate National Board Certified Teachers
Chicago Public Schools (CPS) CEO Pedro Martinez and Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) President Stacy Davis Gates joined Illinois State Superintendent of Education Dr. Tony Sanders, National Board for Professional Teaching Standards President and CEO Peggy Brookins, educators, school leaders and families at Amundsen High School for a District wide celebration of educator excellence. The celebration of National Board Certification, the country’s highest teacher certification, honored 532 CPS educators who earned or renewed their National Board Certified Teacher (NBCT) credential during the height of the pandemic. This was the first NBCT certification celebration since 2019 and honors teachers, counselors and librarians who earned this credential during the past four years.
Chicago Public Schools Hosts Medicaid Benefits Renewal Event for CPS Families
Chicago Public Schools (CPS) hosted a Medicaid benefits renewal event at Maria Saucedo Scholastic Academy to help District families update their healthcare coverage. During the COVID-19 public health emergency, families receiving Medicaid were automatically re-enrolled in the program. Beginning this spring, families now need to take action to renew their Medicaid benefits. To ensure students and families maintain these necessary services, CPS hosted the school-based enrollment event to help families navigate the Medicaid enrollment process.
ORDINANCE AMENDMENT PROHIBITING SALE OF FLAVORED LIQUID NICOTINE PRODUCTS IN COOK COUNTY PASSED BY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
The Cook County Board of Commissioners passed an ordinance amendment introduced by Commissioner Donna Miller banning the sale of flavored liquid nicotine products in unincorporated Cook County. The legislation, supported by Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart and the Cook County Department of Public Health prohibits the sale of the types of products that studies find are hooking a new generation on nicotine, putting children at risk and threatening decades of progress in reducing youth tobacco use. Flavored products, especially e-cigarettes, are driving youth use and also increasing instances of severe respiratory illnesses and hospitalizations amongst youth and adults.
Dolton 149 School Board Elects New President, VP, Spotlighting Both “Fresh and Experienced Leadership”
South Suburban Dolton School District 149 on May 4th chose a “fresh and experienced leadership” team as the seven-member board unanimously elected a new Board President, Lolita Crisler-Liggons, Board Vice President, Teresa Jemine, and reelected Board Secretary Bertha Jolly.
CRUISE INTO WARM WEATHER WITH SUMMER OFFERINGS BY CITY CRUISES CHICAGO
Welcome summer with dining, dancing, and city skyline views. City Cruises, operator of Chicago’s premier water experience, today announced their summer cruises for Father’s Day, Fourth of July, as well as the return of firework dinners and other seasonal favorites such as Seadog thrill rides, river tours and moonlight dance cruises – all available to book now.
Reps. Davis, Moore, Moore, Feenstra, Bacon, and Kamlager-Dove Honor National Foster Care Month with Bipartisan Legislation to Help Foster Youth Find Permanent Families via Adoption
On Thursday, May 25, 2023, Representative Danny K. Davis (D-IL) joined with Representative Blake Moore (R-UT), Representative Gwen Moore (D-WI), Representative Randy Feenstra (R-IA), Representative Don Bacon (R-NE), and Representative Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA) to introduce the bipartisan H.R. 3662, Adoption Tax Credit Refundability Act of 2023. The legislation would make the current Adoption Tax Credit fully refundable, removing income as a barrier to adoption.
Harper Passes Bill to Address SNAP Benefit Theft
A bill by state Rep. Sonya Harper, D-Chicago, aimed at addressing the theft of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, is headed to the governor’s desk after unanimously passing both houses of the General Assembly.