OCTOBER IS COLLEGE CHANGES EVERYTHING MONTH® IN ILLINOIS

Free assistance is available to complete college and financial aid applications: Don’t miss out. Fill it out!

CHICAGO – October is College Changes Everything® (CCE) Month in Illinois, when students are completing both their college applications and financial aid forms at the same time. Launched by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) five years ago, ISAC and its partners have extended the month-long campaign to provide an intensive schedule of free college and financial aid planning support to students and families from Labor Day through Thanksgiving. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) and the Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid for the 2021-22 school year will both be available on October 1, 2020.

This year is unique in many ways. The Covid-19 pandemic has upended not only how education is delivered, but how students are thinking—or perhaps re-thinking—plans for post-secondary education.

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Hunter outraged over Breonna Taylor indictment decision

CHICAGO — State Senator Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago) issued the following statement after a Kentucky grand jury declined to indict any of the officers involved in the killing of Breonna Taylor, who was slain during a police raid in March. One former officer was indicted for wanton endangerment for firing into neighboring apartments during the botched raid.

“Though a former officer was indicted, it was not for the murder of Breonna Taylor. It was for the endangerment of other members of her community. I’m shocked and dismayed that no one is being held accountable for Breonna’s murder.

“The message Kentucky officials are sending is simple: Breonna Taylor’s life did not matter to them. There is no criminal justice for a Black woman who was sleeping in her own bed as the police raided her home, yet her family received a settlement for her wrongful death. Where is the accountability?

“I get tired of saying this, but I won’t stop until it rings true in the ears of the people who hold the power in these decisions: Black lives matter. Black lives deserve justice. Black lives deserve better from this country, and I will not stop working to make this country a safer, more equitable place for all Americans.”

South Side Health Transformation Project Community Survey

South Side Health Transformation Project wants to hear what you think about healthcare and what health issues are important to you, your family and community. The South Side Health Transformation Project includes healthcare clinics and hospitals on the South Side.

They will use the results of this survey and other information we gather to know the needs, challenges, and gaps in healthcare services on the South Side of Chicago. It will also help them develop healthcare solutions to deal with those needs. Your responses to this survey will be kept private. The survey has 14 questions and should take about 5 minutes to complete.

You have two options to complete the survey:
1. Click this link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SouthSideHealth
2. Download and print this hyperlinked form – drop off at locations below:

Hunter honored as environmental champion

CHICAGO — The Illinois Environmental Council (IEC) released its first ever Lifetime Environmental Scorecard, which reveals each sitting legislator’s lifetime average score of all votes cast on bills affecting the environment in the General Assembly over the course of their entire legislative career. State Senator Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago) has been honored with a lifetime environmental score of 90.1%.

“My voting record on environmental issues reflects where I stand on the importance of taking action on climate change, fighting for clean air and water, and protecting our open spaces,” said Hunter. “I stand with the Illinois Environmental Council in making it a priority to protect our environment and the health and safety of the communities I represent in the General Assembly.”

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