Chatham/Avalon Park Community Council: February 2016

Thursday, February 25, 2016

MAP Grant Rally; Diversity Job Fair; City of Chicago Free TaxSerivce Program

Sims, Illinois Legislative Black Caucus hosts MAP Grant Rally

UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO DIVERSITY JOB FAIR 2016

Saturday, February 27, 2016

9 am to Noon

The University of Chicago Laboratory Schools, Gordon Parks Arts Hall

5815 S. Kimbark Avenue | Chicago, IL 60637

FREE street parking is available around campus. The most conveniently
located parking is available at Judd parking lot on Kimbark Ave and the
Midway Plaisance.

Click Here To Register!

FEMA Resource Spotlight - Youth Preparedness

Council Applicants Needed!

The Youth Preparedness Council (YPC) brings together youth leaders from across the country who are highly interested and engaged in advocating youth preparedness and making a difference in their communities.

Students in 9th and 10th grade are encouraged to apply.

APPLICATIONS ARE DUE MARCH 1ST!

Click Here To Apply!

CONFERENCE OF WOMEN LEGISLATORS

2016-17 SCHOLARSHIP AWARD PROGRAM!

The Conference of Women Legislators (COWL) a not-for-profit organization and a bipartisan coalition of women legislators in the Illinois General Assembly, announce their 2016-2017 Scholarship Award Program. COWL created the scholarship program as part of its mission to promote economic independence, community service and leadership development.

Rep. Willis, the Chair of the Scholarship Committee, announces that scholarships of $2500 each will be awarded. These college scholarships are aimed at helping women who are earning their college degrees, later in life in some cases.

Scholarship applicants are required to enroll in an Illinois accredited college or university for a minimum of six credit hours to qualify, making the scholarships available to a part-time student. In addition to academic achievement the scholarship committee also considered volunteer or paid community service work that benefited women in transition. Applications must be postmarked by April 15, 2016. Awardees will be notified of the decisions by May 31, 2016. Scholarship applications may be downloaded from the COWL website at www.cowlil.com

The City of Chicago FREE Tax Service Program

If you are a family earning up to $50,000

or an individual earning up to $25,000, you may be eligible to take advantage of this FREE service and find out if you qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit(EITC), Child Tax Credit(CTC), and/or student financial aid of college!

Get FREE, confidential tax help at locations across Chicago from now
through mid-April.

Small Business Administration, Illinois District Office

2016 Emerging Leaders Class Program

For Small Businesses interested in participating in the Chicago area program, here's the registration link:

http://www.interise.org/sbaemergingleaders

METRA PARKING/COMMUNTER PRE-TAX BENEFIT!

COMMUTERS

You can save hundreds to more than $1,000 a year on commuting costs through payroll tax savings when you participate in a pre-tax transit benefit plan at work. You'll save money while enjoying a stressfree commute with Metra! For customers who use a Monthly Pass, participating in a pre-tax transit benefit plan is like getting three months of free Metra tickets each year!

EMPLOYERS

Thanks to a late 2015 Congressional action, you can now offer your employees as much as $255.00 per month in pre-tax transit benefits. Their tax savings is like offering them a raise, without costing you!* Amounts for each employee will vary depending on their actual transit costs. Click Here For More Info

State Representative Elgie Sims

773-783-8800

Email: RepSims34@gmail.com

Website: www.RepElgieSims34.com

"Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?"

- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Forward this email

Map Grant Rally

Senator Donne Trotter

___________________________

17th Legislative District

I wanted to pass along an opportunity for high school and college-age students from across the country. The Henry Clay Center for Statesmanship is expanding its National Student Congress events to both high school and college-level students for the first time, in partnership with The Council of State Governments, the University of Kentucky Martin School of Public Policy& Administration and Transylvania University. I wanted to provide information on this program in case you or any of your colleagues know of local students in your area who may be interested in applying to one of the programs.

The week-long programs, held at Transylvania University in Lexington, Ky., give students the opportunity to meet with lawmakers, academics, journalists and civic leaders to discuss the practical importance of compromise, constructive engagement and dialogue to resolve conflict and competing interests in a democracy. Nationally recognized guest speakers will engage in seminars with the students, followed by student debates on current issues in political leadership. Past speakers include U.S. Supreme Court justices, speakers of the U.S. House of Representatives, U.S. senators, governors, and other nationally recognized officials and academic thought leaders.

The Student Congress programs are free--including travel and lodging--to those selected. The Henry Clay Center for Statesmanship seeks current high school juniors and college juniors with records of exceptional academic and extracurricular achievement from all regions of the country to apply. This year, the high school program will be June 12-18; the college program will be held June 19-25.

Please forward this email to any potential high school and college students who may be interested in applying for the program. The deadline for applications is March 31. For more information, visit http://www.henryclaycenter.org or contact Dr. Michael Vetter, executive director of The Henry Clay Center for Statesmanship, at mvetter@transy.edu.

Senator Donne Trotter

8658 South Cottage Grove

Suite 404

Chicago, IL 60619

773-933-7715

State Senator Donne Trotter,8658 South Cottage Grove, Suite 404, Chicago, IL 60619

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Genesis Monthly Workshops

Genesis Housing Development Corporation Upcoming Housing Education &
Counseling Events:

·“Stay In Your Home Project” Foreclosure Prevention Options –Thursday, February 18 2016, 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Genesis, 7735 S. Vernon, Chicago, IL 60619

Click Link to Register:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/stay-in-your-homeproject-tickets-21292021008

“Homebuyer Education Training” A HUD Approved Certificate Training – Saturday, February 20, 2016 from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm at the Apostolic Church of God – 6320 S. Dorchester, Chicago, IL 60637.

Click Link to Register:
http://homebuyer2016.eventbrite.com

“Financial Coaching and Wealth Building Program” A 2-Day Certificate Training Program. Applicants must be able to commit to two full day training sessions beginning Saturday, March 5th and 12th, 2016 from 10:00 am - 3:00 pm at Apostolic Church of God, 6329 S. Dorchester Chicago, IL 60637. To apply: Complete the on-line application survey by clicking the link below or call (773) 994-6670 x209 for more information.

Click Link to Register:
http://financialcoaching2016.eventbrite.com

Celebrating 20 Years of Service!!!

Home Buyer's Event - March 5th at Seaway Chatham Branch

Claudette Harris | VP/Marketing Officer

773-602-4865

Seaway Bank and Trust Company

645 E. 87^th Street, Chicago, IL 60619

www.seawaybank.us

Illegal Home Possession Forum

The Office of

ANITA ALVAREZ

Cook County State’s Attorney

Community Justice Center - South

Presents

Illegal Home Possession

Seminar

Property Fraud Awareness

March 31, 2016

6:00 pm

Chicago Police Department

6th District

7808 S. Halsted

Community Room

Presentation by:

Cook County Recorder of Deeds

For more information, contact the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Community Justice Center– South at

(773) 783-5100

Conversation with U.S. Surgeon General to Discuss Youth Leadership in Creating Tobacco Free Communities

Truth Initiative will be hosting U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy for an engaging conversation about our nation's health. Dr. Murthy will share his vision of how young people can be a part of tobacco-free living, and encourage change in their communities. This event will be broadcast live online.

Bullying Prevention Online Course

StopBullying.gov launched a new Bullying Prevention Online Course, a self-directed training that features the newest research and statistics and best practices on bullying. Participants can take quizzes to test their knowledge and earn continuing education credits at their own pace. The course is a free professional development tool for everyone engaged in addressing bullying. Learn how to lead community-wide bullying prevention initiatives to make a difference today.

The Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes

Deadline: April 15

The Barron Prize celebrates inspiring, public-spirited young leaders ages 8 to 18 who have made a significant positive impact on people, their communities, and the environment. Each year, 15 winners each receive $5,000 to support their service work or higher education.

Kids to Parks Day National School Contest

Deadline: March 4

Schools, families, cities, towns, and parks are gearing up for this year's Kids to Parks Day, a nation-wide day of outdoor play organized by National Park Trust on Saturday, May 21. NPT will provide 100 schools with grants up to $1,000 for an outdoor park experience of their own design at a local, state, or national park!

Roots & Shoots Community Campaign Mini-Grants

Deadlines: February 26, April 15, May 13

Know a teacher or group leader in the U.S. who could use a mini-grant for their service campaign? Roots & Shoots is giving away more than $50,000 in mini-grants this year! Mini-grants are awarded in a $200 VISA giftcard.

Dream Builders Video Contest

Deadline: February 21

Submit a 60 second video with your vision for improving your community. Create the Good will provide $2,500 for the winning Dream Builder to donate to the non-profit of their choice for their project! Three finalists will receive a $500 donation to the non-profit organization of their choice to help build their dreams.

National Day of Action for a Bigger, Better, Peace Corps

March 3rd will mark the 12th year of the annual National Day of Action for a Bigger, Better Peace Corps. Here are three ways to get involved with the Day of Action.
1. Come to Capitol Hill.
2. Visit Congress in your district.
3. Hold an event to spread the word.

Youth In The Civil Rights Movement

As we celebrate Black History Month, did you know that youth played an instrumental role in the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 60s?

Read this blog about 10 times youth helped lead the the way to civil rights for all. We'd add Barbara Rose Johns to this list. She led a student protest at Moton High School in Farmville, Virginia. Later, a lawsuit file on the students' behalf by the NAACP became part of the landmark Brown v. Board of Education case. Get free Black History Month resources from Scholastic and from TIME for Kids.

Read Across America Day - March 2

Grab Your Hat and Read with the Cat! The National Education Association is calling America's children, both young and old, to reward their learning by celebrating the joys of reading on Dr. Seuss's birthday. On March 2, tip your hat to Dr. Seuss and celebrate his newly discovered book, What Pet Should I Get? with creative acts of reading and learning for students of all ages. How will you help create a nation of readers? Take the Read Across Pledge, and share your plans for celebrating Read Across America Day.

FEBRUARY 2016 - UPCOMING EVENTS

ELLANA'S BOUTIQUE UPCOMING EVENTS

PREFERRED & LOYAL CUSTOMER

FYI: Friday, February 26, 2016, Calvary Baptist Church, 85th Church's Anniversary Banquet Fundraiser, where Rev. Dr. James R. Flint, Jr., is the Pastor. The Banquet will be held this Friday, February 26, 2016 at 6pm. The venue will be at Georgios, 8800 W. 159th Street, Orland Park, IL 60642. The recording artist is the Stella Award Winner, Jonathan McReynolds. The tickets for this special occasion is $100.00. I know this is a short notice, but if you and a guest would like to attend, please let me know by Thursday, February 25th (773-259-0264). We will climax on Sunday, February 28th at 3:30pm, Calvary Baptist Church, 8247 S. Jeffery. Come out and celebrate with us! Thanking you in advance.

Saturday, February 27th, Ellana Boutique (7511 S. Cottage Grove) is having a BIG SALE starting at 9am. Most items will be 50% OFF. We are changing over the Fall/Winter to Spring/Summer. Hope you can come out and select something for you or someone. Bring a friend!

Sunday, March 20th, Ellana Boutique will be coordinating the Society of Mannequin Spring Luncheon and Fashion Show, "The 10 Best Dress African American Women at Tuscany Fall, 9425 W. 191st Street, Mokena, Illinois. This is their annual fundraiser and the tickets are $70.00. Please email me if you would like to attend at ellanaboutique1@gmail.com