Janice Neumann

Janice Neumann is a freelance writer for the Daily Southtown.

Shavon Brewer, who teaches 5th grade at Northwest Elementary School in Evergreen Park, discusses math concepts with students. She's one of two south suburban teachers who are finalists for Golden Apple awards for Excellence in Teaching. (Janice Neumann/Daily Southtown)

Two Southland teachers are finalists for Golden Apple awards

March 13, 2026 at 11:52 a.m.

Teachers at Madison School in South Holland and Northwest School in Evergreen Park were nominated for Golden Apple awards for Excellence in Teaching.

Peaches Bonnema, a volunteer foster at South Suburban Humane Society holds a kitten at the facility in Matteson, which will host a Kitten Shower & Cat Cafe on March 7 to introduce people to the needs of kittens and gain donations for them. (Mika Carten/SSHS)

It’s kitten season, so South Suburban Humane Society is hosting a shower

March 3, 2026 at 1:43 p.m.

South Suburban Humane Society in Matteson and other shelters will soon be inundated with kittens, so they're putting out a call for help.

Treiva Mandela, of Calumet Park, is pursuing a career in electrical work after participating in an Illinois Works Pre-Apprenticeship Program at Bethel Family Resource Center in Chicago Heights. (Treiva Mandela)

Chicago Heights-based employment training program gets state funding boost

February 23, 2026 at 4:58 a.m.

A pre-apprenticeship program at Bethel Family Resource Center in Chicago Heights offers an introduction to employment in 25 trades.

Valintina Banisalman sells hand made scarves at the recent Youth Entrepreneur Fair at Moraine Valley Community College in Palos Hills. (Janice Neumann/Daily Southtown)

Young entrepreneurs get a market for their ideas at Moraine Valley Community College

February 18, 2026 at 1:45 p.m.

The Youth Entrepreneur Fair at Moraine Valley Community College featured dozens of young people selling items such as crafts and pet goods.

Marlandy Berrios, a former student of the late Paul Rinaldi, attends an exhibit of his art in the Christopher Gallery of Prairie State College. Berrios said Rinaldi played a big part in her artistic talent. (Janice Neumann/for the Daily Southtown)

Family and students of the late Paul Rinaldi still inspired by his art work

February 17, 2026 at 11:50 a.m.

A recent exhibit celebrated at Prairie State College in Chicago Heights celebrated the paintings of the late professor Paul Rinaldi.

Cook County School District 130 Early Childhood parent educators, from left, Elizabeth Lopez, Alma Cano, Analisa Diaz and Ashley McCloud gather at Horace Mann School in Blue Island. Cano oversees the team that makes home visits to make sure parents are getting needed help. (Janice Neumann/Daily Southtown)

Tots in Cook County District 130 get a head start on school in Families First program

February 13, 2026 at 1:38 p.m.

Educators from Cook County School District 130 are helping parents who are struggling with “a lack of support, connection and guidance.”

Don Ligon and Jessica Null, social workers at Bremen High, helped create The Braves Closet, where students who need clothes or toiletries can get them for free. (Janice Neumann/Daily Southtown)

Bremen High School’s Braves Closet offers help with discretion in a comforting space

February 10, 2026 at 12:54 p.m.

Bremen High School has long had clothing and hygiene products available for students in need, scattered in various storage areas at the school in Midlothian. But thanks to the school's...

Shortly after her first daughter was stillborn in 2021, Colleen Connelly, of Tinley Park, started Catherine's Cause, named after her daughter. The nonprofit group creates blankets and other keepsakes to donate to families experiencing similar tragedies at Advocate Christ Medical Center, as well as children's items for the Courage Program for single mothers at Our Lady at Saint Germaine Catholic Church in Oak Lawn. (Janice Neumann/Daily Southtown)

Tinley Park family channels grief into support for others suffering loss of stillbirth

January 28, 2026 at 2:07 p.m.

Catherine’s Cause makes and donates items to grieving parents, including blankets, cards, bracelets, keychains and other keepsakes.

Israel Fagbulu, left, a student at Evergreen Park Community High School, helps resident Jayshree Soparawala with a laundry list of technology questions during a drop-in Tech Help program Wednesday, Jan. 21 at the Evergreen Park Public Library. (Evergreen Park Public Library)

Evergreen Park Library pairs older patrons with high school helpers for tech support

January 27, 2026 at 2:39 p.m.

A recently developed Tech Time Drop-In program at the Evergreen Park Public Library is already a hit with older patrons experiencing nagging problems with their phones, tablets and computers. It's...

Students, from left, Sarah Elamin, Rawan Sharfi and Miraim Abdel Rahim were among the performers during a Culture Night event at Oak Lawn Community High School in Oak Lawn. The students also participated in fundraising for Sudanese refugees. (Janice Neumann/Daily Southtown)

Oak Lawn students raise money for Sudanese refugees, ‘show people the best of us’

January 22, 2026 at 9:21 a.m.

Culture Night at Oak Lawn Community High School featured students from Egyptian, Sudanese and Syrian backgrounds and raised money for refugees.

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