Hunter pleased that Emmett Till’s home is officially a landmark

CHICAGO – After calls from advocate groups and state legislators, the Chicago City Council finalized a vote Wednesday to make Emmett Till’s home an official landmark. State Senator Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago), who was among those calls several months ago, is celebrating the council’s decision.

“I am proud to see that the City Council voted to preserve Emmett Till’s childhood home as a landmark,” Hunter said. “Though heartbreaking, Emmett Till’s lynching must be remembered, especially as we navigate race relations in these times of racial unrest.”

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Villivalam to host virtual job fair

CHICAGO – State Senator Ram Villivalam is partnering with local officials and workforce development agencies to bring a virtual job fair to residents of the 8^th Senate District next week. The free, online event will take place Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

“My office and I have assisted several hundred residents who are experiencing unemployment or underemployment. People are struggling right now and through our conversations, we know they are asking for a hand up, not a hand out,” Villivalam said. “I encourage everyone seeking employment opportunities to virtually meet the many employers looking for local talent.”

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Senator Fine urges older residents, front-line workers in Cook County to sign up for COVID-19 vaccine updates

GLENVIEW – To keep suburban Cook County residents abreast of the COVID-19 vaccine distribution process, State Senator Laura Fine (D-Glenview) is urging residents to sign up to receive updates, scheduling information and other important notifications on the new Cook County COVID-19 Community Vaccination Program website.

“We’re entering Phase 1B of the state’s vaccination plan, which means more Illinoisans are eligible to be vaccinated and more vaccination sites are opening up,” Senator Fine said. “I encourage older residents and front-line essential workers to register for updates to make sure they know when it’s their turn to get vaccinated.”

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Collins invites young women to join Illinois Council on Women and Girls

CHICAGO – State Senator Jacqueline Collins (D-Chicago) urged young women aged 14 to 18 to step up and apply to join the Illinois Council on Women and Girls to help shape the policies that will ensure a more equal future for female citizens in Illinois.

“I pushed for the creation of the Illinois Council on Women and Girls because despite some progress, women still have far to go to reach true equality in America,” Collins said. “And these policies are of even greater importance to our young women: Access to health, education, an equal wage, and so many other issues are apparent when we look to the lived experiences of our young women. We need to hear their voices.”

Collins sponsored legislation creating the council with the goal of studying the systemic barriers faced by women and girls in Illinois and developing clear policy goals to address them. Led by Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, the council issued its first report in March of last year, available here.

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