State Representative Cyril Nichols

Happy Mother’s Day! 💐 Wishing everyone a day filled with love, laughter, and cherished memories! ❤️

Happy International Women’s Day! The relentless efforts of women championing for their rights throughout history is laudable. Through their brave voices, they have challenged and strongly advocated for gender justice, women’s rights, reproductive rights, and gender equality. You deserve your hearts desires and the respect of being trailblazers, but especially on today, I humbly salute you all. ❤️

February is Black History Month but it’s also the birthday month of my beautiful wife. I want to take a moment to applaud my Queen, my rock, my confidant, my safe space and biggest champion. I love you in a place where there is no space or time. Happy Birthday and may God continue to bless you and our family. ❤️

Artist, and educator Margaret Burroughs was born on November 1, 1917 in Saint Rose, Louisiana, but moved to Chicago because of her passion for learning. She graduated Englewood High School in 1933. She earned her teacher’s certificate in 1937 and continued her education at Chicago Teachers College and the Art Institute of Chicago from which she earned her B.A. in Art Education in 1946 and M.A. in 1948.

She was a teacher at DuSable High School for 20 years. She wrote and illustrated several children’s books and poetry collections, as well as, painting, sculpting and printmaking. Her work is reflective of the Black experience.

In 1961, Margaret Burroughs and her husband, Charles were the founders of the Ebony Museum of Chicago, now known as the DuSable Museum of African American History. DuSable is the oldest museum of its kind in the United States: The museum has a permanent collection of more than thirteen thousand artifacts, works of art, and books; the museum hosts educational programs on art, art history, and African American history ()

Margaret Burroughs died in her south side Chicago home on November 21, 2010. Her legacy lives on.

Stephon Howze, son of Shawnette Stelivan and Shawntel Howze, Sr., is a kindergartener at Ball Charter School in Springfield, IL. Stephon was a finalist and the runner-up in the kindergarten spelling bee against children older than him. He spelled the word correctly but used it in a different context. Other than that, he would have won, but he is still a winner with a big heart and smile to match! Stephon’s favorite subjects include art and math; he enjoys learning about the solar system. He wants to become a doctor or a paleontologist when he grows up. I have no doubt he will succeed in whichever he chooses. On February 7, 2024, It was my honor to have Stephon on my page for a day! The House of Representatives recognized him for his accomplishment, and a resolution was read in his honor and presented to him. He is OUR future!

In honor of Black History Month, we will spotlight a minority-owned organization in the 32nd District each week during February. It is my honor to spotlight Little Angels Learning Center (LALC) this week!

LALC stands as a beacon of excellence in early childhood education, with an unwavering commitment to nurturing young minds. Over the last decade, they have achieved impressive milestones which include 100% teacher retention and 80% of graduates enrolling in gifted/selective enrollment/ magnet schools.

Equally commendable is LALC’s parent engagement: For the past ten years, a remarkable 70-80% of parents have actively participated in their child's education, fostering a collaborative and supportive environment for young learners to thrive.

The recent attainment of a $2.4-million-dollar CPS grant further underscores Little Angels Learning Center's commitment to early childhood education. This grant enables LALC to build a state-of-the-art early learning center, increasing the program’s capacity and outreach to bring quality early learning to more families in the Englewood community.

Little Angels Learning Center stands as a shining example of how a steadfast commitment to excellence, coupled with a collaborative approach, can create an environment where young minds are nurtured, challenged, and inspired to reach their full potential. In their continued pursuit of excellence, Little Angels exemplifies the power of a united community dedicated to the growth and success of its youngest members. Go to: https://773lalc.com

In honor of Black History Month, our featured Black Educator is Marva Collins.

Marva Collins was an educator, an activist, a believer in Black children and the communities they came from; the very people many in society give up on. Born in Alabama in 1936, Collins graduated from Clark College in Atlanta.

Collins had a passion for helping young people and lamented teachers who didn’t have a similar passion. She surmounted one obstacle after another to become one of the world’s most famous educators. She turned her frustration into determination, and started the Westside Preparatory School in 1975. Marva enrolled Black students who educators considered “undesirable” or “unteachable” going from 4 students to 200. She developed her own educational method and empowered students in urban Chicago; her highly effective teaching method was so distinctive that it became known as “the Marva Collins Way.”

Her student-centered school remained in operation for 30 years. Collins was the recipient of over 40 honorary doctorates, and went on to support over 100,000 teachers and educators worldwide. Collins passed away on June 24, 2015 at the age of 78.

Thank you for your support!ABATE of Illinois, Inc.

State Representative Cyril Nichols has been an advocate for motorcyclists in Illinois and has worked hard to ensure that our rights and freedoms remain intact. He is running for re-election for Illinois State Representative in District 32, and he is endorsed by ABATE of Illinois PAC. 🏍

Dr. King stood for justice and is a civil rights icon that had a profound effect on the national consciousness. King’s leadership played a pivotal role in ending segregation and the creation of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. His impact stretches beyond the past into the right now. Let us all do our part to carry on his legacy.

“The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.” Martin Luther King, Jr.

The communities we live and work in deserve to be safe. Today, several elected officials stood together because YOU our constituents let your voices be heard: the 8th district police needs to be cut in half to ensure the proper safety of all. You told us that response time of police officers was too long, and you voiced concerns of police being pushed beyond their capabilities due to the size of the 8th District.

Thank you 13th Ward Alderman Marty Quinn for driving this initiative to create another police district here in the Southwest side of Chicago, and thank you for asking me to speak. It was my honor to stand alongside community stakeholders and colleagues on such a momentous occasion:

State Representative Angelica Guerrero-Cuellar, Chicago Police Department 8th District Chicago, State Senator Mike Porfirio, Alderwoman Jeylú B. Gutiérrez, Alderman Raymond Lopez, Alderman Stephanie D. Coleman, Alderman David Moore, Alderman Derrick G. Curtis Alderman Silvana Tabares, , Garfield Ridge Neighborhood Watch, West Lawn Neighborhood Watch - Chicago Chicago Mayor's Office District Council 008- CCPSA