CHICAGO— Senator Elgie Sims, Jr. (D-Chicago) moved legislation to give community college boards of trustees, and local housing authorities, permission to develop affordable housing for community college students.

“This is about bettering the college experience for every student in this state,” said Sims. “Research shows that students who live on campus have higher GPAs. When students live on campus they are more plugged-in to the campus community and have more opportunities to join clubs, attend events, meet new people.”

Under current law, community colleges do not have the right to own student housing. In order for community schools to develop affordable housing for students, the process must be administered through a local Housing Authority or nonprofit organization.

Proponents of the bill also suggest that restricted housing on community college campuses fails to meet the need of every student. Traditionally, community colleges catered to students living within reasonable driving distance of the school. And while that arrangement works for some students, now-a-days a lengthy and costly commute poses a challenging barrier to those living at a distance, including international students.

House Bill 374 passed out of the Senate Higher Education Committee and moves to the full Senate for consideration.

SPRINGFIELD- Senator Elgie Sims, Jr. (D-Chicago) released the following statement following the guilty verdict in the trial of Derek Chauvin:

“Today, the jury got it right. It confirmed what the entire world watched in horror, George Floyd was murdered in broad daylight with complete disregard for his humanity by disgraced former officer Derek Chauvin.

While this is the verdict the evidence supported and we were hoping for, we should not be distracted from the fact that there is still more work to do to ensure our system of justice is fair and equitable for everyone.

It is important to realize that it takes more than just convicting officers of police misconduct to achieve real equity and justice.

Police reform goes beyond only holding those accountable who misuse their power, it calls for us to reimagine public safety and improve the profession of policing.

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SPRINGFIELD- Senator Elgie Sims (D-Chicago) advanced legislation today to require that no child in the care of the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) store his or her belongings in plastics bags or inappropriate baggage while moving around within the system.

“Some of these children are forced to leave behind toys and other keepsakes because they simply do not have enough storage space for their belongings,” said Sims. “And what do you think that says to a child, when they can’t get a stuffed animal or family photo into a trash bag? This measure simply removes one of the challenges these children face within the DCFS system that seems small but is really about not being cruel.”

Under current law there are no restrictions or requirements for what kind of baggage can be used in the relocation processes of youth. Senate Bill 2177 seeks to ban the use of giving children in custody plastic bags, trash bags, pillow cases and similar containers to store their personal items.

The initiative, led by the National Association of Social Workers Illinois Chapter, passed out of the Senate Health Committee and moves to the full Senate for consideration.

A virtual event to raise awareness about mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic will take place Monday, April 19 at 6 p.m., hosted by State Senator Elgie Sims (D-Chicago) and State Senator Patrick Joyce (D-Essex).

“Many factors like isolation, job loss and fear are triggering or worsening mental health conditions for many people around the world,” said Sims. “While avoiding this infectious disease we have to remind ourselves that it’s not just the body that can suffer, but our psychological state can also be at risk. This workshop will provide tools and resources to help all of us get through this difficult time together and healthily.”

Sims and Joyce will join mental health experts George Brassea, a licensed clinical professional counselor at True Heights Treatments, and Stacey Jones, a licensed clinical professional counselor and community domestic violence programmer at Counseling Works, for the event.

Panelists will discuss how the pandemic has affected mental health, as well as warning signs of anxiety and depression. They will also offer tips and share resources to help the community improve their mental health.

“As the pandemic wears on, people are continuing to face mental health challenges,” Joyce said. “Tune in next week to learn about the resources and programs available for folks in our community who may need additional support. Now more than ever, mental health must be a priority.”

The event will take place over Zoom and will be livestreamed on both Joyce and Sims’ Facebook pages. Questions can be submitted in the comments during the event. For more information, contact Sims’ office at 773-933-7715 or Joyce’s office at 708-756-0882.