In response to the senseless violence and killing of Xavier Joy and many others, State Senator Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago) is calling for greater commitment to violence prevention, community outreach and youth programs.

Xavier Joy, was a former football player at Morehouse College and had worked as a special education classroom assistant in the Chicago Public Schools. Committed to his community, Joy left school and returned to Chicago to work with underprivileged children. His family believes he was gunned down after being robbed for his cellphone.

“Violence has become the language of despair and economic strife,” said Hunter. “We must change that language by creating opportunities for our children. Parents need to be more involved in their children’s lives. We must fight together to stop erratic and violent behaviors in children early on.”

In an effort to protect women’s healthcare, economic security and justice, State Senator Mattie Hunter (D- Chicago) passed legislation that would make all feminine hygiene products free for students grades 6-12.

“One of the reasons girls miss many days of school is because they do not have access to these products,” said Hunter. “Young women do not plan on having a menstrual cycle, it’s something that just happens. It’s an absolute necessity to supply our younger women with the resources they need.”

House Bill 3215 is an initiative of “Illinois Moving Women Forward” a group that aims to remove gender inequalities in order to enable women to achieve their full potential. Of their three principles, the group’s main focus is to protect and improve the access to affordable healthcare for women.

State Senator Mattie Hunter (D- Chicago) issued the following statement after today’s budget legislation votes:

We’ve been working to reach a bipartisan budget agreement for months. The plan we passed today is a solution that gives us certainty and stability.

The governor and my colleagues across aisle have given us all false hope. They did not vote for their own ideas in the Grand Bargain, nor did they vote for their proposed budget cuts. It’s May, and time is running out.

The package we passed will fully fund the next fiscal year which includes funds to education, MAP grants, breast and cervical cancer screening, addiction treatment and funding for programs like Teen Reach. All of these programs are essential to the lives of our citizens. They should not be excluded or cut from the budget. The programs are vital and work to restore and improve the quality of life for our constituents.

The people of this state are suffering. How much longer will they have to wait? It’s time we focused on an actual budget that will bring fiscal certainty to our citizens.

Today was Alpha Kappa Alpha Advocacy Day in the Illinois State Capitol.

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. was founded on the campus of Howard University in 1908 and incorporated in 1913. The organization was founded on academic excellence and to be the “Service to All Mankind,” especially toward African-American communities.

Today, many of the women spoke to legislators and attended educational sessions to learn about the legislative process.