Sims moves to give law enforcement agencies more time and resources to effect criminal justice reforms

CHICAGO—Today, members of the Illinois Senate voted to clarify language in SAFE-T Act, a law passed early this year, championed by State Senator Elgie Sims (D-Chicago) that works to address police reform and sentencing reform, eliminate the cash bail system and establish violence reduction initiatives. After its passage State Senator Elgie Sims (D-Chicago) released the following statement:

“Public safety has always been the number one priority of the SAFE-T Act and our goal remains the same— to create safer communities. That's why, when negotiating these changes, we again included input from advocates, law enforcement officials and various stakeholders. This legislation seeks to clarify and address issues identified by stakeholders as well as providing more time to make the changes necessary to ensure the SAFE-T Act is effective for our communities.

"I remain committed to transforming the criminal justice system in Illinois in such a way that will uplift our communities while supporting our law enforcement.

"House Bill 3443 moves us another step forward in our efforts to reimagine public safety and I look forward to continuing my work on this issue."

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For more information, Call my district office at (773) 933-7715 or visit SenatorElgieSims.com

Sims advances plan to develop affordable housing for community college students

CHICAGO— State Senator Elgie R. Sims, Jr. advanced legislation out of the Senate, that would give community college boards of trustees and local housing authorities permission to develop affordable housing for community college students.

“There are many advantages to living on campus for students,” said Sims. “We all know that housing provides a place to lay your head, but the benefits go far beyond that, as studies show that students who live on campus complete more credit hours and have higher grade point averages. While also making campus resources like the library, labs and support services more easily available.”

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City Colleges of Chicago Scholarship & Grant Opportunities

Whether someone you know is graduating from high school or is looking to make a career change later in life, City Colleges of Chicago offers pathways that will help them to reach their goals.  

This summer and fall, City Colleges is offering a wide range of substantial scholarships and grants to make our quality education even more affordable. Please share the following list with your network:

• Workforce Equity Initiative (WEI) Grants – Chicago residents looking to advance their job prospects may be eligible to earn an industry-recognized certificate for free, helping to propel them towards an in-demand career in under a year. Learn more here.
   
• Star Scholarship – Students who graduate from a CPS, charter, or Big Shoulders Fund-Supported partner schools and earn at least a 3.0 GPA can complete their certificate or degree at CCC for free, including tuition and books. Learn more here.
   
• Summer Start – Students who graduated from CPS in fall 2020 or will graduate in spring 2021 and plan to continue their education at CCC this fall may be eligible to earn free college English credits and up to $1,000 this summer. Learn more here.
   
• ACE Scholarship – Students who graduated from CPS in 2020 and have not yet started their college journeys may be eligible to earn up to $1,500 this summer and fall, as well as a free laptop to keep. Learn more here.
   
• SEED Scholarship – Recent CPS graduates looking to become CPS teachers through the Teach Chicago Tomorrow Pathways Partnership are eligible for an up to $3,000 renewable scholarship from CCC starting this fall. Learn more here.
   
• PepsiCo Foundation Uplift Scholarship – Students who identify as Black, African American, Hispanic, or Latinx and are pursuing a career in one of five identified fields may be eligible a scholarship award from the PepsiCo Foundation worth up to the total cost of tuition and books for the semester. Learn more here.

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