Local News
Initiative to host kick-off events for community engagement
INVEST South/West will host kick-off events in South Shore and Roseland this month. In October, Mayor Lori Lightfoot launched the INVEST South/West initiative as a way to revitalize 10 neighborhoods on the South and West sides by providing resources.
ROBBINS MAYOR RECEIVES MLK AWARD FOR POLITICAL LEADERSHIP
This year’s Spirit of Excellence Awards honored five individuals for their community service work including Robbins Mayor Tyrone Ward. New Mount Olive Baptist Church in Harvey hosted the Jan. 20 event on the same day the country honored the legacy of civil rights leader Dr. Martin L. King Jr. And former U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., who represented the 2nd congressional district in Washington, D.C. from 1995 to 2012, was the keynote speaker.
Speaker reaches young Black men through books and mentoring
Jermaine L. Anderson wants to lead by example. As founder and executive director of I Am A Gentleman, Inc., Alexander empowers young men to be successful. And, as the author of the “Carson Cares” book series, Alexander inspires young men to be respectful, responsible and generous.
FREE TAX PREP SERVICES AVAILABLE TO CHICAGO RESIDENTS
Chicago residents are able to receive free tax preparation services through the city’s Tax Prep Chicago program The program is open to residents who earn up to $30,000 individually and $56,000 as a family, as well as those who need to file an amendment to their Form 1040X or IL-1040-X.
PARTICIPATE IN ACTIVITIES FOR THE NATIONAL DAY OF RACIAL HEALING TRHT Greater Chicago to host racial healing circles across the city
TRHT Greater Chicago will host 3-days of city wide racial healing circles at community centers, government agencies, nonprofits, schools, corporations, and more. Racial healing circles are designed to raise awareness, consciousness and empathy among those who participate.
AKArama Foundation of AKA’s Theta Omega Chapter to Donate Articles of Clothing to Homeless Veteran’s Shelter
The AKArama Foundation – the charitable arm of Theta Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority – is donating hundreds of articles of clothing to Feather Fist, a homeless shelter for veterans located at 9020 S. Langley in Chicago.
SOUTH SIDE ALDERMAN HAS NO PLANS TO REJOIN CITY COUNCIL’S BLACK CAUCUS GROUP
A relatively new member of the City Council’s Black Caucus resigned after a December 18 City Council meeting and said he has no plans to rejoin the group of black aldermen until he sees unity among them.
South Chicago organization finalist for $10 million prize
Claretian Associates was awarded $100,000 as part of the Chicago Prize to work on nine projects in the South Chicago community
IDOR Reminds Illinois Businesses of Minimum Wage Tax Credit Available This Year
The Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR) is reminding small businesses they can now utilize the Minimum Wage Credit, which became effective on January 1, 2020.
CAMELOT ILLINOIS AWARDS GRANTS TO CHICAGO LATINO CAUCUS FOUNDATION AND LOST BOYZ INC.
Camelot Illinois announced the first recipients of the Camelot Illinois Grant Program to help fund non-profit initiatives that benefit communities across the State. “As an Illinois company, we place great emphasis on social responsibility and are dedicated to providing much-needed support to organizations that are making a difference in our communities,” said Keith Horton, Acting General Manager Camelot Illinois. “Through our new grant program, we are able to partner with impactful organizations like Chicago Latino Caucus Foundation and Lost Boyz to do good for the people of Illinois.”
U .S. POSTAL SERVICE ISSUING GWEN IFILL BLACK HERITAGE FOREVER STAMP JAN. 30
The 43rd stamp in the Black Heritage series honors Gwen Ifill, one of the nation’s most esteemed journalists. The stamp art features a photo of Ifill taken in 2008 by photographer Robert Severi. Art director Derry Noyes designed the stamp.
Federal Appeals Court Reinstates NAACP Census Suit
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Prince George’s County, Maryland, and other plaintiffs won an important appeals court ruling recently, which reinstates their federal suit challenging the federal government’s inadequate plans for conducting the 2020 Census after the district court erroneously dismissed it.
Cook County wants to make sure everyone is counted in census
With the Census count approaching, there is an initiative in Cook County to ensure hard-to-count populations are included. Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and the Cook County Board of Commissioners, appointed a commission which includes Marlon Everett, cardiovascular unit at Advocate Trinity Hospital; Patrice E. Ford, executive director of the Steans Family Foundation; and Barbara Lumpkin, interim president and CEO of the Chicago Urban League. The goal of the commission is to encourage participation and increase awareness of the 2020 Census.
Landmarks Illinois celebrates restoration of former civil rights leader’s home on Martin Luther King Day
Landmarks Illinois will celebrate the completion of an important restoration project at the National Historic Landmark, the Oscar Stanton De Priest Apartment Building in Bronzeville, at a community event on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Monday, January 20, 2020.
