Representative Emanuel “Chris” Welch elected as Illinois Speaker of the House
ICOY congratulates Rep. Emanuel “Chris” Welch on his historic election to Speaker of the House. We have worked closely with Speaker. Welch, and he…
Where do we go from here? Thoughts from ICOY CEO Andrea Durbin on our nation’s political instability and enduring racism
My dear colleagues and friends, Over the past two days we have witnessed actions across the country that illustrate both the promise of the…
ICOY receives award from One Hope United for efforts to support Illinois’ youth-serving providers
We’re excited to announce that ICOY is the recipient One Hope United’s (OHU) 2020 Chairman’s Award! This award is given to an individual or…
HUD’s rule change will harm homeless transgender youth & adults
In July, the federal Housing and Urban Development Agency (HUD) announced a new rule that would leave transgender people open to discrimination at shelters,…
An Illinois voter’s guide to 2020 elections
We have now officially entered the countdown to the 2020 elections on November 3! With so much interest in early voting and vote-by-mail due…
How voting “yes” on the Illinois Fair Tax Amendment helps fund critical human services
On November 3, Illinois voters have the opportunity to transition Illinois from its current regressive flat-rate income tax – which taxes a family making…
Understanding intergenerational poverty: Q&A with Illinois State Rep. Lamont Robinson
Recently, Chicago and other areas around Illinois have experienced a spike in violence, which has many people asking why and what can be done…
To reimagine the child welfare system, we first must acknowledge its harms on Black & Brown families
In their recent Chicago Sun Times op-ed article “Yes, Gov. Pritzker, close juvenile detention centers — and then reimagine foster care,” Patrice James and Tanya Gassenheimer…
ICOY supports the removal of police from schools
Authors: Eilene Ladson (ICOY Program Director), Kathryn Culleeny (ICOY Juvenile Justice Manager), & Jocelyn Vega (ICOY Trauma Specialist) As the nation continues to discuss the…
Advocacy tips: How to engage with lawmakers during COVID-19
Normally, I’d encourage our members to take advantage of this time between the spring legislative session and fall veto session to meet in person…