SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Mary Edly-Allen commended the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) for awarding Round Lake Community School District 116 funding that allows students to create tasty and healthy recipes for schools across the country via the School Meals Recipe Development Grant.

“This grant is a wonderful opportunity for students to showcase their skills and help improve school lunches,” said Edly-Allen (D-Libertyville). “As an educator, I recognize that developing these culinary skills at an early age will provide students with the necessary tools for their future.”

ISBE celebrated student chefs during a special taste test event at Joliet Junior College on April 21, 2023. The student chefs hailed from eight districts across the state that received federal Team Nutrition School Meals Recipe Development Grants.

These grants supported students with local cooking competitions, taste testing events, chef demonstrations, and field trips to farms or production facilities of local agricultural products, culminating in the students developing their own tasty and nutritious recipes for school meals.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Mary Edly-Allen is leading a measure that would create new job opportunities and connections for Illinois high school students.

“Giving our youth more opportunities to form connections and expand their job experience is crucial to ensuring long-term manufacturing jobs stay in Illinois,” said Edly-Allen (D-Libertyville) ”The trade industry is vital – not just for workers but for our community as a whole.”

Senate Bill 1996 would amend the age within the Manufacturing Mentorship Program so more students can participate. Under this program, people 17 years and older would be given new opportunities toward temporary positions within the manufacturing field. Employers would train and mentor the participants of the program.

SPRINGFIELD — State Senator Mary Edly-Allen’s measure requiring training related to Alzheimer’s and dementia for public guardians passed the Senate on Wednesday, taking an essential step toward ensuring guardians have the necessary tools to provide compassionate care.

“The emotional toll of Alzheimer’s and dementia cannot be overstated as these diseases not only rob individuals of their memories and cognitive function, but also take away their independence,” said Edly-Allen (D-Libertyville). “This legislation puts in place a basic requirement for publically appointed guardians so they know the best methods of care for those diagnosed with these terrible diseases.”

Senate Bill 216 would require public guardians to undergo at least one hour of training on how to recognize, care for and interact with patients who have Alzheimer’s or dementia. The training must be completed within six months of the guardian’s appointment and renewed annually.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Mary Edly-Allen recently introduced legislation to crack down on abusive and harmful use of digital imitations known as digital forgeries.

“We must protect victims of this digital harassment by providing them with a new avenue to seek justice,” said Edly-Allen (D-Libertyville). “With these new technologies being rapidly developed to perfectly imitate others, we have to find ways to combat identify theft and defamation toward its victims.”

Deepfake technology is used to create extremely realistic digital imitations, which are increasingly being used to falsely portray people participating in pornographic activity without their consent. Victims are routinely humiliated, abused and blackmailed as the result of the creation and dissemination of deepfake videos.

Senate Bill 1392 would create the Civil Digital Forgeries Act, causing individuals who create digitally forged material with intent to distribute and cause harm to face legal consequences. The measure further helps victims of these harmful acts to seek justice by compensation for emotional distress damages.