ROMEOVILLE – State Senator Rachel Ventura recently announced that Valley View Community Unit School District 365U received a $40,000 grant to expand arts or foreign language classes.

“As a mother, I know the importance the arts can have in a child’s life – allowing them to freely express themselves in an often stressful environment,” said Ventura (D-Joliet). “I commend the Illinois Art Council and Illinois State Board of Education for putting a focus on such an important program that will give thousands of students a better school experience and make memories for a lifetime.”

The Arts and Foreign Language Education Grant is a joint initiative through Illinois Arts Council Agency and the Illinois State Board of Education. Its purpose is to support arts and foreign language education in schools, with an emphasis on ensuring that these areas become part of the school’s core curriculum.

ST. CHARLES – State Senator Rachel Ventura has two young adults serving as interns through a program she started in partnership with the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice at the Illinois Youth Center - St. Charles Facility.

Ventura’s internship uniquely serves as the only DJJ internship with a state legislator – in addition to her internship through the Stateville Correctional Center. Due to privacy concerns, names have been taken out of the quotes.

One of the interns – who goes by D.W. – wrote the following release as part of his internship to commemorate the grand opening of the PEACE Center, which the internship is ran through:

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Rachel Ventura, along with several mental health advocates and professionals, spoke to the Senate Executive Committee to outline their support of legalizing psilocybin, commonly known as “magic mushrooms” during a subject matter hearing.

"With today’s subject matter hearing we heard from numerous advocates and medical professionals detailing their own struggles with the current lack of effective treatments available. Psilocybin has so much potential to help Illinoisans from any walk of life," said Ventura (D-Joliet). "My aspiration is for plant medicines to shed its stigma and be recognized for its safe and beneficial qualities. The CURE Act is dedicated to bringing relief to those suffering with mental illnesses, PTSD, substance abuse and more and offers a real life changing solution to the mental health epidemic our state is suffering from.”

Senate Bill 3695 known as the CURE Act – or the Compassionate Use and Research of Entheogens Act – aims to tackle treatment-resistant conditions such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, substance abuse, eating disorders, and other mental health conditions. Additionally, it facilitates research into the safety and efficacy of psilocybin through medical, psychological, and scientific studies.

JOLIET - State Senator Rachel Ventura announced that three schools in the 43rd District received grants to enhance wildlife habitat on their grounds.

“The Illinois Schoolyard Habitat Action Grant program is a wonderful project that teaches Illinois’ future generations about the importance of native Illinois plants and how they can benefit wildlife and the planet,” said Ventura (D-Joliet). “This resource will not only teach the importance of pollinator gardens but also help children discover the lifelong joys that come with gardening and helping the environment.”

Seventeen Illinois Schoolyard Habitat Action Grants totaling more than $55,200 have been awarded for habitat development at schools and other public places through the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the Illinois Conservation Foundation.

The following projects were recipients of the grant in the 43rd District:

• Wilco Area Career Center, Romeoville, 11th and 12th grade, butterfly garden – $1,306
• Elwood CCSD #203, Elwood, 5th through 8th grade, pollinator garden – $1,841
• Joliet Public Library, Joliet, kindergarten through 12th grade, standard pollinator garden – $1,580