Safe Passage workers celebrated before Chicago kids go back to school
About 20 Safe Passage workers, who aim to ensure the safety of students walking to and from school, received awards for the work they’ve done over the years.
Advice, resources, and reflections on back-to-school season for Chicago's students, families, and educators.
As Chicago gears up for the new school year, hundreds of Safe Passage workers received a boost of motivation during a celebration Tuesday afternoon at Wintrust Arena.
About 20 Safe Passage workers, who aim to ensure the safety of students walking to and from school, received awards for the work they’ve done over the years.
“You all are expressing the beauty of our faith, because you all are the guiding light that our neighborhoods look towards,” said Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson. “You know when you’re raising a family in the City of Chicago, there are days that are difficult. But to see you all throughout our neighborhoods, around this city, brings me hope because your dedication and your commitment to the people of Chicago, it stems well beyond neighborhoods.”
About 1,200 Safe Passage workers serve 188 schools across the city, according to a Chicago Public Schools spokesperson.
Gregory Adams, one of the recipients of the award, is a Safe Passage worker with A Knock At Midnight.
In the 11 years he’s worked as a Safe Passage worker, he said he learned, “Community safety is a coordinating process. It takes a village to raise all of our students, so what we need is for all social systems — that’s beginning with the church, business, schools, the clinics and even the home and other community businesses — to all do a collaboration project where we all can buy into it so that we can all feel a sense of responsibility and accountability.”
Three students and two faculty members met with U. of C. president Paul Alivisatos and provost Katherine Baicker to discuss the demands of student organizers, though it “ended without resolution,” according to UChicago United for Palestine, the group organizing the encampment.
The Revival is relocating from Hyde Park to South Wabash, and The Home Comedy Theater is providing an artistic residence for some iO and Second City veterans.
When someone new to the “family” like John Schriffen tosses out directionless code words, like “haters,” to a rightfully sensitive and mistreated fan base, the outcome ain’t ever pretty.
SEIU Local 73 leadership and CPS agreed to a four-year contract that is highlighted by a base salary of $40,000, as well as at least 4% raises for workers across all four years. The agreement nows goes to its 11,000 union members for a vote.