Just as the annual holiday season of shopping and celebrating nears, a major federal financial regulator released new research detailing how communities of color not only are targeted by well-known types of predatory lenders, but new forms of fraud seek to exploit consumers in the throes of the COVID-19 pandemic. Published by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Serving Communities of Color summarizes the agency’s five-year effort focused on the financial ills imposed upon communities of color. Since 2016, FTC filed more than 25 actions alleging conduct that either targeted or disproportionately impacted communities of color. Cases challenged unlawful practices by auto sellers, for-profit schools, money-making opportunities, student debt relief schemes, and more.
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JJC celebrating Diversity Week, Latinx Heritage Month
Joliet Junior College is conducting multiple events in observance of Diversity Week and Latinx Heritage Month through mid-October.
Diversity Week events Oct. 4-8 are sponsored by the Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Compliance, Office of Student Activities and the Center for Multicultural Access and Success.
AG Raoul urges Department of Education to fix public service loan forgiveness program
Attorney General Kwame Raoul, as part of a coalition of 22 attorneys general, late last week urged the U.S. Department of Education to take robust action to fix the broken Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program.
Plainfield North HS Tiger Buddies Club yields strong student participation
The Plainfield North High School Tiger Buddies club is kicking off the new school year with near-record participation. Tiger Buddies, founded eight years ago, is a student club that brings together PNHS general education and STAR PLUS / Intensive Program students. STAR PLUS provides functional instruction to students with a wide range of special needs.
Troy schools thank local businesses for donations to hygiene pantries
Two Troy Community School District 30-C schools – Troy Middle School and William B. Orenic Intermediate School – have set up hygiene pantries near the boys’ and girls’ locker rooms with the goal of providing necessities to students who can benefit from them.
Grant aims to address teacher shortage in early education
The Joliet Junior College Child Development (CDEV) program has received a grant from the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) to strengthen and diversify the early childhood workforce. JJC is the only community college in Illinois to receive this grant, which is funded by the federal Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five initiative, in partnership with the Governor’s Office of Early Childhood Development.
