Category: Education

Attorney General Kwame Raoul joined a nationwide coalition in calling on the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) and the Social Security Administration (SSA) to automatically discharge federal student loans for totally and permanently disabled borrowers. Raoul’s student loan ombudsman, along with seven other state student loan ombudspersons, sent a letter to Department of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos and SSA Commissioner Andrew Saul calling on them to proactively reduce the number of steps disabled borrowers must take in order to receive student loan discharge. Raoul’s office and the coalition are urging DeVos and Saul to implement a system that utilizes disability designations already issued by the SSA and shared with the DOE in order to minimize or eliminate the steps eligible borrowers are required to take to receive loan discharge. The coalition explains that the DOE already knows who eligible borrowers are through a matching process with the SSA. Student borrowers who have questions or are in need of assistance can call the Attorney General’s Student Loan Helpline at 1-800-455-2456.

By: Ashmar Mandou

The Brighton Park Neighborhood Council announced their plans to construct a new multi-service community center during a press conference on Monday. The community center will become a new headquarters space for the organization and will house a plethora of violence prevention, financial services, and youth development programs. The facility will be fully accessible to all in the community. This new center is an opportunity to expand the organization’s programming and services even further into the community.  “The planning for this center began ten years ago. With a growing need for services and youth programming in Brighton Park and on the southwest side, the center will greatly expand our capacity to provide further support for families in our community” explains BPNC Executive Director, Patrick Brosnan. 

Brighton Park Neighborhood Council received the support from various legislators, including Representative Aaron Ortiz, Representative Theresa Mah, Senator Celina Villanueva, and Senator Tony Muñoz, who fought for capital dollars in Springfield, has been instrumental in making BPNC’s dream a reality. The four elected officials will be present at the unveiling of the community center plans. Through previous capital grants, BPNC awarded nearly $2,000,000 in funds. BPNC has partnered with Juan Gabriel Moreno from the award winning architectural firm, JGMA, to design the new community center.  Brighton Park Neighborhood Council (BPNC) is a community-based, grassroots organization on Chicago’s southwest side, a predominantly Latinx and immigrant community. BPNC empowers community through school and community based services and programs as well as engaging leaders in social justice organizing campaigns.

El Triton College se enorgullece al saber que la basquetbolista Bethany Baldwin fue nombrada Jugadora del Año en la Conferencia Collegio Comunitario N. Central 2020 (N4C). Hace 27 años que una basquetbolista del Triton fue nombrada como la mejor contribuyente en la conferencia. Baldwin es de Watersmeet, Mich y transferida al Triton Colleg en el 2019. La guardia, de segundo año, es una líder, tanto en la Región IV como en la nación, en rebotes, asistencias, robos, porcentaje de goles de campo y porcentaje de goles de campo de tres puntos. En calificación, está entre las primeras 10 jugadoras en la Región IV y entre las 30 mejores jugadoras en los programas de la División II de la Asociación Atlética Nacional Junior College (NJCAA). Baldwin se enorgullece de ser Americana Nativa y miembro de la tribu Forest County Potawatomi. Hacer la transición al área de Chicago fue un gran cambio para Baldwin, pero ha sido grande el apoyo que ha recibido, especialmente de familia que ha sido clave en su éxito, tanto dentro como fuera de la cancha. Como estudiante-atleta, sobresalir en su deporte y completar su trabajo de curso ha sido un acto de delicado balance. Baldwin dijo que los estudiantes atletas tienen que perseverar para triunfar.

El Procurador General Kwame Raoul se unió a una coalición a nivel nacional pidiendo al Departamento de Educación de E.U. (DOE) y a la Administración del Seguro Social (SSA) que dispense automáticamente los préstamos estudiantiles federales para los solicitantes total o permanentemente discapacitados. La defensa de préstamos estudiantiles de Raoul, junto con otras siete personas en el estado, enviaron una carta a la Secretaria del Departamento de Educación, Betsy DeVos y al Comisionado de SSA Andrew Saul, pidiéndoles que reduzcan proactivamente el número de pasos que deben dar los solicitante de préstamos discapacitados para recibir una dispensa de los préstamos estudiantiles. La oficina de Raoul y la coalición exhortan a DeVos y a Saul, que implementen un sistema que utilice las designaciones de discapacidad, ya expedidas por el SSA y compartidas con DOE, para minimizar o eliminar los pasos que los prestamistas elegibles deben dar para recibir la dispensa del préstamo. La coalición explica que DOE ya sabe que prestamistas son elegibles a través de un proceso con SSA. Los estuiantes que tengan un préstamo y que tengan una pregunta o necesiten ayuda, pueden llamar a la Línea Directa de Préstamos Estudiantiles del Procurador General al 1-800-455-2456.

Por: Ashmar Mandou

Brighton Park Neighborhoor Council anunció sus planes de construir un nuevo centro comunitario de servicios múltiples durante una conferencia de prensa el lunes. El centro comunitario será el nuevo espacio para que la organización albergue una plétora de nuevos programas de servicios financieros, de prevención a la violencia y de superación juvenil. La instalación será totalmente accesible a toda la comunidad. Este nuevo centro es una oportunidad para ampliar aún más la programación y servicios a la comunidad. “La planeación de este centro comenzó hace diez años. Con la creciente necesidad de servicios y programas para jóvenes en Brighton Park y en el sector sudoeste, el centro ampliará considerablemente nuestra capacidad de proveer más apoyo a la familias de nuetra comunidad” explica el Director Ejecutivo de BPNC, Patrick Brosnan.

El Concilio del Barrio de Brighton Park recibió el apoyo de varios legisladores, incluyendo al Representante Aaron Ortiz, a la Representante Theresa Mah, a la Senadora Celina Villanueva y al Senador Tony Muñoz, quien luchó por capital en Sprigfield y ha sido instrumento clave en convertir el sueño de BPNC una realidad. Los cuatro funcionarios electos estarán presentes en una develación de los planes del centro comunitario. Por medio de subsidios de capital, BPNC otorgó cerca de $2,000,000 en fondos. BPNC se ha asociado con Juan Gabriel Moreno de la firma premiada de arquitectura, JGMA, para diseñar el nuevo centro comunitario. Brighton Park Neighborhood Council (BPNC) es una organización comunitaria del sector sudoeste de Chicago, una comunidad prodominantemente de latinos e inmigrantes. BPNC empodera a la comunidad con servicios comunitarios y programas, e involucrando a los líderes en campañas de organización de justicia social.

The Chicago Housing Authority received a $2.8 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Friday for the JobsPlus program that supports job readiness and connect public housing residents at Dearborn Homes with employment, education and financial empowerment services. CHA is one of nine Public Housing Authorities (PHA’s) that received a total of $20 million in JobsPlus grants from HUD to help public housing families increase their earned income and become self-sufficient. HUD’s investment will leverage an additional $4,355,700 working alongside key partners such as the City Colleges of Chicago, Chicago Department of Family & Support Services, Chicago Park District, Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership, Centers for New Horizons, FamilyWorks and East Lake Management.

Photo caption: (left to right): CHA Commissioner Francine Washington, Dearborn LAC Vice President Etta Davis, HUD Regional Administrator Joseph P. Galvan, CEO for Centers for New Horizons Christa Hamilton, JobsPlus participant Sirmon Neal, CHA Acting CEO James L. Bebley, CEO of Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership Karin Norington Reaves and CHA Commissioner Debra Parker

It’s a winter indoor street festival, celebrating health, culture and community! On March 6th, Erie Family Health Centers will host 11th annual event, Eriedescence: Que Rico! Celebrated Humboldt Park-based ensemble Bomba con Buya will set a spirited mood, while guests sample Latin American fare from renowned Chef Richard Sandoval and try their luck at a variety of game booths. Eriedescence will be hosted at Latinicity, 108 N. State, on the third floor of Gallery 37, from 6p.m. to 10p.m. Tickets are $95 and can be purchased via phone, 312-432-7440 or online, www.eriefamilyhealth.org/tickets/ All proceeds benefit Erie’s diverse health and wellness programs that go beyond traditional medicine to help patients take control of their own health, manage chronic diseases, and develop healthier lifestyles.

Photo Credit: Erie Family Health Centers

The Cook County Sherriff’s Police Training Academy and Triton College’s Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) are looking for older adults to volunteer for STARS Interview Day, an instructional program for new police recruits. The interactive program helps the police academy recruits refine their interview and report-writing skills by practicing with the senior volunteers. Volunteer training for the Seniors Training Academy Recruits for Success (STARS) Program is Wednesday, March 18, 10 a.m., in the Robert M. Collins Center (R Building), Room R-221, on Triton College’s east campus, 2000 Fifth Ave., River Grove. The STARS Interview Day will take place on Thursday, March 26, 11:15 a.m.-4 p.m., also in Room R-221. Refreshments will be served. Each participant will receive a certificate of appreciation upon completion of the STARS Interview Day. For more information or to volunteer, call Triton’s RSVP Office at (708) 456-0300, Ext. 3603 or 3835, or email kayfrey@triton.edu.

The College Board has announced that Illinois ranks No. 1 among all states for charting the largest year-over-year increase in the percentage of public high school graduates scoring a three or higher on at least one Advanced Placement (AP) Exam during high school. Illinois’ rate of graduates scoring three or higher grew by four percent from 2018 to 2019. In the Class of 2019, 28.4 percent of students scored a 3 or higher on an AP Exam, compared to 27.3 percent in the Class of 2018. Latinx students in all grades are driving Illinois’ gains in AP Exam participation and success. The proportion of Latinx students taking AP exams grew by over three percent, accounting for 26.7 percent of all AP Exam takers in 2019 – up from 25.7 percent in 2018. ISBE’s 2019 Illinois Report Card showed four years of continuous growth in students’ access to and success in Advanced Placement. Statewide, students of color made up 48 percent of total students enrolled in AP courses in 2019 – up six percentage points from just three years ago. At the same time that the state has expanded access, Illinois has raised its pass rate on AP Exams by over two percentage points since 2016.

Higher education funding for public universities and community colleges in Illinois would gain a $109.7 million increase according to Governor JB Pritzker’s budget proposal for fiscal year 2021. This includes dedicated financial support through the state’s need-based Monetary Award Program (MAP) grant program to make community college tuition-free for eligible students whose families make less than $45,000 per year. The three higher education boards say students will benefit from the governor’s proposed investment through greater access, equity, and attainment. The overall higher education budget proposal totals $2.178 billion, which would reflect a 5.4 percent increase over the current year’s budget. Increases would include:

• $55.6 million (5 percent) for public universities

• $14.9 million (5 percent) for community colleges and adult education

• $50 million for MAP

• $1 million to convert all Illinois public universities to the national Common Application