State Rep. Stephanie Kifowit, D-Oswego, and Fox Valley Mall in Aurora will host the Illinois Secretary of State’s Mobile Drivers’ Services team for a mobile DMV event on May 6 at the mall.
The event will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the first floor Center Park courtyard area of the mall.
“A trip to the DMV can be extremely difficult for seniors, those who have trouble standing for a long time and those with demanding work schedules.” said Kifowit in a press release about the event. “With this mobile DMV event we are hoping to bring services to residents in a more convenient and accessible way.”
The unit operates like a regular DMV and offers driver’s license and state ID renewals, replacements and corrections, in addition to vehicle renewal stickers and motor voter registration, officials said. Seniors 65 years old and older can get state IDs renewed free of charge at the event.
For some services people will still have to go to a regular DMV location. Driver’s license renewal will not be available for seniors over the age of 75 at the event, and Real IDs will not be available.
For more information on the event, go to www.ildistrict84.com/events or call 630-585-1308.
Work of artist Ruth Van Sickle Ford to be explored
The style and techniques of mid-century artist Ruth Van SIckle Ford will be explored on a free walk through the current exhibit of her work at the Aurora Historical Society at 2 p.m. April 29, event organizers said.
Art conservator Scott Sherwood will speak, discussing what he sees in the 34 oil and watercolor paintings on display at the PIerce Art and History Center, 20 E. Downer Place in Aurora. Sherwood is a museum assistant for the Aurora Historical Society and has worked on restoring several of the Ford paintings in the show.
Although the program is free, donations are appreciated, Aurora Historical Society officials said. Guests are encouraged to register for the event at www.aurorahistory.org or by calling 630-755-5657.
Inclusive language session scheduled
Geneva’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Task Force will be hosting a virtual inclusive language session from 11 a.m. to noon May 11.
Residents and community stakeholders are invited to participate in the online session, which will focus on why the words we use are important to promote healthy conversations, event organizers said.
The task force’s facilitator will moderate the session to review guiding principles on keeping up to date, honoring preferences and navigating up to 24 categories of diversity, according to a press release about the session.
The session will be conducted via Zoom. The event will be recorded and later be available to watch on the city of Geneva’s YouTube channel.
In addition to the inclusive language session, the task force will conduct other public engagement events in the coming months and develop a community survey. Based on the findings and community feedback, the facilitator will assist the task force in formulating a recommended action plan that will be presented to the Geneva City Council in 2023, according to the release.
More information about Geneva’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Task Force is available on the city’s website at www.geneva.il.us.
Former head of Waubonsee honored
John Swalec, former president of Waubonsee Community College, received the Illinois State University Distinguished Alumni Award Friday at the annual Alumni Awards Celebration, according to a press release about the event.
The award recognizes the achievements of Illinois State University alumni and is the highest honor presented by the Alumni Association, according to the release. Selection is based upon significant accomplishments in one’s chosen field, leadership and outstanding contributions made to the recipient’s community, state or nation.
Swalec’s career in education and athletics began at Illinois State. He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees at ISU that helped launch a career in teaching and coaching. He later returned to campus to earn a doctorate and went on to become president of Waubonsee Community College.
Swalec guided the community college from 1981 to 2001. The college grew by more than 50% during that time and added campuses in Aurora and Plano, according to the release.
His legacy at Waubonsee lives on through the John J. Swalec, Jr. President’s Achievement Award scholarship, officials said.
Swalec earned ISU’s Alumni Association Achievement Award in 1987. He was inducted into Illinois State’s College of Education Hall of Fame in 1997 and Waubonsee Community College’s Hall of Fame in 2011.
Swalec was a standout wrestler and track and field athlete at Illinois State, and he was inducted into the Illinois State Athletics Percy Family Hall of Fame in 1983. He served as University High School’s first wrestling coach, coached at several other northern Illinois high schools, and later guided Joliet Junior College to a National Junior College Athletics Association national championship.
Swalec’s work in athletics earned him induction into the National Junior College Athletic Association Region 4 Hall of Fame and the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.
Literacy Volunteers Fox Valley offers tutor training
Literacy Volunteers Fox Valley will host a free tutor training workshop from 6:30 to 9 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, May 9, 11, 16 and 18, at the St. Charles Public Library, 1 S. Sixth Ave. in St. Charles.
Literacy Volunteers Fox Valley helps adults communicate in English by matching them with trained volunteer tutors one on one, group officials said.
Once tutors are trained, they will meet with their learner for one hour each week at a time and location that is convenient, most often public libraries.
The program needs 30 volunteers to help the 30 adults who are waiting to learn, officials said.
Volunteers do not need a teaching background or a second language to be effective, group officials said. The workshop provides materials and instruction so anyone can help, according to organizers.
For more information about the workshop or to register, go to https://www.lvfv.org/become-a-tutor or call or text 630-584-4428.
