This week’s Civic Update features commentary on Israel’s war in Gaza.
Check out ABC 7’s report on the Chicago-area Palestinian-American doctor, mentioned in the video. Dr. Thaer Ahmad walked out of a meeting with President Joe Biden in protest Tuesday. Watch Dr. Ahmad’s interview, shown briefly in the video, at the Democracy Now! YouTube channel.
For more reporting on President Biden’s Thursday call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, check out reports from CNN, Reuters and Axios. You can also find the TV report about Biden’s call with Netanyahu, shown in the video above, at the SkyNews Australia YouTube page.
In the video, I mention Solidarity Party presidential nominee Peter Sonski’s statements on the war in Gaza. You can read his full Oct. 13 statement on his website, while his campaign posted his more recent March 18 statement on the campaign’s Facebook page.
For some innovative ideas about peaceful solutions to global conflict, check out former United Nations analyst Juergen Dedring’s essay, “On peace in times of war: Resolving violent conflicts by peaceful means,” in the International Journal of Peace Studies.
Meanwhile, the president of World Service Authority, David Gallup, wrote an essay called “How do we stop war?”, which you can check out at the website for the humanitarian group World Citizen Government.
We want to know your thoughts about the conflict in Gaza. Join the conversation by leaving a comment below.
Join the And Campaign for our virtual Whole Life Ambassador trainings! Our first training will be Tuesday, April 23, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. CT.
This exciting online event will equip you with the skills and knowledge to become a successful ambassador for the whole life movement.
The Whole Life Project recognizes the importance of protecting the life of the unborn child while valuing the life of the mother by addressing issues like maternal mortality, poverty wages, and expanding access to healthcare and affordable high-quality childcare.
Help us change the narrative around abortion by joining us! Register now and embark on a transformative journey toward becoming a Whole Life Ambassador!
*Note: this event requires two trainings. You must complete session one to register for session two, which will be held Tuesday, May 14, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. CT. The session two invitation will be sent out at the completion of session one.
Do you have a story idea, photo or video about Christian civic engagement in Illinois? Share it below! We want to hear from you!
Newsclips
Chicago area one of the biggest employment losers since the pandemic
Janitors union rallies in Loop for better pay as contract deadline looms
Look for Chicago’s pension mess to become worse
Mayor Johnson, one year after election: ‘Name one thing … I haven’t done’
Pritzker touts proposal to purchase $1 billion in medical debt
State steps toward raise for tipped workers
Mayor Brandon Johnson’s ex-chief of staff joins private security firm that hires Chicago cops
Chicago Public Media lays off 14 staffers, citing financial troubles
Housing
Chicago’s first chief homelessness officer will be Sendy Soto
Lasalle Street to get 1,000 apartments under plan to repurpose office buildings
Chicago landlord gets 10 months to fix troubled buildings as city cracks down
Why do property owners let homes and storefronts sit empty?
Chicago's sordid history of housing segregation
Unlikely source boosts Johnson’s failed Bring Chicago Home referendum
Palestinian American doctor from Chicago explains why he walked out of meeting with President Biden
Chatham, Bronzeville events aim to help homeowners and boost home sales on the South Side
Migrant crisis
Gala to support migrant housing that provides ‘safe places’ amid shelter evictions
‘Small number’ of tuberculosis infections detected at migrant shelters, says city health department
Education
The big benefits of being a Chicago crossing guard
Chicago students in Taiwan during earthquake
Chance the Rapper remembers Chicago Public Schools teacher assistant killed in hit-and-run crash
Public safety & criminal justice
Chicago murders, shootings continue decline, data shows
Attorney General Garland in Chicago, announces $78 million in new anti-violence funding
Retired law enforcement duel with Illinois over concealed carry gun licenses
Creation care
‘Sea of trucks’ pollutes black and brown Chicago neighborhoods
Chevron seeks to take Chicago's climate change suit to federal court
Democratic National Committee hires local sustainability firms for Chicago convention
Unions push back on Mayor Johnson’s plan to end natural gas connections
Muslim women push Chicago community to join green Ramadan: ‘We are the caretakers of the Earth’
Blessed are the peacemakers