A unique class of Illinois students received master's degrees last month in front of their cheering and weeping families.

• Most were inmates at Stateville Correctional Center, where they have been studying Christian Ministry and Restorative Arts through North Park University.
• The inaugural graduating class became the first of its kind in the state.

Why it matters: The program has the potential to help incarcerated people become a source of healing, teaching and crime prevention both in and out of correctional facilities.

The backstory: Former North Park dean of faculty Michelle Clifton-Soderstrom started the program to offer theological higher education to the "most invisible, most impacted by intersecting social ills — poverty, racism, abuse." Most of the students had never had access to quality education, she tells Axios.

Context: Restorative arts is "the theological study of personal healing and societal transformation," assistant director Vickie Reddy tells Axios.

• In addition to Bible studies, theology and history, the program includes courses on trauma, race relations, nonviolent communication, conflict transformation, restorative practices and transformative justice.

By the numbers: The free four-year program is currently offered at Stateville to 80 incarcerated men and to 20 women at Logan Correctional Center.

What they're saying: "What North Park University understood with this program is that we achieve our highest calling as a community when those who have the least among us are leading the charge to get us there," Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx said at the graduation.

• "We are interconnected. We are one another."

The big picture: This means "our potential is not defined by our worst mistakes," graduate Jamal Bakr said during the ceremony.

• "Let today's event be an example of what happens when opportunities are created, potentials are unignored and complete restoration is always the aim of justice."

What's next: Axios spoke with some of the graduates about gun violence, bond reform, generational trauma and the corrections system.

• We'll present those discussions throughout the summer.

While we might be back down to "medium" COVID-19 transmission risk levels, hospitalizations across Illinois have actually doubled since mid-April.

• As of Thursday, 1,309 people statewide were hospitalized with COVID, the most since Feb. 21.
• And the new dominant strains are potentially the most contagious and effective at evading antibodies that we've seen yet.

Why it matters: Those vulnerable to serious cases have few public places where they can be sure others are wearing masks.

• So we asked readers and officials at a handful of local institutions about possible solutions.

By the numbers: When asked if Chicago should consider masked hours, 354 Axios readers answered definitively.

• Yes — 73.4%.
• No — 26.6%.

Reality check: Few places beyond theaters and the Logan Square Farmers Market — which has a masked first hour — offer these protections.

• We also sent out masking hour inquiries to the MCA, the Art Institute, the Shedd Aquarium, the Field Museum, Mariano's and the Museum of Science and Industry.
• Not one responded.

💭 Justin's thought bubble: It's not a new idea. Heck, there have been special early hours set aside for much less. (Disneyland, anyone?) I like it and applaud the Logan Square Farmers Market for stepping up.

• It's well past time for more local institutions to start thinking again about their immunocompromised constituents.

Though Illinois actually gained population in the last census, trends have changed in the last year.

• According to new data from Moody's Analytics, more people are leaving our state than are moving in.

By the numbers: Illinois has the fourth-highest outbound migration rate in the U.S. after California, New York and New Jersey.

• In 2021, that migration rate was 43% inbound and 57% outbound.

Explore the interactive map.

🧑‍🏫 A nationwide teacher shortage has some local school districts worried about opening on time. (Tribune)

✅ Former Rep. Dan Lipinski is not running in the 6th District. Instead, he's exploring joining forces with Rep. Adam Kinzinger to support an Independent party in Illinois. (NBC 5)

Domestic violence surged in 2021, according to a new report. (Sun-Times)

🍽️ What FX show "The Bear" gets right (and wrong) about Chicago. (Block Club)

⚾ Former manager Ozzie Guillen called out the White Sox, saying, "I don't see the fight." (NBC Sports)

Quote du jour

"I will miss spending time with you every day, but hopefully, this too will pass and one day down the road, I will announce brightly on the airwaves of 93XRT, 'It's Friday. It's great to be alive.'"

⏳ We handpick the best among the rest with our local job listings.

1. Sr. Manager Media Relations at BlueCross BlueShield Association.
2. Senior Vice President, Business Development at WCG.
3. Human Resources Coordinator at The American Dental Association.

Want more opportunities? Check out our Job Board.

Hiring? Post a job.

It's time for our monthly fashion-forward look at the hottest dogs in Chicago.

• These pups are simultaneously on fire, on point and on fleek.

📫 Send us photos of your hot dogs enjoying the summer.

• Just tell us their name and what they like to do!

Finally, a tough quiz for our readers.

• Justin was at Asia on Argyle at Broadway and Argyle streets on the North Side, specifically in front of the "East Meets West" mural created by Ginny Sykes.

👏 Congrats to William B. and Helen P., whose names we pulled from a steel wok.

• You can claim your Axios swag at our next live event, which will be early next month!