Local News
Pay Yourself First
The National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB) recently released its 2024 State of Housing in Black America Report, shedding light on a troubling yet unsurprising reality: the gap between Black and White homeownership has widened since 1970. This disparity is not just a statistic—it represents a significant loss of wealth within Black communities, including here in the Greater Chicagoland area.
Free Test Prep Program Available To Public University Students
College students who attend public universities can take advantage of a new free test prep program. The Prepare for Illinois’ Future Program provides free test prep to college students in more than 40 courses, including licensing exams – real estate and insurance – and graduate level programs – GRE, LSAT, MCAT and GMAT. The program is available through a partnership with the State of Illinois, the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) and Kaplan.
Coalition Of Human Services Organizations Call For A Living Wage For Human Service Workers
More than 100 people gathered in Springfield on Wednesday, Feb. 26th, to call for legislators to support resolutions and legislation that would provide a livable wage for those who provide human services to people in communities throughout Illinois.
Music Box Foundation Makes the Arts Accessible to Young People
Music Box Foundation offers music education, mentoring and workforce development programs to youth, young adults and students with disabilities. The family organization was founded by Vernon Lloyd, Vernon Lloyd, Jr., Omero Siller, Deon Houston and Kijuana Carter in 2008 as a mobile service that offered music programs in the Park District. Now, the program partners with the Chicago Public Schools, for afterschool programs, the Chicago Park District and the Alternative Schools Network.
SAIC at Homan Square Exposes Community To The Arts
The School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) has had a presence in North Lawndale with its Homan Square Program for more than 10 years. Located at 906 S. Homan, SAIC at Homan Square offers free art classes to high school students, engages the community through art projects and spotlights local artists through its artist-in-residence programs.
Start Early Is Advocating For Increase In Wages For Early Childhood Services
Nonprofit organization Start Early has been working to promote early childhood education in underresourced communities since it began more than 40 years ago in Chicago as The Ounce of Prevention Fund. The goal of the organization is to give children the best start in life by providing resources and support to families.
Giannoulias Honors Student Organ Donors on ‘Sweetness Day’ Walter Payton Prep Sophomores Register Fellow CPS Teens as Organ Donors Under Secretary of State’s LEAD Program
Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias celebrated the sophomore class of Walter Payton College Preparatory High School today after their day of service in honor of Walter “Sweetness” Payton, the school’s namesake.
Applications for Property Tax Savings Now Available
Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi announced at a press conference today that property tax–saving exemptions applications for the 2024 tax year are now available online. Exemptions are savings that contribute to lowering a homeowner’s property tax bill. The most common is the Homeowner Exemption, which saves a property owner an average of $950 dollars each year.
Pappas urges property owners to pay First Installment tax bills by Tuesday, March 4 due date
First Installment Tax Year 2024 property taxes are due Tuesday, March 4, Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas reminded taxpayers today.
YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago Announces CEO Transition
The YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago today announced that Dorri McWhorter has decided to step down as president and Chief Executive Officer, effective February 28, 2025.
Chicago Public Schools Celebrates Crossing Guard Appreciation Month
Chicago Public Schools (CPS) will celebrate the more than 700 crossing guards who help CPS students and families safely arrive and depart schools every day during Crossing Guard Appreciation Month which runs from today through March 14. CPS Crossing Guards are located at busy intersections across Chicago and help students and community members cross streets safely.
Do You Need a REAL ID? Maybe…Maybe Not
Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias wants Illinoisans to make sure they know if they need a REAL ID ahead of the federal deadline, now less than three months away.
Tutera Senior Living & Health Care Acquires Luxury Community in Matteson
Tutera Senior Living & Health Care, one of the nation's leading senior care providers, has acquired Ridgeland Senior Living, an upscale community in Matteson, outside of Chicago. The community, built in 2021 for $21 million, formerly operated under the name Alexi Senior Living for eight months until it closed in 2022. Tutera is making improvements and will reopen the community in early spring.
Poetry Foundation Spring Event Season Celebrates Lineages, Collective Power, and the Midwest
The Poetry Foundation announces its roster of free public events for the spring 2025 season under the theme "Power Lines," inspired by the landmark anthology of the same name released by the Guild Literary Complex 25 years ago. The electrifying event season highlights new work by Chicago and Midwest presses, partner organizations, and authors.