Town Hall on Legalized Cannabis: What's next?

• Event
• Cannabis

Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford (D-Maywood) is leading a discussion along with Broadview Mayor Katrina Thompson on what happens once cannabis becomes legal in Illinois. The event will take place at the Broadview Village Hall on November 19 from 6 to 8 p.m.

ILBC Census 2020 Get Counted Bus Tour

• Black Caucus
• Event

The Illinois Legislative Black Caucus is going on a bus tour to promote participation in the upcoming 2020 Census. The bus will be making four stops throughout the Chicago area on November 23 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Community Baby Shower

• Event

Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford (D-Maywood) is partnering with March of Dimes and the Gen Ellyn Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta fpr a Community Baby shower supporting local families with premature babies. The event will be held on Saturday, October 19 at Proviso West High School from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Lightford hosts RALI CARES education trailer to combat opioid abuse

HILLSIDE – To continue efforts in combating the opioid crisis, Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford (D-Maywood) partnered with the Rx Abuse Leadership Initiative and the Code 3 Association to bring the RALI CARES educational trailer to Hillside last week.

In 2016, there were 1,947 overdose deaths due to opioids in Illinois, according to the Department of Public Health. From 1999 to 2016, opioid related overdose deaths in the state nearly quadrupled.

“The statistics on overdose deaths are glaring and they call for action against the opioid crisis that is currently affecting every part of our state,” Lightford said. “The RALI CARES trailer is a tool to help parents and guardians identify signs of drug usage, which will help save lives.”

The RALI CARES trailer is an interactive experience, set up as a mock teenage bedroom for families to view possible warning signs of drug abuse or use. As attendees walk through the trailer, law enforcement and experts answer questions and teach participants about warning signs, potential areas of concern and how to talk to children about the issue of opioid abuse.

The trailer was designed with the help of former addicts, as well as parents of addicts, who pointed out location and concealing tactics they used while struggling with their addictions. It serves as a helpful guide in prevention and early warning education.

For more information visit: www.rali-il.org/.