Local News
Chicago Urban League Names Jessica R. Harris Chief Development Officer and Promotes Calmetta Coleman to Chief Operating Officer
As Chief Development Officer, Harris will be responsible for developing strategies to accelerate philanthropy, grow and diversify the League’s funding base, and secure major and planned gifts for the organization. She will report directly to President and CEO Karen Freeman-Wilson. Harris joins the Chicago Urban League from Cara Collective, where she was most recently Director of Advancement and responsible for a personal portfolio of $1 million of institutional funders and individual donors, as well as supervising and coaching team members who secure roughly $1 million of additional institutional support and $1 million of major and annual fund gifts.
CITY COLLEGES OF CHICAGO WAS SELECTED BY AMAZON AS AN EDUCATION PARTNER FOR CAREER CHOICE PROGRAM
City colleges of Chicago will provide Amazon hourly employees access to credit and certification education pathways at all seven colleges. Amazon’s Career Choice program provides full tuition to learn new skills for career success at Amazon or elsewhere
A Music lover brings live music events to communities
Music is Margaret Murphy Webb’s life. While growing up her father owned a record shop and her mother had her and her sister singing in church. Murphy-Webb loves the freedom of jazz. The ability to create while a person is performing a song. Each person of the jazz ensemble can go outside of the realm, while staying in key, and the result is a beautiful composition.
‘Olivia Takes a Mental Health Day’ aims to help children
A new book aims to help children identify and verbalize their feelings and have more of a mind-body connection. The book, “Olivia Takes a Mental Health Day,” follows Olivia, a young girl who gets a medical diagnosis while having to deal with other stressful situations.
BIPOC-led organizations call for equity in funding
The Black Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC)-led organizations on the South and West sides are calling for equitable funding when it comes to funding community organizations in the grant process.
Propel Center Announces $1,000,000 in Student Scholarships
The Propel Center, the global HBCU technology and learning hub intended to level the playing field and open greater doors of opportunity for HBCU students, today announced the launch of its Propel Student Impact Scholarships, with support from Apple and Southern Company. The new scholarship program, directed at HBCU students who are interested in pursuing careers in entrepreneurship, arts & entertainment, agri-tech, social justice and health, is open to rising sophomores, juniors, seniors and graduate students alike.
Bill seeks pay raise for tipped workers
A bill in the Illinois House would do away with the sub-minimum wage paid to waitresses, bartenders and other tipped service workers. Rep. Camille Lilly, D-Chicago, introduced House Bill 5139 last month. If the bill becomes law, workers who supplement their wages with tips will receive the state’s minimum wage starting on Jan. 1, 2025, in addition to their tips.
Federal Affordable Connectivity Program Provides Eligible Low-Income Households $30/month Towards the Cost of Internet Service
The federal Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) provides eligible low-income households a credit up to $30 a month toward the cost of Internet service ($75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands). Participants in the program can apply the ACP credit toward the cost of participating plans from a variety of Internet Service Providers, including Comcast’s Internet Essentials program and all the company’s Xfinity Internet plans, as well as mobile services. Households that choose plans totaling $30 or less will essentially receive their service for free.
School Districts receive donation from Amazon
Amazon has donated $1 million to two school districts in the South Suburbs to foster STEM careers. Matteson Elementary School District 159 and Rich Township High School District 227 received the donation on Tuesday, Feb. 22nd.
Commemorative Coin Debuts to Celebrate Juneteenth National Independence Day
Juneteenth Unlimited, LLC is excited to introduce the release of a commemorative coin to celebrate a new Federal holiday - Juneteenth - inspired by the African Diaspora, Black American history and the fight for freedom. Made of one troy ounce of .999 fine silver, this inspirational coin is for anyone who wants a valuable keepsake to memorialize this significant new holiday.
Education Department Announces $35 Million Competition to Improve Teacher Quality
Program Aims to Recruit, Prepare, Retain and Support Teachers with a Focus on Equity, Diversity, and Increasing the Educator Pipeline
Author’s book uses Enneagram Test to help with relationships
Dr. D. Darrell Griffin has been doing work around the Enneagram Test since 2007. Griffin believes the more people know about themselves, the better they can be in relationships with other people. That is the premise of his book, “Building a Better You: Using the Enneagram to find Purpose, Healing, and Success in Relationships,” which is out now.
MUSEUM’S HISTORIC BLACK CREATIVITY PROGRAM RETURN
Black Creativity and its signature Juried Art Exhibition is open now through April 17 at the Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago (MSI). MSI has hosted the annual celebration for more than 50 years. This exhibition is included with Museum entry.
Profiting From Your Passions to Create Unlimited Income While You Sleep
If you’re looking at turning your passions into dollars, dropshipping is one of the best ways to sell products online without having any inventory to create passive income, according to Asia Abston at Absolutely Abston
