Janice Neumann – Page 5

Riverdale native Jayera Griffin participates in a free soap event at Rosie's Laundromat in Riverdale, where she has sponsored free laundry days for the community since she was 14. Now a college student, Griffin is being honored by Chaz Ebert's FECK Awards for compassion. (Griffin family)

Riverdale woman’s consistent kindness earns national recognition

April 2, 2026 at 10:51 a.m.

Jayera Griffin has been helping neighbors in Riverdale since she was 2 and is being honored for her compassion by Chaz Ebert's FECK Awards.

Mary Ann Trzyna, of Frankfort Square, displays shirts featuring her artwork at Union Street Gallery in Chicago Heights. The shirt sales help raise money for upkeep of the century-old studio building. (Janice Neumann/Daily Southtown)

Artists help take care of century-old studio space by selling works to wear

March 31, 2026 at 2:23 p.m.

Artists who rent space at Union Street Gallery in Chicago Heights are putting their works on T-shirts to raise money for building upkeep.

Shavon Brewer, who teaches 5th grade at Northwest Elementary School in Evergreen Park, discusses math concepts with students. She's one of two south suburban teachers who are finalists for Golden Apple awards for Excellence in Teaching. (Janice Neumann/Daily Southtown)

Two Southland teachers are finalists for Golden Apple awards

April 21, 2026 at 12:57 p.m.

Teachers at Madison School in South Holland and Northwest School in Evergreen Park were nominated for Golden Apple awards for Excellence in Teaching.

Peaches Bonnema, a volunteer foster at South Suburban Humane Society holds a kitten at the facility in Matteson, which will host a Kitten Shower & Cat Cafe on March 7 to introduce people to the needs of kittens and gain donations for them. (Mika Carten/SSHS)

It’s kitten season, so South Suburban Humane Society is hosting a shower

March 3, 2026 at 1:43 p.m.

South Suburban Humane Society in Matteson and other shelters will soon be inundated with kittens, so they're putting out a call for help.

Treiva Mandela, of Calumet Park, is pursuing a career in electrical work after participating in an Illinois Works Pre-Apprenticeship Program at Bethel Family Resource Center in Chicago Heights. (Treiva Mandela)

Chicago Heights-based employment training program gets state funding boost

February 23, 2026 at 4:58 a.m.

A pre-apprenticeship program at Bethel Family Resource Center in Chicago Heights offers an introduction to employment in 25 trades.

Valintina Banisalman sells hand made scarves at the recent Youth Entrepreneur Fair at Moraine Valley Community College in Palos Hills. (Janice Neumann/Daily Southtown)

Young entrepreneurs get a market for their ideas at Moraine Valley Community College

February 18, 2026 at 1:45 p.m.

The Youth Entrepreneur Fair at Moraine Valley Community College featured dozens of young people selling items such as crafts and pet goods.

Marlandy Berrios, a former student of the late Paul Rinaldi, attends an exhibit of his art in the Christopher Gallery of Prairie State College. Berrios said Rinaldi played a big part in her artistic talent. (Janice Neumann/for the Daily Southtown)

Family and students of the late Paul Rinaldi still inspired by his art work

February 17, 2026 at 11:50 a.m.

A recent exhibit celebrated at Prairie State College in Chicago Heights celebrated the paintings of the late professor Paul Rinaldi.

Cook County School District 130 Early Childhood parent educators, from left, Elizabeth Lopez, Alma Cano, Analisa Diaz and Ashley McCloud gather at Horace Mann School in Blue Island. Cano oversees the team that makes home visits to make sure parents are getting needed help. (Janice Neumann/Daily Southtown)

Tots in Cook County District 130 get a head start on school in Families First program

February 13, 2026 at 1:38 p.m.

Educators from Cook County School District 130 are helping parents who are struggling with “a lack of support, connection and guidance.”

Don Ligon and Jessica Null, social workers at Bremen High, helped create The Braves Closet, where students who need clothes or toiletries can get them for free. (Janice Neumann/Daily Southtown)

Bremen High School’s Braves Closet offers help with discretion in a comforting space

February 10, 2026 at 12:54 p.m.

Bremen High School has long had clothing and hygiene products available for students in need, scattered in various storage areas at the school in Midlothian. But thanks to the school's...

Shortly after her first daughter was stillborn in 2021, Colleen Connelly, of Tinley Park, started Catherine's Cause, named after her daughter. The nonprofit group creates blankets and other keepsakes to donate to families experiencing similar tragedies at Advocate Christ Medical Center, as well as children's items for the Courage Program for single mothers at Our Lady at Saint Germaine Catholic Church in Oak Lawn. (Janice Neumann/Daily Southtown)

Tinley Park family channels grief into support for others suffering loss of stillbirth

January 28, 2026 at 2:07 p.m.

Catherine’s Cause makes and donates items to grieving parents, including blankets, cards, bracelets, keychains and other keepsakes.

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