ELGIN – To highlight the ongoing success of community and financial organization partnerships, State Senator Cristina Castro is encouraging credit unions, community organizations, service groups and other financial institutions committed to improving the financial stability of Illinois residents to join the Bank On Illinois coalition.

“Middle class families in Illinois have suffered from the ill effects of crippling bank fees for long enough,” said Castro (D-Elgin). “I’m proud to have sponsored and fought for the passage of legislation that gives working families in Illinois some peace of mind, and I’m glad to see it working to financially empower residents across our state.”

The Bank On Illinois initiative, passed in 2019, established a commission to monitor banking practices across the state to ensure that people in Illinois have access to bank accounts that offer fair financial service options, including no maintenance fees, low or no minimum deposit requirements, low or no overdraft fees, and methods to open accounts using forms of identification other than the traditional driver’s license or state ID card.

ELGIN – To foster economic growth and ensure area residents and businesses are supported in their recovery from the pandemic, Elgin and Kane County will see more than $180,000 in relief grants thanks to the support of State Senator Cristina Castro.

Through the Research in Illinois to Spur Economic Recovery (RISE) program, Elgin and Kane County will see grants to help local governments and economic development organizations develop and create plans to foster relationships with business.

“Funding local economic development organizations helps ensure that families and businesses alike will benefit from this investment,” said Castro (D-Elgin). “These grant funds empower our communities to address the pandemic’s impact on local economies and direct their own economic recovery.”

The Downtown Neighborhood Association of Elgin will receive $39,620 in RISE Grants to bolster its economic recovery plan, with a focus on Elgin’s Downtown Central Corridor. Kane County is set to receive $150,000 to support and study impacts on industry, mental health and broadband access.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – State Senator Cristina Castro’s support for adult education is being recognized with a 2022 Legislative Champion Award from the Coalition on Adult Basic Education (COABE). The Coalition announced the award this week as part of its efforts to raise awareness leading up to national Adult Education and Family Literacy Week which begins Sept. 19.

Senator Castro has sponsored legislation in the Illinois Senate to help erase the stigma of a high school equivalency diploma versus a high school diploma and to reduce the cost of GED® exams for adult learners, both essential to adult education programs in Illinois.

“I am proud of the achievements we’ve accomplished here in Illinois to support education and lifelong learning,” said Senator Cristina Castro (D-Elgin). “I am honored to receive this designation and look forward to continuing this work to ensure that adult learners and educators are supported and thrive in their communities.”

“I applaud Senator Cristina Castro, recipient of the Legislative Champion Award, for her outstanding contributions and support of adult education,” said Sharon Bonney, CEO of COABE.

For more information about the Coalition on Adult Basic Education, Adult Education and Family Literacy Week and the Legislative Champion Awardees, visit www.coabe.org.

ELGIN – State Senator Cristina Castro (D-Elgin) released the following statement after Texas’ governor chartered buses to transport immigrants from Texas to Chicago as part of his aggressive border policy:

“I welcome these families and would like them to know that in Illinois, they will be treated with dignity and will be able to receive the services they may need. We stand for humanity and respect, and our policies reflect that.

"Also, I condemn Governor Abbott’s use of inhumane tactics on immigrant families and those seeking asylum. This malice only makes our state shine more as one of the nation’s most welcoming states.

“The City of Chicago is working with local and state partners to connect these folks with the support and resources they need. All Illinoisans will follow suit to embrace those who need a helping hand while providing the means they may require.”