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Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign
The North and Central Illinois Division of The Salvation Army will be continuing their infamous Red Kettle Campaign this holiday season. Donations collected in these red buckets directly benefit Chicago communities by providing aid to individuals and families in need. Residents looking to volunteer as bell ringers can Register to Ring, and red kettles are available to request for upcoming events through this website. Donations are accepted in-person at red kettles as well as online through The Salvation Army’s Virtual Red Kettle through January 31st. To request assistance or to make a donation, visit The Salvation Army’s website.
Africa International House Kwanzaa Marketplace
This upcoming Friday and Saturday (12/2-12/3), the Africa International House will be holding their annual Pre-Kwanzaa Marketplace. Stop by Harris Park to partake in shopping, food, dancing, workshops, raffles, and more. The marketplace will be open from 11am-8pm on Friday with performances by jazz artist Maggie Brown and saxophonist Al Smith. The marketplace on Saturday will be open from 11am-7pm and feature a performance by OSA Productions’ Drum Village Drummers. Admission is free, and more information can be found on the Africa International House website.
Greater Chatham Initiative
Since its conception in 2016, the Greater Chatham Initiative has worked to promote comprehensive neighborhood and economic development by investing to create communities of opportunities and choice. Greater Chatham is comprised of Avalon Park, Auburn Gresham, Chatham and Greater Grand Crossing. The initiative works by coordinating, planning, and fundraising to hold events to support these communities, from organizing holiday popups to running programs like FoodLab Chicago. Citizens looking to donate, join the Greater Chatham Initiative community, start a business, or learn more about upcoming events should visit the Greater Chatham Initiative website.
Bronzeville Historical Society
Chicago’s Bronzeville Historical Society plans to honor Dr. Timuel Black in an upcoming celebration Wednesday, December 7th. Guests will gather on Dr. Black’s 104th birthday to celebrate the legacy of the late activist and reformer. A special exhibition will be curated and displayed featuring Dr. Black’s photographs, documents, and numerous awards. Dr. Timuel Black’s legacy prevails thanks to his invaluable work on civil activism, oral history, and educational reform in the pursuit of social justice. The celebration of Dr. Black’s life will feature special guests Zenobia Johnson Black and representatives from the Black Metropolis Research Consortium, the UChicago Dept. of Race, Diaspora, and Indigeneity, and the Vivian G. Harsh Research Collection. The event is invitation only, but those looking for more information may contact Bart Schultz at rschultz@uchicago.edu.
Chicago Fire Department Written Exam
Candidates or applicants looking to join the Chicago Fire Department must pass a written test held by the City of Chicago prior to being hired. The written test is the first step in an application process that includes an interview, background and medical examination, drug screening, and a psychological evaluation. Studying well in advance is crucial to passing the written exam, so aspiring members of the CFD should begin preparing for the exam as soon as possible through resources such as the CFD Firefighter EMT Study Guide. The exam focuses on nine distinct fields of knowledge— verbal comprehension, verbal expression, problem sensitivity, deductive reasoning, inductive reasoning, information ordering, stress tolerance, team orientation, and motivation/attitude. Applicants who do not pass the exam on their first try must wait a year to take it again, so it’s important that candidates prepare well in advance to ensure they put their best foot forward when it comes time to take the exam.