Cunningham announces mentoring grant for Chicago Ridge library

SPRINGFIELD – Chicago Ridge Public Library is the recipient of a $5,740 mentoring grant from the Illinois secretary of state, State Senator Bill Cunningham announced.

The grant was awarded through the 2019 Project Next Generation program, which is a mentoring program administered through Illinois public libraries. Mentors work with middle and high school students to help them develop skills needed to use technology and find success through project-based learning. Mentors also help with developing life skills, such as effective communication, goal setting, and conflict resolution.

Chicago Ridge is one of 31 public libraries in the state to receive the grant.

“The Secretary of State’s continued support for Illinois public libraries and at-risk youth is commendable,” Cunningham said. “A nominal investment like this in local mentoring will produce untold results, including better grades, higher self-esteem, increased likelihood of going to college, and better preparation for the workforce.”

In all, the Secretary of State awarded more than $526,000 in Project Next Generation grants statewide. The money is provided by the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Grants are awarded to public libraries that serve culturally diverse, low-income and underserved populations.

“I am committed to improving the lives of at-risk youth in Illinois,” said Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White. “I established this innovative program when I first became secretary of state to give students an opportunity to receive hands-on experience with the latest technological tools at their local library.”

For more information, visit http://bit.ly/PNGgrants.

Senator Cunningham represents portions of Worth, Orland and Palos Townships in the southwest suburbs and the neighborhoods of Mt. Greenwood, Beverly, Morgan Park and Auburn-Gresham in Chicago.

Area jobseekers invited to explore opportunities at Sept. 13 hiring fair

Cunningham: Path to a good-paying job or new career may be an unexpected one

ORLAND PARK – Area jobseekers will have access to more than 70 potential employers and staffing agencies in one convenient location during a hiring event in Orland Park Thursday, Sept. 13.

The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Orland Park Civic Center, 14750 S. Ravinia Ave. It is presented by State Sen. Bill Cunningham, State Rep. Fran Hurley and the Illinois Department of Employment Security.

“With Illinois experiencing historically low unemployment, many companies are looking to expand their talent pool. If you want a job, someone out there wants to recruit you,” Cunningham said.

The Orland Park hiring event will feature representatives of companies in sectors including health care, construction trades, sales, hospitality, retail, state government, trucking and transportation, industrial, manufacturing, clerical and more. Numerous staffing agencies also will be on site. And construction trades will have apprenticeship applications.

At least one company is looking for retired veterans who may be interested in working as security guards. Another is seeking people for driving and non-driving positions in public transportation. Health care-related companies are looking for nurses, medical technicians, therapists, and housekeeping, laundry and food service workers.

Companies also are looking to hire forklift operators, clerical workers, customer service representatives, accountants, legal support, warehouse workers, truck drivers and dispatchers, home health care aids, financial representatives, bartenders, line cooks and more.

“That’s why I would encourage people to come out with their resumes, talk to these recruiters and learn about the doors that are open. They may be surprised to find the path to a good-paying job or a new career may be someplace they’ve never heard of or considered before,” Cunningham said.

Jobseekers are asked to register in advance at senatorbillcunningham.com. For more information, call the senator’s district office at 773-445-8128.

Governor’s veto seeks to undercut locally elected school boards

SPRINGFIELD – Gov. Rauner has vetoed legislation that would give local school boards final authority to approve or decline new charter schools.

“This veto allows the State Charter School Commission to undercut decisions made by local school board members who ultimately know what’s best for the students in the communities that elected them,” said State Senator Bill Cunningham, the chief sponsor of the legislation.

The legislation, House Bill 5175, would have eliminated charter schools’ ability to appeal a local school board’s decision to deny or not renew a charter school. Under current law, a charter school applicant may file an appeal with the State Charter School Commission, who can reverse the school board’s decision.

The legislation left in place a provision allowing charters to be approved by referendum if at least 5 percent of the voters in a school district petition the school board.

Cunningham is a Democrat representing parts of Chicago and the Southwest Suburbs.

Cunningham’s plan to end Chicago police quotas becomes law

CHICAGO – The City of Chicago would be prohibited from requiring police officers to fulfill ticket quotas and assessing officers based on the number of tickets they issue under a plan signed into law today.

Senate Bill 3509, sponsored by State Senator Bill Cunningham, rescinds Chicago’s exemption from a 2014 law banning counties and municipalities from assigning ticket quotas and using the number of tickets an officer issues as a performance evaluation. The law made exemptions for municipalities with their own independent inspectors general and law enforcement review authorities.

“Policing should not be used as a revenue enhancement strategy by municipalities,” said Cunningham, a Democrat representing Chicago and the southwest suburbs. “Officers will no longer be distracted from their regular law enforcement duties in order to meet ticket quotas.”

The Fraternal Order of Police argued that ticket quotas created unnecessary tension between law enforcement and the communities they serve by interfering with officers’ ability to exercise compassion in certain situations.