CHICAGO—The Illinois Legislative Black Caucus called for equitable resources for Black students who have been historically marginalized and underserved in a press conference on Wednesday at Chicago State University, prior to a scheduled Senate committee hearing on the matter.

The Black Caucus discussed their efforts to develop an agenda to overcome racial disparities in early childhood education, K-12 education, higher education and workforce training.

ILBC Chairman Kimberly A. Lightford (D-Maywood) said Black students deserve to have the same quality of education as students of any other race in the state.

“For far too long, Black students’ academic performance has suffered and their upward trajectory has been stifled by a severe lack of resources,” Lightford said. “We must ensure that schools in Black communities receive adequate funding to set our students on a path toward success at an early age. A quality education should not be out of reach for Black students because of where they live or their family’s financial situation. We seek to identify and eliminate every systemic barrier preventing educational achievement and career advancement.”

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Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford is hosting a virtual town hall along with Representatives Emanuel Chris Welch and La Shawn Ford to discuss the first pillar of the Black Caucus agenda to rid Illinois of systemic racism with a focus on police training and use of force.

CHICAGO –Senate Majority Leader and Chair of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus Kimberly A. Lightford (D-Maywood) joined colleagues at the Westside Justice Center on Tuesday to announce a plan to build a legislative agenda that addresses systemic racism in Illinois.

“We have an opportunity to leverage this moment to make sure other Black women, Black mothers and Black wives just like me can truly have peace, justice and hope for our future, knowing that our children and our grandchildren will not share the same kind of life experiences that everyone in my generation and generations before me have had to endure,” Lightford said.

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CHICAGO—The Illinois Legislative Black Caucus is developing a legislative agenda to help Black communities in Illinois overcome centuries of oppression.

Recent events, including the COVID-19 pandemic and persistent police killings, have highlighted staggering disparities that have made it clear that comprehensive reform is crucial to end systemic racism.

ILBC Chairman Kimberly A. Lightford (D-Maywood) says the caucus seeks to bring justice to Black Illinoisans.

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