On Wednesday, June 4th, the California Supreme Court will hold a hearing on whether to reinstate a stronger version of the state's rooftop solar energy policy after it was weakened by the California PUC in 2022. In the San Francisco Chronicle, Jessica Guadalupe Tovar, executive director of the Local Clean Energy Alliance, encourages the court to rule in favor of the reinstatement, saying that the stronger policy will do more to prevent wildfires, address climate change, and reduce household energy costs.

Chocolate Flower Pots, Exotic Dark Chocolates, Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries: Uzma Sharif of Chocolat Uzma shows off her special Mother's Day offerings on Driving It Home with Patti Vasquez! 

Located in Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood, Chocolat Uzma was named one of the country's best chocolate shops by USA Today last year. Go check it out if you haven't yet!

The Solutions Project’s “We Love People & Planet” campaign, supported by A-list actors, nonprofits, businesses, and foundations, is a reminder that the wide-scale and continually growing effort to protect and advance climate solutions will always live on.

This June, twenty students from It Takes A Village Leadership Academy on Chicago’s South Side will travel to Kenya to see and experience the country’s culture firsthand and engage in a wide range of community service projects. ITAV’s World Scholars Program is just one of the ways the school provides its students with a world-class education. Chicago Crusader, the longest-running African American newspaper in the city, recently published an in-depth feature piece on the school’s unique and powerful programming. 

For Earth Day, FOX32 Chicago profiled Salon Edda, a leader in the green salon movement. ​The salon is carbon neutral & recycles 95% of its beauty waste — including hair clippings, aluminum foils, and hair color tubes – that are then turned into earth-friendly products like recycling bins, clean energy, and insulation. ​Check out Green Circle Salons to find a green salon near you!

If you're a homeowner, this is a "must read" Tax Day story. CNBC explains why a growing number of homeowners are claiming the 25C tax credit to save money on their home efficiency projects, such as installing fiberglass insulation.

"These two ladies are truly community leaders and builders who are investing in Chicago neighborhoods." - Bridging Chicago shines a spotlight on Kelly Fair of Polished Pebbles and Cecilia Cuff of The Nascent Group/Bronzeville Winery, who are working together prepare young Black and Brown girls for professional success. 

Walter Mendenhall IV (former NFL), Jarryd Loyd (former professional basketball) and Jewell Loyd (Las Vegas Aces, NBA) have partnered to bring Help With My Loan to Chicago, with the goal of using this highly-efficient, AI-powered financial platform to revitalize communities and create jobs for Black men and women as residential and commercial loan officers. Greg Palmer of Finovate has the story!

Dion Dawson, founder and executive director of Dion's Chicago Dream, is one of the country's foremost experts on how to design workforce development strategies that simultaneously alleviate poverty and food insecurity in under-resourced communities. He shared his insights with the Chicago Crusader, the longest-running African-American newspaper in the city. Check out his guest column here.

An essential read for Black History Month: Blavity explores the Civil Rights history of Black literacy and librarianship with UNC librarian and documentary producer Rodney Freeman. Stay tuned for Rodney's upcoming documentary, "Are You a Librarian? The Untold Story of Black Librarians," which will be released in Philadelphia this June.