Stadelman hosting summer book club to keep students active in education

• Education
• Students
• Book Club
• Summer

ROCKFORD – To encourage students to continue their educational growth this summer State Senator Steve Stadelman has launched a Summer Reading Club for children and young people in Rockford.

“We put together an excellent opportunity for children and young students to continue to stay active with their education this summer,” Stadelman (D-Rockford) said. “This program is aiming to help students create a habit of reading and prepare them for their next school year.”

The Summer Book Club requires students to read eight books of their choice during the summer break, record the names of the books on a form and return the form to Stadelman’s office by Aug. 19. Everyone who completes the Summer Book Club will be invited to a pizza party hosted by Senator Stadelman.

Read more …

The City of Rockford & Loves Park will see over $2.2 million in infrastructure improvement grants thanks to Senator Stadelman

• Rockford
• Road Construction
• Infrastructure
• Rebuild Illinois

ROCKFORD – The City of Rockford will be seeing an investment of over $720,000 in improvements headed to the Coronado Performing Arts Center to preserve and repair the nearly 95-year-old landmark's facade thanks to support from State Senator Steve Stadelman of the states major infrastructure plans.

"The restoration of the Coronado was an early catalyst in the revival of downtown Rockford that has occurred over the last two decades and that is essential to our economic growth as a region," Stadelman (D-Rockford) said. "Public affection for the Coronado drove its successful rebirth at the turn of the 21st century, and I believe strongly in protecting that investment."

A total of $720,265 has been allocated to the city of Rockford through the next distribution of Rebuild Illinois program grants, and the project in Rockford aims to stabilize and restore the façade of Coronado Performing Arts Center. The Rebuild Illinois program is also investing $1,480,730 into Loves Park for water main extension projects.

Read more …

Stadelman law gives power to survivors of abuse who file orders of protection

• No Contact Orders
• Domestic Violence
• Protective Orders
• SB 3667

ROCKFORD – State Senator Steve Stadelman joined domestic violence prevention advocates Tuesday to celebrate the recent signing of a law he championed to protect and empower survivors of domestic violence and abuse.

“The burden of trauma and abuse can weigh heavily on the lives of victims coping with their grief, and this law can help them take the first steps towards healing,” Stadelman (D-Rockford) said. “We are empowering survivors by giving them the choice to file for protective orders in the comfort and safety of their own home. By doing this, we are giving them the chance to move forward at their own pace.”

Stadelman’s measure, Public Act 102-0853, gives people the option to file a protective order either online or in-person. The law also requires any court in a county with a population above 250,000 to offer the option of a remote hearing to the petitioner for a protective order. It allows both the petitioner and the respondent to appear for related hearings remotely or in-person – and the courts would also have the discretion to grant or deny the request for a remote hearing.

Any and all types of protective orders would be covered under this law.

Read more …

Stadelman announces more than $1 million in workforce recovery grants coming to Rockford

• Rockford
• DCEO
• Workforce Recovery
• Workforce Training

ROCKFORD – Working together with local organizations to spur workforce trainings and recovery, State Senator Steve Stadelman announced more than $1 million in equitable workforce recovery grants will come to Rockford to help people struggling to gain employment.

“We are supporting jobs programs in our district that will help employ people across our community with good paying jobs to support themselves and their families,” said Stadelman (D-Rockford). “This investment comes at a time when businesses are contending with rising inflation and a post-COVID economy. It’s pertinent we take action to help address the workforce issues present in our state.”

The greater Rockford community will see workforce recovery investments totaling $1,175,000 in:

• The City of Rockford - $300,000
• YWCA Northwestern Illinois - $575,000
• Comprehensive Community Solutions Inc. - $300,000

“YWCA Northwestern Illinois is thrilled to receive this grant to develop and launch YW TechLab. Of the 12,000 families we work with annually, a majority of them do not earn a living wage,” said Kris L. Machajewski, president & CEO of YWCA Northwestern Illinois. “It has always been our goal to bring those who need our services to a place of economic self-sufficiency, the best way we can do that is to provide them with a new skillset that will launch them into careers that pay a living wage, while building equity in IT and STEM fields.”

Read more …