Sen. Hunter calls for termination of Officer Jason Van Dyke

In response to news reports about the police shooting of Laquan McDonald, a Chicago teen, Majority Caucus Whip Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago, 3) released the following statement:

“Too many families, including my own, have been touched by violence in Chicago. As we turn to the police for help, yet again we are faced with disappointment. I’m calling on Superintendent Garry McCarthy to terminate Officer Jason Van Dyke immediately to prove this horrific circumstance is not symbolic of the Chicago Police Department’s ethics.”

Timely fair helps first-generation college students (Video & Photos)

Over 200 local students received valuable and timely information at Senator Mattie Hunter and Rep. Sonya Harper’s college fair at VanderCook College of Music. Saturday’s fair could not have arrived any sooner for one graduating senior.

Meet Ronnesha Whitfield, an Ombudsman High School senior, who is graduating in three weeks.

“I didn’t expect for it to be this awesome and amazing to get information from the colleges,” said Whitfield. “People are not informed that much. They might hear about a college from other people but they don’t know much more until they meet recruiters.”

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Warm clothes, hot meals for Englewood residents in need

CHICAGO – Residents in need of hot meals and warm clothes can join LaTanya & The Youth of Englewood this Nov. 21 for a free pre-Thanksgiving dinner.

 “I would love to see residents working together, looking out for each other, as well as our children,” said LaTanya Johnson, the nonprofit’s founder. “Englewood has been lacking jobs, resources and the necessary motivation to stay strong as a community. I felt like I needed to do something to help our less fortunate.”

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UPDATED: Senator Hunter hosts free College Fair

State Senator Mattie Hunter (D-3, Chicago) will host a free college fair on Friday, November 20 at the VanderCook College of Music. Representatives from over 30 institutions and Historically Black Colleges and Universities will be in attendance.

“We’re helping connect talented students with the opportunities they need. We’re also giving recruiters access to Chicago’s brightest youth,” said Hunter.

The event is open to high school teens, parents and adults seeking higher education opportunities. The Illinois Student Assistance Commission,  State Representative Sonya Harper, State Representative Ken Dunkin and VanderCook College of Music-sponsored event will be held from 9 a.m. to noon.

Attendees are encouraged to bring resumes and prepare questions for college recruiters.

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