Every morning, students gather around their school’s cafeteria to eat breakfast. Among every five children in school, at least one will not eat breakfast. Hunger makes school harder for the 23 percent of Illinois children who are food insecure.

February 23-27 marks Illinois School Breakfast Week, a time to acknowledge the lingering hunger gap in the state.

The Greater Chicago Food Depository, Illinois No Kid Hungry and other partners launched the Rise and Shine Illinois campaign to advocate for expanding school breakfast.

In 2013, roughly 449,000 children did not receive breakfasts available to them despite growing participation in breakfast programs.

The Rise and Shine Illinois campaign urges residents to take the breakfast pledge today.

“Children need a well-balanced and nutritious breakfast every morning. Kids perform better in school when they aren’t hungry,” said State Senator Mattie Hunter, member of the Illinois Senate Public Health Committee. “That’s why I’m pledging to see no child hungry in Illinois.”

Next week, March 2-6 also marks National School Breakfast Week. The Illinois School Nutrition Association asks people to join the national conversation about providing nutritious meal options for all students in America.

SPRINGFIELD — Senate Majority Caucus Whip Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago) released the following in response to today’s State of the State address:

“The governor needs to realize these problems are his problems, too.

“Residents who work hard every day, providing for their families, are waiting for real answers.

“I want to work with the governor. However, his actions aren’t keeping up with his rhetoric. Cutting $7 million from at-risk youth employment grants doesn’t make our state competitive. Nor, is it compassionate.

“We need to find common ground solutions. Paying people less and cutting services just doesn’t add up to me.”

Illinois ushered a new chapter of American history by being the first state to ban slavery 150 years ago. State Senator Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago) issued the following statement to honor Illinois’ role in freeing African Americans. The Illinois Senate commemorated the 150th anniversary of banning slavery in the U.S. in the Senate Chamber with speeches.

Illinois led the movement to end slavery 150 years ago. We transformed our country’s landscape by championing the Emancipation Proclamation and being first to ratify the 13th Amendment.

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CHICAGO — Senate Majority Caucus Whip Mattie Hunter urges Gov. Bruce Rauner to keep his promise to make Illinois compassionate and competitive by protecting youth employment opportunities for low-income residents. Hunter released the following statement in support of a Father Michael L. Pfleger-led rally outside the Thompson Center today. Pfleger is protesting cuts to youth employment programs.

“Governor Rauner promised to make Illinois competitive and compassionate. I am asking that he lives up to these promises. Turning our backs on young people, especially from underserved communities, will not turn our state around,” Hunter said.

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