CHICAGO – Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford was one of three women to receive the prestigious Chicago Defender’s Vanguard Award for her 26 years of contributions of bettering the lives of the people of Illinois.

“Thank you to the Chicago Defender for this tremendous honor. To be recognized among such extraordinary women is truly humbling,” said Lightford (D-Maywood). “In reality, this isn’t my award. This award belongs to the Black girls who were seen but not heard. The Black girls who suffered trauma at the hands of a loved one. The Black girls who were told they couldn’t be all they could be.”

The Chicago Defender’s Women of Excellence Awards celebrates local African American women who inspire others through their vision and leadership, exceptional achievements, and participation in community service. They are women who exemplify extraordinary stature, poise and grace. These women do it all while maintaining the delicate balance of filling the roles of helpmate, mother, teacher and professional.

SPRINGFIELD – Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford is leading the charge to put an end to “resident dumping” – an inhumane practice in which a nursing facility discharges a resident and refuses to readmit them after a hospital stay.

"Resident dumping is a betrayal of trust at life's most vulnerable moment,” said Lightford (D-Maywood). “Seniors have made these places their sanctuaries, their communities and their final homes. To deny them return is to strip away their belonging, security and dignity when they need it most.”

To strengthen resident rights in nursing homes and assisted living facilities, Lightford’s proposal would enhance the involuntary discharge process within these communities. If a resident leaves the facility for a medical reason – and would not create imminent danger to themselves or others – the facility would be required to let them come back home under House Bill 1597.

“Resident dumping” affects thousands of nursing facility residents who are uninsured or underinsured, have a mental health condition, or have had to spend time in a hospital or rehab facility and find they’re not allowed back into their nursing facility.

“The true mark of a compassionate society is not how we care for the healthy, but how we protect those who depend on us most,” said Lightford.

House Bill 1597 passed the Senate Health and Human Services Committee Tuesday.

Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford is pleased to co-host with the men of Alpha Phi Alpha, A Black History program titled: A history of our people from kemet to present!

Their special guest speaker is Anthony Browder, a renowned historian and author. He is a distinguished authority and a highly respected figure in the field of Black history, with a profound commitment to the preservation and promotion of Black culture. This is a FAMILY AFFAIR! We encourage that you invite all of your family and friends to attend.

Location: Proviso East High School 807 S. 1st Ave. Park in the Madison side parking lot and enter door 6

Start time: 10 a.m. SHARP. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE arrive no later than 9:30 a.m.

February is American Heart Month and National Cancer Prevention Month. Read on to learn more about both!

American Heart Month

• Between 2017 and 2020, 127.9 million U.S. adults had some form of CVD. Between 2020 and 2021, direct and indirect costs of total CVD were $417.9 billion.
• In 2017 to 2020 in the United States, 59.0% of non-Hispanic Black females and 58.9% of non-Hispanic Black males had some form of CVD. This race category had the highest prevalence of CVD.

• The American Heart Association gauges the cardiovascular health of the nation by tracking eight key health factors and behaviors that increase risks for heart disease and stroke. The eight key factors are: not-smoking, physical activity, healthy diet, healthy body weight, sleep health, and control of cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood sugar.

National Cancer Prevention Month

• The federal government estimates that 2 million Americans were diagnosed with cancer during 2024, and that more than 600,000 died from their disease.
• Research shows that more than 40% of these cases and nearly half of the deaths can be attributed to preventable causes—smoking, excess body weight, physical inactivity, and excessive exposure to the sun, among others.
• Studies have shown that residents who live in redlined and disadvantaged neighborhoods share a higher burden of cancer. An analysis of US cancer deaths during 2015–2019 in relation to residential segregation found that residents of disadvantaged neighborhoods had a 22 percent higher mortality rate for all cancers combined compared to those living in advantaged neighborhoods.
• Findings of a recent study of women with breast cancer who were active duty, veteran or medical beneficiaries and were treated at a military health care system suggest that disparities in survival outcomes between Black and White patients are virtually eliminated when equitable access to quality health care is provided.

Health Resources

• Illinois Department of Public Health Springfield Headquarters Office 525-535 West Jefferson St.
  Springfield, IL  62761
  217-782-4977
• Illinois Department of Public Health Chicago Headquarters Offices     122 S. Michigan Ave., 7th and 20th Floors
  Chicago, IL  60603
  312-814-2793
                                                                                                                                                             69 W. Washington St., 35th Floor
  Chicago, IL 60602
  312-814-5278
• Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) Medical BenefitsIllinois Department of Human Services
  [Apply on their website | 2701 W Lake St., Melrose Park, IL 60160]
• Loyola School-Based Health Center@ Proviso East High School
  [To schedule an appointment, call (708) 852-3094 or go to Room 86B at Proviso East High School]