MLK Day is the only federal holiday designated as a national day of service to encourage all Americans to volunteer to improve their communities. Organizations across Chicago are collaborating with the Presidential Inaugural Committee on the MLK National Day of Service. You can find a volunteer event here, or check out a few we've listed below. Some of the events are assisting with food and kids coats distribution, painting murals, donating PPE and much more. You can also participate by attending virtual story telling and teach in events on this 2021 national day of service.
City Council held a public hearing on the COVID-19 vaccine rollout this week.
The rollout has been slow, but CDPH is expecting the new administration to hit the ground running with the five part distribution plan. CDPH will be expanding the number of agencies and hospitals, as well as partners like CVS and Walgreens to help with vaccinations. They are also expanding the corps of people able to give vaccines, such as dentists.
Please sign up for vaccine updates at https://covidcoach.chicago.gov.
We've listed more detailed information below on the vaccine, including the CDPH-IDPH-CDC rollout schedule. The chart below shows the general priorities of residents and staff of congregate settings, health care workers in group 1A underway, followed by group 1B -Chicagoans over 65, and front line essential workers including teachers and grocery store workers.
The CTU and CPS negotiating teams are working to get a full agreement on changes to the CPS plan to bring kids back to school. The CTU is advocating to create school committees to determine if in-person learning should proceed, by a vote, as well as a district wide committee to address health issues. Other issues CPS needs to resolve and respond to is the state of dozens of teachers locked out of schools on first day of return.
Finally, congratulations to Rep. Emanuel 'Chris' Welch, the new speaker of the Illinois House. He was chosen by his colleagues to replace Michael Madigan. The change takes place as several house members, including our 11th District Representative Ann Williams took the first big step and challenged speaker Madigan in order to chart a new direction for the state house.
Alderman Scott Waguespack