Senator Rachel Ventura

09/06/2026

September is Su***de Prevention Month.

Su***de Prevention Month is a time to break the stigma around mental health and work together to build a community that supports mental health care.

A simple conversation can make a meaningful difference for someone who is struggling. During National Su***de Prevention Month, let’s look out for one another, make space for conversations about mental health and remind those around us that seeking help is a sign of strength. 💪🏽

If you or someone you know needs help, call or text 988 or visit 988lifeline.org for support or to talk to a trained professional. 🙏🏽

***dePreventionMonth

09/06/2026

🚨The talent pipeline in Illinois’ construction and building trades just got another boost as the State of Illinois has released another round of funding for the Illinois Works Pre-Apprenticeship Program!

Here in the 43rd District, the Illinois Works Pre-Apprenticeship Program funds HIRE360 Will County, which is a paid 9-week Pre-Apprenticeship Program designed to prepare individuals for union construction trade apprenticeships and industry careers. 🚧

The program includes MC3 training, job readiness workshops, apprenticeship site tours, OSHA-10 and First Aid/CPR certifications, test prep, and a paid stipend based on participation and milestones. 🛠️

✔️Any Illinois resident is eligible for this program if they are aged 18+ and have a high school diploma, GED, or equivalent.

Visit https://hire360chicago.com/will_county_il_works/ for more information!

09/05/2026

⚠️September is National Preparedness Month. ⚠️

🌪️Illinois has recorded 210 tornadoes in 2026, shattering its state record while nearing the U.S. all‑time record! While nearly 80% of all tornadoes in Illinois usually occur from April 1st through June 30th, in the past few years, nearly half of all Illinois tornadoes occurred in the fall or winter. 🍂❄️

🌎 As our climate continues to warm, the climate crisis is changing the risks communities face. Extreme weather is becoming more unpredictable, and families need to be prepared for severe storms, flooding, extreme heat, winter weather and other emergencies that can happen at any time.

💻 Emergencies can happen without warning, which is why having a plan before disaster strikes is so important. Take time this month to build an emergency kit, create a family communication plan, know where you can seek shelter, and sign up for emergency alerts.

However, tornados aren't the only severe weather or emergencies that families can face. Emergencies can happen anytime, so it’s crucial to have a plan in place. For resources on building your emergency kit, creating a family communication plan and staying informed, visit https://bit.ly/4mMyeW0

09/05/2026

☀️Earlier this week, I got to tour the DaVita Sun Health Dialysis on Oneida Street in Joliet. I was given a tour of the facility, which has 16 beds, and shown how the dialysis machines work.

👩🏽‍⚕️Nurses at DaVita operate on two shifts and because of the length of time that the dialysis process takes, first shifts often start early in the morning to accommodate all patients.

🏥The need for nurse-to-patient ratios is also prevalent in centers like these as they typically have 1 nurse to 12 patients. This is a reason why I support legislation like Senate Bill 2022, which would establish the maximum number of patients that may be assigned to a registered nurse in specified situations.

💻To learn more about the DaVita Sun Health Dialysis Center, please visit: https://davita.com/locations/il/joliet/2121-oneida-st--12048/

🖥️To learn more about Senate Bill 2022, please see: https://www.ilga.gov/Legislation/BillStatus?DocNum=2022&DocTypeID=SB&GAID=18&LegID=161440&SessionID=114

09/05/2026

🏥 Our office recently had the opportunity to tour the new Lutheran Child & Family Services (LCFS) office in Naperville and learn more about the important work they are doing to protect children, strengthen families, and support young people who have experienced trauma.

The new facility includes spaces for individual and group therapy, parent and family therapy, as well as services supporting youth participating in alternative sentencing and restorative programming.

🗣️ What stood out most was the opportunity to hear directly from therapists and community partners about the challenges they are seeing on the ground — from access to mental health services to the resources families need before a crisis occurs.

🤝 The tour also allowed for holistic conversation between community partners, local government, and elected officials regarding the issues facing therapists not just in DuPage County, but across the state.

These conversations are exactly why I introduced the Child First legislation and advocated for the creation of the Child First Task Force. We need to look beyond reacting after a child enters the child welfare or juvenile justice system and instead invest in prevention, early intervention, and the well-being of children and families.

💙The people doing this work every day have valuable insight into what is working, where the gaps are, and what Illinois can do better. I look forward to continuing to bring those voices to the table as we work toward a system that truly puts children and families first.

💻To learn more about Lutheran & Child Family Services (LCFS), visit https://lcfs.org/

09/04/2026

🍎Today is National Food Bank Day! The goal of National Food Bank Day is to raise awareness about hunger, and to encourage community action, donations, and support for local food pantries. 🧺

How You Can Get Involved:

🥫Donate: Give non-perishable food items or financial contributions directly to local hunger-relief organizations.

🙋🏽Volunteer: Offer your time to help sort, pack, and distribute food at a nearby facility.

💻Spread Awareness: Share resources or highlight your local food bank on social media.

📍Locally, the Northern Illinois Food Bank provides help to anyone that needs free groceries. No ID, documentation or pre-approval needed. All are welcome. Distribution is first-come, first-served, while supplies last.
For more information, visit https://solvehungertoday.org/get-groceries-resources/

💻You can find additional food bank resources on my website: https://senatorventura.com/resources/food-pantries

09/04/2026

🎓✨ Lots happening at Lewis University this fall! ✨🎓

Check out these upcoming programs and events from the Office of Lasallian Belonging, including film screenings, cultural celebrations, educational discussions, and opportunities to build community. 📚🎬🤝

📅 Save the dates:
🧡 Sept. 30 — Orange Shirt Day Workshop & Dialogue
🎥 Oct. 12 — Hispanic Heritage & LGBTQ+ History Month Speaker
🕊️ Oct. 19 — The Voice of Hind Rajab Film Screening
🌎 Oct. 28 — Filipino American History Month Lecture
🎬 Nov. 4 — Kemba Screening & Prison Education Program Readings
🎥 Nov. 11 — Devil in a Blue Dress Screening

And there’s more to come! Stay tuned to Lewis University’s Office of Lasallian Belonging for upcoming announcements. 💙

🎓✨

09/03/2026

09/03/2026

🚧Windy Point Park renovations ahead! 🚧

🪛Today I was asked to help the Woodridge Park District dismantle the old playground equipment at Windy Point Park Playground to make way for the renovation and replacement of park and playground equipment there! 🔩

🗺️The playground equipment that is being dismantled is being donated to Kids Around the World, a non-profit out of Rockford. We were able to help with harvesting parts. Once all the parts are dismantled, volunteers and staff transport the harvested playground parts back to their main workshop in Rockford. There, they clean, weld, repair, and repaint the pieces to thoroughly refurbish them. Once completely spiffed up and verified for safety, the equipment is shipped and new parks are built in poverty-stricken communities, orphanages, and areas affected by war or natural disasters.

🛝A new playground will be installed with new mulch using a grant my office awarded the Park District. 🌱

09/02/2026

📢Free Small Business Event, tomorrow!

The Small Business Summit: Digital Innovation is an interactive experience bringing together entrepreneurs, business owners, technology leaders, and industry experts to explore the tools, technology, and strategies helping businesses grow smarter, faster, and more efficiently.

This half-day summit features practical, hands-on sessions designed to give business owners actionable information they can immediately apply to their businesses.

Featured Sessions:

💻Google Tools for Business Growth — Ira McCray II
🖥️AI Automation & Tools — Monica Smith
⚙️Business Development Through Technology — Melissa Duff Brown
👨🏽‍💻Marketing Content Creation — Danielle J. Bonds
🔐Cybersecurity for Small Business — Naaji Robinson

Whether you're looking to streamline operations, strengthen your digital presence, improve your marketing, leverage AI, or protect your business online, this summit will provide valuable tools and resources to help you move your business forward.

Registration is still open! Don’t miss this opportunity to learn, connect, and discover how digital innovation can transform the way you do business.

Event details:
📆Thursday, September 3rd
🕰️8:30 AM Registration | 9:00 AM – 1:30 PM Program
📍JJC City Center Campus, 235 N. Chicago Street, Joliet
💰No-cost registration

You'll walk away with practical tools and strategies to help your business grow smarter, faster, and more efficiently plus a chance to connect with other entrepreneurs and industry experts in the area.