Local News
500 Black State Legislators Address Voting Rights and Other Issues in Atlanta
Over 500 Black State Legislators from across the United States left the National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL) Annual Legislative Conference last weekend recommitted to addressing voting rights, health care, education, and other important issues that are impacting African American communities. Presently, more than 20 states have passed laws that will make it harder for millions of Americans to vote.
Café and coworking space provide economic empowerment
Tracy Powell and Nikki Bravo have opened the successful Momentum Coffee & Coworking at Millennium Park located at 11 N. Michigan. This new location builds upon the business owners’ mission to grow and develop new and emerging businesses in the Black community.
MAYOR LIGHTFOOT AND CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY ANNOUNCE COMPLETION OF EXPANSION TO OFFER SUNDAY LIBRARY HOURS IN ALL CHICAGO COMMUNITIES
Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot and Chicago Public Library (CPL) Commissioner Chris Brown today announced the expansion of Sunday library service to an additional 24 locations on Sunday, December 19, 2021. With these branches now opening on Sunday afternoons, every community in Chicago has access to library services seven days-a-week. This extension of service hours delivers on Mayor Lightfoot’s pledge in June of 2019 to expand library hours to Sundays and her commitment to complete the expansion by the end of 2021.
Pell Grant Increases Denied to Students at Career Colleges Under Build Back Better Bill
A recent increase in the Pell Grant awarded to low-income college students who need financial help paying for their tuition or other educational needs will not be going to the nearly one million students who choose career and proprietary schools.
Potential buyer identified for James R. Thompson Center
Plans are moving ahead for the sale of the James R. Thompson Center at 100 West Randolph Street in Chicago. Gov. JB Pritzker announced on Wednesday plans to enter into exclusive negotiations with JRTC Holdings, LLC, for the purposes of acquiring and redeveloping the Thompson Center that houses office space for 50 state agencies and more than 2,800 state workers.
Scripps Networks appoints Cheryle Harrison head of Bounce
Cheryle Harrison has been appointed the head of Bounce, the nation’s popular entertainment television network serving African Americans.
NAACP’s ‘COVID. KNOW MORE’ initiative continues to stand as Black America’s best defense
This month, the nation marked a foreboding, record death toll: More than 5,230,000 deaths worldwide as a result of COVID-19. It’s a sad, painful and tragic milestone that signals the obvious: The coronavirus pandemic—here in the U.S. as well as around the globe—is far from over, and simply isn’t going away anytime soon.
City Colleges of Chicago establishes the Timuel D. Black scholarship
As the city of Chicago continues to reflect on the life and legacy of Timuel D. Black, City Colleges of Chicago will establish the Timuel D. Black Scholars Program for adult learners. Scholarships will be awarded to adult learners based on current and/or past civic and community engagement who have aspirations to drive change in their communities.
Burrell Communications Names Terrence Burrell Interim Chief Creative Officer
Burrell Communications Group, one of the world’s leading multicultural marketing communications agencies, announced Terrence Burrell will take the helm as Interim Chief Creative Officer. In this role, Terrence will lead the agency’s creative teams in developing strategic and impactful work that moves clients’ business forward.
Donors needed now to address historically low blood supply
Nearly two years into the pandemic, everyone has earned a holiday break with their family and friends. But as the nation gathers again for celebrations this season, the American Red Cross, which provides 40% of the country’s blood, is facing historically low blood supply levels.
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority’s National Educational Foundation Awards $125,000 Founders’ Centennial Scholarship
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated, an international women’s service organization, and the Zeta National Educational Foundation, Inc. (ZNEF) announced that Janae Smith-Williams was awarded $125,000 as the recipient of its Triumphant Founder Pearl Anna Neal Centennial Scholarship. Applications for ZNEF 2022 scholarships for high school seniors, college and graduate students is now open at https://z-nefscholarships. smapply.org.
Mirrors & Misconceptions Series At The Stony Island Arts Bank
Rebuild Foundation, the arts, education and cultural development organization founded by artist Theaster Gates, and Court Theatre, the professional theatre of the University of Chicago, are partnering to present Mirrors & Misconceptions, a two-day activation at the Stony Island Arts Bank featuring poetry readings, gallery talks, collage activities, extended exhibition hours and more beginning December 17, 2021. This special series of events will mark the last weekend that the multi-site “Toward Common Cause” exhibition, a collaborative presentation in partnership with the Smart Museum of Art, is on view at the Stony Island Arts Bank.
Bally’s Eyes Two Locations For Chicago Casino
Bally’s Corporation has two of three proposals for a Chicago casino license. One location is at the McCormick Place Truck Marshalling Yard, in Bronzeville, the other is in River West at the site of the Chicago Tribune printing center.
Two Chicago Organizations set to receive $200,000 in funding from Bank of America
The Bank of America’s Neighborhood Builders program will reward two West side organizations with needed funding. The Back of the Yards Neighborhood Council and the Lawndale Christian Development Corporation will receive $200,000 in flexible funding, as well as leadership training for its executive director and an emerging leader in the organization.
