Newman Secures More Than $1 Million in Federal Funding to Support Youth and Senior Services and Arts Programming in IL-03
Press Release
As part of this year's community project funding from the House Committee on Appropriations, U.S. Representative Marie Newman (D-IL-03) announced today that she has secured more than $1 million in federal funding to improve youth and senior services and arts programming across Illinois' 3rd Congressional District. Upon passage in Congress, the funding would support three local district projects to help revitalize classrooms at five schools in the district, expand programming for children with disabilities at the Children's Museum in Oak Lawn and help build a brand new community center in Summit, Illinois.
"Improving the lives and well-being of those in Illinois' 3rd District starts by investing in our youngest generation, and I'm proud to announce that these three community projects would do just that," said Congresswoman Newman. "By investing in the Oak Lawn Children's Museum, Chicago Public Schools and a community center in Summit, we can enrich quality of life for countless IL-03 residents and further ensure that there's no better place to raise a family than in Chicago's Southwest Side and Southwest suburbs."
The following community project funding requests were approved today by their respective subcommittees. In addition to these requests, Congresswoman Newman has submitted a total of 10 other community projects for funding consideration, of which nine have been approved. All submissions must designate federal funding for specific projects that demonstrate a positive benefit to the community and are a good use of taxpayer funds. Find a full list of Congresswoman Newman's Community Project Funding Requests here.
Children's Museum in Oak Lawn - $50,000
Expansion of programming to support early learners and children with disabilities
Upon passage in Congress, the Children's Museum in Oak Lawn would receive $50,000 to support their Access for All initiative during the 2022 fiscal year. Under the program, the funding would be used to expand the entity's "Wee Ones" programming for children ages 0-2 and programming for children with disabilities, with a focus on social and emotional deficits they have experienced through this pandemic.
"We thank Congresswoman Newman and her staff for their recognition of how the pandemic impacted our very youngest citizens and what these young children have missed during this formative time of their lives," said Adam Woodworth, Executive Director of the Children's Museum in Oak Lawn. "This funding will help us support children up to age three who had little to no socialization with peers during the pandemic and it will help support their parents as we work to assist them with the tools they need for their child's development."
CPS Arts Revitalization and STEM Education - $500,000
Capital improvements and equipment purchases to revitalize schools and arts programming
Upon passage in Congress, a total of $495,000 would be used for capital improvements and equipment purchases to revitalize the physical environments and programmatic offerings at five Chicago Public Schools located in Illinois' 3rd District. This funding would support CPS's Arts Revitalization initiative and STEM Education, which is designed to re-engage local communities around these school's Fine and Performing Arts and Personalized Learning focuses. The five schools that would receive funding include:
Cassell Elementary - 11314 S Spaulding Ave, Chicago, IL 60655
Daley Elementary - 5024 S Wolcott Ave, Chicago, IL 60609
Healy Elementary - 3010 S Parnell Ave, Chicago, IL 60616
Hedges Elementary - 4747 S Winchester Ave, Chicago, IL 60609
Holden Elementary - 1104 W 31st St, Chicago, IL 60608
Hurley Elementary - 3849 W 69th Pl, Chicago, IL 60629
"We are excited to learn that our project is one step closer to passing in Congress and we thank Congresswoman Newman for championing arts education within our public schools," said Dr. José M. Torres, Interim Chief Executive Officer of Chicago Public Schools. "By investing in programmatic improvements and equipment at six diverse schools, we expect to engage our students in creative thinking and problem solving to increase equity and excellence in these schools."
Catholic Charities' Summit Community Center - $500,000
Creation of a new community center in Summit, Illinois to support children, adults and seniors
A total of $500,000 in federal funding would go towards a new community center located at 7437-7439 W. Archer Avenue in Summit, Illinois. The new Catholic Charities' Summit Community Center will serve as a welcoming community hub for Summit residents children, youth, adults, and seniors and will expand access to critical resources and services including food and clothing, case management and counseling, and housing support services.
"Catholic Charities builds and strengthens communities. Recently, we completed a needs assessment to better understand any gaps in Summit and the surrounding area. Residents expressed the need for key resources and programs including food; dental care; utilities assistance; behavioral health services to address stress, depression, and anxiety; and housing. We are grateful to Congresswoman Newman for her leadership in advocating for these critical services," said Stephanie Johnson, Vice President of Government and Community Affairs. "Covid-19 has dramatically increased the call for services, and we are humbled to be able to expand with this new investment."
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