Racine's first expungement clinic could help people with past convictions, arrests or court debts overcome barriers to employment.

The clinic was organized by the Urban League of Racine and Kenosha (Racine, WI), Legal Action of Wisconsin, city and county officials, and numerous other community groups. The Urban League of Racine and Kenosha said it saw the clinic's success in Madison and wanted to bring it to the area.

"We run a report for everyone for their full record report, and then they sit down with the volunteer attorneys and they review everything. They do as much work on site that they can do to get records taken off," said Maggie Niebler-Brown, attorney coordinator for Legal Action of Wisconsin.

Los Angeles Urban League’s (Los Angeles, CA) new Construction Career Academy seeks to prepare students for union apprenticeships by focusing on passing the written and oral exams for entry into a trade union.

The training sessions will run for eight weeks and include 64 hours of instruction covering topics such as mathematics, interview techniques, workplace safety protocols, and skills to help candidates stay on the job and thrive in their new career.

Illinois is investing tens of millions of dollars to make sure no one is missed in the 2020 census.

State lawmakers included $29 million in the budget. The majority of the money will go to community groups to educate the public on how the census works and how the government uses the information it collects, according to Sol Flores, a deputy governor leading the census efforts.

She said about 10 percent will be earmarked for radio, television and online ads encouraging census participation. And a small amount will go to the administration of the grants and ad campaign.

A former Lion’s Choice restaurant location will soon become a training center for job-seekers hoping to work in the restaurant industry.

The Lion’s Choice restaurant chain has donated one of its locations in north St. Louis County to the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis (St. Louis, MO), which will use the facility as a job training center.

The idea was “born of a recognition that people in our community need opportunity, and the restaurants need people,” said Bob Bonney, CEO of the Missouri Restaurant Association, which is partnering in the project.

This month, the “Take Charge of Your Health Today” page focuses on the health benefits associated with fatherhood. Erricka Hager, health advocate at the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh, and Esther L. Bush, president and CEO of the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh, PA), spoke about this topic.

EH: Good afternoon, Ms. Bush. Today’s topic is quite timely with Father’s Day quickly approaching on June 16. I’m excited to have this conversation with you. Today we’re discussing the health benefits that are associated with the responsibilities of becoming a father. Research has shown that involved fathers positively impact their children’s health. Rarely discussed, however, are the impact and health perks that fatherhood can have on the man’s life.

Join us in Indianapolis, July 24-27! Register Today!

We wish all the fathers, grandfathers, guardians, and father figures who love and care for their communities a very Happy Father's Day!