Assistant Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford (D-Maywood) is hosting her 9th Annual Back to School event at Brookfield Zoo on August 5. Registration for the event will be held from 1 p.m. - 2 p.m., and the event will be held from 1 p.m. - 6 p.m.

SPRINGFIELD- Assistant Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford (D-Maywood) released the following statement after a Supreme Court ruling that allows non-union workers to benefit from collective bargaining agreements without paying dues:

“The SCOTUS today just dismantled the fundamental concept of a contract. In siding with Mark Janus, the court sets up a classist system where union workers must pay the bill for workers to receive the hard-fought wages, benefits and job protection rights that come from collective bargaining.

This decision is, without a doubt, a substantial attack on organized labor and the equality and fairness that generations of union activists have shepherded. Make no mistake, this is an example of just how much harm one greedy, ideological decision of “activist judges” can inflict on millions of Americans – especially hard-working people of color.

Organized labor thrives when the wealthiest and greediest among us have the arrogance to systematically limit the opportunities for the majority of us. And I’ll stand anywhere I can to help organize with teachers, laborers, social service workers, moms, dads, neighbors and friends who are ready to fight for economic dignity.”

Future of Information and Communication Conference (FICC) 2019
14-15 March 2019, San Francisco
Technically co-sponsored by IEEE

Please consider to submit your papers/posters/demo proposals for the Future of Information and Communication Conference (FICC) 2019 to be held from 14-15 March 2019 in San Francisco, United States.

FICC 2019 aims to provide a forum for researchers from both academia and industry to share their latest research contributions and exchange knowledge with the common goal of shaping the future of Information and Communication.

The conference programme will include paper presentations, poster sessions and project demonstrations, along with prominent keynote speakers and industrial workshops.

Important Dates
Paper Submission Due : 01 July 2018
Acceptance Notification : 25 July 2018
Author Registration : 15 August 2018
Camera Ready Submission : 15 September 2018
Conference Dates : 14-15 March 2019

Complete details are available on the conference website : http://saiconference.com/FICC
All FICC 2019 presented papers will be published in the conference proceedings and submitted for indexing to IEEE Xplore, Scopus, Inspec, Google Scholar and more.

During an on-air interview Tuesday, Bruce Rauner repeatedly boasted with WVON’s primarily black audience that, “But especially, I’ve been great for Black businesses and African American schools. No governor’s done more than me.”

Leaders of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus presented a reality check today in response to Bruce Rauner’s claims. The coalition of lawmakers highlighted the governor’s record of distasteful and insensitive cuts to social services, community safety and economic opportunity.

Assistant Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford, Chair of the ILBC-

“And here I thought Bruce Rauner, as a white man, wasn’t going to have anything else to say about race. Well, since he brought it up, a true friend of the black community wouldn’t have slashed funding for Chicago State University, wiped out childcare assistance, grossly underfunded Teen REACH, waged a war against the students and teachers in Chicago Public Schools and vetoed an increase in the minimum wage.

“Perhaps the self-proclaimed protector of the black community forgot that black-owned businesses didn’t get paid during his impasse.

“Maybe he needs to be reminded that African-American women get breast cancer, too, and benefit from the screenings he tried to eliminate.

“And, in the midst of all this exaggeration, let’s not forget that under Bruce Rauner’s watch the African-American unemployment rate in Illinois is the highest in the nation.

“Some friend he is.

“Next, he’s probably going to tell us he really liked Black Panther, too.

“That movie contains more truth than Rauner’s claims.”

Read more ...