ISDC
  • Home
  • Senators
    • Alphabetical
    • Committees
    • Leadership
    • Find My Senator
  • Caucus News
    • ILBC Committee Roundup
    • Subscribe
    • Majority Report
  • Issues
    • Agriculture
    • Budget
    • Business
    • Criminal Law
    • Diabetes
    • Economic Development
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Ethics
    • Health
    • Higher Education
    • Law Enforcement
    • Seniors
    • Transportation
    • Veterans
  • Multimedia
    • Monthly Minute
    • Photo of the Day
    • Sound of the State
  • Resources
    • Bills / Resolutions
    • Fact Sheets
    • For Educators
    • I Like Illinois
    • Illinois Compiled Statutes
    • Illinois General Assembly
    • Internships
    • Media Guidelines
    • NCSL
    • Senate Schedule
  • About the Senate
  • Contact Us
    • How to contact a Senator
    • Employment
    • Submit Feedback
  • ILBC Pillars
    • Pillar 1
    • Pillar 2
    • Pillar 3
    • Pillar 4
  • COVID-19
PrevNext
Senate Democrat-led measure guaranteeing paid leave for Illinois workers signed into law
Senate Democrat-led measure guaranteeing paid leave for Illinois workers signed into law
Illinois Senate Democrats announce new center to tackle behavioral health needs
Illinois Senate Democrats announce new center to tackle behavioral health needs
Senators Castro and Villa applaud new teacher pipeline proposal to address shortages
Senators Castro and Villa applaud new teacher pipeline proposal to address shortages
Senate Democrats celebrate the Children’s Behavioral Health Transformation Initiative
Senate Democrats celebrate the Children’s Behavioral Health Transformation Initiative
Sims celebrates Illinois’ seventh credit upgrade
Sims celebrates Illinois’ seventh credit upgrade

Rockford area small businesses receiving over $1 million in second round of pandemic relief

Details
Thursday, October 29, 2020 04:29 PM

Theater seats

ROCKFORD – State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) is highlighting the second round of Business Interruption Grants the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity is awarding to Rockford businesses and other small business communities that have been hit the hardest by COVID-19-related losses and closures.

“Small businesses are the lifeblood of my community,” Stadelman said. “They need this grant money to endure, and I’m happy the state continues to prioritize communities like Rockford in these hard times.”

Forty Rockford-area small business will receive a total of over $1 million in this second round of BIG funding, which builds on the more than $49 million in grants awarded statewide in August. The Rockford area received nearly $2 million in grants during the first round, which ranged from $10,000 to $20,000 to assist businesses with expenses like payroll costs, rent, utilities, equipment and other possible unexpected costs to relieve the effects of the pandemic.

Read more: Rockford area small businesses receiving over $1 million in second round of pandemic relief

Lightford emphasizes the importance of student support services, developmental education and teacher recruitment

Details
Thursday, October 29, 2020 10:13 AM

lightford02202019CW0865rCHICAGO – Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford (D-Maywood) joined the Senate Education and Higher Education Committees for a hearing focused on student support services reforms, teacher reforms and developmental education reforms for Illinois college students.

Wednesday’s hearing was the seventh hearing dedicated to education and workforce development, the second pillar of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus’ agenda to rid Illinois of systemic racism.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has had an enormous effect on college students and their mental health,” Lightford said. “It’s a necessity for students to have access to support services that keep them engaged and connected with other students, make them feel welcome and ease emotional stress. Colleges must ensure as many students as possible are receiving this assistance.”

Read more: Lightford emphasizes the importance of student support services, developmental education and...

Testimony: Lack of diversity among teachers harms Illinois students

Details
Thursday, October 29, 2020 10:12 AM

black teacher 102920Senate hearing reveals need for more teacher training, easier access to scholarships to close racial gap in profession

SPRINGFIELD – Teachers in Illinois have increasingly come to look like just one demographic, and it’s ultimately bad for all students in general and students of color in particular, according to just one line of testimony at a joint meeting of the Illinois Senate Education and Higher Education Committees Wednesday.

Illinois Higher Education Committee Chair Pat McGuire and Senate Education Committee Chair Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant led the committee, which met virtually.

John Cusick, Legislative Director of the Illinois Federation of Teachers, said teachers see a direct connection between educator preparation and the effort to address systemic racism. Cynthia Riseman Lund, also with IFT, said teacher diversity in Illinois has gotten less racially and ethnically diverse, and more female, a development which has lead to an adverse effect on students, including male students of color.

Testimony at the virtual hearing Wednesday also focused on how access to scholarships and aid for prospective teachers contributes to their ability to finish college and enter the teaching profession. 

The hearing also focused on why the performance gap between white students and students of color persists. Partnership for College Completion’s Kyle Westbrook said Illinois community colleges still have wide completion rate disparities between Black and Latinx students and white peers, and that colleges are more likely to place Black and Latinx students into developmental education, where students are less likely to graduate.

“Today's testimony revealed a dreadful cycle. A paucity of Black male teachers restrains student achievement, yet Black males seeking to become teachers encounter many impediments in pursuit of a teaching degree. Thank goodness we learned today that there are remedies. Our task now is to put them in place,” McGuire said.

Aquino, Hunter, Glowiak Hilton to host Senate hearing on diversity in labor unions

Details
Thursday, October 29, 2020 09:36 AM

labor diversity 102920CHICAGO – To brainstorm how to bring diversity to labor unions, Senate Labor Committee Chair Omar Aquino, Executive Committee Chair Mattie Hunter and Commerce and Economic Development Committee Chair Suzy Glowiak Hilton will lead a joint hearing Thursday afternoon.

“Illinois is home of a diverse population. Four out of 10 residents are people of color. Just like everybody else, these workers pursue the means to support their families and execute their jobs under safe conditions,” Aquino said. “Unions are the backbone of a proper labor representation. That’s why I look forward to working with them in expanding opportunities for our workforce. The pre-apprenticeship programs are a great asset to offer job training and gather real-life experience, both elements key for finding a well-paying job.”

Read more: Aquino, Hunter, Glowiak Hilton to host Senate hearing on diversity in labor unions

  1. Farm Family Resource Initiative offers new helpline
  2. Glowiak Hilton joins advocates to discuss efforts to support Illinoisans with Alzheimer’s
  3. Van Pelt: We need to invest in community health
  4. State lawmakers to discuss police reform in hearing called by Black Caucus

Page 342 of 404

  • 337
  • 338
  • 339
  • 340
  • 341
  • 342
  • 343
  • 344
  • 345
  • 346

Follow ILSenDems

Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube

Sign up for the Majority Report

Employment Opportunities

Find Your Senator

Senate Schedule

Bills & Resolutions

Warming Centers

Member News

Turner: Students deserve to learn through experiences without being jeopardized
Turner: Students deserve to learn through experiences without being jeopardized
SPRINGFIELD –  To prioritize agricultural education experiences, State Senator Doris Turner passed a measure that would ensure schools consider students as being "in attendance" for a Future Farmers of America...

Read more

Senate Democrat-led measure guaranteeing paid leave for Illinois workers signed into law
Senate Democrat-led measure guaranteeing paid leave for Illinois workers signed into law
  Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford joined fellow Senate Democrats in applauding the signing of the Paid Leave for All Workers Act on Monday, making Illinois the third state in...

Read more

Halpin measure creates the Rock Island Regional Port District
Halpin measure creates the Rock Island Regional Port District
SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Mike Halpin passed a measure through committee with bipartisan support that creates the Rock Island Regional Port District Act. The Rock Island Regional Port District will...

Read more

Senator Fine to make higher education transcripts more accessible
Senator Fine to make higher education transcripts more accessible
SPRINGFIELD – Obtaining official transcripts can be a roadblock for college and university students across Illinois if they owe a past-due debt to the institution. This can hamper their efforts...

Read more

Senator Preston outlines plan to standardize promotions for Chicago firefighters
Senator Preston outlines plan to standardize promotions for Chicago firefighters
SPRINGFIELD – In tandem with a number of Chicago firefighters, State Senator Willie Preston outlined his plan to standardize their promotion process at a press conference Wednesday. “Chicago firefighters put their...

Read more

Johnson celebrates over $1 million in state funding awarded to Waukegan for clean energy transition
Johnson celebrates over $1 million in state funding awarded to Waukegan for clean energy transition
WAUKEGAN – With strong support from State Senator Adriane Johnson, Waukegan will receive $1,056,772 from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to help with the transition to clean...

Read more

SPRINGFIELD OFFICE

phone(217) 782-2728

phone309 State House
Springfield, IL 62706

Senate Floor, Michael J. Howlett Building, Springfield, IL

Senate President Don Harmon © 2023 Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus
FacebookInstagramTwitterYouTube
CHICAGO OFFICE

phone(312) 814-2075

phone160 N. LaSalle St., Ste. 720
Chicago, IL 60601