CBS Chicago Feature Story: In the heart of one of Chicago’s coolest neighborhoods, Theresa VanderMeer of Work+Shelter and Bergen Anderson of Lilla Barn are spearheading one of the coolest partnerships in the world to promote earth-friendly and ethically-made clothing and other sewn goods. Part of what makes this partnership so exciting: It includes creating jobs and helping to change the lives of women in need in India. 

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!

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.

In February, Bronzeville Winery, one of Chicago's most popular restaurants, and Polished Pebbles Girls Mentoring Program hosted a "Mommy & Me Etiquette Lunch" to help prepare young girls for professional success. On FOX32 Chicago, etiquette coach Rica Cuff shared some of the skills the girls would learn. 

On WVON/The Talk of Chicago, former IL State Rep. Ken Dunkin spoke with librarian and documentary producer Rodney Freeman about why we should celebrate Black librarianship in America. Check out the fun and important Black History Month interview here.

In a small, majority Black town in Mississippi, residents are sounding the alarm on Drax – the owner of a local wood-pellet plant –  for exposing them to dangerous levels of air pollution.

The Drax factory has been fined for exceeding its air-pollution permits, but still received federal subsidies to build more wood-pellet plants across the South.

Despite claims that burning wood pellets for power is climate-friendly, studies show it produces more greenhouse gasses than coal.

The 19th News Exclusive: The Fund for Frontline Power – a groundbreaking new model for climate philanthropy – announces its first $5 million in grants to 48 climate justice organizations across the country. Funding decisions are made by F4FP’s governing body, which is made up of grassroots climate justice leaders. The Solutions Project, the Climate Justice Alliance, and the People’s Climate Innovation Center co-created the fund to accelerate the “solidarity philanthropy” movement, where funders work in solidarity with grassroots leaders rather than making top-down decisions. The fund is supported by environmental foundations, big green groups, the sports industry, and the company Seventh Generation.