A news report from Kasheika Brown, New Communities Program On a hot summer-like day in June, the Greater Auburn-Gresham Development Corporation (GADC) hosted their bi-annual “Health Fair on Block” on west 79th Street. Inclement weather forecast did not hinder the success of this event. An estimated 500 – 600 people stopped to get free health screenings and receive valuable information...
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The problem: HIV cases in Illinois are rising, but funding in next year’s newly proposed budget does not meet the need. The solution: bi-partisan effort to produce a smart budget — which hasn’t been the state’s forte in the past. “If that funding is not produced, we will unquestionably all see 500 to 1,000...
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Cigarettes could disappear from Illinois drug stores under a new bill proposed before the state legislature. State Rep. Marlow H. Colvin, (D-Chicago) introduced a bill last month that would prohibit the sale of tobacco products in hospitals, clinics and pharmacies. If passed, the bill would take effect in 2011. Offenders would face a fine...
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Eating a Big Mac, a Whopper or a juicy Potbelly sandwich could come with a reminder for consumers in Illinois. State Rep. Deb Mell (D-Chicago) introduced a bill last month that would force chains such as McDonald’s, Burger King, Subway and Potbelly to disclose on their menu boards the number of calories contained in...
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Chicago recently hosted the first of three public hearings required by last year’s legislative bill HB3767, which created the Obesity Prevention Initiative Act. This calls for the Illinois Department of Public Health to find solutions to the state’s obesity epidemic. The next two public hearings take place in Springfield on March 8 and Carbondale on March...
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By Deborah Alexander, LISC Chicago’s New Communities Program Joyce Brown is no stranger to people in need. As the project coordinator for the Englewood Food Network, she’s been organizing food pantries and serving up meals to hungry clients for a long time. But during the past year, she’s seen a pronounced difference in the...
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The grim news is that every four minutes someone is diagnosed with blood cancer (lymphoma, leukemia and myeloma) and someone dies from the disease every 10 minutes. Nearly 140,000 Americans were expected to be diagnosed with blood cancer in 2009, accounting for 9.5 percent of new cancer cases diagnosed in the United States. The good...
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Communities from north to south, across Chicago have been plagued with mindless violence this year. Join in a city-wide “Day of Healing” today, Dec. 8th at St. Sabina Elders Village, 1222 W. 79th St.  The Day of Healing event begins at 6:00 pm. This event is for everyone concerned about the spread of senseless violence...
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By Cristobal Martinez of Neighborhood Sports Chicago This summer, the open space at 31st Street and Lawndale Avenue in Little Village has been overtaken by families. They gather on Tuesday nights as part of Project Play, a creation of the non-profit Beyond the Ball. At Project Play, kids, moms and dads are able to...
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“You have cancer!”  One in every two men and more than one in three women in America will hear these dreaded words sometime during their lifetime.  When someone hears these words, their life changes instantly and they need to know what to do and where to turn.  Scott Seaman and Charlene McMann-Seaman – who...
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