This Tuesday a multitude of pastors from the Chicago area and beyond met with the American Red Cross and FEMA in order to collaborate on ways to help victims of the flooding throughout the Midwest in September.
Pictured are the 2008 Edgar J. Helms Award for Community Investment recipients from Left to Right; Dr. Edna Erez, Department of Criminology, Law and Justice, UIC; Dr. Oliver Williams, Director, Institute on Domestic Violence in the African- American Community; Dr. Creasie Finney Hairston, Dean, Jane Addams College of Social Work, UIC; Deborah Harrington, President, Woods Fund of Chicago; State Representative Constance A. Howard; Congressman Danny K. Davis; Christopher Mallette, Director of Community Safety Initiatives, City of Chicago, accepting for Mayor Richard M. Daley.
These past few weeks Governor Rod R. Blagojevich has announced a number of legislative changes and has also outlined state resources for families. This summer, the Illinois Senate issued bills addressing topics ranging from healthcare to tax returns. Some of the most important changes deal with income tax obligations for seniors and healthcare benefits for young adults. These changes in the law could result in changes for you. LIHEAP LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) is a state and federally funded program that makes payments for heat bills on the part of low-income households, including single person households with an income of less than $1030 per month, two person households making $1750 per month, and families of four making less than $2,650 per month. This year, LIHEAP expects they will help some 300,000 families across Illinois with $150 million of state and federal funding. For more information on LIHEAP visit www.liheapillinois.com or call 1-877- 411-WARM.
Over Labor Day Weekend, the African Festival of the Arts took place on the South Side of Chicago at Washington Park (5100 South Cottage Grove Avenue). The focus of the festival was to showcase food, fun, and arts from over 300 artists and vendors.
29/08: Hip Hop’s Digital Age
“I told you we ain’t dead yet. We been livin’ thru your internet,” affirms soul singer Erykah Badu on her spirited ode to Hip Hop, ‘The Healer,’ as she addresses the major transition that has taken place within the genre over the past few years. In this digital age wherein anyone can share audio and video files within a matter of minutes, rap music has rapidly exploded into this limitless format.
Senator Rickey R. Hendon, 5th District (in blue) posing Congresman Danny K. Davis held his annual back to school picnic in Garfield Park. Captain of his Fighting 5th softball team they played two games that day, winning one. School Supplies, food, entertainment and games were available to kids and their families. (Photo by Melvin Williams)
The Cook County Farm Bureau named State Representative, Arthur Turner as a “Friend of Agriculture” for his outstanding support of agricultural issues. This award recognizes elected leaders who exhibit understanding of the agricultural industry and work to strengthen it through their votes and actions. “When I sit at my table to eat, I realize how important agriculture is to everything we are,”said Turner.