Yesterday, the Illinois Senate Black Caucus collectively supported funding for critical programs and services that help communities of color. Senate Black Caucus Chairman Emil Jones III (D-Chicago) released the following statement:

The governor’s original proposal to balance the budget to the detriment of struggling families and people who are in desperate need of support. That style of leadership is irresponsible and will hurt the economy. We supported a measure that ensures programs and services that are vital to the advancement of the black community were considered and financed.

These services are integral to the families and children they support. The Senate Black Caucus also collectively supported funding to protect safety net hospitals, the Community Cares Program, violence prevention initiatives and other truly important services. We will continue advocating for the interest of the Black community and look forward to working with all community stakeholders to make responsible funding decisions.

President Barack Obama announced the designation of a Presidential Delegation to Nigeria to attend the Inauguration of His Excellency Muhammadu Buhari, President-elect of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, on May 29, 2015.

The Honorable John Kerry, Secretary of State, will lead the delegation.

Members of the Presidential Delegation:

The Honorable James F. Entwistle, U.S. Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Department of State

The Honorable Linda Thomas-Greenfield, Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Department of State

General David M. Rodriguez, Commander, U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM)

The Honorable Grant T. Harris, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for African Affairs, National Security Council

Mr. Hakeem Olajuwon, NBA Legend and Olympic Gold Medalist

Enrollment Open Through June 1^st

CHICAGO, IL – Today is National 529 Day, (literally, 5/29!), a day focused on raising awareness of how college savings and prepaid plans can help make college more affordable for families across the country. College Illinois!®, the state’s 529 Prepaid Tuition Plan, offers families a great way to start addressing the cost of tuition by prepaying for college tuition at today’s contract price. Illinois families have through June 1^st to enroll and take advantage of reduced prices on all College Illinois! contracts.

“Studies show that children with a college savings account in their name are six to seven times more likely to attend a four-year college,” said Eric Zarnikow, executive director of the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, the state agency that administers the College Illinois! Program. “And while the rising cost of tuition can make saving for college seem like an impossible task, planning early through a College Illinois! plan can help make the reality of college sticker price a lot less overwhelming.”

College Illinois! offers flexible and affordable plans—so families can purchase anywhere from a semester of community college all the way up to nine semesters at a public university in the state. Contract prices start as low as $21 a month, depending on the plan, the age of the child, and the number of semesters purchased. And College Illinois! benefits can also be used to pay tuition and mandatory fees at almost any college or university in the country.

Illinois 529 Plans also offer significant state and federal tax benefits. Earnings on contributions are exempt from taxation at the federal and state level as long as they are used for qualified educational expenses, and Illinois residents can get an annual tax deduction of up to $10,000 for individuals or $20,000 for those filing jointly.

College Illinois! has helped more than 28,000 students attend college and has paid out over $600 million in benefits since its inception. It’s easy to get started planning for your child’s future with a College Illinois! Prepaid Tuition Plan by visiting www.collegeillinois.org.

About College Illinois!

Since its inception in 1998, College Illinois! has been focused on providing an affordable option to help make college a reality for Illinois families. Administered by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, the state’s 529 prepaid tuition program offers a unique set of benefits, including tuition inflation protection, flexibility, and significant tax benefits. Program assets, which are held in the Illinois Prepaid Tuition Trust Fund and kept separate from all public moneys and State funds, are professionally managed by an experienced team led by a Chief Investment Officer and established third party asset managers. More information on plan options and benefits, as well as a complete description of terms and conditions of, and risks associated with the purchase of a contract, is available at www.collegeillinois.org.

CHICAGO, IL – On Saturday, June 13th, before the Chicago Blues Festival performances begin, Chicago Detours will host a “Jazz, Blues & Beyond Bus Tour” of stories and places locals don’t even know of Chicago music history. This two-and-a-half-hour special experience begins at 10:30am and ventures to Chicago neighborhoods north and south. Offered to the public only annually, the event has sold-out every year since 2011.

The tour integrates historic videos and photos, expert guide commentary, a live blues performance, and exclusive entrance to see the relics of a historic jazz club. (See sneak peaks in this video.)

Amanda Scotese, Executive Director of Chicago Detours, curated the “Jazz, Blues & Beyond Bus Tour” with a journalistic approach by consulting with local experts, such as music photographer Paul Natkin and former Blues Festival director Barry Dolins. “We curate our tours to include the perspectives of many people over history,” Scotese says. “We do this through the video presentation of historic interviews, the sharing of stories from primary sources, and giving tour guests information that we uncovered from archival materials like personal letters, club flyers, and old magazines.”
The tour, which is normally only available for private groups, will delve into the people, politics and culture that have made Chicago a hotbed for musical innovation. Tour guide Scotese will share vivid stories and thought-provoking perspectives on the Great Migration, Maxwell Street Market, and Chess Records. The group will venture to Uptown, Bronzeville, South Loop, and the Near West Side while screens on the bus illuminate the past. The photos and brief documentary clips presented on screens in the bus include performances of musical artists, and historic pictures of recording studios, clubs and theaters.

A highlight for many prior guests on the tour is an exclusive visit to step on the stage of a former 1920’s and 1930’s jazz club where Louis Armstrong and Earl Hines once played. Additionally, guests learn to play blues harmonica with a Chicago blues musician who hops onboard the bus.

Guests on past tours have described it in five-star Yelp reviews: “An amazing adventure,” “Loved the harmonica lesson,” and “This is a MUST do if you live in Chicago.”

For this tour, to be held June 13th, 10:30am-1:00pm, tickets go on sale today. The tour meets and ends at Jazz Record Mart. To maintain a personal group dynamic, the group is capped at a maximum of 28 guests and reservations are required via www.chicagodetours.com. Tickets for this premium experience are $65 for adults and $62 for students/seniors/children, and include transportation, tour guide commentary, multimedia presentation, live blues musician performance, harmonica lesson, and gifts. Reservations are required here. Space is limited.

High resolution photos available.

About Chicago Detours:
Chicago Detours offers guided tours of architecture, history and culture that bring curious people to explore stories and places locals don’t even know. The tour company is a team of educators, historians, artists and storytellers, founded five years ago by Amanda Scotese, who honed her skills as a tour professional during her work as a tour guide and guidebook researcher with Rick Steves. Chicago Detours is one of very few Chicago tour companies with five stars on both Yelp and TripAdvisor.

For more information, contact:
Amanda Scotese, Executive Director and Tour Curator
312.350.1131
amanda@chicagodetours.com
www.chicagodetours.com

Reynolds will receive the Ron E. Lee, M.D. Pediatric Care Award – Lifetime Achievement

SPRINGFIELD, IL – The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and the Illinois Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC) program is honoring Dr. Sally Reynolds, the Emergency Department Medical Director at the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago with a special pediatric care Lifetime Achievement award for her contributions to childhood care.  The Ron W. Lee, M.D. – Excellence in Pediatric Care Awards are given annually by IDPH and EMSC to recognize those dedicated to pediatric emergency care and childhood injury prevention initiatives.  Individuals or organizations can be nominated in one of three award categories – Lifetime Achievement, Clinical Excellence and Community Service.

“Dr. Reynolds has devoted her career to improving the outcomes for ill and injured children and their unique emergency medical needs,” said IDPH Director Nirav D. Shah, M.D. J.D.  “Dr. Reynolds’ advocacy for the needs of children and her determination to provide the highest quality emergency care over the past 20 years exemplifies the qualities of a Lifetime Achievement recipient and I am proud to award Dr. Sally Reynolds the Ron W. Lee, M.D. Excellence in Pediatric Care Lifetime Achievement Award.”

“Through the years in her role at the hospital, she has worked tirelessly to integrate pediatrics and pediatric initiatives into disaster planning from the local, state and all the way to the federal level,” said Lurie Children’s EMS Coordinator Mary Otting.  “Through her tireless work she has truly changed for the positive, the manner in which we care for children during a disaster.”

Steven E. Krug, M.D., Professor of Pediatrics at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine said, “Sally is one of those faculty who teaches beyond the content of what textbooks offer.  She teaches clinical decision making, professionalism, effective communication, and ED (emergency department) flow management.  Perhaps most important, she provides those nuggets of gold that facilitate the consistent and timely recognition of the ill child.  These represent some of those teaching moments that her trainees remember forever.”

“Sally has always advocated for the care of children in the ED, developing treatment pathways, and best practices.  She has been the Chairperson of the Disaster Committee and has always advocated for the inclusion of children in any disaster planning,” said Lurie Children’s Associate Director, Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine Susan Fuchs, M.D.

Lurie Children’s President and CEO said, “She has created a wonderful legacy of leadership, compassion, and innovation.  As Pediatric Emergency Medicine Fellowship Director, Medical Director of PALS and Senior Medical Student Elective Coordinator, she has left an indelible mark on several generations of emergency medicine trainees.”

The Ron W. Lee, MD Excellence in Pediatric Care awards are presented each May.  Dr. Lee was the medical director for the Division of Emergency Medical Services and Highway Safety at IDPH, as well as the director of emergency medicine at Loyola University Medical Center and was instrumental in establishing and fostering the EMSC program in Illinois.  He passed away in 1998.

The Illinois EMSC program is a collaborative effort between IDPH and Loyola University Medical Center.  It was established in 1994 to ensure the emergency medical care needs of children are adequately addressed.

WASHINGTON, DC – On Monday, July 13, President Barack Obama will host the White House Conference on Aging.  The White House has held a Conference on Aging each decade since the 1960s to identify and advance actions to improve the quality of life of older Americans.  This year marks the 50th anniversary of Medicare, Medicaid, and the Older Americans Act, as well as the 80th anniversary of Social Security.  The conference is an opportunity to recognize the importance of these key programs while bringing together older Americans, caregivers, government officials, members of the public, business leaders, and community leaders to discuss the issues that will help shape the landscape for older Americans in the next decade.  This year’s regional forums in Tampa, FL; Phoenix, AZ; Seattle, WA; Cleveland, OH and today’s event in Boston, MA provided opportunities for Americans across the country to engage in policy discussions, submit input on their priorities and share their stories ahead of the White House event.

Additional details about the conference will be released at a later date.

The NAACP has released the following statement in response to the DOJ’s Agreement with the Cleveland Police Department & Officer Brelo’s Acquittal:

From Cornell William Brooks, NAACP President & CEO:
The NAACP is deeply saddened that the Cleveland police officer who fired 15 shots into a car with two unarmed people has been acquitted. The 2012 deaths of Timothy Russell and Malissa Williams represent two more tragedies in a series of others who have senselessly lost their lives at the hands of those who swore to protect and serve.  We understand the anger and frustration being felt among the community and stand in solidarity with peaceful protestors who seek justice. It is essential that police must respect the community before they can protect the community.   Therefore, we are very encouraged by the Cleveland Police Department’s agreement with the Department of Justice to overhaul its criminal justice system. This agreement calls for many of the reforms that the NAACP has advocated for, including body worn cameras and community policing and signals a turning point for police accountability in this country.  The NAACP will continue to advocate for federal policy change that works to assure that racial profiling ends today.

From Sybil Edwards – McNabb, NAACP Ohio State Conference President:
We are appalled by the decision to acquit Officer Michael Brelo and our sincerest thoughts and prayers go to the families of Timothy Russell and Malissa Williams during this difficult time. The Ohio State Conference will continue to double down for justice. We applaud the Department of Justice on exacting standards over how and when the Cleveland Police Department can use force, and ensuring that these rules are not ignored.  This agreement is not only a road map for criminal justice reform in Cleveland, but can the beginning of a national model for all police departments looking to restore community trust and build a fairer criminal justice system in the 21st Century.  The NAACP Ohio State Conference will continue to monitor the activities of the police department and will continue the fight to end racial profiling throughout the state of Ohio.

From Rev. Hilton Smith, NAACP Cleveland Branch President:
We are proud of our work with the Department of Justice and the consent decree with the Cleveland Police Department. The Cleveland Branch of the NAACP will continue to persistently monitor police and community relations and stand steadfast in our commitment to ensure accountability by working closely with the city’s leadership to bring systemic criminal justice reform to Cleveland, developing ordinances prohibiting racial profiling and advocating on behalf of our community, especially our most vulnerable.

CHICAGO, IL – More than 140 physicians from Illinois’ leading pediatric health organization, the Illinois Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics (ICAAP), announced their endorsement today of the Healthy Eating and Active Living (HEAL) Act. The HEAL Act invests in community prevention and Medicaid, through a small tax on sugary drinks.

The group includes pediatric chairs from the state’s academic medical centers, researchers, medical school faculty, subspecialists, pediatricians in training, and primary care physicians who see the adverse health impacts of sugary drinks on patients and their families every day. Nearly one in three children in Illinois is overweight or obese.

As Illinois faces a budget crisis, the HEAL Act can raise an estimated $600 million to prevent cuts in Medicaid and invest in healthier kids. “In our view, these revenues should be targeted to critical clinical prevention and treatment services in Medicaid for childhood obesity and oral health that would lower state spending on health care,” said Alejandro Clavier, a Co-Chair of ICAAP’s Health Care Advisory Group on Sugar-Sweetened Beverages.

Additionally, funds raised from the HEAL Act should be invested in community prevention. These efforts would include, for example, improving access to affordable fruits and vegetables and providing kids more options for safe places to play so that all youth can be active and healthier.

“The contribution of sugary drinks to obesity in children is now clearly established,” stated Goutham Rao, a Co-Chair of ICAAP’s Health Care Advisory Group on Sugar-Sweetened Beverages. Sufficient scientific evidence demonstrates that decreasing consumption of these drinks reduces the prevalence of childhood obesity and costly obesity-related diseases, such as type 2 diabetes. Further, sugary drinks cause cavities, behavioral problems, and the risk of poor bone health.

The physicians endorse the Healthy Eating and Active Living Act because it will promote healthier children, families, and communities in Illinois.