Local News

The Protege Project Awarded $199,712 ICJIA Grant to Reduce Violence and Empower Chicago Youth

The Protege Project, a leading Chicago-based nonprofit focused on youth empowerment and violence prevention, has been awarded a $199,712 grant through the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority's Community-Based Violence Intervention and Prevention Program (CB-VIP).

CHICAGO URBAN LEAGUE TO HOST 64TH ANNUAL GOLDEN FELLOWSHIP DINNER

The Chicago Urban League announced that its 64th Annual Golden Fellowship Dinner (GFD) will feature a special performance by Grammy Award-winning artist Ledisi and will honor distinguished leaders George E. Johnson and Julieanna L. Richardson. The gala will be held Saturday, Nov. 8, in the Skyline Ballroom at McCormick Place.

Chicago Residents Rally as Men Wear Pink Ambassadors for the American Cancer Society

The Men Wear Pink of Greater Chicagoland has announced its ambassadors for 2025. 45 leaders from community will join together with the American Cancer Society to raise funds to support breast cancer research, patient programs, and direct services.

MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON ANNOUNCES REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR SOUTH LAWNDALE SMALL BUSINESS STOREFRONT ACTIVATION PROGRAM

Mayor Brandon Johnson and the Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) announced a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the South Lawndale Small Business Storefront Activation Program. This program seeks to partner with a local community and economic development organization to bring new life to vacant storefronts and provide vital support to small businesses in the South Lawndale community, particularly along the 26th Street Commercial Corridor. For program details, visit Chicago.gov/BACPRecoveryPlan.

NEIU College of Business and Technology's bachelor's in Computer Science has been accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET

Northeastern Illinois University's College of Business and Technology's bachelor's degree in Computer Science has been accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, a nonprofit, ISO 9001-certified quality assurance organization. Through the accreditation of academic programs, recognition of credentials and assessment of student learning, ABET supports excellence in education worldwide.

150 Advocates Rally at Capitol Demanding Governor Newsom Sign AB 7 Into Law

More than 150 community leaders, students, and grassroots advocates gathered on the West Steps of the California State Capitol, calling on state lawmakers to pass AB 7, the Legacy of Harm & Exclusion Consideration Act, and demanding that Governor Newsom sign it into law.

Spelman College wins 7th annual Moguls in the Making entrepreneurial pitch competition

Spelman College students took top honors in the seventh annual Moguls in the Making entrepreneurial pitch competition, where 50 students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) developed innovative and impactful solutions to address economic mobility challenges in Detroit. The winning team will be featured on "The Jennifer Hudson Show" on Sept. 25 to speak about their Moguls in the Making experience and winning idea.

Knight Foundation Announces Nearly $20 Million in New Investments to Fuel Detroit’s Economic Growth and Cultural Vitality

The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation announced $19.8 million in new investments to advance Detroit’s arts and tech economy, civic infrastructure and public spaces across the city at a community celebration on Sunday at Michigan Central. This new commitment builds on decades of partnership to support the city’s revitalization and expands Knight’s investments from downtown into the inner-ring neighborhoods. Over the last 25 years, Knight Foundation has made more than 750 grants to the people and organizations making a difference in Detroit. That’s more than $215 million, including over $80 million in just the last decade.

Speak Sell Shine Announces 2025 Cohort of Visionary Leaders, Authors and Speakers

The stage is set, the cameras are rolling, and the red carpet is ready. The iconic Howard Theatre and the National Press Club will once again host Speak Sell Shine, a transformative two-day experience designed to elevate entrepreneurs, authors, and speakers to national visibility. The event will be held October 6–7, 2025.

Bridging the Parent-Teen Gap: SheKnows Launches How to Raise Adults Series

SheKnows announced the launch of How to Raise Adults, a new content series offering insights from teens on navigating the complex transition from adolescence to adulthood. Covering mental health, financial literacy, technology, relationships, and social trends, the series offers an authentic look into teen perspectives and the issues shaping the next generation. As part of the How to Raise Adults series, SheKnows is proud to partner with BetterHelp to spotlight accessible mental health resources that help teens build lifelong well-being.

Everyday Habits That Could Help Protect Your Brain Health and Prevent Cognitive Decline

Whether you're in your 30s or your 70s, it’s never too early—or too late—to start protecting your brain. Research continues to show that certain daily habits can reduce the risk of cognitive decline, Alzheimer’s disease, and other forms of dementia. The good news? These are changes anyone can start making today.

What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You

How many times have you heard the phrase, “What you don’t know can’t hurt you”? Well, that statement—like many others repeated in our Black culture—is simply not true. A similar phrase, “Ignorance is bliss”, is also misleading. In reality, what we don’t know can and often does hurt us. It has puzzled me for years why these sayings have been passed down through generations, especially in a culture that has more churches per capita than any other community. My Bible reminds me, “For lack of knowledge, my people perish.” How about yours?

ComEd Crew Leader Finds Career That Changes His Life

Mark Muhammad enrolled in the Overhead Electrical Line Worker program at Dawson Technical Institute. He was looking for employment and a career that would enable him to earn enough to take care of himself and start a family. He wanted a program that would train him and provide a path to hiring. When he saw the Overhead Electrical Line Worker program, it looked like the kind of program that would provide just the kind of opportunity that he was looking for. Muhammad recently graduated from the ComEd crew leader program and is now a Network High-Rise Crew Leader.

UChicago Medicine Community Benefit Report Touts Investments In Communities

The University of Chicago Medicine recently released its Community Benefit Report for fiscal year 2024. The report shows it invested $715 million in 2024 in an effort to reduce health disparities and strengthen community health. The effort not only includes the South side of Chicago, but also the South Suburbs and Northwest Indiana, through the University of Chicago Medical Center in Hyde Park and UChicago Medicine Ingalls Memorial in Harvey.

Queer Quest Self Discovery Event Is Set For Early October In Chicago

Dr. Jessica Esquivel, B. Sci PhD, and her wife Emily Esquivel, Ma, LCPC, have been thinking about hosting an event that would infuse community, creativity and collective liberation.