Community News

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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

Break the Cycle: Phoenix Challenge 2024
Join Hope for Justice for a 25-mile or 55-mile one-day bike ride to raise awareness and funds victims of human trafficking an modern-day slavery.

Wear Blue Day – Human Trafficking Awareness Day
DHS Blue Campaign invites people to wear blue, the international color of human trafficking awareness and post to social media using the hashtag #WearBlueDay. Premade social media graphics available on event page.

MPS Kindergarten Enrollment Fair on February 3, 2024
MPS will host a Kindergarten Enrollment Fair on February 3, 2024, to help families explore schools, make choices, and enroll students.

Fast Pitch 2024
Fast Pitch 2024 will feature eight incredible presenters from our Systems Change Accelerator Cohort, each with a vision for a more just and equitable Los Angeles

Faith in Action: Peace & Social Justice Committee
The Faith in Action: Peace & Social Justice Committee works in many ways to put UU values into action in our local community and wider world. We organize activities and support the efforts of community partners in the areas of labor and economic issues, anti-racism, police reform, and mass incarceration, immigration and immigrant detention, climate…

The International Conference 2023
The Impact of Child Abuse, Sexual Violence and Harassment, Insecurity, Corruption, Mental Health and COVID-19 on Economic Growth. The Social Justice and Human Rights Institute works to ensure the implementation of Social Justice and Human Rights standards on the ground through greater country engagement and its field presences. Over the years, The International Conference on…

Day of Community Care & Well Being
Love People. That’s the theme of this “come and go” event and it’s also the call to action. Plenty of wellness activities, including yoga featuring BLOOM by CALLIE – as well as music, activities for children, food, vendors, and a community “hands-on” project where YOU get to help paint a 50-foot mural. This is an…

Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week: Dallas Resource Fair
Dallas Hope Charities connects the Dallas community with free to low-cost LGBTQIA+ services from community partners – including Oak Lawn United Methodist, Prism Health North Texas, Room for Change, Impact Communities Dallas, Abounding Prosperity, Inc, The FreeLux Project, Veteran Affairs, North Texas Food Bank, Meagan Skidmore Coaching, Parkland Health, Access and Information Network, Legal Aid…

Black Girl Sermon: The Experience
This event, hosted by DeeVine, aims to create a sense of sisterhood, solidarity, and community through the use of music, art and narratives that represent the testimonies that we all share. This intends to be a sensory journey of empowerment, revival, and soul-stirring performance to celebrate the importance of representation, authenticity, and embracing one’s story.
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!
