Chicago, IL

Our Chicago: Celebrating Asian Pacific American Heritage Month

Published

2 years ago

May 1, 2022

Our Chicago: Celebrating Asian Pacific American Heritage Month

CHICAGO (WLS) — Could is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.

We spoke with the leaders of two organizations working to empower Chicago’s Asian American neighborhood. Grace Pai is the chief director of Asian People Advancing Justice Chicago, which is marking a serious milestone: 30 years within the metropolis. It started in 1992 because the Asian American Institute, a coverage and analysis centered group. Pai mentioned the group has developed since then.

“Initially we centered on issues like movie festivals, symposiums, we printed a bunch of stories in regards to the Asian American neighborhood and our variety,” Pai mentioned. “And we have developed since then to essentially focus and heart on constructing energy for the Asian American neighborhood.”

She mentioned Asian People Advancing Justice now does a number of work on “coverage advocacy and methods change to affect points which might be impacting Asian People.”

Pai mentioned that features schooling fairness, immigrant rights and language entry. And over the past two years, harassment and violence in opposition to Asian People has been on the rise.

“2020 was just the start, sadly,” mentioned Pai. “And that was a full 12 months earlier than the Atlanta shootings occurred, earlier than the FedEx taking pictures in Indianapolis that actually impacted the Sikh neighborhood there and so you realize I believe sadly although we have been actually reeling in that second of Could 2020 we did it escalate and worsen all through 2021.”

To combat again in opposition to harassment and discrimination, Asian People Advancing Justice Chicago is providing Bystander Intervention coaching for neighborhood members.

Our Chicago: Half 2

As that is occurring, Chicago is on the cusp of getting its first-ever Asian American majority ward. It is one thing that has been many years within the making, mentioned Grace Chan McKibben, government director of the Coalition for a Higher Chinese language American Neighborhood. She mentioned going from zero Asian American wards to 1 is essential symbolically.

“As a result of Chicago’s Chinatown is among the only a few, probably solely, rising Chinatown in the US the opposite cities are additionally trying to us making historical past and watching and cheering on,” she mentioned, including that it displays the rising inhabitants. Asian People are the fastest-growing demographic in Chicago and Illinois, making up about 7% of the state’s inhabitants.

For extra info on bystander intervention coaching:

https://www.advancingjustice-chicago.org/what-we-do/bystander-intervention-trainings/

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Chicago, IL

2 women found dead in Englewood home after fire, Chicago fire officials say

Published

2 years ago

November 22, 2022

Press Room

2 women found dead in Englewood home after fire, Chicago fire officials say

ByABC7 Chicago Digital Crew by way of

Wednesday, November 23, 2022 3:26AM

FILE photograph: View of the Chicago Hearth Division, the third largest municipal hearth division in america of America, within the Chinatown neighborhood on Sept. 24, 2014.
Shutterstock

CHICAGO (WLS) — Chicago hearth officers mentioned two ladies have been discovered lifeless in an Englewood house after a home hearth.

The fireplace broke out Tuesday night at a home within the 7200-block of South Wolcott, Chicago hearth officers mentioned.

The fireplace was struck out at about 9:10 p.m., CFD mentioned.

After the fireplace was out, firefighters discovered two grownup feminine victims lifeless within the wreckage.

It was not instantly clear if the ladies died within the hearth or earlier than the fireplace. No additional particulars have been launched.

The Chicago Hearth Division has not but commented on any potential causes for the fireplace or mentioned in the event that they consider it was suspicious.

Chicago, IL

3 women united by Highland Park shooting now lobby for assault weapon ban

Published

2 years ago

November 22, 2022

Press Room

3 women united by Highland Park shooting now lobby for assault weapon ban

HIGHLAND PARK, Ailing. (WLS) — Three ladies and their households had been good strangers up till the second tragedy introduced them collectively within the aftermath of Highland Park’s July 4th parade.

As Thanksgiving approaches, they’re united in goal and in gratitude for probably the most primary of all issues: life.

“I believed I used to be going to die,” Highland Park capturing survivor Liz Turnipseed mentioned. “That I used to be going to put there and I used to be going to bleed out and I used to be going to die.”

WATCH | Highland Park capturing survivor tells her story

“I used to be on the parade with my three grownup kids, my son-in-law and my 2-year-old grand child,” mentioned Debra Baum, with the Highland Park Gun Violence Mission. “Our complete household may have been worn out.”

“July third I had 70 folks at my home and the following day our life bought flipped the other way up,” capturing survivor Lindsay Hartman mentioned. “So I simply know for me, I am attempting to take pleasure in it and never spend an excessive amount of time previously.”

SEE ALSO | Highland Park parade capturing short-term memorial opens subsequent to metropolis corridor

For Lindsay, not spending an excessive amount of time previously means internet hosting Thanksgiving for 30. Liz, who was one of many almost 50 folks injured that day, nonetheless wants a cane to get round, so she’ll be catering the meal and having her complete household fly in. Debra shall be coming along with the identical household she was with on July 4.

“There are numerous households in Highland Park that do not have folks with them this Thanksgiving due to what occurred,” Baum mentioned. “It is a very weighty realization.”

However there’s additionally gratitude for random issues and other people, like for the proper strangers who took in Liz’s 3-year-old daughter for a few hours after she was shot. And the neighbor she’d by no means met earlier than who lent her a step stool for her mattress.

Turning ache into goal is what unites these ladies now as they foyer for an assault weapons ban in Congress. As a result of whereas life for them won’t ever be the identical, it does transfer on.

Chicago, IL

Biden to extend student loan repayment freeze as relief program is tied up in courts

Published

2 years ago

November 22, 2022

Press Room

Biden to extend student loan repayment freeze as relief program is tied up in courts

Tuesday, November 22, 2022 8:52PM

WASHINGTON D.C. — The Biden administration is but once more extending the pause on federal scholar mortgage funds, a profit that started in March 2020 to assist individuals who have been struggling financially because of the Covid-19 pandemic, a supply conversant in the plan mentioned.

The Division of Training will announce it’s extending the freeze one other six months with the primary funds due two months after June 30, the supply mentioned, until a Supreme Courtroom resolution on the president’s scholar mortgage aid program comes first.

The administration had beforehand mentioned the latest extension could be the final, and funds have been scheduled to restart in January.

However the administration had additionally meant for its scholar mortgage forgiveness program to start canceling as much as $20,000 in debt for low- and middle-income debtors earlier than January. This system has but to be carried out because it faces a number of authorized challenges.

This story is breaking and can be up to date.