Thank a Mail Carrier Day!

Kick off the month of February festivities with National Thank a Mail Carrier Day! As our mail carriers continue to brave the wintry elements to deliver our mail on time, we should make an effort to express our appreciation and recognition of their valuable service.

The earliest form of a mail delivery system can be traced back to the Persians and the Greeks around 449 B.C., but the United States did not establish the first formal system until 1692 with postal riders depositing mail to each of the American colonies instead of to individual addresses. In 1775, the Second Continental Congress founded a United States Post Office and appointed Benjamin Franklin as the head of the department and Mary Katherine Goddard as possibly America’s first female postmaster. This first post office served a role in the American War for Independence, whereby courageous post riders rode on horseback across miles of territory to alert the colonies of new activity from British troops.

Two notable figures with ties to Illinois — President Abraham Lincoln and actor Rock Hudson — also served in the industry. President Lincoln was appointed postmaster in 1833 for the New Salem, Illinois post office before its closure in 1836. Hudson worked as a letter carrier in Winnetka, Illinois before becoming one of Hollywood’s favorite leading actors.

After gaining independence from Britain, the first officially recognized Post Office Department of the United States of America opened in 1792 and gradually evolved into the United States Postal Service we know today.

Today, a reliable and efficient mail carrier system fosters valuable connections, just as it served as a critical tool for expansion throughout history. On National Thank a Mail Carrier Day, we celebrate the mail carriers who continue to honor this service. Whether it be sending a letter or simply saying “thank you,” receiving recognition for dedication and hard work is a meaningful way to show them you care.

Free February Museum Days in Illinois

Celebrate free museum days in Illinois this year by taking advantage of one of the many museums across the state offering free admission. From modern art to aquariums, there is plenty to enjoy for families or individuals of all ages. Check out a few museums below offering free admission days in February:

• Adler Planetarium, Chicago - every Wednesday from 4 to 10 p.m.
• Art Institute Of Chicago, Michigan Avenue Entrance - 111 S. Michigan Ave. – Loop, Chicago - weekdays (Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays). To receive free admission tickets, Illinois residents must reserve them online in advance.
• Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe – Feb. 4 – 9, 19. Pre-registration required.
• Chicago Children's Museum, Chicago – Feb. 29
• Chicago History Museum, Chicago – Feb. 19
• Shedd Aquarium, Chicago - every Saturday, Sunday and Monday throughout the month
• Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center, Skokie – Feb. 23

You can also enjoy a number of museums that are free all month long:

• Livingston County War Museum, Pontiac
• Northwest Territory Historic Center, Dixon
• Illinois State Military Museum, Springfield
• Karpeles Manuscript Library and Museum, Rock Island
• Ottowa Historical and Scouting Heritage Museum, Ottowa
• The American Toby Jug Museum, Evanston
• Arcadia: America's Playable Arcade Museum, McLean
• DePaul Art Museum, Chicago

For a full list of free museums in Illinois, visit here.

International Holocaust Remembrance Day

International Holocaust Remembrance Day commemorates the victims of the Holocaust, which resulted in the genocide of two-thirds of Europe’s Jewish population and one-third of the overall Jewish population, as well as millions of others by the Nazi regime.

Jan. 27 was chosen as International Holocaust Remembrance Day because on that day in 1945, the Red Army liberated the Auschwitz concentration camp.

On this day, we remember and mourn the six million Jews whose lives were cut short during the horror of the Holocaust. We also remember the millions of Roma and Sinti, Slavs, people with disabilities, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and political dissidents who were murdered at the hands of the Nazis and their collaborators.

The Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center in Skokie is a great way to honor the memories of those who were lost and those who survived by learning universal lessons that combat hatred, prejudice and indifference.

Samuel R. Harris is one of the survivors highlighted by the museum. He is one of the youngest survivors of the concentration camps during the Holocaust. He was four years old when the Nazis occupied Poland.

Harris, his seven siblings and parents were forced into the ghetto where they lived for almost three years. Harris’ entire family, except two of his sisters, were deported to Treblinka and murdered. One of his sisters worked as a slave laborer in the concentration camp outside of Deblin and was able to hide him. In 1945 they were liberated and were able to move first to Austria and then to New York City where they were adopted by two different families. Harris then lived in Chicago, and went to college, married and had children. He was an integral force behind the building of the Holocaust Museum and Education Center of which he is the former president.  

In a world where hate is on the rise, use this International Holocaust Remembrance Day to learn, remember and mourn.

Sam’s bio: Samuel R. Harris - Illinois Holocaust Museum (ilholocaustmuseum.org)

Survivor Profiles: Holocaust Survivor Profiles | Illinois Holocaust Museum (ilholocaustmuseum.org)

Holocaust Museum: Illinois Holocaust Museum | Chicagoland Museum (ilholocaustmuseum.org)

Illinois Ranked first for Workforce Development in Midwest

Illinois has been named the number one leader for workforce development in the Midwest region for the second year in a row!

The Site Selection magazine ranking annually recognizes states that performed well given their employment climate, listing Illinois first for the state’s dedication toward creating high quality jobs.

Illinois' workforce development has consistently evolved in equity and innovation, including apprenticeship programs at every level and has over 400 registered apprenticeship programs for more than 20,000 active apprentices.

Under these apprenticeships, Illinois has focused seven key elements to ensure that every applicant receives high quality development with a focus on their career path including: diversity, quality and safety, supplemental education, being a paid job, industry led, able to earn credentials, and structured on-the-job learning/mentorship. With these categories in mind, Illinois has covered the essential bases for every apprenticeship to be a success story.

Workforce development programs have grown expeditiously in Illinois, focusing on access to certification programs, custom training programs, apprenticeships and sponsored college degrees.

One such program that has provided countless providers to work with is the Illinois Works Pre-Apprenticeship Program, which has increased access to good-paying jobs in the trades since 2021.

Under this program, support services are also available based on the participant’s needs including mental health counseling, housing assistance, childcare, transportation assistance, and math and reading tutoring to ensure every Illinoisan is given an equal opportunity to develop and focus on their career path.

For a complete list of Pre-Apprenticeship Program Providers visit the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity website.