On Tuesday, Mayor Brandon Johnson and the Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the Chicago Supplier Development Program, formerly known as the EDGE: Supplier Development Program. Through this RFP, the City of Chicago will provide funding to one local community and economic development organization, such as a chamber of commerce, community development corporation, or a not-for-profit agency. The selected organization will work with the City to design, organize, and execute capacity building programs and provide community ..read more

The Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) joined its concessions partners on Tuesday for ceremonial ribbon-cuttings to celebrate the grand openings of three new concessions establishments in O’Hare International Airport’s Terminal 3. Half Moon Empanadas, ChiBoys, and Hudson Nonstop have officially joined the airport’s vibrant array of dining and retail options just in time to serve the traveling public ahead of the bustling summer travel season. These openings are the latest in a series of new concessions developments at Chicago’s airports. This January, the CDA celebrated the grand opening of ..read more

Mayor Robert J. Lovero welcomes the spring 2024 Cohort Class for the Illinois Works Pre-Apprenticeship Program participants as they begin to embark in new careers in the construction and build trades industry. The first open enrollment period began in February 2024 with the spring cohort initiating on March 12, 2024. A summer 2024 cohort has been announced and will begin on Monday, July 8, 2024. At the completion of the program, a diverse group of qualified candidates will gain new skills and be work-ready for careers in the construction industry and building trades,  ..read more

Mayor Brandon Johnson, in partnership with the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities and Ada S. McKinley Community Services – one of Chicago’s largest and oldest human services organizations – announced a new grant program aimed at providing financial assistance to families of children with disabilities, a population that was disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The $5 million Diverse Learners Recovery Fund will provide one-time grants of $500 to up to 8,000 eligible K-12 students through a lottery. The program provides grants for as many as two eligible students per ho ..read more

More than 200 students and staff from across Chicago Public Schools convened at Malcolm X College to break the stigma around mental health through workshops, wellness activities, music and more. CPS Chief Health Officer Dr. Sofia Adawy Akintunde served as a keynote speaker and participant along with other CPS team members. Saturday’s summit is the second annual event and represents an early start to Mental Health Awareness Month in May. The Mental Health Summit, organized by the District’s Office of Student Health and Wellness, aims to provide healing-centered and trauma-informed ways of supp ..read more

The fourth annual Sneaker Ball was a huge success! Hosted by the After School Matters Associate Board, hundreds of guests came out in their freshest outfits paired with their most coveted kicks in support of Chicago teens on Saturday, April 13 at the Chicago Sports Museum. Together, we raised more than $150,000 for the After School Matters Stipend Fund, ensuring young people in our programs are paid for the amazing work they do all year round. Emcees Tre Ward, ABC7 Chicago Anchor, and Ciara Evans, ASM alum, kicked off the night with a warm welcome to guests. Our Latin ..read more

New Gallup polling data suggests that Americans are in need of more sleep. The new data found that more than half of individuals surveyed or 57 percent said they would feel better if they got more sleep. The last time Gallup conducted a similar poll was 2013, where the results were almost flipped with 56 percent feeling that they got enough sleep at that time. All told, approximately 20 percent of respondents shared that they’re getting less than five hours of sleep per night, with 53 percent placing their daily sleep schedule in the 6-7 hour range. Additionally, only 26 percent of ..read more

Northwestern Medicine team members will distribute Narcan (naloxone) and provide education about opioid overdose prevention during National Prescription Drug Take Back Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 27. Nine Northwestern Medicine locations will also offer drive-up locations where community members can safely dispose of unused medications. In addition to illegal and illicit opioids, unused or expired prescription medications are a public safety issue that can lead to potential accidental poisoning, misuse and overdose. Northwestern Medicine will participate in National Prescript ..read more

Humboldt Park Health, formerly known as Norwegian American Hospital, proudly announces its achievement of the Healthcare Equity Certification from The Joint Commission. This ground-breaking and prestigious certification makes Humboldt Park Health the thirteenth hospital in the country and the first in Illinois, as well as the first in the Midwest, to receive this recognition, marking a significant milestone in the organization’s commitment to equitable healthcare. The Healthcare Equity Certification Program, established by The Joint Commission, acknowledges organizations that prioritize healt ..read more

Illinois legislators have introduced several key bills aimed at ending the state’s HIV epidemic by 2030 this month. Senator Lakesia Collins and Representative Kelly Cassidy filed the Connection to HIV Testing and Linkage to Care Act (HIV TLC). Senator Mike Simmons and Representative Hoan Huynh concurrently introduced the Strengthening and Protecting the Illinois HIV Funding Infrastructure bill (SPIHFI, pronounced “spiffy”). Supported by AIDS Foundation Chicago (AFC), the leading HIV advocacy organization in Illinois, both the HIV TLC bill and the SPHFI bill recognize that ending the HIV epide ..read more