Maywood - To continue stimulating children’s brains during the summer, State Senator Kimberly A. Lightford (D-Maywood) will be hosting a summer book club for children in the 4th District. 

“Educating our youth should not stop when the summer starts,” Lightford said. “Reading comprehension is essential in our everyday lives, so young children need to be encouraged to read until it becomes second nature.”

The summer book club requires students to read eight books of their choice during the summer break, record the names of the books on a form, as well as if they received the book from a public library – and if so what library – and return the form to Lightford’s district office by Aug. 13.

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MAYWOOD – As advocates of providing quality health care to all families, State Senators Kimberly A. Lightford (D-Maywood), Omar Aquino (D-Chicago), and Patricia Van Pelt (D- Chicago) celebrated health care centers in their communities receiving a share of Illinois’ nearly $95 million investment in equity focused health care.   

Recently, Gov. JB Pritzker and Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services announced $94.3 million is being awarded to eight collaborative community-based programs across the state. HFS will oversee administration of the awards with the goal of improving health outcomes, reducing inequities, and improving access to quality health care. 

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SPRINGFIELD – Because of Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford’s (D-Maywood) efforts to ensure that the people of Illinois understand that Black history is American history, Governor Pritzker signed a law on Wednesday to make Juneteenth National Freedom Day a state holiday on June 19. 

“Making Juneteenth a state holiday is a breakthrough in Illinois history,” Lightford said. “It reminds us that freedom and racial equality have always been a hard-fought battle for Black Americans and gives us an opportunity to celebrate our culture and achievements.” 

In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which established that all enslaved people in Confederate states were forever free. In 1865, federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas on June 19 to take control of the state and ensure that all enslaved people were freed, leading to the name Juneteenth. House Bill 3922 creates a state holiday for Juneteenth National Freedom Day on June 19, which would be a paid day off holiday for all state employees and a school holiday, if June 19 falls on a weekday. 

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CHICAGO – Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford (D-Maywood) joined representatives from the City of Chicago Monday for a Juneteenth flag raising. 

“I’m proud to be a part of the first-ever Juneteenth flag raising in Chicago,” Lightford said. “I hope everyone joins me every June 19 to rejoice in the oldest national celebration of the freedom of all slaves in this country and let it remind us how far our society has come.” 

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