Local News
Chicago Public School CEO to leave in June
On Monday, May 3, Dr. Janice Jackson, CEO of Chicago Public Schools, joined Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot in a press conference to announce that she would be stepping down as CPS CEO at the end of June.
GOOD DEED CHANGES PHILANTHROPIST’S LIFE
Mona Purdy says going to Guatemala and competing in a half marathon changed her life.
ALDERWOMAN MAKES HISTORY IN CALUMET CITY
Monet S. Wilson made history when she was elected as the first Black alderwoman of Calumet City in April. Wilson will represent the 2nd Ward in Calumet City, succeeding Mary Bethe Swibes, who was appointed in 2019
Chicago STEM Students Find Solutions for Social Change in this Year’s Third Annual ENpowered Games Competition
Project SYNCERE (Supporting Youth's Needs with Core Engineering Research Experiments) will host its 4th annual ENpowered Games event virtually on Friday, May 7th, with a focus on addressing social justice needs through STEM. The ENpowered Games Competition attracts hundreds of middle school students from across Chicago’s South and West sides, allowing them to showcase their knowledge and skills against other students.
Michelle T. Boone Joins the Poetry Foundation as President
The Poetry Foundation is pleased to announce Michelle T. Boone will join the Poetry Foundation as president beginning May 4. The appointment concludes a robust, diverse national search led by Korn Ferry in partnership with a committee of Poetry Foundation trustees and staff members.
LOCAL SINGER LOOKS FOR SUCCESS IN U.S.
Singer Matt Benson, who goes by the name Matt B, has released “Eden” this year. It is his United States debut and while Matt B has had success in Japan, he is looking to have success here.
D.C. Statehood is a Voting Rights Issue… and Racial Justice Issue
Washington, D.C. has a higher percentage of Black residents than any state in the country, and they have no voting representation in Congress. This is systemic racism in action. It is long past time to give Washington’s 712,000 residents the representation they deserve by making D.C. our 51st state.
Judge rules two ex-senators should be paid withheld salaries
Springfield — Two former Illinois state senators have a “clear right” to receive portions of their legislative salaries that were withheld by Illinois Comptroller Mendoza and her predecessors, a Cook County judge recently decided.
Mayor Lightfoot Announces Mayor’s Medal of Honor
Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot recently announced the Mayor’s Medal of Honor, a new Mayoral award that will honor individuals and organizations who have made extraordinary contributions to Chicago’s residents throughout 2020 and particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Leading Women’s Empowerment Brand BLACK GIRLS ROCK!® Joins Forces With Microsoft For A Multi-year Partnership
Tech leader Microsoft and Beverly Bond, founder and CEO of the award-winning women’s empowerment, lifestyle, and philanthropic brand BLACK GIRLS ROCK!®, have announced a strategic partnership to build technology infrastructure and empower more Black girls to become leaders through access to culturally relevant programs, leadership development, and STEM skills. The goal of this alliance is to strengthen the transformative work of BLACK GIRLS ROCK!® with the technology and scale of the Microsoft’s ecosystem.
EXELON PARTNERS WITH DIVERSE BUSINESSES
Kimberly Moore is the founder of KDM, an engineering and telecommunications firm in Streeterville. Moore has an electrical engineering degree and was employed with Exelon. The first thing KDM took on was Exelon work. Moore started off with Crown Castle supplying telecom work, and said it led to other telecom companies looking to do additional things.
STRATEGIST DISCUSSES STIMULUS, SHARES TIPS AND TALKS ABOUT INVESTING IN YOURSELF
Ingrid LaVon Woolfolk has been “doing numbers” since she was six-years-old. She would help her “big mama” figure out how much money she would make from selling dinners. Woolfolk has been in business finance for 20 years. She has worked for two major corporations and managed up to $1 billion in topline revenue. Now, she’s taking that expertise to what she calls micro-businesses— or what some would call, small businesses, who are operating with 20 employees or less.
South Side Health Transformation Project Seeks Public Comments for State Funding
After months of community meetings, town halls, and Zoom calls, the South Side Health Transformation Project (SSHTP) was gratified to hear in January that the Hospital and Healthcare Transformation Bill unanimously passed in the Illinois legislature
Neighborhoods feel financial institution’s impact
Chicago Community Loan Fund was founded in 1991 as a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI). Cooperative housing was a focus in the beginning, but now, the organization has expanded to include vacant land acquisition and large scale commercial retail projects.