Weekly Update: June 18, 2020
Hello friends, Happy Thursday to you!
We wanted to catch you up an on a few things that we are working on, reading, watching and listening to.
Senator Durbin’s Office
This week we had a call with Senator Durbin’s office. Senator Durbin is in support of the HEROES Act, the second stimulus Act in relation to financial assistance due to COVID-19. This Act has passed the House and will go to the Senate for a vote. This will most likely take place after the recess and following the July 4th Holiday. Per his team’s request, next week we will be sending a survey to determine the 3-5 most important items our supporters at the Illinois Events Coalition would support in the HEROES act. Senator Durbin’s office has been so great, continuing to value our feedback and continuing the conversation with the Coalition. We will remain in communication with his office and have a call with them in a couple of weeks to check in, and of course will then check back with all of you! Read more about Durbin’s support of the act here.
The Illinois Events Coalition is thrilled to have the support of the ILEA, International Live Events Association Greater Chicago Chapter. They will be sharing information with their members of their support and information on how to join the Illinois Events Coalition. Thank you to Barb Siska CSEP, Vicki Bowman, CMP, CED, CSEP – President of the Greater Chicago Chapter, Amy McMonigal, President-Elect, Rachel Krieger, VP of Marcom, Ryan Campbell, Director of Marcom (incoming VP of Marcom) and Monika Heppe, CSEP, Director of Programs.
Governor announces grants and assistance for small businesses affected by COVID 19
Yesterday, Governor Pritzker, with State Senate Majority Leader Kimberly Lightford and State Senator Omar Aquino announced a new $900 million financial assistance program to support those hardest-hit by COVID-19 and civil unrest. He spoke about how as COVID-19 continues to progress, financial hardships become more acute. Consequently, the state of Illinois is getting to work, announcing new programs for families and businesses.
Small businesses can apply for assistance from the $270 million grant including those that:
Have been damaged/impacted by significant property damage recently during the protests/looting
Are bars and restaurant that do not have outdoor capability and also barbershops and salons.
The program will launch Monday on the DCEO site https://dceocovid19resources.com. The Illinois House Development Authority will also launch two $150 million emergency programs for those that are unable to pay rent and mortgage payments. They have also extended the eviction ban thru July 31st.
Pritzker said this program will support over 73,000 Illinoisans. On Wednesday at the press meeting he said, “With assistance from the federal CARES Act and in partnership with the General Assembly, including from the Black Caucus, Latino Caucus, and Asian Caucus, my administration has put together a support package of over 900 million dollars to lift up small businesses, working families and Black and Brown communities who have been hit the hardest by COVID-19's financial impacts. I'm deeply proud to lead a state government so committed to being there for the people we serve."
Full details of the new program and the Governnor’s press release here
CONTINUING OUR EDUCATION
We also wanted to share some more educational articles, podcasts and videos with our supporters to continue to educate themselves on racial equality.
Perfete: Diversity Action Plan by Kunbi Odubogun
A Conversation on Racial Inequality and Injustice by experts: Daryl Davis, Baratunde Thurston, Rev. Deborah Johnson, Briona Jenkins, which you can watch here.
The Supreme Court’s surprising 6-to-3 ruling in favor of gay and transgender rights was perhaps the strongest evidence yet of how fundamentally and unpredictably American views have changed. To read more, click here.