Tell your U.S. Senators: Jeff Sessions is not qualified to be Attorney General

no-sessionsPlease call your senators and members of the Senate Judiciary Committee with this message: 

Jeff Sessions is not qualified to be Attorney General. Please oppose his nomination.

Sessions’ long record demonstrates hostility to the enforcement of civil rights for people of color, immigrants, and women, including victims of domestic violence, people with disabilities, and the LGBT community.

 

If you live in Illinois, your U.S. Senators are: 

Richard J. Durbin: (202) 224-2152

Tammy Duckworth: (202) 224-2854

You can find your senators contact information HERE if you live outside of Illinois. 

 

Members of the Senate Judiciary Committee: 

Grassley, Chuck (R – IA) , Chairman: 202-224-3744

Feinstein, Dianne (D – CA), Ranking Member: (202) 224-3841

Hatch, Orrin G. (R – UT): (202) 224-5251

Graham, Lindsey (R – SC): (202) 224-5972

Cornyn, John (R – TX): (202) 224-2934

Lee, Mike (R – UT): (202) 224-5444

Cruz, Ted (R – TX): (202) 224-5922

Sasse, Ben (R – NE): (202) 224-4224

Flake, Jeff (R – AZ): (202) 224-4521

Crapo, Mike (R – ID): (202) 224-6142

Tillis, Thom (R – NC): (202) 224-6342

Kennedy, John (R – LA): (202) 224-4623

Leahy, Patrick J. (D – VT): (202) 224-4242

Durbin, Richard J. (D – IL): (202) 224-2152

Whitehouse, Sheldon (D – RI): (202) 224-2921

Klobuchar, Amy (D – MN): (202) 224-3244

Franken, Al (D – MN): (202) 224-5641

Coons, Christopher A. (D – DE): (202) 224-5042

Blumenthal, Richard (D – CT): (202) 224-2823

Hirono, Mazie K. (D – HI): (202) 224-6361

How to Help Those Experiencing Homelessness in the Cold

If you are asked for help by someone on the street, you should not hesitate to give them money, food, blankets, or other needed items if you have the means and the desire. We do not think there is any downside to helping people in all of these ways. But more importantly, make sure that whatever interaction you have is positive and respectful. If you cannot or do not want to give anything, you can still make eye contact, smile, and wish someone well. The key is to treat each person with the dignity and respect you would hope for if you were in that situation.

In addition to any immediate support you may decide to give, find organizations that do direct outreach to those experiencing homelessness on Chicago’s streets, provide overnight shelter, and/or permanent affordable housing and support their work. Below are some resources to research nonprofits you could support:

Nonprofits that work with the city of Chicago to address homelessness

Homeless and housing nonprofits throughout Illinois

More resources for the homeless in the cold weather

Riot Fest Drawing Winners

Below is a list of all the winners from our memorabilia drawing at Riot Fest 2016:

2 Tickets to Anthrax – Allison B.*

2 VIP Passes Riot Fest 2017 – Mike H.

Alice Cooper set list – Jessie O.

Andrew McMahon poster – Alex

Andrew W.K. poster – Robert D.*

Ben Folds poster – Michael H.

Blink 182 guitar – Robert B.*

Bullet Tooth album- Jeff P.*

Catfish & The Bottlemen album – Alex

Clutch poster – Jeff*

Corrosion of Conformity album – Jon R.*

Dandy Warhols album – Jon R.*

The Darkness poster – Gina

Deftones package – Laurie M.*

Descendents guitar – Dylan O.

Devil Wears Prada poster – Mike

Disco Demolition book – Lexie

Dropkick Murphys album – Pakledinaz

Everclear poster/package – Monet B.

Fall Out Boy album – Elizabeth S.*

Fat Wreck Chords package – Christine R.*

Fear Factory – Aces S.

Fitz & The Tantrums album – Karl

Flaming Lips alien – Rick

Fratellis album sleeve – Rachel D.

Fu Manchu album – Michael N*

Gary Numan poster – Brad H.

Gwar necklace – Bartt B.*

Gwar skatedeck – Taylor V.

Har Mar Superstar poster – Mike B.*

Hello Kitty Fest custom illustration – Dawn

Hippo Campus album – Jason M.

Jack’s Mannequin album – Travis

John Cusack signed photo – Joseph

Less Thank Jake album – Jon R.*

Los Lobos poster – Carlos

Me First & The Gimme Gimmes album – Chris D.

Naked Raygun guitar – Dem*

Night Riots package – Frank

NOFX package – Ted M.*

North Mississippi Allstars poster – Val

Patti Smith poster – Matt B.

Pepper Bears jersey – Pete O.*

Pixies album – Gia

Prophets of Rage guitar – Jeff

Refused album – Mike B.*

Reverend Horton Heat poster – Brian S.

Riot Fest Speaks 2016 poster – Marc

Rituals poster Rachel D.

Savages poster – Brad

Sleater Kinney album – Jachie

Slightly Stoopid package – Mike B.

Streetlight Manifesto poster – Nathan F.

Suicide Machines poster – Rafael

Superchunk poster – Greg B.

Taking Back Sunday albums – Matt G.

The Darkness poster – Gina

The Vandals album – Robert D.*

Thrice drumhead – Charlie

Todd Rundgren poster – James A.*

Violent Femmes poster – Gia

Violent SoHo t-shirt – Allison

Ween guitar – Nick M.

White Mystery package – Emerson

*Hundred Dollar Club member

StoryCorps Chicago: Once Homeless Themselves, These Women Are Now Fighting For Homeless High Schoolers

Ashley Allen first met Jayme Robinson when she interviewed her for a college scholarship.
Ashley Allen first met Jayme Robinson when she interviewed her for a college scholarship.

Editor’s Note: Jayme Robinson and Ashley Allen are long-time members of the CCH Education Committee. A new college graduate, Jayme joined the CCH staff in June as a VISTA organizer.

Listen to the story audio HERE

By Bill Healy

Jayme Robinson is 21 and a college graduate. That’s no small feat, considering that she became homeless her senior year of high school.

Earlier this year, Chicago Public Schools updated its policies so that homeless students are now entitled to enrollment without proof-of-residence or guardianship. It also gives these students access to tutoring services, uniforms, and fees waivers, among other things.

Robinson came to the StoryCorps booth at the Chicago Cultural Center with her mentor, Ashley Allen, who used to be homeless as well. They spoke about their experiences growing up, and how that translates into the work they do today, advocating on behalf of the 20,000 homeless students in Chicago Public Schools.

StoryCorps’ mission is to provide Americans of all backgrounds and beliefs with the opportunity to share, record and preserve their stories. These excerpts, edited by WBEZ, present some of our favorites from the current visit, as well as from previous trips.

Renew your organizational membership today!

We value our partners’ commitment, and invite all organizations who work alongside us in the fight against homelessness to renew their membership with the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless.

Because of the ongoing state budget crisis, CCH has waived its $100 membership dues in 2016.

Please complete this form to join us as a member this year.

CCH does not receive government funding. That means when we push for government support, we are advocating for the providers across Illinois that help people who are homeless and at-risk. This year we have been advocating for a state budget that includes funding for programs that shelter, house and assist homeless people.

In addition to our advocacy work, our community organizers and youth attorneys run outreach at 35 shelters, transitional housing, school and drop-in programs each month. Our Statewide Network mobilizes providers and their clients in nine suburbs and downstate cities, including Aurora, Waukegan and Rockford. We mobilize strong coalitions on issues that affect homeless people, including our Reentry Project and our Youth Committee comprised of 36 providers from across Illinois.

To renew your Organizational Membership, complete this form. Members are acknowledged on the CCH website and promoted on Facebook (8,600+ followers) and Twitter (4,400+).

Questions? Contact Assistant Development Director Claire Sloss.