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.

SPRINGFIELD - Bronzeville's Wendell Phillips Academy football team met State Senator Mattie Hunter at the state capitol on Wednesday in honor of their historic championship win.

"Wendell Phillips Academy's championship not only highlighted their strength, preparation and dedication to football but it highlighted the often-overlooked capabilities in our neighborhoods," said Hunter. "It will take these large victories to change our city's narrative. it will take these wins for their peers to see that they, too, can succeed in their chosen paths."

The Wildcats made history by becoming Chicago's first public high school to win the 4A state football championship. The team helped turnaround the school's representation.

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Members of the Illinois General Assembly showed their support of the American Heart Association’s "Go Red for Women" campaign in the Capitol today. Go Red for Women encourages women to know their risks and take action to protect their health.

Cardiovascular disease claims the lives of nearly 500,000 American women each year. The American Heart Association created Go Red for Women to empower women to take charge of their heart health.

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SPRINGFIELD – Over 128,000 low-income college students who rely upon MAP grants may soon receive funding. Today, Chicago Democrats State Senators Mattie Hunter, Donne Trotter and the Illinois Senate passed legislation to fund the MAP colleges and community colleges.

“Our teens have suffered enough during the budget impasse. I’m proud we passed funding to help MAP grant recipients continue their schooling,” said State Senator Mattie Hunter, co-sponsor of the bill. “We should continue fighting to keep great institutions such as Chicago State University open as well.”

The plan provides over $397 million in funding for students who were in limbo for attaining a college degree. Statewide community colleges are set to receive $260 million, as well.

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