Vol. VII No. 24
JUNE 14, 2023 SPECIAL FEATURE INSIDE!
Citizen input the goal of proposed Westchester park committee
Proviso East students keep pushing on
Commissioner Maldonado proposes reviving board with ‘uptick in citizen engagement’ By FRANCIA GARCIA HERNANDEZ Staff Reporter
The Westchester Park District has plans to bring back a citizens advisory board, formed of Westchester residents, after Park District Commissioner Daniel Maldonado introduced the idea at a commissioners’ meeting on June 5. “Throughout my term thus far I’ve noticed an uptick in citizen engagement,” Maldonado said in a phone interview. “I receive a lot of phone calls from residents about certain programming and them offering suggestions and ideas for our parks.” He said he recently found out the park district used to have a citizen board about 10 years ago and thought it would be a good way to provide a pathway for residents to be involved. See WESTCHESTER on page 4
PROVIDED
Vau’ve Davis, founder of the Proviso East Class of 2003 Scholarship Fund, and co-chair Danielle Saleek (far right) presented the scholarship to graduating seniors Ania Walker and Dulce Estrada.
Scholarship rewards two students and helps with college costs By AMARIS E. RODRIGUEZ Staff Reporter
If it is one thing Proviso East High School students know it is how to persevere against any odds. The Proviso East Class of 2023 Scholarship celebrated
two of those students and everything they have accomplished thus far, along with what they will accomplish in the future with a $500 scholarship. Created by alum Vau’ve Davis with the goal of making it a little easier for students to pay for their college expenses, Davis had previously shared her own struggles with Village Free Press and what led to the scholarship creation. “As a product of a single parent,
there were a lot of struggles and there wasn’t a lot of financial support so receiving scholarships was incredibly important in that whole journey,” said Davis. “Even though I was accepted in various universities, you still have your hurdles of getting there.” Dulce Estrada, 18, one of the recipients of this year’s scholarship, knows those struggles. Estrada, who grew up in a one-parent See SCHOLARSHIPS on page 6