Local News

5th Annual Toy Drive Presented by 100 Black Men of Chicago Inc., to Benefit Chicagoland Area Children at Soldier Field’s United Club

100 Black Men of Chicago, Inc., announce their 25th Annual Toy Drive and Holiday Party on Tuesday, December 5, 2023, from 6pm to 11pm at the United Club located at Soldier Field – home of the Chicago Bears - 1410 Special Olympics Dr. 1st Floor, Chicago, IL 60605. Advanced registration required via https://100bmc.org/. No tickets sold at door. General admission with a toy is $20.00; without a toy is $40.

ILLINOIS LEGISLATIVE BLACK CAUCUS FOUNDATION (ILBCF) TO HOST POLICY SUMMIT THAT FOCUSES ON ELIMINATING CONTINUED SYSTEMIC RACISM

Through the yearly challenges of enhancing the upward mobility of the African American community through its collective legislative efforts in Springfield, the ILBCF understands firsthand the impactful but often moderate gains that have been achieved within the black experience. But with that same collective effort, the ILBCF also understands the enormous challenges and consistent roadblocks that continue to plague African American throughout Illinois. The conference will allow the leaders to engage in extremely difficult discussions that will expose, illustrate, and offer suggestions of resolve through legislation and grassroot organizing.

Biden-Harris Administration Seeks Nominations for New Higher Education Program Integrity and Institutional Quality Rulemaking Panel

The U.S. Department of Education (Department) announced today that it will publish a notice in the Federal Register establishing a negotiated rulemaking committee that will meet to rewrite regulations that address some of the “nuts and bolts” of Title IV program integrity and institutional quality under the Higher Education Act. In the notice, the Department requests nominations for non-Federal negotiators and sets dates for negotiation sessions.

School District 162 opens Annex in Richton Park

A former roller-skating rink is getting a second life for use as a multipurpose structure for School District 162. The 23,000 square foot Annex is located at 4645 Sauk Trail in Richton Park. The Matteson School District consists of seven elementary schools and the Southland College Prep Charter High School.

Forty Acres Fresh Market Breaks Ground on Space

Liz Abunaw began her quest to provide quality, affordable produce to residents in Austin in 2018 when she launched Forty Acres Fresh Market. She recently broke ground on a brick-and-mortar space for the endeavor and took time to answer some questions.

COMMISSIONER LARRY ROGERS JR., A SHINING EXAMPLE OF TRANSPARENCY, INTEGRITY, AND FAIRNESS

It is no secret that Cook County voters may often have diverse opinions of individual elected officials and the political spectrum as a whole. But it is refreshing to hear from voters of their positive experiences with select elected officials who within their respective views are stellar and upstanding government leaders.

Dressed by the Best for a Chicago Winter

In preparation for a Chicago winter, founders of Treadmill Mentality Foundation Jevon Carter and Taylor Houston partnered with Enchanted Backpack to provide 250 Roswell B. Mason Elementary School students with winter necessities such as coats, hats and gloves. In addition to the contributions from the Treadmill Mentality Foundation, the Chicago Bulls have donated 250 beanies, ensuring that each student is prepared for the upcoming winter months, and Enchanted Backpack provided essential school supplies, books, athletic equipment and art supplies as a part of its Mobile Van Program, marking Roswell B. Mason the 312th school they have partnered with in the Chicagoland area.

THE JOFFREY BALLET PARTNERS WITH THE CHICAGO ARCHITECTURE BIENNIAL TO PRESENT “ALL OF MANKIND” BY ARTIST JAN TICHY

In partnership with the Chicago Architecture Biennial, The Joffrey Ballet announces the completion of Jan Tichy's installation, All of Mankind, on the windows of Joffrey Tower, which is home to The Joffrey Ballet and the Joffrey Academy of Dance, Official School of The Joffrey Ballet. Located in the center of downtown Chicago at 10 E. Randolph Street, The Joffrey Ballet is one of 14 venues taking part in CAB 5: This is a Rehearsal, a city-wide program including site-specific installations and presentations at ten outdoor City Sites and four cultural and civic institutions, including the Chicago Cultural Center, the James R. Thompson Center, the Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts, the Chicago Architecture Center.

HYDE PARK SCHOOL OF DANCE CELEBRATES 30 YEARS WITH THE NUTCRACKER

DECEMBER 8–10 AT MANDEL HALL- Celebrating 30 years of training, performance, and community, Hyde Park School of Dance brings together fans of ballet, modern, and hip hop with its annual presentation of Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker. Performances are December 8–10 at Mandel Hall on the University of Chicago campus, 1131 E. 57th Street, Chicago.

ATTORNEY GENERAL RAOUL REACHES OVER $1 MILLION SETTLEMENT WITH MANUFACTURING COMPANY OVER USE OF NO-POACH AGREEMENTS

Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced a settlement with Colony Display LLC (Colony) that resolves allegations Colony entered into no-poach agreements and engaged in wage fixing with three staffing agencies. The settlement requires Colony to pay more than $1 million to compensate temporary workers who were impacted by the unlawful activity.

League of Women Voters Honors Giannoulias with “Making Democracy Work” Award

The League of Women Voters (LWV) of Chicago presented Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias with its “Making Democracy Work” Award, recognizing his “committed and visionary leadership” that ultimately strengthens our democracy.

Olive-Harvey College Celebrates Its First Graduating Class of the Rivian Technical Trades Program

Olive-Harvey College (OHC) celebrated its first students graduating from the Rivian Technical Trades program after five months of study and hands-on paid training. The students will graduate from OHC and all have recently accepted positions with Rivian as automotive technicians.

Reps. Davis and Feenstra Honor American Education Week

Representative Danny K. Davis (D-IL) and Representative Randy Feenstra (R-IA) introduced the Upskilling and Retraining Assistance Act (H.R. 6401) and the Upward Mobility Act (H.R. 6402) to modernize the tax code to help lower the cost of education for workers and help employers recruit and train a skilled workforce.

The Executive Leadership Council Appoints Earl Granger, III as Chief Development and Impact Officer

he Executive Leadership Council (ELC) announced the appointment of Earl Granger, III as Chief Development and Impact Officer. The ELC is the preeminent global membership organization for Black current and former CEOs, senior executives and board members of Fortune 1000 and equivalent companies, top-tier entrepreneurs and global thought leaders. The organization advocates for advancing Black leadership by increasing the number of Black corporate CEOs, C-Suite executives and board members, and building the pipeline of the next generation of Black corporate leaders.

MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON APPOINTS SYDNEY HOLMAN TO SERVE AS DEPUTY MAYOR OF INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS

Mayor Brandon Johnson announced the appointment of Sydney Holman to serve as the Deputy Mayor of Intergovernmental Affairs. In this role, Holman will lead Mayor Johnson’s legislative priorities at the city, state and federal levels