PREVIOUS SESSIONS
September 2011
We headed to Lawndale on the west side and met with a wonderful crowd of parents at our monthly Citizen Watchdogs of Education training. Sarah Karp, Deputy Editor of Catalyst Chicago, presented for the first time at this program, and taught parents how to compare school budgets year-to-year, and to neighboring schools
August 2011
Taking advantage of the end of summer downtime, the BGA ramped up its training programs and hosted a Citizen Watchdog Training session out in Oak Park/River Forest and a Citizen Watchdogs of Education session in Albany Park. In Oak Park we partnered with the Illinois Attorney General’s Office to bring in an in-depth presentation on the Open Meetings Act. You can check out the presentation overview on the AG’s website here.
June 2011
BGA again teamed up with attorneys from Kirkland & Ellis, LLP and hosted another well-attended Freedom of Information Act clinic in downtown Chicago. Attendees from that clinic helped the BGA identify ongoing issues in Maywood, and in addition, BGA pro bono attorneys agreed to take on their case and file a lawsuit on their behalf.
May 2011
Citizen Watchdogs of Education continued in its second installment in Pilsen. Local activists from throughout the Pilsen and Little Village communities gathered to hear Wanda Hopkins of PURE (Parents United for Responsible Education) give an in depth overview of the ins and outs of Local School Councils and the budget process for CPS schools.
April 2011
The BGA traveled to Springfield to host its first ever downstate Citizen Watchdog Training. Michael Luke, Counsel to the Illinois Attorney General, gave a comprehensive presentation on the Open Meetings Act. Also in April, the BGA launched its Citizen Watchdogs of Education program with its first session in Englewood.
February/March 2011
Joliet Junior College in Will County was home to the first Citizen Watchdog Training outside of Chicago. We covered the Open Meetings Act, Freedom of Information Act and national award-winning watchdog Brian Costin shared his efforts to make government more transparent and efficient in his hometown of Schaumburg. Look for more Citizen Watchdog Training sessions throughout the state this year. Contact Mary Frances O'Connor if you'd like a Watchdog Training session in your town.
November 2010
The BGA teamed up with attorneys from Kirkland & Ellis, LLP, and the Center for Open Government at Chicago-Kent College of Law for a Free FOIA Clinic. Do you have questions about the Freedom of Information Act? Have your FOIA requests been denied or ignored? Look for more FOIA Clinics in the future. You'll get one-on-one time with attorneys at no charge.
September 2010
We heard from Raise Your Hand for Illinois Public Education, a coalition of parents and schools working together to "influence state and local officials to provide appropriate, equitable and sustainable funding for public education."
July 2010
Tammy Raynor shared her story about how she blew the whistle on a licenses-for-bribes scandal in some Illinois Secretary of State facilities. Raynor's tip sparked the federal investigation Operation Safe Road, which eventually resulted in 75 convictions.
|