CHICAGO – To better inform policymakers on the root causes of poverty and economic insecurity, Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford (D-Maywood) was appointed to the Commission on Poverty Elimination and Economic Security.

“I believe we have come to the precipice of a moment that can make the changes necessary to put us on track to eliminate poverty across Illinois,” Lightford said. “That effort starts with getting to the root causes of poverty, a major one being systemic racism, and no longer being shy about the way we approach them.”

The commission will consist of four members of the General Assembly, a member of the judicial branch and 20 members of the public, including people who have experienced deep poverty and advocates for youth, veterans, mental health, education equity, those experiencing homelessness, those differently abled and others.

“I look forward to the important work we’ll be doing through this commission, and even more to engaging my colleagues in a conversation that can create generational change, eliminate poverty and economic disparities across our state,” Lightford said.

The commission is tasked with educating policymakers on the impact poverty has on other measures of economic stability and economic outcomes, including educational attainment, rates of incarceration, lifetime earnings, access to health care, health care outcomes, and access to housing. The Department of Human Services will provide support for the commission to complete its work to produce a strategic plan that addresses poverty and economic insecurity in Illinois by November 30, 2021.

BROADVIEW—Communities in the West Suburbs came together on Juneteenth to celebrate both the end of slavery and to continue the fight for justice, equality and police accountability.

Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford (D-Maywood) was joined by West Suburban Mayors Katrina Thompson, Andre Harvey, Edwenna Perkins, Rory Hoskins and other elected officials on Friday for a Juneteenth Police Accountability Protest.

Lightford not only wanted to shine a light on Juneteenth, Freedom Day for slaves in America, but she also calls for police accountability after seeing Chicago police officers sleeping on the job in Congressman Bobby Rush’s office on the South Side of Chicago.

“I know Juneteenth is supposed to be a celebration, but we are in the midst of a movement, so we have to address excessive force and the many other injustices,” Lightford said. “It is so unfortunate that Juneteenth and the vast majority of Black history is not being taught in our classrooms. We have to, as a people, celebrate our people, because no one else is celebrating us, but us.”

Over the past few months, Walmart has been working with Federal, State and Local leaders to establish drive-thru COVID-19 testing in Walmart parking lots. Walmart opened an additional testing site on June 12 in the parking lot of the Walmart store located at 1300 Des Plaines Ave, Forest Park, IL 60130. This initiative will not require any additional local resources and will not impact traffic since it is by appointment only.

Walmart COVID-19 Testing Logistics

Site Logistics:

• Drive-thru Testing (appointment only): Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, for two hours each morning (7:00 am to 9:00 am); approximately 40 tests per day.
• Site layout: conex container to house tests, PPE, sanitary supplies and traffic cones for minimal queuing.
• The current plan is to have this site operating on Thursday June 11 (soft-launch) and open to the public on Friday, June 12.
• Registration Portal: www.doineedacovid19test.com

Testing Process:

• Self-administered swab observed by a trained pharmacist.
• Those who want to be tested will register online and receive an appointment time.
• There is no cost to the individual.
• Those tested receive a designated appointment time-frame; we have found the lines to be fairly short and orderly. Testing process takes approximately 5 minutes per car.
• A Walmart pharmacist will observe patients at our site performing a COVID-19 self-swab nasal test inside their vehicle.
• The specimens will be collected, sent to a lab for results and reported to the state health department by our lab partners.
• Lab partner on these sites would be eTrueNorth; they are one of the labs on contracted with the feds.
• Those being tested will be notified of their test results within 3 to 5 days and instructed how to proceed should they test positive.
• No lab results are actually run or provided at this time on site so we do not need CLIA certification is being sought.
• Here are some additional details of what Walmart is doing: https://corporate.walmart.com/covid19testing
• And here is an example from HHS of the self-administration of the test: https://youtu.be/vsQVxsQY3jc

As I made my way to Cicero and Monroe on Thursday, I saw block after block of boarded up store fronts and empty lots and buildings in disrepair. Then, it dawned on me that parts of the West and South Sides of Chicago have looked like this since I could remember — destroyed and abandoned.

When I arrived, the area was surrounded by local residents who, quite frankly, were not interested in yet another spectacle in their neighborhood filled with empty promises and photo opportunities. And I agree with them.

As mothers cried out about the children they lost to gun violence and others screamed about the lack of opportunity, Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx reminded us that those of us who are successful are not exceptions, and that we are only seen as such because we are expected to fail.

That was the first of four days of action hosted by the Joint Caucus of Black Elected Officials.

On the South Side, people gathered in frustration with elected officials. Their needs are not being met either, as other areas receive what they need and more. I hear them and I am frustrated with them.

In the South Suburbs, we heard stories from local business owners who have to rebuild after the looting that took place. Attorney General Kwame Raoul brought a message of no longer hesitating to be unapologetically Black as he had done in the past.

In the Western Suburbs, local officials discussed disinvestment, the need for better healthcare and education. They asked for help in making their communities a better place.

Those four days in those four locations were a hard reminder that we, the Black Caucus, have been tirelessly fighting for the wellbeing of our communities. And still, their needs have not been met.

We have not failed.

To every person who needed to see buildings burning before doing something about racism, welcome to the movement. To everyone who felt uncomfortable speaking on race issues, welcome to the movement. To every corporation who made their first statement in support of Black lives, welcome to the movement. To every young person who took to the streets in protest for basic human rights, you are the movement. Keep pushing.

In the coming days, weeks and months, we will draft bold legislation that addresses inequities in healthcare, education, procurement, job training, community redevelopment and everything in between.

I want our local residents to know that we did not disrupt their day for a show — we disrupted their day for change. We have commitments from the governor and the senate president to work with us. However, it takes support from a majority of my colleagues to pass anything and I know how to count to the magical 30 and 60 needed to accomplish anything. We may be heading down an uncomfortable road for some of my colleagues, but racism is much more uncomfortable.

The people have spoken.

Senator Kimberly A. Lightford is the Illinois Senate Majority Leader and represents the 4th District.