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Chicago Spent $510.9M on Overtime in 2024, Including $273.8M for Police, Down Slightly From Last Year

Heather Cherone | Jared Rutecki | July 22, 2025, 4:38 pm The city of Chicago spent approximately $510.9 million on employee overtime in 2024 — 1.5% less than in 2023, with more than half of the total amount used to compensate Chicago Police Department officers for working extra hours, according to records obtained by WTTW News. The…

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Chicago Eliminates Parking Minimums Near Transit

Changes to a city ordinance make it easier to build ‘by-right’ car-free developments near train stations and pave the way for more affordable housing. July 23, 2025, 6:00 AM PDT By Diana Ionescu Writing in Streetsblog Chicago, Steven Vance and John Greenfield praise the city of Chicago’s recent move to eliminate parking minimums near train stations…

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Illinois officials express concern over Medicaid, SNAP cuts in new budget law

by: Jenna Barnes, Ethan Illers Posted: Jul 8, 2025 / 07:22 PM CDT   CHICAGO (WGN) – Elected officials and local leaders gathered in downtown Chicago Tuesday to discuss their concerns now that President Trump’s so-called “big, beautiful bill” is law. WGN-TV listened in on a roundtable discussion with the American Civil Liberties Union and several Democratic members…

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LGBTQ+ health centers brace for Trump’s attacks

Chicago-area research labs and community health clinics are navigating illegal funding stoppages, censorship, and increasing anti-LGBTQ+ violence under President Donald Trump. by Devyn-Marshall Brown (DMB) June 25, 2025 John Peller’s two decades as an AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) staff member have been marked by highs and lows. In 2010, after President Barack Obama signed the…

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What’s next for CPS?

New leadership and looming budget problems are on the horizon for Chicago Public Schools. by Maureen Kelleher June 26, 2025 June 18 was the last day on the job for Pedro Martinez, the long-embattled chief executive officer of Chicago Public Schools. Only a week before he left, the Chicago Board of Education narrowly voted to appoint…

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Hundreds march in Chicago Disability Pride Parade that celebrates diversity, demands accessibility

Katherine Weaver, Chicago Tribune Sat, July 26, 2025 at 2:31 PM CDT You wouldn’t guess that Matt Keeth has a severe visual impairment from the way he skateboarded up and down Chicago’s Disability Pride Parade in the Loop — if not for the red-and-white striped cane he rolls in front of him. Keeth, 31, a…

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Mother shares struggles obtaining help for her children through early intervention disability program

By Lauren Victory July 11, 2025 / 6:45 PM CDT About 60,000 children with developmental disabilities qualify for a free Illinois program that provides speech, physical therapy, and other services. It’s called “early intervention” and can be a game-changer. The problem is that the service is delayed for more than 2,000 kids. Meet the Heath…

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LGBTQ+ health centers brace for Trump’s attacks

Chicago-area research labs and community health clinics are navigating illegal funding stoppages, censorship, and increasing anti-LGBTQ+ violence under President Donald Trump. by Devyn-Marshall Brown (DMB) June 25, 2025 John Peller’s two decades as an AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) staff member have been marked by highs and lows. In 2010, after President Barack Obama signed the…

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What’s next for CPS?

New leadership and looming budget problems are on the horizon for Chicago Public Schools. by Maureen Kelleher June 26, 2025 June 18 was the last day on the job for Pedro Martinez, the long-embattled chief executive officer of Chicago Public Schools. Only a week before he left, the Chicago Board of Education narrowly voted to appoint…

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Chicago’s Black-owned businesses hope Juneteenth support extends year-round

When Juneteenth became a federal holiday in 2021, many Black-owned businesses reported strong sales. Now, Chicago companies say they hope the trend continues. By  Mariah Rush Jun 19, 2025, 7:00am CDT For years, Essential Elements owner Melanie Whaley sold bedazzled Juneteenth T-shirts, with sayings like “Juneteenth Queen” and “Free-ish and fierce.” This year, the items are…

Local Organizations

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Rainbow PUSH Coalition - We protect, defend, and gain civil rights by leveling the economic and educational playing fields, and to promote peace and justice around the world.

Chicago Urban League - Since 1916, the Chicago Urban League—through collaborative community, corporate and civic relationships—has helped people find jobs, secure affordable housing, enhance their educational experiences, and grow their businesses. One of the oldest and largest affiliates of the National Urban League, we promote strong, sustainable communities through advocacy, innovation, and collaborative community, corporate and civic relationships.

Grassroots Collaborative - Grassroots Collaborative builds power with working families through strategic community-labor organizing, grassroots leadership development, civic engagement, and training. We started in Chicago and our 9 member organizations and their 125,000 members, along with an effective and diverse set of ally organizations across movements create transformative change to win fully funded resources for our public schools, social services, and affordable housing that working families depend on.

First Defense Legal Aid - First Defense Legal Aid provides free, 24-hour legal representation to people in Chicago Police custody and educates Chicagoans about how to protect their constitutional rights. We undertake these activities to promote fairness and accountability in the justice system.

Inner-City Muslim Action Network - The Inner-City Muslim Action Network is a community organization that fosters health, wellness and healing in the inner-city by organizing for social change, cultivating the arts, and operating a holistic health center. IMAN incorporated as a nonprofit in 1997 through the drive of people directly affected by and deeply invested in social issues affecting communities of color living on Chicago’s South Side.

One Northside - Organizing Neighborhoods for Equality: Northside is a mixed-income, multi-ethnic, intergenerational organization that unites our diverse communities. We build collective power to eliminate injustice through bold and innovative community organizing. We accomplish this through developing grassroots leaders and acting together to effect change.

Polished Pebbles - The mission of the Polished Pebbles Girls Mentoring Program is to provide girls (7-17 years old) with the opportunity of learning the vital life skill of effective communication. Our Polished Pebbles Girls Mentoring program instills confidence in girls to face the challenges of daily life by substituting aggressive forms of communicating and problem solving with new strategies that allow them to gain a solid reputation and respect without retaliating.

Restore Justice Illinois - Restore Justice Illinois believes in the possibility of rehabilitation, redemption, and reunification with the community for all incarcerated people, even those who have committed the most serious crimes.

Safer Foundation - Safer Foundation is one of the nation’s largest not-for-profit providers of services designed exclusively for people with criminal records. We focus on helping our clients secure and maintain jobs because we understand that employment offers the best chance at successful re-entry.

Dovetail Project - We give young African American fathers – ages 17-24 – the skills and support they need to be better fathers for their children and better men in their communities.

Black Youth Project 100 - BYP100 is National, member-based organization of Black 18-35 year old activists and organizers, dedicated to creating justice and freedom for all Black people. We do this through building a network focused on transformative leadership development, direct action organizing, advocacy, and political education using a Black queer feminist lens. BYP100 envisions a world where all Black people have economic, social, political, and educational freedom.

Upcoming Events

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Oak Cliff Market 2024

Our mission is to provide fresh, healthy food in the Black community, and create community commerce in South Oak Cliff by building relationships with Black and Brown farmers and vendors! For Oak Cliff Farmers Markets are certified local markets where all fruits, vegetables, and agricultural items are grown, made, or ranched within 150 miles. Your…

Living through War & Fighting for Peace

Noga Bar Oz is an Israeli musician and conducts an orchestra for Arab and Jewish children. Lana Ikelan, a Palestinian journalist, believes in the power of words and stories to create change and justice. These young women activists are leaving their war torn and deeply divided homeland to spread messages and hope and strength. This…

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Informational Webinar on SB4

SB4 allows peace officers to racially profile Hispanic people, essentially, a peace officer can accuse a Hispanic person of not coming into this country legally. This webinar allows people the space to gather and ask questions to prepare for the implications of this bill.

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The 2024 Serving With A Purpose Conference.

Speakers on community advocacy and nonprofit work.

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Luskin Lawmakers

How three UCLA Luskin alums — one from each master’s program — are making a difference in California. Their discussion also will explore lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic relating to urgent housing policy solutions at the state and local levels amid ongoing disinvestment at the federal level.

Art & Activism Drives Conversation with Dolores Huerta, Cheech Marin, and Vincent Valdez

Benefiting the internationally renowned nonprofit’s transformative programming and community leadership, supporters of the Rothko Chapel will gather on Wednesday, March 6, 2024 for an inspirational evening featuring celebrated actor, art collector, and advocate Cheech Marin, legendary civil rights advocate and labor organizer Dolores Huerta, and 2023 Art League Houston’s Texas artist of the year Vincent…

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Violas House Skyline Diaper Giveaway

Our DISD diaper give aways are designed to service our high school and community moms that might not otherwise have access to our Baby Boutique. It gives them an opportunity to receive the material assistance they need.

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Cool School Friday – Todd MS Planting

Texas Trees Foundation is starting its Spring Planting Season on March 2nd until mid-April (only March dates are currently available for signing up. Volunteers will have the opportunity to plant trees at several park locations on multiple dates. Age: 12 and up with Parent or Guardian. Younger children may attend events on public property but…

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Branching Out Saturday – Jaycee Zaragoza Park Planting

Texas Trees Foundation is starting its Spring Planting Season on March 2nd until mid-April (only March dates are currently available for signing up. Volunteers will have the opportunity to plant trees at several park locations on multiple dates. Age: 12 and up with Parent or Guardian. Younger children may attend events on public property but…

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Branching Out Saturday – Glendale Park Planting

Texas Trees Foundation is starting its Spring Planting Season on March 2nd until mid-April (only March dates are currently available for signing up. Volunteers will have the opportunity to plant trees at several park locations on multiple dates. Age: 12 and up with Parent or Guardian. Younger children may attend events on public property but…

Local Hero Spotlight

Members can nominate a local hero for recognition on their local LoveJustice.com city page!

Anyone and everyone can make an impact, and at LoveJustice we believe that they deserve to be recognized for their good, necessary work!

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