Starting Jan. 1 Chicago firefighters careers fair and free of bias thanks to Preston’s new law

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Willie Preston’s measure to overhaul archaic testing and promotion procedures for Chicago firefighters will go into effect Jan. 1.

“Previous legislation contributed to a divide between the Chicago Firefighters and the state resulting in a weakened Chicago Fire Service,” said Preston (D-Chicago). “I take pride in the men and women of the Chicago Fire Department trusting me to lead this measure and overhaul an archaic testing and promotional process that hindered the career of so many of our bravest residents.”

The law changes the current promotion process for Chicago firefighters enacting that Chicago firefighters will no longer be exempt from the Fire Department Promotion Act. The purpose of the law is to create a more standardized process of promotions to align with every other fire department in the state where the Fire Department Promotion Act works.

The Fire Department Promotion Act oversees the promotion process for firefighters and requires fire departments to prepare a promotion list, which determines an employee's position in line for a promotion. A number of factors including the score on a written test, a person’s seniority, and a person’s score on a subjective evaluation will determine a person’s position on the list. This measure will particularly help minorities in the department who have long proposed changes to the old system.

“Our first responders put our communities first and risk their lives each time the sirens go off,” said Preston. “This law puts them first by listening to their concerns and providing them with long overdue changes to their promotion process.”

Senate Bill 1707 takes effect on Jan. 1, 2024.

Preston on breast cancer: Awareness alone isn’t enough

• Breast Cancer Awareness
• Health

CHICAGO – As National Breast Cancer Awareness Month comes to an end, State Senator Willie Preston is encouraging residents to schedule regular screenings.

“Breast Cancer Awareness Month is about more than just wearing pink,” said Preston (D-Chicago). “This month is about creating access to information followed by action. Early detection is the most effective way to prevent breast cancer.”

According to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, more Black women die of breast cancer than any other racial or ethnic group. Breast cancer is also the leading cause of cancer death in women ages 20 to 59, according to Breast Cancer Prevention Partners.

Women over the age of 45 are encouraged to receive regular mammograms. They are also encouraged to consult with their health care provider about risk factors and whether additional breast cancer screening is required. Risk factors for breast cancer can be managed by remaining physically active, maintaining a healthy weight and limiting intake of alcohol.

“I want to encourage everyone to take action. Get screened. Make a donation to an organization that funds research,” said Preston. “Let’s remember Breast Cancer Awareness Month is about more than awareness.”

The Illinois Department of Public Health’s Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer Program offers free breast exams and mammograms to uninsured and underinsured women. The program also supports diagnostic services and assists with referrals for treatment options. To enroll, call the Women’s Health Line at 888-522-1282. The Health Line will walk people through the eligibility requirements and screening process.

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Preston pleased to see local schools receive over $25 million in evidence-based funding

CHICAGO — State Senator Willie Preston announced that three school districts across the 16th District would receive over $25 million in funding to help address the financial challenges of recent years.

“Students in the community and across Illinois deserve to have their education prioritized,” said Preston (D-Chicago). I am pleased to see us deliver on these promises through evidence-based funding, ensuring that the schools who need it most are taken care of.”

The funding comes from the 2017 Illinois Senate Democrat-backed evidence-based funding formula — an overhaul of the way the state funds K-12 education. The law made school funding more equitable by calculating the needs of individual school districts and basing its state revenue on those needs. The formula takes into account a district’s total enrollment, poverty rate and number of special education or English language learners, among other factors.

Local school districts set to receive funding through the formula:
• Indian Springs School District 109: $817,795
• Ridgeland School District 122: $1,596,159
• Chicago Public School District 299: $23,357,289

The Fiscal Year 24 budget invested $350 million in funding into students’ success through the evidence-based funding model.

For more information on the FY 24 evidence-based funding distribution, visit the Illinois State Board of Education’s website.

Senator Preston promotes tradeswomen careers

CHICAGO – In support of tradeswomen-led efforts to train and support the entry of more women into infrastructure and construction jobs, State Senator Willie Preston commends a $1.35 million federal investment to the Illinois Department of Labor to fund the undertaking.

“As a small business owner of a construction firm, I am excited to see an industry diversified that typically lacks opportunities for women,” said Preston (D-Chicago). “This federal grant is a huge win for Illinois in dismantling systemic barriers for women and creates equitable pathways for communities that have historically left behind.”

A $1.3 million federal grant to the Illinois Department of Labor will help bring more women into the construction industry, where they make up barely 4% of the workforce nationwide. The funding to the Illinois Department of Labor will allow Chicago Women in Trades to provide specific guidance on program design and best practices to construction companies, unions, public bodies, and other stakeholders to promote workforce equity on infrastructure projects. The funding seeks to promote gender equity and inclusion in the male-dominated field through established equity goals while prioritizing local federally financed infrastructure projects and empowering more women to join their local workforce.

“Creating more pathways into the trades industry has been a priority of mine before I took on my role in the Senate,” said Preston. “I will continue to fight for programs that support our local commerce, our trades and underserved communities. The support for this grant alone is great progress, but there is much more work to be done on the ground now to see a transformation in the construction and infrastructure workforce to include more women.”