We fought for over a year to save our community from cancerous ethylene oxide emissions. Through the power of a united community, we won the fight. While #Sterigenics has been closed for some time, our hard fought victory became official this week when the Willowbrook site’s IEPA permits were formally withdrawn.

Thank you to all who stood alongside us. Remember that our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.

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Note: The photo below was taken prior to the COVID-19 pandemic shortly before my remarks at the August 1, 2019 Stop Sterigenics rally in Willowbrook, IL.

Too many young people tragically pass away from #opioid overdoses in our community. We must remember each of these beautiful lives, carry their legacies forward, and work hard to save others from substance use disorder.

In that spirit, I participated in today’s fourth annual Ride For John hosted by My Child's Life Matters in Carol Stream. Families and friends rode their motorcycles across DuPage County to honor those we lost and draw awareness to the opioid epidemic. Thank you to all who participated for inviting me to join you.

Choose DuPage recently released a Q2 Economic Indicators Report for 2020. Below are some highlights for DuPage County:

1️⃣ The #unemployment rate was 12.6% in May; down from 14.8% in April. DuPage has the #lowest unemployment rate in the region.

2️⃣ In May, 83% of those laid off said it was #temporary. Unemployment claims dropped 50% from April to May.

3️⃣ At the end of Q2, there were over 55,000 available #jobs posted in DuPage County.

You can download the full report here: http://www.choosedupage.com/form-economic-indicators/.

“You are a light. You are the light. Never let anyone, any person or any force, dampen, dim or diminish your light." - Congressman John Lewis

For someone to endure senseless violence and still choose to respond with peace takes a certain kind of courage. Congressman John Lewis embodied that courage. We thank him for making our nation more free and for bending the arc of the moral universe towards justice. Rest In Peace.

Earlier today, Dr. Lanny Wilson and I chaired the first #HOPE Taskforce quarterly meeting since the #COVID19 outbreak. Coronavirus exacerbated an already severe opioid and substance use epidemic ravaging our country. DuPage County’s commitment to help those impacted is as strong as ever.

In the coming weeks and months, HOPE will explore additional ways to combat substance use disorder through:

➡️ Promotion of #telehealth options for patients experiencing social isolation

➡️ Expansion of medication-assisted #treatment programs for underserved populations

➡️ Extension of the availability of #Narcan and other #harmreduction tools to save lives

We are in this together. Help us help those suffering from substance use disorder by visiting www.hopedupage.org.