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

Women’s Empowerment Camp 2024
Modesto Junior College and the Modesto Fire department are partnering to provide a one day specialized camp. The program is designed to inspire and educate young women about careers in firefighting and emergency services. The Camp will allow the campers to learn from professional women firefighters from fire departments throughout the state of California. This…

Navigating Our Present: I/DD Advocacy Challenges and Experiences
Join the NC Advocacy Leaders Network for an exploratory and discovery session to assess the current state of advocacy in North Carolina. Reunite with fellow leadership program alumni and help shape the future of advocacy in the state. The NC Advocacy Leaders Network aims to unite, empower, and elevate the voices of advocacy leaders within…

A Two-Way Mirror: Double Consciousness in Contemporary Glass by Black Artists
A Two-Way Mirror is an exhibition of contemporary Black artists who have used glass to create work that deconstructs social, cultural, gender, and racial identity concerns. The artists range in background from African American, to British, to Puerto Rican. Each artist uses glass to reflect thoughts and bodies that have historically been fraught with exploitation.…

SEEKING VOLUNTEERS: The Miracle League of the Triangle
In 2004, after watching a television program about the national Miracle League, local businessmen Robin Rose and Tony Withers were inspired to establish the Miracle League of the Triangle. The goal was simple–provide children with special needs the opportunity to play America’s favorite pastime. Their hope was to have 40 children and at least 100…

Festival Sundiata presents Black Arts Fest
Seattle Center Festál presents Festival Sundiata presents Black Arts Fest in partnership with Sundiata African American Cultural Association (SAACA). The festival focuses on intergenerational activities and promotion of traditional and contemporary African American heritage, showcasing local entertainment, photography, food merchants, historical exhibits, and more!

Alice Cooper’s The Rock Teen Center Phoenix
Teens can get free music, art classes at Alice Cooper’s Solid Rock Teen Centers in Phoenix, Mesa.

Wynnewood-Mobile Food Distribution with The Buckner Center
Hosted by The Buckner Center, join fellow volunteers to help set up mobile food distribution for our South Dallas community. Each experience is critical in helping get healthy meals to families facing hunger. By volunteering through Buckner International, your unique skills and abilities can meet the needs of the vulnerable children, fragile families and single…

West Dallas FHC: Back Pack Distribution with The Buckner Center
Volunteers will be setting up, passing out back packs to local families, and cleaning up. This helps ensure the children have all they need to succeed in the upcoming school year! Please join us in this opportunity -open spaces are limited. With questions, please contact Ashley Plagens, the Volunteer Engagement Coordinator, at [email protected] or 972-725-4243.…

Thursday Streets Time with The Human Impact
Held every Thursday until July 25, join The Human Impact team as they walk the streets to spend time with friends experiencing homelessness. Go out with nothing but yourselves, focusing on creating friendships and building trust. At The Human Impact, enter into relationship with those experiencing long-term homelessness because friendship heals. When volunteers love others…

Thursday Streets Time with The Human Impact
Held every Thursday until July 25, join The Human Impact team as they walk the streets to spend time with friends experiencing homelessness. Go out with nothing but yourselves, focusing on creating friendships and building trust. At The Human Impact, enter into relationship with those experiencing long-term homelessness because friendship heals. When volunteers love others…
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!
