Local News
Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program applications available
The Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity’s Office of Community Assistance recently announced that the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) will begin scheduling appointments and accepting applications for winter heating assistance for seniors and people with disabilities beginning October 1, 2018.
Mayor Announces Resilient Families Task Force To Combat Poverty In Chicago
The Mayor of Chicago, Rahm Emanuel, along with several Chicago Alderman, recently approved the creation of the Resilient Families Task Force to analyze current strategies and recommend new ways to reduce the number Chicago families that are living in poverty. Specifically, the Task Force will develop a Universal Basic Income pilot program for 1000 Chicago families and explore the possibility of a Chicago based Earned Income Tax Credit program.
Legislation Introduced to Strengthen the ADA & Help Small Businesses Become Accessible
U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) introduced legislation recently with the Ranking Member of the Senate Aging Committee Bob Casey (D-PA), U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) to make it easier for small businesses to become accessible for people with disabilities and help those businesses comply with the landmark.
TRUE STAR FOUNDATION HOSTS FUNDRAISER TO CELEBRATE THEIR DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION
Th e True Star Foundation is hosting a fund- raiser on Oct. 4 and 6 p.m. at the Leo Burnett offices, 35 W. Wacker Dr., to celebrate the organization’s 14 years of operation and their transformation from print media to digital media.
15 Cities Targeted Nationwide to Reach Young Voters of Color
At a time when all Americans continue to grapple with deep social, racial and economic injustices, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSC-ME) is activating the next phase of “I AM 2018,” a major non-partisan campaign to engage disenfranchised communities of color in a number of cities across the nation in the upcoming 2018 midterm elections. The campaign is designed specifically to reach 18-to-34-year-old African American and Hispanic voters through Instagram, Twitter and Facebook and motivate them to go to the polls in November.
Three Exhibitions Focus on Late 19th-Century Chicago and Gilded Age Portraiture
Now through January 6, 2018, the Richard H. Driehaus Museum presents three exhibitions focusing on portraits from the Gilded Age and late 19th-century Chicago.
Chicago Magic Lounge presents an evening of eerie and mysterious magic with The Halloween Show
Chicago Magic Lounge, Chicago’s new home for close-up magic, brings magic, mystery and the macabre to the stage this Halloween season with a variety of performances to satisfy all cravings. Hosted by Ed Furman, The Halloween Show will feature magic by Sean Masterson and David Parr. In addition to the table and stage magic that evening, Parr will bring the spirits of the season to the 654 Club with an old-fashioned, Victorian-era séance.
Sixth Annual Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Awards Showcases International Humanitarians and Ali's Worldwide Impact
The sixth annual Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Awards will take place Thursday evening at the Omni Louisville Hotel. The fundraising gala celebrates individuals from around the world who are driven to becoming change agents for the common good. In addition to awards given to seasoned humanitarians, six young people age 30 and under, will be honored with an award for each of Muhammad Ali's Six Core Principles: Confidence, Conviction, Dedication, Giving, Respect and Spirituality.
TURN TWO FOR YOUTH COLLECTS BASEBALL EQUIPMENT IN SOUTH SUBURBS
The Chicago Southland Convention and Visitors Bureau is once again hosting the Turn Two For Youth sports drive across Chicago’s south suburbs. From now until Oct. 8, gently used baseball equipment can be dropped off at several locations and from there, it will make it’s way across the world to active kids in need.
One-Day How-To Festival Hosts Dozens Of Workshops Exploring Crafts and Hobbies
The Lansing Public Library recently hosted their first How To Festival that featured several 30-minute seminars and workshops that each focused on a different topic and explored crafting techniques, provided valuable information and taught new skills.
MEETING HELD TO DISCUSS JOBS AND JUSTICE ACT OF 2018
The Chicago Urban League recently hosted the Jobs and Justice Town Hall to discuss H. R. 5785, a house bill better known as the Jobs and Justice Act of 2018, which was introduced by the Congressional Black Caucus in May. The meeting was held in collaboration with Illinois members of the Congressional Black Caucus who were able to give the community an opportunity to ask questions and get a better understanding of the proposed bill.
Cook County Land Bank Seeks To Redevelop The Old Washington Park Bank Building
The Cook County Land Bank Authority (the Land Bank) has issued a Request For Proposal (RFP) that calls for the renovation of the 94-year-old Washington Park National Bank Building located on the corner of 63rd Street and Cottage Grove Avenue. The Land Bank has set a number of guidelines and proposals are being accepted from Oct. 1 to Oct. 31 with a decision being made by Dec. 13.
AFTER DECADES OF WRITING AND RECITING POETRY, BABA GRIOT RECEIVES LIVING LEGEND AWARD
Leonard Lucas, better known by his stage name Baba Griot, was recently honored at the second annual National Spoken Word Awards with the 2018 Living Legend Award. Baba Griot was honored for his five decades of writing and reciting poetry along with mentoring young poets. The National Spoke Word Awards (NSWA) was founded in 2017 by De’Andre Hawthorne, also known as award-winning spoken word poet Blaq Ice. The awards were created to honor American Spoken Word Artists and those international Spoken Word artists who have made an impact in the United States. Prior to this years NSWA, Hawthorne reached out to Baba Griot to tell him that he was creating the Living Legend Award specifically to honor him
Sisters In Cinema Launches Campaign to Build Media Arts Center In South Shore
The Chicago-based non-profit Sisters in Cinema recently announced the launch of a crowdfunding campaign to raise funding for the rehab and buildout of the Sisters In Cinema Media Arts Center. Founded by award-winning filmmaker Yvonne Welbon, the Center will be based in the South Shore neighborhood where she grew up.