Hunter sponsors food giveaway on the Southside

CHICAGO – As the holiday season begins and the COVID-19 pandemic continues, many families are not able to afford delicious, healthy meals. To help bring some cheer this holiday season, State Senator Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago) partnered with Meridian Health, U.N.I.O.N. Impact and Centennial Missionary Baptist Church to give back to the Southside community by helping families put good, healthy food on their tables.

“The winter holiday season is always a time to exude the spirit of giving,” Hunter said. “This winter, as so many are dealing with unemployment and loss, it is especially important that we make sure our residents are cared for.”

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Hunter advocates for workers’ rights

CHICAGO – During Thursday’s joint Senate hearing on age, equity, workers’ rights and consumer protection, Senator Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago) advocated for increased protection among minority workers and consumers.

The U.S. Department of Labor in October released a wage report for the third quarter of this year, revealing that Black workers on average earn 72% of what white men earn. Broken down by gender, Black men earn 77.5% of what white men earn, while Black women make only 68.5%. In Chicago specifically, wage gaps grew significantly over the last several decades, causing what UIC researchers call “a growing exodus” of Black Chicagoans.

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CITY OF CHICAGO LAUNCHES “PROTECT CHICAGO” STRATEGY TO MITIGATE FURTHER SPREAD OF COVID-19

CHICAGO – Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot, the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH), and the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) today launched a new citywide strategy - “Protect Chicago” - an effort to help Chicago bend the COVID-19 curve for the second time. This strategy calls on all Chicagoans to change their behavior through targeted regulations, strong messaging, and a community-based outreach strategy. If changes are not made by Chicago residents, businesses, and visitors to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, the city is on track to lose 1,000 more Chicagoans by the end of the year or even more.

“Chicago has reached a critical point in the second surge of COVID-19, demanding that we undertake this multi-faceted and comprehensive effort to stop the virus in its tracks,” said Mayor Lightfoot. “The gains we have made this past year have been the result of our willingness to work together. Even in this difficult moment, we will continue to unite as we always have for our city in order to halt the rise we’re seeing, shake out of the fatigue we’ve been experiencing, and make the crucial difference in what our future is going to look like.”

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Chicago Hospitality Grant Program Open For Applications

The City of Chicago has begun accepting application for the $10 million Chicago Hospitality Grant Program. Announced by Mayor Lightfoot last week as part of an emergency hospitality relief package, this program will provide grants of $10,000 each to Chicago bars and restaurants that have been greatly impacted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The application will remain open until 11:59 pm central time on Monday, November 23rd and citywide recipients will be selected via lottery, with a portion reserved for businesses in low- and moderate-income Community Areas. To be eligible, bars or restaurants must be located in Chicago, have no more than $3 million in annual revenues and have experienced at least a 25% revenue loss due to COVID-19. For the full list of eligibility criteria, frequently asked questions and to apply, visit chicago.gov/hospitalityfund.

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