New legislation creating law enforcement reforms was signed into law today. State Senator Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago, 3) supported the bipartisan push for officer-worn body camera protocols.

“Law enforcement reforms help protect the safety of both officers on duty and citizens. Our communities are stronger when there is trust and practices in place to create accountability,” Hunter said.

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 Former wards of the state will soon have access to internships and potential employment opportunities. A youth employment jobs plan, creating the Foster Youth Summer Internship Program, was signed into law today.

“Our at-risk youth face the harsh challenges of either finding employment or facing joblessness, homelessness and even incarceration. Preventing a pipeline to prison will empower our future leaders and grow our economy,” said State Senator Mattie Hunter, the bill’s sponsor.

A 2011 Northwestern University study showed Illinois had the third largest number of youth in the country who were aging out of the foster care system without parental support at 21 percent.

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Over the weekend, several hundred Chicago youth, adults and seniors attended State Senator Mattie Hunter’s 12th Annual Health, Fun and Fitness Fair on the South Side. Free health services and back-to-school supplies were offered.

Mourning families joined the Hunter family for commemorative balloon releases for violence prevention and breast cancer awareness. Hunter released pink balloons with Carolyn Adams’ family, the namesake of the Carolyn Adams Ticket for the Cure, in honor of those who lost loved ones to breast cancer. Gatherers released red balloons alongside the Hunter family while calling out the names of victims of violence.

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