Passenger Link – March 2025
International Women’s Day
International Women’s Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity. Significant activity is witnessed worldwide as groups come together to celebrate women’s achievements or rally for women’s equality.
It is a day when women are recognized for their achievements without regard to divisions,
whether national, ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic or political. Since those early years,
International Women’s Day has assumed a new global dimension for women in developed and developing countries alike. The growing international women’s movement, which has been strengthened by four global United Nations women’s conferences, has helped make the commemoration a rallying point to build support for women’s rights and participation in the political and economic arenas.
International Women’s Day is a time to reflect on progress made, to call for change and to
celebrate acts of courage and determination by ordinary women, who have played an
extraordinary role in the history of their countries and communities.
The world has made unprecedented advances, but no country has achieved gender equality.
Globally, legal restrictions have kept 2.7 billion women from accessing the same choice of jobs as men and less than 25 percent of parliamentarians were women, as of 2019. One in three women experience gender-based violence, still.
Let’s keep making progress toward building a better world, which includes advocating for
women’s rights and promoting global peace.
Sources: internationalwomensday.com and onedrop.org
Black History Month Celebration
CityLink was honored to participate in the Peoria High School Black History Month program on February 27, 2025. This event was made possible through the support of the Shaun and Reggie Livingston Foundation, with Shaun being a proud graduate of the Class of 2004. Students had the opportunity to hear motivational words from African American leaders in our community, while others showcased their talents through a variety of dance performances.
CityLink employees celebrate Black History Month in their own unique style! Kedijah, our Customer Service Associate, has used her nail art to feature the colors of the Pan-African flag in little heart designs on every other finger. We love this touch of creativity to celebrate such important achievements in African American history.
Digital Billboard
If you happen to be cruising down War Memorial Drive by the Peoria Public Schools
Stadium, you might have seen CityLink’s newest digital billboard advertisement! The
Community Engagement & Marketing Department has collaborated with the Peoria Public Schools Foundation to place a CityLink advertisement on one of the busiest streets in
Peoria. This is the Marketing & Community Engagement team’s initiative to increase awareness about CityLink’s public transportation service in the Peoria community.
Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month
March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. It originated in 1987 when President Ronald Reagan officially declared the observance. Since then, organizations, advocates, and communities have come together annually to promote understanding, inclusion, and the rights of individuals with developmental disabilities, aiming for a more inclusive society.
During this month, many will celebrate the contributions from their community members with developmental disabilities and continue to advocate for equal opportunities for these individuals to live full lives, achieve their goals, and be active community members. The month-long campaign aims to educate the public, challenge stereotypes, and highlight the unique abilities and accomplishments of people with developmental disabilities.
About 1 in 6 children are identified to have some type of developmental disability. Developmental disabilities are a diverse group of conditions that may affect physical, cognitive, or social development. These can include (but are not limited to):
· Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
· Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
· Intellectual Disabilities
· Learning Disabilities
· Cerebral Palsy
· Down Syndrome
· Epilepsy
· Language Disorders
· Sensory Disabilities (such as hearing loss and vision impairment)
Close to home, organizations like EP!C and CWTC help those with developmental disabilities to be successful and have fulfilling lives. GPMTD celebrates and advocates with those with disabilities, especially in July as we celebrate the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act with the ADA WOW! event, collaborating with all of our community partners to provide resources and celebrate these individuals.
Irish-American Heritage Month
Irish-American Heritage Month is celebrated throughout March, honoring those who have ties back to the Celtics. On March 17, we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, a Catholic holiday that honors the saint who introduced Christianity to Ireland in the fifth century, but the month long celebration pays tribute to all Americans who have Irish ancestry in their family tree.
The Irish ties to American history start back when our country was first founded, with nine of the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence having Irish origins in 1776. Not long after in 1790, the United Kingdom repealed its Anti-Catholic Penal Laws, allowing Catholics to leave the country and come to America. While this led to an uptick in Irish immigrants, the largest emigration came in the mid-1900’s, with the Irish Potato Famine.
In 1991, the first Irish-American Heritage Month was declared by U.S. Congress, with President George. H.W. Bush, and since then, the current president has issued a proclamation each year. Each year in March, the Irish Taoiseach, the prime minister of Ireland, visits with the United States for St. Patrick’s Day. A Shamrock Ceremony takes place in the morning at the White House, where a crystal bowl containing a shamrock is presented to the president in the Oval Office.
During the last census, taken in 2022, 30.7 million, or about 10% of the United States population claimed Irish ancestry, with Cook County, Illinois being the nation’s county with the largest Irish American population, with 418,997 people.
Some famous Irish-Americans include Gene Kelly, Henry Ford, Walt Disney, Mel Gibson, Quentin Tarantino, Jimmy Fallon, Ed Sullivan, Debbie Reynolds, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Nicholas Sparks, Tom Brady, and many more. Also 22 presidents have ties to Irish ancestry, including Ulysses S. Grant, John F. Kennedy, Ronald Regan, and Barack Obama to name a few.
Managing Chronic Kidney Disease – Take Charge of Your Health
March is National Kidney Month, a time when communities across the country raise awareness about kidney disease. This year’s focus is on taking charge of your health and the many factors that go into managing kidney disease.
Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a serious condition affecting around 35.5 million people. Often overlooked until symptoms appear, CKD is progressive and can put you at risk for serious health complications including heart attack, stroke, and kidney failure. Adopting a healthy lifestyle can help you manage CKD and its complications from progressing. Follow these healthy lifestyle habits to take charge of your kidney health.
· Meet regularly with your health care team.
· Manage blood pressure and monitor blood glucose levels.
· Take medicine as prescribed and avoid NSAIDs like ibuprofen and naproxen.
· Aim for a healthy weight.
· Reduce stress and make physical activity part of your routine.
· Make time for sleep.
· Quit smoking.
It may seem difficult, but small changes can go a long way to keeping your kidneys and you healthier for longer.
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