El Bar in Chicago seeks to reach Latino LGBTQ+ community
CHICAGO — The new El Bar aims to bring more of Latino culture to Chicago’s LGBTQ+ nightlife scene (Windy City Times). Founder Miguel Becerril “hopes the bar will make Latino patrons feel safe and welcome, and invite others to experience the culture,” Windy City Times writes. In addition to Latino music nightly, El Bar also features agave-based drinks and other nods to Latino culture. El Bar joins several other Chicago bars seeking to serve the Latino LGBTQ+ community, including Esmerelda’s, Latin Bliss, La Cueva and more. El Bar is open Thursdays through Sundays starting at 6 p.m. at 3209 N. Halsted St.; learn more at the El Bar website.
National Louis University names first Black president
CHICAGOLAND — A college with three Chicagoland campusese and one in Florida has hired its first-ever Black president (Journal of Blacks for Higher Education). Eddie Phillips, who has been a vice president and provost at National Louis University since 2021, became president May 11. Phillips’ career also includes executive leadership stints at Kennedy-King College, Northern Illinois University, Malcom X College, and Rush University Medical Center. National Louis serves a total of about 20,000 undergraduate and graduate students at campuses in Chicago, Lisle and Wheeling; and in Tampa, Fl. Phillips is the first Black president in National Louis’s 140-year history. Sixty percent of its student body are People of Color, and almost three-fourths are women (National Louis).
Volunteer dog walkers sought in Belleville
BELLEVILLE — Volunteers who don’t have a ton of time might consider the new public dog-walking program by the Belleville Area Humane Society. Once only on weekends, the program expanded to daily in April (Belleville News-Democrat). BAHS provides all supplies, and most of the sheltered dogs are 50 to 60 pounds, BND reports. The program is ideal for people who want to make a difference for animals in ways beyond donating, but who don’t have a lot of free time. To participate, swing by the shelter, 1301 S. 11th St., between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sundays. Learn more here about more volunteer opportunities at the shelter, including for youth.
