CHICAGO – State Senator Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago) released the following statement in response to Dr. Ezike’s departure from the Illinois Department of Public Health:

“I want to congratulate Dr. Ngozi Ezike for her amazing service as the leader of our state’s health department over the last three years.

“She has always remained a professional who was genuinely concerned about the health and safety of all Illinoisans. She accepted the challenge as Director of IDPH. When the pandemic started, she was thrown into a role no one could have prepared for, yet she handled the height of the pandemic with such devotion and care.

“Even through her composure during the governor’s daily press conferences, she also gracefully grieved the people we lost to this pandemic, showing us how valuable it is to lead with humanity. Dr Ezike is a hero, and I will miss her and the role she played in protecting our state dearly.”

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago) advanced a measure out of the Senate Wednesday to address the teacher shortage in Chicago Public Schools.

“This teacher shortage is affecting schools nationally as well as in our state,” Hunter said. “We must do everything we can to ensure qualified teachers are in the classrooms so our children can get the education they deserve.”

SPRINGFIELD – A measure led by State Senator Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago) to end hair discrimination in the workplace passed the Senate Wednesday.

“No one should have to miss out on a job opportunity or miss a school graduation because of the hair that grows naturally out of their head,” Hunter said. “It’s 2022. As a nation, we should be past this petty discrimination.”

SPRINGFIELD – A 2019 Dove study found that African American women face the highest rates of hair discrimination and are more likely to be sent home from the workplace because of their hair. State Senator Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago) introduced legislation to end that practice in Illinois.

“No one should have to miss out on a job opportunity or miss a school graduation because of the hair that grows naturally out of their head,” Hunter said. “It’s 2022. As a nation, we should be past this petty discrimination.”