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Archive for the ‘community development’ Category
News, Updates for October 2018 from Your #AuroraChamber
Tuesday, October 9th, 2018
U.S. Chamber Foundation Launches Education, Workforce Fellowship Program
Sunday, September 30th, 2018Fellowship Provides New Opportunities for State and Local Chambers to Engage at a National Level on Critical Education and Workforce Issues
Aurora Regional Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Joseph Henning, IOM, CAE, recently attended the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s inaugural premier business leadership program to help address the most pressing education and workforce issues.
The Business Leads Fellowship Program, held in New Orleans, trains and equips fellows with resources, access to experts and a network of peers to build up the capacity to address these.
“State and local leaders know better than anyone the critical link between education and economic development,” said Cheryl Oldham, senior vice president of the Center for Education and Workforce. “We created this program to help these leaders find opportunities to develop initiatives that will advance the growth of their local economy and put education policy into practice.”
Following a competitive application and selection process, 35 state and local chamber executives were chosen for the inaugural class of Business Leads Fellows from nearly 150 applicants. The four-month fellowship covers the entire talent pipeline, including early childhood education, K-12, higher education, and workforce development.
Upon completion, fellows will join the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s network of 200 chambers of commerce and statewide associations from around the nation to regularly engage in education and workforce initiatives.
Community Foundation Seats New Directors
Sunday, September 30th, 2018The Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley welcomes new board members Lulu Blacksmith, Ed.D., and Joyce Hemphill, Ph.D. They were officially recognized recently at a board meeting held at the Santori Aurora Public Library.
Blacksmith joins the board with an impressive background in community relations. She took on her role as Waubonsee’s director of government and community engagement in 2008; this July, she was appointed dean for student and community engagement. Prior to her work at the college, Blacksmith served as the director of community relations for the former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives and the manager of community outreach for Presence Mercy Medical Center. She is also the founder of Compañeros en Salud/Partners in Health, NFP, a coalition that helps connect Hispanic community members with needed social services and healthcare.
One of nine children, Blacksmith came to the United States from Mexico at the age of 16. Despite a strong desire to succeed, she struggled to engage in her community. Her husband, a Batavia native, was often recognized in public by friends and neighbors, but Blacksmith didn’t enjoy that same connection.
Community Foundation Chairman of the Board John Diederich said he is “thrilled” to have Blacksmith on the Board.
“I have known Lulu for many years and have enjoyed watching her engage in the community,” Diederich said. “She has become someone who is sought after in our community for her dedication to empowering individuals to better themselves and the communities they serve.”
Hemphill is a self-described “play advocate” who took action when her sons’ school district eliminated recess in 2001. Her passion for play and its role in child development shows in her extensive volunteering experience, as well as the contribution to various blogs and magazines. In 2014, she co-authored a book, The Power of Playful Learning: The Green Edition, that includes games and activities along with their developmental benefits. She recently retired as a faculty associate in The University of Wisconsin-Madison’s educational psychology department, and now serves as the co-founder and “play consultant” of Shinyhill.
Diederich believes Hemphill’s extensive knowledge and passion will only continue to strengthen the Community Foundation.
“It’s been great to have Joyce serve on our Distribution Committee, and now take the next step of joining our Board,” Diederich said. Her enthusiasm and sheer love of philanthropy will be a great addition to our Board.”
During her time as a professor, Hemphill emphasized service learning and hands-on learning, no matter the schedules or resources of her students.
“I always told my students, ‘Even if you don’t think you have much, you are so incredibly blessed,’” Hemphill said. “Maybe you have kids at home, and that doesn’t give you much time to give back. I suggest inviting the child’s friends over and creating a ‘Reading Buddies’ group, which builds friendships and social skills. You can always serve in some capacity.”
It’s this “giving back” mindset that Joyce learned from her parents as a child and hopes to carry into her role as a Board member.
“I grew up in a family that encouraged volunteering,” Hemphill said. “I’m so blessed, so fortunate. . .why wouldn’t I give back?”
Aurora Named a Top 100 Finalist for the Chicago Innovation Awards
Monday, September 24th, 2018Vote online for Aurora to also receive the People’s Choice Award
The City of Aurora has been named a Top 100 Finalist for the 2018 Chicago Innovation Awards.
During a special reception held in Chicago with the 519 nominees, the Chicago Innovation Awards committee selected Aurora as one of the Top 100 Finalist to advance in the annual competition that recognizes innovators in the region.
Judges will select the final winners in 5 categories. The general public can vote for a People’s Choice Award winner by visiting https://chicagoinnovation.com/peoples-choice-award-voting/. Supporters of the City of Aurora are encouraged to vote by October 5. Aurora is listed in the Neighborhood Awards category on the voting site.
“We are honored to be named a finalist in the Chicago Innovation Awards,” said Mayor Richard C. Irvin. “Our IT team has been focused on innovation in technology since we took office nearly 500 days ago. So much progress has been made and many national collaborations have been formed during the process. As we continue to grow as a technology leader in the region, nods like this from the Chicago Innovation Awards prove we are on the right track.”
The City of Aurora was nominated for its fiber optic network – operated by OnLight Aurora – which has enhanced the business climate of the state’s second largest city while serving the connectivity needs of Aurora’s schools, healthcare providers, social service agencies and other community anchor institutions. In addition, the City’s commitment to technology, improvements in the IT Department and plans for an Open Data Portal were significant factors in the decision of the panel of judges.
“Fiber is the fourth utility and our fiber optic network is one of Aurora’s greatest assets,” said Aurora’s Chief Information Officer Michael Pegues. “Mayor Irvin has set an ambitious goal to make the City of Aurora a regional technology hub, and our IT team and partners are diligently driving these smart city efforts.”
The Top 100 Finalists will each be awarded a scholarship to “The Practical Innovator” at Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management. Valued at $2,500, this day-long education course teaches the practical skills of innovation at its internationally known executive education facility.
Winners will be announced at the 17th annual Chicago Innovation Awards held at Chicago’s Harris Theater on Monday, October 29, with nearly 1,500 business and civic leaders, and supporters of innovation in attendance.
Last year, the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy in Aurora won a 2017 Chicago Innovation Award for its IN2 Innovation Center.
Aurora Business Organizations to Host Manufacturing Day Job Fair
Monday, September 24th, 2018The Aurora Regional Chamber of Commerce is partnering with Invest Aurora and Valley Industrial Association as well as Quad County African American and Aurora Regional Hispanic chambers of commerce for a Manufacturing Day Job Fair on Friday, Oct. 5, 2018 at the Prisco Center, 150 W. Illinois Ave, in Aurora.
This will be our fifth job fair and the first specifically focused on manufacturing opportunities. The job fair is free to the public and hiring manufacturing companies.
Agenda for Friday, Oct. 5:
9 a.m. Set up and Continental Breakfast
10 a.m. Job Fair
Noon Break-out sessions (lunch provided for employers)
1 p.m. Job Fair
2 p.m. Job Fair Concludes
The break- out session for employers will focus on available funding to assist with hiring and training employees. The breakout session for job seekers will focus on resume writing and interviewing.
Please contact Judy Dawson at dawsonj@investaurora.org or (630) 256-3163 to reserve your space.
#AuroraChamber Announces New Programs, Members
Tuesday, September 18th, 2018|
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Join Us for Innovation Summit
Monday, September 17th, 20182018 State of Business: Innovation
Friday, Oct. 19, from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Belle Salle Banquets, 1920 E. New York Street, Aurora
The Aurora region has a long history of innovation — from the first city with electric streetlights throughout and the first free public school district to the 45-mile fiber optic ring and Aurora Regional Pathways. Our community — and its residents and employers — know that innovation is key to the economic development of the region for healthcare, manufacturing, education, small business, and more.
On Friday, Oct. 19, The Aurora Regional Chamber of Commerce will focus on the State of Business: Innovation. The first of its kind summit will include exhibitors spotlighting their innovation through products and services, panels of innovators sharing their experiences, and our Annual Celebration of Membership at noon.
Keynoting the morning will be Thomas D. Kuczmarski, president and founder of the global consulting firm Kuczmarski Innovation and an internationally recognized expert on innovation. During the course of his career, he has helped hundreds of clients, ranging from small businesses to Fortune 100 corporations, learn to systematically unlock the value of innovation.
Kuczmarski teaches product and service innovation at the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University where he is Senior Lecturer and Visiting Scholar in the Center for Innovation and Technology. For 38 years, his executive education courses at the Kellogg School have attracted leaders from around the world.
Kuczmarski is co-founder of the Chicago Innovation Awards, which annually celebrates, educates, and connects innovators in the Chicago region. The awards showcase the creative spirit of the heartland. He is the author of seven books on innovation and leadership and frequently appears on radio and television, and in periodicals around the world. He earned an M.B.A. and an M.I.A from Columbia University.
Illinois has long been a leader as the birthplace of groundbreaking inventions including the cell phone, the wireless remote, and the first-ever web browser. Our state is a place where ideas become patents, businesses, and life-changing technologies.
The state’s history of innovation continues today thanks to its robust digital infrastructure, venture capital networks, and continually growing talent base. In fact, Illinois is the second largest producer of computer science graduates in the country, awarding nearly 10 percent of the nation’s computer science degrees, and ranks fifth in the nation for access to capital, according to CNBC’s Best States for Business 2017.
For more information on the event – and to register as a sponsor, exhibitor, or attendee – visit our website.
W-2 Wage Earners Should Do a Paycheck Checkup ASAP
Monday, September 17th, 2018The IRS urges everyone who works as an employee and has income from other sources to perform a Paycheck Checkup. This includes income from sharing economy activities, interest, dividends, self-employment, capital gains, or prizes and awards.
A Paycheck Checkup can help you avoid receiving a lower refund, an unexpected tax bill or underpayment penalty when you file your tax return next year.
You can do a checkup using the IRS Withholding Calculator or Publication 505. This is especially important in 2018 due to tax changes taking effect this year.
You can pay taxes throughout the year anytime.
An Estimated Tax Payment in 2018 Could Help Avoid a Penalty in 2019
Monday, September 17th, 2018Taxes must be paid as you earn or receive income during the year, either through withholding, estimated tax payments or a combination of both. A Paycheck Checkup using the IRS Withholding Calculator can help you see if you need to make an additional payment to avoid an unexpected tax bill or underpayment penalty when you file your tax return next year.
You may need to make estimated payments if you:
- have multiple jobs—especially if you don’t have each employer withhold taxes
- are self-employed or an independent contractor
- are a representative of a direct-sales or in-home-sales company
- participate in sharing economy activities where you are not working as an employee
- receive pension income
Visit IRS,gov to learn more.
Free Fall Leaf Collection Begins Next Month
Monday, September 17th, 2018Fall is soon to arrive and Aurora residents will be able to dispose of their leaves for free as part of the City of Aurora’s Annual Leaf Collection Program.
The free Fall Leaf Collection Program begins on Monday, Oct. 15, and ends on Friday, Dec. 7.
Leaves must be put into a 30-gallon Kraft paper yard waste bag and placed at the curb on the regular garbage pickup day by 6 a.m. No waste sticker is needed.
YARD WASTE
Yard waste collection will also take place through Friday, Dec. 7 as well. On the regular garbage pickup day, yard waste must be placed in a 30-gallon Kraft paper yard waste bag not to exceed 50 pounds. Each bag must have a waste sticker attached. The stickers used for yard waste are the same as the stickers used for excess garbage. Yard waste mixed with trash or yard waste in a trash can or plastic bag will not be collected.
BUNDLED BRUSH
Residents are also being reminded that brush must be bundled for collection. Unlimited bundled brush collection is in process and will end on Friday, Nov. 2. Branches and limbs 1/2 inch to 4 inches in diameter and 2 feet to 4 feet in length must be bundled. Each bundle must weigh less than 50 pounds. Bundled brush does not need a waste sticker. Brush less than 1/2 inch in diameter is considered yard waste and must be packaged as previously described.
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