WAUKEGAN – Over 26,000 lives have been lost to gun violence in the U.S. so far in 2021, a shocking statistic that motivated State Senator Adriane Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove) and her Youth Leadership Advisory Panel to take action.
Together, Johnson and the student-run panel will host a Gun Violence Awareness Roundtable on Tuesday, Aug. 10 from 5 to 6 p.m. at Clearview Park, located at 1523 N. McAree Road in Waukegan.
Read more: Johnson invites Lake County youth to stand up against gun violence at upcoming event
SPRINGFIELD – Illinoisans will be able to purchase menstrual hygiene products with federal and state food assistance program benefits under a new law sponsored by State Senator Karina Villa (D-West Chicago).
“Benefits programs aren’t living up to their full potential until they cover necessary menstrual hygiene products,” Villa said. “Increasing the accessibility of menstrual hygiene products for low-income Illinoisans is essential to combatting period poverty across our state.”
Read more: Menstrual hygiene products can be purchased with SNAP and WIC benefits under Villa law
CHICAGO – State Senator Cristina Pacione-Zayas (D-Chicago) participated in a “walk a day” event to highlight the child care crisis affecting the workforce, parents and children exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. During the event, Pacione-Zayas shadowed day care provider Lucia Rubio to learn about the scope of work performed daily by child care providers.
“This event has affirmed my concerns about the struggles our child care providers go through on a day-to-day basis, especially since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Pacione-Zayas, a longtime advocate for early childhood policy. “This year, the legislature took up measures to help our early childhood workforce, but we also need to turn our focus toward the federal government to help our state and the nation provide the vital resources needed to help the early childhood workforce, parents, and most importantly, children recover and thrive.”
SPRINGFIELD – Someone who commits a serious crime, such as assault or harassment, motivated by someone’s immigration status – real or perceived – could soon be charged with a hate crime.
“There is no place for hate in our society,” said State Senator Jacqueline Y. Collins (D-Chicago), the measure’s sponsor. “This new law will help protect immigrants and children of immigrants from all across the world, but especially our Latino brothers and sisters.”
Read more: Targeting immigrants now a hate crime thanks to Collins law
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