SPRINGFIELD – Youth relying on after-school, employment and violence prevention programs are one step closer to having their needs met thanks to legislation that passed out of the Senate today.

Sen. Mattie Hunter of Chicago voted in favor of a budget plan to fund youth-targeted programs and reduce violence.

"Keeping our after-school programs and pipelines to employment open for teens keeps them off of the street," said Hunter, a member of the Senate Human Services Committee. 'Illinois' youth can no longer be used a bargaining chips in distracting debate over the governor's turnaround agenda. In Chicago, having a safe place to go and access to jobs is a matter of life and death for too many of our young people."

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SPRINGFIELD – State Sens. Donne Trotter and Mattie Hunter took an important step to ensure that instances of lead exposure like what happened in Flint, Michigan doesn’t happen in Illinois. Currently, it’s legal to re-sale or re-lease a property that is found to have high levels of lead in the paint and other building materials. A measure that passed through the Illinois Senate’s Public Health Committee unanimously would prohibit the reuse of that property until the issue is solved.

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SPRINGFIELD - State Senator Mattie Hunter passed legislation in the Illinois Senate to extend the time former offenders have to restore their lives.

"People who have served time and corrected their wrongs shouldn't have only a month to restart their lives. This bill makes it easier for people to get back on their feet," said Hunter (D-Chicago).

Many formerly convicted residents face a short 30-day window to find housing, transportation and employment. Former convictions often can lock people out of housing and job opportunities.

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CHICAGO, IL - On Tuesday, April 26th, from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., Illinois State Senator Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago – 3rd District) will host a career fair at VanderCook College of Music, located at 3125 S. Federal Street, Chicago, IL 60616. This free event, which is open to the public, will include workshops and will feature over 30 representatives from vocational and trade schools. The event is the sequel to a successful November 2015 college fair that brought over 200 local Chicago students out.

“We’re helping connect Chicago students with non-traditional post high school opportunities, as they create their own unique path to adulthood. In addition to empowering interested teens with the many alternative routes outside of a traditional 4-year college experience, we’re also giving recruiters access to Chicago’s brightest youth. Encouraging young people to map out their plans following high school, is crucial in this day and age,” says Hunter.

The event is open to high school teens, parents and adults seeking alternative educational and career opportunities. The Alternative Schools Network and VanderCook College of Music are the co-sponsors of this career fair. Attendees are encouraged to bring resumes and prepare questions for the vocational and trade school recruiters.

Confirmed participants include the African American Contractors Association; Dudley Beauty College; Cain’s Barber College; The Illinois Institute of Art; Community Insurance Center, a division of Inner-City Underwriting Agency Inc.; City Colleges of Chicago; St. Paul Church of God in Christ Community Development Ministries, Inc.; Coldwell Banker Residential Services; U.S. Armed Forces; The Soma Institute; Illinois Media School; Cook County Sheriff’s Police Training Academy; Chicago Police Education and Training Academy; MABMA Enterprises LLC: Chicago Security Training Concepts and many more.

For more information or to register for the event, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., visit www.SenatorHunter.com, or call the District Office of Senator Mattie Hunter at (312) 949-1908 or the Springfield Office at (217) 782-0970. This event is free and open to the public.