AustinTalks - News and information covering Chicago's Austin neighborhood on the West Side

AustinTalks (http://austintalks.org/author/vleonard/)

  • Home
  • About
  • Community
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Events
  • Donate
  • Global Navigation
Subscribe

Valerie Leonard

Homepage Featured

Black voters hurt by new redistricting maps, group says

By Valerie Leonard | September 28, 2021

Members of Illinois African Americans for Equitable Redistricting to Governor have a message for go. J.B. Pritzker and Illinois Democrats: “You have made a mockery out of the Voting Rights Act.”

Opinion

New governor off to wrong start

By Valerie Leonard | November 6, 2014

West Side advocate Valerie Leonard questions the lack of diversity on Bruce Rauner’s transition team.

Opinion

Should pastors get involved in politics?

By Valerie Leonard | October 30, 2014

Ministers must be careful, or they risk getting their churches in trouble with the IRS and hurting their community, writes West Side advocate Valerie Leonard.

Community

West Side nonprofits rise to the challenge

By Valerie Leonard | October 9, 2014

Local resident Valerie Leonard helps organizations by challenging them to become compliant in 30 days.

Opinion

Community groups urge CPS to halt all school actions

By Valerie Leonard | May 28, 2014

Chicago Citizens United to Preserve Public Education also wants the district to nullify the turnaround efforts at Ronald E. McNair Elementary and two other schools.

Opinion

Now is the time for an Illinois Education Facilities Planning Board

By Valerie Leonard | January 18, 2013

Valerie Leonard says the state should create a planning board to regulate the development and expansion of schools in Illinois.

Community

Online petition to stop school closings, charter expansion

By Valerie Leonard | January 9, 2013

Community advocate Valerie Leonard is urging residents to sign the petition for it to appear on President Barack Obama’s “We the People” website.

Community

A year in review: 2011 Education Reform Act

By Valerie Leonard | September 5, 2012

West Side advocate Valerie Leonard looks back at the changes made by the act and talks to other activists about the reforms they think are needed for Chicago schools.

Opinion

Tell your State Rep. to vote no on HB 4277- House Floor Amendment No. 1 as Proposed

By Valerie Leonard | May 24, 2012

West Side advocate and community development consultant Valerie Leonard is urging residents to take a stand against a bill she says will decrease funding for neighborhood public schools.

Opinion

Redistricting of Cook County board to be determined in coming weeks

By Valerie Leonard | May 11, 2012

An alliance makes the case to keep North Lawndale together, as officials work on a new map that will be unveiled later this month.

Load more posts

AustinTalks on Twitter

  • Hundreds of Chicago Public Schools students on the West and South sides were automatically enrolled in JROTC progra… https://t.co/SiB5Rq4tb618 hours ago
  • Cook County will launch a guaranteed income pilot program this fall; 3,250 residents will get $500 a month for 2 ye… https://t.co/sXZBwUyXut18 hours ago
  • Longtime Chicago police officer Frederick Collins announced his second run for mayor on Sunday. The 29-year veteran… https://t.co/Blw5p2N93oyesterday
  • Glad no Austin schools reported problems with air conditioning. https://t.co/aam7jLgn7Oyesterday
  • An analysis of readings from newly-installed air sensors across the city found parts of Austin have some of the hig… https://t.co/zzQeTc5xJ32 days ago
  • Austin native Tyla Abercrumbie's play "Relentless" was inspired by the people she knew growing up. https://t.co/GyRzCgMx4W2 days ago
  • Austin resident Isaiah Cunningham is ready for his first shot at a national gold medal in the national Special Olym… https://t.co/Swu46jzqyH5 days ago
  • Look forward to seeing West Siders out on this course! https://t.co/9hIPjKUbxd5 days ago
  • A new state law helps pay funeral costs of children killed by gun violence. The Mychal Moultry Jr. Funeral and Buri… https://t.co/YMcJv2SSgF7 days ago
  • Make sure you cast your vote. Go @ACT_Chicago! https://t.co/NlNITw8U5p7 days ago
Like Us on FacebookFollow Us on TwitterSubscribe via RSS

About AustinTalks

The Austin community, home to nearly 100,000 people, is rich in diversity, culture and life. AustinTalks seeks to reflect this richness and provide residents of Chicago's most-populated neighborhood with news and information not available anywhere. Help us make this a meeting place that showcases all Austin has to offer. Share your tips and questions; we'll share your stories.

Recent Comments

  • “State Rep. La Shawn K. Ford (D-Chicago) issued this statement after Gov.-elect Rauner announced additional members of his transition team:…”

    — AustinTalks on New governor off to wrong start

  • “Great piece!”

    — Valerie Leonard on What’s the real deal?

  • “The real sellouts and Uncle Tom's in the black community are those who work to make sure the "white" Democrats…”

    — jkptak on Austin activist questions ministers’ support of GOP candidates

  • “These are the kind of LIES that keep the black communities in Chicago enslaved by incompetent and corrupt Democrats...by blacks…”

    — jkptak on Austin activist questions ministers’ support of GOP candidates

  • “Great piece Malcolm. The problem, as you have always noted, is the fact that as a community we do not…”

    — Dwayne Truss on What’s in a name?

Search This Site

Browse Archives

© Copyright 2022, AustinTalks

Built with the Largo WordPress Theme from the Institute for Nonprofit News.

Back to top ↑