Category: Education

El Gobernador Bruce Rauner proclamó a octubre como el Mes Nacional de Concientización Sobre Ciberseguridad en Illinois. En reconocimiento a esta declaración, el Departamento de Innovación & Tecnología de Illinois (DoIT) lleva a cabo una campaña de concientización de los empleados, a nivel estatal, que comparte los recursos de ciberseguridad y las mejores prácticas para mejor proteger contra los riesgos en línea. Iniciado en el 2004, El Mes Nacional de Concientización Sobre Ciberseguridad es una campaña anual que se lleva a cabo durante el mes de octubre, para informar sobre la importancia de la ciberseguridad. El Mes Nacional de Concientización Sobre Ciberseguridad (NCSAM) está diseñado para atraer y educar al sector público y privado con eventos e iniciativas para aumentar la concientización sobre la importancia de la ciberseguridad.

La campaña del mes de concientización sobre la ciberseguridad de Illinois para los empleados del Estado de Illinois, enfatizará la protección contra una técnica conocida como “phishing”. Los ataques phishing usan el e-mail o redes maliciosas para infectar los dispositivos con malware y virus, con el intento de recaudar información personal y financiera. Las recomendaciones para identificar, evitar y reportar e-mails sospechosos se compartirán a nivel estatal. Se ha hecho un considerable progreso en ciberseguridad en Illinois, como componente de la iniciativa de transformación digital del estado. A principios de este año, Illinois publicó una estrategia de ciberseguridad sin precedentes, a nivel estatal, que detallaba cinco objetivos clave para guiar los esfuerzos de ciberseguridad del estado. Adicionalmente, el Gobernador Rauner firmó el Proyecto 2371 de la Cámara, el 7 de agosto del 2017, pidiendo a los empleados del Estado de Illinois (bajo la rama ejecutiva) que tomen un entrenamiento de ciberseguridad anual para entender los riesgos, las amenazas y las mejores prácticas para defenderse contra las amenazas cibernéticas.

Ya que los Colegios de la Ciudad de Chicago (CCC) planean reubicar su oficina administrativa, los futuros dueños de una propiedad de primera clase en el centro de Chicago tienen la oportunidad de hacer una propuesta sobre sus importantes oficinas en el West Loop de Chicago. El sistema de colegios comunitarios anunció que ha puesto oficialmente el edificio a la venta y comprometió a la firma de bienes raíces CBRE para ponerlo a la venta a nombre de CCC. Entre las opciones de reubicación, CCC está considerando la utilización del espacio disponible en su campus de Kennedy-King College en Englewood, así como su Dawson Technical Institute en Bronzeville. Los Colegios de la Ciudad buscarán también un espacio pequeño de oficina adicional para que el personal permanezca en el distrito comercial central.

El edificio de oficinas de 185,000 pies cuadrados, localizado en el 226 W. Jackson, al este de la Torre Willis, representa una gran oportunidad para la remodelación para el uso de oficinas, un hotel o una casa residencial o comercial. Sus 17,400 pies cuadrados se encuentran en la esquina noroeste de Jackson y Franklin y actualmente está zonificado por la Ciudad de Chicago como “Downtown Core 16”. A priincipio de este verano, el Canciller de CCC Juan Salgado anunció el intento de vender el edificio de las oficinas del Distrito con la intención de operar mejor y llevar más recursos a sus colegios localizados en los barrios de Chicago. Mover el personal administrativo a los campos de CCC de la ciudad, de un edificio que actualmente registra solo el 33 por ciento de ocupación, va de acuerdo con la estrategia del Canciller de dar un mayor enfoque a los siete colegios y cinco sitios satélites del sistema, mientras refuerzan la salud financiera del distrito, a largo plazo. Hay un folleto disponible, con extensos detalles sobre el edificio, en el 226 W. Jackson – sus amenidades y posibilidades de urbanización – y las partes interesadas pueden comunicarse con Martin Stern, Gerente Director Senior de CBRE al 312-456-7070, martinstern@cbre.com.

El Alcalde Rahm Emanuel y las Escuelas Públicas de Chicago anunciaron que Edgar Allan Poe Classical School y Hannah G. Solomon Elementary School fueron nombradas 2017 National Blue Ribbon Schools [Escuelas Listón Azul Nacional del 2017] por el Departamento de Educación de E.U. prestigioso honor reservado a las mejores escuelas de la nación. Poe, localizada en el Sector Sur de Chicago y Solomón, localizada en el Sector Norte de la Ciudad son dos de solo 16 escuelas de Illinois y 342 escuelas a nivel nacional que han sido honradas con esta distinción en el 2017. El Programa National Blue Ribbon Schools honra a escuelas públicas y privadas, elementales, medias y secundarias donde los estudiantes tienen un desempeño de alto nivel o se ha hecho un progreso considerable para elevar los logros estudiantiles. Tanto Poe como Solomon han recibido el honor en la categoría Escuelas con un Alto Desempeño Ejemplar en pruebas, en el 15 por ciento mejores de todas las escuelas de Illinois, logrando un alto desempeño entre subgrupos claves y completando un proceso de solicitud riguroso que evalúa todo, desde el apoyo de aprendizaje social y emocional a superación profesional para una mayor calidad en la instrucción en clase. Ahora, en su 35º año, el Programa National Blue Ribbon Schools ha otorgado su reconocimiento a más de 8,500 escuelas. En noviembre, Poe y Solomon serán formalmente reconocidas en una ceremonia de premios en Washington, D.C, donde sabrán de otros estimados educadores, compartirán sus mejores prácticas y celebrán sus logros.

ComEd estrenó Moda con Energía Solar diseñada por Estudiantes Latinos, con la ayuda del diseñador de modas Ronald Rodríguez en la pista de la semana de la Moda Latina. El programa ComEd Solar Spotlight conectó a ingenieros de ComEd con estudiantes del área de Chicago, en una inmersión de dos días, con demostraciones solares prácticas. La Moda con Energía Solar estará en exhibición en el Museo Nacional de Artes Mexicanas y en el Museo Nacional de Arte y Cultura Puertorriqueño. Estas piezas, junto con la Pirámide de Energía Solar de Bronzeville, concluyen el programa Solar Spotlight de este año.

By: Nancy Marquez

Since 1990 The Resurrection Project (TRP) has empowered residents and worked with communities to help them overcome obstacles. As part of their initiative, they are hosting informational sessions every Tuesday welcoming the community and all DACA recipients to become informed calling it DACA Tuesdays through October 3rd. TRP wants to keep the community informed about any DACA related changes and all the options available for DACA recipients. “To not let fear stop them from taking advantage or for fighting for a more permanent legislation form, really staying involved in the community,” said Laura Mendoza, Immigration Organizer of TRP and also DACA recipient, in regards to DACA Tuesdays. “I started as a volunteer to help fill out DACA applications and citizenship applications, this was something that I needed to do because as an immigrant and DACA recipient myself, I felt I needed to give back with my time,” said Mendoza.

The session covered all the necessary information related deadlines, financial options, work permits, how to secure your job, and legal options as many other topics associated with DACA. “I came to get more information on DACA renewal and see what solutions we could do. Also, I know they are providing legal systems to help us file the applications, and they are somewhat complex applications so it’s nice to have someone to help us,” said Marco Mancera, one of the attendees at the event and also DACA recipient. Mancera also expressed concern over President Trump ending DACA in hopes of a replacement to become a legalization. “I think it’s just a political strategy on his part allowing by congress to take over when they have not had any success in the past. So he should have just left it till they find a replacement. I don’t think they will find a replacement, not within six months,” said Mancera.

Once the presentation ended, the attendees were called individually to assist them in what they needed help related to DACA. Carlos Millan who is the coordinator for Education Partnership at TRP was one of them who assisted the attendees. “There’s a lot of misinformation out there. One is to clarify what has happened, what will happen and what we know so far to the public. We understand that our population, if they are informed, has the power to renew or to look for other immigration benefits, so our mission for this event is to inform the public of what has happened and what they can do as of now and to connect them to immigration services that they can trust,” said Millan. Millan emphasized the importance of DACA recipients to get fair good legal services. “We do know our population has been over years falling pretty to notary fraud, and just you know, fake immigration attorneys, people submitting applications falsely for them and we don’t want that for them. We want to make sure they get good legal services, especially with immigration,” said Millan. The next DACA Tuesday will take place on October 3rd at 1805 S. Ashland Ave., at 5:30p.m.

For a second year, Governor Rauner has proclaimed October College Changes Everything® Month (CCE Month), when the state’s college access and financial aid agency, the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) and partners will be helping students get on track for college by assisting them with college applications and putting them in the best position possible to receive the funding they need to attend. While ISAC provides free assistance to students and families year round, during CCE Month in October ISAC and partners support well over a thousand workshops that assist students with finding the college that is right for them, completing college applications, and filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®), the application for all federal financial aid and some state aid, including the Illinois Monetary Award Program (MAP) grant. To find your local ISACorps member, visit studentportal/isac.org/isacorps. To search by zip code for a free public event near you, visit studentportal/isac.org/events. Students and parents should also check directly with their high schools for events within their own school. ISAC will also be providing answers to financial aid questions during Facebook Live (@ILStudentAssistance) events from 7-7:30 pm CST on October 3, 11, 16, 23, and 30th, and personalized assistance is also available through ISAC College Q&A (isac.org/qa) a text messaging service where students can get answers to their college and financial aid questions sent directly to their phones. High schools and counselors who would like to participate in College Changes Everything Month can find information and a downloadable toolkit atcollegechangeseverything.org/ccemonth.

At a time when 1.6 million people in Illinois live below the poverty line and when postsecondary attainment is more important than ever, a new report by the Chicago-based Partnership for College Completion reveals the rising cost of college combined with state budget cuts has put college diplomas farther out of reach for low-income students and students of color. Increasing college persistence and completion rates for these students is critical to the state’s economic health but the report, entitled “Unequal Opportunity in Illinois: A Look at Who Graduates College and Why It Matters,” paints a grim picture of the persistent achievement gaps between rich and poor. The key findings of the report include:

• In Illinois, the cost of college relative to family income has escalated more than almost all states, with the average public university in-state tuition and fees ranked fifth highest in the nation in fiscal year 2016.
• Illinois is one of only four states that cut funding of higher education over the last two fiscal years, with a total drop in funding of 68 percent. More than 160,000 low-income students eligible for MAP grants – or about half of those eligible – could not claim awards due to insufficient funding in fiscal year 2016.
• While college enrollment among underrepresented groups has increased nearly ten percentage points in the last ten years, the completion gap between low-income and wealthier students remains alarming: only 37 percent of low-income students graduate in six years, compared to 75 percent of their wealthier peers.

The report draws from public data and published studies to highlight trends that have broad implications in Illinois, where nearly half of high school graduates are low-income and over 40 percent are black or Latino. While median-income families in Illinois need to set aside 25 percent of their total income for a student to attend a public four-year institution, low-income families need to set aside a staggering 63 percent of their income. For more information, please visit http://partnershipfcc.org.

City Year Chicago’s (CYChi) incoming cohort of 230 corps members – AmeriCorps members ages 17 to 25 from across the country selected through a competitive application process – pledged to dedicate the next year of their lives to serve and make an impact across 26 Chicago Public School (CPS) neighborhood schools at the CYChi opening day ceremony at Roosevelt University’s Goodman Center. Opening day ceremonies take place in each of the 28 City Year sites across the U.S. in August and September to mark the literal and symbolic start of a new school year in which thousands of corps members will help improve students’ educational outcomes and opportunities. At these ceremonies, corps members receive the signature red jackets that distinguish them throughout the school year. City Year works to bridge the gap in high-poverty communities between the support the students in the communities actually need and what their schools are designed to provide. At the heart of City Year’s model are corps members, whose duties can include: providing one-on-one tutoring; running afterschool clubs and service projects; communicating with students and parents regularly regarding attendance and student progress; and organizing and leading activities, celebrations and projects that enrich the school community.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel and City Colleges’ Chancellor Juan Salgado broke ground Monday on a $45 million Engineering and Advanced Manufacturing Center at Richard J. Daley College, marking the start of construction of the 57,000-square foot project that will help prepare Chicagoans for the more than 20,000 jobs coming to the region in the engineering and advanced manufacturing fields over the next decade. Daley College students will learn on state of the art equipment, preparing them for the technological changes occurring in the engineering and manufacturing industries, as firms move towards creating “intelligent factories” that integrate automation into CNC machining and quality assurance.

“I’m excited that the new Engineering and Advanced Manufacturing Center is being built at Richard J. Daley College as my father always believed in the vital role of education, vocational schools and the City Colleges in preparing students for careers in local industry,” said Cook County Commissioner John P. Daley. The new center will incorporate manufacturing high bay space, three classrooms, five engineering/manufacturing labs, two computer labs, and administrative space as well as a pedestrian bridge connecting the center to the existing college building that includes student collaboration spaces. “Daley College’s new facility, combined with strong links to area employers and academic links to both our high schools and four-year colleges will enable us to remove the barriers to our students’ success and create a robust and diverse pipeline of talent into engineering and advanced manufacturing careers,” said Chancellor Juan Salgado. The project is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2018, allowing students to begin to use the space in January 2019.

El próximo cohorte de City Year Chicago (CYChi) de 230 miembros – miembros de AmeriCorps de 17 a 25 años de todo el país, seleccionados a través de un proceso de solicitud competitiva – prometieron dedicar el próximo año de sus vidas a servir y hacer un impacto en 26 barrios de las Escuelas Públicas de Chicago (CPS) en la ceremonia del día de apertura en el Goodman Center de la Universidad Roosevelt. Las ceremonias del día de apertura se llevan a cabo en cada uno de los 28 locales de City Year en E.U. en agosto y septiembre, para señalar el comienzo simbólico y literal de un nuevo año escolar en el que miles de miembros del cuerpo ayudarán a mejorar los resultados y oportunidades educativas de los estudiantes. En estas ceremonias, los miembros del cuerpo reciben las chaquetas rojas que los distinguen durante el año escolar. City Year trabaja para cerrar la brecha en las comunidades de alta pobreza, entre el apoyo que necesitan los estudiantes en las comunidades y lo que sus escuelas están designadas a proveer. En el corazón del modelo de City Year están los miembros del cuerpo, cuyos deberes pueden incluir: brindar tutoría individual; administrar clubs y proyectos de servicios para después de la escuela; comunicarse regularmente con padres y estudiantes sobre la asistencia y el progreso estudiantil; y organizar y dirigir actividades, celebraciones y proyectos que enriquecen la comunidad escolar.