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Joyce Percel, who works for Chicago Cares, said its annual Serve-a-thon will take place on June 25. She said it is estimated to bring in 5,000 volunteers. 

Notable Native: Joyce Percel

May 9, 2016
CPS announced their lead testing pilot program on April 27, saying the test was done out of “an abundance of caution.” 

28 CPS schools testing for lead in pilot program

May 9, 2016
Dennis Hastert, former U.S. speaker of the House, was sentenced to 15 months in prison for violating federal banking laws on April 27. 

Former U.S. speaker of the House sentenced for hush money payments

May 2, 2016
Breast cancer plagued Lindsay Avner’s family. At 12 years old, she watched her mother battle the disease and later learned it affected her grandmother and great grandmother as well. After finding out at 22 that she carried the BRCA 1 gene, which raises a carrier’s chance of developing breast cancer 10 percent more than the national average of 12.7 percent, according to the National Cancer institute, she decided not to take any chances. To preempt the diseases, she had a prophylactic double mastectomy.Her brush with breast cancer inspired her to found Bright Pink, a nonprofit organization that advocates for breast and ovarian cancer research, in 2007. In the seven years since, it has grown from its Chicago roots to a nationwide movement.The Chronicle spoke with Avner about Bright Pink’s mission, the state of breast cancer detection, how to provide breast cancer awareness and her vision for improving cancer screenings.THE CHRONICLE: What is your job as the CEO of Bright Pink?LINDSAY AVNER: I lead the charge to educate young women nationwide on how to be proactive advocates for their breast and ovarian health. On a daily basis, I guide the strategic direction and oversee operations for the organization. Each hour is different. One hour I may be focused on developing a new program with a corporate sponsor, and the next I’ll be meeting with a team of doctors and genetic counselors to work on the national expansion of our Emerging Medical Professionals Workshop. I spend a lot of my time balancing being external, the face and voice of the organization, and being internal to help set the strategy, define success and remove obstacles so that my team can work their magic. How does Bright Pink work with the community to provide information about breast cancer awareness?We live in a world where most young women don’t know the breast and ovarian health basics. They don’t make their health a priority or understand that the actions they take today can impact their risk for these diseases in the future. Bright Pink is dedicated to transitioning the national conversation around breast and ovarian cancer from one centered on awareness to one about life-saving action. We spend 365 days a year talking, lecturing, tweeting, messaging and texting about early detection and prevention strategies. It’s what we’re committed to on a daily basis, and it’s how we hope to make an impact and ultimately change the game.Why do you think that breast cancer awareness important?I started Bright Pink when I was 24 years old because I wanted things to be different. For my family, it seemed the rulebook had already been written: Women in my family got breast cancer. Sometimes they were dealt a second card of ovarian cancer. When I was 12, I watched my mother go through treatment for both diseases. She beat the odds, and unlike the 11 women in my family before her, she survived. Every woman has a one in eight chance of developing breast cancer and a one in 67 chance of developing ovarian cancer, but when detected early, the survival rate can be as high as 95 percent. I started Bright Pink because I want every young woman to be vigilant and beat the odds just like my mom.What are some of Bright Pink’s and your own personal accomplishments?A highlight of this year has been watching the launch of our Emerging Medical Professionals Program. Through this program, we are educating OB-GYN residents across the country to better stratify and manage breast and ovarian cancer risk in their young patients. This fall, we will reach over 750 OB-GYN residents who will, in turn, be better equipped to proactively care for more than 2.5 million patients in the next year. And by 2019, we will be able to say that every single OB-GYN who goes into practice will have been through this program and will be better equipped to care for their female patients. This month alone, we’ve had the chance to present at both Harvard and Johns Hopkins [universities], and I think that is pretty brilliant.

Notable Native: Paul Dailing

May 2, 2016
Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis spoke to attendees of the City Club of Chicago luncheon April 20, focusing on education issues, lack of funding for CPS and CTU contract negotiations.  

Karen Lewis: Rauner is a liar, lacks ability to govern

April 25, 2016
Danka Marinkovic is the owner and creator of Melissa’s Pal Crépes, the first legal street cart in Chicago. Marinkovic hopes to one day own a permanent kiosk on State Street.   

Notable Native:Danka Marinkovic

April 25, 2016
Angela Ford is the executive director of TAG Foundation, an organization she founded in 2013 to fill opportunity “gaps” within her community.  

Notable Native: Angela Ford

April 18, 2016
Dwayne Bryant, president of Inner Vision International, said his goal for his organization is to get young people excited about pursuing their education and dreams. 

Notable Native: Dwayne Bryant

April 11, 2016
Working Families Task Force Recommendation graphic

Task force prescribes more paid sick days

April 11, 2016
In 2016, Jesseca Rhymes, coordinator of Never Go Without, spent her second consecutive year collecting feminine hygiene products for homeless women 

Notable Native: Jesseca Rhymes

April 4, 2016
CTU President Karen Lewis (top) addresses crowd at the James R. Thompson Center April 1. 

Protesters: It may be April 1,but education is no joke

April 4, 2016
Protesters burned an American flag during a demonstration calling for the resignation of Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez and Gov. Bruce Rauner Feb. 23. 

Protesters: ‘We’re always going to stand tall’

February 29, 2016
Supporters of Bernie Sanders went to the opening of his campaign office in the South Loop on Feb. 17.

Bernie Sanders, Hillary Clinton make their mark on Chicago

February 22, 2016
This 381 residential unit building was proposed to be built at 4400 N. Clarendon Ave. with approximately 31,000 square feet of commercial space. 

Uptown residents: new apartments will gentrify neighborhood

February 16, 2016
Karen Lewis, president  of CTU, spoke to the media during a rally in the Loop on Feb. 4.  

CTU, supporters protest budget cuts, layoffs

February 8, 2016
metra graphic

Metra on track to make major changes

February 1, 2016
smoking story graphic

Chicagoans may see tax, age increase for tobacco products

January 25, 2016
Balloons held by protesters, from the Chicago-based nuclear energy watchdog group, the Nuclear Energy Information Service, flutter in front of the Chicago Consulate-General of Japan, 737 N. Michigan Ave. The protest marked the four-year anniversary of the Fukushima nuclear disaster, which leaked harmful nuclear isotopes into the ocean after a 9.0-magnitude earthquake cut off power to the facility. 

Activists protest at Japan Consulate

March 16, 2015

Homan square not so off-the-books

March 9, 2015
Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Jesus “Chuy” Garcia are being catapulted into six more weeks of campaigning after the Feb. 24 election resulted in a runoff set for April 7, the first since the city switched from the partisan primary system in 1995. Emanuel earned 45.4 percent of the vote and Garcia earned 33.9 percent. Both candidates face harrowing challenges. Garcia must establish himself as more than “the neighborhood guy,” but as a leader who can run a city plagued by chronic problems. Emanuel fights against a record marked with school closings, teacher strikes and city violence.

Emanuel, Garcia thrust into April runoff

March 2, 2015
Mayor Rahm Emanuel is forced into a runoff by Jesus Chuy Garcia, a Cook County Commissioner on Feb. 24. Emanuel delivers a triumphant speech nonetheless at Plumbers Hall, 1340 W. Washington.

Emanuel forced into runoff

February 25, 2015
David Oliva “cooling off” under an ice floe on Lake Michigan. Oliva said he has been braving frigid waters around the world as a winter swimmer for more than 35 years.

More than a polar plunge

February 23, 2015
Dorothy Tucker from CBS 2 levied audience questions for mayoral candidate Cook County Commissioner Jesus “Chuy” Garcia at the National Association of Black Journalists-sponsored forum Feb. 11 at Film Row Cinema in the 1104 S. Wabash Ave. Building.

Mayoral candidates get candid about Chicago

February 16, 2015
Mayoral candidate Willie Wilson spoke to supporters during a luncheon at Maggiano’s Banquets, 111 W. Grand Ave.

Willie Wilson speaks candidly at luncheon

February 9, 2015
Mayoral candidate Bob Fioretti spoke to the Green Party of Chicago on Jan. 28. Party Chair Phil Huckleberry (directly behind Fioretti) said Fioretti has upheld the party’s core values while in office.

Green Party of Chicago endorses Bob Fioretti

February 2, 2015

CPD warns South Loop residents of violent assaults

February 2, 2015
Police Profiling: Transgender People

City Council approves new police profiling ordinance

January 26, 2015
Chicago Public Schools teacher Dorothea Tobin, 62, started a knitting club at North Lawndale College Prep., which is not only an after-school activity, but a source of pride and income. Tobin said students have made up to $400 a month through selling their wares—such as bowties and scarves.

Notable Native: Dorothea Tobin

January 26, 2015
The Admiral Theatre, 3940 W. Lawrence Ave., won the “Block Star Business Award,” which highlights businesses that encourage positivity, tidiness and cleanliness around the Albany Park neighborhood.

Strip club wins neighborhood cleanliness award

January 26, 2015

Transit Transitioning: City Envisions Future Public Transit System

May 12, 2014

Budding support for legal weed among state reps

May 5, 2014

Lawmakers push for Obama library

April 28, 2014
Chicago casinos gamble on South Loop

Chicago casinos gamble on South Loop

April 21, 2014
Chicago cab drivers pay a maximum of $700 a week to lease a taxi from a cab company. A Chicago cab driver filed a lawsuit in 2012 demanding the city lower lease rates because it prevents drivers from making a livable wage.

Cabbies demand fare hike

April 14, 2014
KCBX Terminals Co. stores stockpiles of petroleum coke on the banks of the Calumet River on the Southeast Side. KCBX must fully enclose its stockpiles within two years under regulation imposed March 13 by Mayor Rahm Emanuel.

Petcoke stockpiles face stricter rules

April 14, 2014
The city closed dix of its 12 mental health clinics in April 2012 to save $2.3 million. Lawndale Mental Health Clinic, 1201 S. Campbell St., is one of the six remaining clinics.

City Council demands cure for mental health clinics

April 7, 2014

Aldermen push for plastic bag ban

March 31, 2014

Keeping sick workers off feet, not clock

March 17, 2014

Notable Native: John Lomax

March 10, 2014
New buses featuring bigger windows, brighter LED lighting and improved safety features, including 10 surveillance cameras, will be introduced this spring as part of the citys $205 million plan to overhaul the Chicago Transit Authority bus fleet b 2015.

New buses aim to improve security

March 10, 2014
Veteran suicides to be addressed

Resolution combats veteran suicides

March 3, 2014
Information from Brookings Institution 

Gap between rich and poor widens

March 3, 2014
Krista Reynen

Notable Native: Krista Reynen

February 24, 2014

Kill switch solution to apple picking

February 24, 2014

City Council protection of children hypocritical

February 24, 2014

Police overtime spending exceeds 2013 budget: Some officers O.T. earnings outpace salaries

February 17, 2014

City puts breaks on ride-share companies

February 17, 2014
Frank Gardner

Notable Native: Frank Gardner

February 10, 2014

Asian carp threat inspires federal report

February 10, 2014

Illinois leaders advocate for immigration reform

February 10, 2014
Historic Pullman

Possible national park title creates hope

February 3, 2014
Bob Fioretti advocates for $15 minimum wage increase

Alderman, workers fight for $15 wage

February 3, 2014
Dearborn Street bike lane

Businesses getting up to speed with bike lanes

January 27, 2014
Isabella Rotman

Notable Native: Isabella Rotman

January 27, 2014
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