BUFFALO GROVE – Waukegan High School has received a grant from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to fund a field trip to a natural resources site in Illinois for a lesson on nature and conservation, State Senator Adriane Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove) announced.

“Looking back on my own days as a student, some of the most lasting lessons were ones I learned outside the classroom,” Johnson said. “This grant will allow children to learn more about the world around them while exploring the natural wonders our state has to offer.”

Waukegan High School is one of 27 schools across the state selected to receive funding through the Illinois Biodiversity Field Trip Grant Program. The competitive program allows Illinois teachers to apply for funds to take students on a field trip to study Illinois’ natural resources.

Over $34,000 will be distributed among the grantees, allowing more than 2,000 students to visit Illinois state parks, natural areas, museums and other natural resources sites in the coming school year.

The Illinois Biodiversity Field Trip Grant Program has now distributed more than $1,321,000 since its inception in 2001, providing more than 119,000 students with the opportunity to take part in a field trip. Grant recipients are located throughout Illinois and represent students from pre-kindergarten through high school.

Find a full list of grant recipients here. The 2022 application form will be available soon here.

BUFFALO GROVE – Students across the state will be better prepared for college and the career world, regardless of race, income or ZIP code, under a new law backed by State Senator Adriane Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove).

“For too long, low-income students and students of color haven’t found the level of support they need in our public schools,” said Johnson, who co-sponsored the legislation. “This measure takes a monumental step toward helping ensure all our children—including Black and Brown children—are equipped to succeed in the classroom and beyond.”

House Bill 2170, which addresses the Education and Workforce Development pillar of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus agenda, seeks to rid the public school system of systemic racism and ensure all students have equitable access to educational and career opportunities.

The legislation makes a number of changes to education policy in the state, from expanding eligibility for early childhood services to revamping the American history curriculum, in an effort to reduce systemic inequities in K-12 and higher education.

The legislation takes specific steps to improve outcomes for Black students, including reforming the way Black history is taught through an inclusive American history curriculum and removing barriers that prevent Black people and other people of color from becoming teachers.

“Quality education and supportive teachers are critical to any child’s success,” Johnson said. “This legislation ensures our education system gives every young Illinoisan the foundation for a bright future.”

House Bill 2170 was signed into law Monday.

WAUKEGAN – The Illinois Department of Public Health will partner with the Lake County Health Department and Community Health Center to administer much-needed vaccines to residents in Waukegan and surrounding communities, State Senator Adriane Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove) announced today.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has further accentuated health disparities and the need for more accessible and equitable health care,” Johnson said. “The new vaccine site in Waukegan recognizes people who are often overlooked, helping boost their confidence. It will give more people hope for the future that they will be able to live their lives feeling safe from the virus.”

The state will provide Lake County Health Department with approximately 300-500 vaccine doses per week, in addition to the allocated doses the state distributes to existing health care partners, like local health departments and pharmacies.

Lake County Health Department, located at 3010 Grand Ave., is one of nine sites in Illinois selected to participate in a pilot program launched by the state to ensure that communities hardest hit by COVID-19 have access to the vaccine. The program also aims to reduce vaccine hesitancy in underserved areas by providing residents the ability to receive vaccines more quickly from trusted providers.

The department is one of a few state-certified public health departments in the nation that is also a federally qualified health center, allowing it to provide the diverse surrounding community with comprehensive health care services. Of the patients Lake County Health Department serves, 35.1% are uninsured and 96.6% qualify as low-income.

Vaccines will be available to residents by appointment only. For additional information about vaccine availability, including locations and eligibility, visit www.coronavirus.Illinois.gov.

WAUKEGAN – To fight disinformation and help residents understand the impact of recent reforms to the Illinois criminal justice system, State Senator Adriane Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove) offered her take on the initiatives as a Black woman, mother and wife at an event in Waukegan on Wednesday.

“As a mom, it is critically important for me that the power of my voice and vote are heard,” Johnson said. “It is my hope that parents across Illinois can be at ease going forward, knowing that these reforms will help make our communities that have been left behind by the criminal justice system, safer.”

Johnson joined Gov. JB Pritzker, Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, fellow lawmakers, community leaders and criminal justice reform advocates at the Waukegan Park District Field House to discuss the legislation and its potential to foster greater public safety and fairness in the community.

House Bill 3653 passed the Illinois General Assembly in January and was signed into law Feb. 22. The bill makes sweeping changes to how police are held accountable for the use of force, how courts impose bail and sentence convicts, and what rights all citizens, including detainees and prisoners, have with regard to their interactions with law enforcement officers.

The legislation was part of a four-pillar legislative agenda set forth by the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus to rid Illinois of systemic racism. It came about in the months following the tragic death of George Floyd and increased calls among citizens and activists for a comprehensive approach to reforming the criminal justice system.

In all, the Illinois General Assembly convened nine public hearings and heard over 30 hours of testimony from law enforcement professionals, trial lawyers, prosecutors, community members and many other groups in crafting the legislation.

In her remarks, Johnson recalled an experience with Zharvellis Holmes, the mother of Marcellis Stinnette, a 19-year-old fatally shot by police in Waukegan in October 2020. Johnson reached out to Holmes following her son’s funeral to ask what she could do to help.

“She said, ‘Senator Johnson, I want you to be the voice for Marcellis in Springfield,’” Johnson said. “We heard your voice, Marcellis.”

Stinnette and his girlfriend, who were unarmed, were both shot during a traffic stop, and Stinnette later died from his injuries. The shooting sparked outrage as it came amid nationwide protests calling for an end to police brutality and racial justice.