ComEd’s parent company, Exelon, today announced the separation of its former power generation and competitive energy business. This makes Exelon the nation’s largest fully-regulated utility company in the nation, with more than 10 million customers. Today, the separation was completed, and the two independent companies were launched. The separation renews ComEd’s focus on strengthening and modernizing our energy infrastructure to enable safe, reliable, clean, and affordable service for customers. It also advances our work to equitably expand economic opportunities in the local communities we serve.
With a new parent company structure, ComEd will continue to invest in critical local infrastructure and innovative technologies to stay ahead of our rapidly evolving industry, improve energy reliability and resilience, enhance safety and the customer experience, and transition to cleaner energy future.
ComEd has been a part of Exelon for more than 20 years, which has provided many benefits to our customers. It has allowed us to reduce costs through greater economies of scale, share best practices to improve performance and the customer experience, get assistance from other Exelon utilities when restoring power after storms, and collaborate to introduce new programs and technologies. This new era for Exelon bolsters these benefits: ComEd will continue to provide essential energy service for the customers and communities we serve and under current company leadership.
With the separation of Exelon, ComEd and its sister utilities will introduce new branding, including a new logo that customers will begin to see on their bills, our website and mobile app, trucks, and hardhats.
“While ComEd’s logo will change over time, we want to assure families and businesses in Chicago and northern Illinois that we are committed to being the trusted energy provider they’ve known for years. Our dedication to the communities we serve will only grow stronger,” said ComEd CEO Gil Quiniones. “Our purpose of powering a cleaner and brighter future for our customers and communities is unchanged, and we’ll continue our efforts to enhance reliability and the customer experience and further our commitment to our communities and to a cleaner energy future.”
Date posted: February 4, 2022 | Author: intern1 | Comments Off on EXELON COMPLETES SEPARATION OF CONSTELLATION, MOVING FORWARD AS NATION’S PREMIER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION UTILITY COMPANY
2022 Hall of Fame Inductees | Steve Doonan – DeKalb Mechanical | Bill Nicklas – City of DeKalb
City Manager and longtime Executive Board Member on the DCEDC Board, Bill Nicklas, was inducted into the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce Hall of Fame at the annual dinner hosted by the Chamber at NIU’s Barsema Alumni and Visitors Hall on February 3rd, 2022. In the pre-award speech given by DeKalb, Mayor Cohen Barnes touted the dedication, leadership, and overall value Bill has added to the community. Having served in the City of Sycamore, Kishwaukee College, NIU, and now a 2nd tenure in the City Manager role at DeKalb, Bills impact on DeKalb and making this a great community for all goes without saying.
We at DCEDC, on behalf of the Board of Directors, members, and the staff, extend our warmest congratulations to Bill!
Date posted: February 4, 2022 | Author: intern1 | Comments Off on DCEDC extends congratulations to Bill Nicklas; 2021 DeKalb Chamber of Commerce Hall of Fame Inductee.
Kishwaukee College will celebrate Black History Month throughout February by hosting several virtual or in-person events and discussions. Black History Month is annually observed to recognize and honor the accomplishments Black people have made in the United States and across the world. The events hosted by Kish are free and open to the public.
Wednesday, Feb. 9 — Black Health and Wellness — 12 pm-1 pm via Zoom
Tuesday, Feb. 15 — Black/African Americans and Mental Health — 12 pm-1:30 pm via Zoom
Wednesday, Feb. 23 — Black Academic Success Stories — 12 pm-1:30 pm via Zoom
Thursday, Feb. 24 — Paint and Create — 12 pm-2 pm in Room C1133-34
Monday, Feb. 28 — Black Jeopardy — 12 pm-1 pm in Intercultural Center, C1132
Kishwaukee College is honored to celebrate Black History Month by hosting programs that open a dialogue about diverse experiences while sharing the heritage and accomplishments of Black Americans. The College is committed to a sustainable culture of equity, focused on respect and fairness, in all aspects of the Kishwaukee College experience.
To find Zoom links for the events or learn more, visit www.kish.edu/diversity.
Date posted: February 3, 2022 | Author: intern1 | Comments Off on Kishwaukee College to host multiple events for Black History Month
Date posted: February 2, 2022 | Author: intern1 | Comments Off on Benefits beyond the paycheck: Exploring what matters most to employees – Register Here!
Kish Library utilizes grant to maintain, expand services during pandemic
Through the assistance of a grant from the American Library Association (ALA), the Kishwaukee College Library has maintained its dedicated service to students and the community through the ongoing challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In July, the Kish Library was awarded $40,000 in ALA COVID Library Relief Funds to help support library services. Over the past several months, the Kish Library has utilized those funds to adapt operations to meet current student needs, including transitioning to provide a blend of remote and in-person services.
“The ALA grant truly helped the Library sustain the services our students both expect and need during this challenging time,” said Frances Whaley, Director of Library and Academic Support Services. “Through resourceful spending, we were able to expand our operations to help meet the changing needs of our community.”
Among the efforts, the Library:
· Hired and trained four temporary, part-time employees to maintain in-person and online services after COVID-related budget constraints.
· Created extensive instructional guides and videos to help students navigate online resources.
· Investigated new technologies and created accessibility guidelines for developing instructional materials.
· Purchased more than $6,000 in books to support new curricular programs and update collections for accredited programs.
· Subscribed to new online tools like NoodleTools and PowerNotes to help students cite and manage sources.
· Translated key departmental materials for the Spanish-speaking community.
· Held the Commonly Grounded event with presenter Jeff Foster from Common Grounds Café in Sycamore to encourage entrepreneurship, community engagement, and the value of education among the community with a focus on disadvantaged populations.
The ALA is the foremost national organization providing resources to inspire library and information professionals to transform their communities through essential programs and services. The Kishwaukee College Library was one of 34 institutions to receive ALA COVID Library Relief Funds.
To learn more about the Kishwaukee College Library and the services it provides, visit www.kish.edu/library.
Date posted: January 31, 2022 | Author: intern1 | Comments Off on Kish Library utilizes grant to maintain, expand services during pandemic
COMCAST RISE APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN TO ALL WOMEN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESSES
Comcast RISE – Representation, Investment, Strength, and Empowerment – was created to help small businesses owned by people of color – including Black, Indigenous, Hispanic and Asian Americans –survive the pandemic and thrive in the future. In just one year since the program began, Comcast RISE has provided over $60 million in grants, marketing, and technology services to more than 6,700 entrepreneurs nationally – nearly 550 in this region alone – and the program just expanded to include all women-owned small businesses.
Comcast RISE is part of Project UP, Comcast’s comprehensive initiative to advance digital equity and help provide underrepresented small businesses gain access to digital tools and funding. Over the next 10 years, Comcast has committed $1 billion to programs, like Comcast RISE, and partnerships designed to help an estimated 50 million people access the skills, opportunities, and resources they need to succeed in an increasingly digital world.
In its first year alone, Comcast RISE has provided over $60 million in grants, marketing, and technology services to support more than 6,700 small businesses owned by people of color in Comcast’s national footprint – including nearly 550 in the company’s Greater Chicago Region
With the expansion to all women-owned small businesses, the program is on track to support 13,000 businesses by the end of 2022.
Visit www.comcastrise.com for more information or to apply for the chance to receive technology services from Comcast Business or marketing services from Effectv, Comcast’s advertising sales division.
Insomnia Cookies at 203 East Lincoln Highway in DeKalb. (Mark Busch – mbusch@shawmedia.com)
Cookie lovers only have a few more days to wait before Insomnia Cookies opens in DeKalb.
The opening of the new Insomnia Cookies location, 203 E. Lincoln Highway in DeKalb, will be celebrated with a Grand Opening PJ Party from 11 a.m. to midnight on Saturday, Jan. 29, according to social media post on the business’ page.
As part of its grand opening, Insomnia Cookies will offer one free classic cookie for all in-store customers. Starting at 8 p.m., customers wearing pajamas will receive one free six-pack of classic cookies with any in-store purchase. There will also be a milk pong shot challenge and giveaways throughout the night.
Starting Monday, Jan. 24, Insomnia Cookies’ DeKalb location will be open from 11 a.m. to midnight Monday through Wednesday, 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Thursday and Friday, noon to 1 a.m. Saturday and noon to midnight Sunday.
Insomnia Cookies, whose tagline is “Warm, delicious cookies delivered until 3 a.m.,” is a national cookie chain, with 11 locations in Illinois.
Date posted: January 26, 2022 | Author: intern1 | Comments Off on Insomnia Cookies to open in DeKalb!
figure 1 Nelly Cheboi co-founded TechLit Africa, a nonprofit organization which redistributes recycled technology to build computer labs in Kenyan schools. Cheboi, 29, is listed on Forbes’ 2022 Social Impact List of “30 Under 30.” (Photo provided )
SHABBONA – Before she was 18 and applying for college, Nelly Cheboi had never used a computer.
Now 29, Cheboi is a software engineer who is listed on Forbes’ 2022 Social Impact List of “30 Under 30″ for co-founding a nonprofit organization that distributes recycled technology to build computer labs in Kenyan schools.
Cheboi said that realizing the importance of learning computer skills at a young age led her to creating TechLit Africa with her husband, Tyler Cinnamon, in 2018. TechLit Africa has 4,000 students and 20 teachers, and Cheboi is working to establish an additional 100 computer labs.
Cheboi, who lives in Shabbona, is originally from Mogotio, a small village in Kenya about four hours from the capital city, Nairobi. She grew up in her town with her mom, who was a single parent, and her three sisters.
“I became really motivated to find a solution to poverty because of my mom,” Cheboi said. “She worked really hard. She would do so many jobs: selling mangoes at the market, buying and selling goats, having a small food stand. She worked hard and struggled to put us through school. I really wanted to help her and give children growing up in communities like mine a better childhood.”
Cheboi said she studied, sometimes until 2 a.m., to make sure she did well in school. Her good grades allowed her to attend high school, which was a boarding school about four hours away from home. She graduated at the top of her class and was awarded a full-ride scholarship to Augustana College in Rock Island.
Figure 2 Nelly Cheboi brings computers and technology with her every time she travels home to her native Kenya. Cheboi co-founded TechLit Africa, a nonprofit organization which redistributes recycled technology to build computer labs in Kenyan schools. Cheboi, 29 is listed on Forbes’ 2022 Social Impact List of “30 Under 30.” (Photo provided)
“As a teenager, I was really driven,” Cheboi said. “I had so much conviction. I wanted to take care of my mom and siblings.”
During her freshman year at Augustana, Cheboi spent her weekends doing janitorial work and cleaning toilets.
“I was only allowed to work 20 hours a week as an international student, so I worked from 6 a.m. to noon on Saturdays on Sundays,” Cheboi said. “I didn’t make much money, but I worked hard and saved and saved.”
Figure 3 Nelly Cheboi co-founded TechLit Africa, a nonprofit organization which redistributes recycled technology to build computer labs in Kenyan schools. Cheboi, 29, is listed on Forbes’ 2022 Social Impact List of “30 Under 30.” (Photo provided )
During a school break, she used all the money she saved to buy a plane ticket home to Kenya. While in Nairobi, she bought a truckload of furniture and returned home to move her family out of their small shack.
“We didn’t have electricity or running water, and I was able to move my family into a really nice apartment with nice furniture and a TV,” she said. “It was a really nice homecoming.”
However, Cheboi soon found that living in the new apartment wasn’t sustainable for her family.
“They could barely afford living in the shack, and I had to send them money for food and water and electricity bills,” she said. “It was really hard for me to support them, so I started thinking, and I started a small school.”
As a junior in college, Cheboi helped establish and build the school, Zawadi, in 2015 using money she made working minimum wage jobs. The school opened in 2016 with 40 students. Cheboi said that since the school opened, she’s never had to support her family, because her younger sister helps operate the school.
With the foundation of the school, Cheboi soon realized that a lack of technology and internet was holding her people back.
“I realized that the reason why most of our communities are poor is because of the lack of technology,” she said. “Computers are the easiest way to empower communities like mine. There are a lot of jobs online. You can work remotely, and all you need are the skills, a computer and the internet. It seemed like an easy solution to deconstruct the system that was holding us down.”
Figure 4 Husband and wife Tyler Cinnamon and Nelly Cheboi co-founded TechLit Africa, a nonprofit organization which redistributes recycled technology to build computer labs in Kenyan schools. (Photo provided )
In 2018, Cheboi graduated college and started her first full-time job as a software engineer, where she met her now-husband, Tyler Cinnamon. Together, they flew to Kenya to teach computer science to children. They co-founded the nonprofit organization TechLit Africa, which distributes recycled technology to build computer labs in African schools.
“We quickly realized that it’s hard to get adults who work minimum wage jobs to commit to the program,” Cheboi said. “But kids are really interested in learning. … We decided to really teach computer skills, we needed to get computers into schools. It has to be part of their school life every single day, where they’re growing up with the technology.”
Jane Bahls, chair of the board of TechLit Africa, said that watching Cheboi’s dreams come to life has been exciting. Bahls, the First Lady of Augustana College, helped sponsor Cheboi during her university days and describes Cheboi and her husband as honorary family members.
“It’s been amazing how she first lifted her family out of poverty through her college jobs, established a school and now helps expose kids in Africa to technology,” Bahls
said. “With digital skills, these children will be able to get good jobs wherever they live from international companies.”
Cheboi is traveling to Kenya for a six-month stay. Her goal is to expand TechLit Africa and computer and technology literacy tenfold in the next five years and expand into other African countries.
“All you need is tech knowledge, the computer, the internet and these skills,” Cheboi said. “Skills like knowing how to design a webpage, how to code, build apps, communicate online and creative thinking, are useful. They can use those skills for marketing or sales or business, so many different types of jobs. These skills are in high demand. Knowing those skills is life-changing.”
Figure 5 Students in Kenya learn computer skills through TechLit Africa, a nonprofit organization which redistributes recycled technology to build computer labs in Kenyan schools. Co-founder Nelly Cheboi, 29, is listed on Forbes’ 2022 Social Impact List of “30 Under 30.” (Photo provided)
To help Cheboi and TechLit Africa, donations of desktop, laptop and tablet computers are being collected to establish computer labs. Cheboi said the most impactful way to get involved is by investing monthly, subscribing a monetary donation to help make sure the schools and computer labs continue to operate.
“[TechLit Africa] is giving children in Africa a chance to have a level playing field,” Bahls said. “Nelly’s success story shows that it is possible for one person to make a huge difference. Computers that Americans are just getting rid of can actually help people in rural Kenya to learn skills that will help life their whole families out of poverty.”
ComEd is excited to announce that this year’s Powering Communities grant program applications Powering Communities grant program are now open! As in the past, ComEd has partnered with the following organizations for each competitive grant program:
Previous grant winners have helped restore and enhance natural habitats for learning, enjoyment, and support wildlife; funded the installation of electric vehicle charging stations; and expanded community arts programming.
Grant applications for each program are being accepted through 5 p.m. CST on March 25, 2022. Information about each grant program, including eligibility guidelines and how to apply, can be found by clicking here or by visiting ComEd.com/Grants.
Date posted: January 21, 2022 | Author: intern1 | Comments Off on ComEd’s Powering Communities Grant Program 2022 – Now Open
