Villivalam believes mass transit must take proper safety precautions

CHICAGO — Acting in his capacity as chair of the Senate Transportation Committee, State Senator Ram Villivalam (D-Chicago) sent a letter to all mass transit agencies in Illinois to inquire about the steps they are taking to protect both their passengers and employees.

“Public transit is essential to people’s lives and livelihoods,” Villivalam said. “Its continued availability is crucial to reviving our state’s economy, but without proper safety precautions, our buses and trains could also help spread COVID-19.”

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Jones announces career development programs for South Side youth

CHICAGO — In an effort to provide at-risk youth with an opportunity to develop new skill sets, State Senator Emil Jones III (D-Chicago) announced the expansion of the Illinois Department of Human Services’ COVID-19 Summer Youth Employment Program, which creates additional employment opportunities for underserved youth in the South Side of Chicago.

“Early work experience allows teens to learn what their passions are and explore future career paths,” Jones said. “The program will help them learn work and professional skills, like time management and creating a resume, that will help shape them for years to come.”

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Van Pelt sponsors mobile testing on the West Side

CHICAGO — State Senator Patricia Van Pelt (D-Chicago) hosted mobile COVID-19 testing for more than a hundred adults on the city’s West Side last week in a collaboration with Howard Brown Health, West Garfield Community Park Stakeholders, and Fathers Who Care.

“The older adults in my community are still struggling,” Van Pelt said. “The pandemic is still out there, and they still didn’t have access to necessary resources to stay alive. We wanted to do whatever we could to address that, hoping to provide some relief.”

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