CHICAGO – State Senator Ram Villivalam joined the Illinois Arts Council to celebrate local artists who received 2023 Artist Fellowship Awards from the Illinois Arts Council.

“Continuing to support and celebrate artists brings more to our culture and to our communities around Illinois. This award gives artists more financial stability and opportunity to continue their outstanding work and commitment to the arts,” said Villivalam (D-Chicago). “Recognizing these incredible artists who have created a substantial body of work throughout an outstanding artistic career with this award is one way Illinois can continue to support their creative endeavors.”

The IACA is proud to be able to provide Illinois artists with unrestricted funds to support their creative endeavors and artistic growth. The AFA Program offered funding in 8 artistic disciplines. This year's Fellowship and Finalist Award recipients were selected from 283 Illinois based creative artists working in the disciplines of Choreography, Media Arts (category includes audio art, digital art, film and video), Music Composition, Music Improvisation, New Performance Forms, Poetry, Prose, and Scriptworks.

“The Artist Fellowship Awards celebrate the backbone of Illinois’ rich cultural history: its artists," said Illinois Arts Council Executive Director, Joshua Davis-Ruperto. “Continued direct support to artists like Meida McNeal and Reina Hardy shows that the state of Illinois believes in the positive impact arts and culture can have on quality of life and the strengthening of local economies. I would like to personally thank Senator Villavalam for his continued support for Illinois’ creative sector.”

CHICAGO – Fifteen local restaurants will receive grants of up to $50,000 thanks to the Illinois Back to Business grant program and support from State Senator Ram Villivalam.

“Our small businesses are still excperiencing challenges created by the pandemic over two years later. We need to continue to facilitate their recovery and ensure that our local business corridors continue to prosper,” said Villivalam (D-Chicago). “These grant funds will go a long way for small businesses by helping supplement financial downturns, provide funding for utilities and maintenance, and assist with operational expenses.”

Restaurants in the communities of the 8^th District will receive a combined total of $455,000 through this round of Back to Business grants and include:

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Ram Villivalam (D-Chicago) issued the following statement after Governor JB Pritzker vetoed House Bill 3643, which would have required all public schools, the University of Illinois Hospital and state correctional facilities to offer a kosher and halal food option upon request:

"I am disappointed in the governor’s veto of providing Halal and Kosher food options to our youth in schools.

“The innovative concept of the Illinois State Board of Education securing a master contract to accomplish the above goal was one that was brought forward by school districts in their attempt to meet the diverse dietary needs of our students.

“As I have from the beginning, I look forward to continuing robust discussions to accomplish this goal.”

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SPRINGFIELD – To help ensure that saving a life does not come at the cost of employment, State Senator Ram Villivalam championed a new law to give employees up to ten days of paid leave for serving as an organ donor.

"Our state is made up of amazing people who are incredibly giving and care deeply for their neighbors," said Villivalam (D-Chicago). “When someone donates an organ to help a person in need, it is important they are able to take earned leave time off to recuperate."

Under Villivalam’s law, employees can take up to ten days of earned leave in any 12-month period to serve as an organ donor. The earned leave applies to employees of any unit of local government, board of election commissioners, and private employer in Illinois with 51 or more employees.

"There is nothing more important than saving a life," said Villivalam. "We are grateful for our residents who donate organs to help save lives and this legislation helps ensure their ability to do so.”

House Bill 3516 was signed on Friday and takes effect Jan. 1, 2024.