Community Savings Bank Celebrates Four Employees Reaching 25th Anniversaries

Lawndale News Chicago's Bilingual Newspaper - Business

October was a busy month for 25th anniversaries at Community Savings Bank. Michelle Aguilar, Dolores “Loly” Cano, Alina Dzidowski and Kathy Radwanski all joined the growing list of Community employees who have worked at the bank for 25 years or more. Their special days were all celebrated with cake and well wishes from their Community coworkers. Michelle Aguilar started at Community on October 6, 1998. A coworker from her cashier job told her Community was hiring. She started as a teller and progressed to assistant head teller and then head teller. She is currently Community’s vault custodian. In this position she manages all vault files and assists customers with opening and closing their vault boxes. When asked what she likes about working at Community, Michelle said “I enjoy making sure customers are taken care of.”

Alina Dzidowski started as a teller at Community on October 6, 1998, after being referred by a family friend who worked at the bank. After her time as a teller, she moved up to a supervisor and later joined the loan department where she became involved in loan payoffs and land trusts. In her current position, she provides excellent customer service while processing loans and preparing loan payoffs. Alina said she likes Community because, “It’s great to work with people that care. I am respected and appreciated. I enjoy working with my co-workers and wonderful customers.”

Dolores “Loly” Cano started at Community on October 15, 1998. She had teller experience but was interested in working evenings since she was still a student. She noticed Community’s drive-up facility being built and decided to apply. In her current role as accounting supervisor and controller, Loly supervises the department and works on the bank’s board and accounting reports. When asked why she has stayed at Community this long she replied “I like what I do. They have great benefits and a great staff.”

Kathy Radwanski started at Community on October 23, 1998, after learning about an open teller position from a friend. She thought it would just be a part-time job after school where she was studying accounting and management. Over the years, she moved from teller to supervisor to new accounts. Today, she works as a personal banker while also supporting the bank’s compliance and marketing departments. When asked what she likes about her job she replied, “It’s a small company. Every day there is something new. Every customer has his or her own story.”

Gov. Pritzker Announces $25 Million Available in B2B Grants for New Businesses

Lawndale News Chicago's Bilingual Newspaper - Business

Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) announced $25 million in available grant funding through the Back to Business (B2B) NewBiz program. Following state recovery programming for businesses totaling $1.5 billion, the latest American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)-funded opportunity is designed to provide additional support for businesses in hard-hit sectors who launched during the pandemic. Businesses that launched in 2020 or 2021 and remain in operation have faced significant impacts during the pandemic, but they have not been eligible for other federal or state relief programming since they were not operational prior to the pandemic. Applicants are encouraged to visit b2bnewbiz.com to learn more and apply. Applications are open from November 30 through January 11, 2024, and awards are expected to be made several weeks after the deadline date. All eligible applicants will receive a grant as long as the business meets eligibility requirements and submits proper documentation and attestations. To qualify for the B2B NewBiz program, businesses must have launched between January 2020 and December 2021 and be in an industry that was particularly impacted by the pandemic (As outlined here), or a business that was started by an individual or individuals that became unemployed during the pandemic.

Registration Open for Porchlight Music Theatre’s Spring Classes

Lawndale News Chicago's Bilingual Newspaper - Education

Porchlight Music Theatre’s Education Department announces that registration is now open for its 2024 spring classes, January 20 – May 18 at Holtschneider Performance Center, DePaul University School of Music, 2330 N. Halsted St. Information and registration is available at PorchlightMusicTheatre.org/youth-classes/. Porchlight’s youth classes teach young actors musical theatre skills alongside social-emotional learning. These classes are process over product focused programs designed to boost confidence, empathy and a love of the arts. Young actors join session after session to build on previous skills – from music theatre basics up to college audition readiness in a nurturing and fun environment. Classes are held at the Holtschneider Performance Center at the DePaul University School of Music, 2330 N. Halsted St. Tuition is based on the class level with payment plans and scholarships available for all youth programming. For specific questions regarding classes and registration, please email Porchlight Education Director Rebeccah Singer at Rebeccah@PorchlightMusicTheatre.org. For general class information and registration, visit Porchlightmusictheatre.org/youth-classes

IDOC Celebrates Northwestern Prison Education Program’s Inaugural Graduating Class from Stateville Correctional Center

Lawndale News Chicago's Bilingual Newspaper - Education

Recently, Stateville Correctional Center hosted a graduation ceremony for 16 students who earned their Bachelor of Science degrees in Social Sciences through an educational partnership with Northwestern Prison Education Program (NPEP). The students were presented with diplomas during the history-making ceremony inside Stateville’s theater, attended by family and friends of the students, Northwestern faculty, IDOC leadership, government officials, and current NPEP students. The commencement marked the first cohort of individuals in custody in the United States to graduate with a bachelor’s degree from a top-ten university. Launched in 2018, NPEP was the first program to offer a comprehensive, degree-granting liberal arts curriculum to incarcerated students in Illinois. In partnership with Oakton College and the Illinois Department of Corrections, NPEP offers an Associate of General Studies degree conferred by Oakton Community College. Upon completion of this degree, students are eligible to apply to Northwestern University for a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in social sciences from Northwestern’s School of Professional Studies. Northwestern admitted this inaugural class of NPEP students in January 2022 after they completed coursework required to receive associate degrees from Oakton College. Applications for NPEP are available to incarcerated men across the state of Illinois. All NPEP courses are credit-bearing and taught by faculty members at Northwestern and Oakton and by advanced graduate students at Northwestern with content and expectation equivalent to those on the Chicago, Des Plaines, Evanston, and Skokie campuses.

Lawndale News Chicago's Bilingual Newspaper - Education

McDonald’s Relaunches Grant Program to Benefit Chicago-Based Youth Organizations

Lawndale News Chicago's Bilingual Newspaper - Education

Courtesy of McDonald’s Corporation

McDonald’s has served up special moments that feed and foster communities all across the world for decades. Amidst a global footprint, the community of Chicago will always hold a special place, with our roots in the community dating back to 1955. It’s why now, as one of the largest employers headquartered in the Second City, we’re continuing to support Chicago’s neighborhood organizations. In 2022, we introduced a Chicago Community Impact Grants Program in partnership with The Chicago Community Trust, investing in grants to neighborhood organizations advancing youth opportunities. Take a look at the impact made through McDonald’s grants to-date across youth-serving organizations over the past year:

• Grant partners across Chicago reached 54,087 youth ages 16-24, with 13,464 youth participating in programming through the funding support.
Youth pursued career and educational pathways while receiving counseling, mentoring and financial literacy education. 

• Grant partners provided 21,415 hours of coaching and mentoring, building 1,493 young people’s confidence, skills, and networks. 

• McDonald’s grants also funded organizations connecting 6,834 youth to workforce development and training in fields, such as green energy, banking, healthcare, and culinary arts.  

• To further the impact of McDonald’s grantmaking in communities, 1,430 McDonald’s volunteers engaged with youth at the funded organizations through 4,995 hours of service.

In 2023, McDonald’s is deepening its commitment to 18 of the organizations ensuring that these partners have the resources to build skills and capacities of youth to prepare them for career pathways. The program will continue to benefit nonprofit organizations that are actively advancing safe, healthy and thriving community support systems while working to reduce barriers to employment and education opportunities for Black and Latinx youth in the South and West sides of Chicago.

Latino Art Beat Celebrates 25th Anniversary in Miami

Lawndale News Chicago's Bilingual Newspaper - Education

Miami Latino Art Beat, a Florida not for profit arts organization, with national headquarters in Chicago, is a nationwide initiative for youth in the arts, promoting heritage and higher education thru its scholarship awards. To date Latino Art Beat has awarded over $5 million in scholarships to its talented young aspiring artist winners of its annual competition themed “What Hispanic Heritage & Culture Means to Me?” To celebrate Latino Art Beats milestone anniversary its President Don Rossi Nuccio traveled across the country honoring its local young art and film competition winners, traveling to New York City, Washington, D.C., Miami, Florida and Havana Cuba among other locations making not only a national but an international impact on youth in the arts.

This year Miami Latino Art Beat winners were recognized in a session at Miami City Hall, headed by Mayor Francis X. Suarez. Each winning student received a letter of congratulations from the Mayor, an awards certificate and an engraved souvenir medallion from Latino Art Beat along with their respective awards. This year’s top winners were Enrique Oropeza, a former D.A.S.H. graduating senior who received a $10,000 college scholarship as the Miami “Best of Show” through the Latino Art Beat (LAB) / Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) collaboration and Nicole Molina the 1st Place Winner from New World School of the Arts, Miami who received a $1,000 scholarship (minimum) to her college of choice. Latino Art Beats National Winner this year was Isabela Cysne, a talented young art student from “School without Walls” in Washington, D.C. who received a $20,000 scholarship thru the MICA/LAB collaboration. For more information on Latino Art Beat and its art and film competitions contact: latinoartbeat@hotmail.com

ISBE Announces Income Eligibility Guidelines for Free, Reduced-priced Meals

Lawndale News Chicago's Bilingual Newspaper - Education

The Illinois State Board of Education has announced the income eligibility guidelines for free and reduced-price meals at child care centers and homes participating in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and administered by ISBE. In fiscal year 2023, sponsors participating in the program served more than 35.9 million meals and more than 21.6 million snacks – totaling more than 57.5 million meals and snacks. All participating child care centers and day care homes must provide meals to enrolled children at no additional charge. Parents or guardians should contact their child care center or day care home provider to find out if they participate in CACFP. The program serves sites in 95 counties across Illinois, with 584 sponsors operating at 1,208 child care sites and 10 sponsors operating at 3,628 day care homes. Reimbursements for program sponsors are based on Income Eligibility Guidelines, which are updated annually by the USDA. Program sponsors use a direct certification process and applications to determine reimbursement data. Families may be asked to complete an application and provide income, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program information.  For more information, visit www.isbe.net

Wellness West Hosts Forum on Health and Housing

Lawndale News Chicago's Bilingual Newspaper - Health

Lawndale News Chicago's Bilingual Newspaper - Health

Nearly 150 people gathered at Malcolm X College in Chicago on Nov. 7 for “Bridging the Equity Gap: A Wellness West Forum on Health and Housing” to discuss the critical issues at the intersection of health and housing. The forum was hosted by Wellness West, a coalition of more than 40 West Side organizations dedicated to creating a transformational continuity of care among hospitals, community health centers, community mental health centers, social services, and other critical points of care. The event began with opening remarks from Toni Preckwinkle, President of the Cook County Board of Commissioners, and Tesa Anewishki, CEO of The Loretto Hospital and Board Secretary of Wellness West. “I’m here today to recognize the important work of Wellness West,” said President Preckwinkle. “It’s well documented that families that live in poor quality of housing can experience an array of negative health outcomes.”

Misty Drake, Executive Director of Wellness West, then provided a report on the work and progress of Wellness West, now in its second year of operation. Ms. Drake shared that Wellness West has conducted nearly 18,000 Health Risk Assessments in the community and that 37 percent of respondents report either being currently housing insecure or at risk of being housing insecure in the short term.  Next, a panel of three Wellness West clients shared their personal stories. Wellness West clients Sonya Hughes, Angel Diaz and Renee Washington spoke poignantly of their challenges that led to losing their housing, and then their steps gaining it back through Wellness West and the Flexible Housing Pool. Telemundo Chicago’s Jessica Suarez served as moderator. More information about Wellness West is available at www.wellnesswest.org.

PHOTO #1 CAPTION: Nearly 150 people attended Wellness West’s health and housing forum Nov. 7 at Malcolm X College in Chicago.

PHOTO #2 CAPTION: Experts on housing and health participated in a panel discussion Nov. 7 at Wellness West’s forum. From left: Athena Williams, Executive Director, Oak Park Regional Housing Center; Marisa Novara, Vice President of Community Impact, Chicago Community Trust; and Dr. Thomas Huggett, Medical Director of Mobile Health at Lawndale Christian Health Center.

Photo Credit: Wellness West

City of Chicago Receives CDC Grant to Bolster Overdose Prevention

Lawndale News Chicago's Bilingual Newspaper - Health

The City of Chicago has been selected as a recipient of a $17 Million grant over five years from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to address the opioid epidemic through the Overdose Data to Action (OD2A) program. Using the OD2A funding, the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) is piloting the use of “Public Health Vending Machines” to deliver free general hygiene, health, and harm reduction supplies to individuals experiencing substance use disorder (SUD), homelessness, or similar vulnerabilities in Chicago.  The vending machines will feature artwork from local artists and be located at five locations across the city identified as “hot spots” for opioid-related emergency medical responses based on a geographic analysis conducted by CDPH : 

• Uptown Library: 929 W Buena Ave – in the front lobby 

• Garfield Community Service Center: 10 S Kedzie – in the main lobby on the first floor 

• Harold Washington Library Center: 400 S State St – on the 3rd floor (elevator access available) 

• 95th/Dan Ryan Red Line CTA Station: 14 W 95th St – North Terminal building outside of the turnstile 

• Roseland Community Triage Center: 200 E 115th St – in the entryway before the main doors on the first floor

Through a partnership with the Illinois Department of Human Services Division of Substance Use Prevention and Recovery (IDHS/SUPR), people can call the Illinois Helpline 24 hours a day/7 days a week and receive a referral for a raid telehealth appointment with a provider who can prescribe medication at 833-234-6343.

Healthy Eating Tips for the Holidays

Lawndale News Chicago's Bilingual Newspaper - Health

‘Tis the season for family, festivity, and food—lots of food. Temptations are everywhere, and parties and travel disrupt daily routines. What’s more, it all goes on for weeks. How do you stick to your healthy lifestyle when everyone around you seems to be splurging? Here are a few tips that can help:

Holiday-Proof Your Plan:

You may not be able to control what food you’re served, and you’re going to see other people eating tempting treats. Meet the challenges armed with a plan:

• Eat close to your usual times to keep your blood sugar steady. If your meal is served later than normal, eat a small snack at your usual mealtime and eat a little less when dinner is served.

• If you have a sweet treat, cut back on other carbs (like potatoes and bread) during the meal.

• Don’t skip meals to save up for a feast. It will be harder to manage your blood sugar, and you’ll be really hungry and more likely to overeat.

Fit in Favorites

No food is on the naughty list. Choose the dishes you really love and can’t get any other time of year. Slow down and savor a small serving, and make sure to count it in your meal plan.

Keep Moving

You’ve got a lot on your plate this time of year, and physical activity can get crowded out. But being active is your secret holiday weapon; it can help make up for eating more than usual and reduce stress during this most stressful time of year. Get moving with friends and family, such as taking a walk after a holiday meal.