CELEBRATE AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH!
    Black History Month Featured Artist: Whitney Houston    

Upcoming Events
Veteran Beauty School
Feb 8th 


Free Jazz Concert
Feb 17th 
8th District Map
Current News
 
NOTICE Although Feb. 4, 2016 is the statutory start of Early Voting, they anticipate that ballots will not be available at the beginning of this period.  The ballots will be available no later than February 17 - the beginning of Grace Period. Ballots will likely not be available on Feb. 4th due to several objections to nominating petitions. They anticipate that voting systems will be tested and will be available on or before Feb. 17.  Any voters who arrive at the Chicago Election Board in the meantime will be provided with an application to Vote By Mail.


 

Rep. Ford to Speak at
Nat'l Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day Event

( February 1, 2016 ) CHICAGO, IL - In recognition of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, February 7, 2016, U.S. Congressman Danny K. Davis, IL 7th District, WHARP ( Westside HIV/AIDS Regional Planning Council ) and over 50 invited community leaders and nonprofit organizations join together to host their annual press conference at Mile Square Health Clinic on Friday, February 5, 2016. 

The press conference will announce the renewal of the Red Ribbon Cash Lottery Ticket ( SB 2397 ), introduced by IL Senator Jacqueline Y. Collins, 16th Legislative District. 100% of the profits from the Red Ribbon Cash Lottery Tickets go towards the prevention and care for those fighting HIV/AIDS in Illinois. During the press conference a call to action urging all citizens to get tested to know their status for HIV, especially the African American community, which is disproportionality affected by the HIV epidemic.


 
Obama bans solitary confinement for juveniles in federal prisons

 
By Juliet Eilperin January 25 at 8:00 PM

President Obama on Monday announced a ban on solitary confinement for juvenile offenders in the federal prison system, saying the practice is overused and has the potential for devastating psychological consequences.

In an op-ed that appears in Tuesday editions of The Washington Post, the president outlines a series of executive actions that also prohibit federal correction officials from punishing prisoners who commit "low-level infractions" with solitary confinement. The new rules also call for expanding treatment for mentally ill prisoners.
The president's reforms are expected to affect about 10,000 inmates.

The reforms come six months after Obama, as part of a broader criminal-justice reform push, ordered the Justice Department to study how solitary confinement was being used by the federal Bureau of Prisons.

The move is another example of the extent to which the nation's first African American president now seems willing to tackle delicate questions of race and criminal justice as he closes out his presidency. Obama has also been focused on trying to put in place programs to help ex-offenders reintegrate into society once they have left prison.

"How can we subject prisoners to unnecessary solitary confinement, knowing its effects, and then expect them to return to our communities as whole people?" the president wrote in his op-ed. "It doesn't make us safer. It's an affront to our common humanity."

He said he hoped his reforms at the federal level will serve as a model for states to rethink their rules on the issue. 

 

Rep. La Shawn K. Ford speaking at the Gun Town Hall Discussion.

 
CHICAGO - Illinois State Representative La Shawn K. Ford (D-Chicago) will hold a viewing of Obama's live interview on CNN with Anderson Cooper on Thursday January 7 th . After the viewing, Rep. Ford will hold a town hall discussion on guns in America. 
Sanders Discusses Criminal Justice Reform in Chicago

CHICAGO - U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders discussed criminal justice reform during a round-table meeting Monday at the Village Leadership Academy on the city's near West Side. Illinois State Rep. La Shawn K. Ford of Chicago led the discussion.
Support Bill allowing for recall of Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel: 
House Bill 4356

Mayor Emanuel has failed the city of Chicago, and it's time for the people to declare with one voice that we wish for him to be recalled from political office.
Community News
 

FREE JAZZ CONCERT AT AUSTIN TOWN HALL

Friday, February 19, 2016 from 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
5610 W Lake St ChicagoIL 60644 
(773) 287-7658


Fee: Free
Age Range: Any
Erwin Helfer @80: A Living Legend of Boogie and Blues

Pianist Erwin Helfer is celebrating his 80th birthday with a few of his friends: pianist Barrelhouse Chuck; saxophonist John Brumbach; trumpeter Larry Bowen; vocalist Kathryn Davis; bassist Lou Marini on bass and drummer Bugs Cochran.

JazzCity is a free concert series initiated in 1997 by the Jazz Institute in collaboration with the Chicago Park District, now in its 19th season of bringing people together from across the city to listen to Chicago's top jazz musicians. For more information visit  www.jazzinchicago.org or call  312.427.1676.

 
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Ernest F. Hollings (Hollings) scholarship program is designed to:
  1. increase undergraduate training in oceanic and atmospheric science, research, technology, and education and foster multidisciplinary training opportunities;
  2. increase public understanding and support for stewardship of the ocean and atmosphere and improve environmental literacy;
  3. recruit and prepare students for public service careers with NOAA and other natural resource and science agencies at the federal, state and local levels of government; and
  4. recruit and prepare students for careers as teachers and educators in oceanic and atmospheric science and to improve scientific and environmental education in the United States.
The Hollings Scholarship Program provides successful undergraduate applicants with awards that include academic assistance (up to a maximum of $9,500 per year) for full-time study during the 9-month academic year; a 10-week, full-time internship position ($700/week) during the summer at a NOAA facility; and academic assistance (up to a maximum of $9,500) for full-time study during a second 9-month academic year. The internship between the first and second years of the award provides the Scholars with "hands-on"/ practical educational training experience in NOAA-related science, research, technology, policy, management, and education activities. Awards also include travel funds to attend a mandatory NOAA Scholarship Program orientation, conferences where students present a paper or poster, and a housing subsidy for scholars who do not reside at home during the summer internship.

To be eligible to apply for Hollings Scholarship, at the time of application (annually September through January) you must:
  • be a U.S. citizen;
  • be currently enrolled or accepted as a full-time 2nd year student in a four-year academic program or as a full-time 3rd year student in a five-year undergraduate program at an accredited college or university or university within the United States or U.S. territories;
  • earn and maintain a 3.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent on other identified scale) in all completed undergraduate courses each term and cumulative, as well as an overall GPA of 3.0 in your major field of study. The grade point average requirement applies prior to and at the time of application for a scholarship, for the period between application and award notification, and after award distribution; and
  • have and maintain a declared major in a discipline including, but not limited to, oceanic, environmental, biological, and atmospheric sciences, mathematics, engineering, remote sensing technology, physical and social sciences including geography, physics, hydrology, geomatics, or teacher education that support NOAA's programs and mission.
Related discipline areas of study may include: biological, social, and physic al sciences; mathematics; engineering; computer and information sciences; and teacher education.
For additional information regarding the Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship Program, 

Greencorps Job Training Position
No Grand Jury in the Killings of Bettie Jones and Quintonio LeGrier


On December 28, a grand jury decided that the officers who killed Tamir Rice RIP, a 12 year old playing with a toy gun in a park and shot within "2 seconds" of  officers arriving, would face no charges. A grand jury decided that 2 seconds is enough time to evaluate a situation and use deadly force against a child. This process continues to fail our society.



Meet Stetson

Stetson is an inquisitive, open-minded young man who is constantly willing to try out new things. He enjoys staying active and would love to have the opportunity to partake in various different sports, such as basketball, soccer and football. He also enjoys playing with remote controlled toys as well as building LEGO pieces. Stetson is caring towards others and is always there to lend a helping hand to someone in need. 

CLICK PICTURE FOR MORE INFORMATION