WAUKEGAN – State Senator Adriane Johnson celebrates another win for community health initiatives with a $500,000 investment in an asthma mobile unit designed for Waukegan and North Chicago.

“Each step we take for the betterment of our community is a step in the right direction,” said Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove). “It is my hope that together, we can provide the resources necessary for a healthier community.”

 The Christopher Redding Youth Asthma Foundation, founded in 2013, is managing the asthma van as they share a vision in serving the community with Senator Johnson. The Asthma Mobile Unit will provide asthma and allergy medicine to Lake County, concentrating on Waukegan and North Chicago. They will service families and youth living with asthma, with an emphasis on lessening the potentially adverse health effects on asthmatic youth and young adults involved in athletics in underserved communities.

CHICAGO – State Senators Julie Morrison, Omar Aquino and Ann Gillespie joined the Department of Human Services and the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity on Friday to announce awards totaling $14 million in Rebuild Illinois funding that will provide critical safety and accessibility improvements to 70 social service providers across 24 counties.

Awarded under the first-ever competitive Human Services Capital Investment Grant Program, the funds will help nonprofit human services providers address physical construction and accessibility needs. The program was designed to prioritize disproportionately impacted areas, the expansion of human services and to address fire prevention and mitigation needs, such as the installation of fire sprinkler systems.

SKOKIE - State Senator Willie Preston and the Consulate General of Israel to the Midwest teamed up to co-host a tour of the Green Book exhibit currently on display at the Illinois Holocaust Museum. 

The Green Book exhibit tells the story of the Green Book, a guidebook that Black Americans used during the Jim Crow era to navigate safe spaces in the South. The exhibit explores the history of the Green Book and its importance as a tool for Black Americans to protect themselves from discrimination and violence.

State Senator Willie Preston was proud to co-host the event and hopes that it will bring attention to the important role that the Green Book played in American history.

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS — Students enrolled in District 214’s Culinary Arts ProStart Career Pathway rose to the challenge as they baked sweet and savory breads during State Senator Ann Gillespie’s second annual Great District 214 Culinary Competition Bake-Off on Thursday.

“I am so impressed with the talent and creativity students displayed this year,” said Gillespie (D-Arlington Heights). “Congratulations to our winners; I know you will be successful as you continue your culinary journey.”

Teams from Buffalo Grove, Elk Grove and Rolling Meadows high schools competed in savory and sweet categories. The winning dishes, both from Elk Grove High School teams, were jalapeño popper monkey bread from Alejandro Pons Jurado and Jonathan Alvarado in the savory category, and caramel macchiato cream cheese muffins from Samantha Rowan and Adam Chamala in the sweet category. The students will each receive scholarship funds to attend Harper College.

Dishes were evaluated by a panel of judges that included Gillespie; Grace Goudie, executive chef at Scratchboard Kitchen; Heather Henkel, manager/confectioner at Kilwin’s; Charlie Brown, executive chef at The Moorings; and Brian Baseggio, chef at The Makerplace, Arlington Heights Memorial Library.

The Bake-Off was held in Arlington Heights Memorial Library’s Makerplace facility in partnership with Township High School District 214, Harper College, Arlington Heights Memorial Library and the Arlington Heights Chamber of Commerce.

AURORA – State Senator Linda Holmes is pleased to announce that the Illinois Commerce Commission’s Five-Year Plan includes $400,000 in funding to improve five railroad crossings in the 42^nd District.

The plan includes funding from the Grade Crossing Protection Fund and the Rebuild Illinois Capital Plan to address at-grade crossings where a public highway crosses the railroad. These funds are intended to address longstanding safety concerns.

“Railroads are vital to our local and state economies and play a big role in public transit, so improved crossings will ensure these daily moves occur safely and smoothly,” said Holmes (D-Aurora). “This is yet another stage of the Rebuild Illinois program in which we’ve invested millions in repairing, replacing and building new roads, bridges and transit to keep Illinois prepared for the future.”

Four crossings in Kendall County are planned for improvements in Fiscal Year 2023 in Bristol, Montgomery and two in Yorkville, while one in Plainfield is set for Fiscal Year 2024.

More information on the plan can be found on ICC’s website: https://www.icc.illinois.gov/.

CHICAGO — National Louis University will help expand the state’s pool of early childhood providers and increase faculty diversity in the field thanks to an Early Childhood Faculty Preparation Grant, State Senator Mattie Hunter announced Monday.

“By supporting the development of a diverse and well-prepared early childhood faculty, we are investing in the future success of our children and communities,” said Hunter (D-Chicago). “I am thrilled to see National Louis University receive this funding to help students pursue their passion for teaching while filling a need in our state.”

The Illinois Board of Higher Education awarded $3.37 million in Early Childhood Faculty Preparation grants to four universities — including $1,191,511 to National Louis University — to implement programs of study for working adults from diverse backgrounds and those who work with diverse populations interested in becoming early childhood faculty. The grants will fund scholarships and other academic and holistic supports for 78 students to earn master’s degrees.

“This grant is an important step forward in ensuring all children in Illinois have access to high-quality education early on,” said Hunter. “Our education system relies on a pipeline of diverse faculty to support it, and these scholarships will help reduce the burden on those seeking to join the profession.”

The Early Childhood Faculty Preparation Grants are a part of the Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity initiative, a key strategy in A Thriving Illinois, the state’s strategic plan for higher education. Those who enroll in the programs are expected to graduate by the summer of 2024.

ROMEOVILLE – State Senator Rachel Ventura commended the $358,390 grant awarded to Lewis University to expand the state’s pool of early childhood providers and increase faculty diversity in the field.

“Early childhood education is crucial to preparing kids for a bright future,” said Ventura (D-Joliet). “Having a more diverse faculty in place ensures that all the children of Illinois can relate and feel comfortable by those looking over and teaching them.”

The Illinois Board of Higher Education awarded $3.37 million in Early Childhood Faculty Preparation grants to four universities — including $358,390 to Lewis University — to implement programs of study for working adults from diverse backgrounds and those who work with diverse populations interested in becoming early childhood faculty.

The grants will fund scholarships and other academic and holistic supports for 78 students to earn master’s degrees.

“This grant expands the state’s goal of having high quality education across the board,” said Ventura. “I congratulate Lewis University on working toward a more well-rounded and diverse group of educators.”

The Early Childhood Faculty Preparation Grants are a part of the Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity initiative, a key strategy in A Thriving Illinois, the state’s strategic plan for higher education. Those who enroll in the programs are expected to graduate by the summer of 2024.

Villanueva: We must protect patients from deceptive, misleading reproductive health

SPRINGFIELD – Taking another leap toward enshrining safe and secure access to reproductive health care, State Senator Celina Villanueva championed a measure to end deceptive and misleading practices at crisis pregnancy centers.

“There is a war on people’s ability to make informed decisions about their reproductive health care,” said State Senator Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago). “Workers at crisis pregnancy centers should not be able to deceptively mislead women into making decisions that aren’t the best for them or their futures. When you go to the doctor and someone appears to be medical staff, you trust they are medical staff. You trust your ability to make autonomous, informed, evidence-based decisions. Reproductive health care should be no different.”

Read more.

Feigenholtz partners with new Behavioral Health Officer to remove barriers for children with behavioral and mental health challenges

SPRINGFIELD – Families of children with behavioral health challenges that require mental health assistance have faced multiple barriers when seeking mental health assistance.

Working alongside Dr. Dana Weiner, the governor’s newly appointed Children's Behavioral Health Officer, State Senator Sara Feigenholtz championed Senate Bill 724, which defines the Interagency Children’s Behavioral Health Services Act and lays out a roadmap to finally get children the help they need.

“The importance of this roadmap to appropriate treatment cannot be overstated,” said Feigenholtz (D-Chicago). “This work is transformative and will be a game changer for children's behavioral health in Illinois.”

Read more.

Belt initiative to tackle food deserts clears Senate

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Christopher Belt advanced a measure through the Senate to tackle the increasing number of food deserts in Illinois.

“People should be able to have easy access to healthy and affordable food at all times,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “By providing financial assistance to grocery stores, we can incentivize the establishment and expansion of stores in areas that are considered food deserts.”

Read more.

Chicago Elected Representative School Board Hearing Information

The Illinois State Senate has launched an online map making portal to encourage public participation in the creation of the new Chicago elected school board districts.

This is the start of a new and exciting era in community-led education to empower parents and loved ones to decide what is best for their children and loved ones.

Our caucus has convened a Special Committee on the Chicago Elected Representative School Board to conduct citywide hearings throughout April.

Here is the Special Committee on the Chicago Elected Representative School Board hearing schedule:

• April 12, 4 p.m. – 6 p.m., Copernicus Center, 5216 W. Lawrence Avenue, Chicago, IL 60630
• April 13, 4 p.m. – 6 p.m., National Museum of Mexican Art, 1852 W. 19th Street, Chicago, IL 60608
• April 17, 6 p.m. – 8 p.m., Virtual Hearing

We want to hear from you – click here to help identify communities of interest.

Residents may also view submissions from your neighbors – click here to view submissions.

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