VILLA PARK – State Senator Tom Cullerton (D-Villa Park) is reminding DuPage County residents to take advantage of free college planning resources during College Changes Everything Month.

October is College Changes Everything Month, a time to encourage Illinoisans to take full advantage of the free financial aid and postsecondary planning resources available in their communities.

“Many families across DuPage County are facing financial hardship during this awful pandemic,” Cullerton said. “This is a quick reminder to let parents, guardians and students know there is need-based financial assistance available to prevent students from placing their postsecondary plans on hold due to financial limitations.”

The Illinois Student Assistance Commission is offering free, virtual workshops to help parents, guardians and students complete the Free Application for Federal Aid (FAFSA) or the Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid.

The next two webinars are on Monday, Oct. 26 and Thursday, Oct. 29 from 6 to 8 p.m.

ISAC requires participants to register for workshops. For more information, Cullerton urges residents to visit https://studentportal.isac.org to learn more about resources, tools and programs to ensure qualified students take advantage of college savings programs.

The agency also offers individualized help by offering one-on-one assistance via phone, email, text or videoconference with ISACorps, ISAC’s group of recent college graduates whose intensive training prepares them to assist students with planning, applying and paying for college. Residents can search by ZIP code at http://studentportal.isac.org/isacorps to find your local Corps members.

For assistance via text and to receive important information about college planning events and deadlines, students can sign up for ISAC College Q&A by texting their first and last name to (630) 216-4910.

“Every student deserves the chance to pursue higher education,” Cullerton said. “Our goal is to open doors for students and help ensure they are graduating college with mountains of opportunities, not burdensome college debt.”

For more information, residents can visit www.isac.org or call Cullerton’s office at (630) 903-6662 for assistance.

MARYVILLE – To mend technical inequities in rural areas of the Riverbend region, State Senator Rachelle Crowe (D-Glen Carbon) is urging Metro East organizations to apply for $50 million in available funding through the second round of the Connect Illinois broadband expansion program.

“To ensure small businesses are able to compete and residents are able to connect at work and school, access to reliable, high-speed internet is critical,” Crowe said. “Communities must have the resources to support local digital demands, and applying for this grant is a simple way to expand broadband opportunities to those living in rural areas.”

CHICAGO — Applications for a second round of grants to expand broadband in underserved communities was recently announced, and State Senator Tony Munoz (D-Chicago) is encouraging any group eligible to apply. 

"Lack of quality broadband access continues to severely affect families across the state,” Munoz said. “People depend on vital services to keep them connected by virtual means during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as e-learning, telehealth care services and connecting with family and friends.”

The eligibility requirements for the second round of funding are largely the same as the previous round. However, the administration has introduced a new exemption allowing a lower non-state match for project proposals concerning economically distressed communities in an effort to allow underserved areas to be competitive when applying for critical infrastructure dollars.

JOLIET – To transition Illinois to a 100 percent clean energy economy, State Senator Patrick Joyce (D-Essex) lent his support to the Climate Jobs Illinois (CJI) 10-point plan initiative, which will create thousands of jobs while reducing the state’s carbon emissions.

“With this plan as a starting point, Illinois moves one step closer toward a clean energy future,” said Joyce, a member of the Senate Energy and Public Utilities Committee.  “I look forward to continuing to work with the coalition to create more jobs as our state transitions to a clean energy economy.”

The CJI plan comprises four main sectors: clean power generation; just transition and inclusion; building efficiency; and transportation. The plan outlines how the state can invest at scale in clean-energy infrastructure to maximize emissions reductions that will address the climate crisis while creating or sustaining thousands of union jobs and apprentice programs, particularly in areas hit hard by the economic crisis.

“We have to continue to stand up for our working class and ensure these folks have a voice,” Joyce said. “Now is the time to build on the progress we’ve made, especially for those who have been impacted by COVID-19 crisis.” 

To read CJI’s full 10-point proposal, visit https://climatejobsillinois.org/our-work.

CHICAGO – Diving further into racial disparities in the health care system, State Senator Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago) held a hearing Monday to analyze the differences in access to health care, and is demanding that every Illinoisan have equal opportunities to quality and affordable health care.

“The time it takes to reach the hospital can determine whether someone lives or dies,” Hunter said. “Safety net hospitals are the only option some Black and Brown people have, yet they are extremely underfunded and continue to be closed down. This is a trend that must not continue, or many of our neighbors will end up at a grave inconvenience, or worse, dead.”

SPRINGFIELD – To discuss further steps to assist survivors of child abuse in the Springfield area and throughout downstate, State Senator Andy Manar (D-Bunker Hill) met with Sangamon County Children’s Advocacy Center employees and Children’s Advocacy Centers of Illinois advocates Thursday.

During last spring’s budget negotiations, Manar, who chairs the Senate Appropriations II Committee, fought to ensure that Children’s Advocacy Centers received the funding they need to continue providing crucial treatment services.

New Senator Adriane Johnson: I'm ready to serve

BUFFALO GROVE — Adriane Johnson, a lifelong servant and volunteer in the northern suburbs, was sworn in as the first Black state Senator to represent the 30th Legislative District last week.

“I’m truly honored and humbled by this entire experience,” Johnson said “We have a lot of important issues to tackle this year, and I’m ready to serve the residents of the 30th District.”

Read more.

Testimony highlights generational racial disparity in home lending

CHICAGO — Testimony from advocates, state government agencies, and banks themselves were all in agreement Thursday: Race remains the biggest predictor of whether somebody is approved for a home loan, and a major factor in how homes are evaluated in an appraisal process. The result, according to reports, studies, and testimony from the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, is that Black homeowners in Illinois are simply not receiving loans at anywhere near the rate of homeowners in majority-white neighborhoods.

State Senator Jacqueline Collins, chair of the Illinois Senate Financial Institutions Committee, convened a joint hearing on the topic Thursday, bringing in the Senate Commerce and Economic Development and Senate Executive Committees to discuss the causes of this disparity, with testimony from IDFPR, representatives of the Illinois and Chicago housing authorities, Treasurer Michael Frerichs and representatives of various housing advocacy agencies.

Read more.

Harris supports increasing Black vendor procurement opportunities

DOLTON — As a diversity advocate and Black-owned business supporter, State Senator Napoleon Harris, III (D-Harvey) echoed the importance of increasing the number of opportunities for Black vendors to do business with the state.

“Every local government, industry, and statewide project should include vendors from diverse backgrounds,” Harris said. “Diverse businesses typically encounter barriers that challenge their startup and sustainability efforts. However, our supplier diversity strategies can improve their procurement opportunities.”

Read more.

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PEORIA – To continue expanding access to quality broadband in rural areas, State Senator Dave Koehler (D-Peoria) announced $50 million in funding are available through the Connect Illinois broadband expansion program’s second round of grants today.

“In order to participate in the 21st Century economy, people need reliable, affordable internet access,” Koehler said. “By setting aside money in the bipartisan Rebuild Illinois statewide construction plan to improve our broadband infrastructure, Downstate businesses, schools, farmers and health care providers will have the opportunity to flourish on a whole new level.”