The Washington Park Community is celebrating the holiday season Saturday, Dec. 9 from 4-5:30 p.m. with a tree lighting, caroling, Black Santa, music, food and more. The event will held be at the Arts Lawn, 329 E. Garfield Blvd. In case of inclement weather, the event will move indoors at the Arts Incubator, 301 E. Garfield Blvd.

The “In It For The W.H.Y.” Policy Summit and Brunch is for all ages and will convene business and civic leaders, community partners and subject matter experts to engage on a wide range of critical policy issues in the heart of downtown Chicago. Through advocacy, fellowship, and networking, this year-end summit is where we will champion our respective “W.H.Y.s,” while subsequently pushing forward with innovative ways to achieve equitable outcomes for Black Illinoisans. Register online.

Relief for small businesses that opened during the pandemic is coming soon! Through the B2B NewBiz grant program, eligible businesses can apply for up to $30,000 in grants. For eligibility information visit B2BNewBiz.com.

CHICAGO — State Senator Mattie Hunter, co-chair of the Illinois Kidney Disease Prevention and Education Task Force, is inviting the public to a town hall on Nov. 28 where members of the task force will share information related to prevention, detection and treatment of kidney disease.

The Kidney Disease Prevention and Education Task Force, created through legislation led by Hunter in 2020, is charged with raising public awareness and presenting solutions to reduce the prevalence of kidney disease and racial disparities in diagnoses and outcomes. Members of the awareness and early detection, dialysis, and transplant and donation committees will offer brief reports of information related to each topic followed by a panel discussion.

Attendees can fill out a witness slip online prior to the event, and remarks will be allowed on a first-come, first-served basis. Questions will be answered during a Q&A portion following the panel discussions.

The event will be held Tuesday, Nov. 28 from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at AKArama Foundation, 6220 S. Ingleside, Chicago. Virtual attendance is available on Zoom.